Word of Salvation – Vol.44 No8 – February 1999

 

Faith is proved by What We Do As Well As Say

 

Sermon by Rev Prof R. O. Zorn on James 2:17

Scripture Reading: James 2:14-26

Suggested Hymns:

BoW 24a; 103a; 119b; 182; 436; 530

 

Beloved Congregation of our Lord Jesus Christ.

in our text, the apostle James deals with the relationship between faith and works. But what is the relationship between faith and works anyway?

Martin Luther had been taught in his early years that good works were all-important in the matter of a person’s salvation. So he became a monk but all his good works in the monastery only increased his insecurity and despair. For, how can our good works make us right with God, permeated as they are with our imperfections, weaknesses, and even sins?

Then he discovered the Bible’s teaching that salvation is a matter of faith alone in Christ the all-sufficient Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ. And we all know that, with the re-discovery of this gospel truth of the Bible, God gave the church a reformation as a result.

But does this mean that good works don’t matter? The people James originally wrote to had pretty much adopted this notion. Their attitude was, “If you’re saved by faith in Christ, you don’t really have to be concerned about what you do or don’t do by way of good works.”

Now, indeed, faith in the life of the child of God is all-important

– We are saved by faith… (read Ephesians 2:8-9).
– We walk by faith… (read 2 Cor.5:7).
– Our hope for the future is nourished by our faith in God’s promises (read Rom.5:5).

However, while faith alone in Christ saves, faith that saves is not alone.

The people to whom James was writing were confidently saying, “I have faith.” And, indeed, they were Christians, for they had accepted Christ as their personal Saviour. They had experienced the glorious liberty that belongs to the people of God. For, in Christ they were free from the dead works of legalistic rule-keeping in the vain attempt to score points of merit with God; and they were free from the law’s condemnation of them as guilty sinners.

So it was easy to take the next step and conclude, “Works don’t matter much in the way we live.” Isn’t this attitude an ever-present danger in the life of the child of God, and therefore one for us, too?

Consequently, again and again in this epistle, James underscores the point that genuine saving faith is accompanied by good works. By this he means actions that show our love to God and our love for our fellowman. For, to profess to have faith and then fail to show it by works in harmony with that faith is a vain and empty delusion.

Let us then see how James points out the inseparable relationship between faith and works. We will give our attention to three points:

            1. Faith reveals itself in good works;
            2. Faith reveals its genuineness by good works;
            3. Faith is inseparable from good works.

1. Faith Reveals Itself in Good Works (vs 14)

Before we go further, we must settle the question, is James contradicting Paul here?

We all know what Paul says about faith in relation to our salvation. In Galatians 2:16, the apostle Paul says… (read). And in Philippians 3:7-9 (read), there he gives his own testimony about his vain attempts at law keeping before his conversion, which, after his conversion, he now considered to be just so much rubbish. For Christ was now his all-in-all (read 1 Corinthians 1:30).

Yes, if anyone could have been saved by good works, Paul, as a Pharisee, would have had an inside track. But as Luther later also discovered, our flawed good works are little better than filthy rags in God’s sight. So, because we can’t save ourselves, Christ died in payment for the penalty of our sins. And when we are united to Him by faith, we are forgiven our sins, given His righteousness, and now already have eternal life in never-ending fellowship with God. Paul never stopped glorying in Christ and His so-great salvation which is every believer’s when he is united by faith to Christ. And, so, Paul’s desire was to know and to have more of Christ!

While James, therefore, would not contradict the apostle Paul, he was writing from another aspect, which was to correct an erroneous attitude regarding the matter of salvation.

He was writing to a predominantly Jewish audience (read James 1:1). Before their conversion, salvation for them – like it had been for Paul before his conversion – was a matter of keeping the law. That is, doing the right thing most of the time – not killing, not stealing, not committing adultery, not lying – well, most of the time anyway – a view of salvation which is still pretty much that of the average non-Christian Australian, too.

But, like Paul, these Jews of the Dispersion had been converted as a result of hearing the gospel. And now, the Christian life for them was a matter of believing in Christ – full stop!

So James, here, is out to show that, while salvation is a matter of faith in Christ alone, faith in Christ then involves doing what Christ commands (read John 14:15). In other words, James asks, is your faith in Christ real? If it is, it will reveal itself in good works.

