NAMB Sermon

Intro

Good Morning REVO Church!

Man I’m glad to be here with you today!

It’s always a joy to open up the Bible and dive into the truth of Scripture and today is no exception!

I am quite the Bible nerd — I am often quite comfortable with the parts of the Bible that make us uncomfortable

Today we are going to look at a passage that can not only be a little tricky, especially if misunderstood, but faith giants like Martin Luther downright disagreed with it calling the entire book “a right strawy epistle”

Luther even stated that he wanted to rip the book out of the Bible entirely

So before we dive into it lets pray

Pray

Lord be with us today

Give us eyes to see, ears to hear, and hearts to listen

Background of James

If you have your Bibles handy you can go to the book of James

If you don’t have your bibles you can always click to it on your iPad/iPhone

Or you can open your eyes, the verses will be on the screen!

While you’re turning to the book of James I think it’s important for us to understand a little about who James is

James is the half brother of Jesus

We know James wrote the book because like most NT authors he starts out like this:

James 1:1 ESV

1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes in the Dispersion: Greetings.

There were multiple James’ in the NT, but scholars pretty much unanimously agree that this James is in fact the half-brother of Jesus

Which could be a good thing — but it also could be a bad thing

I mean think about it

Really think, would you want Jesus as your brother?

I can see it now, Mary is cooking dinner in the kitchen and she hears her boys fighting

Like most moms she yells — boys whats going on in there?

Jesus pipes up, “James is messing with me He won’t stop picking on me”

James “That’s not true he’s lying”

Mary “James you know your brother… go to your room”

But James is the brother of Jesus yet he doesn’t count that as anything, instead just the title of Servant of God and the Lord Jesus Christ

James was also straight to the point constantly telling us what we should and should not do when in Christian life, no fluff just facts

So by now you should have your Bible or iPad open to the book of James and the passage we are going to look at starts like this:

James vs Paul?

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?

James writing to believers asks two questions:

“What good is it… if someone has faith but does not have works?”

“Can that faith save him?”

These two questions have confused many great theologians because they seem to go against what Paul himself says about faith:

Ephesians 2:8–9 ESV

8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

Paul is declaring to us that we are saved by grace through faith and that it is not our own doing.

Yet James appears to go in the exact opposite appearing to say that faith without works cannot save us

So which is it?

Faith by works? Or is it faith by grace?

This is the kind of thing that has led many people to call the Bible contradictory

That is a severe claim because if one thing in the Bible contradicts another then that would mean there is something that is wrong

And if the Bible has one thing that is wrong then there is the reality that more things could be wrong

But since we know that there is no errors in the Bible that begs the question: “What is going on here?”

What is Paul and James doing?

Consider this: Suppose a friend was always going on and on about how wonderful their spouse is and the depth of their relationship, but you never saw a connection between them.

They talk about how they are their best friend, they love them dearly, can’t imagine life without them

But then you’re thinking… why do you never spend time with them? Why don’t you invite them to dinner? Why does it feel like you take every opportunity to get away from them?

You’d be correct in questioning the nature of that relationship.

Simply put, love and faith in another produces action that affirms the presence of that love and faith.

It’s the same with faith and works.

Those who truly understand what God has done for them cannot help but be moved to live a generous, worshipful life.

These acts of worship are the very words that James is referring to.

Works for James means any action done in obedience to God

This can be both outward actions people can see, but also inward actions that people can’t see

When we think in that sense we can start to understand what James and Paul are doing — they are focusing on two different elements

Paul is focused on the method of salvation — we are saved by Grace not works

James however is not focused on the method of salvation, he is focused on what being saved means

Paul cares about how you get saved, James cares about what you are doing with that salvation

Here are some quick phrases to help us better understand:

You don't work to GET God; you work because you KNOW God.

You're not saved BY works, but you WILL WORK if you know Jesus.

You don't work TO know God; you work BECAUSE you know God.

You don't work FOR your salvation; you work FROM your salvation.

These statements are simple statements, but they explain that James and Paul aren’t at odds with one another, but rather that they are complementing and building off of one another

True faith

Now that we know that the Bible doesn’t contradict itself, and that James is simply focused on the quality of our faith, we are now going to look at the passage with that in mind

True faith is Generous

James continues by saying:

James 2:15–17 ESV

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.

James gives a easy to understand story

But one that we often find an excuse to not do, we will look at this and say “Why don’t the homeless go and get a job.” “If I give them money they won’t buy food they’ll buy drugs.”

