The Road to Success in Life
Thesis: Success in life comes from the following equation: Faith + works = success. The opposite also applies Faith – Works, or Work – Faith = no success only failure in life.
Text: James 2:14-26 NIV:
14What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? 15Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. 16If 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? 17In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
18But 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. 19You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.
20You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless? 21Was not our ancestor Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? 22You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. 23And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,” and he was called God’s friend. 24You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone.
25In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction? 26As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.
James 2:14-26 The Message:
Dear friends, do you think you’ll get anywhere in this if you learn all the right words but never do anything? Does merely talking about faith indicate that a person really has it? For instance, you come upon an old friend dressed in rags and half-starved and say, “Good morning, friend! Be clothed in Christ! Be filled with the Holy Spirit!” and walk off without providing so much as a coat or a cup of soup—where does that get you? Isn’t it obvious that God-talk without God-acts is outrageous nonsense?
I can already hear one of you agreeing by saying, “Sounds good. You take care of the faith department, I’ll handle the works department.”
Not so fast. You can no more show me your works apart from your faith than I can show you my faith apart from my works. Faith and works, works and faith, fit together hand in glove.
Do I hear you professing to believe in the one and only God, but then observe you complacently sitting back as if you had done something wonderful? That’s just great. Demons do that, but what good does it do them? Use your heads! Do you suppose for a minute that you can cut faith and works in two and not end up with a corpse on your hands?
Wasn’t our ancestor Abraham “made right with God by works” when he placed his son Isaac on the sacrificial altar? Isn’t it obvious that faith and works are yoked partners, that faith expresses itself in works? That the works are “works of faith”? The full meaning of “believe” in the Scripture sentence, “Abraham believed God and was set right with God,” includes his action. It’s that mesh of believing and acting that got Abraham named “God’s friend.” Is it not evident that a person is made right with God not by a barren faith but by faith fruitful in works?
The same with Rahab, the Jericho harlot. Wasn’t her action in hiding God’s spies and helping them escape—that seamless unity of believing and doing—what counted with God? The very moment you separate body and spirit, you end up with a corpse. Separate faith and works and you get the same thing: a corpse.
Introduction:
Faith + works = Success This equation is the road to success in life. It is what makes our faith real and meaningful. I do want to throw in a balance to our teaching today. Works without faith will not save you – you must have faith first and when you experience the forgiving power of God then you get the desire – or you should – to want to have a faith that works for the benefit of others and the Kingdom of God.
The best preparation for work is not thinking about work, talking about work, or studying for work: it is work. --William Weld
The same premise is true for works which are generated by our faith. We realize we cannot just think about doing good deeds – nor should we just talk about doing good deeds – nor is it relevant to study about how to do good deeds – no the best way to grow in our faith is by doing the work- doing the good deeds – we all learn best by actually doing an act. This becomes the best preparation for Heaven and this is what leads to success in life.
The sad fact is there are many people chasing the American dream of success and discovering when they get there that it was not worth it. The thing they thought would bring success was not success. It turned out to be meaningless and void of life.
Movie Illustration:
Clip is taken from the movie “Life or Something Like It”.
Introduction to clip: In this movie we have a reporter named Laine who one day in her pursuit of success runs into a street prophet who tells her that the next Thursday she is going to die. He also gives her other prophetic statements that come to pass which compel her to think and evaluate her life. She realizes that her chosen road to success has and is meaningless. She is confronted by her camera man and he tells her she is to self absorbed and has a distorted view of what success is.
Show Clip:
The scene opens up with Laine walking down the streets of New York and ending up being shot. She is rushed to the hospital – dies and is brought back to life. When she awakes she has discovered what success is really about. She tells us in the clip – “Someone has said ‘Live every day as if it was your last!’”
The road to success in life is right before us today in James 2. If we get this right in our life we will discover success in life. If we get this wrong then we will discover that our life has been a complete failure.
Today’s teaching is for all of us today! Many can become complacent in their faith walk with the Lord. I have seen both extremes of our teaching today.
I have observed those who forsake the faith part of the equation for works thinking this will save them. They say “I will get to Heaven because “I go to church on Sunday’s, I give the church some money, I helped my neighbor out the other day.” They focus on good deeds but not on making that statement of faith to the Lord. They think they are on the road to success - But a text in Romans 3:21, states it different : “But now a righteousness from God, apart from the law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe.” & also in Romans 5:1 “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ…” These two texts and many more help us keep our balance and our focus. Salvation comes from our statement of belief in Jesus Christ. It is clear in the Bible that this is the case.
