Faith and Work

Welcome

Well, good morning friends! If we haven’t met yet, my name is Dan and I serve as the teaching pastor for Lifepoint Worthington. I’m really grateful you’re here with us today.

If we haven’t had the chance to connect yet…

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One service announcement

Alight - we’re finishing up a series today called, “I have Questions.” We’ve been looking at parts of the bible that are hard to make sense of - maybe feel contradictory - or, we read a passage and struggle to see how it fits together with other parts of the bible.

And at first glance, the passages we’re talking about today will look like they are in direct conflict with each other…it’s gonna make sense why we’re talking about them in this series.

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The Tension

Alright, let’s go ahead and get started. What tension are we looking at.

Let’s start from the birds-eye view and then we’ll take a much more careful look at these two passage seeing why they are not only not in conflict with each other, but ultimately that it’s part of God’s kindness to us in giving a fuller, far more robust picture of what in means and looks like to be in relationship with him.

Here we go.

Remember that the Bible is actually made up of multiple books; different genres with different authors, audiences, locations, time periods.

The New Testament is made up primarily of the biographies of Jesus - usually called the Gospel accounts (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John), and then letters written by early church leaders to the communities they were involved in.

Today, we’re looking at two letters written by two different people (Paul and James), with two very different audiences, in two very different location.

And I bring this up because, when we keep this simple reality in mind, it will prompt us to look closely at the nuances points each author is making first…and really allow Paul to say what Paul is trying to say and James to say what James is trying to say.

We’re looking at Romans chapter 4 and James chapter 2 today.

Both of them are talking about what a relationship with God through following Jesus looks like.

Both use the same word to describe that, “Justified” or “Justification” - which essentially means “Be in a right and good relationship with God.” That’s an over simplification - but it for the time frame we have today.

Both go back to what would have been a very familiar story for their audiences - the story of Abraham from the Old Testament - more specifically, they go back to the story of God’s interaction with Abraham, in calling him to a specific action - Abraham obeys - and in Genesis 15:6, talking about Abraham, it says,

Genesis 15:6 ESV

6 And he believed the Lord, and he counted it to him as righteousness.

Pause for a sec - because I’ve got a bit of nerd moment here.

There’s two words I want focus on: Genesis 15:6

Genesis 15:6 ESV

6 And he believed the Lord,

Believed

Genesis 15:6 ESV

and he counted it to him as righteousness.

And Righteousness.

I know this is a bit technical but hang with me…because there’s a bit of translation issue here. Remember we translate the Old Testament from Hebrew - the New Testament from greek. And in both these languages, the words for “believe” and “faith” are the same words AND the words for “righteousness” and “justify” are the same words. This will help us as we keep going.

TRANSITION

So far, James and Paul seem to be in lock-step.

But here’s where things get tricky.

Paul looks at this story of Abraham and declaration that he believed God and it was counted to him as righteousness and says in

Romans 4:2–3 ESV

2 For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. 3 For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.”

In other words, “See! A person is justified by faith (belief), and not by works!” For Paul, Abraham’s story proves that!

Seems legit.

Until you get to James, who looks the same story and the declaration the Abraham believed God and it was counted to him as righteousness, and says, “See! Abraham acted on his belief!

James 2:24 ESV

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

So according to Paul - you’re justified…made righteous…in right standing with God by faith and NOT by works alone.

But according to James - you’re justified…made righteous…in right standing with God by works AND NOT by faith alone.

Resolving the Tension

Hence the name of the series. I have questions.

How can both of these things be true?

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But I think as we look carefully at both of these passages - letting them speak for themselves, I think what we’ll actually see is that far from contradicting one another, Paul and James are in pitch - perfect harmony.

Think of it this way.

I love listening to music - and I’m not super picky - basically, I enjoy listening to anyone who is like a master on their instrument. And back in college, like any good roommate - it seemed like a good idea for me to bring my entire P.A. (BIG speakers and all) and set up shop in my room.

My jam of choice?

The 1812 Overture by Russian composer Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. Even if you don’t recognize the name of the piece - you probably know it. And I get it, classical music may not be your thing…but he literally fired a battery of canons at the end of those song - you can’t get much more awesome than that.

