Faith Without Works Is Dead

What I'm so glad for what God is doing R graduate walking with Paige over for a few years in the forgot a Spanish campus and really throughout all of her campuses got is just amazing. Hello everybody who is sick of this cold weather that can tell you I was born and raised in the Caribbean island I am not doing well. I am not doing well.

You would think that the been meditating on God's word all week for this weekend, I have to confess to you I been meditating on a nice beach all week. I have visited more Florida websites as we can I've ever had in my life and actually cares about you as my wife is like Florida websites but I'm I'm so glad to be here.

My name is Rick Valley View never seen me before her know me at all.

I been attending the summit church for little over seven years now and I've been on staff for 5 1/2 of those years.

If you are visiting us and if you happen to be someone that is investigating the Christian faith.

Perhaps your nonbeliever.

I have a special love for you because for 10 1/2 years of my life. I sat under a heavy atheist teaching, I drubbed an atheist community.

And so I'm just so glad that you're here, I do have to confess to you that that message today is a it's for the people of God is for the church but hopefully in it. You see at least how important God is to us and he calls us to genuine faith capacity. The asked me to share God's word with you this weekend. I'm grateful to do so today were not going to be in judges don't judge me.

You know that is at the heart book everybody must equally well but I do believe that God has led me to a passage that that we really need to hear collectively as a church will be James. James chapter 2 verses 14 through 26 and I'm going to get into a sticky tension today.

I live that yes completely rest in what Jesus has done. Of course yet is a fully devoted her life that actually actually pleases God wise. That is the contention you asked what I personally see to streams and Christians. I see a Christian and one and that is all about works. This Christian is so far removed from the world that they live in a kind of spiritual bubble of some kind. Everything is bad and because of that they do not hang out with unbelievers because you're afraid of of doing things that don't please God and so so they live in a in a bubble of the descriptions are like a light under a table and every purposeful they are very religious morality is a God, you know if if their kids make them look good if they could say yes or yes Mama make them look good been made in the life is about the now there is extreme go the one that I want to focus on the most today and is the Christian that is so assimilated was the world that you can even tell of their Christian they think their light but one wouldn't know it. They tank they tend to speak of grace are locked. They speak of justification and salvation but very little to nothing on sanctification thoughts even though sanctification is the work of Christ in us, and not our work. Sanctification does remap the man are surrendering and this Christians they put all of the way on the John and they can care less and practice about the Jews and and they can feel superior to everybody else think they feel deftly feel superior to other Christians or churches.

Feel superior to other churches because they get themselves you know it's all about knowledge and because they care about knowledge so much thinking themselves labels like I'm a gospel centered I am a Christ centered Christian to be on as a tend to live off task in the mission of God into this for themselves and if we learn something for Jesus is that yes he was full of grace but he never took his eyes off of the father and the longest prayer recorded in the Bible. Jesus is talking to God and since father I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do. Jesus knew exactly what he was supposed to do and that is exactly what he did in his short-lived on this side of heaven. I think God wants to post a question today.

Do you know what you are supposed to do and are you actually doing that.

Are we walking on the good works that God has laid out in front of us to walk in so that people can see those good works and glorify our father or we banking a grace in a distorted way where we just live for ourselves. Grace truly is unconditional. No question about but Grace demands a response, think about it as so you come home from work and there is this little precious little thing I want to have your old that just learn how to walk and you know they won't like Frankenstein and you open the door and there rushing your way with arms wide open and they have a smile from ear to ear under walking to you because they want to love you and hug you. That is pure love coming your way. However, it bakes you to leave whatever you want to do that it leaves usually behind whatever you going to do and that his grace is unconditional love. But it demands a response. I think God wants to talk to us here in James about if you believe in Christ you say you have rested in Christ, but have no words, your faith is dead. James 217. So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. Beloved family that would've got reminds us today that the work of Christ before us starts a work in us, and again this is a very difficult topic because we know that were not saved by works in good works were saved by the grace of Christ alone.

