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Tag: faith

  • James – a Word on Works – 3

    James – a Word on Works – 3

    In a visual word about works. James entreats us, “let everyone see your works,” in this proverb of James, ‘be doers of the word.’

    What does it have to do with his initial advice, “Consider it a great joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you experience various trials?”

    James details the connection as he continues his pastoral letter to the church (actually, several churches). He makes a case that our works refine our faith and prove our faith to other potential followers of the Lord.

    But be doers of the word and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.

    James 1:22 CSB

    Hearing and Doing the Word

    Did you ever hear the rebuke as a child, “You have two ears and one mouth?” It’s advice from this section of the letter of James to the church. Perhaps you haven’t read it in a while, but allow your heart to listen well to the Spirit.

    James 1:19-2:26

    19 My dear brothers and sisters, understand this:

    Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger, for human anger does not accomplish God’s righteousness.

    James 1:19b-20 CSB

    Think about what we see and hear everyday. The world has this upside down. Doubtless the world of the first century encountered the same.

    People are angry about this, angry about that. They speak first and frequently. We can see it on television or online, and social media thrives on the polarized opinions of those who speak without understanding.

    We are quick to anger, impulsive to speak, and slow fo listen.

    How we reflect the world, dear claimants of Christ!

    Sadly, our works in this area of speaking boldly to others out of our zeal for the Lord likely needs the most work.

    Listen

    It takes humility to listen to another before speaking your heart.

    Do you converse with a brother or a sister in Christ? Our conversation with and unbeliever should be different, but the same principles apply. Before we answer do we understand the heart of the one speaking or if they oppose Christ possibly, but have interest because of something they ask about?

    “Swift to hear,” say some translations. Certainly not swift to react, as is our tendency. But to whom must we listen? What does the Apostle want the church to hear?

    Perhaps the most telling use of the Greek word here is found in a familiar teaching from Jesus.

    “You have heard that it was said, An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. – Matthew 5:38

    It’s the traditional measured response of justice, seek no more from someone who has sinned against you than what he has taken by his trespass. Of course what follows is the Lord’s command for us to love our enemies.

    Though we all want “justice” for our enemy, we also seek “mercy” for our transgressions of the law. So let’s skip to the issue of anger, source of our own reactive speech, for the wisdom of James’ suggestion.

    Anger

    Everyone should be quick to listen … and slow to anger, 20 for human anger does not accomplish God’s righteousness.

    This is the only place James uses this word, which points to our reaction to the anger of others. The root verb suggests a stretching out in order to understand another. James continues:

    21 Therefore, ridding yourselves of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent, humbly receive the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.

    Don’t react, but receive the implanted word. (We’ll get to that in a moment.)

    Favoritism

    2:1 My brothers and sisters, do not show favoritism as you hold on to the faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ.

    … and yet you say to the poor person, “Stand over there,” or “Sit here on the floor by my footstool,” 4 haven’t you made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?

    James cautions the church against certain worshipers who expect special treatment. The ‘hearers’ to whom he writes must guard against men and women actively provoking the saints of the church to react with anger.

    Yet he reminds us that those souls provoking us to anger ought to see the love of Christ Jesus in our response.

    Fellow ‘church member,’ allow me to restate in an excerpt from a different version. James addresses us:

    A Warning against Prejudice

    James 2: My dear brothers and sisters, how can you claim to have faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ if you favor some people over others?

    2 For example, suppose someone comes into your meeting dressed in fancy clothes and expensive jewelry… 3 If you give special attention… to the rich person, but you say to the poor one, “You can stand over there…”—well, 4 doesn’t this discrimination show that your judgments are guided by evil motives?

    5 Listen to me, dear brothers and sisters. Hasn’t God chosen the poor in this world to be rich in faith? Aren’t they the ones who will inherit the Kingdom he promised to those who love him? 6 But you dishonor the poor!

    Isn’t it the rich who oppress you and drag you into court? 7 Aren’t they the ones who slander Jesus Christ, whose noble name you bear?

