Faith Fueled Obedience

Grace to you and peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. It is a great privilege to share the Word of God with the saints and friends of Durbin Memorial Baptist Church. Our church exists by the grace of God, for the Glory of God, in the love of God and others.

On days like homecoming, it is natural to reflect on history a bit. By my count this is roughly the 200th service I have had the honor of leading for this congregation, but I am well aware that the history of service extends far beyond the last 4 years of my time here.

Recently we had the opportunity to reflect on some of the things that have happened over the last nine decades. I heard about the original building having a coal furnace and a young 8 or 9 year old whose mother would send him over in the dark hours of winter Saturday nights to stock and prep the furnace that the building would be heated and warm come Sunday mornings. Many folks have been married in this church, and in our presence this morning we have both the first couple and the most recent couple to make the God-honoring commitment to one another under this roof. One married man shared that he and his wife were married here almost 50 years ago. He said, “He’s not regretted it once.” Though he wasn’t sure she would share the sentiment.

There have been mission trips both local and abroad. From Eastern Kentucky like Fleming-Neon and Elkhorn City as well as all the way to foreign entities like Brazil and Japan.

This church has modelled the love amongst believers called for in John 13. From greeting visitors in the building, to visitation ministries spearheaded by Aunt Nellie, to being there when we’ve lost those closest to us, or walking with us through times of great uncertainty. As one member put its, “It’s hard to keep a dry eye when you think think about how the people here have helped me grow.”

There is so much that could be said about the various good things that could be brought up from the history of this church. I encourage you during the fellowship meal to follow this service to do just that. Reminisce about the wonderful works God has accomplished in and through this church. And as we do that, may we remember the one who gets the ultimate glory, Christ our King. In just a moment, we will be walking through the second half of James chapter 2. We will be looking at the tangible impact God’s grace has on the life of the believer.

As we spend some time today reflecting on the history of the church, may we not forget the centerpiece of the church. This church would not exist were it not for the life-transforming, awe-inducing, love-producing grace of God that captivated the hearts of sinners saved by grace in the backyard of the Tracy’s way back in 1937. By the grace of God Miss Durbin’s store building once known as a place for whisky, dancing, and much sin around, was transformed to beginning of a better community to live in and a place where people gathered to worship God. By the grace of God when the bank accounts were near the red and it was not clear that those who gathered here would remain able to do so, the people united together and God provided a way forward because the mission of preaching God’s Word and living that out in Christ-centered community was too important to let go by the wayside. And most importantly by the grace of God, the Son of God lived and died and rose again to pay the price for the sins of all who would believe in Him, expressed by faith and lived out by following the His command, being His ambassadors, and sharing the gospel from the temple of Jerusalem to our little corner of Clays Ferry! As we celebrate today, may we celebrate first and foremost that this love we know is by God’s grace and for God’s Glory! To God be the glory! Great things He hath done! So loved He the World that He gave us His Son! Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord! Let the earth hear his voice! Praise the Lord praise the Lord let the people rejoice!

We’re praising the Lord for the good that has been done in this place.

With that in mind, turn if you have not already to James chapter 2. If you are joining us for the first time in sometime this morning, we have spent the last 5 weeks walking through the first chapter and a half of the book of James. You can find all of those sermons on our various platforms, but to quickly get us all on the same page, you need to understand that James is a book particularly focussed on living out faith through trial and temptation. Originally writing to Jewish Christians who had been dispersed throughout the world from their homeland, James is reminding the readers that the grace of God is greater than the circumstances they are going through and that Christ is worthy to be served, followed, and obeyed in any and every circumstance. James goes through various aspects of the Christian life. Thus far we have looked at trials, temptations, the central importance of God’s Word and the problems of giving special treatment to those we deem more desirable in the church. While there is a unifying flow to the book as a whole, James does bounce a bit from topic to topic. Today we are looking at the topic of faith and works. As we begin, let’s read again verse 14.

James 2:14 ESV

14 What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him?

Thus far I have brought out just a few of the corporate successes of this church in its history, and while this letter would have been shared with churches originally, James is decided addressing individuals now. He asks the rhetorical question that we all have to ask ourselves in this morning. What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith, but does not have works? Can that faith save him?