When Jesus said it is finished. It was finished. There's nothing you can add to the word of salvation, but you see that salvation nothing, void of good words you and I can walk in that you see justification is not just pardon is not just forgiveness is not just your guilt has been removed. Your sentence has been taking care of you may leave no justification is more than pardon and that is that your definitely remove now you can come. Thy kingdom come, his will to be done that ours left right now this passage here in James two chapter 2 verse 14, and I see at least two different kinds of faith that look like true faith, but that are not faith at all. The first time is a dead faith. Verse 14. What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works can that faith save him. Now that is a great question is straight from God. If someone says he has faith but does not have words can that faith save him.

It's a real important question. It's an eternal question. We can be saved from death. We can be saved from our sins we can be saved from our enemy. We can be safe from eternity without God. Salvation is a real important question can a faith boy different words, save us. The question God's word and now God for Jane. Please add a few scenarios for us next verse.

If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food. You know that neighborhood you drive by on the way to work.

But you know it's a low-income neighborhood, you know, there's a ton of needs in the neighborhood.

You know the kids that go to school with your kids that were where the same little worn clothes every time because you know your parents will have much to buy more when when you see them all around you when you see their need and want to view.

Verse 16 says to them going piece. God bless you.

I'm sure God has great things for you. People ask trust God.

I'll be praying for you. You see that's the problem with religious people. They say a lot but don't do anything. I'll be praying for you. I am sure God will provide meals for you this, and Donna has already provided meals for them during your pantry. Go home, cook it and bring it to them. God has already provided a code for them. I wonder for Trish to have a coat drive the colonies in your back to get off. I give it away. If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking daily food.

I want to be assessment going. Please be warmed and filled without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that so also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead, nor something that does nothing know what that faith does nothing. The funny thing though.

The funny thing is that this church thinks they have faith, their pastor is Jesus little brother.

They have great theology and they think that our faith but James says what faith that faith is lipservice lipservice void of the lid of a living sacrifice that faith is a professing faith that you actually can practice why can't you practice because you profess about. You don't process it. It's dead she's not there you think it is, but is not a church I think I want to really search our hearts for this passage.

Perhaps some of you inherited that faith. Perhaps you grew up with people around you.

Maybe your own family that profess to be Christians but you said while if that is what it is to be a Christian. I definitely don't want to be one you have inherited that faith people around you that care more about themselves than anyone else, which is inherently not Christian that's typical religion for you is lazy is lukewarm is lifeless and maybe you have become theological about your faith. I'm sure you guys saw this a couple of months ago, were they did a study of the most educated cities in the nation, America, and they came out a report. I guess what Raleigh-Durham top-ranked that the ranking the top number two and number three most educated cities in the nation for us now here's a problem with that that we have a tendency to be see our radical philosophical theological but not practical faith without works is enough for us to know what's right.

We don't care about punting to do what's right and sacrificial as long as I know what's right and have the proper theology, don't worry. Don't let this is about what actually doing secret what actually doing those doors close after work. What happens at home. As you know we got the right job yet and without realizing that you start to boast about what you know about what you believe and you think it is amazing Christian because of what you know and you failed to realize your arrogance and you failed to realize that yes Christ leads you to rest, but he doesn't lead you to idle this and you you do want your heart to rest going you do not want your heart to go idle. If that happens, we drop dead that that faith will live in a culture that values comfort over sacrifice millions of dollars is spent on resume development to make was sacrificial easy and you've got to be very careful not to take the gospel message of trusting and resting in Jesus and incorrectly… To excuse your laziness and spiritual apathy. We do have a message of rest.

Praise God, we do have a message of trust, but you cannot take that message in a culture that values comfort over sacrifice and incorrectly adopted to excuse your laziness and spiritual apathy. Jesus says he will abide in me will bear much fruit water who we are by this and you can look like your faith is a life because we are experts are pretending are we. But James says you can have a faith that appears alive on the weekend but is actually dead. My mom lives out of the country. He lives in and in Johnson County by little house.

I love it out there and one of things that is interesting is right in front of her house.

