Please Review the Text of James 2:14-26 Before Reading the Pastorís Sermon
14 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?
15 If a brother or sister be naked and destitute of daily food,
16 And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?
17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.
19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?
22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?
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.
24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only?
25 Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?
26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also. (KJV)
Ready. Set. Talk?!
During the stretch drive of the 1978 Canadian Football League season, the Toronto Argos had hastily flown in what appeared to be a potential "franchise" player and signed him to a ten day trial. The team set him up in luxury accommodation and catered to all his lavish needs.
In a short manner of time though, the Argos had discovered that this player was actually a con man. His specialty was in fooling franchises across the continent into providing him with all expense paid trips.
This con man both looked like a football player and talked like a football player but he was no football player. The moment that he set foot on the field, it became embarrassingly apparent to Argo management that his only true skill was "talking the talk" and not "walking the walk".
The moral of this story boils down to this: talk backed by inaction amounts to nothing, whether it be on the football field or more importantly, in our walk with the Lord. This player claimed to be a star talent but could not verify it on the field. He had no God-given talent to succeed on the field.
The same can be said about those who profess to be born again believers. If you say that you are born again and show no signs through God-driven works, you too may be nothing more than a professor rather than a possessor of what James calls "saving faith".
In todayís review of James 2:14-26, we learn that "faith" which does not manifest itself in God-driven works proves itself to be a faith that will not save. It is nothing more than mere talk.
The Byproducts of Salvation
Right about now, some of you may be thinking, but isnít James contradicting the Apostle Paulís repeated teachings that we are saved by faith alone and not by any works that we may do? Not at all.
James is simply clarifying a critical dimension in our understanding of faith. That is, he is basically stating that works are the certain byproducts of salvation.
If you have never displayed any God-driven works, then you should question your salvation. The key here is God-driven works and not acts of "goodness" merely initiated by you to win His favour or for personal self-interest. God-driven works can be anything from a desire to share your testimony; to resisting sin by relying on the enabling power of the Holy Spirit; to assisting someone in need with an outstretched hand: to a simple smile, a word of encouragement or dedicated prayer, just to name a few.
Now those of you who are young in the faith, do not assume that you will immediately change all your negative habits the moment that you accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour. God, The Goldsmith that He is, usually takes His time removing the heaps of dross or gunk existing in all of us so that we can better reflect His image.
Conversely, if you have not begun to reflect His image in any way then you should ask yourself whether you have sincerely accepted the Lordís call for salvation or not.
But letís get back though to the crucial doctrinal matter that the book of James teaches us on saving faith. I will try to clarify this matter by use of an analogy involving a lit candle.
Are You a Lit Candle?
A lit candle produces light. A candle does not make light on its own. It needs to be lit before it can produce light. After all, a candle on its own is just plain wax with a wick.
O.K. so letís now put all these symbols together.
The light of a candle represents a byproduct of God-driven works. The candle symbolizes faith. Faith needs to be lit before it will produce works. If your faith has never been lit, it canít produce God-driven works.
He Who both made and lit the candle (our faith) is God. The intensity of the light depends on our willingness to submit to His will. Though this flame is eternal, it radiates for some here on Earth like a lighthouse beacon
while for others, it hardly glows. All of us have the capacity to be lighthouse beacons, so long as we totally submit our will for His Will. Remember, a lit candle is not meant to be hidden.
God-driven works then are the result of His plan to make us instruments for His Will. Consider the Lordís Word given to Paul in Ephesians 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. (KJV)
God has a plan of showing the world the difference that Christ can make in our lives. It is God who should be given total credit for all our good works. He created us to perform them. And it is He alone who "fuels" any God-driven work that we perform.
Another key point that I want to make is that if you really understand what God has done for you, you will not be content with having your hands in your pocket kicking tin cans. You will be so earnest to say thank you that restraining yourself will be virtually impossible. It would be like trying to hold back a team of vigorous horses.
The Lord has given us the option to reject the full potential of our calling. If you want to resist His Will by dousing water on Godís fuel by taking matters into your hands, you will diminish the intensity of the flame that God intends for you. Can you imagine how awesome the life every believer in Christ could be if he totally yielded to Godís Will!
