Well, James chapter 2, as well as parts of the Bible, which much ink has been spilled over.
! A couple of years ago, I got a text message from a friend of mine, for the sake of argument, we'll call Gavin.
Gavin was, is, was, is a faithful minister in a Bible-believing church.
He was well-loved by his congregation and by his family.
And I don't recall all the details of the text message, but it basically read like this.
He quoted chapter 2, verse 24.
You see, a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.
I couldn't be reading the whole passage that morning.
He said this, Stuart, am I alright? Am I a Christian? Help me.
What are your feelings is as you read these words?
James is very stark, isn't he?
Verse 17.
Faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
Verse 20.
Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless?
Verse 26.
For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, it's also faith apart from works is dead.
It's very strange, isn't it?
James is not beating about the bush.
And that's what got Gavin worried.
That's what got him thinking.
And his worry made him text me.
He wanted to be sure he was justified.
He was forgiven.
He was part of God's people.
And I think that's exactly why James, inspired by the Holy Spirit, wrote these words.
He wanted to shake up complacent people.
He wanted to shake up his readers.
As we read through this book, we realise they were double-minded, as he calls them, back in chapter 1, verse 6.
They had spiritual schizophrenia.
They would pray, but not really believe that God would answer prayers.
They would love to hear God's word preached, but they'd never actually respond and do anything to obey.
They all, chapter 3, verse 1, wanted to be teachers.
They were really into the Bible.
But actually, they loved the world.
They wanted all the things the world wanted.
Chapter 4, verse 4.
You ask and you do not receive, because you ask wrongly to spend it on your passions.
You adulterous people.
Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God?
They would split people.
Divided in their thinking.
Divided in their hearts.
Divided in their loyalty.
So James is rattling their cage.
For those who know their theology, and say we're saved by faith, we can cross out, fold our arms now.
He wants to get them thinking.
And James' main point is the point that my friend Gavin got.
That actually faith without works is useless.
Now at first sight, this might sound like James is contradicting the Apostle Paul.
So if you compare James, chapter 2, verse 24, you see the person is justified by works and not by faith alone.
And then if you read Romans 3, verse 28, Paul writing,
For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from the works of the Lord.
You might think there's a contradiction there.
Well, we'll see.
Clearly there isn't.
Because the Bible does not contradict itself.
We'll see why later on.
But first, we need to make sure we understand what James is saying.
What James is saying.
And he's wanting us to understand the genuine saving faith.
What it looks like.
What is the nature of true faith.
He's going to tell us three things about it.
First of all, it's more than mere profession.
It's more than mere confession.
But rather it results in transformation.
It's more than mere profession.
It's more than mere confession.
It results in transformation.
Let's put it another way.
It's more than merely saying the right words.
More than merely agreeing with the right doctrine.
Rather, it's embracing God's promises wholeheartedly.
So first of all, true faith is more than mere profession.
It's more than merely saying the right words.
Look at verse 14.
What good is it, my brothers,
is, my brothers,
if someone says he has faith,
but does not have words,
can that faith save him?
Now the original language is clear.
The answer to that question is,
no, such faith cannot save you.
So the problem James is getting at
is the problem of people claiming to have faith,
but not actually living it out.
It's just mere words.
It's just their talk.
People can claim all sorts of things.
I can claim to be a great football player.
You look at my life,
you'll probably see I never was,
and never will be.
So James says,
it's not just what you claim.
Today, many people still claim to be Christian.
You know, a census form,
they'll tick a box.
Or they'll say,
I prayed that sinner's prayer on us,
as a student,
or as a young person at camp.
Or I've been to church,
or I've been baptized.
James says that,
it's more than mere profession,
it's more than merely saying the right thing.
And that's what his whole illustration here,
the point of his illustration,
verse 15.
If a brother or sister is poorly clothed,
and lacking in daily food,
and one of you says to them,
go in peace,
be warmed and filled.
That's actually a prayer.