But when I first started to play this through my PA system, one of the things I noticed is that there were parts of the song that I knew…but for some reason, I couldn’t here them. The melody was there - and I could kind of make out the missing pieces, but it’s not the song the way it’s meant to be heard.

And if there’s nothing cooler than blaring the 1812 Overture in your form room at ear splitting levels (which is obviously the case), there’s nothing less cool than only being able to hear half the song.

It took my a while to realize the problem - that the cord I was using to connect my speaker to my computer was mono cord - built to only take one half of the recording…it was only pulling the left speaker and missing the other half of the band! What I needed was a stereo cord that could pull BOTH halves together - that’s where the real music was!

I share all that, because I think this is essentially what happens with, if we’re not careful, in how end up pitting one passage against another. It’s like we’re listening to one half of the Gospel song - and even though we might be able to make out the melody- we’re missing the fullness, richness, and ultimately the beauty of the whole thing together.

So my questions is, what happens if we try to listen to this thing is stereo mode? If we try and hear ALL of what Paul is trying to say AND all of what James is trying to say? What do we end up with then?

Let’s see!

Romans - Faith without Works

Jump over to Romans and let’s listen to what Paul has to say.

First of all, one of the things I want point out is that it’s never really a good idea to try and make sense of someone’s letter by starting halfway through and then stopping before you finish it.

And when you remember that Romans is an actual letter that Paul wrote to an actual church in Rome, it reminds us that we might want to take a step back and see the larger point that he’s trying to make.

Starting all the way back in Romans 1, Paul says this:

Romans 1:16 ESV

16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.

This really is the overarching point of the letter - the power of God for any person who believes in (or has faith in) Jesus for both Jewish people and Greeks (which is a catch all of for everyone else).

And from this statement onward, Paul is focused on explaining what he means…how is the Good News of Jesus good news for those who have never heard of him that’s all of chapter 2.

Chapter 3, he focuses on how the message of Jesus is good news for the Jews.

Look at Romans 3:1-2

Romans 3:1–2 ESV

1 Then what advantage has the Jew? Or what is the value of circumcision? 2 Much in every way. To begin with, the Jews were entrusted with the oracles of God.

According to Paul, the the Jews have been given a gift called the oracles, or the Law.

When he talks about the Law, he’s talking about the Old Testament commandments, like we looked at last week. For Paul, the Law is a gift because it clarifies what sin and brokenness is - it shows what means to be in right relationship with God. The problem, though, is that no one is able to perfectly keep all of the commandments.

Quoting Psalm 14, Paul says,

Romans 3:10 ESV

10 None is righteous, no, not one;

In other words, the point he has been building to is that all people have fallen short of the way of life God has called us and created us for! No one has been able to keep all the commandments and so, he comes to the conclusion in v. 20…

Romans 3:20 ESV

20 For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight.

In other words, Paul is saying it is not possible for anyone to be Justified…in right relationship with God by virtue of their works of the law…by virtue of their ability to keep the commandments of the Old Testament!

And yet…

Look at v. 21.

Romans 3:21–26 ESV

21 But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— 22 the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. 26 It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.

Friends, at it’s core, this is the good news of Jesus work on our behalf.

That while no person could ever attain justification, righteousness…a right relationship with God…by our own obedience to the commandments…by our works of the Law - God has made a way for us!

He has made a way for us by faith…belief…in Jesus…and that for ALL people, we can experience the free gift of justification - simply by faith in Jesus. Believing in Jesus.

EXPAND Gospel Implications and Personalize

And in an effort to get ahead of the critics and anyone who would start to pick apart Paul’s argument, he says, “And this is not just something I’m making up…this is not just something brand new…faith has always been God’s M.O.” For Paul, all you need to do is look at Abraham! The father of ALL of God’s people!

After all, verse 3,

Romans 4:3 ESV

3 For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.”

Now, all of a sudden, that hit’s a little different, doesn’t it?

Paul’s main point is clear: our relationship with God is not based on our obedience to the law. Our relationship with God is established by our faith in Jesus.

James - Faith AND Works

Now, that brings up the next question - what does faith look like?

This is what James is talking about!

Remember, both Paul and James are talking about faith, justification (or our relationship with God), and works.

But as we here what Jesus has to say, we’ll see he’s not just contradicting Paul, He’s harmonizing with him as he begins to explore what genuine faith looks like!

