What's the Difference?

Intro

I know that is safe…(talk about this for a bit)

Main Point

What’s the difference between Belief and Knowledge?

Why Does It Matter

Who is James?

· Jesus’ little brother

· Imagine your brother or sister – could you write a letter explaining how awesome they are and telling people to follow them?

· The fact this is a man who grew up with Jesus during the time we don’t know about him. This is significant. He spent MOST of his life with Jesus.

· He writes about what a real Christ-follower should look like.

Scipture

James 2:14–26 NIV

What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder. You foolish person, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless? Was not our father Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,” and he was called God’s friend. You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone. In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction? As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.

14 - If your faith doesn't move you to action do you really have faith?

15 - What if someone doesn't have the basic necessities of life?

16 - Sorry, I will pray for you. Good luck... How is that going to help them?

17 - It is the same thing - we claim to love Jesus but do nothing to show that we do - what of faith is that

18 - Keep your faith I am a good person look at what I do. How do we know you actually have faith? I show my faith by the things I do. Jesus moves me to action because I know Him and I love him

19 - So what if you know about God. So do the demons and they are terrified.

20 - Don't be a fool! Here is what I mean.

21 - Abraham was considered righteous even before Jesus because of his deeds.

22 - His faith in God was working together with his actions. He didn't do what he did to save himself he did it because God told him to and he obeyed - Isaac wasn't an idol

23 - Abraham believed God and proved it and he was God's friend

24 - Righteousness comes through the actions of your faith not faith alone. It is our faith that saves us but if we are truly saved how can we not be moved to action

25 - Rahab the prostitute was considered righteous when she helped God's spies.

26 - We die when our spirit leaves our bodies SO is our faith when we have no action.

Belief in something requires action not lip service

“I know that chair is safe, but I won’t sit in it.”

“I know you will do this thing that I asked.” They then call every 5 minutes to check up on you.

“I love you” but never talks to you or does anything special for you.

We acknowledge the need to make changes but never actually do it.

We have a vision to look at but we don’t pursue it.

Who is LORD of your heart?

Idolatry vs Lordship of Christ

Will we listen to the Holy Spirit when he speaks?

Are we willing to be uncomfortable for the sake of the Gospel?

Action reveals spiritual maturity

When we choose discomfort over comfort

When we choose the mission over tradition

Last week

1 Corinthians 10:31-33 – We sacrifice for the sake of the lost.

1 Corinthians 10:31–33 NIV

So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God—even as I try to please everyone in every way. For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved.

False conversion is a real thing. If we spend most of our time concerned with ourselves, we need to evaluate our commitment to Jesus.

Matthew 7:21-23 - 21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ 23 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’

James is clear here – He is talking about knowledge of God verses belief in Him. God is a God of the heart and our motives matter. DO we do what we do because we really believe He is who he tells us in Scripture? OR are we just buying fire insurance?

Any relationship feels bad when people are doing things because the “have to”.

Blue like jazz –

When he asked his friend to make a decision for Christ here was her response:

I can’t do it. It would be like, say, falling in love with somebody, or trying to convince yourself that your favourite food is pancakes. You don’t decide those things, they just happen to you. If God is real, He needs to happen to me… But this hurts. I want to believe but I can’t. I hate this.

Pancakes – Some people LOVE pancakes. They eat their first one and it is amazing to them. The syrup, the blue berries, the texture. They love pancakes.

Others could eat them, but they can also do without them.

Still others can’t stand them. The texture, the flavour, all of it.

Coffee – I have always loved the smell of coffee. I loved watching people pour it. I loved watching people enjoy it. I sat in groups for YEAR listening to people talk about coffee and how to make it and how to drink it and what to put into it. It was a group I desperately wanted to be a part of.

I tried it and tried it and tried it for years.

One day, someone who didn’t have a lot of money bought me a coffee without asking me. “I hated coffee.” But to be polite I drank it.

It wasn’t terrible.

Now I really like coffee. I can talk about coffee. I have a French press. I am looking into getting an aeropress…Those who know, know.

Same as Barbeque. I thought Montana’s was a great BBQ place.

I used to rave about their ribs. I would go to all you can eat ribs for my birthday we would drive all the way to Moncton to go to Montana’s because we didn’t have one then.

Then I moved to Virginia for 5 months. I ate REAL BBQ.

I came home and had Montana’s – it was NOT a good experience.

Woody’s smoke house opened in moncton which is now classic burger.

Applewood smokehouse opened downtown. NOPE.

Enough was enough. I was given my first smoker and could then make my own BBQ.

Then I upgraded to a bigger and better one.

Now I experiment with making rubs, bbq sauce, types of wood, temperatures, different cuts of meat, marinade. It is another culture that once I experienced it in its fullness there could be NO substitute.

Even the rib fest in Moncton can’t compete.

Donald miller in his book “Blue Like Jazz” put it like this:

“I never liked jazz music because jazz music doesn't resolve. But I was outside the Bagdad Theater in Portland one night when I saw a man playing the saxophone. I stood there for fifteen minutes, and he never opened his eyes.

After that I liked jazz music.

Sometimes you have to watch somebody love something before you can love it yourself. It is as if they are showing you the way. I used to not like God because God didn't resolve. But that was before any of this happened.” ―Donald Miller

Application

What action do we need to take to show the love of Christ?

Would someone feel comfortable coming into our space?

Is our message one of love and acceptance?

If yes, is there a way to can do even better?

Why do we meet on Sunday? Why are you tuned in today? When was the last time we were issued a challange and we responded?

Can we do more to be like that blues musician to show the true love of Jesus?

There isn’t a to-do here, besides check our commitment and make sure it is focused on Jesus and His Gospel message. Do we have any idols in our lives.

Our Jobs

Our families

Our building

Our music

Our traditions

money

our phones

netflix

An Idol is ANYTHING that stands in our way from saying yes to God. The reason God tested Abraham was to show what trust in God looks like. Abraham didn’t know why God asked him to do it. He knew who God was. When he told his son that God will provide the sacrifice he believed that. That is what belief looks like.

Spiritual maturity requires growth and understanding who God is. The more we understand His character the simpler it becomes to grow.

Closing

Everyone’s journey is different. James says if we have really believed in Jesus then our actions will reflect these examples. We need to model Jesus to other people so they see why He’s totally worth it!