The deceived Christian.

Welcome to the world of the deceived!

James is pointing to need of demonstrating our faith with our works. Probably there were many who claimed to believe in God, but whose life was showing the opposite.

- He is not saying that works save, but that saving faith produces works. He gives Abraham’s example. He acted upon what he believed. He went to mount Moriah to sacrifice Isaac because he believed that God would fulfill what He had promised.

- Who is the most pitiful of all men? The deceived by another person or the deceived by himself?

The deceived Christian! Who is that?

WHO FORGETS THAT GOD’S WORD IS PERFECT.

v. 17-18

a. It is complete.

- We don’t have to add our opinions or our plans to it. If we do it, we deceive ourselves thinking we are as smart as God.

b. It is reliable in all its promises and warnings.

- We are foolishly deceived when we think that His warnings will not apply to us. When we think we can do our own thing and will and nothing will happen.

- When we depend on our plans and wisdom instead of on His promises. We deceive ourselves because we think we’re wiser than God. No human plan is better than God’s plan.

c. It is immutable because the author is immutable.

- A person is deceived when he thinks that the Bible is not for this time. Many xns do not say it but they live as it is true…

- I can depend on His word today as I could depend on it 20 years ago….. The author does not change (Jesus same yesterday…), the truth is eternal, it never changes

ILUST. TRANSFORMED BY THE BIBLE (500 Ilu. 23)

Guillermo Wilberforce era un brillante joven de veinticuatro años cuando fue elegido miembro del Parlamento inglés. Era muy despreocupado en asuntos de religión. Pero una vez durante un viaje, por invitación de su amigo el Rev. Isaac Milner, leyeron todo el Nuevo Testamento en griego, idioma que ambos amigos conocían perfectamente, y esa simple y sola lectura revolucionó la vida de Wilberforce: fue un hombre nuevo, un digno senador cristiano y el abogado decidido de la abolición de la esclavitud.

Sucedió en Inglaterra también que, para combatir a Pedro Mártir que daba unas conferencias en la Universidad de Oxford, conferencias de esencia netamente antipapista, el clero se alarmó y designó a Bernardo Gilpin para que lo combatiera. Preparándose para la lucha leyó las Escrituras, los escritos de los padres y … después de todo, renunció a la iglesia del papa.

WHO THINKS THAT HEARING IS ENOUGH.

v. 19-25

- I am amazed at the number of believers who live believing that just because they come every Sunday to hear a sermon they are OK with God. That way of thinking comes from “the father of lies”.

a. We must be quick to hear. 19-20

- tachus: of uncertain affinity; fleet, i.e. (figuratively) prompt or ready, swift

- Sometimes we are so stuck in our opinions that we’re not willing to hear what God want to tell us.

- For some reason God gave us two ears and only one mouth…. His word should never bore us. Have you ever complained “the sermons are too long”…. They are no longer than the average TV program or the average CD.

- Don’t be deceived! That tells you how important is for you to hear God’s word

b. But hearing requires changes for good. 21-22

- Maybe the devil will not stop you from listening but he’ll try to stop you from “doing” at any cost.

- An advice is given to be followed, a commandment to be obeyed, a warning to be heeded

ILUST. LIKE STREET LIGHTS

c. The blessings come by the way of doing. 25

- Only one book of the Bible promises a blessing for listening (Rev.) In the other 65 the promises are for those who do, practice, obey what is commanded.

- Jesus said “if you abide in me and my words in you ask…” the same word we find in this verse.

ILLUST. PILOT FOLLOWS INSTRUCTIONS

- Don’t be deceived! No doing, no blessing!

WHO THINKS THAT RELIGION PLEASES GOD.

v. 26-27

a. Religion is mostly show.

- Any religion can produces external changes because that is its basis.

- Religion cannot change the heart, it cannot bring peace with God, it cannot give salvation. Only Christ can do it if you allow Him.

b. Religion allows things that God forbids. 26

- Religion allows criticism, reviling, detracting, drinking, partying, etc

ILUST. THAT’S WHY I LIKE MY RELIGION

- Religious people are experts at removing the speck from the eyes of others but have not learned to remove the log from their own eyes.

c. True religion is compassion and holiness. 27

It is believing that only Jesus can save and accepting His sacrifice as payment for your sins; it is following the example of the Master, as He said to the disciples, “if anyone wants to come after me, take up his cross and follow me.”