Sunday, August 26, 2018

Book of James – Part 6: Faith and Works


The Book of James – Part 6:
Faith and Works
Pastor Bruce A. Shields
House of Faith Church | www.PS127.org | www.TruthDigest.org

This Document is a Sermon Outline, you may hear the full audio of the actual sermon by following the link Online Audio Files located above for this, and other Full Sermon Audios.  For a complete list of Sermon Outlines, visit TruthDigest.org, or Truth Digest on facebook; for our Official Church website, visit PS127.org, or find us on facebook at House of Faith Church

SERMON INTRODUCTION

Many times over the years, I have heard those who lay claim to faith, and exclaim with all assurance of their future home in heaven, while at the very same time, they live here on earth in a selfish, self-centered existence contradictory to scripture. They live a life that falls very short of glorifying the Lord.

While words are easy to say, claims easily made, the Word of God tells us that if we truly have faith, we will have a natural response to God by glorifying Him with our lives and how we live.

Those who claim faith, and to belong to the Lord, yet do not live in accordance to God’s Word, not being doers of the Word in their lives, are spiritually dead, and have no place in the Kingdom. They are in desperate need of salvation and True Conversion.

Grace is where our salvation lies, but if our faith in the Lord is not followed by the deeds in our lives, that faith is worthless and dead!

Anyone can claim the Lord and Faith, but those who truly have faith will respond to the Word of God by living a life pleasing to the Lord, and be a true reflection of God and His mercy in this world.

James poses a question deep within the Word of God in this letter to the twelve tribes who have claimed to believe the Word, and have faith.

We too, should read this, and ask ourselves this very same question, looking deep into our faith, and our lives and how we live them.

Deeds are simply our response to our faith in God and His Word.

A response is any behavior that results from an external (God’s Word) or internal (God’s Spirit) stimulus.

James’ question to you today in the Word of God is;

Do you have “proper” faith, and are you responding properly to that faith?


LAST WEEKS SERMON
Part 1 - Faith and Wisdom
Part 2 - Poverty and Riches
Part 3 - Endurance
Part 4 - Christian Living
Part 5 - Brotherly Love

TODAY’S SERMON
Part 6 - Faith and Works


SCRIPTURE READING

James 2:14-26
 14 What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? 15 Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. 16 If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? 17 In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.

 18 But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.”
   Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds.

19 You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.

 20 You foolish person, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless? 21 Was not our father 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 considered righteous by what they do 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.


       I.            TO CLAIM AND NOT SHOW

a.      James asks, v14 “What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them?”

                                                             i.      Remember last week we talked about the difference of having faith in the first aid poster, and acting on it?

                                                          ii.      Illustration - “Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. 16 If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it?”

                                                       iii.      Conclusion - “In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.”

                                                         iv.      James makes it clear...there is no need to seek the concordance, study guides or theological manuscripts and papers to try and decipher what is being said here...if your so called “faith” is not followed by your actions...it is DEAD!


b.     We see far too many examples of this in the world, and even more in the church. 

                                                             i.      Too many religious people think that their “good deeds” make up for their bad deeds in life, or their good deeds quantify their relationship with the Lord.

1.      This is not scriptural, not Christian at all...this is actually Hindu/Buddhist belief in karma, that good deeds bring good in your life, while bad deeds bring bad.

a.      The scriptures teach us the exact opposite, saying do not judge a person’s relationship with the Lord by the things that may happen to him in this life.  For example, Paul suffered much, and the Book of Acts tells us, many judged him and said he was an enemy to God because of this suffering...but it was the exact opposite.  It was because he was a friend to God, and an enemy to this world.

b.     If karma were true, Jesus and the apostles and prophets would not have suffered so much in life...for they did good deeds continuously.

c.      If karma were true...all those people complaining saying “I don’t worry about the wrong they did to me, karma will get them.”, excuse me, if karma were true, the bad stuff they did to you, you deserved, so, that belief in karma actually shows karma is a contradiction to itself and impossible to exist.

                                                          ii.      Some also believe that good deeds bring them closer to the Lord...This too is not scriptural, nor Christian.