I have seen the other extreme which wants to forsake the works element of our faith they say “all we need is faith!” to be successful in life – “A belief in God” and we will be okay with God. But then we encounter the passage we are reading today. James tells us we need both because one without the other is dead. He tells us they live together – they breathe together – they are to be partners in life. James also warns us they will die apart – because one cannot survive without the other. James inspired by the Holy Spirit gives us instructions and asks us questions to help us get on the right road to success.
T.S. – Lets explore some of the questions that James challenges us with in our text today.
I. What good is it Christians if a person claims to know Jesus Christ but has no actions to back up his faith? Can it save them?
a. He is really asking the question what it someone brags about his faith in the Lord but when it comes time to serve he runs the other way or says “I cannot help out because I am to busy with life.”
i. Is his faith real? Is it genuine? Is it authentic?
1. Kathy and I took a trip to Amish country one year. I must say that I learned the lesson from them that your faith must be accompanied by works for God and others for it to be genuine. Our tour guide shared hoe amazing their culture was and how they are there for one another and for those who are not Amish.
a. Our Bus driver told us of the many times the Amish were there when tragedy struck. He said they know how to put their faith into action.
ii. Have you ever heard the phrase talk is cheap but actions speak louder than words.
1. James tells us that our faith – our salvation - which was a free gift should drive us to want to act like Christians.
a. We should want to help others!
b. We should want to serve God!
b. The problem of linking faith and deeds has a lot to do with the misperception of time in our day:
i. Some folks save it, others make it, most waste it, several kill it, and a few actually are on it. Many try to manage it and end up losing it. Time is a taker. Once past, it never returns. How it’s spent determines the satisfaction of life and it determines your eternal future.
ii. Yet a lot of people do not see the validity in serving the Lord with their time. They use their time for themselves, they use their gifts for themselves, they use their resources for themselves but they don’t use the things God has blessed them with to serve the Kingdom of God and one another.
iii. Some live with the idea in their minds that says, “Tomorrow I will help out so and so,” but the problem is tomorrow never comes.
c. James reminds us that a faith that does not change the heart of an individual means nothing. It’s meaningless. A transformed heart wants to serve the Kingdom of God!
i. The truth is genuine faith will affect your life. It will compel you to do something with your faith for God and for others.
1. It will become your force in life!
ii. A genuine faith connection with God always causes the heart of the believer to want to serve – to do deeds – for Him.
1. Why because they realize how marvelous it is to be saved by faith in Jesus.
a. Because they want to share the gift God gave them with others.
b. Well ….I think most people want to share it?
i. Maybe I am naïve… maybe they don’t want to share it. Maybe they just want to hoard it for themselves.
2. Maybe we should realize once again what He did for all of us?
a. He did not waste his time on earth.
b. He did not need to spend his every waking moment chasing the American dream of prosperity.
c. No he pursued and caught the will of God for his life.
d. He served – He served - He healed – He cared -He meet the needs of the people- He touched the lepers – He let the prostitutes touch him- He made time for relationships- He loved the people with all his heart- He died for the same people who rejected him.
i. With this in mind I should be willing to give Him my all after salvation because of the price He paid for me to get to Heaven. I should want to serve others for His willingness to save me.
ii. It’s really about a genuine appreciation for the free gift of salvation. The person who realizes this then uses the gift God has given him and turns his path into living for and serving God.
3. A genuine faith encounter with the Loving Lord changes the heart of an individual. Transformation occurs in the life of the individual.
a. John Ortberg talks about this in his book The Life You Always Wanted.
b. He tells us that just as the Power Rangers morphed then we also should morph into what Jesus desires us to be - transformed individuals putting our faith into action to save the world.
c. He shares the story of the man who was never transformed – never showed any fruit only showed the disease of complaining and criticism.
d. His talk and actions did not align with his faith. He said he was believer but he never acted like one. He never served, he never gave, never reached out to help others. His life centered a round himself. He never found success in life and it showed.
