A Little Less Conversation and A Little More Action, Please! - SHOW YOUR FAITH BY YOUR WORKS - Lesson for 2/16/2014

This review is brought to you by the Hope Temple Church of God in Christ Sunday School Department.  

St. James 2:14-26 | King James Version (KJV)

14 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?

15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,

16 And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?

17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.

18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.

19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.

20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?

21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?

22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?

23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.

24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.

25 Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?

26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

We’re yet learning from James this week. A recent movie, Despicable Me, opens with a little boy and his parents visiting one of the 7 Wonders of the Word, The Pyramids. The little boy is flying an airplane around in the sky, without really paying attention to where he was stepping, and he fell over the side of the fence. His mother and others watched as the little boy would certainly fall to his death. All of a sudden, he hits the pyramid and bounces back. It wasn’t authentic, rather an inflated replica of the real thing.

James is warning God’s people against this inflated version of a relationship with the True and Living God. It’s very easy to fall into this type of lifestyle, especially in today’s world where it is convenient to say one thing and do another. We’re accustomed to hearing about pastors leading double lives and society easily labels individuals as bi-polar or manic depressive…even in the church. We must continue to be on guard.

When we are saved by grace and through faith and not works, according to Ephesians 2:8-9. This may seem like it contradicts what James is delivering, but it doesn’t. When we first accept the perfect gift of salvation, which streams from the blood of Jesus, we must accept salvation through our faith in Jesus. No amount of works or money can buy a man’s way into God’s plan of salvation. Moving on and growing in God’s grace, there is work to do. These works are good. These works are accomplished ungrudgingly. These are the good works, which Brother Matthew spoke of in 5:16, which are accompanied with the Light of the Holy Ghost, and able to bring glory to God, yes, even in the eyes of men.

James explains that it’s not good enough to say,”I believe!” Then he goes on to say even demons do that. Working is a great part of growing in Christ. God has given each of us a gift and as we work inside of our calling and gift, we become more powerful and effective in building the Kingdom of God. Besides, going through the motions can be dangerous. Just look at Sceva’s 7 sons in Acts 19. They mouthed their faith to an evil spirit that they were trying to cast out of a man.  The evil spirit sensed that they were actually powerless, so one spirit attacked and sent them out naked and wounded.

Side Note: People notice that there is something different about those who have a true relationship with God. Think back to when you began working in your current job. When crisis struck at work, or if someone has a strong need and was looking for someone to pray for them, there is always that ONE person who gets called upon. You may have been that person. What a compliment! Make sure that your faith is complimented by some works. You may need to intercede on behalf of another soul.

There is no time to rest on our spiritual laurels. He church is referred to as “The Sleeping Giant”. Let’s wake up and man our posts. Go. Respond. Act. Do. Undertake. Achieve. Travail. Edify.