Faith And Works

 Faith And Works

 God works to build the Kingdom through us.

 

 

James 2:14-26

In this passage. The apostle James, speaks of works being an aspect of our faith. It ends with the famous phrase “For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.”

In the verses James shows that God commanded Abraham to sacrifice Isaac and he went to obey. (James 2:21)

We also see that Abraham was made righteous when he first believed. And in another verse we see that he had faith that God could raise Isaac from the dead. (Rom. 4:3, Gal 3:6, James 2:23, Hebrews 11:17-19)

The point is to show that we are not saved by works. We are saved by God’s grace. We receive it through faith when we believe what God has told us. Our works are a reflection of our faith. That is what James is saying. Do we really believe? (Eph 2:8-10)

Faith must come first. He never disputes that, because this point of faith is when we are saved. Works come after, because we cannot do righteous works without the Holy Spirit. We receive the Holy Spirit at salvation. Therefore, in order to do good works, we must have the Holy Spirit and let Him work in us and through us. If we do works without salvation, it is just flesh, and means nothing.

Understand that lots of preachers will use these verses as a means to create guilt, shame and fear in people’s hearts. They will quote the verse and lead the saints to believe that because they sin, or don’t give enough or don’t go to church enough, then they really do not have faith and therefore are not saved. It’s a spirit of fear, guilt and shame.

But that is not the real purpose of this verse. It’s not for me to use it to condemn you. But, for me to use it to look at myself.

Am I saved? Do I have the Holy Spirit? How do I know?

I know because of the things the Spirit leads me to do. I confess that Jesus is the Lord. I confess that He came in the flesh. I let the Fruit of the Spirit flow in me and through me, so I can love God and my neighbor as myself. I use the gifts God has given me to serve and build the Kingdom. These are works. They help me to see that I am with God and He works through me.

Fleshly humans do not care about God or spiritual things. Not really. (Romans 3:10-18)

Remember that.

Since you are seeking God, or desiring to please Him or serve him. it is an indication that He is in you working. Examine yourself.

James said, “The demons also believe and tremble” (James 2:19)

This explains it. The Demons will not confess that Jesus is the Lord, because they are in rebellion. Paul says no one can confess Jesus is the Lord but by the Spirit of God. John says they cannot confess that Jesus came in the Flesh. (1 Cor. 12:3, 1 John 4:1-3)

Do you confess Jesus is the Lord? (Rom. 10:9-10)

Do you tell others about Jesus and how He saved you? (Matt 10:32)

These are the works, Confessing, Communion, Baptism, Abiding and being Spirit led, letting the Spirit work through us and grow us, helping and serving others, building the kingdom, leading people to Christ.

Ok?

Understand that, Satan is not going to preach the Gospel. Not the true Gospel. He will not tell you to turn to God, and confess Jesus is the Lord, and go tell others. He will tell you to quit sinning. He will tell you to be religious. But, if you are saved, Jesus has already taken care of your sins. Now walk in it.

Demons can create religions and get humans to avoid sin and do great things to help people and claim to know God. They can lead humans into being a good person, avoiding sin, and being religious. Demons are able to get people to come to church, sitting in pews and singing songs. Look at other religions. They teach good morals.

But, it’s all fake. Unsaved people do these things everyday. They are full of good morals. But, they will not confess that Jesus is the Lord. Good morals will not save you. (1 Cor 12:3)

So James is not talking about this stuff. He is not talking about resisting sin or going to church or other religious things.

He is talking about turning to God in faith. Confessing Jesus is the Lord, then serving God in love by following the Spirit. Grace. Faith and true works from the Lord.

It’s simple. James says these things for YOU to look at YOURSELF. Be honest between you and God. Are you really doing anything for the Kingdom? Step it up? Ask the Lord to show you or open doors for you to serve or give or tell others about Jesus.

Some preachers want to make it about your sins. They keep people beat down, trying to stop sinning, instead of lifting them up and leading them to know Christ and serve. God calls sinners to serve, not perfect people. He makes us perfect in Christ, not ourselves.

James said ,”For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all..” John said “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.” (James 2:10, 1 John 1:8-10)

So understand that you sin. Confess it to God and move forward. Love God and others.

We are saved. If you gave yourself to Christ. But, we still have a corrupted nature. The Holy Spirit works on that as long as we are trapped in this body. We will sin. God does not see our sin or hold it against us because we are IN Christ. But, we still commit sins. It’s a fact.

Realize that James is not talking about sin when he speaks of works. We are dead to sin. He is talking about love and service. Faith brings love and service.

Notice in Matthew 25, when Jesus returns and separates the sheep and the goats.(Matthew 25:31-46)

He does not mention obeying the law. He speaks of how we treat others.

Jesus in Matthew 25 talks about loving others, even the least of these. Even the poor and lowly. 

That’s what James is saying. That’s the sort of works James is speaking of.

If you know Jesus. Then you do what Jesus would do.

And if we fail, we confess it. If we fail on one point, we are guilty of all. You do not sin a little. Your sins are equal to murder. This is how grave it is.

That’s why we need Jesus.

Understand that we are dead to Sin. If you are saved. You are washed. You are clean. Confess your sins and move on. We are not called by God to focus on our sins and spend our life trying to overcome them. He already did it. But we were saved and made right, so we can serve without fear.

When James says faith without works is dead, he is saying that when we get saved we listen to the Holy Spirit and follow Him in our works and service to God and others.  He is not beating us down with our sins and fears, like some preachers do.

You are saved. Now go help and save others. Let the Holy Spirit guide you and work through you.

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