However I want us to notice something about what James does here:

“If a brother or sister” — this is family terms showing that they are believers in Jesus themselves

James is doing this to remove the excuse that we wouldn’t know what they are doing with the money

It adds a level of accountability because believers are meant to help one another especially those who are in need

He isn’t saying that non-Christians shouldn’t also be helped, he’s using Christians to show that it should be obvious that we should help

James starts with the church family because if we can't even take care of our own spiritual family, how can we expect to be a light to the world? It starts here, but it spills out there

So what is James teaching us here about the quality of our faith?

True Faith is Generous

True faith in Jesus leads us to live a life that is generous to those that are in need

We are meant to give, help, and serve those who are in need

Look at the early believers the moment they found Jesus:

Acts 2:44–45 ESV

44 And all who believed were together and had all things in common. 45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need.

Upon being saved and putting faith in Jesus they started doing something radical — being Generous!

They sold possessions and gave the money to those that are in need!

They quite literally saw a need and then sought to meet a need

We see other examples of this like:

Zacchaeus: accepted Jesus, gave half of all he owned to the poor, refunded everything he stole from others fourfold

Women healed by Jesus: in Luke 8 we see Jesus heal many women, once healed they immediately start supporting Jesus and his ministry

Dorcas: in Acts 9 we see Dorcas who is a follower of Jesus and was known as someone “full of good works and acts of charity”

These are just a few examples of people in Scripture who once they had a real encounter with Jesus and put faith in him immediately proved their faith by being generous

Church this begs the question: is our faith marked by generosity?

Is our faith one that is proven again and again by our generosity? Or are we like the believer that James describes as someone who just wishes well without any action?

James describes faith that isn’t generous as a dead faith — so is that us?

Is our faith moving us to be radically generous?

True Faith is Active

James then continues by saying:

James 2:18–20 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! 20 Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless?

James in this section is anticipating someone’s response to what he has laid out thus far

“I have faith, you have works”

“You just don’t understand. I have faith, but you have works. Each part of the body is different, right, each fulfilling its unique role?”

He knows that there are people that will look and declare “I was saved by grace, my works don’t matter”

While they are right — that is how we are saved — remember James is focused on what we are doing with that saving faith

So what is James teaching us here:

True Faith is Active

James shows us that true faith in Jesus is an active faith

Faith is always accompanied by action — it is how we show what we believe

We have a lot of idioms that get across the same sentiment that James is asserting:

Put up or shut up

Talk is cheap

Actions speak louder than words

When we describe people who didn’t follow up on what they said, we say that they only gave “lip service.”

James is showing us that our faith in Jesus must be accompanied by actions

This reminds me of me and my wife

Her number 1 love language is not words of affirmation — she constantly lets me know that what I say means nothing to her unless my actions are backing it up

I can tell her all the sweet nothings in the world, but that is exactly what they are — sweet nothings without action

James tells us this about our faith in Jesus by stating that even the demons believe in Jesus

The demons have faith that Jesus is real, that he is the son of God, but they don’t have True saving faith in Jesus

Listen to this encounter Jesus had:

Mark 5:6–10 ESV

6 And when he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and fell down before him. 7 And crying out with a loud voice, he said, “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I adjure you by God, do not torment me.” 8 For he was saying to him, “Come out of the man, you unclean spirit!” 9 And Jesus asked him, “What is your name?” He replied, “My name is Legion, for we are many.” 10 And he begged him earnestly not to send them out of the country.

Jesus comes into the country of Gerasenes and he is immediately confronted by a demon possessed man

Notice how the demons addressed Jesus “Son of the Most High God”

The demons acknowledged who Jesus was, they believed Jesus yet we know that the demons are not saved — they are destined for Hell

They have all the intellectual facts right about Jesus. But the reality is they hate the facts

True faith isn't just agreeing that Jesus is Lord; it is trusting and loving that Jesus is Lord. The demons believe and tremble; Christians believe and rejoice

So church what about our faith?

Is our faith the type that is Active — applied faith?

Is our faith in Jesus causing us to go serve? To be generous? To share the Gospel?

James tells us that even the demons believe that Jesus existed

True faith James teaches is Active

True Faith is Sacrificial

James then finishes this section by saying:

James 2:21–25 ESV

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?

