Justified Justification - James 2:14-26
Notes
Transcript
Welcome
We gather this day in the name of the Father, who chose us before the foundation of the world; the Son, who bore our sins in His body on the tree; and the Holy Spirit, who seals us unto the day of redemption. You have not come here by accident.
Welcome and good morning.
Announcements
Hymn of Preparation #
†CALL TO WORSHIP based on Hebrews 4:14-16
Pastor Austin Prince
Minister: We have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens: Jesus, the Son of God. He is able to sympathize with our weaknesses; in every respect he has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.
Congregation: We hold fast our confession.
Minister: Therefore, draw near to the throne of grace with confidence, that you may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
Congregation: Let us worship God, who invites us to draw near.
†PRAYER OF ADORATION AND INVOCATION
O Lord, our God — You are great and greatly to be praised. Heaven is your throne and earth you footstool, yet you have said that you dwell with him who is of a humble and contrite spirit. Humble our hearts before you. Put away from us all wandering thoughts, all coldness and deadness of spirit. You have promised to pour water on him that is thirsty. We are thirsty. Pour out your Spirit upon us, that we may worship you in spirit and in truth. Through Christ alone. Amen.
†OPENING HYMN OF PRAISE #291
“O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing”
†CONFESSION OF SIN AND ASSURANCE OF PARDON
based on 1 John 1:9; Daniel 9:18
***As God’s covenant people, we gather not only to praise Him but to be renewed by Him. Week after week, He calls us back from our wandering hearts. So let us return to the Lord now, confessing our sins and resting again in His steadfast love.
Minister: We confess our sins to our holy God, knowing that if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Congregation: Most gracious Father, you are holy, yet filled with mercy and steadfast love.
We confess to you: we have preferred the ways of this world to your ways, and we have rebelled against your wisdom. Incline your ear and hear. Receive our sorrows poured out before you. Forgive us, not because of our righteousness, but because of your great mercy in the gift of your Son, Jesus Christ.
It is in his name that we pray, for he is our Savior and the mediator of the covenant of grace. Amen.
Minister: Having confessed our sins, we hear the promise anew: If we confess our sins, God is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Christians, in Him, your sins are forgiven.
Congregation: Thanks be to God!
CONTINUAL READING OF SCRIPTURE Job 8
Elder John Hoffer
THE OFFERING OF TITHES AND OUR GIFTS
PASTORAL PRAYER & THE LORD’S PRAYER
Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
†HYMN OF PREPARATION #271
“Blessed Jesus, at Your Word”
SERMON James 2:14-26 // Justified Justification
PRAYER OF ILLUMINATION
Merciful Lord, the comforter and teacher of your faithful people, increase in your church the desires which you have given, and confirm the hearts of those who hope in you by enabling them to understand the depth of your promises, that all of your adopted sons may even now behold, with the eyes of faith, and patiently wait for, the light which as yet you do not openly manifest; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
TEXT James 2:14-26
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. 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? 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? 26 For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead.
AFTER SCRIPTURE
The ordinances of the Lord are sure, and altogether righteous. They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold.
INTRO
THE MINISTRY OF THE LORD’S SUPPER
Minister: Lift up your hearts!
Congregation: We lift them up to the Lord.
Minister: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
Congregation: It is right for us to give thanks and praise!
Our confession of faith today is found in the bulletin
CONFESSION OF FAITH* Based on Matt 16:16; Mk. 16:9; Jn. 20:28; I Cor. 15:1-6; Rev. 22:13
Minister: Christian, what do you believe?
Congregation: This is the good news that we have received, in which we stand, and by which we are saved, if we hold it fast: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day, and that he appeared first to the women, then to Peter, and to the Twelve, and then to many faithful witnesses. We believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God. Jesus Christ is the first and the last, the beginning and the end; he is our Lord and our God.
THE INVITATION TO THE LORD’S TABLE
This table is for those who belong to Christ through repentance, faith, baptism, and continuing union with his Church. If you do not repent of your sin, you must not come. If you do not trust in Christ alone for your salvation, you must not come. But if you confess your sin and rest in him, come: "O taste and see that the Lord is good; happy are those who take refuge in him."
PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
Congregation is seated.
DISTRIBUTION OF THE ELEMENTS
THE WORDS OF INSTITUTION AND THE SHARING OF THE SUPPER
WOI — responsive reading in bulletin
Minister: Our Lord Jesus Christ said, "Take, eat; this is my body which is given for you."
Congregation: By your divine presence, by the holy sacraments, by all the merits of your life, sufferings, death, and resurrection, bless and comfort us, gracious Lord and God. Amen.
Minister: Our Lord Jesus Christ said, "Drink from this, all of you. Do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me."
Congregation: Whenever we eat this bread and drink this cup together, we proclaim the Lord's death until he comes.
Minister: Christ, the Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world;
Congregation: Grant to us your peace. Amen.
[motion to eat and drink]
†OUR RESPONSE #234
Tune: The God of Abraham Praise
The whole triumphant host gives thanks to God on high;
“Hail, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost!” they ever cry.
Hail, Abraham’s God and mine! I join the heav’nly lays;
all might and majesty are thine, and endless praise.
†BENEDICTION: GOD’S BLESSING FOR HIS PEOPLE
Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts and establish them in every good work and word. 2 Thess. 2:16-17
