Faith and Works

James 2:18-19    But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. NKJV

•      Works without faith = works performed in self effort to numb the conscience and find approval by God.  These type of works are done out of selfishness and desire the things of the world.  They are a sort of insurance just in case God turns out to be real.  The other side of the insurance is: “just in case God is not real, enjoy life to the fullest.”

      These works are performed in case God is real, and at the same time life is enjoyed and lived to the fullest in case God is not real, which leaves a “faith” that is no faith at all. This road is wide and leads to destruction.

•  Faith without works = This proclaims “not of works lest any man should boast”.  This too allows for living life to the fullest as unbelievers do and keeping the conscience numbed by proclaiming faith in Christ.  This road is wide and leads to destruction.

 

•  God given faith:   James clearly states the balance of faith and works which requires denial of self and Loving the Lord above all things and loving others.   It is not a conscience effort of either faith or works, but a realization of who God is and His interaction with mankind, having ears to hear Him.  The Word of God planted in good soil (ears to hear), takes root (faith develops) and grows to bear fruit (works) pleasing to the Lord as He is glorified.  This is the narrow road.

Does Church Treat You Like the World?

      We live in a world that does not seem to care….in the world we are all replaceable and just another number.  Is God the same way?  Does God treat us the same way as the world?  

 ”But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.” Matt 10:30-31 NKJV

Who did God send His Only Beloved Son to die for?  Mankind. 

The world treats people as nothing, as equal with animals, insignificant, etc…

God Loves us down to every single tiny detail.  So why should the church act like the world?  Do you understand your uniqueness and how special you are when you go to church?  Or does the church treat you like the world?  Do you sit there in church among the others who listen, daydream…then get up and leave? 

We should all recognize the importance of everyone just as God does, if we are His children.   We should love one another by interacting in real time with real life with each other.   Giving our sincere heart and time to each other.  Taking the opportunities to forgive one another.  Taking up our cross and suffering wrongly if need be in order to love instead of seeking vengence.  Taking up our cross to give our time to our brothers and sisters in Christ to listen with a sincere heart.  We cannot do this in a passive church service, we must interact with each other in real time with openess and honesty.  Loving each other.  We cannot truly love if we are not servants and taking up our cross.  We need to serve one another.  By loving one another we become lights to the world.  Forgive and Love.  Bear each others burdens.  Give to others who have need.  We can all afford to give; it is only a matter of what are you willing to give up in order to give?  This is real church. 

The Law of God; Impossible to Follow?

        It is taught by some that the Old Testament Law is impossible to follow perfectly, therefore all are guilty of the Law deserving of eternal punishment in Hell.  I do not find this teaching true.  What is it that makes us guilty before God?  Human rebellion called sin as brought to light by The Law of God.  The Law does not fulfill the righteous requirement which is to be without sin, to be Holy and perfect as God is Holy and perfect.

      The Law makes us fully aware of our sin and our sinful state; showing us our need for God’s Mercy and Grace. Salvation does not come from the Law but comes from God Himself. God consistently spoke of a Redeemer who would fulfill the righteous requirement of the Law.   

      God does not give us impossible standards to follow then hold us accountable to them.  The Old Testament Law was very much well within the means of human accomplishment.  How?

      The Lord made provision for sin through the Law.  What does that mean?  Sin is death and the Law requires punishment by death; the shedding of blood.  When someone broke a law, they would have to kill an animal.   In this way God demonstrated His mercy on the people by having the animal die instead of them because of their sin.  However, the blood of an animal does not fulfill the righteous requirement of the Law. 

        As long as people followed all the Law including the sacrifices for sin, then the people could be blameless as far as the Law is concerned, and avoid the wrath of God; but they were in bondage to follow it. As it is written: “Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them.” Galatians 3:10 NKJV

          We see that the Apostle Paul states he was blameless concerning the Law:

 “concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.”  Phil 3:6  NKJV

       Also the parents of John the Baptist (and no John was not “Baptist”! ) are recorded as blameless concerning the Law:

“And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.” Luk 1:6 -NKJV

      So what is the problem?  God did not provide eternal life through the Law but pronounced a curse that in order to live one must follow the Law, which was a heavy burden, leaving the people to continually offer sacrifices for their sin.  If the Law solved the sin problem, then people would not need to offer continual sacrifices.

      The bondage of sin was physically demonstrated and the consequences of sin lived out through the Law.  In this way the Law would lead people to cry out for freedom from sin, learning to hate it and would hunger and thirst for righteousness.  The Law created the perfect longing for a release from the bondage of sin and death.   

     Animals were not created in the image of God, humans are, and mankind was given authority over the animals, therefore animals could not take away sin.  All humans are born under the rebellion of Adam and Eve, therefore humans cannot take away sin.  Only God Himself can take away sin.