There is just too big trees and we found out that one of the trees is dead. We know is dead because a guy came out was able to punch right through it and we keep forgetting to start guides going back to got it down, but the funny thing is that they look the same but one is alive. I want to miss dead. They both look the same to the naked eye that you still standing just like Diablo you know what it is so dry so hollow and so empty of life. It is that in James S treasures of faith that looks just like that looks great on the outside but is hollow, empty instead is theoretical is philosophical, theological, but is not practical. That reminds me of a story I heard when I was little boy off a college professor, a well renowned college professor in England is back in the day where he needed to cross the English Channel and so he paid his local fishermen. A few blocks to get them across in his tiny little boat as it is renowned college professor Hobson the little boat with the fishermen and their crossing the English Channel and the professor asked the fishermen son. Do you know the science of math and the fishermen (or, sorry, I really don't says son you've lost 1/3 of your life. Few minutes later, the renowned college professor asked the fishermen son. Do you know the science of Marine by all biology and the ocean that were riding over and the fishermen was embarrassed this point that, sir, fishermen. I I know the ocean a little bit you know of Marine biology means no sir I don't in the college professor said you lost another third of your life and all of a sudden a big storm comes rushing and the fishermen as the cause.

Professor head Dr. you not to swim. This know I don't know what you lost your whole life buddy and he died. He died in the fishermen still life you know we can be like that with the gospel enough the power of the gospel is when you see it at work in your life and practice just in the intellect tested blows away your intellect, but he stopped to make it to your heart and then you have to make it to you will, so also faith by itself does not have works, is dead. I know some may say you are not doing this and that, because the Bible tells me to do nothing tries it all for me. Listen with all the respect using the Bible to excuse disobedience to the Bible is not using the Bible at all. Using the Bible to excuse disobedience to the Bible is not using the Bible at all. Others may say verse 18 but someone will say while you have faith and I have works. In other words, you know why James listen bro just you know have you have your way. I have mine. She's get along that complicates things were both right. Faith without works. And so you get two sides of the Christian church, those in the side of faith and grace and rest, but they don't do anything your lazy and also do a lot of words but the problem is is that their devotion and their words is what they trust for their salvation. It decides again but someone will say you have faith, I have worked for God's response is this the same verse as show me your faith apart from your words and I will show you my faith by my works I will show you my faith by my works now the hyper- Calvinism-for people to leave yet. Just give me a chance just reading God's word. James confronts this too proves that ironically they keep arguing 2000 years later is a great works decide that defensive definition of race and rest. They say the word about thing just rest in the Lord.

What we do is nothing in the side of the fence works and what to something the defendant works have a tendency to want to earn their salvation through what they do for their devotion, regardless of religion, depending on religion. You may have to pay your karma that or visit Mecca or speaking tongs. I have nothing wrong with those. I believe in the gifts of the spirit and I do believe they are for the church today, so we pursue the give more than the God of the gifts works. People tend to live to prove God to prove to got other worthy of being loved as you see religion is about self, not God. Religion is about getting the blessings of God, the God was about getting God because he is the greatest lesson. There's a big difference in pastor Ravi Zacharias reminds us of works this way every religion assess every religion says of the Savior by which we can be safe is the person we can see in the mirror every morning. Trooper shanties is the opposite. Worse, people tend to bureau savers and of course I can say is now on the other hand, though, on the other hand, saving grace and rest people. They defend that in life we must do nothing.

Just trust God and keep on living. They say you know what this just relaxing will have to be so. Sarah's legs devoted fanatics to know why it doesn't really matter. I mean, I know I didn't pray but you know why Jesus intercedes for me. So you I just don't care about a product God is sovereign. They say he's arty taking care of everything. We don't have to serve does legalism own words just need to sit down and receive the word from God, and the men of God's asking, are you kidding me fasting.

That's affairs. But church do not undermine our enemy and do not undermine our wicked and deceitful hearts. Yes, Jesus did all the work of salvation only, he's able to save us. But that doesn't mean that what we do doesn't matter what we do gifts away could only belong to what we do gives away, who is our hope. What we do gifts away. We love most.

What we do gives away whether Jesus is keen on your live or you are team of your life.

I listen it's true that we can't do anything for God to love is any less but it is also true that we can do a bunch of things to grieve the Holy Spirit is so true that you and I can do a bunch of things saddened heart of God, no guilt in life we say praise God because that is true because of the forgiveness purchase rest across but there are many moments in life when you better feel bad about your sin does James assess that there are times where we must be wretched and mourn and we let your laughter turned to mourning and joy to gloom. Humble yourself before the Lord and he will exalt James for nine and 10. James confronts both size and says you both are works without trust in Christ is you attempting to bureau Savior and faith without works is dead.

