Gene Cunningham - January 20, 2003
A Faith That Endures #5
Jam 2:14-26 often misunderstood. In Jam 2:14, James uses the word "" to mean deliverance from wasted time (i.e. the hearer only). The Word of God + Faith = Salvation for both unbeliever and believer. Faith - Works = Death (no profit to us or anyone else). All deliverance comes from Jesus Christ. In Jam 4:12, James refers to beliver to believer activity -- Christ is the only judge (and law giver). In Jam 5:15 and Jam 5:20, believer is being saved from their sickness, or divine discipline unto death (Rom 8:13). "Saving the soul" simply means saving the life -- not refering to eternal salvation. "Profit" and "save" mean the same thing to James, illustrated by Jam 2:16. When we act in faith (e.g. help others) it profits them but "saves" us. Use of death often means "operational uselessness" (1Ti 5:5, 1Ti 5:10). Jam 2:18-20 The doer talks to the hearer-only. Paul and James use Abraham as an example (Rom 4:1-5 Justification before God, Jas 2:21-24 justification before men). James makes the point that Abraham (having been a believer for many years) offered Isaac as was justified before men. Jam 2:25-26 Rahab also had visible evidence of faith and was "saved" from dead faith -- her faith was profitable. Abraham was a friend of God, we can be too (Jam 2:23 Joh 14:12-15). The world will be forced to acknowledge the proof of our faith if we love one another. Jam 2:26 the body can be determine dead by testing for breath (i.e. Greek spirit is the same for breath). Works animate faith (Tit 2:14). We are saved by grace through faith without works but unto good works (Eph 2:8-10). Summary of chapter 2: (1) don't show partiality (Jam 2:1-7); (2) Power and preminence of law of Christ/liberty (Jam 2:8-11); (3) Power of Spirit is Christ in us (Jam 2:12-13); (4) Faith without works is dead (Jam 2:14-17); (5) Follow examples of heros of our faith (Jam 2:18-26). James definition of wisdom is ability to live life God's way - character and action. Action is a reflection of who we are. Ultimately the work of wisdom is to bring people to Christ. Every positive example in James is a "doer of the word"; his negative examples illustrate a "hearer only".
Conference notes for this series can be found [HERE]
Scripture References: Ephesians 2:8-10, James 4:12, Romans 4:1-5, Titus 2:14, James 2:14, James 2:18-26, James 2:18-20, James 2:26, James 2:14-26, James 2:14-17, James 2:16, John 14:12-15, James 2:12-13, Romans 8:13, James 2:23, James 2:8-11, James 5:20, James 2:25-26, James 2:1-7, James 5:15, James 2:21-24
From Series: "James - A Faith That Endures"
Given a the Washington DC Conference in November 2007 this 8-part study in James examines our faith. We are to be 'doers' and not 'hearers' only. By this we are 'justified' before men (not God). In this way James complements (and precedes) Paul writings.