He goes through two different Old Testament examples: Abraham, and Rahab

He starts by talking about Father Abraham — you know the one that had many sons… and many sons had Father Abraham

Abraham is used showing that His faith in God provoked him to action

Again remember James isn’t talking about the method of salvation, but the application of salvation

Abraham’s faith we are told in Genesis 15:6 “6 And he believed the Lord, and he counted it to him as righteousness.” was counted as righteousness

He trusted the Lord and was saved

But that faith Abraham had wasn’t a dormant, mental faith — but instead faith that was applied when God told Abraham to go and Sacrifice his son

Abraham’s faith was tested and we see it applied when he goes up the mountain and is ready to sacrifice Isaac

Yet God stopped him from sacrificing Isaac — I want you to see what God praised Abraham for:

Genesis 22:12 ESV

12 He said, “Do not lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him, for now I know that you fear God, seeing you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me.”

Abraham’s faith was praised not on his mental thoughts, but on the the sacrificial work of going and applying it

Another way to phrase it — his works

Abraham had faith in God — then 30 years later he applied that faith!

His faith wasn’t just mental acceptance about God

Then we get to Rahab — yes that Rahab, prostitute Rahab

Her story goes like this:

Spies come into Jerhico

She accepted the spies

The King of Jericho’s soldiers look for the spies and get word that the spies came to visit Rahab

Rahab with the fear of death upon her sends the soldiers on a wild goose chase trying to find the spies

Meanwhile she is helping the spies down the wall to safety

Why?

Because she believed (had faith) in the promise of God giving the land over to the Israelites, and then applied that faith (works) by helping the spies

It wasn’t enough for Rahab to just simply believe what God was going to do she put her faith into action

Whats the big kicker between both Abraham and Rahab? Their faith in God was going to cost them something

For Abraham it was going to cost the life of his only son Isaac — the promised child

For Rahab it was going to cost her life if she was found out

So what is James teaching?

True faith is sacrificial

James shows us that true faith — faith that proves we trust in Jesus is sacrificial!

Our faith in Jesus will ultimately cost us something

I mean listen to how Jesus himself describes those who follow Him:

Luke 9:23 ESV

23 And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.

He tells us that if we are going to follow Him, we must take up our cross and deny ourselves

The cross today, has gotten so watered down — we see anyone and everyone wearing a cross necklace

This phrase from Jesus feels so nonchalant to us now

But when He said it, the controversy it sparked was undeniable

The cross was a Roman torture device used to kill a person while stripping them of their humanity

And Jesus tells us that if we are to follow Him, to trust in Him as savior and have faith — we must do that to ourself

Our ambition, our desires, our wants, our free time, everything

EVERYTHING

Must be put to death in order to follow Christ

Abraham looked at following Jesus and said — I’ll give my son who I waited 25 years for

Rahab looked at following Jesus and said — I’ll die if thats what it takes

This makes me think, what about us? What are we doing?

Is our faith in Jesus sacrifical?

When I accepted Jesus as Savior it cost me everything

I lost so many friends that I used to party with

I broke up with a girl that I had been dating for 2 and a half years

I stopped listening to music that at one time meant everything to me

I gave it up for the Lord

It wasn’t because I had to pay for Jesus to love me

It was because I understood that Jesus loved me that I gave it up

We cannot hear about Jesus and stay the same!

Our faith must be one marked by sacrifice for Jesus!

Gospel

Why? Because thats exactly what Jesus did for us — Sacrifice

There is no way we can see Jesus and stay the same

There is no way we can know the price that was paid for us and stay the same

Isaiah tells us that:

Isaiah 53:4–5 ESV

4 Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. 5 But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed.

Jesus went to the cross to save us!

To take our place

The punishment that Jesus took should have been mine

The pain that He endured should have been mine

Yet just like the famous verse says “God so loved the world…”

He loved us so much that He took our place to save us

To provide atonement for our sin that separates us from Him

He sacrificed himself for us, so that we can follow Him

Because He went to the cross (His work), I can have faith. And because I have faith, I pick up my cross (my work).

Not to pay Him back—you can't pay back a gift—but to say 'Thank You' with my life.

Conclusion

Church James tells us what true faith must look like: it must be generous, active, and sacrificial

An easy way to remember that? GAS

Just like in a car you press the gas peddle for it to move

Our faith must be empowered by works (GAS) to prove true

Let us go out today and hit the Spiritual Gas pedal in our life