As a matter of fact, the procedure on the mission field supports the point James is making here. The aim of missionaries is to evangelise those who are outside of Christ. The gospel is preached that people may believe and be converted. And when people come to faith there is rejoicing in the evidence of God’s sovereign gracious working by His Word and Holy Spirit.

But converts are not immediately accepted into church membership, though that of course is the goal. The new life of faith in Christ must first be demonstrated by deeds in harmony with their profession, such as being a good parent, providing for the family, being moral, attending worship services, witnessing to others about their new life in Christ, etc. In a word, they apply in their lives what the Lord Jesus said would be true of His people, when He said, “If you love Me, you will keep My commands” (John 14:15).

Yes, faith reveals itself in good works.

2. Faith Reveals itself to Be Genuine by Good Works

James, firstly, gives the practical example of caring for the needy (read vss 15-17).

In effect, what James tells us here is that the one who says he loves God (whom he has not seen) must show it by loving as himself his neighbour (whom he has seen). And if we turn to 1 John 3:16-18, we find that the apostle John tells us the very same thing. Faith in God reveals itself to be genuine by the good works we do in caring for the needy.

One demonstration of this should be by the way we give to missions and other good causes. But then, let’s be honest, how much support do we really give when the offering is taken for this purpose, or in the way we respond to appeals by the Red Cross, World Vision, and other agencies dedicated to meeting the needs of the poor?

What is even more difficult is getting alongside people in need on a one to one basis. For it takes effort to be a servant to others in time, self-sacrifice, and caring concern.

Again, how concerned are we in caring for the vulnerable; the aged; the unborn; the handicapped? To get involved in the servant role can be threatening. And yet, isn’t that what loving your neighbour is all about?

We’re familiar with the saying, ora et labora, pray and work.

We should be people of prayer. Who of us spends enough time in prayer, caught up as we are in the busy round of daily activities? Though we must also admit that we seem to have time for just about everything else we really want to do.

I don’t have to tell you what we should be praying for. Our families, our work-mates, our leaders, our church, our youth, our schools, missions, the needy, ali stand in need of our prayers. Yes, the list is endless.

But prayer must also be accompanied with work. A farmer may pray for rain, and thank God the giver of it when it comes. But then he must also plant, plough and care for the crop if there is to be a harvest.

Yes, prayer and works, like faith and works, go together.

James’ second example is to refer to the faith of the demons (read VS 19).

What, we may ask, is wrong with the faith of the demons? No doubt, there is little wrong with their faith as such. In fact, they probably know more about God than we do. For they certainly have been around a lot longer than any of us. And we may be sure that they know more about the Bible than what we’re able to learn about it in our short lifetime.

Moreover, James tells us that the demons believe what they know about God – and they shudder! Why? Because their faith is not accompanied with good works, in fact, just the opposite! Oh yes, what they know about God would make fools out of atheists and all who deny the reality of God. They also know that not to believe God’s Word dishonours Him and makes Him out to be a liar.

But the demons’ faith in God is of no help to them whatever because their evil deeds are not in harmony with a proper saving faith. Oh yes, the demons believe about Christ but they don’t believe in Christ. So, instead of Christ being a Saviour for them, they tremble at the coming awful prospect of meeting Him as their judge who will pass sentence upon them in consequence of their evil deeds, and they will hear His awful command, “Depart from Me, you evil-doers!” (Mt 7:23).

The demons know the truth of the song sung in heaven (read Rev 4:11). Maybe at one time, they even joined the heavenly choir in singing it. For it reflects the truth that all of us were made by God and that we should be His servants. But then they chose to follow the devil in his rebellion against God. And now they hate God, work against Him, and seek to lead others astray to do the same thing in building their own kingdom, honour and glory rather than God’s.

How tragic to be a believer but to be lost! Yes, the demons have faith, but it’s of no help to them whatsoever. Why? Because it doesn’t translate into the good works of lives that are lived to please God.

Who, besides demons might be in this category? Well, I hear you say, really bad people who act like the devil in the terrible things they do? You know, murderers, molesters, criminals, all sorts of low life like that. But may I remind you that it may also include the indifferent, casual, nominal Christian whose life lacks the commitment of good works which the Lord asks of people who claim that they love Him. For you see, James makes it crystal clear that saving faith reveals itself to be genuine by good works!

