"You Can't Have One Without the Other" Part 2
Notes
Transcript
Scripture Reading: Genesis 22:1-11, Joshua 2:1-11
Introduction: Working Together
Introduction: Working Together
Instrument and Musician
Transition: Faith
Transition: Faith
Context of the Text:
Elaborating on the concept of faith (1:3, 2:1,5).
Expanding upon the theme of treatment of others (2:1-13).
Being guided by faith in treatment of others is a case in point for...
The relationship between faith and works.
Outline for the Text:
Evidence of Faith (vv. 14-20)
Problem? (vv. 14-17) - state faith alone (important context for the whole text)
Point? (vv. 18-20) - you can’t have genuine faith without good works
Examples of Faith (vv. 21-26)
Abraham (vv. 21-24)
Rahab (vv. 25-26)
I. Abraham (vv. 21-24)
I. Abraham (vv. 21-24)
I. A. Question (v. 21)
I. A. Question (v. 21)
What is the implied answer? Yes. So Abraham was… So, 2 questions:
What does the word “justified” mean? To render righteous (rightly related to God). Used in 2 senses:
First sense, usual - declared/pronounced (Rom 3:28, 4:2-5, Gal 2:16)
For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law.
For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.” Now to the one who works, his wages are not counted as a gift but as his due. And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness,
yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.
Second sense, can mean - shown to be, regarded as, demonstrated as, proven to be (Mt 11:19, Lk 16:15, 1 Co 4:4)
The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look at him! A glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ Yet wisdom is justified by her deeds.”
And he said to them, “You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is exalted among men is an abomination in the sight of God.
For I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not thereby acquitted. It is the Lord who judges me.
Justification then can be both upward and outward - declared to be righteous before God on one hand, and shown to be righteous before people on the other hand. There is a justification that God sees, and there is a justification that people see. God sees our heart and knows our faith, people see our actions and know our works. Justified can mean both pronounced and proven. Paul’s emphasis on being justified is being pronounced righteous by God through faith. James’ emphasis on being justified is being proven righteous before people through works. Paul is warning against works of the law alone. James is warning against stated faith alone, which is why he uses the word differently.
The fact that James is using the word in this sense (shown to be righteous rather than declared to be righteous) and therefore differently than Paul uses it is supported by verse 18. Furthermore, we must answer the second question.
How was Abraham “justified” when he offered his son?
In which sense was he justified?
Abraham was declared righteous by God (Gen 15:6) 20-30 years before He offered his son Isaac (Gen 22).
Notice the plural “works” (vv. 21 & 22). This was just one of a life of works. It was representative.
When the Angel of the Lord said “now I know that you fear God, seeing you have not withheld your son” (Gen 22:12), He didn’t learn something. God was acknowledging it not discovering it. He was making known what He already knew.
By the way, James doesn’t even highlight specifically verse 12 of Gen 22. He is just using the event in general as an example of Abraham's works showing his faith.
So now, let the record show, for generations to come, that Abraham had works along with his faith.
So Abraham was “justified” when he offered his son in the sense that he was shown to be/proven to be righteous (which God had already declared years before).
I. B. Explanation (vv. 22-23)
I. B. Explanation (vv. 22-23)
Faith and works work together (v. 22a).
Active along with/working with - to be a fellow-worker, to co-cooperate.
Offering Isaac is representational, but all of Abrahams works are included in this.
Works complete something about faith (v. 22b-23).
Complete/perfect - accomplish, fulfill
What do works fulfill about faith?
They fulfill (v. 23, means to fully accomplish, carry out) what is stated (Gen 15:6).
Faith is expressed in a statement, but faith is more fully expressed in works.
Abraham is the perfect example of this. He is stated/proclaimed to be righteous in Gen. 15, and then, well over 20 years later he is shown/proven to be righteous in the best example of his works in Gen 22.
Another statement about Abraham proven by his works, was that he was a friend of God (2 Chron 20:7, Isa 41:8).
I. C. Deduction (v. 24)
I. C. Deduction (v. 24)
(Deduction - concluding principle drawn from the question and explanation)
This is true for everyone (v. 24a).
You see that a person… - In the same way/sense that Abraham was justified by his works, so we are also justified by our works.
In what way/sense was Abraham justified by his works? He was shown/proven to be righteous by his works. So we also are shown/proven t be righteous by our works.
This does not conflict with Paul’s statements about justification - it is compatible. More than that, it is complimentary (we are benefited by both), giving us a fuller understanding of true/genuine faith.
Notice James again refers to “faith alone,” (v. 24b).
He is continuing a theme.
Context is key here.
II. Rahab (vv. 25-26)
II. Rahab (vv. 25-26)
II. A. Question (v. 25)
II. A. Question (v. 25)
In the same way…same way as Abraham, same way as everyone...
What did Rahab do?
She risked her life to aid God’s people.
We know very little about her, but we do know of something very significant that she did.
Why did she do it?
Because of faith.
We also know what Rahab said (Joshua 2:11).
And as soon as we heard it, our hearts melted, and there was no spirit left in any man because of you, for the Lord your God, he is God in the heavens above and on the earth beneath.
We know what Rahab said/stated, and we know what Rahab did/showed.
So, Rahab is justified by works in the sense that she is shown to be/proven to be righteous by her works. And again, notice that it is plural since this was an example of probable others.
This further shows the necessary relationship between faith and works.
Faith motivates works (Hebrews 11:31, Hebrews 11:17).
By faith Rahab the prostitute did not perish with those who were disobedient, because she had given a friendly welcome to the spies.
By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was in the act of offering up his only son,
Therefore works give evidence of faith.
What does faith do? What does works do?
Both are necessary. For...
II. B. Conclusion (v. 26)
II. B. Conclusion (v. 26)
Illustration
Corpse
That’s a dark picture of stated faith alone, which is what his problem has been.
Main Point
Dead faith is not living, it is unresponsive, it makes no difference.
Which means that is is not saving faith (v. 14).
It is stated faith alone.
Application: Works?
Application: Works?
James doesn’t want his readers to show off.
He wants his readers to
Remember:
James’ primary goal is to move his readers to good works not to move them to genuine faith (secondary benefit). He doesn’t preach a lot of basic gospel truths.
He doesn’t tell his readers what they should have faith in. He tells them what they should be doing.
He doesn’t want them to feel like non-Christians who need to stir up better/real faith in their life (they can’t do that). He wants them to feel like bad Christians who need to live better.
Apply:
Do you see any good works in your life?
You should see some but not enough.
James is opposing the temptation to dismiss good works.
Yes, it is true that salvation is by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone.
But, where there is faith, there will be works. You can’t have one without the other.
Titus 3:1-8
Titus 3:1-8
Benediction: