OPEN: Today we are going to be looking into what I think really is one of those life-changing passages of the Bible if you really understand what it says. Our passage today is James 2:14-26 James is a book that teaches us how faith works in real life. He's a pastor that addresses real practical, down to earth issues we all face in everyday life. He's been teaching us about the trials we face -- how to respond to temptation -- he's shown us what real faith looks like to our Heavenly father (taking care of widows and orphans) For the last couple of weeks he's been talking to us about not showing favoritism towards anyone -- because we are all loved equally in God's eyes. Faith, if is real is revealed by us responding to life in a new and different way.
How many of you have heard of the great tightrope walker, BLONDIN? He was one of the greatest tightrope walkers of all time, and there are many legends told of feats he performed. He was obsessed with the idea of crossing the falls on a tightrope. He made many trips across the gorge and became a well known daredevil in the area. He balanced a chair on the rope and stood on it. He took pictures of the crowd while he balanced on the rope. Once he cooked a meal on a small portable cooker and lowered it to amazed passengers on the Maid of the Mist below. He crossed blindfolded, in a sack, on stilts. But perhaps the most well known act was when he pushed a wheel barrow across. Blondin got to the other side and the crowd went wild, shouting and cheering. Blondin said, "I'm going to do it again." He got to the other side and the crowds went crazy. Blondin said, "I'm going to do it again but this time how many believe I can push a wheel barrow full of dirt?" He pushes the wheelbarrow across. He got to the other side. Then he asked, "How many believe I can push a wheelbarrow across the tightrope with a man sitting in it?" Again, there was a loud response. Blondin then dumped out the dirt and pointed to one of the most enthusiastic men in the audience, and said, "Okay, you get into the wheelbarrow." Needless to say, the man made a quick exit. Blondin demonstrated that there is often a great difference between the faith we SAY we have, and the faith we really have. There is often a big difference between what we say we believe and the faith we actually have.
The measure of our faith is NOT our "talk" -- it's our "walk" It's what we are prepared to do.
- The Primary Issue the world has with the Church is there is too much talk and too little action to back it up. I think Jesus actually anticipated this when he said
In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven. (Matt. 5:16)
- What's going to cause the world to turn towards God -- this verse says it's when the world sees our good deeds. I think one of the big turn offs for a lot of people in our culture is that the church talks and talks and talks but they don't do anything. The impression by many is that the church is a place that gathers together to take stuff from them, rather than a group of people who are gathered together to do stuff for others and care for them. My prayer is that EBC would be a church that has a reputation as being a church that gives and cares for others. We talked about it last week: we said that our purpose in coming in here is to give God glory and to be a giver to others. When you came in here this morning did you come with the mindset that you want to give to others -- are you are looking for someone to minister to care for? Did you come with that kind of a heart?
- Do you know of a church that is known as a giving church? We know churches that are known for its great outreach -- others that are known for its teaching -- others for missions -- but do I know a church that is known for its giving -- known for its heart for the poor and afflicted -- has a heart for giving and helping others in need.
Ill -- What the Christian Church looks like to the rest of the world. The team gets out onto the field and their in the huddle. The quarterback calls the play, they say "Break" and the quarterback goes over to run the play but all the players run back to sit back down on the bench. And then the next play comes up and they all get together in their little huddle and the quarterback calls the play and the they say, "Break" and then they all run back to the sidelines to see what's going to happen as the games continues on. That's exactly what the church looks like to the rest of the world. The Team gets together once a week and the quarterback reads a play out of the game book. "this week we are going to love our enemies." Everybody says, "Yes! Great play! Let's do it!" And we run back over to the sidelines and we sit back down on the bench. (While we are sitting on the bench we'll talk about whether we like the play or don't like the call) We come back next week - we can't wait to get back into the huddle -- can't wait to hear him call another play that we won't run. That's the way the world sees the church -- that's why Jesus says -- let them see your good deeds so that then they will glorify your Father in heaven.
James is concerned that the people in his little flock have adopted a brand of faith that is real. So he wants to help them understand what real faith is. It seems if you put the word "real" in front of anything it sells more -- "real coffee" or "real leather." We're interested in the genuine article. There is Real TV. There's a book out Real Men Don't Eat Quiche. Coke used to be the "real thing" When someone is playacting or refusing to be honest about something we'll say to them, "Get real." Well that's what James is saying to his congregation, "Get Real." And he shows them how to do it.
Real Faith Is More than Meaningless Expressions (James 2:14)
"What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such a faith save Him?"
First of all, real faith -- genuine faith is identified by more than an meaningless expressions. Verse 14: "What good is it" "What does it profit," or "what benefit is it", "my brothers," and I think he's speaking at that point to Jewish brothers, Jewish audience, and of course collectively to the church that are identified outwardly as brothers. "What good is it, or of what benefit is it though a man say he has faith but has not works?" What good is such a claim? "Can that kind of faith save him?" It doesn't say he actually has faith, he just claims to have it. He talks about it. He knows all the right phrases.
Now look at it. If a man says he has faith...for the sake of argument, a man comes along, he makes that claim. "I have faith, I believe. I believe in God. I believe in Christ." He confesses to believe in the death of Christ. He may confess to believe in the resurrection of Christ. By the way, it's a present tense, what good is it, my brothers, though a man continually goes on making the claim that he believes? The word in the Greek text means anyone. What good is such a claim from anyone if he has not erga, deeds...if he has no product--if he has no good works, righteous deeds as the pattern of his life what good is such faith? What's the anticipated answer? The answer is it's no good at all. That's the obvious answer, right? It's nothing but a lot of talk,a claim with no evidence. If there are no works and no righteous deeds, you cannot demonstrate a changed life. If when true faith is placed in Christ, we receive a new nature, that new nature will manifest itself -- by becoming a blessing to others. He asks a second a question: Can such a faith save him? Can that brand of faith - a faith that is not demonstrated by compassion acts towards the poor -- can that kind of faith be real saving faith? What's the anticipated answer? No it cannot.
We Were Created To Become Like Christ,
and what did Christ do while He was here on earth? He served. Notice this verse. Let's read it aloud together: Matt. 20:28, "Just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."
Now not everyone has this kind of faith. Some will say I can believe and be saved and still not serve others. There is no such thing as a Christian who is isn't also a servant to others. So James adds at the end of verse 14, "Can that faith save him? Such a faith as that? This kind of faith?" Can that kind of faith acquit a man on judgment day? Can faith not accompanied by a servants heart - a commitment to serve - save a person? What's the answer? No, it can not.
Ill of long line with profession of faith in the middle --Before salvation there is no faith, the person lives for self and there are no works & that's to be expected, right? - But if after salvation a person professes faith in Christ, says that they given their life over to his reign and rule, and works are still not present and they continue to say they are saved -- where's the credibility of the profession?
Faith Is More Than Counterfeit Kindness (2:15-17)
Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
Look at verse 15, very practical. "Suppose a bother or sister is without clothes and daily food" We'll stop there just to set the scene a little bit. Here is a person who is poorly clothed. It doesn't mean stark naked, without any clothing. It means poorly clothed, a person who is destitute of the necessities of life, doesn't have enough clothes. Probably indicating the person doesn't have enough clothes to stay warm -- the verb tense indicates it is an ongoing condition. So here is a person who is cold and hungry - No food for the day and no garment to stay warm. Brother or sister indicates that these people likely Christian.
So, here is this man or woman cold and hungry and one of you meets that person or they come to visit you. You see their condition. "And one of you say to him, Go, I wish you well: keep warm and well fed." But does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it?" "Go in peace," just pious, "God be with you, God bless you, Hope you do well." Empty words. You're really rejecting their hunger and you're rejecting the fact that they're cold. So you say to them, "Go in peace, be warmed and filled." Aren't you generous?
Now that verb, "keep warm and well fed," (reflexive) What it says is, "Warm yourself and fill yourself...don't bug me with your problems." "I hope you can find somebody to clothe you and feed you, be praying for you." James asks the obvious, "What good is it?" "What does that profit?" You mean to tell me that you're a new creation? You mean to tell me that you have the life of God in your soul, the life of a compassionate God, a loving God and you can't concern yourself with someone in need? Words alone won't keep you well fed and warm in the winter.