4. Huffman asks the question “What is Normal?”
a. He notes: What is normal Christianity? The Bible details beliefs and practices that we regard as normal (expected) for the Christian life, such as the practice of self-control and integrity. It is abnormal for a Christian to steal, cheat, or lie-not that it cannot happen, but it is not considered normal Christian behavior when it does. Similarly, all Christians must believe in Jesus Christ. Christianity without Jesus is more then an abnormality; it’s a contradiction in terms. Generally, the ‘normal Christian life” is described in areas as devotion to Jesus Christ, prayer, conformity to God’s Word and will, the cultivation of solid character qualities, and good works. Even people outside the church routinely assess Christians according to these criteria (Discipleship Journal, 23, 24).
5. Works do make a difference! Your deeds will also be the testimony if Jesus is the real deal in your life!
T.S.- Lets look at the next question James throws our way.
II. What good is a faith- a religion- that does not meet the physical needs of others?
a. This question should strike deep into our hearts.
i. What good is a religion that does not impact others lives?
ii. Why believe and say you are a Christian and yet you never impact another persons life?
iii. Why not just say I’m a dead man walking because I only care about my wants and desires.
iv. Who cares about working at church I tithe besides someone else can do it.
v. I put in my 2 hours every Sunday – what more does God want?
vi. My faith is for one reason – I want to go to Heaven but I don’t want to do anything God requires me to do. I’m busy at working to pay for all my stuff!
vii. Believe it or not many of us allow these thoughts to misdirect our lives away from serving one another.
b. What can the Lord do with a person willing to serve?
i. History gives us an example in the Wesley brothers and their influence in affecting the physical lives of the people of England. (See slide from magazine)!
1. Christian History Issue 2: What did Wesley preach? Thrift, cleanliness, honesty, salvation, good family relations, dozens of other themes, but above all, faith in Christ. He did not ask his listeners to depart from their own churches but to continue going to them. He gave them spiritual refreshment they did not find outside his circle. As his decades of trial yielded to decades of triumph the crowds increased. High and low came to hear him speak. He developed networks of lay assistants. His exhortations to live perfectly in love today seem harsh, but consider the effects on his congregations. Swearing stopped in factories, men and women began to concern themselves with neat and plain dress, extravagances like expensive tea and vices like gin were dropped by his followers, neighbors gave one another mutual help through the societies. Wesley taught as much by example as by his measured sermons. His annual expenses have been mentioned. He published many volumes for use in devotions and turned profits into such projects as a dispensary for the poor. His personal life was beyond reproach. He translated hymns, interpreted scripture, wrote hundreds of letters, trained hundreds of men and women, and kept in his journals a record of expended energy that has hardly a rival in western literature. His manner of speaking in the language of the common man had an immeasurable impact on the emergence of modern English, just as Charles Wesley’s numerous hymns had an impact on English hymnody, not to mention poetry of the subsequent Romantic Age (Christian History).
2. But the impact of the Wesley’s on the lower classes runs deeper than merely in habits of living and in habits of speech. John Wesley provided a religious framework that was local and personal as well as energetically moral. His theology did not disenfranchise anyone, for everyone could find God’s grace to resist evil and to be saved, if only he will seek and receive it. The societies that he formed preserved in their studies a focus on faith—a faith that also led to a way of coping with the reality of lower class living. Religion was not just for the rich, but neither was Wesley’s preaching a revolt from Anglicanism—until very late and then almost by historical accident (Christian History Magazine).
3. Their ministry affected the physical lives of many people.
ii. Another historical example William and Catherine Booth and The Salvation Army: They had two focuses the Horizontal and Vertical Mission statements. Following from Christian History Magazine Issue 26:
1. It is possible, however, to divide into two phases the process by which this zeal became truly universal. At first, the Army’s leaders saw their work as not so much to spread the gospel far and wide as to spread it, so to speak, up and down: they intended to reach those depressed portions of English society that Booth believed had been neglected by other Protestant churches. The Army’s mission was vertical rather than horizontal. In 1878 and 1879 when William and Catherine Booth and their close associates spoke of carrying “the Standard of the Cross into every part of the world” it was to the dark and dismal parts of the “world” of London and other great cities that they referred.