It's actually a prayer.
Oh, you're suffering.
Be warm, be filled.
As in, God fill you,
God warm you up.
If you say those things,
without giving them the things needed for the body,
what good is that?
It's an illustration of words themselves
being powerless and useless.
You might say the right things,
but if you have the resources to help someone,
James says,
and you're not actually helping them,
that's no good.
Likewise, faith without any action
is no good.
Now, this was obviously happening
in James' church.
All through this book,
we see a division between the wealthy,
the haves and the have-nots.
So James is using this illustration
to, again,
to rattle their cage a bit.
And it's quite testing for us as well,
as Simon was saying this morning,
how easy it is for us
to turn away from the adverts on the tube
because of our compassion fatigue.
And of course,
we can't respond to every advert
for money on the tube.
But that's not the point.
But it's so easy, isn't it,
for us to pray for our brothers and sisters
around the world in need,
but not actually do things.
It's much harder to get involved
in the Ealing Church's
winter night shelter.
It's much harder to actually give
to Christian organisations.
But James is also using this example
to remind them of something
he's told them.
Back in verses 12 and 13,
he reminded them
they have to live
as those who will be judged
under the law of liberty.
That is, the law as fulfilled
and explained by Christ.
He's reminded them
there's a day coming
when Jesus will come back
and judge his people.
And in Matthew chapter 25,
Jesus told a story
about that day.
The parable of the sheep
and the goats.
And Jesus tells
that he will come back
as a king on his throne
and divide the people
of sheep and goats.
And James is actually
using words from that story.
Here.
Because in that story,
Jesus says to the sheep,
to those who are his people,
to those who are going to be
accepted into the eternal kingdom,
he says this,
Come you who are blessed
by my Father.
This is Matthew 25,
verse 34.
Inherit the kingdom
prepared for you
from the foundation
of the world.
For I was hungry
and you gave me food.
I was naked
and you clothed me.
And in the parable,
the sheep then say,
When did we see you hungry?
When did we feed you?
When did we clothe you?
Jesus says,
What you did for the least
of my brothers and sisters,
you did for me.
James is picking up
on the words of that parable
inserting it here.
You see a brother or sister?
You don't feed them?
What kind of faith is that?
He says.
Remember,
judgment is coming.
The Lord Jesus
will sit on his throne
and judge.
Your faith should be seen
in your deeds.
I notice it's not that
the good works
in that parable
saved the people.
Those sheep didn't even know
they fed the Lord Jesus.
When did that happen?
Rather,
it was their faith
worked out
and practiced in their lives
that led to those actions.
It was that transforming faith,
the genuine faith they had
that showed
they trusted in Christ
and resulted in
being new people.
James is reminding
his readers of this.
True faith
is more than
merely saying
the right words.
True faith
is more than
mere profession,
we might say.
It's more than
just saying
the right words.
But secondly,
true faith
is more than
merely agreeing
with the right doctrine.
It's more than
merely agreeing
with the right doctrine.
Look at
verse 18.
James comes back
with an imagined
objector.
But someone will say,
you have faith
and I have works.
Show me your faith
apart from your works
and I will show you
my faith
by my works.
You believe
that God is one,
you do well.
even the demons
believe
and shadow.
See, the demons
have great theology.
There was a lady
in our last church
who was actually
into witchcraft.
She was a Satanist.
She introduced herself
as a Satanist.
And she was miraculously
saved and came to the Lord.
One of the interesting
things she told me
was actually
all the Satanists
fully understand
that they're on
the believing team.
That's part of the doctrine.
They do know
that Jesus is one
and they persist
in their rebellion.
They've got great theology
just like the demons
who knew Jesus was Lord.
They believe
and shudder.
The danger is
we can be like them.
We can believe
the right things
and yet we don't
actually respond.
There's no real change
in our lives.
Even the demons,
James says,
shudder.
They do respond in some way.
It does affect them
a little bit.
