Faith That Works
Walk in Wisdom / James 2:1–10; James 2:11–13; James 2:14–17
• Loyalty to your team.
• Go to games, wear their jersey, paint your house in team colors, talk about it, schedule your wedding around games (true story).
• Won’t wear the rival’s colors, etc. (A certain FSU fan comes to mind.)
• Our loyalty is put into action. Everyone knows who “your” team is by what you say and do.
• Also true of our loyalty (faith) to Christ.
• James’ next major concern for a young Christian gathering.
• In particular, he is concerned that they aren’t living out true faith (loyalty to Christ) in how they treat one another and folks from the community.
• Genuine faith exhibits itself by visible deeds of practical helpfulness to anyone and everyone.
Faith That Works Blesses Everyone
James 2:1–7 NLT
1 My dear brothers and sisters, how can you claim to have faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ if you favor some people over others? 2 For example, suppose someone comes into your meeting dressed in fancy clothes and expensive jewelry, and another comes in who is poor and dressed in dirty clothes. 3 If you give special attention and a good seat to the rich person, but you say to the poor one, “You can stand over there, or else sit on the floor”—well, 4 doesn’t this discrimination show that your judgments are guided by evil motives? 5 Listen to me, dear brothers and sisters. Hasn’t God chosen the poor in this world to be rich in faith? Aren’t they the ones who will inherit the Kingdom he promised to those who love him? 6 But you dishonor the poor! Isn’t it the rich who oppress you and drag you into court? 7 Aren’t they the ones who slander Jesus Christ, whose noble name you bear?
• James is warning us to avoid practicing partiality. Partiality here is “to receive someone according to their face.”
• We pay attention to someone based on externals. Maybe money, reputation, power, etc.
• When we show partiality, prejudice, we are essentially saying with our actions that we don’t trust God completely with every need in life.
• We think a certain person or group can benefit us. We seek our blessing in the wrong place.
• But our faith isn’t working properly when we pay attention to some folks and ignore others.
• The example which will follow through the passage is how we treat the poor.
Romans 2:11 NLT
11 For God does not show favoritism.
• We show favoritism when we think there’s something to be gained by fostering the relationship.
• God, on the other hand, shows no favoritism.
• At the same time, God is necessarily interested in the lives of the poor.
• Seminary students looking for all passages regarding the poor and about social justice. They took an old Bible and started cutting out all those passages. Nearly all the Psalms & prophets were cut out. 1 in 3 verses in the Gospels were removed. That old Bible couldn’t hold together. They created a Bible full of holes.
• Clearly, our loyalty to Christ (our faith) is seen when we strive to bless everyone regardless of their circumstances.
Matt. 7.1 “1 “Do not judge others, and you will not be judged.”
Faith That Works Is Merciful
James 2:8–13 NLT
8 Yes indeed, it is good when you obey the royal law as found in the Scriptures: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” 9 But if you favor some people over others, you are committing a sin. You are guilty of breaking the law. 10 For the person who keeps all of the laws except one is as guilty as a person who has broken all of God’s laws. 11 For the same God who said, “You must not commit adultery,” also said, “You must not murder.” So if you murder someone but do not commit adultery, you have still broken the law. 12 So whatever you say or whatever you do, remember that you will be judged by the law that sets you free. 13 There will be no mercy for those who have not shown mercy to others. But if you have been merciful, God will be merciful when he judges you.
• James wants us to appreciate that mercy is not optional.
• We are unmerciful when we ignore the needs of others.
• Loyalty requires that we are consistent.
• When we consistent practice loyalty to Jesus, we have acknowledged how much mercy and grace we need.
Matthew 5:7 NLT
7 God blesses those who are merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
Faith That Works Is Evident
James 2:14–17 NLT
14 What good is it, dear brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but don’t show it by your actions? Can that kind of faith save anyone? 15 Suppose you see a brother or sister who has no food or clothing, 16 and you say, “Good-bye and have a good day; stay warm and eat well”—but then you don’t give that person any food or clothing. What good does that do? 17 So you see, faith by itself isn’t enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless.
• Life vs. Death. A faith that has no vitality.
• Empty words are as useless as empty faith that fails to produce good works.
• Think of it as “practical helpfulness.”
• Our loyalty to Christ is defined by what we do
• Practical Helpfulness here at T&C
• Family Promise
• Fundraiser right now
• Hosting (can’t wait to get back to that!)
• Angel Tree
• Q: In your network, your friends and family, who needs some practical helpfulness?
• That’s how we demonstrate our loyalty to Christ.
