A very young boy ... was hurrying ...to catch a bus.
Carrying gifts under his arm, ...he was struggling ...with his crutches.
Suddenly, ...a man bumped into him ... knocking his parcels ......in all directions.
The man then paused ...and scolded the young lad... for getting in his way.
Another gentleman ... seeing the youngster's distress, ... quickly picked up the scattered gifts ...and slipped a 10-dollar bill into his pocket, saying, ..."I'm sorry! ... I hope this makes up ... for your trouble."
The boy couldn't remember... being shown such kindness ... called after him... "Mister, thank you! ...And sir, ...are you Jesus?"
"No," replied the man, ..."but I am one of His followers." (Pause)
If your faith in Jesus ... was put to the test, ...which person ...would you be?
I am sure ...we would All immediately align ourselves ...with the kind gentleman, ...and say... we would help ...the young boy.
Yet, ...maybe the first man ...was hurrying... to also catch......his bus.
Maybe the boy wasn't paying attention ...to where he was going.
In today's world, ...these would both pass... as valid excuses for most people to simply cuss out the poor youngster... and be on their way.
However, ...the Lord holds those that are Believers... those that call themselves Christians ... to a much higher standard.
And James very boldly and directly ...teaches us ...that our faith in Christ ...is to be abundantly more...... than mere words. (Pause)
The book of James... is a pastoral letter ...concerning the attitudes and actions ...affecting the spiritual life ......of the church.
As the leader of the great church, in Jerusalem, ...estimated to be about 20,000 to 30,000 at the time, ...James felt an enormous responsibility ...for the spiritual growth... of Christ's followers.
This epistle ...was written ...to encourage Christians who were suffering because of their faith in Christ, ...and it was circulated ... ...throughout Christendom.
James writing may seem... on the surface ...to contradict Paul's emphasis ... in the letter to the Romans ...of salvation ...by faith alone.
However, ...his letter to the Churches... is simply ...a protest ...against hypocrisy.
Beloved... James is clarifying to the Church ... That a faith in Christ...is a transforming faith... A transforming force.
Salvation by faith ...results in a new person... a new creation.
This does not oppose Paul's teaching...... Beloved...it compliments it!
The two teachings... are the essence... of a full Christian faith ...redemption... and a changed life.
Let us examine this passage more closely. BIBLE 14 What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but do not have works? Can faith save you? END James 2:14
It does not state"...if someone has faith..." His words are "...if someone Says ...they have faith..."
There is ... a Tremendous difference ... remember James is trying to refute those... that have abused the doctrine ......of justification by faith.
Many people ...were undoubtedly professing Christ one day ...and returning to their usual pagan ways the next ...with no evidence of God's grace ...in their lives!
And James uses a very common illustration ...to drive home his point.
Hear God's word: BIBLE 15 If a brother or sister is naked and lacks daily food, 16 ...and one of you says to them, ..."Go in peace; ...keep warm ...and eat your fill," ...and yet you do not supply their bodily needs, ...what is the good... of that? END (Close Bible) James 2:15-16
The answer to his question... "what is the good of that?" ...is obvious ...it is good for nothing... It profits ......no one.
That person ...has done nothing ...to portray the faith...that they claim, ...and the brother and sister ...still remain without food and clothing.
How often ...do we hear of another's situation... and simply say, ..."I'll pray for you"... I'll pray for that?
Beloved... we are called to pray... But we are also called...to action...to do something.
The Apostle John shares this same concern ...in his first letter: BIBLE 17 How does God's love abide in anyone ...who has the world's goods ...and sees a brother or sister in need ...and yet refuses help? ... 18 Little children, ...let us love, ...not in word or speech, ...but in truth ...and action. END 1 John 3:17-18
The Apostle John calls them little Children. Why?
Because they have not moved to an action Faith life ... a life of Faithing!
James then moves on with a rebuttal to his position. (Slow) 18 But someone will say, ... "You have faith ...and I... have works."
We all know ...... people ...that fits this type ...of personality.
They are confronted ...with some tidbit of truth ...and they immediately counter .........with the exception ......to the rule.