Beloved, I plead with you, let Him make you into the masterpiece that He intended you to be. A masterpiece planned before time or the physical universe even existed. Let God make you an instrument of good works by surrendering your will to Him.
Remember, Jesus is your Commander and not vice versa. As a retired soldier, I know the importance of accepting orders. Each order, no matter how small must be met if the strategic (big picture) objectives of the general are to be achieved. Few soldiers on the field are made fully aware of these objectives. A good soldier simply trusts the generalís wisdom and carries out his orders.
In ancient times, soldiers followed the commands of a general by listening to the specific sounds made by a trumpeter. If his troops questioned or resisted the commanderís orders, his objectives could not be met.
The same is expected from a believer. You are to perform Jesusí commands trumpeted by the Holy Spirit in order that you meet His tactical (moment-by-moment) and strategic objectives which were set out before creation.
As Paul says in 1Corinthians 14:8:
For if the trumpet gives an uncertain sound who shall prepare himself to the battle?"(KJV)
To be in tune with Christ and to produce the right kind of works, you first must accept the Lordís unconditional gift of salvation. Then God will lead you to produce works that will verify your salvation.
Great Leaves, No Fruit
Those who are professors only, are like the fig tree of Mark 11:13. You will recall that Christ spotted it at a distance because it had a great show of leaves and hence gave the promise of fruitfulness. But, when He got closer, He found it had "nothing but leaves; none of the promised fruit". As a consequence, the Lord cursed it. In fact, He produced what is known as a "negative miracle" by destroying it.
The tree was a picture of the widespread hypocrisy of the time. Its destruction was and remains, a clear warning to those whose lives amount to nothing more than a great show of "leaves". That is, those whose talk is not matched by their walk.
As I have just said, this warning remains. And none of us are exempt from it. In fact, there are scriptures which speak of God terminating the lives of those who are serving no good purpose for Him- even Christians. 1Cor 11:30, is but one example.
For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. (KJV)
"Iíll Pray For You"
The second point that James makes is that saving faith is more than pious utterances. True Christian faith must express itself in practical goodness.
Look again at the example that he cites on fluffing-off the destitute in verses 15 and 16. This type of callous behavior exists even among believers in Jesus Christ. We can all drift that way if we do not trust and rely on the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit.
How many times have you heard the expressions, "Iíll pray for you", or "if I can be of any help, just call"? These expressions can be as lacking in substance as the, "Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled" that James cites.
Now, I hope beloved that when you say these expressions you mean them. Please understand that they have the potential of being but empty words and we need to guard against this danger. Ask the Father to keep you diligent on this matter.
Donít wait. Respond to the request and pray on the spot- be it on the phone; in a car before you depart; at the door of the personís house; during your lunch break, wherever!
I also suggest that you write it down for future reference. This way, you wonít forget. It also helps ensure that your prayers will be on-going.
"Call Me If I Can Help"
And then, what about the second expression: "Call me if I can help"? Again, it requires more substance. Please make it more concrete by suggesting something. For example,
for a mother recovering from an operation, offer to do her ironing or her shopping.
for a father who has lost his job, invite the family to dinner or cook them your favourite meal.
for a friend who really needs to get away, offer to baby sit his or her kids for the weekend.
for youngsters who are uptight over their school exams, offer to help in their review, or relieve them of some of their chores or duties in order to give them a little more time to hit the books.
If, when confronted with a needy soul, and nothing comes to you right at that instant, think about it and follow-up your general offer with a specific offer, made by phone. Such a call may do wonders for the individual. It will certainly tell them you really care- and how we need to know that someone really cares!
Be specific! Be practical! Do something! Donít just talk.
Of course, do these good works in genuine sincerity. Donít do them under guilt or compulsion. Let God work in your hearts so as to make these God-driven works, and just that: gifts that are directed by His Lordship in our life.
"Iíve Always Believed In God"
In verse 19 we learn another important doctrine. Belief in God is not enough. That is, it is one thing to "believe" in God and another thing all together to be a recognized "believer" by God.
There are many people out there that genuinely believe that there is one God. Good for them. However, such a belief is meaningless on its own. After all, even demons believe in God- and we all know their ultimate fate.
Indeed, James tells us that demons may even be out in front of those he is addressing in this verse because they have demonstrated a deep enough understanding of the person of God to tremble before Him. After all, how many people who have "always believed in God" fear Him in this manner?
