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Devotions from Gospel Chapel Ministries HOME SERMONS SERMON NOTES
DEAD FAITH OR SAVING FAITH?
"So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty. For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment," JAM 2:12-13.
"So speak ye, and so do [We must not only be a talker, but also a doer, `So speak ye, and so do'], as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty. For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment," JAM 2:12-13. This Scripture teaches that the very act of doing is saving. Now read the verses that follow. JAM 2:14- 17 says, "What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, 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? Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone."
In those verses we have an illustration of what it means to show mercy; if we do not act upon the law of love, we will have judgment without mercy. Can anyone believe there is no connection between our actions and our salvation? Do you see the contingency our Saviour places on that word do in JOH 15:14? "Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you."
Doing what our Saviour commands us under the law of love is putting saving faith into exercise. Salvation is not merited by what we do, but obeying His command of love is the vehicle whereby salvation is transferred to us.
To review, we see that He will have no mercy to him who shows no mercy. James asks if faith can save; then he gives the illustration of the act of love and the admonition that faith without works is dead. Can you even question whether salvation is connected with the word do?
God's Word repeatedly uses our actions to separate the Godly from the ungodly as in TIT 1:15-16 "Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled. They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate."
Now let's see what Scripture says about it being through the exercise of the obedience of faith that we become the friends of God. Remember JOH 15:14, "Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you." The Scriptures confirm that it is through the exercise of saving faith that we become the friends of God. JAM 2:21-23 says, "Was not Abraham our father justified by works [as the instrument whereby justification was received, not merited], when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? [Abraham's obedience was the evidence of his faith.] 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."
He was called the Friend of God by the fact that he obeyed. The Lord said to Isaac; "And I will make thy seed to multiply as the stars of heaven, and will give unto thy seed all these countries; and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed [This is the promise of the coming Messiah!]; Because [See the contingency! Because] that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws," GEN 26:4-5.
Do you see the connection between the obedience of faith and justification? Abraham was justified by works; i.e., by the obedience of faith. The two words, works and faith are synonymous, because you cannot separate works from faith, "...faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?" JAM 2:22.
It is through the exercise of the obedience of faith that that word DO becomes the very pivot point of the law of the gospel as we see with Rahab the Harlot. She not only believed, but she acted upon her faith. When men of Israel came to her, she told them that the nations were trembling. She told them the Lord would deliver this city into their hands. She had faith to believe, but that is not what saved her. What saved her was hiding the spies; she put her faith into exercise by hiding the spies. She delivered them by letting them down off the wall. She also obeyed the spies by putting the line of scarlet thread in the window so the house might be identified and spared. She was saved by putting her faith into exercise.
JAM 2:24-26 tells us, "Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way? For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also." It was by her actions that she was saved, not by the fact that she believed. Believing had nothing to do with salvation until it was acted upon. A body without breath in it is totally dead; that is faith without action or obedience. It has no movement, no value. It was the Lord who saved Rahab, but the instrument He used was her obedience of faith. Until faith goes into exercise, it lacks value. When it does go into exercise, it becomes the instrument whereby the Lord conveys salvation. Amen.
Though justly of wrongs we complain,
Or faithfully sinners reprove,
Yet still we do all things in vain,
Unless we do all things in love.
‘Tis love makes us humble and meek!
The wounds of ill usage it cures,
It pities the falls of the weak,
The pride of the lofty endures.
Has God a command to fulfill,
Which nature untoward would shun?
Love brings to compliance the will,
And causes the deed to be done.
From Jesus the blessing must flow,
To creatures beneath and above;
May he his good Spirit bestow,
And we shall do all things in love.
Our sermons and devotions are a ministry of Gospel Chapel located in Conrad, Montana. We also have a daily devotion and sermon notes on-line. We pray this devotion has been a blessing to those who read it. Thank you.