Sermon Summary:
Martin Luther lived in the 1500’s. He graduated with a. bachelor in 1502, a masters in 1505 and was planning on becoming a lawyer until one day he found himself in a terrible thunderstorm.
Luther was so terrified in that moment that he cried out to God to save him and if God did save him Luther would commit his life to the Lord as a monk.
Sure, enough Luther survived the thunderstorm, dropped out of law school, entered the monastery to devote himself to prayer, serving others, vows of silence, confession but Luther found the more that he prayed and served God the more he hated God.
There’s one moment when Luther was in confession and the priest said to Luther, “Stop trying so hard and just love God.”
Luther responded, “Love God? I hate Him! The more I try to gain God’s favor the angrier I become.” Luther was exhausted. Luther was frustrated. Then one day Luther opens up to Romans 3 and sees “we are justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus.”
Look at that word “Justified.” The word “justified” is a legal term that means “to be declared righteous.” And verse 24 teaches we are declared righteous as a gift by His grace through faith in Jesus! That’s the gospel!
Luther had been trying as hard as he humanly could to become righteous through religious acts like praying, serving, confessing and in that moment, Luther saw the glory of the gospel. Jesus has come to give His righteousness by grace through faith!
It’s possible you might be thinking, “Michael, that was the 1500’s.” Who’s asking those types of questions today! Listen to me, we are having those same types of discussions today just like Luther was wrestling with 500 years ago.
We don’t use the same words, but the intent is the same. When we get online and widely proclaim that we strongly support a certain cause, and we are aghast that others don’t support that cause, we are, on some level, trying to let everyone know our righteousness.
When we wear a t-shirt that shows our support, when we wear Tom’s shoes that donates proceeds to people in need, when we put stickers on our car, signs in our yard we are, on some level, working through outward means to let everyone know that we are pretty great people. It’s an outward work!
The good news is that Jesus has come to give us His righteousness as a gift, by grace through faith, and this morning we are going drill into this conversation by exploring these three sub-points; 1. Faith vs. Works. 2. What About Demons? 3. Examples of Faith. Let’s look at our first sub-point; 1. Faith vs. Works.
- Faith vs. Works.
James 2:14, “14 What use is it, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but he has no works? Can that faith save him?
Do you see the tension in verse 14? Men and women are talking about this great faith in Jesus, but their great faith in Jesus isn’t producing great lives in Jesus. Does that make sense?
In the context of James these men and women have found themselves in the midst of serious trials and temptations (James 1) and as a result their lives have turned inward and self-centered.
In James 1:26 they are becoming harsh with their words. In James 1:27 they have neglected the widow and the orphan and lacking in character. In James 2:5 they are showing favoritism toward the rich and overlooking the poor. Therefore, James is asking, “What’s up with that?”
On a personal level this is a question we can relate to today in Austin. We have all experienced trials and temptations through this pandemic in Austin. I am sure plenty of us have experienced additional trials and temptations in life generally. As a result, haven’t we all seen how easy it is to turn inward.
Perhaps we are watching a little more television than usual so as to escape? Perhaps we are indulging in food a little more often so as to find comfort? Perhaps we are emotionally and relationally fatigued more easily? Perhaps we are justifying our gaps in character with thoughts like, “I’ve been through a lot? It’s not that big of a deal.”
Therefore, God’s Word is pressing in on us this morning. Welcome to North Village Church! God’s Word is asking us, “Where is our faith in Jesus?” Is the pandemic greater than our faith Jesus? Do the trials and temptations give us license to turn inward?
Perhaps some of us push back and say, “What about grace and forgiveness in Jesus?” Yes, there is grace and forgiveness in Jesus. James has been layering his words the last two chapters with grace and forgiveness in Jesus and at the same time James is asking, “Why wouldn’t our great faith in Jesus not produce lives that look a little like Jesus?” Look at verses 15-17:
James 2:15-17, “15 If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and be filled,” and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that? 17 Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself.”
This illustration makes sense, right? Yes, Jesus is full of grace and forgiveness, but we don’t want to lean on grace and forgiveness so much that these types of things become normal.