Saving faith then is more than intellectual assent. God knows that He exists. He does not need the recognition of anyone. Everyone, however, first needs to recognize and receive His incredible gift of salvation .And everyone needs to put their faith in action by yielding and trusting His will.
Beloved, believing unto salvation goes beyond an acknowledgment of the fact that God exists. Belief is something that is rooted in the heart. And wherever you find such a belief, it will produce fruitful works. Such a belief is of a nature that you will be led not just to avoid sin, but to do good. When it is genuine, works will follow.
The Thief On The Cross
In Luke 23:4, we see the account of the thief on the cross who received salvation from the Lord. People often point to this incident as evidence that salvation is NOT conditional on baptism nor a consequence of works. Both of these facts are true. However, it is wrong to suggest that the thief merely believed and failed to manifest works as a result of his belief.
In the thiefís particular case, his God-driven works were a change of behaviour as a result of a change of heart.
He spoke out for Christ. This was a powerful evidence of the reality of his faith. He witnessed to the conviction of his heart, that the Person dying right beside him was God. When was the last time you testified so boldly?
Remember, works are not just doing nice things to people such as helping a lady to change a flat tire or guiding a blind person across the street.
Abraham The Gauge
To use Jamesí expressions in verse 22, faith is made perfect by works. That is, faith is shown to be complete by works. As a point of clarification, the word "perfect" found in the King James Version means "complete" or "fulfilled". So this phrase could read, "faith is shown to be complete by works". But for whom?
If you recall verse 21, when God put Abrahamís faith to the test by commanding him to sacrifice his son Isaac, for whose sake was He proving Abraham? Did God not know Abrahamís heart? Of course He did. Abraham wasnít tested so that God would know the measure of his faith. Abraham was tested so that he would know.
And hereís something else. He was tested that we would know that not only was Abrahamís faith real, but that his God was real. Do you see why?
It is God, the object of the faith, that gives us confidence to walk by faith and who makes our acts of faith purposeful. George Mueller who ran one of the largest orphanages in England at the turn of the century without ever soliciting for money, once said that he never began orphanages to take care of orphans, he began them to prove that God could. Now how much more can God-driven works get than this?!
Abrahamís demonstration of faith was meant to be a guage for us by which we could measure the reality of our faith. If such works are not in us, that is works that are the manifestation of our trust in God, then we are not letting the Spirit of God have His way with us. And the results of this are tragic.
Works In Right Standing
The final verse that we will be studying this morning is verse 24. James says that we are justified by works, not by faith alone. Now before you consider abandoning the Protestant faith, always remember that the words "justify and justification" mean to be declared in right standing. All that is being said in this verse then is that the works of a child of God bears witness to his or her sure standing in God. God does not take away our salvation. He died for our past, present and future sins. If He does not take away our salvation, He certainly will not take away our justification. If you are saved, you are justified. If you are justified, then you are saved. The saved, therefore, ought to bring forth good works.
So I ask myself, do I as a result of my justification produce good works? Am I failing to yield to the inward tugging of the Holy Spirit? Is my candle wick producing a faint yellow glow? There is a Fuel Source, a prayer away from changing this unproductive state. Tap into the Fatherís fuel that has been specially reserved for you before creation by simply asking for it in Jesusí Name.
Donít resist this Biblical truth. Too much is at stake. Beloved, I fear for some who label themselves Christians, but who week in and week out do nothing of substance for the cause of Christ. Something is wrong. A believer is a child of God who has been spared from a horrific eternity. What kind of child belonging to such a gracious Father wants to have nothing to do with Him?
Jesus can make you a bright light in this dark world. He can make you a blessing!
I canít think of a more appropriate hymn to close this sermon with than the hymn, "Make Me a Blessing" Pay particular attention to the following verses when singing:
Make me a blessing, Make me a Blessing!
Out of my life may Jesus shine;
Make me a blessing, O Savior, I pray,
Make me a Blessing to someone today.
How will you respond to the words of this beautiful hymn over the following week? Over the remainder of your life?
Pastor Thorold Marsaw
Newtonbrook Baptist Church
North York, Ontario
M2N 2R2
Canada
(416) 225-6571