1.      Our salvation is based solely on Jesus Christ taking sins penalty. (2 Corinthians 5:21)

2.      He alone is our savior from sin (John 1:29)

3.      He is the author and finisher of our faith. (Hebrews 12:2)

4.      The work necessary to provide salvation was fully accomplished by Jesus Himself, who lived a perfect life, took God’s judgment for sin, and rose again from the dead. (Hebrews 10:12)

5.      Titus 3:5 makes it clear, “not because of righteous things we had done...”

                                                       iii.      You can “DO” works and good deeds until you are blue in the face, and unless it is in response to faith in God’s Word, it is useless.


c.      Scripture teaches us about works and faith.

                                                             i.      Works destroys grace (and grace is where salvation comes from) (Romans 11:6) = dead works

And if by grace, then it cannot be based on works; if it were, grace would no longer be grace.
Stimulus - If your works are to obtain salvation, reward, praise, then it is not accepted because it is not in response to God’s Word or Spirit.

Our Faith - becomes our ability, doing things of ourselves instead of through the Lord and the Spirit which is supposed to dwell within us.

Your Deeds/works/action/response - may be good, but if not motivated by God’s Word or Spirit, then you are just a kind philanthropist, and no closer to God.

Results - you may receive the praise of men (and if you have, you have already received your reward Matthew 6:2)

1.      Grace is God’s giving us something we cannot earn or deserve. According to Romans 11:6, “works” of any kind destroys grace—the idea is that a worker earns payment, while the recipient of grace simply receives it, unearned. Since salvation is all of grace, it cannot be earned. Faith, therefore, is a non-work. Faith cannot truly be considered a “work,” or else it would destroy grace.

2.      Think of the first aid poster.  You have faith in it.  Your action when someone is choking saves them, and your action COMPLETED your faith.

a.      HOWEVER, if you have faith in the first aid poster, and did nothing when the man choked, he would die and your faith in the poster (although everything in the poster is TRUE) is useless!

b.     In the same way, If you have faith in the first aid poster, because what it says is true, and, not being motivated by what the poster says “If someone is choking”, and you go and try to Heimlich the guy sitting next to you, YOU DID THIS on your own, you would not see good results.

c.      The words in the first aid poster must be the motivator “if someone is choking”, and your faith in the truth of the poster is then put into action, you will see reward! You will save a life.

3.      Remember, our deeds, action, works, whatever you want to call them, is a response to external (God’s Word) or internal (God’s Spirit) stimulus!  It CANNOT be a response to our desire to obtain something...or we are truly putting our faith into our ability, and ourselves.

a.      Works without faith, are to obtain rewards...whether those rewards be a closer relationship with God, forgiveness for a sin or bad deed, or for the praise of being a good or “holy” person.

4.      Suppose someone anonymously sent me a check for $1,000,000. The money is mine if I want it, but I still must endorse the check. In no way can signing my name be considered earning the million dollars—the endorsement is a non-work. I can never boast about becoming a millionaire through sheer effort or my own business savvy. No, the million dollars was simply a gift, and signing my name was the only way to receive it. In the same way, exercising faith is the only way to receive the generous gift of God, and faith cannot be considered a work worthy of the gift.

                                                          ii.      Faith without works = dead

1.      Faith itself is NOT a work, but that faith MUST bring fruit, which is the good fruit of deeds.

Stimulus - External (God’s Word), Internal (God’s Spirit) - PROPER STIMULUS

Our Faith - In God’s Word or Spirit, not ourselves

Deeds/works/action/response - none taken

Results - none

2.      Nothing from nothing leaves nothing....
a.      The old Billy Preston song...

b.     Faith without works is dead...the proper stimulus is there, the faith is there, but it goes no further.

                                                       iii.      Works in response to faith = righteousness! (PROPER FAITH & WORKS)
1.      The following is the Scriptural process of Faith & Works

Stimulus - External (God’s Word), Internal (God’s Spirit)

Our Faith - In God

Deeds/works/action/response - Good fruit produced in our lives

Results - Faith that is ALIVE & and our deeds counted as RIGHTEOUSNESS!


2.      This is the proper stimulus, faith, action and result!

                                                         iv.      Ask yourself with this understanding, am I living righteously?



   II.            BIBLICAL EVIDENCE

a.      v18 addresses the fact that there are currently millions in this world who believe faith in God is enough...but there is no saving grace in believing there is a God!

                                                             i.      You believe in the one true God...good!  Even the demons believe that and shutter.

b.     James continues and gives biblical illustrations to help the readers understand how righteousness comes from faith acted out.

                                                             i.      v21-24 “Was not our father 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 considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone.”

