INTRODUCTION
1. Open your bible to James 2:21-24.
2. In the earlier lessons from this chapter James has declared and illustrated over and over the truth that a Christian is saved, “not by just faith, but rather by faith and works”.
3. In the last six verse of the second chapter of James, two Old Testament character examples are used to further illustrate and get his point across about the necessity of a Christian demonstrating both faith and works.
4. In this lesson we will only have time to discuss one of those O. T. characters.
DISCUSSION
I. FIRST, JAMES 2:21 PRESENTS THE EXAMPLE OF ABRAHAM AND ASK A QUESTION ABOUT WHEN HE WAS JUSTIFIED?
1. Let’s read James 2:21. “21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar?
2. The word “justified” refers to when a person is recognized by God as one that is acceptable and pleasing to God.
3. Abraham was justified, that is, he was counted, reckoned, pronounced, declared to be in a right relationship with God. The basic significance of justification is to declare one as not guilty; to not be considered as an enemy of God; to be in a condition that no separation exists between a justified person and God.
4. Turn to Isaiah 59:1&2. This passage teaches that when un-repented sin exist in the life of an individual that they are un-justified and spiritually separated from God. Let’s read Isaiah 59:1&2, “1 Behold, the LORD’s hand is not shortened, That it cannot save; Nor His ear heavy, That it cannot hear. 2 But your iniquities have separated you from your God;
And your sins have hidden His face from you, So that He will not hear.”
5. Abraham had been commanded by God to offer his son Isaac as a sacrifice and it was not until Abraham literally and actually placed Isaac on the altar and “stretched for his hand, and took the knife to slay his son” that God accounted him as being justified.
6. Understand that the plan and action to offer Isaac as a sacrifice did not originate with Abraham.
(1) If Abraham had thought of the plan and presented it to God in an effort to become justified it would not have done Abraham any good at all.
(2) If the plan had originated with Abraham it would have been a way for Abraham to try and merit or earn his justification.
(3) The plan originated with God and it was given to Abraham as a command. Thus Abraham’s works were “working and obeying” what were actually the works of God and not his own works.
(4) Since the works to obey originated from God this kept them from being works of merit or works presented to try and earn his justification.
7. Thus, when James says that “Abraham was justified by works”, James is talking about Abraham being justified due to his obedience to the works that originated with God.
8. The type of works that Abraham obeyed are the kind that the N. T. teaches one to obey when they are searching to find out what to do in order to become justified and acceptable in the sight of God.
(1) The majority of the religious world offer rebuke to those who teach the necessity of being baptized before one’s sins would be forgiven.
(2) The religious world, majority speaking, teach that obeying the command to be baptism is an effort to earn or merit one’s salvation.
(3) Turn to Acts 10:34,35. Here, Peter declares that before one can be acceptable to God that one must work the righteousness of God. Let’s read Acts 10:34&35, “34 Then Peter opened his mouth and said: “In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality. 35 But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him.”
(4) Look now at Acts 10:48. Here, Peter commands this work of God, which is baptism, to be obeyed so that Cornelius and his household could become justified. Let’s read verse 48, “And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord.”
(5) When one obeys the command of baptism or any command out of the N. T. they are not obeying a work that originates with them, but rather a work that originates with God.
II. SECONDLY, LET’S TURN TO GEN. 22:1-19 AND READ THROUGH THIS PASSAGE THAT TELLS OF ABRAHAM, THE GREAT EXAMPLE OF OBEDIENT FAITH.
1. Let’s read and make a few comments from Gen. 22:1&ff, “1 Now it came to pass after these things that God tested Abraham, and said to him, “Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” 2 Then He said, “Take now your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.”
3 So Abraham rose early in the morning and saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son; and he split the wood for the burnt offering, and arose and went to the place of which God had told him. 4 Then on the third day Abraham lifted his eyes and saw the place afar off. 5 And Abraham said to his young men, “Stay here with the donkey; the lad and I will go yonder and worship, and we will come back to you.” 6 So Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son; and he took the fire in his hand, and a knife, and the two of them went together. 7 But Isaac spoke to Abraham his father and said, “My father!” And he said, “Here I am, my son.” Then he said, “Look, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?”
8 And Abraham said, “My son, God will provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering.” So the two of them went together. 9 Then they came to the place of which God had told him. And Abraham built an altar there and placed the wood in order; and he bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar, upon the wood. 10 And Abraham stretched out his hand and took the knife to slay his son.
11 But the Angel of the LORD called to him from heaven and said, “Abraham, Abraham!”
So he said, “Here I am.” 12 And He said, “Do not lay your hand on the lad, or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me.”
