The Living Dead

Illustration: Steve and Fatima did not tell me about Christianity, they showed it to me. I was hungry, dirty, unsocialized, uneducated, undisciplined, scared and cold. I was living a tent, rejected by biological family, ridicule and threaten by old friends and lonely. I was in that situation because I accept Christ. But Steve and Fatima took me in home, challenged me to grow, disciplined me in love, let me take a shower, bought me cloths, soap, even gave me cake and ice cream for my birthday. They believed in me when I did not even believe in my self. They even taught me how to hold me silver ware and answer the phone. There we times when I mouth off, there were times when I made mistakes and I even got on their nerves. There were times when they had to correct me, disciplined me and even they need a break from me but they never once kicked me out and rejected me. I was not the best kid, in fact I was not even their own child but I was homeless, powerless, rejected, abused, misused and even misunderstood they showed me their faith not by just what they said but what they did towards me. That’s faith and action together; they showed me their faith by what they did. I was boy name “Lyne” but now I’m a man named “Leonard,” not because of whom I am but because of this couple who shared me their faith by what they did not just what they professed to believe.

Application: Now, by remember what was said earlier also don’t discriminate against anyone whether it be by skin, social, educational class, success and of course by wealth; for when we do we stand in judgment of ourselves by become lawbreaker and, thus, are in sin. There are lots of Lyne’s in the world hoping that some has real faith. Sometimes these Lyne’s will make bad choices and ruin what you offer them it’s always a risk. But a real faith is faith that takes risk and dares to love and protects the unlovable. Do you have real genuine faith in Christ that’s demonstrated love?

Transition: Read Key Center. . .

26 As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.

Holiness in Life (2:19-26)

19 You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that-- and shudder. 20 You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless? 21 Was not our ancestor Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? 22 You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. 23 And the scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness," and he was called God’s friend. 24 You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone. 25 In 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? 26 As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.

Exegesis: The demons believe and know the power and glory of God and they “shudder” or tremble. Even the demons respect the power of God because they know the realities of God’s holiness. This is where the bare issues of faith and deeds come into play. The question James is brings forth is "does your action and the things you do back up what you confess? If your acts are not Christ like and do not bring honor to Him then your faith is questionable. This is the heartbeat of the Gospel. James reiterates the core of Kingdom theology and living. That is putting your faith into action. James makes his point by an illustration of false faith, hence, by not caring for you brother need if one has the opportunity to do so is false faith. This is the same point Christ made to the expert of the law if you recall. He was the one who when Jesus cornered him about loving his neighbor tried to justify himself and asked who is his neighbor. Christ answered with the parable of the good Samaritan. This idea can be captured in almost every parable Jesus told. Look at the parable of the Sheep and the Goats, "what you do to the least of these my brethren you have done it unto me!" Love is supplying food, clothing, shelter, medicine etc., if you have the means to do so, to your brother in need. Faith without works is dead. The word dead in this context is a past tense pronoun, which means it has not been nor can it become a reality or truth. James means that only righteous action is evident of genuine faith in Christ. The faith in this passage is not what saves you, for it appears in verse 23 that the illustration says otherwise. Because Abraham believed God and he credited it (faith not works) as righteous. Genesis chapter 22:1-19 . . .