For the majority of this calendar year Pastor Bill has been leading us through the Epic narrative of Genesis. Closely following the life and events of Abraham. Abraham is selected by God to “father” a people to represent God to the world. He is promised by God to be made into a great nation. Throughout Genesis thus far we’ve seen Abraham act in faith as he follows the Lord’s calling.
We will look at that faith more in depth this morning. *open in prayer*
Turn with me in your Bibles to my favorite book; the book of James. A couple years ago I preached from James chapter 3, today we will land on chapter 2.
The Bible Project on YouTube describes this book as “A beautifully crafted punch to the gut” and I couldn’t agree more! The book of James, if you’ve never read it, is straightforward advice on practical Christian living. There’s really no questioning or need for deciphering what James means in his teaching. He is direct, he goes right for the gut and hits it every time. If you’re easily offended, or lacking in spiritual maturity, the book of James may come across as a tough pill to swallow.
James is a pretty interesting character in the bible. He was the half-brother of Jesus, and because of that he lived a large portion of his life as an unbeliever. Matter of fact, James didn’t convert to Christianity until after Jesus’ death and resurrection when Jesus appeared specifically to James himself as recorded in 1 Corinthians.
1 Corinthians 15:7 7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the disciples.”
Then James put his faith in Jesus as his Lord and Savior.
I’ll be honest, I don’t entirely blame the guy as he grew up in the shadow of his older brother’s perfection. How much convincing would it take in order to make you believe that your older brother is the Messiah? When mom or dad says “Can’t you be more like your brother!” it carries a lot more weight when your brother is without sin!
-We can get a little glimpse of how James may feel. Jesus is the perfect, holy, savior of the world and it took James a good deal of humility and proof to accept that and submit to an authority other than his own.
He grew up with the teachings of Jesus, His book is often referred to as commentary for the Sermon on the Mount that Jesus preached. Truly the work of James is steeped in the Wisdom of Jesus’ teachings and of the Old Testament Proverbs. Which is why when we read it, we don’t see a flowing narrative of a story that progresses, nor is it similar to the letters that Paul wrote. Instead it’s full of 12 different teaching points that really don’t connect to each other per se, but are topical. Necessary to challenge us in our own faith walk. Often times James writes using imagery similar to the Proverbs, some weird examples to illustrate his points: those who doubt are like waves of the sea; a man forgetting what he looks like after looking at a mirror. The tongue being like a rudder of a ship; Your life being like a vapor.
As his letter goes on, James asks some rhetorical in-your-face-questions, and he starts to sound more like his brother, Jesus.
James is writing to the Jewish Christians “scattered among the nations” as it says in verse 1, who are meeting and worshiping out of house churches due to the persecution of 1st century ruler Nero who’s out to kill them!
My ESV Study Bible notes, “As a result of the troubles, conflict has entered the churches, and they have splintered into fighting factions. Moreover, some have fallen into a worldly lifestyle and have failed to put their faith into practice (James 1:19-26) with the result that they have become “double-minded”, wavering between God and the World (1:8; 4:8)”
His letter could be considered a how-to book on Christian Living. More specifically, it’s a book on how to take your faith to the next level! It’s written to those who already have faith, or at least claim to have faith. James doesn’t talk much on the attributes and characteristics of the risen Christ, rather it’s a letter on putting faith into action. It’s about owning our faith and making it a part of who we are – not just a name we wear.
In each chapter James challenges his readers to exercise their faith in such a way to see if it is genuine saving faith.
In Chapter 1: He ensures we will go through trials and hardships; we will face temptations. But praise God for them, because they make us stronger—it’s those very trials and temptations that (spiritually) mature us or complete us.
He commands us to not just listen to the word of God, but to Do What It Says. We deceive ourselves if we only listen to it, and don’t apply it to our lives.
He concludes each chapter with a quippy one-liner, wrapping up the topic.
Chapter one concludes with this
- 27 “27 Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.
Ch3: 18 Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.
CH4: 17 If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them.
CH5: 20 remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of their way will save them from death and cover over a multitude of sins.
In chapter 2 and 3 He discusses Genuine Faith. It’s almost as if James is writing a Persuasive Essay, as he uses multiple examples and illustrations both of daily life and examples from the Bible in order to persuade his audience. He begins chapter 2 by talking about showing favoritism. As believers in Jesus Christ we “must not show favoritism” he states in verse 1. In v.8 and v.9 he says, “If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing right. 9 But if you do show favoritism you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers.”