1.      Examine Abrahams Faith

Abraham’s Stimulus - External (God’s Word) or Internal (God’s Spirit)

Abraham’s Faith - In God

Abraham’s Deeds/works/action/response - OBEDIENCE

The Results - Faith that is ALIVE & made COMPLETE, and credited to him as RIGHTEOUSNESS!

2.      And he was called God’s friend...not the worlds friend, but God’s Friend

3.      Remember James 4:4 last week? You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.”


III.            THE PROPER RESPONSE TO GOD’S WORD

a.      This is the PROPER response to God’s Word!


CONCLUSION

Proper faith, which is ALIVE will produce good fruit in our lives.  We will live in accordance to the scripture, and our lives will be a reflection of our faith, which is made complete through our works.

And that work which is done in proper response to God, will be credited to us as RIGHTEOUSNESS!


Stimulus - External (God’s Word), Internal (God’s Spirit)

Our Faith - In God

Deeds/works/action/response - Good fruit produced in our lives

Results - Faith that is ALIVE & and our deeds credited as RIGHTEOUSNESS!


Are you living righteously?



Want to learn more about Salvation and Getting Saved?   

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Sunday, August 19, 2018

The Book of James – Part 5: Brotherly Love


The Book of James – Part 5:
Brotherly Love
Pastor Bruce A. Shields
House of Faith Church | www.PS127.org | www.TruthDigest.org

This Document is a Sermon Outline, you may hear the full audio of the actual sermon by following the link Online Audio Files located above for this, and other Full Sermon Audios.  For a complete list of Sermon Outlines, visit TruthDigest.org, or Truth Digest on facebook; for our Official Church website, visit PS127.org, or find us on facebook at House of Faith Church

SERMON INTRODUCTION

The Apostle James, brother of Jesus, and leader of the Jerusalem council, writes to us, and the Twelve Tribes in the Book of James, a warning of what will happen to those who love with favoritism, which is a sin.

James poses the question for you in today’s verses...

Do you love others unconditionally?


LAST WEEKS SERMON
Part 1 - Faith and Wisdom
Part 2 - Poverty and Riches
Part 3 - Endurance
Part 4 - Christian Living

 TODAY’S SERMON
Part 5 - Brotherly Love


SCRIPTURE READING

James 2:1-12
1 My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism. 2 Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in filthy old clothes also comes in. 3 If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, “Here’s a good seat for you,” but say to the poor man, “You stand there” or “Sit on the floor by my feet,” 4 have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?

 5 Listen, my dear brothers and sisters: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him? 6 But you have dishonored the poor. Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court? 7 Are they not the ones who are blaspheming the noble name of him to whom you belong?

 8 If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing right. 9 But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers. 10 For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. 11 For he who said, “You shall not commit adultery,” also said, “You shall not murder.” If you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker.

 12 Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, 13 because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment.




       I.            JUDGES WITH EVIL THOUGHTS

a.      Not having the Faith of our Lord Jesus Christ

                                                             i.      James makes it plain to the reader, that this behavior is not following the pattern that  Jesus Christ gives to His followers.

                                                          ii.      We are called to live a life of conduct which is mirroring the Lord Jesus Christ and the Apostles.

1.      Jesus did not show favoritism while on earth!
a.      Tax collectors
b.      Sinners
c.      Prostitutes
d.     Sick
e.      Lepers
f.       Centurions


2.      When given the opportunity, the Apostles shared the very same message of Hope they gave to the poor, with Kings, leaders and teachers of the Law.

a.      They did not reserve Hope and Salvation for those THEY felt deserved it.

b.      They offered the very same Hope and Salvation to ALL!


b.     Picking and choosing whom to love...the beginning of clicks

                                                             i.      Social status in a church is despicable, and detestable to the Lord.

1.      God has called us to be ONE Body of Christ!

                                                          ii.      When we show favor...we begin clicks

1.      When we begin clicks, we begin division in the body

2.      When we begin division in the body...we weaken it!

3.      When we weaken the body, the church falls apart


c.      Addressing the rich while ignoring the poor

                                                             i.      James tells the readers exactly what they are doing wrong.




d.     Prejudice proclaims a terrible attitude and a terrible spirit

                                                             i.      This is not the Love of others the scripture teaches.

                                                          ii.      This behavior is just another example of selfishness and self-centeredness.

