Jesus' Works, My Works

Trusting in the One who’s done everything:

INTRO

INTRO

Hearing is not good enough, you must couple that with doing.

James 1:22 ESV

22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.

James 1:22

God the Father and God the Son knew that we would sin.

They knew that we would rebel.

However, hearing is crucial, hearing gives us the guide book to doing. To know how to act we must first listen

How has ever pulled out their phone to look a the time, or t check a text, or the weather or something and done it so quickly that you put your phone back in your pocket without actually remember/knowing what it says.

They knew that we would walk away.

So many times I’ve looked at the temp to know how to dress for the day, then hopped in the shower then brushed my teeth only to go to get dressed and realized i have know clue what it said.

So they devised a plan to pursue us, and the plan was that a sinless Savior would come as the sinners’ Savior.

or checked the time, and realized don’t know what it said

And in the fullness of time, the Lord Jesus Christ exited his throne in heaven, and he entered into human history, humbly. (phil 2)

or replied to a text without fully reading the text (sara corrects me in this all the time)

And he knew exactly what he was sent to do and the work that he was commissioned to accomplish.

Jesus grew in wisdom, stature, and favor with men and God.

He preached the truth, he helped the hurting, he healed the sick, he gave sight to the blind, he raised the dead, he rebuked the demons, he contended with the religious, and he emerged victorious.

And on the precipice of the most important event in the history of the world, the crucifixion of the Son of God, the atonement for our sin, Jesus paused, in .

And he paused to have yet another meeting with God the Father, and it’s the longest recorded prayer in the entire Bible. And Jesus says this in . He says, “Father, while on the earth, I have completed the works that you have sent me to do.”

Jesus knew exactly what he was to be doing, and that is exactly what he was doing. Jesus completed the works that he and the Father had agreed to. Then, Jesus proceeded forward boldly and he went to the cross where he substituted himself for us. The God-man put himself in our place and suffered and died the punishment we deserve, that we might receive the salvation that he alone secures.

Jesus knew exactly what he was to be doing, and that is exactly what he was doing. Jesus completed the works that he and the Father had agreed to.

Then, Jesus proceeded forward boldly and he went to the cross where he substituted himself for us.

The God-man put himself in our place and suffered and died the punishment we deserve, that we might receive the salvation that he alone secures.

Friends, everything Jesus did is everything that needs to be done. He said this on the cross, breathing out his last in triumphant victory cry, “It is finished!”

Friends, everything Jesus did is everything that needs to be done. He said this on the cross, breathing out his last in triumphant victory cry, “It is finished!” The work of salvation was completed. We don’t add to it. It’s not Jesus plus baptism, Jesus plus a good life, Jesus plus speaking in tongues, Jesus plus tithing, Jesus plus doing better and trying harder, because Jesus plus anything ruins everything. It’s all Jesus, it’s only Jesus, it’s always Jesus, and Jesus alone saves. And that’s Jesus’ saving work. We are not to do anything; we are to trust the one who has done everything. And the Bible calls that faith.

The work of salvation was completed.

We don’t add to it. It’s not Jesus plus baptism, Jesus plus a good life, Jesus plus speaking in tongues, Jesus plus tithing, Jesus plus doing better and trying harder, because Jesus plus anything ruins everything. It’s all Jesus, it’s only Jesus, it’s always Jesus, and Jesus alone saves. And that’s Jesus’ saving work. We are not to do anything; we are to trust the one who has done everything. And the Bible calls that faith.

Plugging In

As we trust Jesus and have faith in him, we are plugging in to the life of Jesus. Just as you would take dead technology and plug it into its power source so that it would come to life, so we who are spiritually dead by faith have access to the power of the living Jesus and are made spiritually alive.

Jesus’ work for us begins a work in us. Jesus’ work begins to transform us. Our appetites, our desires, our longings change. We no longer love what we used to love, we no longer do what we used to do, because we are no longer who we were.

Jesus’ work for us then continues with Jesus’ work in us, and it culminates with Jesus’ work through us to love, and to serve, and to give.

Not so that God would love us, but because in Christ he already has. Not so that God would accept us, but because in Christ he already does.