But what about you,
James says?
Does it affect you?
I think it's a real problem
for churches like the churches
I've lived in,
grown up in
and served in.
Churches like us.
Where we are rightly
concerned for white doctrine.
We're rightly concerned
to hold to what
the scriptures teach.
But so often
we can think
that is sufficient.
You know,
I've heard people saying
not about this church
but about a number of churches.
Yeah,
we're a gospel-centered church.
We love people
by sharing the gospel
with them.
We're not into
social action.
You can feed people
all you like
but that won't
save them from hell.
Well,
yes,
that is true
to an extent
but it's a false
dichotomy.
For if we have
faith in Christ
our lives will be
transformed.
Our lives will be
different.
If it's merely
intellectual
then it's not
genuine faith.
That's what Paul's
saying,
what James is saying.
True faith
is not merely
agreeing with
the right doctrine.
At the end of a
Christianity explored
many years ago
a friend of me,
an old colleague of mine
from my old childhood
come along
turned to me
and said
so what are you
saying?
All I need to do
is believe this
and that's all.
Is it really that simple?
Of course,
the answer to Thomas'
question
isn't really that simple
is yes
and no.
Yes,
it is that simple.
We simply trust
in Jesus Christ.
That's all we have to do.
But simply trusting
in Jesus Christ
isn't merely
agreeing
with the doctrine.
The demons
believe the doctrine
but it doesn't
change them.
That's a danger
for us,
isn't it?
I was never taught
the catechism growing up.
I wish I was.
It would be a great
thing to have learned
when I was young.
But there's a danger,
isn't there,
that we think that
teaching the catechism
to our children
makes them good believers
and that's it.
I'm so glad
I learned many
memory verses
when I was a child.
I should encourage
my children
to learn more
memory verses.
But even just
knowing the memory verses
doesn't change it,
doesn't save it.
Intellectual assent,
agreeing with
the right doctrine,
isn't genuine faith.
As one commentator
perceptibly put it
on this verse,
it is a good thing
to possess
accurate theology
it is a good thing
to possess accurate theology
but it's unsatisfactory
unless that good theology
possesses us.
It's good to possess
the right theology
but does our theology
possess us?
Are our hearts
gripped by it?
See,
true faith
is more than
mere profession.
It's more than
saying the right words.
True faith
is more than
mere confession,
agreeing with
the right doctrine.
True faith
embraces God's promises
wholeheartedly.
And that's James' point
in verses 20-26.
And this genuine faith
results in transformation
when we embrace
God's promises
wholeheartedly.
And that's why James
uses these two examples
in the Old Testament.
One is Abraham,
the ultimate insider,
the great father
of the faith.
The other is
Abraham,
the ultimate outsider,
the Canaanite
prostitute.
And James is using
these two extreme
examples to say
that it doesn't
matter whether
you're the best
of people
or the worst
of people,
true faith
will be shown
in your actions,
not merely your words
and assenting
the right doctrines.
So let's look
at these two examples.
God had promised
Abraham an heir.
In Genesis chapter 15
God had promised
a son from Abraham's
own body
who would be
his heir
through whom
God's great promises
to Abraham
would carry forward.
In Genesis chapter 15
verse 6
Abraham looks up
at the stars in the sky
because God had said
God has made
descendants of stars
in the sky.
Abraham believed God
in verse 6
of chapter 15
of Genesis
we're told
Abraham believed God
and God credited
it to him
as righteousness.
Then over 30 years later
when that son
had been born
and Isaac had been born
God chested Abraham
in Genesis chapter 22
said go
sacrifice Isaac
your only son
whom you love
take him
and sacrifice him.
That was to test
his faith.
It was a trial
just as James' readers
were undergoing trials
as we read in chapter 1.
But Abraham did that.
He set off
with his servants
he set off
with Isaac
and with fire
to go up
onto Mount Moriah
to sacrifice his son.
Why did he do it?