He forbids showing favoritism entirely.
In the second half of the chapter, James then goes on to discuss Faith, and if you’ve read the book or are even slightly familiar with chapter 2, He does not discuss Faith without discussing deeds, or works. Explaining to his audience that there is a tremendous contrast between Dead Faith which is useless and a Living Faith which is life changing.
James opens with a couple genuine, yet rhetorical questions:
James 2:14 “14 What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them?
Valid questions. If someone makes the claim to be a believer in Jesus Christ, but they don’t do anything with it, there is no action or work or behavior behind it…what good is it? Can a faith like that save them? NO!
James goes on to answer the question with an illustration from everyday life.
“15 Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. 16 If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it?”
17 In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
Prior to this, Jesus said something similar as he preached in Matthew 25
31 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.
34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’
37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’
41 “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.
45 “He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’
Proving his first point, James is telling us that dead faith does not serve.
Being the Youth Pastor here I made the decision several years ago to take our Senior High students on a mission trip somewhere in the U.S. instead of attend summer camp for this very reason. Even this summer, we took our Jr. High students to some local spots to serve within our home county. I’ve found it’s far more valuable for students, to exercise their faith, and represent Christ by serving and working together, opposed to going to summer camp which is primarily designed to be fun.
Being the Announcements Pastor here I regularly announce the opportunities that our church has for people to get involved, give, donate, ministries in need of volunteers. Because of this church’s connection to Christ, and our desire to reach far and wide, we have loads of opportunities for people to exercise their faith, and represent Christ by serving. Service is a mark of a true disciple with true faith. And our church does a lot to serve and be active within our community! Everything from street cleanup in the spring for the last few years, to a community dinner each November with several hundred meals being served.
James brings in an opposing viewpoint in verse 18. Someone saying
18 “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds.
This is where it may start to get a little confusing. James is not an advocate for works-based faith. Because that’s incorrect. Works do not save us, nor can they. Paul wrote in Ephesians 2:8-9
“8For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast.” (Eph. 2:8-9)
By grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone.
James is speaking against those who only make the claim that they believe in Christ, saying that it’s not enough to just believe in God. If you believe in God, that’s what we call a good start! However….James brings up the demons in verse 19, who also believe in God. You can bet they won’t be spending eternity in heaven. They are not saved. Believing in God is not equivalent to salvation.
This verse came up at a youth group discussion in our small group a while back. One guy was blown away to learn that demons believe in God. I’ll give it to him, it is a strange concept especially when you had considered belief to equal salvation. The guy’s friend next to him says “of course they believe in Him, they’re against him!” Demons know darn-well who Jesus is. They know he is the Lord and they know what awaits them because of him. But they don’t obey him. Again, demons aren’t saved, they won’t spend eternity in heaven. But they have faith. James is telling us that if we simply “believe” in God and claim to have faith in Jesus Christ, and all we really do is agree to the teachings and the truths of the Bible….big deal. What difference does that make? That faith that you claim is useless (James 2:20). If there’s no works or actions attached to it, It’s dead.
Ultimately, James tells us that a dead faith does not save.
James switches gears and uses a couple Biblical examples to further his point that faith without works is dead. One example from the life of Abraham and one from Rahab, two vastly different characters in our bible.
He contrasts the useless and dead faith with that of Abraham’s faith–a living and active faith. Again, we’ve been going through the book of Genesis for this whole year now, looking at Abraham’s life starting in Genesis chapter 12 when the Lord calls Abram and promised he would make him into a great nation. He is even brought up twice in the “Hall of Faith” in Hebrews chapter 11.
“By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. 9 By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise.”
Hebrews 11:8-9
It’s key to note that Abraham acted. Not just believed, but his faith compelled him to action. I’d imagine it’s easier to act in faith when a tremendous blessing is attached. God promised him saying “I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all the peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” He knew the outcome beforehand, And then he acted..
But James uses a different example from Abraham’s life. He uses the example from Genesis 22 when God tests Abraham’s faith by telling him to sacrifice his one and only son. The very son he and his wife had waited a loooooong time for. Abraham very much thought he knew the outcome prior to it happening, but God had different plan in place.
