All Things New - Week 2-ACTIONS

James 2:17 NIV

In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.

Action is important!

This sounds like the opposite of what gets normally preached. ‘You can’t earn your way into heaven, you can’t act good enough for God to accept you’.

That’s true.

But this isn’t about earning your way in. This is about what we talked about last week - that we are entirely new creations.

And how can we say that everything’s changed - when nothing we do has?

James 2 has a great discussion on this. And his point is - believing the truth isn’t enough. We have to believe the truth enough that it changes us and spurs us to action.

BUT - there’s a key component about what ACTION is as a new creation.

The GOAL of action as a new creation is to show:

God’s works in me - not my works

CONTEXT - The disciples asked Jesus to show them the father. He replies with- you know me, believe that is enough. He said, it wasn’t his own authority he was showing - it was the father’s authority working through him.

John 14:12 NIV

Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.

So, Jesus says - in my actions, I’m not doing MY own work, i’m doing GOD’S work. And if you do the same with me, I’ll do the same with you - and you’ll see even greater things than what the father did through ME.

And the whole point of this is for people to be able to say, ‘Hey, God is amazing!’

Matthew 5:16 NIV

In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

Jesus says - the real light from God makes other people say ‘Wow, God is awesome’.

What happens when works are ME-focused?

So, Paul was having this sort of conversation with the Romans in Romans chapter 2.

The context here is EXTREMELY important. Paul’s line of thought:

God is revealing his wrath against ‘godlessness and wickedness’, and as people become increasing focused on their own selves, their own pleasures, and their own benefit, they will grow in both.

Those of us who know the truth have no excuse to pass judgment, because we are just as guilty of doing wrong.

God’s KINDNESS is what makes the difference, what pushes someone over the line, not judgment. The only difference between “US” (those in the truth) and “THEM” (those not) is that we’ve accepted that kindness.

Romans 2:6–8 NIV

God “will repay each person according to what they have done.” To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life. But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger.

Paul says this as a rebuttal against those people who thought it was their job to pass judgment on others.

Whenever we’re default tempted to be judgmental, it tends to look like ‘how do I get rid of the stuff that isn’t focused on me, or isn’t to my liking, or isn’t the way I say it should go’.

Paul lays out two realities- one where a person is self-seeking, truth-rejecting and evil-following.

Don’t care about truth - Don’t care about goodness - and don’t care about anyone but themselves.

Another where a person is persistent in doing good - in order to seek glory, honor and immortality.

And paul says, for sure, there will be glory and honor - and eventually immortality - for those people who are dedicated to doing good. We need to trust in that.

The key focus of action as a new creation: ‘Who is this for?’

OLD SELF ACTIVITY IS ‘What can I do for me?’

NEW SELF ACTIVITY IS ‘What can I do for God and others?’

Here’s the kicker - it’s EASY to feel like we’re acting for God AND still be self-centered. It’s called ‘preference’. There’s a reason that the bible calls this whole process of following God ‘picking up our cross’ versus simply ‘don’t automatically do the first thing that comes to mind’.

Christianity isn’t about putting ourselves second in line -

it’s about putting ourselves on the cross.

Self DENYING. I think about James and John (ASKED JESUS ABOUT BEING ON HIS RIGHT AND LEFT). We talk about we shouldn’t be on the throne, God should - but then we say, ya, but i’d still like a little one that one on either side of you.

our activity needs to be rooted and focused on this practice of self-denial.

So what does Godly activity look like?

James 2:14–17 NIV

What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. 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? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.

Use YOUR means to meet OTHERS needs

What easier way to be self denying than to take something that you WANT and give it to someone else that NEEDS it.

And do this to the point of sacrifice. It doesn’t mean be unintelligent (Don’t stop paying bills to buy someone else groceries - you’re not giving of YOUR money there). But make it about them, and not about you.

And the truth is - everybody has needs. But also, everybody has means. You may have money to spare, you may not. But you also have time - or at least, you can make it. You have care and attention. You have focus. If you can’t do something in the way you want, do something in the way you are able.

Find SOMETHING you can give away - and give it away.

STORY - Eastern european friend told me once that canadians lie many times every single day. And it’s the answer to the question, ‘hey - how are you?’. I’m very intentional when i’m out and about to be the kind of person that gets the right answer to this question.

If you want to find needs - get to know people better. Here’s a hard truth - if you don’t know someone’s needs, you don’t know them well. Surface-level relationships are always neat and easy. Getting to know people is when we get into the brokenness and trouble. Good relationships are when you make sure the house is spotless before you invite that person over. Great relationships are when you don’t.

But find something you can give away - your time, your talent, your treasure - and then give it away.

And here’s the thing - God doesn’t want us to hear this, nod and say ‘ya, that’s a good idea, makes sense!’ and then leave and do nothing.

James 1:22 NIV

Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.

I have two practical steps I want everybody to do.

Step 1 - Find someone to help or to bless

I want every person to give real, honest thought to the question - how can I do something new with my means to help someone else with their needs?

Step 2 - Tell somebody else your idea

This is important. We call this accountability.

Don’t just tell a random person - tell somebody who’s willing to hold your feet over the fire.

We invite you to follow the God that loves in action

We aren’t preaching about a religion that moves us internally and keeps us still externally. God is here, He loves you - and He’s got a plan.

1 Corinthians 2:9–10 (NIV)

“What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived”— the things God has prepared for those who love him - these are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit.