Saving Faith Justified By Works

MARCH 1,2020 STUDY NOTES JAMES 2:21-26 BIBLE TEACHER: CLIFTON JONES SAVING FAITH JUSTIFIED BY WORKS INTRODUCTION In the previous verses James taught that a faith without works is not a saving faith He now tells us that genuine saving faith will produce works It is through good works that saving faith is manifested James will now give us two examples to prove his point There are some vast differences in the two examples: One was a man and one was a woman They were at opposite ends of the social status The man was a Jew; the woman was a Gentile The man was a patriarch; the woman was a prostitute But James could use both-of them as an example of what he is telling us Genuine saving faith is “justified by works,” the faith that saves will prove itself through works Jas 2:21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? He begins with an example that they were all familiar with, “Abraham our Father” Abraham was the father of the Jewish nation, Rom 4:1 What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found? Paul is teaching that Abraham was not “justified (saved) by works,” Rom 4:2 For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God. Abraham was “justified (saved) by believing (faith) Rom 4:3 For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. James uses Abraham as an example because he was a man of faith, Paul agrees, Gal 3:6 Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness Through faith God reckoned Abraham righteous and his works proved that he was righteous In a spiritual sense, Abraham is the father of all who have true faith, Rom 4:11 And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also: Spiritually Abraham is the father of both believing Jews and believing Gentiles, Rom 4:12 And the father of circumcision to them who are not of the circumcision only, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had being yet uncircumcised. In Galatians Paul said, Gal 3:7 Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham. (Believing Jews and Gentiles are the true spiritual children of Abraham) Both Paul and James are using Abraham as an example of what they are teaching Paul is teaching that we are saved by faith and not works James is teaching that the faith that saves is the faith that will bring forth good works Therefore, Abraham was justified by works, He was declared righteous by grace through faith just like all who are saved, Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: No one will ever be saved through their works, Eph 2:9 Not of works, lest any man should boast We are saved so that we can perform “good works,” Eph 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. Abraham was justified before man by his works, he obeyed God because of his faith in God--when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? This event in the life of Abraham occurred many years after he was declared righteous, Gen 15:6 And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness. Abraham stood justified before God through his faith, how do we know that his faith was real? His faith in God was justified before man through the offering of Isaac, Gen 22:1 And it came to pass after these things, that God did tempt Abraham, and said unto him, Abraham: and he said, Behold, here I am. God had a test of faith for Abraham, would he obey God? What a test, Gen 22:2 And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of. Abraham, take your unique son, the one that you love so much and offer him as a sacrifice In Hebrews 11 we have a list of OT Saints presented as “Heroes of Faith” Their actions, their good works, revealed that their faith was genuine, Abraham was one of them, Heb 11:17 By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, (His faith allowed him to obey God) Abraham had trusted God to give him a son, his son Isaac was a miracle from God Isaac was the son of promise, Heb 11:18 Of whom it was said, that in Isaac shall thy seed be called: The promise regarding Isaac was an unconditional promise, it would be fulfilled What God was now asking Abraham to do seemed to contradict the divine promise of Isaac But Abraham had faith that God would fulfill that promise which allowed him to obey God Abraham believed that if he sacrificed Isaac that God would miraculously raise him from death, Heb 11:19 Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure. Abraham is an example of what James is telling us, true faith will bring forth good works Jas 2:22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? Surely you can see, you cannot help but see, how can you fail to see? To see what? How Abraham’s faith and works cooperated, how they worked together Had it not been for his faith, his work of offering up Isaac would not have happened Abraham had genuine faith before he offered up Isaac and by works was faith made perfect? His work was when he offered his son Isaac, Jas 2:21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? (His faith motivated him to do so) “Perfect” means that Abraham’s faith reached its goal, its purpose was fulfilled Jas 2:23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. Offering up Isaac demonstrated that his faith was genuine, his faith obeyed God And God fulfilled the scripture, Gen 15:6 And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness. That scripture was fulfilled means that God wrote history ahead of time, which only God can do God had declared that Abraham would honor God with his faith So, the scripture was true which saith, Abraham believed God, God had promised the “seed of Abraham” through this son For Abraham and Sarah to have a son was a human impossibility, but he believed God, Gen 17:19 And God said, Sarah thy wife shall bear thee a son indeed; and thou shalt call his name Isaac: and I will establish my covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his seed after him. Then many years later, God asked Abraham to sacrifice this son Abraham still believed God’s promise and he obeyed without asking questions That is why God said, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: The meaning of the word translated “imputed” is “to count” or “to think” God counted the faith of Abraham as righteous his faith had proved to be righteous Abraham’s righteous standing was not earned by works but by faith that works and he was called the Friend of God. Isaiah spoke words of encouragement to Israel, identifying them with Abraham, Isa 41:8 But thou, Israel, art my servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, the seed of Abraham my friend. Jehoshaphat prayed to God and spoke of Abraham as God’s friend forever, 2Ch 20:7 Art not thou our God, who didst drive out the inhabitants of this land before thy people Israel, and gavest it to the seed of Abraham thy friend forever? Jesus applied the same title to His followers, Joh 15:14 Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. In the conclusion of this chapter James answers his question, Jas 2:14 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? Jas 2:24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. James has presented to us a sound scriptural argument in support of his belief The faith that saves is not alone, good works will accompany saving faith a man is justified, and not by faith only. James is not teaching that you can be declared righteous as a result of works without faith He is teaching that your works declare that you are righteous The fact is, God declares a man righteous through faith which is invisible to man James uses the word “justified” with the meaning of to show or demonstrate righteousness Abraham was shown to be right with God through his works, Jas 2:21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? The only way that we can show others that we are righteous before God is through our works, Jas 2:24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. So, James gives us one more example of what he has taught us, one that is quite a contrast to that of Abraham Jas 2:25 Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way? “Likewise,” or in the same manner, meaning we have the same truth being taught Abraham and Rahab were of like faith, but they were of great difference in background Abraham was an example from the top of the social ladder, Rahab from the bottom of the social ladder Abraham was a Hebrew and a Godly man, the father of believers Rahab was a Gentile, a woman, a sinful woman, she was a prostitute An important point according to scripture is that she was a harlot, Jos 2:1 And Joshua the son of Nun sent out of Shittim two men to spy secretly, saying, Go view the land, even Jericho. And they went, and came into an harlot's house, named Rahab, and lodged there; Jos 6:17 And the city shall be accursed, even it, and all that are therein, to the LORD: only Rahab the harlot shall live, she and all that are with her in the house, because she hid the messengers that we sent. And to show us that true faith in God will change the life of any sinner; Jos 6:22 But Joshua had said unto the two men that had spied out the country, Go into the harlot's house, and bring out thence the woman, and all that she hath, as ye sware unto her; Jos 6:25 And Joshua saved Rahab the harlot alive, and her father's household, and all that she had; and she dwelleth in Israel even unto this day; because she hid the messengers, which Joshua sent to spy out Jericho. She is listed in the Hebrew Hall of Faith, Heb 11:31 By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace. She is also listed in the lineage of Christ, Mat 1:5 And Salmon begat Booz of Rachab; (Rahab) and Booz begat Obed of Ruth; and Obed begat Jesse; (Is not God’s grace amazing?) Why did the Holy Spirit inspire James to select Rahab the harlot along with Abraham? Probably one reason was to remind us that God is no respecter of persons, God’s grace is for all Any sinner can be justified by grace through faith, Rom 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. In the next verse Paul identifies with the same truth that James is teaching, Rom 1:17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith. What did Rahab have in common with Abraham? She had a “living faith” that worked She was justified by works, when she had received the messengers, Joshua sent two men into the city of Jericho as spies They came to Rahab’s house in Jericho, the king of Jericho heard that they had come He sent men to Rahab’s house to get the spies and bring them back to him Rahab protected the spies by hiding them behind the stacks of flax on her roof, Jos 2:4 And the woman took the two men, and hid them, and said thus, There came men unto me, but I wist not whence they were: Then she sends the king’s messengers out of the city, her works revealed the truth of her faith What she did was because of her faith in God, listen to her confession, Jos 2:9 And she said unto the men, I know that the LORD hath given you the land, and that your terror is fallen upon us, and that all the inhabitants of the land faint because of you. She had heard of the God of Israel and believed what she had heard, Jos 2:10 For we have heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red sea for you, when ye came out of Egypt; and what ye did unto the two kings of the Amorites, that were on the other side Jordan, Sihon and Og, whom ye utterly destroyed. She gave witness of her faith and she manifested her faith through her works, Jos 2:11 And as soon as we had heard these things, our hearts did melt, neither did there remain any more courage in any man, because of you: for the LORD your God, he is God in heaven above, and in earth beneath. She helped the men that she believed to be God’s men to safety She put faith in them and their words, Jos 2:12 Now therefore, I pray you, swear unto me by the LORD, since I have shewed you kindness, that ye will also shew kindness unto my father's house, and give me a true token: Jos 2:13 And that ye will save alive my father, and my mother, and my brethren, and my sisters, and all that they have, and deliver our lives from death. When the spies agreed, she showed them the way to safety, her “do so” faith worked, it paid off and had sent them out another way? That is why Rahab, the harlot, is given a place right along beside Abraham That is why James says that she is considered righteous for what she did She put her faith in God to work even in the face of opposition and persecution Fault can be found in her life, but God will forgive sins and God will reward faith James brings this chapter to a close with another illustration Jas 2:26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also. He presents an illustration that we are all familiar with, something that we cannot deny We have all witnessed the body of those who have died, a reality that is close to all of us When the spirit leaves the body, the body is left lifeless, there is no action of the body James compares a “say so” faith to a dead, lifeless body so faith without works is dead also. A faith that does not produce works is a dead faith, lifeless, useless, worthless, of no value True faith and genuine works are inseparable James does not say that we are saved by “works” but if we are saved, we will work Works is not the way to be saved but it is the way of those who are saved A “say-so” faith is not the faith that saves, Jesus said, Mat 7:21 Not everyone that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven; Mat 7:22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? Mat 7:23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. Paul said, 2Co 13:5 Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates? There must be living proof of true faith, faith that works is the evidence of genuine faith CONCLUSION James believes that we are saved by faith alone, but the faith that saves is not alone The faith that has no works is not the true saving faith, it is a dead faith Give close attention to the two examples that James gave us Examples of true, genuine, real faith, saving faith that is not alone, faith that works Consider the decisions of the patriarch Abraham: He believed that God knew what He was doing and would not make a mistake He believed in the promises that God had already given Him; He knew that God would not break a promise He knew that God would provide a substitute for the sacrifice of his son, Isaac If not, he believed that God had the power to raise the dead Consider the decisions of the prostitute Rahab: She believed in God, she believed in what God had promised His people She believed that God was going to give the Promised Land to His people She believed that God could and would save her and her family Because of her faith in God she was willing to take a big risk, endangering her life Now give thought to the personal decisions you will make this week: Will they be based upon your faith in God and God’s Word? Will they be based upon the promises of God? Will you be obedient to the commandments of God? Will your personal time and selfish desires be more important than your work of faith?