In other words, what good is it if you say you understand that Jesus is Lord, but there is no tangible evidence of obedience in your life?

I can’t understate the importance of reflecting on this question as we go through the rest of our text. I’m all for reunions, potlucks, and celebrating history, but I am much more concerned that all of us leave here this morning confident that you not only know the reality of Christ dying to reconcile sinners unto God but also that reality has been grasped in such a way that it has reshaped who you fundamentally are and what you do.

I hope that I am heard correctly and clearly this morning. There is no righteous act that you can do to earn the grace of God. But receiving the grace of the Father through Faith in the Son wrought by the conviction of the Spirit certainly impacts us to the core and influences our thoughts AND behaviors.

James, being the pastor that he is, gives us an example to help us wrap our minds around this idea. Look to the next few verses:

James 2:14–16 ESV

14 What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that?

One of the biggest criticisms given by unbelievers to towards the church is that believers are a bunch of hypocrites. Now, we know that the process of sanctification is a bit of rollercoaster, we know that we still battle the flesh and temptation and are daily in need of the grace of God. But the sad reality is that too often, they’re right.

James lays out the example of seeing a need within the church. Someone comes in and it is visibly obvious that they are lacking physical sustenance. So you see the need, you tell them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” or to put into the Kentucky translation, “bless your heart, I’ll be praying for you.” And then you go on your merry way without a second thought.

Hear me correctly here, there are certainly times in which all we can genuinely do for someone is pray for them. Our physical means are limited and we genuinely may not always be equipped to provide for someone. We are called to pray for and with one another. But we are dishonoring the God of our salvation when we use churchy language to gloss over the real problems in our brothers and sisters lives.

Earlier I referenced in passing John 13. That is where Jesus says this: John 13:34–35 “34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. 35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.””

How are people in the world supposed to recognize us as followers of Christ? By our LOVE, but not just generally having a loving attitude, but by our love FOR ONE ANOTHER. This love involves a deep level of affection and intimacy. It means that we are willing to get messy and involved with one another.

Year ago, Brother Larry, our resident farmer, was short on help come harvest time. The word got out to some of those in the church. The initial inclination may have been to think, “Man, that stinks brother Larry. I’m sorry to hear that. I’ll be praying you find some help.” Then you go on your way. But that wasn’t what happened. The late Darlene Sparks, God love her soul, saw the need and rallied the troops! She got the men of the church together, from the pastor to the greeter, got them over to the fields and helped out our brother in need. From what I heard, Brother Paul, you made a wonderful supervisor and made sure everyone else got their hands dirty. But seriously, that is what we’re talking about when we’re talking about both the love discussed in John 13, and the action perpetuated by believers exposed in James 2. If our participation with the greater body of Christ is nothing more than mere verbal platitudes, then we ought to examine if we truly understand what it means to be a part of the body at all! Look at how James reiterates this problem in verse 17:

James 2:17 ESV

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

I will never get tired of hearing the gospel of Jesus Christ. That the God the Father loved the world so much that He sent God the Son to live and die and rise again so that sinners far from God, a sinner like me, would see that Christ accomplished what I could not and see the glory of Christ as my Savior, turning from the shackles of sin to the freedom of life lived in obedience to Christ.

We are saved by grace through faith. We are saved through faith in the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ. When James says that faith without works is dead, he is not added a step to salvation. It’s not faith plus works. He’s not saying that works need to be added to our faith in order for one to be saved. Rather, he is echoing what Paul would write to Timothy in 1 Timothy 5:6 where it says “she who is self-indulgent is dead even while she lives.” You see we all have faith in something. The question is, is our faith living or dead? “If faith is alive, it contains works organically in itself and thus overflows with them in the visible world. The alternative is a dead faith that does not contain such works. James’s contrast is between living and dead faith, not between a living faith that has works and a living faith that does not have works. Faith is like a seed. If a living seed is planted, it will produce a living plant. If a dead seed is planted, it will produce nothing.”

True faith produces compassion and actions. It recognizes the great grace shown on us at the cross of Christ and exudes that grace unto others. The point is not that giving grace, love, compassion, or any other good grace produces salvation, but rather that it is the result there of!