Well here's
because he embraced
God's promises
wholeheartedly.
Here's how the writer
of the Hebrews
in the New Testament
puts it.
By faith
Abraham
when he was tested
offered up Isaac
and he who had
received the promises
was in the act
of offering up
his only son
at whom it was said
through Isaac
shall your offspring
be named.
He considered
that God was able
even to raise him
from the dead
from which figuratively
speaking
he did receive him back.
In other words
Abraham believed
God's promises
he embraced
God's promises
wholeheartedly.
So he figured
I don't understand
what's going on here
but I believe
if I take my son
up this mountain
to sacrifice him
God can bring him
back from the dead
if necessary.
God will do
what he's promised.
Abraham embraced
those promises
wholeheartedly.
See faith isn't
merely about
doing good things.
That's not
James' point
is it?
James isn't saying
do good things
because you believe.
He's saying
embrace God's promises
wholeheartedly
as Abraham did.
See faith is
in that sense
well it's not
irrational
it's super rational
super irrational
bigger than reason.
Abraham did
what seemed
completely irrational
because he trusted
something better
than human reason.
He trusted
the word of God
he trusted
what God had promised.
And that's what we see
with Rahab as well
this other example.
So Rahab lived
in the city of Jericho
you can read
the story
of Joshua
chapter 2
and chapter 5
and Joshua
had sent some spies
in to check out
the city
and they had
hidden themselves
at Rahab's house
where they'd gone
to Rahab's house
Rahab had hidden
them in the roof
of her building.
The king of Jericho
sent soldiers around
to get these men
and Rahab lied
sent the soldiers
off in the opposite
direction
and then got the men
down from the roof
and said to them
this
I know
that the Lord
has given you
the land
and the fear
of you
has fallen on us.
How did she know that?
She knew it
because she'd heard
how God had rescued
them out of Egypt.
She'd heard
how they'd come
across the Red Sea.
She'd heard
as all the people
of Jericho had
how God had defeated
the Amorite kings.
She'd heard
how Israel
had come across
the Jordan River
or would soon
come across
the Jordan River.
So she believed
God's great promise
that he was going
to give
that land
to Israel.
Even as a complete
outsider
someone who worshipped
other gods
she still believed
God's promise.
And so
because she rescued
those spies
when the Israelites
came over
and destroyed
under God's orders
destroyed Jericho
she was saved.
That was the sense
in which she was
justified.
She was rescued
from God's
just judgment
against that city
because she had
shown her faith
by saving
the spies.
She embraced
God's promises
wholeheartedly
and so she was
transformed
she was completely
different
to everyone else
in Jericho
who did not believe.
See by these examples
James is demonstrating
that for everyone
true faith
has the same effect.
It's shown
in actions
it leads to a
transformation
in our lives.
It's not merely
about profession
or confession
it's about embracing
God's promises
wholeheartedly.
Now that's the
conclusion
there's a bit of
detail we need to go into
if we look at
verses 20 to 23
because James
tells us more
about the quality
of this true faith
as we look at the
details of his argument.
So verse 21
was not Abraham
our father
justified by works
when he offered up
his son Isaac
on the altar?
You see that faith
was active
along with his works
and faith was
completed by his works
and the scripture
was fulfilled
that says Abraham
believed God
and it was counted
to him as righteousness
and he was called
a friend of God.
Now at some point
this seems like a
contradiction
doesn't it?
Romans 4
Paul says
Abraham
Paul uses this
Abraham as the
example of being
justified by faith
not by works
yet James
seems to say
exactly the opposite
Abraham is justified
by his actions
not by faith alone.
How does that work out?
Well we see the
difference between
the two situations
that these writers
are dealing with
and also what they say.
So Paul is writing
about the chronology
of faith
the timing of it
so Abraham's faith
came first
that was where
it all started
whereas James
is writing about
the quality
of Abraham's faith
he's showing how
that faith played
out in the rest
of his life.
