Got Fruit? Part 2

Examples of True Faith: Abraham and Rahab (vs 20-26)

After addressing his opponent by asking if he wants to be shown that faith apart from works is useless, James gives two examples to demonstrate his point in verses 21-26 in the lives of Abraham and Rahab....that genuine faith is a faith that sacrifices and a faith that takes risks in obedience to God.

James first uses the example of how Abraham was justified by his works in passing the test of offering up his Son Isaac as God commanded him. Abraham demonstrated his faith in that he was willing to sacrifice his most prized possession for God.

James says in verse 21, “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 by his works; 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.”

Because Abraham believed and fully trusted God, he demonstrated his faith by obeying what God commanded him to do…Look at Hebrews 11:17-18 “By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was in the act of offering up his only son, of whom it was said, “Through Isaac shall your offspring be named.””

Hebrews 11 makes clear that genuine faith must be seen in obedience and that without faith it is impossible to please God…You cannot obey God without first believing in Him and submitting to His Lordship...therefore, it is genuine faith that produces works and a life of obedience.

This is why James says in verse 22 that it was Abraham’s faith that was co-laboring with his works to help him be obedient to God.

Abraham’s faith was brought to maturity and completion through obeying God’s command to offer up Isaac, His only Son, on the alter.

Abraham’s obedience to God fulfilled the Scripture in Genesis 15 that His faith in God’s promises was real and genuine.

Now, James is not saying that Abraham was justified, in that he was declared righteous because of his obedience, but that Abraham was justified, in that he proved he was righteous and that his faith was genuine through his obedience.

But wait...James says in verse 24, “You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.” Does this not contradict what Paul says that we are saved by grace through faith in Christ alone in Ephesians 2?

The key issue at stake in verse 24 is understanding that “justified” has two meanings for James and Paul.

Use example of the word “bat” can be a baseball bat or an animal…it all depends on the context to determine the meaning of the word.

It is Important to see that James wrote this letter before Paul wrote Romans and Galatians. Therefore, he would not be aware of Paul’s meaning and emphasis on the word Justification.

Greg Gilbert provides a good illustration on how to understand these two meanings of justification through a wedding ceremony:

Paul’s use of Justification: “God declares someone to be in the right through faith in Jesus Christ alone.”

James’ use of justification: “Someone proves themselves to be right with God through a life of obedience which shows their professed faith to be real.”

Both Jesus and Paul agree with James that living faith will express itself in a life of obedience.

Jesus makes clear in Matthew 7:16-27 that one will know if someone is his disciple by the way they live their lives, “you will know them by their fruit”…and they will be those who “hear my word and do it.”

In Ephesians 4:17 Paul made clear that if one has faith in Jesus, the expectation is that one will no longer live like sinners who do not believe in Jesus…but will put on the new self and their lives will look more and more like Christ.

So, James is not in contradiction with Paul or Jesus and can rightfully say that Abraham was justified, in that he demonstrated his faith in obeying God’s command.

Abraham was willing to sacrifice everything for God. Does your faith lead you to be willing to sacrifice your most prized possessions for God?

If God were to call you to give up playing the games that you enjoy, the relationships you have, the dreams you aspire to, the athletic career you have worked so hard for…all for the sake of his kingdom to better serve him....would you be willing to do it?

If God were to call you to leave America and serve him in a foreign country away from family and friends like Brad and Margie, would you be willing to sacrifice all of that for Him?

Do you have such a strong faith in His goodness and His promises to know that anything He calls you to is much better than what you think is best?

May God be gracious to give us this kind of faith!

James gives another example of how genuine faith in God is demonstrated through obedience in the life of Rahab in verse 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?”

Abraham showed that genuine faith is willing to sacrifice everything for God, Rahab showed that genuine faith is willing to risk one’s life for God.

**Explain how she risked everything and demonstrated her faith in God from Joshua 2.

Does your faith in God lead you to take risks for Him? To be willing to face ridicule and mockery from others for sharing the gospel, for standing up for what you believe in, for befriending that person who no one likes at your school?

Ultimately, both Abraham and Rahab’s faith points to the perfect picture of Jesus’ faith in the Father.

Jesus had the faith in the Father’s promise to sacrifice His life for the sins of the world…He had the faith to risk everything because He knew the Father’s plan, He trusted in and submitted to His will, to glorify His name.

May God be gracious to give us the faith to trust in Jesus and have His faith so that we can seek to sacrifice and risk everything for God and His glory.

For if we do not have a faith that demonstrates itself through obedience, a faith that sacrifices, a faith that takes risks, then our faith is just as alive as a dead person that lies in the coffin as James says in verse 26… “For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead.”

Now we have spoken about some tough topics these past two weeks… and some of you may be asking, “how do I know that I am truly saved?”

3 Evidences of a Genuine Believer

Evidence of being born again by the Holy Spirit (1 Thessalonians 1:2-5)

Paul says that the Thessalonians showed evidence of their faith through their work of faith, labor of love and steadfastness of hope in Jesus Christ.

They received the gospel and it was made evident through the power of the Holy Spirit that had transformed their life.

Paul knew the Thessalonians had been chosen by God by seeing the power of the Holy Spirit in them and that they had full conviction.

What are some evidence of the Holy Spirit in your life? Do you have the fruit of the Spirit?

Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Gentleness, Faithfulness, and Self-Control?

Ways you know you are walking in step and have been transformed by the Spirit:

Read and rely upon the Word of God.

Have a deepening prayer life.

Have a desire for the message of the gospel to transform others and share the gospel with others.

Will want to be with the people of God

Receive correction from authority figures with humility.

Evidence of present and active trust in Christ (1 Thessalonians 1:6-8)

Paul says the Thessalonians continued to demonstrate their faith in seeking to imitate Christ and to continue to trust in Jesus, even in the midst of suffering and opposition.

They did not claim faith in Christ and then fold when persecution happened but remained faithful when difficult times came.

You should not say, I trusted Christ back then, but ask, am I presently trusting in Christ now for my salvation?

The Thessalonians active and present trust was so strong that it became an example to all the believers in the regions surrounding them…it was even spread so far that Paul said it has “gone everywhere.”

Do the people in your circles of influence receive your faith by the way you live around them…could what Paul said about the Thessalonians be said about you to your friends and family members?

Evidence of a pattern of growth (1 Thessalonians 1:9-10)

The churches in Macedonia and Achaia reported that they continued to see a pattern of growth in the Thessalonians.

They continued to imitate Paul, they had turned from false idols to serve the one true God, and they were continuing to await the coming of Jesus Christ.

This fact also shows the importance of the local church in helping us in our assurance.

Conclusion

So what about you…do you have these evidences?

Real faith, faith that saves, is a faith that trust’s in God’s promises to do what he said.

Just as you are fully trusting in that chair to hold you up, saving faith is putting all of your trust in the person of Jesus and what he has done for you through his life, death, and resurrection.

We do not need to try to add works to our lives to make our faith genuine…for like the plant illustration, that will not make faith real.

Instead, We must turn from our sin and false faith and trust in Christ to represent us, to live and die in our place, and thereby to save us from our sin.

This genuine faith will then produce a life of obedience to Christ, because we are trusting and submitting our lives to his lordship.

Faith alone saves, but faith that saves is never alone, and is always accompanied by a changed life that produces good works.

Therefore, may we seek to live out our faith…not simply in our words and speech but in our actions and deeds…proving like Abraham and Rahab, that our faith is a living faith, a faith that sacrifices, a faith that takes risks, and ultimately, a faith that works!

LETS PRAY