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- Preaching the Living WORD through
the Written WORD - 2 Tim 4;:2 - |
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ILLUSTRATIONS
THAT FAITH WITHOUT WORKS IS DEAD (James 2:21-26) 11-14-12 Grace Bible Church,
Gillette, Wyoming Pastor Daryl Hilbert I. EXAMPLE OF ABRAHAM
(21-24) A. Abraham’s Faith was
Evidenced in Offering Isaac (21) 1. James
now illustrates his proposition that faith without works is not genuine and
dead by looking at the example of Abraham (21-24), Rahab (25), and the body
(26). 2. Abraham is the father of the national
lineage of the Jews (“our,” Ge 17:5; Ac 7:2, 8) but also the father of those
who have faith in Christ (Ro 4:12, 16). 3. Paul used Abraham as an example of faith
alone for justification (Ro 4:1-5). Is James contradicting Paul by saying
that Abraham was “declared righteous” (dikaio,ō - God’s judicial declaration of righteousness) by works? No. Rather James was arguing that real
saving faith will indeed have action and evidence,
which could be coined as “faith-works.” It is not works
such as circumcision that saves (“works-works”), but it is works that
follows the saving faith that justifies (“faith-works”). Paul argued the priority
of faith (without works) while James argued the proof of faith (with
works) 4. Abraham evidenced “faith-works,” that is,
genuine faith that evidences genuine fruit of genuine salvation, when he
offered (aorist participle - anaphe,rō - bring up, take up, or offer up) his son Isaac on the altar. However, Abraham’s saving faith took
place in Ge 15:6 while his evidence of saving faith took place in Ge 22:9, 12; perhaps some thirty years later. B. Abraham’s Faith was
Completed Faith by His Works (22) 1. James
explains his concept of “faith-works” by saying that faith was “joined
together” (sunê,rgei - with & work, work together, joined together) literally “to his works.” In other words saving
faith will be joined together with the works and
fruit of salvation that follow. 2. Faith then was “fulfilled” (aorist
passive - teleio,ō - perfected, completed, fulfilled, carry to an end) by works or proven as saving faith because it was
accompanied by works. 3. Works serve as a barometer of
justification while faith is the basis for justification. C. Abraham’s Faith was
Reckoned as Righteousness (23) 1. James
quotes the same passage that Paul has quoted in Ro 4:3 and Ga 3:6, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as
righteousness.” Again, when
understanding James’ point, there is no contradiction between James and Paul. 2. Both understood that the Scriptures teach
that when Abraham put his trust in God’s promises, it was his faith that was reckoned as righteousness. The word “reckoned” or
“credited” comes from the Greek word logi,zomai. It was a word used in
commercial dealings to “put to someone’s account.” It is a
word that refers to the concept of Imputation. Man’s sins were imputed
to Christ on the cross (2Co 5:21) and Christ’s righteousness is imputed to
all those who believe (Ro 4:23-24). Christ’s righteousness is imputed to the
believer at the moment of faith. 3. God’s act of crediting Abraham with
righteousness because of his faith was vindicated by
Abraham’s act of obedience in offering his son. In this way Genesis 22:1–14
fulfilled Genesis 15:6. (Expositor’s Bible Commentary in loc.) 4. Both also understood that Abraham was the
“friend of God” based on his obedience that sprang from his faith (2Ch 20:7;
Is 41:8, Jm 2:23; cp. Jn 15:14-15). Abraham had a right relationship with God
by faith, which fostered a right behavior of obedience (works); therefore, he
could be referred to as the “friend of God.” D. Abraham’s Faith was
Revealed by His Actions (24) 1. James
then was able to conclude his point that a person is justified by genuine
faith that results in works or by “faith-works.” 2. Therefore, when James stated that “by works a man is declared righteous,” (ex
ergōn dikaiou,tai
a,nthrōpos) he was not supporting the doctrine of faith plus
works for salavtion. Rather, genuine works that accompany genuine faith give
proof of a person’s justification. 3. In addition, when James stated “and not by faith alone” (ouk ek pi,steōs mo,non) he is
not advocating that faith alone does not save, rather he is advocating that
saving faith is not alone or void of works of salvation that follow. Or, as the Reformers put it, “Sola fides justificat;
sed fides non est sola” (faith alone justifies, yet faith is not alone). II. EXAMPLE OF RAHAB (25) A. Rahab Evidenced Her Faith
by Her Actions (25) 1. James
gives another example of “faith-works,” this time through Rahab the harlot.
James states that Rahab was “declared righteous” by the same kind of
“faith-works.” 2. Rahab is mentioned in the faith chapter
in He 11:31 and therefore had faith in God and His promises (Jos 2:9-11).
This faith was no doubt the source of her justification. 3. However, James stated that it was because
of her works. In other words, Rahab exercised genuine faith and it was manifested by genuine works. This took place when
she received, hid, and sent away Joshua’s men (Jos 2:3-4, 15-16). 4. James’ readers could not argue with the
situation of their patriarch Abraham. However, neither could they argue that
God justifies the ungodly by faith (Ro 4:5) with the example of Rahab. Both
examples demonstrate genuine works evidence genuine faith. III. EXAMPLE OF THE BODY (26) A. Like a Dead Body, Faith is
Dead Without Works (26) 1. James
gives a simple but third illustration to prove that without works, faith is
dead. This is the example of the human body without the spirit. 2. Death is theologically
defined as separation. Spiritual death is eternal separation from the
presence of God and His salvation. Physical death is the separation of the
spirit from the body. When a person dies, their spirit separates from their
body whether a believer or not. The body is considered dead (nekro,s - no longer alive literally or figuratively). 3. It is the same principle between faith
and works. James makes the strong argument that a workless faith is a dead (nekro,s) faith. Genuine saving faith is never totally or
permanently “without works” (chōri,s
e,rgōn). 4. James’s conclusion to the contemporary
false teaching is the same: A lifeless body and a lifeless faith have the
same thing in common; i.e. death. However, a lifeless body of a believer has
sent the spirit to heaven in the presence of God, whereas a lifeless faith
(totally and permanently) has yet to come to Christ and receive His
salvation. IV. OBSERVATIONS AND
APPLICATIONS A. Easy Believism insists
that there is no necessary connection between saving faith and works. In
fact, to insist on good works as the evidence of salvation introduces
obedience into the plan of salvation, compromising seriously, if not fatally,
the freeness of the gospel offer. B. Biblical and theological understanding of
works portrays that they have nothing to do with the mode of salvation but
have everything to do with the measurement of salvation (Ro 6:22; Gal 5:6; Ep
2:10). C. Wherever you are in your Christian life,
your mandate is to give evidence of genuine faith by genuine works. Believers
must also be careful not to rely upon past works any more than a body can
rely upon the spirit that previously indwelled it. |
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