Paul was dealing
with a situation
where people thought
their own works
were all important
what they do
is all important
that their works
make them right
with God
so they were
rejecting the
sufficiency
of Christ's
sacrifice alone
and falling into
the trap of
legalism
of trying to do
the right things
to be with God
to be God's
friends.
So Paul's
dealing with a
situation where
works are all
important
James is dealing
with a situation
where people think
works are of
no importance
they can just
let go and let
God
so they were
emptying the cross
and resurrection
of Christ
of its power
in a different way
they were emptying
of its power
to change lives
to transform
them
make them new
people
their temptation
was not legalism
but license
anything goes
I believe
Jesus died for me
I can do
whatever I want
so James is
talking about
the quality
of Abraham's
faith
the quality
of genuine
faith
that truly
trusts in
Christ
in his death
and resurrection
to make us
right with God
three qualities
he draws out
verse 22
first of all
it's active
not passive
verse 22
you see that
faith was active
along with his
works
in the original
language
it's literally
faith works
together
with his
works
faith was
the fuel
the power
how does a car
move
well it's because
it's got an engine
but it's got fuel
that goes in the engine
there's no fuel
it won't go anywhere
the fuel works
together with the engine
to make the car move
so faith works
with Abraham's
works
it is active
it drives action
faith is not
passive
God pleasing
works do not
happen without
faith
and in the original
language as well
it's this sense of
this was an ongoing
thing throughout
Abraham's life
faith was constantly
active with his
works
not just a one
off thing
so faith is
active
secondly
genuine faith
matures as it
works
look at verse 22
faith was completed
by his works
that word completed
is often translated
perfect
or mature
and with maturity
the idea here is
of the faith
developing
as it is used
as it is exercised
a bit like
muscle matures
as you exercise
as it grows
or sometimes
you hear football
commentators
talking about
a young player
being a bit naive
in what he did
I don't know
when they say that
such a misuse
of the word naive
anyway
very naive there
he needs to be
a bit more mature
and as he gets
more experience
he gets more
mature
it's the same
way with faith
faith matures
as it is used
as it is exercised
so a young footballer
matures
as he gets more
experience
see Abraham
had faith
when he believed
in God's promise
but faith became
more mature
throughout his life
as he exercised it
through ups and downs
and it came to his
most evident maturity
in the test
of sacrificing Isaac
and with the idea
of maturity
there's an idea
of a purpose
there isn't it
something to be
mature
means it has to
have a goal
have a purpose
and so it is
faith
is meant to
mature
it's meant to
grow
and it grows
as it is exercised
and the ultimate
goal is
transformation
so back in
chapter 1
verse 18
maybe over the
page in your
Bible
James said this
of God's own
will
he brought us
forth by the
word of truth
that we should
be a kind of
first fruits of
his creatures
see God's goal
is transformation
that we should
be different
we shouldn't
remain static
and unchanged
we should mature
as our faith
is used
and developed
over time
see faith is
completed and
matures as we
exercise it
so it's active
it matures
and thirdly
it finally
results in
justification
look at verse
23
the scripture
was fulfilled
that says
Abraham believed
God and it
was counted to
him as
righteousness
now in what
sense was that
scripture fulfilled
there are at
least three ways
the Bible can talk
about scripture
being fulfilled
we might talk
about things
being fulfilled
in our own
lives
it can be a
promise being
fulfilled
and that certainly
happens
it's not quite what
James means here
or secondly
a pattern
or a role
can be fulfilled
so if you think
back as far as
Christmas
which is not
long ago
we often have
that reading
don't we
from Matthew
chapter 2
this was
happened to
fulfill what
God had said
through the
prophet Hosea
out of Egypt
I called my
son
there Jesus
was fulfilling
an Old
Testament pattern