Keep in mind the scope of this challenge extends to all people, but in the context of verses 15-17 this is happening with “brothers and sisters in the local church.”
This is happening with the people in the room. This is happening with the committed partners of the church family and not caring about daily food and clothing, therefore, James asks, “If our faith in Jesus doesn’t produce a compassion for those who are closest in our life, then we probably should examine our faith in Jesus.” Does that make sense?
Just to be clear, our culture uses the word “Faith” for everything. You will see decorative piece at Hobby Lobby that say “Faith.” You will hear George Michaels sing about “Faith.” You will hear motivation speakers tell us we have to keep the “Faith”, but the object of the faith is important.
God’s Word is never referencing “Faith” like a warm fuzzy of random thoughts. When you see the word, “Faith” in James, Romans, and all of Scripture it is always talking about faith alone in Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection.
Therefore, each of us would do well to ask ourselves this morning, “Do I have faith in Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection?” Am I seeing my faith in Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection produce a life that looks a little like Jesus? If not, why not?
When I go see movies about Italian gangsters I am affected by those movies. I walk out of the movie talking like an Italian gangster. Hey! Forget about it! When I go see race car movies I drive faster. I can be in a Toyota Corolla, and I am thinking about how I can make the car drift as I turn on to Mo-Pac. When I go see the movie about The Batman, I walk out of the movie wanting to punch something. Why? It’s because those movies influence me.
Therefore, God’s Word is pressing in on our souls so as to ask, “If we have faith in Jesus, wouldn’t we see our faith in Jesus shaping our lives?” Jesus loved the scriptures, therefore, our faith in Jesus should produce a love for God’s Word, studying God’s Word and obeying God’s Word.
Jesus loved spending time with people, therefore, our faith in Jesus should produce a love for people. Jesus loved giving His time, talent, and treasures for the kingdom of God, therefore, our faith in Jesus should produce a love for giving our time, talent, and treasures to the kingdom of God. And if not, why not? Let’s look at our second sub-point; 2. The Object of Our Faith.
- What About Demons?
James 2:18-19, “18 But someone may well say, “You have faith and I have works; show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works.” 19 You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder.”
In verses 18 and 19 James is assuming that people will push back so as to say, “Some have faith, some have works, not that big of a deal.” But James response is, “look at the demons!” Demons believe God is one, which is evidence of someone who has a biblical understanding of God, and their still demons.
Listen to me, I don’t know about you, but it is never a good sign to be compared to a demon. When I was kid people compared me to Mickey Mouse because my name was Michael.
Then I was compared to that kid in the cereal commercial and people would say, “Mikey likes it.” Then, I was compared to Fred Savage from the Wonder Years, and in college I got Brad Pitt a lot. But you never want to hear people say, “You know, you kind of remind me of a demon.”
Which means what we believe about God informationally or intellectually about Jesus isn’t what produces a life that looks like Jesus. Lean in with me! Sometimes people will think, “I grew up in a Christian family, so I know God.” I went through confirmation, so I know God. I go on service projects to help people, so I know God. No, those things are just outward religious exercises that we want to see in our lives, but it must start with faith in Jesus.
A person must see the offense of their sin toward God. A person must believe Jesus died for their sin at the cross and conquered their sin in the resurrection. And a person must be in such awe of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection that they willingly want to submit their life to Jesus and follow Him so that we end up seeing a life that looks a little like Jesus, but it must start with faith in Jesus.
Think about it this way. If I walked into your home and said, “Tonight dinner is on me. I am taking everyone to McDonald’s. Get in the car!” You would be thankful but there would be a part of you that is thinking, “Is this really necessary?”
Why? Probably because you weren’t hungry when I dropped by your house. Probably because you don’t like McDonalds. Probably because you were in the middle of playing Yahtzee and I interrupted the game.
But imagine if you are on your death bed. Imagine you have medical bills beyond what you can imagine. Imagine if you were about to lose your home. Imagine if your family was falling apart.
And then imagine I come over and say, “Dinners on me. Medical bills are on me. In fact, I will take your sickness and give you, my health.” It would change everything! This is what James is teaching us this morning. Why would we seek the approval of others through bumper stickers, t-shirts, social media causes when we can receive the righteousness of Christ as a gift, by grace through faith?