What we do matters.

That's a first. I'm afraid that James warns us about that one warded of good works. The second one though looks like true faith.

It is not true faith, but I think he's get a little more seriously. Here we left in verse 18. Read verse 19 you believe that God is one. You do well. No words usually not good for you. Congratulations do know however, that even the demons believe, and shudder. The second type, afraid that James describes this I say that is no different than that of the demons. Even the demons believe allow me to say something demons also believe in Jesus Christ is also a new test. How is a believing Jesus while I go with the ones demons have well that will be to believing Jesus and do nothing for Jesus to believing Jesus and not be love for Jesus to believing Jesus and hush the gospel to believing Jesus and live for yourself. When you believe in Jesus but your lifestyle lacks the evidence that you love and belong to King Jesus. That's when you can understand very well many things about Jesus without having an affection for Jesus. Listen, you can have good theology and have no affection for Jesus. You can have great theology and 1/2 and have no desire and no passion to live for him. No wonder non-Christian things were hypocrites, because you profess to have faith you profess to be a Christian but they are witnessing that in your life, your affections, the desires of your heart have little to do with Jesus I have any of you have three of your friends and I meet with regularly visit. I love love them so much as I was me, I met with one of them recently for coffee and he said to me something really interesting. He said though, why do you seem to be the only Christian that befriends an atheist and separates time to hear me trying to disprove God. Now I know I'm not the only one that does that and to be fair to Christians. He just doesn't know the other Christians that do that but boy, there's little bit of honesty there is in prison.

One thing I love about it is, is that they can spot falsehood in a heartbeat if it unleashes make us ask the questions who have you befriended this year. That does not know the Lord, not a subproject just out of pure love.

If you say you reckon that grace if you believe, on conditional great who have you befriended a dozen Miller to just hear them and to just love them and show the hope of Jesus with church you can have good theology and I have affection for Jesus you know is interesting that when you read Matthew, John Logan, Mark you see the demons they know Jesus well and they even have good theology. Here's a few examples. Mark 134 and he, Jesus would not permit the demons to speak because they knew Jesus the demons knowledge and adding the synagogue there was a man who had the spirit is in charge there was a man who had the spirit of an unclean demon and he cried out with a loud voice, what have you to do with thousand Jesus of Nazareth is the demons we can have you come to destroy us. I know who you are holy one of God. Many people came to say what is demons that Jesus you are the holy one of God one more example Luke 441 and demons also came out of many crime. You are the son of God, but he rebuked them I would not allow them to speak because they knew that he was the Christ CD was a good theology to but they do not love Jesus didn't want to love Jesus. They do not enjoy Jesus. They do not have affection for Jesus. There believe in Christ is not true faith treasures are kind afraid that is like one of demons. Would you allow God to search your heart through this passage to lead you to repentance as the Lord of the case if the admin he got to be what is it really that your life revolves around you know this was me. This was so me because after I moved from the atheist agenda is what I did, I found another agenda that was also about me, which is religion. I move from an atheist agenda to religious vision and this was so me. I used to think and I believe in God, I'm pretty good person. I highly moral.

More than most. Anyway some summer.

I am in serving church. So what does God want for me. I'm good that I had a dead faith. My belief was no more different than that of the demons.

My theology was good but my heart was not in the game. My heart didn't belong to Jesus, but Jesus and his word and spirit gave me life safety. He gave me freedom and hope. And he also gave me good works to walking each and every day of my life so that others will see the good works and glorify my mercy. Listen, I knew Jesus but I didn't love Jesus is so is so evident when we left somebody you know you know how you know I guess it away joy you get all giddy up about this person is so evidently love somebody. Joy gives it away.

I knew Jesus but lefties.

I didn't enjoy Jesus. I live for Jesus. I knew him intellectually, but I didn't have a relationship with them, but after he opened my eyes I saw his love for me. All I want to do now is love them back for the rest of my days everything I think God for Bluetooth technology because back in the day I will be talking to God and people think I'm crazy to them riding in my car by myself and they know nobody else in the car that I not, but now Bluetooth technology.