I recognize that particularly in the baptist world, that the idea of works and salvation has a negative connotation. And it would certainly be an error if you think you can earn your own good standing before the Lord. But it would also be a great error if we left here thinking that our salvation has no bearing on the things that we do and the attitudes and actions we express towards others.

This is addressed in the next section of our text this morning. Look at verses 18 and 19

James 2:18–19 ESV

18 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. 19 You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder!

As a pastor is apt to do in a sermon, James directly addresses the objections that may come to the biblical message he is presenting.

We read, “some will say ‘you have faith and I have works.’” This is a common argumentation style in the greek culture in which James originally wrote this letter. This is a rhetorical objection basically saying, “Why are you insisting that everyone has to be the same? Some people have faith; others have works!”

And in many ways, this is a common sentiment we hear in our culture. By and large people will claim some form of Christian identity. You like that Jesus Guy. You went to church for a while as a kid. You may give every orthodox answer when your asked about who Christ is and what it means to believe in Him. But then you examine your life and there is little to no fruit that lines up with God’s Word.

What we believe about who God Is and what He has accomplished on our behalf through Christ on the Cross is of vital importance. But if what we believe makes no impact on what we do, we must ask if we truly believe it!

We read in verse 19, “You believe that God is one! You do well” It is right and good to believe in the Triune God, but even the demons believe that! Did you know that there is not a demon in all of existence that is an atheist?! They may certainly influence human ideologies for their own malevolent purposes, but they are all trinitarians! They all probably have a better grasp on theology that you and I could ever hope to have on this side of glory!

James point is that understanding even a true set of facts is different than real faith! Jesus said that if you love Him you will keep His commands. Faith is more than understand that He is King it is the desire to turn from your sin and actually follow the King, albeit imperfectly.

As James is making his point he backs it up with two biblical examples. Read with me verses 20 through 25

James 2:20–25 ESV

20 Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless? 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? 22 You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works; 23 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. 24 You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. 25 And in the same way was not also Rahab the prostitute justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way?

In this extended section of Scripture James is using biblical examples to prove the point we have been circling around throughout this entire passage. In the middle of this comes a verse that requires specific attention. Before we discuss the intricacies of verse 24, allow me to further explain the two biblical examples of Abraham and Rahab.

We must remember that the original recipients of this letter were Jewish believers. They would have been well familiar with Father Abraham and his many sons. Now we know from both the Old Testament in Genesis and the New Testament in Romans, and even reiterated in right here in verse 23, that Abraham was counted as righteous not because of what he did, but because of who he believed in. James is not contradicting other Scripture nor elevating Abraham’s conduct to a place it should not be. The point is that when Abraham obeyed the Lord by be willing to sacrifice his own son that he had waited a literal century for, he was exhibiting a lived out, living faith! A hyper literal translation of verse 22 would read that when Abraham was willing to offer up his son, “You see that his faith was co-laboring with his works.” “This is not the language of external addition; it is organic language intended to convey the truth that Abraham’s visible obedience emerged from his invisible saving faith and demonstrated said faith in the visible realm. As such, he was “justified”—shown to be righteous by a living faith that led inexorably to obedience.”

Then we see the example of Rahab the prostitute. She is the heroine figure from the battle of Jericho. Though she was not an ethnic Jew, she housed the Israelite spies and hid them from the governing forces. She recognized that the Israelites were serving the One True God, over the false gods of her own people. She proved her faith in God by assisting His messengers and ensuring their safety. “Jericho had stood for hundreds of years. Today it is still the earliest known fortified town. Its inhabitants thought it invincible. But Rahab heard God’s word and, though surrounded by her ancient culture, believed!” And she put her belief into action.

Both of these accounts, Abraham and Rahab, are given to show that real faith is lived out. Tested faith doesn’t just talk a good talk but walks a good life. I’m not suggesting that any of us will walk in sinless perfection when we come to saving faith. When we walk through Abraham’s life in Genesis, his faith is counted to him as righteousness in chapter 15. He makes a lot of mistakes between there and chapter 22 when he is willingness to sacrifice Isaac. We aren’t given a large detail about the whole life of Rahab, but I am certain that she was not perfect even after she displayed great faith in assisting the Israelite spies. The wonderful beauty about the grace of God is that it covers a multitude of sins. But at the end of the day, truly seeing, desiring, and embracing the grace of God leads to consistent and continual faith fueled obedience.