2. William Booth himself, and almost all of his pioneer associates (with the exception of his wife, who came from a prosperous family) had come to Army work from social backgrounds that ranged from the respectable working class, at best, to the ranks of the desperately poor. Their evangelical and social projects for the urban poor attracted the financial support of the occasional wealthy donor, and—much more rarely—a person from a good social background would actually join the Army. Frederick de Lautour Tucker, a high ranking colonial official who became an officer in the Army and later Booth’s son-in-law, is a notable example; George Scott Railton, an educated man whose father had been a minister, is another. With a handful of such exceptions, however, the Army’s early leaders had been poor. They knew poverty, its terror and futility, and they knew how little the light of the Christian gospel had penetrated the vast, dismal acres of city slums in which they had passed their lives. They now felt called to return there with the Good News that God and The Salvation Army loved all people alike.
a. They took to heart James instruction to have a faith that produced good deeds and actions towards others. The Salvation is famous for leading people to Christ and impacting their physical needs while they are at it.
iii. The American Great Awakenings:
1. Some of the best impulses for social reform in America’s history have come from awakenings. The anti-slavery movement in America was mainly a part of the reform movement generated by the Second Great Awakening, as were movements for prison reform, child labor laws, women’s rights, inner-city missions, and many more (Christian History Magazine, Issue 23).
iv. DL Moody himself believed that our faith in Jesus should effect Social reform and touch people’s lives. Christian History Magazine (Issue 25):
1. Moody reinforced the existing link between revivalism and social reform. It is unjust to see him as a social conservative. He frequently insisted that there must be public display of the fruits of the faith, and he was associated with many of the progressive causes of his day. “Although their mission,” observed a Scottish newspaper of Moody and Sankey, “is not distinctly to promote the Temperance cause, it has operated powerfully in this direction.” In Glasgow free breakfasts for sleepers out at night and day refuges for destitute children were begun in the wake of the visit of the evangelists. Several councillors were inspired to set about making the city a model of civic virtue. Moody, noted a leading Scottish minister, issued a “Christian call to righteousness and even philanthropy.” It is increasingly appreciated that the social gospel movement had evangelical roots. Some of them were nurtured in soil prepared by Moody.
c. History’s examples often asserted that if the whole basis of your faith is just talk and there are no God charged actions then your faith is worthless. Yes, I said it “Worthless-meaningless-void-means nothing!”
i. It will never impact others. It will never be a witness to the unbeliever.
1. You will never have the pleasure of seeing someone’s face light up when they meet Jesus.
2. You never feel the satisfaction of laying down at night and realize God used you to impact someone’s life.
ii. James throws this thought our way in the text. If all you do is believe in God and that’s it. Then you are actually just like demons they believe in God but they do nothing for God instead they do evil deeds. Instead they use people and abuse people and destroy people for their sinister plan. He warns us don’t be deceived – Faith +Works = Success in life.
1. He is real plain in out text – You act just like demons do! They believe in God but it does not change their character or life.
iii. What Is Revivalism? by DAVID W. BEBBINGTON
1. Revivalism is a strand within the evangelical tradition. Evangelicalism has been marked over time by four characteristics:
a. Conversionism, the belief that lives need to be changed by faith in Christ;
b. Biblicism, a high estimation of the teaching of Scripture;
c. Crucicentrism, a concentration in theology on the doctrine of the Atonement on Jesus death and our benefit of salvation;
d. Activism, a variety of efforts for the welfare of others’ souls and a willingness to serve the Kingdom of God.
2. We here often that people want revival in America but the problem arises when people want revival but they themselves want to do nothing to see it happen.
a. Revival according to the great preachers of the past is genuine when it impacts the physical lives of others. That is revival!
T.S.- Lets look at another question proposed to us by James.
III. Do you want evidence that faith without deeds is meaningless – useless?
a. He uses the example of Abraham and tells us his faith drove him, compelled him to put his faith into action and it was accredited to him as righteousness (Genesis 22).
i. The key noted here is faith and action work side by side!
1. They cannot be separated.
ii. Abraham’s faith in God drove him to obey God and perform the action of being willing to sacrifice his son to God. Result was his faith was linked with and action- a deed for God.
1. His willingness to do what God asked completed his faith.
a. It made it authentic genuine and real.