People say that I'm talking to somebody. Well, I am talking to Jesus and is a beautiful thing because he's no longer just here. He's no longer a weekend experience. He is my Savior. I love I love them. I talked to Mike talking about silly things is my friend.

He's right there with me in the car on. I talked to I talked with a nice sing to him that made. I would have lost little now I see you talk to him is Jesus real to you with your faith is Jesus Realty have true faith in Christ. This, and I believe in Jesus Christ, like the demons has information but lacks transformation. I believe in Jesus Christ demons has information.

Good information but lacks transformation. Where are you church the demons did they know Jesus was yes.

Do they want to surrender to Jesus.

No motivation and turning pleasures evermore with with Jesus.

No.

And James is saying it is quite possible to know about Jesus.

I miss him enough credit to spend eternity with him because you need more than information under theology. You need transformation unity surrendering. Some people can take a theology test and pass it with flying colors. They can say that Jesus is the son of God, they can say that Jesus is the holy one holy one, they can say that he's Christ. Just like the demons have said, but is not about filling the right answer on a theology that is about filling the heart with the only one that can satisfy eternal life, and his name is Jesus. Do you believe enough to follow him you believe enough to trust him. Your life.

I know there are changes that will take a lifetime. I know that but it's impossible to encounter the Savior of the world and be the same should be transformed a little more each day. Humbling yourself to his loving meeting. I want to conclude with this church. You can say anything you want about being a Christian. I've been there by faith without works is dead.

I know, is a difficult tension because again we do rest and trust in God alone is grace alone I were asking well, which one is it James seems to be saying do bosses seem to be saying done. Which one is it Willis pair them up real quick.

James 224 you see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.

Truth then Paul says for we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law. So which one is that you're probably thinking you see faster. The Bible contradicts itself know my friends. It doesn't the Creator always knows more than the creation that may give you a helpful analogy. I hope it's helpful that you go to a doctor's office.

One of his little doctors office. We've all been one of these offices were you can hear everything from the waiting room and says you hear the doctor walk into an examination room and tell that patient the doctor wasn't you here and the doctor says this patient listen you need a rest.

I don't want you to try to achieve anything you sit down need to realize using to rest I'm serious about this you listening to when you hear the doctor walk out of the room into another examination different and you hear the same doctor say to that patient to walk by demoing why you being lazy why you doing nothing get going. I'm serious about this and by this time rethinking the doctors crazy you thinking he contradicts himself. But oh no my friends, the doctor is not self. It just so happens that one patient has a broken leg and your patient is obese. Listen, you can trust what you can afford to do is to trust your own assessment. Paul and James are talking to different audiences. Paul is talking to Gentiles. James is talking to the church. The different patients but is the same gospel that gives us life church. True faith always leads to action. Jesus leads you to rest but not idle. Verse 20. Do you want to be shown, you foolish person that faith apart from works is useless if you really believe if you really say you trust Jesus more than what ever you tend to put your trust and security, and then John jump for real into the arms of the father. There is security in Jesus. Yes, there is Russian Jesus, yes, but there's also a better live in Jesus.

There's also a better life. He has placed good works for you to walk in, you start to walk in his kingdom of Vivus and is walk in darkness, listen, you can have a University PhD on bicycles and you can't tell me that the frames are bicycles can be made all the way from wood and aluminum to carbon fiber, and you can tell me about the gear ratios of the bicycle because you have a PhD but something church only has to get on… You don't know and you have all the education I'm so glad that our cities are the most educated. I am so glad that you read, praise God. But real smart people simply believe in God's word and applied in the lives I am not so concerned with what you told no, I am deeply concerned with what you already know and refuse to put in practice faith without works. You can read the rest of the chapter, let us pray father, thank you for father. We need more than good information we need transformation father you are Jean and yes you are the most loving team because you gave yourself for us, but you're still king what he does is he rules in God you're not into the business of remodeling our hearts are in the business of tearing down walls.

God, in the words of CS Lewis. We thought you were being. We were being made into a decent little cottage when you're building a palace margin you intend to, live in it yourself asking father. We have sent we have banking grades stored away living for ourselves that you call us to obedience is, why wouldn't we want there so many things that we do need us to repentance and a merger son Jesus