There will always be some ...whose worldly wisdom ...blinds them...... to God's truth.
James responds to the eternal skeptic ...with a challenge. BIBLE Show me your faith... apart from your works... and I by my works...... will show you my faith. END James 2:18
James is saying...Show me ...a true faith without works... if you can.
In the meantime, ...I will allow my life to confirm ...that my faith ...is the genuine saving faith... of Christ.
That I am a new creation...in Christ Jesus.
James in this passage ...expounds on what it truly means ...to be both hearers ...and doers of the word.
What it means for us... to "Be Real".
To be the "Real Deal".
James moves us ......to how ... "faith" and "works" relate.
James ... Is stating... that faith and works... are ultimately ...two sides ...of the same coin.
James repeats in his thesis numerous times: ... "faith ...without works is dead"
James is stating clearly... that "an empty faith" ...a non-action oriented faith ... is not a true faith... ...it is nothing more ...than mouthing words.
James sets out to convey to us... that our faith in God ...and trust in Jesus... must work in tandem ...with our actions.
If not (Pause) our faith ...is not really ...faith at all.
It is not the real deal.
The measure of our faith is NOT our "talk" ... it is our "walk".
It is what we do......It is not what we say. (Pause)
Simply stating ...that you are a great race car driver, ...basketball player... Christian, ... whatever it is ...you may be.
Does not mean anything ...unless you can demonstrate who you are ... in a way that would convince any... and all.
In the Christian life ... faith and works go together... like inhaling and exhaling. REPEAT
Billy Graham stated it in these terms... Faith is taking the Gospel in; ...works is taking the Gospel out." REPEAT
Beloved we are ...Inhaling and Exhaling the Gospel!
You see... faith is never something ...just to be talked about.
It is something... that must be demonstrated ...in the way we live.
Paul Harvey once said, ... "If you don't live it, ...you don't really ...believe it."
If any of us were unable to speak a word, ...how many people ...would know ...that ...we were Christians?
Beloved... If Christians were being rounded up and thrown in prison for their belief...would you actions alone...find you guilty ... Beyond a reasonable doubt.
As Human beings... we are made of both body and spirit.
BIBLE "The LORD God ...formed the man from the dust of the ground ...and breathed into his nostrils ...the breath of life, ...and the man ...became a living being." END Genesis 2:7
Anyone who has been to a funeral ...can certainly attest ...to the emptiness ...of a deceased human body.
The emptiness is amplified ...when the person... is someone ...that we ...are familiar with.
That we had a relationship with.
All of the unique characteristics... that made up his or her personality... are gone.
Without the spirit, ...a human body ...is merely an empty shell ...that once manifested ...their very being.
Likewise, ... faith devoid of works ...is empty... It is useless ...or to use the words of James...... it is dead!
We need to inhale ...and exhale...the Gospel. (Pause)
A newly promoted colonel ...had moved into a makeshift office ...during the Gulf War.
He was just getting unpacked ...when out of the corner of his eye, ...he noticed a private ...with a toolbox... coming his way.
Wanting to seem important, ...the colonel grabbed the phone as the private stepped into... the tent.
"Yes, General Schwarzkopf, ......I think that's an excellent plan."
He continued, ..."General...You've got my support on it.
Thanks for checking with me...... Let's touch base again soon, Norm...... Goodbye."
"And what are you here for private?"......the colonel asked.
"Well sir, ... came a rather sheepish reply ......I was sent here ...to hook up your phone." (Pause)
Are you the real Deal......Genuine faith ...will always be manifested... in genuine works?
If our actions ...do not compliment ... Our new life in Christ......, it is indeed...... like a body ...without a spirit.
Faith is taking the Gospel in; ...works is taking the Gospel out."
That is a life worth living.
Beloved...... You are a follower of the Christ... Called to Good works.
You are a new creation... A new creation... In Christ Jesus.
Live in love... And love to live.
May your life... be one that continually portrays a life in Christ.
That continually ... Inhales and exhales... the Gospel.
Amen & Amen.
I utilized some illustrations from a sermon by Eric Muldoon titled "Faith perfected in works" and I commend it to you.
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