Faith Verified
The Book of James • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
0 ratings
· 2 viewsNotes
Transcript
Reading, especially when I was young, was a challenge for me. I remember when I was a kid, my dad offered me $20 for every book I read. I made a total of $0.
However, I do remember reading a small book on George Müller at some point, and it has stuck with me all my life.
George Müller (1805-1898) was a Christian missionary and evangelist who oversaw orphanages in Bristol, England, and was one of the founders of the Plymouth Brethren movement. Later, during the split, his group was called the Open Brethren.
As an evangelist, he traveled over 200,000 miles by ship to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ in 42 countries and to challenge believers to engage in world missions and to trust God. His language skills allowed him to preach in English, French, and German, and his sermons were translated into the host languages when he was unable to use one of the three.
The orphanage he started was a significant undertaking. He cared for 10,024 orphans during his lifetime and provided educational opportunities for them to the point that some accused him of raising the poor above their natural station in British society. Through his faith and prayers, and without asking for money, he established 117 schools that offered Christian education to more than 120,000 students.
In his journals, Müller documented miracle after miracle of God’s ongoing provision and answered prayers. One entry related this story of the orphanage.
One morning, all the plates, cups, and bowls on the table were empty. There was no food in the larder, and no money to buy any. The children were standing, waiting for their morning meal, when Müller said, “Children, you know we must be on time for school.” Then, lifting his hands, he prayed, “Dear Father, we thank Thee for what Thou art going to give us to eat.”
There was a knock at the door. The baker stood there and said, “Mr. Müller, I couldn’t sleep last night. Somehow, I felt you didn’t have bread for breakfast, and the Lord wanted me to send you some. So, I got up at 2 a.m. and baked some fresh bread and brought it.”
Mr. Müller thanked the baker, and no sooner had he left than there was a second knock at the door. It was the milkman. He announced that his milk cart had broken down right in front of the orphanage, and he would like to give the children his cans of fresh milk so he could empty his wagon and repair it.
George Müller is a perfect example of what our passage in James will tell us this morning.
This morning, we will be studying James 2:14-17. But before we get there, let me begin by reading James 1:22.
But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves.
Remember, James is not a book about how to get to heaven; it's about the Christian walk.
Another way to put it is that James is a book of action. If we keep this in mind, we won't have trouble understanding what James is trying to tell us in the next few verses.
James 2:14–17 “14 What use is it, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but he has no works? Can that faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and be filled,” and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that? 17 Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself.”
Faith + Works?
Faith + Works?
What use is it, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but he has no works? Can that faith save him?
At first glance, it seems that James is promoting salvation by works!
This was the issue Martin Luther had with the book of James when he called it a book of straw, because it seemed to challenge and even contradict the concept of justification by faith and the rest of God’s word.
In fact, many Christian denominations today still use this text as proof text to teach that salvation must include works!
The first question we need to answer this morning as we wrestle with the text is whether scripture is contradicting itself.
Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,
nevertheless knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the Law; since by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified.
Obviously, the texts in both Romans and Galatians make it very clear that faith is not by works!
In our church, we teach salvation as faith in Christ alone, plus nothing... We rely on verses like Eph 2:8-9.
For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;
not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.
Is James teaching a different gospel than Paul?
How can we then reconcile what James is teaching here?
Let me read the verse again from the NKJV and see if it will help clear things up a bit.
What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him?
I think the NKJV does a better job of helping us understand exactly what James is getting at.
The word “profit” suggests something that can be gained.
When we encounter information that seems to contradict other scripture, it’s helpful to examine different translations and consider the context to gain a clearer understanding.
Stay with me; I promise I’m making a point.
Notice the surrounding verses…
For judgment will be merciless to one who has shown no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment.
Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, knowing that as such we will incur a stricter judgment.
These verses talk about judgment, but as we learned last week, this is not the Great White Throne judgment but the Bema seat judgment where the believer will be judged for their works. Works done for Christ versus works done for oneself.
So I believe we can now approach this verse understanding that it has nothing to do with eternal salvation but rather rewards through active faith. In this case, yes! Faith and works go together.
James is warning us that simply having faith without acting on it will not earn you any rewards in heaven.
God didn't save us so we could sit back and do nothing!
Earlier, we read Ephesians 2:8–9 “8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.”
The problem is that most people stop there and don’t keep reading. Let’s look at verse 10.
For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.
This is exactly what James is talking about here… we were not saved for the purpose of just siting but to put our faith into action!
As usual, James gives us an example to consider.
I have entitled it…
Words Are Cheap!
Words Are Cheap!
If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food,
and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and be filled,” and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that?
I dare you to try this tomorrow… Who normally makes breakfast in your family? Instead of making breakfast, tell your kids and spouse “be warmed and be filled,” and see how that goes over.
When we identify a need, we are called to meet it. Last week, we briefly discussed Matthew 25:35–40 “35 ‘For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in…etc. ’”
As believers, this should be the norm, not the exception!
Story about a dad and his motorcycle.
Dad bought a blue motorcycle.
It arrived, and he heard about another missionary who was in need.
He gave the keys to someone to give to him, and watched the man excitedly praising the Lord for His provision.
God soon provided the funds again for Dad to get another motorcycle.
Are we willing to live our lives by faith in such a way that we can pray expectantly for breakfast like George Muller, or give away something we actually need to someone who might need it more, like what my dad did?
James concludes his thoughts with what I have titled…
Batteries Not Included
Batteries Not Included
Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself.
Dead, of course, not talking about literal death but figuratively.
James is not saying that if you don’t do works, you have no faith at all. For example...
Some people might criticize a church by saying, “That church is dead.” They aren’t suggesting there are no Christians in the church. They mean these Christians don’t seem to be alive for the Lord.
Another example, when we describe a sports team that plays without enthusiasm, we say, “they played dead,” which is what James is pointing to.
It's not a matter of not having faith, its an issue of not activating that faith.
You will recall we began today by discussing the word profit in verse 14. In other words, what we do here on earth with our faith will be judged. There is something to be gained, and conversely, there is something to be lost.
Do you remember the Parable of the Talents (Matt 25:14–30)?
The Lord comes back after entrusting talents to three separate servants.
Two of these servants double their money, while one buries his.
The Lord becomes upset with the “unprofitable” servant— the one who simply buried the money. He tells him he should have at least put the money in a bank where it could earn interest.
What’s the point?
The Lord is seeking profit. He made an investment in you and me and wants us to use what He has entrusted to us.
In closing, I would like to challenge you with the question…
What Kind Of Faith Do You Have?
What Kind Of Faith Do You Have?
The world is full of pew warmers, people who check the box of going to church and then just go home.
Are you simply a pew warmer, or are you actively seeking ways to serve Christ?
As a church, we have the chance to fill 500 boxes for Operation Christmas Child. Is this just words, or are we taking action?
We want to see the church grow. Are we actively inviting others to join us? Are we giving of our resources to ensure we meet our monthly budget?
God has called us to put our faith into action!
When we read these verses, I had to ask myself the question, “What makes me different from just any other person?” Is my faith real and evident to those around me?
Let us not be Christians with dead faith, but be alive and live lives clearly evident so there is no doubt about who we are and who we serve!
Let’s Pray