2. It was not a façade but a deep seated personal experience that changed what he did and did not do.
a. Your faith should always thrust you into action for God.
b. Your faith should also empower you to trust God.
c. Abraham knew God had a plan for Isaac – He knew God’s heart. Check out his comments to his servants and Isaac about God’s faithfulness:
i. Genesis 22:5 “he said to his servants, ‘Stay here with the donkey while I and the boy go over there. We will worship and then we will come back.”
ii. Genesis 22:7, 8 “Isaac spoke up and said to his father Abraham,” Father?” “Yes, my son?” Abraham replied “The fire wood is here,” Isaac said, “but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?” Abraham answered, “God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” And the two of them went together.”
iii. You see Abraham had a genuine relationship with God he trusted completely. Why? Because his relationship with the Lord was genuine and intimate. He knew God! He therefore served God with his whole heart – mind and soul! His faith thrust him into good deeds for the benefit of the Kingdom of God!
1. This whole act is symbolic of what the Father did with offering his son Jesus and this act of faith and action set the process of atonement forward. The faith and work of Abraham lead the Father to do the exact same thing for you and me.
2. It was set in motion by a man’s faith and a man’s action that backed up his faith.
iii. He is also attributed to being a friend of God’s. This is a remarkable statement -He’s a friend of God - because he obeyed God’s directive and put his faith into action.
1. James tells us a person is justified by what he does and by his faith they are linked together.
2. They cannot and will not live apart from one another!
b. James gives us another example of Rahab. She was considered righteous by what she did and also by her faith in God (Joshua 2).
i. Her willingness to put her faith into action – the willingness to house the spies and send them off safely at the risk of her own life proved her faith and trust in God.
1. RAHAB (Ray’ hab) Personal name meaning, “broad.” Harlot in Jericho who hid two Hebrew spies Joshua sent there to determine the strength of the city (Josh. 2:1). When the king of Jericho learned of the spies’ presence, he sent men to arrest them. Rahab outsmarted the king and hid the men on her roof, sending the arresting officers on a false chase toward the Jordan River. In return for her help Joshua spared her and her clan when the Hebrews destroyed Jericho (Josh. 6:17-25). Matthew named Rahab as Boaz’ mother (1:5) in his genealogy of Christ, making her one of the Lord’s ancestors. Hebrews 11:31 lists Rahab among the heroes of faith (Holman Bible Dictionary).
2. Her willingness to place her faith in the Lord and her willingness to serve put her in the lineage of Jesus himself (Matthew 1:5)!
a. We all underestimate how important our actions are for the Kingdom of God! Rahab never had a clue that her faith + action would equal her success for eternity in that she is in the lineage of the Messiah. Her action back there made a difference for everyone for eternity.
b. She is also mentioned as one of the heroes of the faith in Hebrews 11.
ii. James tells us the truth about what failure looks like “Faith without deeds is dead.”
1. It has no life!
2. It cares for no one because it’s dead!
3. It has no emotion for others.
4. It is just a lifeless lump sitting in a pew but making no impact for the future.
iii. James tells us that the equation for success in life is this -- Faith + Works = Success in the eyes of God. And lets be real for a moment – His view matters the most!
Conclusion:
James asked us three very important questions. He still wants us to answer these for ourselves today. Lets review:
1. What good is it Christians if a person claims to know Jesus Christ but has no actions to back up his faith? Can it save them?
a. NO! It cannot because it is not the real deal – the real deal changes the heart of a person for ever!
i. Listen - works do not save you faith does – but works – good deeds are the result of a transformed life for God.
ii. Your actions always unveil the condition of your spiritual heart!
1. The Bible says you will know them by their fruit!
b. Where is your fruit? Is your faith being expressed in action for God’s Kingdom?
2. What good is a faith- a religion- that does not meet the physical needs of others?
a. The truth it is NO GOOD! Why have a religion that does not impact the lives of others - so don’t promote something that does not work. If it does not work throw it away!
b. So let me ask you, “Is your faith touching and impacting the lives of others physically- spiritually- emotionally- mentally?”
3. Do you want evidence that faith without deeds is meaningless – useless?
a. The verdict is in Faith – deeds = Uselessness and the reality of your DEAD!
i. The evidence of this is all around you today!.
1. We have churches and Christians with no transforming power - no grace - no Bibles - no Word of God - no prayer - no Cross - no sacrifice – no good deeds driven by their faith in Jesus – no Jesus – no life.
2. We have a lot of dead Christians and dead churches.
b. So how about you? Have you become a Christian who has either no faith or no deeds for the Kingdom?
i. If you have not then you need to get resurrected by the Holy Spirit today and live again. Because the truth is if both of these character traits are not driving your life – Your Dead!
ii. You do not have a path to success only a road to failure!