that as
Israel had
been in Egypt
and was called
out of Egypt
so Jesus
as God's
perfect son
was down
in Egypt
and brought
out of Egypt
for his
ministry
so you can
fulfill a
promise
or fulfill
a pattern
or
this is what
James is
doing here
something can
be fulfilled
in reaching
its ultimate
significance
so Jesus
says that
I haven't
come to
abolish the
law and
the prophets
Matthew 5
17
but I've
come to
fulfill
them
in other
words I've
come to
bring them
to that
ultimate
significance
to do
all that
was written
in the
past
to fulfill
to bring
it to
its greatest
significance
and that's
the way
James is
using the
word here
God had
said 30
years earlier
that Abraham's
faith was
counted as
righteousness
now that
reaches its
full significance
as we see
this man
Abraham
prepared to
sacrifice his
own son on
the altar
but he's been
so transformed
through his
faith in the
living God
as life goes
on
and what's
the final
result of
that
what's
Abraham
called
at the
end of
verse 23
a friend
of God
a friend
of God
so James
is using
justification
in a slightly
different way
to Paul
when Paul
talks about
justification
he's always
talking about
the initial
declaration
by God
of our
innocence
before him
when we
trusted him
but justification
is used in a
number of ways
in the Bible
James uses it
in a different
way
and here
he's talking
about the
final
declaration
the public
declaration
by God
of our
innocence
before him
when Christ
returns
we can see
that because
that's the
whole context
here
back in
verses 12
and 13
James has
been saying
judgment
is coming
he's alluded
to the parable
of the sheep
and the goats
where people
are finally
publicly
justified
their faith
demonstrated
by their
actions
it's clear
from the
example
of Rahab
she was
justified
in that
judgment
she was
saved
from that
judgment
as the
Israelite
soldiers
came in
and
enacted
God's
judgment
on the
city
of Jericho
so here
James'
meaning
that through
a lifetime
of faith
will ultimately
result in
vindication
in the
final declaration
of innocence
before God
when Christ
returns
as judge
that's
why we
go on
showing our
faith in
our works
he says
that's what
true faith
is like
it is
expressed
in works
it is
active
it matures
and it will
result in that
final declaration
of being
God's friend
so what does
faith look like
that really
embraces
God's promises
well what did
it look like
for Rahab
and Abraham
it didn't mean
doing nice
things necessarily
did it
it didn't mean
being a nice
person
it meant
taking God
at his word
it meant
doing things
that seemed
crazy to the
world around
no one else
in Jericho
was about to
take in
Israelite slaves
no one else
in Jericho
was about to
lie to the
king
and send
his soldiers
off in
the other
direction
to Abraham's
servants
who must have
seemed mad
taking Isaac
off to be
all to be
sacrificed
and yet
that's because
they trusted
something better
and bigger
and stronger
than human
reason
they trusted
God's promises
now what sort
of works will
develop in our
lives
if we're genuinely
embracing God's
promises from our
hearts
well think about
the week ahead
the week of
prayer
to someone who
doesn't believe
isn't prayer the
most pointless
thing
I had a great
story a while
ago about a
friend who was
a vicar
and he was at
his desk in
his study
praying
and the
window cleaner
knocked on
the window
and said
look mate
you're not
doing anything
come give me
a hand for
a moment
he said
no I am
doing it
I'm praying
this is the
work
but naturally
we think
well the
window cleaner
don't we
praying is
pointless
you're just
doing nothing
here's how
our faith
can lead to
action this
week
we make
time to
pray
to join
with others
in prayer
what about
where we put
our money
and our time
see natural
human logic
would say
we put
money
we got
spare money
we invest
it in good
savings
and good
pension plans
and it's not
bad to do
that
it's not wrong
to do that
but faith
embraces God's
promises wholeheartedly
remembers what
Jesus says
about treasures
on earth
where moth
and rust
destroy
there are
treasures in
heaven
where thieves
do not
break in
and steal
and moth
and rust
do not
destroy
and so
we see
with the eyes
of faith
we invest