Verse 17 says, "In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead." A faith with no fruit, a faith with no action is a dead faith marked by meaningless words and counterfeit kindness. James isn't saying that's a sick faith -- or a weak faith. He says that's a dead faith. Which means what? It's not faith at all. Faith is a living and active force in a person's life. Real faith is generous. It wants to give. It wants to work -- it wants to help out -- it wants to sacrifice -- it wants to serve. It wants to extend itself.
Has Our Media Saturated Society Desensitized Us To Responding To The Needy?
It's amazing how people can cry over fiction and not cry over reality. Have you noticed that? It's amazing how people can watch a movie or even hear a song and weep, but see a destitute person and be absolutely indifferent. Sometimes I think in a world like ours where we have so much fantasy we literally spend all of our emotions on fantasy, and we have none left for reality. I mean we have all seen so many disasters portrayed on television that we've pretty well emptied our emotions. And real life just doesn't seem so bad, does it. And unless the drama is really played to the hilt, it doesn't elicit tears out of us because no human tragedy in reality is nearly as dramatic seemingly as a fantasy. Or maybe the media isn't what has dulled our responsiveness -- maybe it's just the pride we have in our hearts. How did you get many of the blessings you enjoy in life? You worked for them right? Sometimes that builds up a weird kind of resentment towards those who are less fortunate -- "They got themselves into that pickle they are in- let them work themselves out of it the same I had to." Or perhaps the root of our insensitivity is just plain old apathy. "I've got my own deal to take care of -- I can't be responsible for everyone else. -- But I'll wish them well." Or perhaps it's just our preoccupations with ourselves that done it. James says if you have that kind of counterfeit kindness, that at best says I hope you can find some food and clothing, my friend, go in peace, I wish you well, but you don't give them what they need, what good is that kind of faith? If there is no compassion, no participation in meeting the need, no action -- he says, "that faith that has no works is alone and therefore it proves to be dead." -- again we are looking at the credibility factor.(If it's not one of these factors, what is it?)
To look at the words of Jesus and see how He speaks to this issue, we need only turn to Matthew chapter 25. And here the Lord gives it to us in such clarity that even a fool need not miss this. Verse 31 says, "When the Son of Man shall come in His glory and all the holy angels will Him, then shall He sit on the throne of His glory. And the Lord will come in this time of judgment gathering all the nations, separating them one from another as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats." And, of course, this is the division of men to go into the Kingdom and be shut out of the Kingdom. The sheep go to the right hand, the goats to the left. The king says to those on the right hand, "Come ye blessed of My Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world."
Why? "Because you believed"...it doesn't say that. He says here's the reason you're coming to the Kingdom, "I was hungry and you...what? gave me food. I was thirsty and you gave me drink. I was a stranger and you took me in. I was ill clad and you put clothing on me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me."
And the righteous are going to say, "Now wait a minute, Lord, when did we ever do that? When did we see You hungry and feed You or thirsty and give You drink? When did we see You a stranger and take You in or ill clad and clothe you? When did we see You sick and in prison and come to You? And the King shall answer and say unto them, "Truly I say you in as much as you have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, you have...what?...done it unto Me." And here it is, the people who enter the Kingdom aren't the ones here who simply are said to believe, they are the ones whose faith is marked by true compassion. Now what's absolutely mind blowing to me is that I know so many churches that have these same verses in their Bibles and when you evaluate what they actually do and how they actually spend their money and time -- there is almost no allowance for intentional ministry to this class of people with these goals in mind. That's really scary to me. "How much of your budget is specifically directed towards giving money to the poor?" The response that I normally get when I get into this territory is "We've got to keep the lights on and the bills paid" Really? Do you really believe that God wouldn't bless a group of people who stepped out in faith and intentionally dedicated themselves to blessing the specific people mentioned in these verses?
By the way -- Who do you think the "LEAST OF THESE" are? The hungry starving children in third world countries? The sick? The poor -- yes - but not only them -- Jesus mentions "those in prison" People who've made a mess of their life -- made terrible mistakes. A faith that's real -- has compassion, not judgment. -- is responsive to need -- springs into action -- Serves someone in need. On the other hand, the ones who are told in verse 41 to depart because they're cursed to entering everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels are the ones who failed to demonstrate compassion that is manifested by service. And they go into everlasting punishment while the righteous go into life eternal. Again the point is judgment is on the basis of works. Not that our works earn salvation but that our works mark whether our faith is true.