It’s the life of Jesus for us, in us, and through us so that all of that—hear me on this—all of that is the work of Jesus. All of that is the work of Jesus. And there is often confusion regarding this, so then preachers and teachers need to clarify this.

One of them is a man named James, who’s Jesus’ little brother, and he’s working as a pastor in the great city of Jerusalem, and he’s dealing primarily with religious people who have been going to meetings like this and hearing sermons like this for a really long time. And he’s going to clarify them—Jesus’ works and your works.

COUNTERFEIT FAITHS

If you’ve got a Bible, find this place: . And he’s going to speak of faith in three categories. The first two are counterfeits, and the last is authentic.

1. DEAD FAITH

The first counterfeit faith is a dead faith.

English Standard Version Chapter 2

14 What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith obut does not have works? Can that faith save him? 15 pIf a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, 16 qand one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good2 is that? 17 So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

“What good is it, my brothers.”

He’s writing to religious people. Some are Christians, some are not, but most are Jewish.

He is Jewish, they are Jewish by descent, and they are his Jewish brothers and sisters.

“What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him?” Very significant, important question.

We’re saved from Satan, sin, death, hell, torment, and the wrath of God. Being saved is incredibly important. Can this kind of dead faith save you from that fate? And then he uses a case study, an example. “If a brother or sister”—a fellow Christian—“is poorly clothed.” There’s somebody in your Community Group, there’s somebody in your church service, there’s somebody in your neighborhood, and as all the kids walk to the bus stop in the morning, you notice every day one kid doesn’t have a coat. It’s cold, and it’s raining, and the child is shivering and shaking. Or you see one “lacking in daily food.” The single mom in your Community Group, the single mom in your service, the single mom in your neighborhood, is trying to make ends meet, but she’s fallen short again this month. As a result, she’s distressed because she can’t buy groceries.

We’re saved from Satan, sin, death, hell, torment, and the wrath of God. Being saved is incredibly important.

Can this kind of dead faith save you from that fate?

And then he uses a case study, an example.

“If a brother or sister”—a fellow Christian—“is poorly clothed.” There’s somebody in your small Group, there’s somebody in your church service, there’s somebody in your neighborhood, and as all the kids walk to the bus stop in the morning, you notice every day one kid doesn’t have a coat. It’s cold, and it’s raining, and the child is shivering and shaking. Or you see one “lacking in daily food.”

The single mom in your small Group, the single mom in your service, the single mom in your neighborhood, is trying to make ends meet, but she’s fallen short again this month. As a result, she’s distressed because she can’t buy groceries.

“And you say”—you don’t do anything. This is the problem with religion. Religion says a lot of things, it doesn’t do anything.

“You say to them, ‘Go in peace.’” Oh, it’s religious hyperbole. Quote a little verse, give them a little truism, a little—“When God closes a door, he opens a window. I’m sure he has great things for you. Just trust the Lord. I’ll be praying. I’ll be praying he gives you a coat.” He already did; it’s at your house! “I’ll pray he gives you a sandwich.” He does; the sandwich is in your fridge. Go get it. If you’re going to pray, answer the prayer. You say, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled.”

Religious people are smarmy. They’re annoying. When they talk, it makes you want to hit them. “‘Oh, go in peace, beloved. Be warm, be filled’—without giving them the things needed for the body.” Here’s a good question, “What good is that?” What good is that? “See also faith by itself, if it does not have works, it’s dead.”

You know what dead people do? Do you know what dead people do? Nothing.

It’s not a trick question. They do nothing.

Do you know what dead faith does? Nothing. Dead faith is all lip service and no lifestyle. Dead faith is a profession of faith that you do not practice because you do not possess. This is like a guy who says, “I love my wife.” Do you talk to her? “No.” Do you serve her? “No.” Do you live with her? “No.” You don’t love her. “Yes I do, don’t judge my heart.” Well, the problem is your heart has overflowed into your life, and we see it. Dead faith is lip service, not lifestyle.

You know what dead faith does? Do you know what dead faith does? Nothing.

Dead faith is all lip service and no lifestyle. Dead faith is a profession of faith that you do not practice because you do not possess.

This is like a guy who says, “I love my wife.” Do you talk to her? “No.” Do you serve her? “No.” Do you live with her? “No.” You don’t love her. “Yes I do, don’t judge my heart.” Well, the problem is your heart has overflowed into your life, and we see it. Dead faith is lip service, not lifestyle.