13 Then Abraham lifted his eyes and looked, and there behind him was a ram caught in a thicket by its horns. So Abraham went and took the ram, and offered it up for a burnt offering instead of his son. 14 And Abraham called the name of the place, The-LORD-Will-Provide; as it is said to this day, “In the Mount of the LORD it shall be provided.”
15 Then the Angel of the LORD called to Abraham a second time out of heaven, 16 and said: “By Myself I have sworn, says the LORD, because you have done this thing, and have not withheld your son, your only son— 17 blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply your descendants as the stars of the heaven and as the sand which is on the seashore; and your descendants shall possess the gate of their enemies. 18 In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice.” 19 So Abraham returned to his young men, and they rose and went together to Beersheba; and Abraham dwelt at Beersheba.
2. This is one of the most touching stories in the Bible demonstrating the faith of both Abraham and Isaac. How was Abraham able to meet such a test?
(1) He had faith, the kind of faith that did what God said even though he did not fully understand.
(2) Someone has said that faith is not believing in spite of the evidence, but rather obeying in spite of the consequences!
(3) Turn to Heb. 11:17-19. The Hebrew writer spoke of Abraham’s active, working faith in Hebrews 11:17-19: “By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, 18 of whom it was said, “In Isaac your seed shall be called,” 19 concluding that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead, from which he also received him in a figurative sense.”
(4) Abraham did not just say the words, “Jehovah our God is one Jehovah,” and think that was sufficient. Obediently, Abraham did what God told him to do.
(5) This seems like a nice, straightforward illustration, establishing the point that the only viable faith is the faith that obeys, does, and works. But, believe it or not, this simple illustration is at the center of the controversy among most all religious people.
(6) I am sure James would be astonished if he could hear the objections his illustration brings from those who deny the importance of faithful obedience.
III. THIRD, JAMES 2:22 CONTAINS A QUESTION THAT POINTS OUT THE FACT THAT JAMES THOUGHT THAT EVERY BIBLE STUDENT OUGHT TO AGREE WITH HIM.
1. Let’s read James 2:22, “22 Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect?”
(2) Abraham’s faith exercised itself (acted, wrought with his works) in offering Isaac. God told him to offer his son; Abraham believed God meant what he said; so he did what God said do.
(3) What if he had refused to offer his son? It would have meant he did not believe God. But he obeyed, thus did he demonstrate his faith, and was justified.
(4) By his works his faith was made perfect. To be made perfect is to consummate, complete, finish.
(5) The tenses of the words are important. “Faith was continually exercising itself (imperfect tense)
with works (the command to offer up Isaac on the altar), and out of these works faith was
perfected at once (aorist tense).
(6) Neither works, nor faith operating alone can justify; each in cooperation with the other produces the status necessary before God justifies”.
2. Verse 22a says, in the KJV “ faith wrought with his works”, . . .. “Wrought with” means literally, “worked with or cooperated with”. Faith and works cooperated. James doesn’t teach “faith only”. James doesn’t teach “works only”, James teaches “faith and works”.
3. Verse 22b says, in the KJV “by works was faith made perfect” [or completed or finished]. Our faith needs to be perfected, and this is the purpose of works. James is teaching that Faith Without Works Is Not Perfected..
4. One more time, let’s read James 2:22, in the NKJV “22 Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect?”
(1) James is asking if we see the necessity of both “faith and works”?
(2) My answer to James, a writer inspired by the Holy Spirit, yes James I agree with you!
IV. FOURTH, JAMES 2:23 QUOTES GENESIS 15:6 AND SAYS THAT AFTER THE OBEDIENT FAITH OF GENESIS 22:1-18 THAT WHAT WAS PROMISED IN GENESIS 15:6 WAS FULFILLED.
1. Let’s read James 2:23, “And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.”And he was called the friend of God”.
2. The scripture referred to is Genesis 15:6: "And he believed in the LORD; and He accounted it to him for righteousness."
(1) Abraham accepted without question and despite the fact that he had no children and was in advanced age, God’s promise was for Abraham to have a child and then through him to have a great number of descendents.
(2) Abraham was in old age and he did not see how such could be physically possible, yet he believed what God said about it.
3. The scripture (Gen. 15:6) is declared to have been fulfilled when Abraham’s faith was perfected.
(1) It is most important to notice when this scripture was fulfilled: it was not until his faith was perfected
in his offering Isaac as God directed according to Gen. 22; Jas. 2:21-22. Offering Isaac fulfilled the statement of Genesis 15:6.