Look at v. 14. James 2:14-17

James 2:14–17 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? 17 So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

Now, you might have pick up on this already, but while both James and Paul using the word “works,” Paul was using it in a very theologically specific sense - it was short had for works of the Law or obedience to the Old Testament commandments. James is talking about something much more broad. He’s talking about what we could call, “Doing good in the name of Jesus.”

And I think his question in v. 14 brings this front and center. It’s actually steps on our toes a bit doesn’t it?

What good is our faith if it doesn’t produce any action in us? He compares it to driving past someone on the way home from church - passing them on the street corner with a wave and a “blessings” on you…all the while, he needs lunch.

He says, that kind of faith is dead. In other words it’s not real faith.

As James continues - faith is not just about an intellectual idea - it’s not able amassing and holding a a theological truth.

He says it this way in v. 19:

James 2:19 ESV

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

In other words, you can’t just say you have faith in Jesus - that alone doesn’t mean much of anything.

You can’t just look back over your life and say, “There was this moment back in elementary school where I prayed a prayer” and have that be the basis of your relationship with God. According to James, you will know that faith is genuine if it is producing good works in your life.

And let me be clear here - to say that genuine faith will produce good works is not the same thing as saying your good works are what establish your relationship with God. Or, in theological short-hand, that your good works “save” you. James is making a much broader argument - because unlike Paul, he is answering a much broader question: James is focused on what does genuine faith look like? And his answer to that question is genuine faith produces good works.

And just so he can get ahead of the critics, his point is that it’s always been this way! Genuine faith producing works has always been the thing God is concerned with! You need look no further than Abraham.

James 2:20–23 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.

In other words, a genuine faith is a working faith!

Putting It Together

Now how does this fit together?

Well, you see, when we take the time to listen to both James AND Paul, what we find is a much more robust Gospel melody. We find something that is actually moving and beautiful…more than just an interesting theological problem for us to solve.

You see, it’s Paul who makes it clear that the sole basis for a relationship with God is not our abilities…it’s not our perfection…it’s not something we can earn by doing enough, being enough, producing enough, succeeding enough. No, the Gospel is the revelation that God has mad a way for us to be restored to Him, restored to life the way it’s meant to be lived…to be pursue healing, forgiveness and wholeness through faith in Jesus!

At the same time, it’s James who says, “And this is what genuine faith looks like! Genuine faith is not just a matter of intellectually holding on to a proposition. Saving faith is cultivating a desire for obedience! It’s cultivating an apetite to do good in the name of Jesus!

What Happens if we have one and not the other?

Now, you may be wondering, “Dan, this is interesting theological exercise…but at the end of the day, who cares? I’ve got actual things I’m worried about right now - the stock market - my work - my family’s not doing well - (or whatever else) - the point is, I’ve got real problems.”

That’s the right question.

Think back with me to that moment I’m sitting in the dorm room listening to the 1812 Overture with half the music missing.

At the end of the day - I could hear the melody, but honestly, it wasn’t really beautiful…it wasn’t really moving…there was more noise and less music. I was listening in Mono, not Stereo.

In the same way, if don’t listen to the scriptures in Stereo, we’re going to miss the music for the noise!

If you have one without the other, Paul without James, Faith without Works you will hear the melody…but it’s missing something!

And this may be the place you’re in today - it looks like this - you know what you believe…you can talk about it…but something is missing. You might even recognize that something feels sterile…stagnant…you might even, in your heart of hearts, really struggle with the relevance of your belief system.

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At the same time, if you have James without Paul…works without faith…you too may hear the melody of the gospel, but it’s missing something!

What you will find is that your relationship with Jesus, however much you say you believe is not based on your performance, will become obsessed with what you bring to the table. And for a while, it will drive you to produce more and do more and, honestly, it will look really good to those around you…but eventually, you will loose steam. Because you will never be able to do enough…

Personal Story of how I listen to Works with out Faith Gospel and how it always brings about an overwhelming fear and sense of failure.

But, friends, you see, when we listen to both…when we hear the Gospel song in stereo and take both James and Paul together, we find the beautiful story unfolding that is not at all about what we bring to the table…but about what God brings to the table. And that we are invited into a way of life that seeks to do good in the world around us.

Let’s pray.