Some of you have dead faith. Some of you have inherited dead faith. You don’t give, you don’t serve, you don’t care, but you believe in God. This is classic lazy, lukewarm, lifeless religion.

You know what? You can be baptized in the church, you can grow up in the church, you can sit in the church every week, you can have your wedding in the church, you can have your funeral in the church, close your eyes, and wake up in hell. Because church doesn’t save; Christ saves. Tradition doesn’t save; Christ saves. Religion doesn’t save; Christ saves. It’s not what you do, it’s not what the church does, it’s what Jesus does and whether or not you trust him.

Jesus said this: A good tree bears what kind of fruit? Good fruit. A bad tree bears what kind of fruit? Bad fruit. When we were kids in our yard, we planted two trees one for me and one for my sister. One rooted and is fruitful, the other did not and is dead, but they’re both still standing there. My dad didn’t take them out for a really long time. Some of you are like that. It’s only a matter of time before Jesus comes back, chops you down, and burns you up because you’re a bad tree and you don’t bear good fruit. You have dead faith. It’s not rooted and as a result of not being rooted, it’s not fruitful.

Some of you are like that. You’re rooted in morality, you’re rooted in religion, you’re rooted in spirituality, you’re rooted in tradition, but you’re not rooted in Christ, so there’s no life in you, there’s no life through you. The result is, it’s fruitless. It’s fruitless. How many of you are discouraged and a little scared?

It’s going to get worse. Next section. OK, that’s dead faith.

Demonic “Faith”

James 2:18–19 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!

Using the Bible to excuse your disobedience to the Bible is not rightly using the Bible. “But someone will say,” hypothetically in their small Group because they’re a nerd, and they love footnotes, and they don’t do anything. Hypothetically, “But someone will say, ‘You have faith; I have works.’” “We believe in pluralism, tolerance, diversity, you have your truth I have my truth that’s your path, this is mine, let’s not judge each other. We’re both right.” He says, “Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe that—and shudder!”

There are two groups having a little argument in the church. Two thousand years later, these groups still having an argument. We have the works people, and we have the faith people. And the works are works minus faith, and the faith is minus works. So, the works-minus-faith people are saying, basically, “You can earn your salvation. It’s not what Jesus does; it’s what you do. Be a good person. Try harder. Reincarnate. Pay off your karmic debt. Go to Mecca. Tithe 10 percent. Speak in tongues. Get baptized. Do something.”

This functions oftentimes formally in religion. And depending upon what religion you go to, they’re going to hand you another job description. Do these things, and then God will love you, and God will save you, and God will forgive you, and you can go off to Never Never Land. It’s going to be awesome for you forever. Just do these things on the list. Every, every, every single religion is about works except for Christianity. That’s why I get frustrated. People are like, “Oh, Christianity is just like other religions.” No, it’s not. Like, babysitting is not like terrorism. They’re different. They treat people differently. Religion and Christianity are different, and all religions are works. You work hard and save yourself. In Christianity, Jesus does all the work, you just trust him.

Ravi, and here’s what he said: “Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism, Jainism, Judaism, Islam—all of them have one common assumption in one way or the other, whether they be pantheistic or theistic, that the means to your destination is good works at the keeping of a certain moral framework, or certain laws, or certain rules.” Every religion except for Christianity says there is a savior, and you meet them every morning in the mirror. This leads to pride—“I save myself”—or despair, “I failed and lost my salvation.” There’s great uncertainty and anxiety if salvation is accomplished by me.

These people are having this argument with the faith people. So, the works people are having an argument with the faith people. And the faith people are faith minus works.

They’re saying, “You know what? We just need to calm down. There’s no need to get so serious like these devoutly religious people. We don’t need to pray. God’s sovereign; he already takes care of everything. We don’t need to give; God will provide. We don’t need to serve; that would be legalism and works, and we should sit down. We should just trust the Lord, and maybe argue theology, and publish some books, and wait for Jesus to come back. You don’t want to do anything. “You’re not religious, are you? You don’t want to do anything. You’re not legalistic, are you? Why are you trying? Don’t you trust Jesus? Why are you helping? Why are you praying? Why are you caring? Why are you serving? That’s not very godly. You look like the Pharisees. Remember those religious guys?”

