James - This changes everything
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Intro and Tension
Intro and Tension
Series: Beautifully crafted punch in the gut - For those that want to follow Jesus.
James - week 1 - who is james | W2= Triumphant in a trial
Today - Chapter 2;
Today - James 2 - Starts at end of Chapter 1;
If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless.
Religion - not stand in cloaks, sit in pews | Pure Religion - Then James ch 2 | partiality | If rich man comes in, treat different to poor, is that really love | then tricky bit
Could go Verse by verse - but I want to unpack 1 today
You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.
Justified by deeds instead of faith alone | I get alarm bells | Whole scripture says justified by faith alone |
For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law.
Looks like major contradiction - between james and Paul.
Question; Does the bible contradict itself? Then have to ask - Is Bible reliable, or gloss over and say “just believe”.
Today; opportunity unpack - build trust in God.
Today - Look at the word ‘Justified’ - 2 different contexts - 1 Point - Massive Challenge
Title: This Changes Everything
**Prayer**
*Word of caution to feint hearted
Lot’s of scripture today - not walk out “That guy said” rather “I have a deeper understanding”
for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,
Then what becomes of our boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? By a law of works? No, but by the law of faith. For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law.
Yet James says;
You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.
Problem here - and one more time enemy can say: “See, bible is wrong”.
Answer early: Can trust bible - Best way to interpret scripture is with scripture
“Justified” = Made right with God - but how? Faith, or works?
What you need to understand - 2 ways same word is being used.
Coathanger - Hang Clothes - Also Holden Antenna
Greek word = Dikaioo.
Dikaioo = 2 meanings
1. To Justify - Declare over someone. Court -acquitted - been justified
2. Prove something - Expense Claim - Now Justify it.
Now let’s look at context = Romans - Writing to adder onners - Those doing acts and says - If you can be justified - Declared righteous - by works - you can boast.
James context is NOT this - it’s people trampling on blood of Jesus
The pendulum swing - Keep law, be religious OR Man, we are forgiven - we get good wiht Jesus by believing, praying a prayer, contact card - Where sin abounded grace abounded even more - Well I’m gonna give that grace something to abound.
2 DIFFERENT Contexts - 2 Meanings of same word | Look carefully - Paul and James are on common ground
Acts 15 - Whole church up in arms about this debate - Paul and James here together - James takes floor - not opposite - Together - (bring signs together) Let’s see.
Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it?
by no Means - Paul preaching to adder onners AND Tramplers abusing Grace BY NO MEANS.
Teacher - unnamed, - if this person was going to run off a cliff would you - (i said yes) NO, the answer is NO!!!
Why? Because we have been baptised with the death of Jesus, so we can be raised with NEW LIFE with JESUS in order that we might REPRESENT JESUS to the WORLD.
James backs Paul up here;
So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless?
For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead.
James is making same point - James is not saying that works must be ADDED to faith to save - rather a geniune faith includes Works at its’ core because it has recieved in their heart what Jesus has done for them on cross.
Time to be very clear:
Message today is not “time to do more works to get saved” the message is “Does your salvation and the love you have felt from Jesus make you want to love others”
Let the love INVADE YOU | Not to condemn | Draw you closer to Him
There is a deeper story than, Saved by Grace through faith so we can sit and do nothing.
There is saved by grace through faith for a bigger Story - Healing - Joy - sufferings - for a bigger PURPOSE.
Some of us have stopped, and sat on our faith - This is your wake up call - There is more.
Look at Romans 8 - Often, we leave out the end of 17 here
For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.
Provided? we suffer…you’re like - Nope- Just my faith is fine - Finished - Jesus paid it all, the end, amen, praise God - and Paul comes and gets in our grill - PROVIDED you SHARE in his SUFFERINGS - you will share in his glory,
Why?
because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.”
It is with the HEART | once filled with LOVE of Christ = no other option
You’re life is not you’re own, you have been bought, it is done.
“Easy Believism”
I know he exists, so that’s enough - no - James rebukes with grenade.
You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder!
belief that Jesus talks about is more than knowing OF him.
It’s knowing finished work of Cross was for you.
Knowing he is a Healer, Miracle Worker, Friend, King and putting FULL Trust
Quick walk
Galatians - Talking to the adding onners;
For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
Philippians 2:12 (ESV)
...work out your own salvation with fear and trembling,
if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister.
Is James and paul saying that we are saved by works? No
I want to be clear:
Faith alone saves - FREE GIFT OF GOD.
Paul - You are justified by Faith - Justified, proved, aquitted, let off - by Faith.
James - Justified by Works - Justified, you’re proving it, you’re walking it out - you look different.
why? Because you have felt love, that you have never felt before.
2 contexts, same word
1 Meaning - this is it - The Faith that saves changes everything
Close and Inspo
Close and Inspo
Raheem Sterling | Traded to Man City - Would be weird came into huddle - Also weird that if he took pitch ,recieved a pass and was like “Oh I’m a man city player now” - Man City player when traded.
You are Justified as soon as you have faith in Jesus | But now you’re in Team Jesus - You wanna do works.
Faith alone saves - But the faith it saves is never alone.
Never find that faith doing nothing.
Faith in Jesus is always found with Fruit.
The Written Word of God is saying that when you get to know Living Word - Everything Changes.
Not adding things because you know - IT IS FINISHED.
Jesus had faith that what he was about to do was going to save you - but it was only by his ACTUAL work on cross that you are saved.
justified by finished work of Jesus - Proved and justified by the fact that you actually look like him -walking like him |
Not trampling over the blood of Jesus, but repenting and changing.
Opportunity for you today, is to submit, and get to know the Jesus that saves.
God is calling you to open your heart to Jesus today.
**prayer**
dear Jesus,
i come to you as a sinner, and i ask for your forgiveness. I believe you died for my sins. I believe in your resurrection. my life is not my own. I turn to you and call you, my lord and saviour. i want to know you, in jesus name, amen.