Faith and Obedience

Introduction:

· Fun with contranyms

IF YOU BELIEVE THE GOSPEL, IT DOES TWO THINGS: IT PRODUCES FRUIT AND GIVES FREEDOM – BUT FIRST WE NEED TO RECOGNIZE HOW WE DECIEVE OURSELVES.

I) Two Lies We Love to Believe:

A. Lie 1: Words Don’t Matter, as Long as I’m Religious

i. Anger can derail righteousness quickly: (vv. 19-20)

1. James links anger & words because the unrighteousness of anger àwords

2. EXAMPLE:Listening to understand vs. listening to argue à anger!

ii. Words can be weaponized (even as we distract ourselves) (vs. 26)

1. A right rein means restraint: tongue instead of gossip

2. “The Siren song”: Poor speech but enticed by “religion” (vs. 26)

3. We often “couch” it in pious language: “Prayer” or “just the truth”

B. Lie 2: Works Don’t Matter, as Long as You Believe(vs. 22-23)

i. Hearing without obedience is deceptive  (vs. 23-24)

1. You can sit through a million sermons, bible studies etc. but if all you say is, “Yep, I believe!” à taking a selfie and saying, “Who’s that?”

2. God’s word: not just “access code for heaven”; it reveals who we’re to be!

ii. Hearing without Obedience is impure religion (vs. 27)

1. James calls us out of personal impurity (sexual immorality; greed)

2. James calls us out of social sins (neglecting the poor & vulnerable)

EVEN THOUGH JAMES IS WARNING US ABOUT POSSIBLE DECPTION, HE’S ALSO POINTING US TO THE WAYS HTAT THE GOSPEL CHANGES US.

II) God’s Word Produces Fruit In Us

A. God’s Word is a Seed Planted in Us (vs. 21)

i. Obedience cannot come through external means

1. We can compel obedience through external means: Guilt, coercion

2. But this leads to pride or despair because it’s focused on human effort

ii. Obedience grows out of Internal Renewal (vv. 18, 21)

1. First fruits & seeds: A supernatural work of inner renewal

2. As we Hear God’s word the Spirit works in fruit-producing ways

B. God’s Word Is A Mirror That Reads us (vs. 23-24)

i. A Mirror Tells us The Truth about ourselves

1. It takes a certain amount of humility to look in the mirror…right?

2. We often go to the bible and “read it” – but the word must read us too!

3. EXAMPLE: God’s word will convict you of your pride, your

ii. Therefore, are we reading God’s Wod

1. EXAMPLE: Pastors’s trap: reading for sermons…others: Busyness…?

2. APPLICATION: If you want to produce fruit…are you reading scripture?

GOD’S WORD PRODUCES FRUIT – BUT IT ALSO GIVES US FREEDOM.

III) God’s Law Creates Freedom For Us

A. True & false Freedom: (vs. 25)

i. Modernity strives – but fails – to thrive apart from Law

1. Law & freedom: Another contronym?

2. Freedom = doing what I want àReligion oppressive

ii. The Law Gives Freedom

1. EXAMPLE: Say “I Do” you embrace many limits…that create freedom

2. The “perfect Law” defines limits that create freedom for blessing

B. Perfect Freedom is found in Perfect obedience to God

i. But the burden of the Law:

1. Some might object: Ten Commands is hard…more is harder!

2. Interestingly: Every other religion sees the prophet as a messenger that points to the rules (and the messenger is only needed as a prophet)

ii. The Fulfillment of the Law

1. Christianity: not enough to know teachings; you must know the teacher

2. Jesus: “it is finished” à accomplished our salvation, by fulfilling the law

3. So: Obedience is no longer about fulfilling the law but pleasing the father

Transition:

Conclusion

asd