“You know what? We just need to calm down. There’s no need to get so serious like these devoutly religious people. We don’t need to pray. God’s sovereign; he already takes care of everything. We don’t need to give; God will provide. We don’t need to serve; that would be legalism and works, and we should sit down. We should just trust the Lord, and maybe argue theology, and publish some books, and wait for Jesus to come back. You don’t want to do anything. “You’re not religious, are you? You don’t want to do anything. You’re not legalistic, are you? Why are you trying? Don’t you trust Jesus? Why are you helping? Why are you praying? Why are you caring? Why are you serving? That’s not very godly. You look like the Pharisees. Remember those religious guys?”

The faith people are over here saying, “Don’t do anything like those religious people.” And the works people are over here saying, “You don’t need Jesus. Like a virgin had a baby who rose from the dead. How about something more practical like, you figure it out yourself and you fix it yourself?” And James says they’re both wrong. They’re both wrong.

There are versions of this in Christianity. There are whole churches and denominations that basically take one of these options: the faith option or the works option, and both are demonic. Now, there’s an informal third way that exists in our culture, and that is, “No, I’m not going to do nothing and I’m not going to do a lot of things. I’ll just assume that what I’m already doing is good enough.” These are people who are like, “If you died, do you know where you’re going?” “I’m going to heaven.” “Why?” “I believe in God. I’m a pretty good person.” Which means, “I’m not going to try any harder. I feel like he grades on a curve, and I think I’m OK. I’m one of those C students, but you know, he grades on a curve. Oh, I could do more, but I could do less. I’m a pretty good person.”

Who knows someone like that?

What’s James answer to that question?

you are like a demon. demonic faith approaches God like demons, you can have an understanding of Jesus without an affection for Jesus.

3 ASPECTS OF DEMONIC FAITH

There’s three aspects of demonic faith, and again, I use these in quotes. Demonic faith has information but not transformation. OK, do demons become Christians, yes or no? No. Do demons know who Jesus is, yes or no? Yes. So, they know who Jesus is, and they go to hell. You can know who Jesus is and go to hell because you need more than just information. You need that information to result in your transformation.

1. ITS KNOWLEDGE DOESN’T TRANSFORM

Some of you could pass a test. “Jesus is the Son of God. You are the Holy One.” And you could score 100 percent along with the demon and be with them forever, because the test is not just fill-in-the-blank—it’s fill in the life. It’s not just what you know; it’s what that knowledge does to transform you. The idea is this: You can’t say, “I met Jesus and nothing changed.” You can’t. You can’t meet the Creator of the universe and not change.

2. IT DOESN’T LOVE JESUS

Number two, demonic faith knows about Jesus but does not love Jesus. “You are the Holy One. You are the Son of God. We know who you are.” They don’t say, “And we love you. And we’re so glad to meet you. And we want to become more like you. And we want to follow you, and we want to listen to you, and we want to submit to you, and we want others to see you through us.” They don’t love him. Do you love Jesus? Do you love Jesus? Has he changed you? Is he changing you?

3. IT’S REBELLIOUS AND NOT REPENTANT

Thirdly, demonic faith is rebellious and not repentant. “You are the Holy One, the Son of God, and we’re not going to do what you say. We’re not going to submit to you, we’re not going to obey you, we’re not going to yield to you. We’re not going to bend our knee and bow our head in honor of you. No way.”

Some of you know who Jesus is and you disobey and you rebel. And if somebody confronts you, they’re like, “What you’re doing is wrong.” “Look, don’t talk to me. I know who Jesus is. He’s the Holy One, the Son of God.” You are like a demon. You’re like a demon.

These are two kinds of counterfeit faith. Dead faith, demonic faith. Dead faith does not produce fruitful living. Demonic faith is entirely, exclusively, continually theological and theoretical. It’s not practical; it’s not actual.

REAL FAITH THAT’S DYNAMIC

James 2:20–26 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. 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.

“Do you want to be shown, you foolish person?” How many of you think you’re pretty smart? You’re like, “I don’t know, he’s yelling. “I’m pretty smart. I don’t feel like you should yell at someone as smart as me. Oh yeah, there’s a dumb guy sitting next to me. All right, it’s OK. He needs to yell at that guy.”