                                                       iii.      It does not have to be favoritism over wealth either...it can be over personality, looks, power, fame, possessions, position, title, prestige, and on, and on


e.      God is no respecter of persons...and neither are true followers of Christ

                                                             i.      This is not a “new” thing...God has told His people from the beginning not to behave in this manner!

1.      Leviticus 19:15 “Ye shall do no unrighteousness in judgment: thou shalt not respect the person of the poor, nor honor the person of the mighty: but in righteousness shalt thou judge thy neighbour.” ... treat them the same!

2.      Deuteronomy 1:17 “Ye shall not respect persons in judgment; but ye shall hear the small as well as the great; ye shall not be afraid of the face of man; for the judgment is God's: and the cause that is too hard for you, bring it unto me, and I will hear it.”

3.      2 Chronicles 19:7 “Wherefore now let the fear of the LORD be upon you; take heed and do it: for there is no iniquity with the LORD our God, nor respect of persons, nor taking of gifts.”

a.      bribing leaders...a no, no

b.     Man who wanted his will done in the Church
                                                                                                                                     i.      Upset with church, threatened to hold back his tithe

                                                                                                                                  ii.      At the time he believed he was one of the biggest contributors to the church, therefore, felt as if he had a claim or stake in its operation.  He imagined his money purchased authority.

1.      Elders are the spiritual leaders of the church, and obey God and His Word alone...not man nor money.

2.      Jesus tells us in Mark 12, a rich man gave a small percentage from his wealth, a widow gave 100% from her poverty...it was the woman’s two pennies which was the greater gift to God.

a.      The rich man’s drop in his bucket was nothing compared to the widows giving of the entire bucket!

3.      I told him to keep his tithe; God does not want it anyway. He was giving for the wrong reason and with the impure intent.

2 Corinthians 9:6-7
6 Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.

7 Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”

We cannot bribe true spiritual leaders, the church, nor God into doing OUR WILL.

We cannot look at the rich with more favor than the poor!  God sees us ALL as equal!


Galatians 3:27-29
27 for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.

4.      Acts 10:34 “Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:”

5.      Romans 2:11; Ephesians 6:9; Colossians 3:25


6.      1 Peter 1:16-18 ...Be ye holy; for I am holy.

17And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man's work, pass the time of your life here on earth in fear (respectful acknowledgment and understanding of a coming judgment on you by God):

18Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;”



   II.            BREAKING THE LAW MAKES YOU A LAWBREAKER

a.      vs 8 Show favor to everyone, whether rich or poor

b.     vs 9 Favoritism to one class = sin

                                                             i.      Love your brother, love your neighbor, love your enemy

                                                          ii.      I Corinthians 13 What is love?

1.      Not feelings or emotions, but ACTIONS (I Corinthians 13)

2.      How you treat others, that is love...

c.      vs 10-11 If you break one law, you are a law breaker




III.            JUDGMENT WITHOUT MERCY

a.      vs 12 Again, James says...Be doers of the Word, and what the Word says!

b.     God shall have judgment without mercy for those who have shown no mercy...Jesus teaches of this very situation.

                                                             i.      Richman and Lazarus

1.      Luke 16:19-2619 “There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. 20 At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores 21 and longing to eat what fell from the rich man’s table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores.

22 “The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried. 23 In Sheol, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. 24 So he called to him, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.’

25 “But Abraham replied, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony.

In life, the rich man was only concerned with his riches.  This selfishness breeds apathy,  and the rich man never showed mercy to Lazarus, whom he had to pass each day to leave and enter his home.

c.      vs 13 “Mercy triumphs over judgment.”

d.     This presents the fact that one who shows mercy in this life will have nothing to fear at the Judgment Seat of Christ.


CONCLUSION

If we show favoritism among other believers, this is not truly loving others, and God calls this behavior a sin.  The scripture says when we do this, we become “judges with evil thoughts”, and we are not behaving as God wants us to.

Breaking even one law makes us breakers of the law, and in danger of judgment if we do not repent.

When we pick and choose whom to love and show favoritism to, we not only become judges with evil thoughts, but this is the beginning of clicks and social castes, which divide the Body of Christ, and weaken the church, sometimes unto death.

If you are in this sin, confess it to the Lord and repent, so that you may be forgiven.  Then go and show mercy to others...go and sin no more.

Can you answer James’ question properly today?

Do you show favor to all...or reserve your best for those you feel are more worthy?


Next week we will look at what the Book of James says about Faith and Works.


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