      Through the Law and prophets the people learned about a future Ruler who was to  rule them with justice, salvation, and peace in an eternal Kingdom where all goodness and beauty dwell.  A Ruler who comes from Heaven itself and called God’s Son:  ”I will proclaim the decree of the LORD: He said to me, “You are my Son ; today I have become your Father.”  Psalms 2:7 (NIV)

     The Son of God came to take away the sins of the world!!  To free us from the bondage of sin and death!! His Name is Jesus the Messiah (Yeshua Hammashiach), the Salvation of God, the Anointed One.  And here is the amazing thing:    

      “He (Jesus) condemned sin in the flesh,  that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.” Rom 8:3-5  NKJV

       The Law was about exposing sin and death, its consequences and our desperate need for God’s Mercy and Grace.  Jesus lived in this flesh without sin, suffered the wrath of God, shed His Blood, and rose from the dead, giving life and righteousness to all those who believe in Him!!  Taking away sin for those who believe, so that we are no longer enslaved to sin, but live in fellowship with God through Jesus!!

           We are powerless over sin and death, but Jesus has conquered these for us.  Today we live in a wonderful time of salvation.  As sinners trapped in rebellion against God, we cry out to Jesus desperate for Him and He will answer and give His Holy Spirit; the same Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead and gives us power over sin and death!! 

          Life is only found by listening to the Spirit and allowing Him to work in our life.  Through the Spirit we live without sin, being freed from the bondage of sin and death.  Indeed the sacrifice of Jesus, the Perfect Lamb of God does indeed take away the sin of the world!

           When temptation comes our way, we call out to Jesus and ask Him to take it away and He will.  In this way, we remain in continual prayer with Him and conquer our own flesh and the influences around us through His Spirit; walking in the Spirit.

           If we call ourselves Christians and in the same breath call ourselves sinners, then we make God a liar and the Cross of Jesus without effect.  You cannot walk in sin and the Spirit at the same time.  It’s either one or the other.       It is certain that we will make mistakes and we will sin (sin not leading to death) against God and He is faithful and just to forgive us our sin if we confess them to Him, but those who are born of God do not continue in bondage to sin (sin leading to death), enslaved to it which is death.  As John says it:    

          “There is sin leading to death. I do not say that he should pray about that.  All unrighteousness is sin, and there is sin not leading to death.”  1 John 5:16-17 NKJV

        ”Sin leading to death”; enslaved to sin example:  How can I say Jesus saved me from my sin if I lust after women, watch pornography, have affairs, only think of God once a week while attending church and pursue all the things the world has to offer the rest of the time, love money, etc…?   It is contradictory to say Jesus saved me from sin and yet I walk in the desires of my flesh and put them into action.  You cannot serve two masters.  That is like saying the lifegaurd saved me from drowning but yet I drowned….that does not make sense.

         “Sin not leading to death” example:  I am born of God and seek the Lord, learning day by day to follow the Spirit, living in fellowship with Jesus, but one day I rush off to work, get consummed with it and forget about God.  Of course the Spirit will bring this to my attention,  convict me and I confess this to the Lord, asking for forgiveness.

    Seek first the Kingdom of God all these things will be added to you.

What is Love?

 John 3:16  For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. NKJV

     How do we know God loves us?  Because He gives.  He gives us physical life and all that is needed to survive, such as food, clothes, shelter, etc… God continually gives, whether people hate Him, deny Him, or Love Him.  More importantly, God gives us eternal Life by giving all that He has – His only Son, Jesus Christ.  Jesus Christ willingly gave His Life over to suffer the wrath of God, so we don’t have to suffer the wrath of God.  

  Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’*  This is the first and great commandment.  And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’*  On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.” NKJV  Matt 22:37-40

    If I say that I love the Lord my God with all my heart, with all my soul, and with all my mind, what does that mean?  To say a prayer and ask Jesus into my heart?  No.  It means to follow the same example God Himself gives us.  God gave and gives us ALL that He has, showing us His Love for us, even while we are still in rebellion against Him. 

     So, if God gave His ALL, which is Jesus Christ - His only Beloved Son – then what is it for me to give all that I have, which is my entire life to Jesus?  If I say that I love Jesus, I am saying that I have no regard for my own life, but rather give Him complete obedience and devotion; no longer trusting in my own plans and desires, for I know within my flesh is nothing good, but instead trust God to direct my life for His Glory by the Holy Spirit given through Jesus Christ. 

     If I no longer love my own life, then I am free to give to others.  I am free to give them forgiveness, even though they may have done very wrong things to me.  I am free to give as the Lord gives me the ability to do so.  I am free to give to whoever asks, for surely the Lord provides the opportunities for me to put my faith into action. 

    I am a man born into this human body that is corrupted by rebellion against God. 

     Jesus is Perfect, Holy, and Most Precious and yet He gave His Perfect Life for sinful mankind.  What is my life in comparison?  Do I regard my life more than the Life of Jesus?  Do I truly believe Jesus reigns above all things, or do I continue to try and elevate myself above Him by not surrendering my life to Jesus?  If I truly believe that all that is within me is evil, then I will not want to have anything to do with my own dreams, desires, plans, etc… “for my heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked”… Jer 17:9

    If I truly believe that Jesus is Perfect and True, then I will ask Him to allow me to follow His plans – which are perfect; I will ask Him to direct all of my earthly life for His Glory, keeping in mind the Hope that He gives, which is eternal life and abundant joy in this life. 

To love is to give.