That brings us to the particularly polarizing verse 24. Read this again

James 2:24 ESV

24 You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.

How are we to square away this verse with other Scripture that we read like Romans 3:28?

Romans 3:28 ESV

28 For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law.

Some look to these verses and see a contradiction. Depending on personality and disposition you might say Paul’s right and James is wrong, or vice versa.

But I would suggest to you that this is not a contradiction and that we do not need to, nor should we want to pit these verses against one another.

So how should we think about this?

Well first, we need to remember that context always aids our interpretation. In the greater context of these verses, Paul and James are addressing different issues. Paul is explaining the process of coming to Christ. James is talking about what happens in the life of those who already know Christ. James is writing under the presupposition that faith already exists. He’s not describe the way to earn salvation but the results of receiving it!

One pastor put it like this, “if we think of salvation as a math equation, something that most of you don’t want to do, and you write it out F = J + W.

F = J + W

So faith yields, equals, justification and then the plus W, works. So the works follow rightly being justified by faith. So if that’s the equation, F = J + W, what Paul says is don’t you dare put the W on the other side of the equation. That’s the teaching of the devil. Let that be anathema. Don’t you dare say F + W = J. Faith plus works yields justification. That’s Paul’s concern. He says you do that and you lose the Gospel. Let him be anathema if anyone comes to you and he puts the works on that side of the justification equation. That’s Paul’s concern.

Now you go back to that equation, F = J + W, James says, good! But don’t you dare leave out W on that other side of the equation. So the works are not the ground, not the means by which one is declared righteous, but if you just say faith equals J, go about your life, well, that’s not right. James is concerned to see that there is a life that produces works. So James’ argument presupposed the importance of faith.”

Which brings us to our concluding verse this morning:

James 2:26 ESV

26 For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead.

Faith apart from works is dead. It’s counterfeit faith. It’s fake faith. It’s dead faith. And its dangerous.

James had a half-brother whose a bit more important to our discussion this morning. His name is Jesus. Listen to what Jesus said in the Sermon on the Mount.

Matthew 7:15–20 ESV

15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. 16 You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. 18 A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus you will recognize them by their fruits.

This morning we have the opportunity to celebrate some of the fruit that we have seen produced throughout the nearly nine decade history of Durbin Memorial Baptist Church. I thank God for this church and I hope that we can all celebrate together.

But if I am being honest with all of you this morning. I am much less concerned with the good things that we look back on fondly within this organized body of believers, than I am about your individual understanding and application of the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ.

Know this. Jesus Christ lived and died and rose again to pay the cost of the sins of whosoever believes in Him that you would not perish but have everlasting life. His resurrection is a historical fact that proves beyond a shadow of a doubt that He is King of kings and Lord of lords. If you understand the reality of who Christ is and what He has done, live that out! If you love Christ, follow His commands! The most practical assurance of your salvation is the desire to follow the Lord in everyday obedience. If you are unsure if you understand who Jesus is or what He has done, make that known today, I’d love to tell you more about Him. And if you know who He is but as you evaluate your life you aren’t seeing the healthy fruit of growing in the spirit, Repent! Turn from your sin, turn to His Word and live it out. Make the hard decision to swallow your pride and follow your Loving Savior. I promise you it is worth it. I want to help you with that too! This church exists not to perpetuate some organization in our little corner of clay’s ferry. This church exists by the very grace of God to give Him glory in love of Him and others to help people grow in their understanding and practice of the Word of God and look forward to fruit in their lives now and one day hearing, “Well done my good and faithful servant.” We’ve been blessed to work at that for 84 years. May we continue to do so today.

In just a moment, after our prayer, we’re going to have a hymn of response. I hope that each of us evaluate our lives, see where we fall short of the glory of God and cry out to Jesus to keep us near the cross. If you want to talk about any of the things we discussed today, I’ll be right up front. You can also find me afterwards. But don’t leave here today just thinking about it, ACT! Go forward for the glory of God. Make the difficult decisions to swallow your pride and serve the Good King Jesus. And do so today. Let’s pray.