Faith Is More Than Superficial Beliefs (James 2:18-19)
But someone will say, "You have faith; I have deeds." Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do. You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that--and shudder.
In verse 18 James brings an imaginary argument into the discussion. This guy's argument goes something like this: "You have faith -- I have deeds, so what? We both have faith. It's just that we are emphasizing different aspects of the same thing. We are both Christians, you stress the practical side of being a Christian, but I stress the theological side of being a Christian. It is just a different emphasis on the same thing." Let's not argue over who's wrong and who's right -- both ideas are right. Just an em-PHA-sis on a different syl-LAB-le.
Now at that point James about explodes "Show me your faith without deeds and I will show you my faith by what I do." His point here is to set the record straight. Faith is not just knowing -- just knowing good theology, mere intellectual knowledge. If the Lordship of Jesus is not manifested in your life to the degree that you change your behavior and begin obeying Him, what you know will not save you. Knowing that there is a God and that Jesus died upon the cross and that he rose again and being convinced that these things are true are not going to result in your salvation -- if your conviction of these things is still so shallow that your life has not been radically changed by them -- my friend you must get honest about your standing before God. You see James would not say "you do not have faith" That's often the argument that we get sucked into with people -- "Don't tell me that I don't have faith because I'm a Catholic -- or Jehovah Witness -- or whatever." The issue is not whether you have faith or not. The issue is whether or not you have the kind of faith that works. James says there is a kind of faith he calls a dead faith.
James point here is that there is a worthless kind of faith like that possessed by demons. He says, "You believe there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that -- and shudder." As far as factual doctrine is concerned, demons all know that there is only one and true God. They also are very much aware that Scripture is God's Word - that Jesus Christ is God's Son, that salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone, that Jesus died and was buried and raised to atone for the sins of the world. The demons know that He was born of a virgin and that He ascended to heaven and is now seated at His Father's right hand. They know quite well that there is a real heaven and a real hell. But all of that knowledge, as significant as it is, cannot save them. They know the truth about God, Christ and the Spirit -- it says that they know all that and "They shudder." Because they understand the truth of who God is and the truth of what God's Word says, and they tremble in fear because they know the reality of the judgment that awaits them because they didn't respond in obedience to the Word. In that regard they are much more sensible and realistic than those with dead faith who are self-deceived and who think they will escape God's judgment because they have a shallow or superficial kind of faith.
CLOSE: Ill - A man one day was writing the love of his life... her name was Betty. He wrote, "Dearest Betty, I love you beyond words. Webster does not have in his dictionary the necessary vocabulary to explain the depth of my love for you. Thoughts of you dance across the portals of my mind. You are my all-consuming passion. So enraptured am I regarding my love for you that the Pacific Ocean would be like a pond if I had to swim it. I could do it as long as I knew you were awaiting me on the other shore. The heat of the Sahara Desert would never impede my progress to you, knowing that you would be the oasis that would refresh me when I arrive. There would be no inconvenience I wouldn't endure for you. Climbing Mount Everest would only seem like getting over an ant's hill if I knew you were at the precipice. All I'm simply saying to you, my darling... is that my love for you transcends time and space." Signed Sam. P.S. "I'll see you Saturday night if it doesn't rain."
- Now I'm sure you'd agree with me, Sam was only full of a bunch of noise. Sam could talk a good game but his love didn't go very deep. "I love you. I love you. I love you. -- Nothing will keep me from you -- unless there is a little bit of rain." Too much talk -- not enough action. James is saying, Love for Jesus is expressed by caring for others -- and it has to be more than a rainy day kind of love. James was saying to his little congregation in Jer. -- I know that you say you love Jesus but for heaven's sake show it by embracing the poor and the needy -- show your faith by doing the practical kinds of things that meet needs in their lives.
How about you? Are you more like Sam who could talk a good game but in reality only had words with nothing to back it up -- or are you more like the people describe in Matt. 25 who gives food to the hungry, comfort to the prisoner, clothing to the naked, water to the thirsty. Is your faith demonstrated by what you do? Or, is there a lot of talk but too little action?