3. Faith and Good Works Are Inseparable

Just as a body without a spirit, or soul, is dead, so faith without deeds is dead (as James tells us in vs 26). A body without a soul is a corpse. Who can argue with that? Every funeral bears stark testimony to this fact. No one at a funeral expects the dead person to get up out of the casket or show any signs of life. Because what’s in the casket is a body without a soul and therefore it’s a corpse. In the same way, faith without works is just as dead.

James provides two biblical examples to prove his point.

The first is Abraham (read vss 21-23). Scripture leaves us in no doubt that Abraham was justified by faith (read Gen 15:6). His salvation was based, not on what he did, but on what he believed. God’s great promises to him — of a land, a numerous people, and being a blessing to the nations – remained just promises without the birth of Isaac, the heir of the promises. But Abraham, nevertheless, continued to believe, and God accepted him and called him His friend.

The apostle Paul in Galatians 3:6-7 makes reference to Abraham’s faith (read). And then he makes it clear that those who believe as Abraham did are the children of God and the spiritual descendants of Abraham.

How, then, does God’s request of Abraham that he offer up Isaac as a sacrifice fit into all this? Abraham loved God and trusted in Him. But after God gave Abraham a son, Isaac, was this still true? Or did Abraham now love Isaac more? Hence, the test of Abraham’s faith. And, because it was genuine, Abraham revealed it by what he was willing to do at God’s command. But just what was this ‘good work’ which was so inseparably bound up with the reality of his faith? It was doing in obedience what God asked him to do – to offer up Isaac as a sacrifice, no less!

How could this be a good work? For all of God’s promises were bound up in Isaac. Wouldn’t offering up Isaac as a sacrifice, then, be the opposite of a good work? Not if God who can raise the dead commanded it. So Abraham’s faith in God went even as far as this -as the writer of Hebrews tells us (read Hebrews 11:17-19).

So, what are we to understand by a good work, or works? Our Heidelberg Catechism is of help to us here, as it defines a good work for us in answer to Question 91: “Only that which arises out of true faith, conforms to God’s law, and is done for His glory.”

Abraham was willing to give, not only what was best and dearest to his heart, but he believed that God would work all things together for good, even to raising isaac from the dead if that were necessary (Heb 11:19). Abraham’s action, therefore, is a perfect example of what our Catechism describes as a good work. For it was done in faith, in accordance with God’s command, and to His glory. No wonder James uses Abraham as an example of how a living faith and the work of active love and obedience go together!

The second example James refers to is Rahab (read vs 25).

She is on the opposite end of the spectrum from Abraham. She was a Gentile, a Canaanite, and a prostitute. She could hardly have been lower on the totem pole of approval in the eyes of respectable Jews, let alone God!

But because she believed in the true God of Israel, she hid the spies of Israel and sent them away in a different direction so they escaped from their would-be captors. Later, when Joshua and his army captured Jericho, whose walls had fallen flat as a result of God’s miracle, Rahab and her household were spared, and they became a part of the people of God (Joshua 6:25). Yes, true faith and good works are inseparable. The one is not without the other.

What are good works for us?

Our Catechism also reminds us, after it has defined what good works are, what are not good works when it adds: “Not that which is based on what we think is right or on established human tradition” (Answer 91).

This means that being respectable, or providing for our families, or engaging in community service, or even helping the poor may be fine, as far as these things go. But if these things do not have for their motive that they “arise out of true faith… and are done to the glory of God,” they are not really good works in the sight of God.

Good works are expressions of obedience to God, of love for our neighbour, and from a desire to do the will of our Saviour who loved us so much that He gave Himself for us. Then, even the giving of a cup of cold water in His Name to someone who is in need is a good work (Mark 9:40).

Do you have a saving faith in Christ? You cannot be asked a more important question than this. May all here, by the grace of God, be able to give a resounding “yes” to this question.

But, then, a second and just as important question is this: Is your loving faith in the Saviour being reflected in the obedient actions of good works? God’s Word says you can’t have one without the other.

May what we do in love for God and our neighbour reflect our saving faith in the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ, and our desire to do His will more completely in everything!

Amen.