in what will
last forever
don't we
we invest
in gospel
work
we invest
in a building
project
we might help
the gospel
be proclaimed
for generations
to come here
we invest
in God's
family around
the world
or another
example of what
faith
embracing God's
promises
from a half
means
is the
illustration
James uses
here
these rich
men in
James'
congregation
saying
go in peace
be warm
and filled
weren't really
embracing God's
promises
they weren't
seeing the
poor and
needy among
them
as those
to whom
they were
joined in
Christ
they're
brothers and
sisters
as they're
being selfish
rather than
giving it
practically
helping
those in
God's
family who
needed it
I'm sure
we can all
think of
more examples
for our
own lives
and what
would it
look like
when we
embrace God's
promises
wholeheartedly
James is
really putting
a question to
us all here
whose friend
are you
whose friend
do you want
to be
Abraham had
genuine faith
it was active
it matured
through use
resulted
finally in
justification
of being
God's
friend
but later
on he gives
the warning
I've already
quoted it
chapter 4
verse 4
that these
people
James is
writing to
were so
double minded
they were
really friends
with the
world
you are
doffrous
people
do you not
know that
friendship with
the world
is enmity
with God
therefore
whoever wishes
to be a
friend of the
world
makes himself
an enemy
of God
so their
friendship with
the world
was seen
with their
preoccupation
with status
with wealth
with their
own plans
with ease
not with
God's ways
so James
is asking
them and
asking us
whose friend
do you want
to be
to my
friend Gavin
was unsettled
by James
words
confused even
maybe many
of us here
are tonight
well let me
be clear
let me be
clear what
James says
James is not
saying good
works can
save us
they cannot
James has
already told us
back in chapter
1 verse 21
what can
save us
therefore put
away all
filthiness
and rampant
wickedness
and receive
with meekness
the implanted
word which
is able to
save your
souls
only coming
to Christ
in need
accepting the
gospel message
of salvation
through Christ
alone
of his death
on the cross
to pay for
our sins
his resurrection
guaranteeing
us new life
that is the
only way
to be saved
saving faith
is never
alone
because God
makes us
new people
so can I
ask you
what is your
confidence in
is it in
your theology
is it the
fact you
prayed a prayer
once
or your
baptism
James tells us
true faith
is not a
matter of
mere words
not a matter
of mere
intellectual
ascent
but wholeheartedly
embracing
God's promises
maybe some
people here
feel
I'm confident
because I'm
a nice person
I do good
things
please be clear
James does not
say good works
will save you
only faith
will save you
and that faith
is shown
perhaps some
of us here
like Gavin
my friend
Gavin
are concerned
how did I
answer
how would you
answer someone
a friend
who texted
you like
Gavin
texted me
am I alright
let me tell you
how I answered
him
I pointed
out to him
the change
in his character
I'd seen
over the years
I pointed
out his
humility
I pointed
out his
desire for
godliness
I pointed
out his
sacrificial
service to
many
the warm
hospitality
he and his
family offer
I was able
to point to
his works
as evidence
of God's
work in his
life
the genuine
nature of
his faith
embracing
God's promises
and of course
I pointed
him to our
faithful saviour
Jesus Christ
pointed him
to his
perfect life
his perfect
obedience
his death
on the cross
to pay for
our sins
his gift
of the holy
spirit
to all
he turned
to him
to change
us
see all of us
who claim to
trust Christ
need to go
back
need to look
at our lives
but most
importantly
look at our
saviour
and come to
him again
and again
we shouldn't
be complacent
but we
shouldn't be
concerned
we should
put our
confidence
in Christ
bolstered
by the
evidence
of his
word
in our
lives
let me
close this
line from
Matthew
Henry
the
puristy
commentator
he said
this on
this passage
true
believing
is not
an act
of understanding
but a
work of
the whole
heart
to have
to deny
his own
reason
affections
and interests
is an
action fit
to try
a believer
there is
no middle
state
everyone
must either
live as
God's
friend
or God's
enemy
let's pray