21 Was not our father Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? 22 You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. 23 And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,” and he was called God’s friend.
Let’s break this down…the example of Abraham offering his son Isaac as a sacrifice is used here in James 2 and also in Hebrews 11.
By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. He who had embraced the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son,18 even though God had said to him, “It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.” 19 Abraham reasoned that God could even raise the dead, and so in a manner of speaking he did receive Isaac back from death. Hebrews 11:17-19
Abraham clung to his faith in God even in the toughest challenges of his life. And still, his faith compelled him to action. God tested Abraham to see if he would remain faithful despite the circumstances. His actions speak for themselves. His faith and actions were working together, and in that his faith was “made complete”.
James uses the same phrase in chapter 1:4 talking about perseverance finishing it’s work so that you may be “mature and complete, not lacking anything”. In the same way, Abraham’s faith and actions working together made his faith “complete”; it had matured, and proved itself to the world the reality of how genuine, obedient and living his faith really was. Not deceptive, not useless, not dead.
James says: 24 You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone. *PERHAPS AN ILLUSTRTION HERE FOR ABOVE POINT?
Jesus says in Matthew 7:21 ““Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.”
A Living faith transforms our behavior as well as our thoughts. If our lives remain unchanged, we don’t actually believe the truths we claim to believe. Living faith in Christ will always result in a changed life. EMPHASIZE THIS!
(v.25) His last example in this passage is from Rahab the prostitute, her story is found in in the book of Joshua. We don’t have a lot of backstory on Rahab. We know her line of work and that she helped the spies who had come to scout out Jericho. And still she is also listed in the Hall of Faith in Hebrews 11 for her act of faith.
John MacArthur in his commentary on this passage writes: “Rahab not only acknowledged that the God of Israel was the true Lord, but she obviously trusted in Him. Although she doubtless knew nothing of salvation as Christians understand it, or even as the ancient Israelites understood it, her heart was right before the Lord, and He graciously accepted her faith for righteousness. He also accepted her protection of the spies as an act of obedience to Him, and she was therefore [considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction.]
…
Abraham’s and Rahab’s justification by works was not demonstrated by their profession of faith, their worship or ritual, or any other religious activity. In both cases it was demonstrated by putting everything that was dear to them on the line for the Lord, entrusting it to Him without qualification or reservation. They were supremely committed to the Lord, whatever the cost.”
Our main point today, is James’ conclusion to the passage:
“26 As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.”
Hearing that “Faith without deeds is dead” likely isn’t the spiritual encouragement that you were hoping for when you walked in today. The beauty of this book is how practical the advice is on daily Christian living. The greatest challenge and, in my opinion, the best part of the book of James, and how he writes it is that you have to hold his book up side-by-side with your own life. Self-reflection is necessary when the advice is practical.
Therefore, ask yourself, What kind of faith would you say you have?
-Is it the dead faith described earlier in this passage? Unwilling or unwanting to serve or be involved in good works? Or ministries of the church? Or charity events? OR HELPING YOUR NEIGHBOR (ILLUSTRATE AGAIN WITH CONCRETE SPECIFICS) Lots of people have a great intentions or enthusiasm at the thought of these opportunities to serve. but that’s all it is….good intentions. Thoughts. Good vibes and well wishes being sent out, when nothing for the physical needs of the people is being met. Do you have a faith like that?
-Or, is it the second example James gives– the useless faith that even the demons have. Of course you believe in God. Of course you agree with who Jesus is, and think his teachings are good and all, but when it comes to changing things in your own life, and obeying the commands of Christ; there’s no action. Do you have a faith like that?
-Is it a living and active faith illustrated by the likes of Abraham and Rahab? A saving, productive, godly faith. A faith that compels you to live it out in good times and in bad times. A faith that has transformed your life. Do you have a faith like that?
What changes need to be made to turn your dead faith into a living faith?
-Do you need to pray to confess your sins to God, and ask him for forgiveness? That would be the best first step! Make today the day you place your faith and trust in Jesus Christ.
-Do you need to be more active in living out your faith? Or serving in church? Or being the hans and feet of Christ out in the community?
-Maybe like Abraham, God is testing your faith by asking you to surrender what is closest and most dear to you.
Let’s stand as we close in prayer..