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[301.40 --> 313.20] If you summarize everything James says into one phrase, |
[313.26 --> 313.86] it would be this. |
[314.52 --> 316.10] We are saved through faith alone, |
[316.80 --> 319.30] but a faith that saves is never alone. |
[320.58 --> 323.46] Be a hearer and a doer, not just a hearer. |
[324.48 --> 326.54] True faith changes a person. |
[327.08 --> 328.38] It changes how we behave. |
[328.38 --> 331.96] It affects how we speak to each other and how we look at life. |
[332.14 --> 334.30] And in turn, good deeds follow. |
[335.32 --> 337.42] It's important to note that deeds do not save. |
[338.16 --> 339.32] James never claims that. |
[339.98 --> 342.90] And I'm going to hit that note multiple times throughout this sermon |
[342.90 --> 345.08] to make sure it's clear that I don't claim it. |
[346.16 --> 350.58] James completely affirms the passage found in Ephesians 2, 8-9. |
[350.58 --> 355.50] For it is by grace you have been saved through faith. |
[355.90 --> 357.14] And this is not from yourselves. |
[357.72 --> 361.62] It is a gift of God, not by works, so that no one can boast. |
[362.94 --> 365.80] Deeds following faith is where the passage starts. |
[366.14 --> 368.12] And it's threaded through the whole passage today. |
[369.08 --> 370.40] We'll get back to Ephesians later. |
[372.16 --> 373.70] James starts by saying, |
[373.70 --> 395.04] We're given an example of the first kind of faith. |
[395.64 --> 398.48] Faith that is alone and doesn't do anything. |
[399.04 --> 401.14] And this is expressed in James' opening question. |
[401.14 --> 405.52] What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? |
[406.40 --> 408.56] This kind of faith is only in the mind. |
[409.32 --> 410.84] This faith has no deeds, |
[410.94 --> 412.90] which means that if someone were to have this kind of faith, |
[413.24 --> 415.76] it would not affect their reality or their world. |
[417.34 --> 420.36] In no way does this kind of faith affect the way a person behaves |
[420.36 --> 422.30] or treats others in any positive way. |
[422.98 --> 426.48] Or in Pi's case, this kind of faith won't stop you from going to the tiger's cage. |
[428.10 --> 430.60] James goes on to give an example of this kind of faith. |
[430.60 --> 433.58] And he describes a scene that is not that dissimilar from the beginning |
[433.58 --> 436.26] of the Good Samaritan found in Luke chapter 10. |
[437.92 --> 441.62] Someone walks past a brother or sister who is clearly in need. |
[442.26 --> 444.96] They're described as someone without clothes and without food. |
[445.74 --> 448.38] This person has a clear description of poverty. |
[449.34 --> 452.16] And the person passing by doesn't give them anything |
[452.16 --> 454.16] or help them in any way. |
[454.66 --> 455.44] They just say, |
[455.44 --> 457.00] Go, I wish you well. |
[457.58 --> 459.40] Keep warm and be well fed. |
[463.22 --> 465.00] In this hypothetical situation, |
[465.58 --> 467.80] the person speaking knows what they should do |
[467.80 --> 469.40] by their own admission. |
[470.10 --> 472.16] They have faith, so to speak. |
[472.28 --> 474.16] They know they need to help their brother in need, |
[474.36 --> 475.90] but they don't act on it. |
[475.90 --> 478.58] I think James brings up this example |
[478.58 --> 480.22] because we all do this. |
[481.84 --> 484.06] Countless times, driving or walking, |
[484.96 --> 487.40] I've passed someone who's in a similar situation |
[487.40 --> 488.50] to this person, |
[488.90 --> 489.74] and I say to myself, |
[489.88 --> 491.64] Man, I really hope they find some food |
[491.64 --> 492.86] and get a place to sleep tonight. |
[493.18 --> 494.12] It's going to get cold. |
[495.42 --> 496.52] And admittedly, most of the time, |
[496.56 --> 497.74] I don't do anything about it. |
[498.78 --> 499.76] My faith was alone. |
[500.10 --> 501.00] I knew they needed something, |
[501.08 --> 502.42] and I didn't do anything. |
[502.42 --> 505.64] Now, I'm not highlighting this point |
[505.64 --> 508.22] so you go and help every person in need, |
[508.72 --> 510.24] but if we never help, |
[511.30 --> 513.12] then maybe we need to reflect. |
[514.64 --> 516.10] James is asking us to decide |
[516.10 --> 518.36] that if we feel so convicted by God |
[518.36 --> 519.52] to help, |
[519.66 --> 520.82] then maybe we should. |
[522.90 --> 524.36] James ends this story |
[524.36 --> 526.00] with another question and an answer. |
[526.50 --> 527.34] What good is it? |
[528.02 --> 528.86] In the same way, |
[529.00 --> 530.54] faith by itself, |
[530.54 --> 532.64] if it's not accompanied by actions, |
[532.78 --> 533.28] is dead. |
[534.30 --> 535.62] James has asked this question, |
[535.74 --> 536.90] what good is it, twice now? |
[537.34 --> 538.28] But James doesn't say |
[538.28 --> 539.24] that the faith without deeds |
[539.24 --> 540.46] is not good. |
[541.50 --> 543.04] He says it's dead. |
[544.72 --> 546.24] In a very explicit way, |
[546.34 --> 548.36] James responds by saying |
[548.36 --> 549.28] that faith without works |
[549.28 --> 550.96] is like a body without a soul. |
[552.18 --> 553.36] It doesn't do anything. |
[554.36 --> 555.88] It's simply just there. |
[555.88 --> 558.12] And again, |
[558.18 --> 559.28] I want to affirm |
[559.28 --> 560.44] that James is not saying |
[560.44 --> 561.40] that deeds save you. |
[562.38 --> 563.98] James affirms that faith saves |
[563.98 --> 564.68] by his question, |
[564.84 --> 566.28] can that faith save him? |
[567.16 --> 568.20] He wants us to understand |
[568.20 --> 569.12] that faith saves, |
[569.26 --> 571.10] but deeds should follow |
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