Living Faith - Part 5

PASTOR’S FIRST FUNERAL

A young pastor had as his first duty in the church that just hired him the leading of the funeral of an older eccentric man who had just died. Standing before the open casket while preaching, and trying to console the widow, he said, "I know this must be a very hard blow, Mrs. Vernon. But we must remember that what we see here is the husk only, the shell. The nut has gone to heaven.”

Second one ready:

Church Feud

Church feuds are not uncommon, especially among cliques in the congregation. But when the pastor and choir director get into it, stand aside.

One week our preacher preached on commitment, and how we should dedicate ourselves to service. The director then led the choir in singing, 'I Shall Not Be Moved.'

The next Sunday, the preacher preached on giving and how we should gladly give to the work of the Lord. The choir director then led the song, 'Jesus Paid It All.'

The next Sunday, the preacher preached on gossiping and how we should watch our tongues. The hymn was 'I Love To Tell The Story.'

The preacher became disgusted over the situation and the next Sunday he told the congregation he was considering resigning. The choir then sang 'Oh, Why Not Tonight.'

When the preacher resigned the next week he told the church that Jesus had led him there and Jesus was taking him away. The choir then sang, 'What A Friend We Have in Jesus.'

Recap from Last Week

Faith that Works Part 4: Faith Working Through Love - James 2:1-26

We studied James 2:1-13

The letter of James is a strong rebuke to spiritual fakers and religious hypocrites

Favoritism is incompatible with a Biblical walk

True justice requires us to be impartial

Self-Centered Agendas

When we show favoritism, we sell out our spiritual family

Man-Made Separations

1. Age

a. Elderly

b. Young

The importance of our younger generations

2. Gender

3. Ethnicity

Favoritism and Tribalism is Anti-Gospel

The Royal Law is foundational for believers

Those that sow mercy and love, will receive mercy and love

Today’s Teaching

Faith that Works Part 5: Living Faith - James 2:14-26

Let’s open to James 2:14

James 2:14–16 NKJV

14 What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit?

Don’t just pray, be an answer to someone’s prayer

Deuteronomy 15:7–8 NKJV

7 “If there is among you a poor man of your brethren, within any of the gates in your land which the Lord your God is giving you, you shall not harden your heart nor shut your hand from your poor brother, 8 but you shall open your hand wide to him and willingly lend him sufficient for his need, whatever he needs.

1 John 3:17–18 NKJV

17 But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him? 18 My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.

James 2:17 NKJV

17 Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

Faith is not just affirming Biblical truth but living it out.

Living faith always leads to action

James 2:18–20 NKJV

18 But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. 19 You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble! 20 But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?

Nekros = Dead, speaking of a corpse

If faith was just a creed, demons would be justified

They acknowledge the truth but their actions are contrary to the truth

Mark 1:24 NKJV

24 saying, “Let us alone! What have we to do with You, Jesus of Nazareth? Did You come to destroy us? I know who You are—the Holy One of God!”

Matthew 7:21 NKJV

21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.

Righteous acts are an outflow of saving faith

This is how we judge if a person is even regenerated

Matthew 7:20 NKJV

20 Therefore by their fruits you will know them.

Salvation is by faith through grace, unto good works

Ephesians 2:8–10 NKJV

8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

The Example of Abraham and Rahab

James 2:21–25 NKJV

21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? 22 Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect? 23 And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” And he was called the friend of God. 24 You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only. 25 Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way?

James is not saying that salvation is not by faith, what he is saying is that...

Counterfeit faith does not save

Faith that doesn’t have “fruit” is fake and delusional

Abraham’s faith culminated in him offering his “only” son Isaac on the altar.

“Abraham was not saved by faith plus works, but by a faith that works.”

Warren W. Wiersbe

Hebrews 11:17–19 NKJV

17 By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, 18 of whom it was said, “In Isaac your seed shall be called,” 19 concluding that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead, from which he also received him in a figurative sense.

Rahab had come to faith by hearing of the stories of God’s deliverance of the Jewish people from Egypt.

Hebrews 11:31 NKJV

31 By faith the harlot Rahab did not perish with those who did not believe, when she had received the spies with peace.

Galatians 5:5–6 NKJV

5 For we through the Spirit eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. 6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love.

Her faith working through love, compelled her to do something

1 Corinthians 9:16 NLT

16 Yet preaching the Good News is not something I can boast about. I am compelled by God to do it. How terrible for me if I didn’t preach the Good News!

True faith is more than intellectual belief. It’s more than affirming Biblical truth. It is faith working through love!

James 2:26 NKJV

26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

Is your faith a dead corpse, or is it authentically alive?

In using the term Christian, are you making it a meaningless label, or are you exalting Christ by how you live?

Faith is dead to doubt, dumb to discouragement, blind to impossibilities.

Anonymous

Titus 2:13–14 NKJV

13 looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, 14 who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.

We believe that men are saved by faith alone, but not by a faith which is alone. They are saved by faith without works, but not by a faith which is without works. -Charles Spurgeon

AMEN!