Some of you say, “I’m a Christian!” Maybe a foolish Christian. You can be a foolish Christian.

“Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless?” So, he’s going to do two case studies—Abraham, Rahab, a man and a woman. “Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed.” I want you to pay careful attention to that word. We’re going to come back to it. Super important. “Completed by his works; and the Scripture was fulfilled that says—” “‘Abraham believed God’”—there’s faith—“‘and it was counted to him as righteousness’—and he was “called a friend of God. You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. In the same way”—second case study—“was not also Rahab the prostitute?”

If you are here and you’ve done some things you are ashamed of the Bible talks about loving people like you.

“‘Abraham believed God’”—there’s faith—“‘and it was counted to him as righteousness’—and he was “called a friend of God. You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. In the same way”—second case study—“was not also Rahab the prostitute?”

The real problem with religion is, “Be a good person and save yourself.” You’re like, “I’ve been a bad person, what now?” Rahab was a prostitute.

Rahab, she was a prostitute, She wasn’t one of God’s people. And then God’s people showed up in town, and God’s people were in danger. They were gonna lose their life, so what Rahab did is she had a conversion, and she identified with God’s people, and she realized that her life was wrong, and she immediately started making some changes.” What he’s saying is as soon as Rahab converted, you could see it. Her life started changing. She wasn’t perfect, but she was different.

Friends, Christians aren’t perfect, but they’re different, and they’re on the path to perfection that ends with the resurrection, which is where they see their perfection.

rahab didn’t say “i trust the lord, good luck getting out of town”, good luck!!

Abraham

Old lady, bore a son, promised fulfilled, he was loved

as he grew to be a young man, your only son, your firstborn son, the son of the promise, the son that you waited for, the son that was born by a miracle, and I want you to offer him as a sacrifice to me. (this is a foreshadowing of Jesus)

The Father would send his only begotten Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, we would wait a long time for him, and he would be born through a miracle to a woman who was a virgin and not otherwise able to conceive apart from the intervention of God. When born, he would be greatly loved, and he would be the Son of the promise from the line of Abraham. So, all of this points to Jesus.

What is says then is that Abraham was going to sacrifice Isaac in obedience to the Lord, and that Isaac literally carried the wood on his own back, just like Jesus carried the cross to his place of crucifixion and execution. And in faith, Abraham was going to sacrifice his only son. And God intervened through the angel of the Lord, perhaps even Jesus, and said, “Don’t sacrifice your son. There’s an animal as a substitute. But on the Mountain of the Lord, it will be provided,” meaning there would be another day when the Father would send another Son who would carry different wood, and he instead would substitute himself for the salvation of sinners.

What James is saying, particularly to these Jewish Christians who are in the city of Jerusalem attending this large church, is, “What if Abraham would have said, ‘I have faith, but not works? I trust the Lord; I just don’t do anything.’”

Faith is not just what we believe internally, it’s how we behave externally.

Pool illustration: OK, so here we are, edge of the pool, all right? “I trust you, Dad.” “No you don’t.” “I trust you in here.” “OK, that’s a good start. Jump.” If they never jump, do they trust me? No, because trust in here results in action out there.

What he is saying Rahab, trusted the Lord in here and you could see it out here, Abraham trusted in here and you can see it here, they trusted they had dynamic faith.

James 2:26 ESV

26 For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead.

Ephesians 2:8–10 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. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

OK, now what does Paul say? And this is one of the most dynamic summaries of Paul’s teaching. “For by grace.” You didn’t earn it, didn’t deserve it. Here’s the good news: that means you can’t lose it. God gives you something you don’t deserve, you can’t do something to disearn it. (I think I made up a word, but—) You can’t. If you didn’t deserve it and you have it, you can’t do anything to lose it because you didn’t earn it in the first place. It was a gift. “By grace you have been saved.” Past, present, future. Conquered Satan, sin, death, hell, the wrath of God. It’s all taken care of. Take a deep breath. Yay, Jesus! Thanks a lot.

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.

. Jesus did it all. I’m saved. There’s nothing that he asks of me. Yay, I just sit down, and read books, and wait for the Rapture. Whoo!” Is that it?