And if Jesus changed our life for eternity as a gift, by grace through faith in Him, then why would we not want to study the scriptures, spend time with people and invest our life in His Kingdom? Let’s look at our last sub-point; 3. Examples of Faith.
- Examples of Faith.
James 2:20-21, “20 But are you willing to recognize, you foolish fellow, that faith without works is useless? 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up Isaac his son on the altar?”
At first glance it looks like Abraham’s relationship with God begins with His outward work when he offers up Isaac. Do you see that in verse 21? But we must study the context of Abraham’s life.
Abraham offers his son Isaac on the alter (vs. 21) in Genesis 22. You don’t have to read it now; you can read it later. But in Genesis 15 Abraham is credited righteous, so that chronologically we see Abraham’s faith in God (Genesis 15) produce a work of obedience (Genesis 22.)
You might be asking, “Why would God ask Abraham to do that?” Fair question, but we have to tackle that one later. The key in the life of Abraham is that we see Abraham’s faith produces a life of willing obedience. Let’s look at the life of Rahab. Look at verses 25-26:
James 2:25-26, “25 In the same way, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way? 26 For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.”
In verse 25 we get the example of Rahab from the Old Testament and Rahab was a poor, gentile (non-Jewish), woman living in Jericho who worshipped the sun, moon, stars. Rahab is the picture of a person that externally seemed as far away from God as you can imagine in the Old Testament, but Rahab ends up believing in the God of Scripture and her faith in God produces in her an outward work of obedience.
Rahab ends up hiding Israelites, the enemy, in her house so that the Israelites will take Jericho and overthrow Rahab’s own people. It was incredibly risky! Therefore, James gives us two examples of our faith in God producing an outward work and this morning we must ask ourselves, “Have I placed my faith in Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection?” We must start there. If that’s never happened, then do that today as a church in Austin!
Only in Jesus is there forgiveness. Only in Jesus is a transformed life. Only in Jesus can we show our faith by our works. Therefore, trust in Him. If so, we must ask, “Has my faith in Jesus produced in me a life that is looking like Jesus? I understand this is abstract so let’s look at three key characteristics:
- We will see holy lives (vs. 18). It doesn’t mean we are perfect but that we delight in repentance. We delight in confession. We see patterns of having soft hearts for the Lord.
In our church family, might we see a growing pattern of men, women, and children who love one another enough to help us live out holy lives in Jesus.
- We will see courageous lives (vs. 25). We don’t all have to see the same courageous lives, but we want to see a pattern of riskiness.
We don’t all have to pray for people in India. We don’t all have to build water wells. We don’t all have to launch evangelistic bible studies in our work. We don’t all have to speak out the same way about biblical sexuality. We don’t all have to volunteer at crisis pregnancy centers. We don’t all have to have people move into our homes. But might we become a people who are making courageous and riskiness decisions because of our faith in Jesus.
- We will see a journey (vs. 21). In the context of Abraham’s life, we need to remember the journey. In Genesis 15 God promises a 75-year-old man and his wife that they would have a son. Abraham believed they would have a child who had a child who had a child that would become a mighty nation.
But 11 years later 86-year-old Abraham begins to doubt. 11 years later 86-year-old Abraham begins to wonder, “Is the promise ever going to happen?” So, Abraham births a child with Hagar but Hagar wasn’t the promise. The promise was made to Abraham and Sarah so in Genesis 21, 25 years later the promised Isaac is born. Do you see the journey unfolding?
Faith in Jesus will produce lives that look like Jesus, but we must remember the journey. It isn’t often that we see the Lord move when we want, where we want, how we want, but the Lord is faithful to finish what He started, therefore, might we lock our eyes on Him.
There are going to be ups and downs the whole time. Of course, there are going to be moments of our life where we are double-minded. There are going to be times we demonstrate lives that do not come close to reflecting the “glorious Lord Jesus,” therefore, we need to remember that our story is a journey, and it is a journey that has already been completed by Jesus, therefore, might we all lift our eyes to Him. Will you pray with me?