(2) Abraham was a believer earlier (Gen. 15:6). God acknowledged him as a believer, and his faith was “reckoned for righteousness”.
To reckon is to regard, deem, consider, account. Thus God deemed, considered, regarded Abraham’s faith as righteousness. The meaning is that his faith was filled with the intentions for the (right-doing) of all that God would command him.
(4) Faith itself became an act of obedience since there was no other act of obedience required of him at the time to show outwardly that he believed what God had promised regarding a vast number of descendents.
4. In the nature of the case, the promise of a large number of descendents involved matters which would require a considerable amount of years for their development; hence, there was nothing more, at the moment, for Abraham to do but to accept, without hesitation, the assurances of such from God.
(1) Thus, he did; and his acceptance thereof, became an act of righteousness which God, in his turn, accepted, and put to Abraham’s account for righteousness (right-doing).
(2) However, it is a violent teaching of error from this passage to assume that because Abraham’s faith was accepted as an act of righteousness when there was nothing else required of him at the time, that in the case of people today, to think that faith only will be sufficient without the performance of those conditions which are required of us now.
(3) Even in Abraham’s case, as James so clearly shows, the patriarch’s faith did not reach its consummation, its fulfillment, until it had translated itself into action in the offering of Isaac.
5. Let’s read James 2:23, the last phrase: “And he (Abraham) was called the Friend of God”.
(1) The meaning is not that he regarded God as his friend, but that God regarded Abraham as his friend (this is the significance of the subjective genitive).
(2) Let’s read a few passages that teach us that faithful obedience will cause God to consider us as His friend.
a. 2 Chronicles 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 for ever?" God deemed Abraham his friend because he was faithful, he submitted to his will.
b. John 14:15: "If ye love me, ye will keep my commandments” (ASV).
c. John 15:14: "Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you."
d. Luke 6:46: "And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?"
6. Being considered a friend of God is extremely honorable. It will be true for us, just like it was for Abraham if we will keep our faith at work, like Abraham did.
V. FIFTH, JAMES 2:24 MAKES A CLINCHING STATEMENT ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF BOTH FAITH AND WORKS.
1. Let’s read v. 24, “You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.”
(1) James expected those of the 1st century and those of us of the 21st century to “see” that justification is “not by faith only” nor is it by “works only”! God requires both!
(2) Faith and works of obedience are like fire and heat: when fire is present, heat will be evident. When there is faith in God: work flow from that faith.
(3) James, having given the example of Abraham, James expresses the inspired, irresistible conclusion: a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.
2. Multitudes of the creed books of men say, “That we are justified by faith only is a most wholesome doctrine, and very full of comfort,” but the Bible does not say it!
3. James 2:24 is the only place in reliable bible translations that the phrase, “by faith only” is found, and it is plainly stated, “not by faith only”.
(1) Which are we to believe, men or James, the inspired writer for God?
(2) I’m going to believe God’s penman!
CONCLUSION
1. In our lesson we have seen that faith without works is useless. It cannot be demonstrated, it cannot change a person, it is not perfected, and it is dead! Our faith does not help us, or others, until it causes us to act.
2. Once a chaplain walked up to a wounded soldier who had been lying on the ground some time without anyone treating his wounds.
The chaplain asked, “Would you like for me to read to you from the Bible?” “No!” came the angry reply. “Is there anything else I can do for you?” the chaplain asked.
“I’m thirsty!” the soldier said. The chaplain gave him a drink from his own canteen.
“Anything else?” he asked. “I’m cold!” came the reply. The chaplain took off his
coat and spread it over the soldier.
“Anything else?” he again asked. “My head is uncomfortable!” was his reply. The chaplain took off his cap and arranged it under the soldier’s head.
The chaplin asked again, “Anything else?”
The soldier looked up at him and tears came to his eyes as he said, “I think now I’d like for you to read to me from the Bible”.
3. May God help us to have the kind of faith that even the world can see.
4. Do you need to show an obedient faith and be baptized today?
5. As a Christian in need of prayers, do you need to show an obedient faith and come forward to ask the congregation to pray with you?
6. Whatever your need, please show your faith as we stand and sing!
Acknowledgments for a lot of thoughts in the development of all the sermons on the book of James are to go to:
(1) Bob Winton CD Commentary on Matthew 27:50-54. 464 Ridgewood Drive Manchester, Tennessee 37355. If interested in CD covering many O. T. & N.T. books call (866) 753-8456.
(2) Miscellaneous commentaries by numerous others.