Jesus did it all. I’m saved. There’s nothing that he asks of me. Yay, I just sit down, and read books, and wait for the Rapture. Whoo!” Is that it?

Another verse. “For we are his workmanship.” Point number one, Jesus’ work for you on the cross through the empty tomb. Workmanship. Jesus is working on you, changing your desires, changing your nature, changing your proclivities, changing your budget, changing your mouth, changing your lifestyle, changing your orientation. “Created in Christ Jesus for good—” Not bad works that compete with faith, good works that complete faith. Not works that you’re trying to make yourself a Christian, but works that show that you belong to Christ. It’s Jesus’ work for you. It’s Jesus’ work in you. It’s Jesus’ work through you. It’s all Jesus’ work.

Somebody comes along and says, “Boy, you’ve really changed.” “Well, I still got a lot of work to do, but thankfully Jesus is working on me.” “Hey, you really were loving. You were gracious. “You were kind. You were generous. You responded differently.” “Yep, Jesus is working on me, and he’s working through me. “And I’m not changing because I have to but because I want to. “I’m not changing so that he’ll love me but because his love is changing me.”

Do you see the difference? You’re saved by grace through faith in Christ alone to good works that God has prepared in advance for you to do. And we don’t do those works—giving, loving, praying, serving, growing, helping, trying, caring—out of legalism, “You need to do this!” but out of love, “Jesus has done that for me. Jesus is doing that in me. Jesus wants to do that through me. He loves me, I love him. That’s what I want to do. I want to be like him.” That results in great joy, the greatest joy of all.

Internal devotion to God, (FAITH) produces external devotion to God, (WORKS) because a good tree bears good fruit.

Non-Christian, religious person, moral person, you’re not a good person—you’re a sinful person. There’s nothing you can do to fix yourself and please God. You need to stop whatever you are doing and start trusting in what Jesus has done.

Christian, God has prepared good works for you to do. There are people for you to love. There are people for you to talk to about Jesus. There are things for you to learn. There are ways for you to grow. There are desires that need to be changed. There are mindsets that have yet to be altered. There is generosity for you to share. There’s a kingdom for you to serve. There is a mission for you to be a part of. And Jesus invites you to join him in this wonderful, glorious, good works of the gospel, moving through the nations of the earth, starting in the lives of his people.

We’ve got so much work to do. We’ve got churches to plant, people to disciple, hurting people to help, poor people to feed, we’ve got friends who need to know about Jesus, we’ve got family members we need to take to the Lord in Prayer.

Don’t sit back in your seat and be like, “Oh, it sounds like he’s preaching works.” No, he’s preaching love—love for Jesus, love for his people, and love for the world compels us to action. It’s the same love that got Jesus off his throne, got Jesus into history, and got Jesus caring, and loving, and seeking, and saving, and serving. And it’s not us, it’s Christ in us, the hope of glory. It’s Christ in us, the hope of glory.

Don’t have two categories, Jesus and me. No way! It’s Jesus through me. Jesus through me. All glory to him, all joy to me, amen? Now you know why you’re here. Now you know why you were born. Now you know why you have the experiences you do, and the gifts that you do, and the opportunities that God has set before you, because he has good works prepared in advance for you to do.

Here’s the good news: he doesn’t need you, but he loves you just like a good dad allows the children he loves to participate with him in the things that he does. Our loving father loves to have his kids go to work with him. We get to see what he’s like, and what he’s doing, and where he’s working, and what he’s building, and who he’s changing. And we learn more about our Father, and we get to see the family grow, and we get to share in his joy, and we become more like him as we work alongside him. And he doesn’t force us to work with him because he’s using us. In fact, we make his work much harder. But he invites us to walk alongside him and to work with him because he loves us, and he wants us to love what he loves, see who he is, and does what he does. Amen?

Non-Christian: Respond, come forward seek forgiveness for your sins, against God. Confess and repent.

Christian: Reflect,

What type of faith do I have? (dead, demonic, dynamic)

Why is my faith in this place? Why have I allowed my faith to stall?

is there unconfessed sin that you haven’t dealt with?

How is my internal devotion to God displayed externally?

Where is God calling me to match my works to the faith I profess?

Pray for one another that our internal devotion to God would produce an external devotion to God.