    8 Yes indeed, it is good when you obey the royal law as found in the Scriptures: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

    9 But if you favor some people over others, you are committing a sin. You are guilty of breaking the law.

    James 2 excerpt from NLT (preaching emphasis my own)

    This very favoritism provokes my anger this very moment!

    Yet James asks us to keep silent, listen, do not speak first and remember that “Human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires. 1:20

    Convicted!

    The Lord holds all authority to punish or pardon. Leave it to His will.

    Slow to speak

    Whenever we face ‘various trials,’ inevitably they will come from the actions and words of others. How difficult for us to show the same humble temperament as our Lord Jesus.

    James reminds us (in verse 8), ‘If you love your neighbor as yourself,’ as Jesus taught, ‘you are doing well.’ Then (in verse 9) he applies the challenge of favoritism. Now apply this to your own reactions.

    Were you slow to speak before you judged your neighbor?

    Did you listen first, before you answered?

    James addresses real issues of the church, like anger and favoritism.

    Therefore put away all filthiness and rank growth of wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.

    James 1:21 RSV

    Quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for our own moral filthiness and wickedness must not arrogantly replace the word of God.

    Mirror of our Hypocrisy

    James illustrates our brief partial glances at self in this way:

    If you are a hearer of the word and not a doer of the word (in other words, if you have not works), then you are like one observing your own face in the mirror. You then go away, forgetting what you are like.

    Isn’t this our false image of our own righteousness?

    James urges you and me to stand in front of the mirror for a while. (I hate to do that.) Worse, for those of us who quickly walk away, he asks us to look into the reflection of what God wants to see.

    But the one who looks intently into the perfect law of freedom and perseveres in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer who works—this person will be blessed in what he does.

    James 1:25 CSB

    Royal Law vs Law of Freedom

    See the freedom Christ gives us. Persevere in the perfect law and don’t forget to work out your salvation with fear and trembling. Be blessed in your trials for the Lord.

    All of the Apostles, including James in this letter, encourage the new church.

    Christ redeemed slaves of the Law, awaiting our sentence of death, to the grace of the law of freedom.

    The Royal Law

    A good reason for true followers of Jesus to be slow to speak lies in our varying opinions of how to apply the Commandments. Most of us have a great need to consider how to act as one under authority. Here many disagreements begin as anger simmers below the surface.

    Your opponent asks, “By whose authority do you tell me what I must do?

    Paul tells us in one instance illustrating such authority.

    “I was traveling to Damascus under these circumstances with authority and a commission from the chief priests. – Acts 26:12

    Saul (Paul) testifies that his mission and authority came directly from the chief priests (bound by the Authority of Almighty God).

    His court case before King Herod Agrippa, the last reigning King of Judea with the royal title [AD 41-44], takes place about the same time as the letter of James. Agrippa’s royal authority (as opposed to a priestly commission) was his appointment of succession as king, confirmed by the authority of Rome.

    Authority

    ἐξουσία – power, authority, right, liberty, jurisdiction, strength – power of choice, liberty of doing as one pleases

     Strong’s G1849 – exousia

    Royal authority, religious leadership authority, government authority, military authority – any and all authority remain contentious issues to this day, as they were for the first century church.

    Be slow to speak, therefore; that you might hear not only the words, but the authority from where they speak,

    Jesus cautions followers to obey all of these authorities, where their law applies to us. Further, the Lord presents a practical example of faith through a Roman centurion.

    Luke 7

    6 Jesus …was not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to tell him, “Lord, don’t trouble yourself, since I am not worthy to have you come under my roof…

    Beloved, here is true humility, true acceptance of Jesus’ Divine Authority. The centurion continues:

    But say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I too am a man placed under authority, having soldiers under my command.

    I say to this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”

    9 Jesus heard this and was amazed at him, and turning to the crowd following him, he said, “I tell you, I have not found so great a faith even in Israel.”

    Do you — do the shepherds of your church have such authority?

    The Law of Freedom

    What should we say if we speak from the Law of Freedom?

    The Greek word here is also translated as liberty in some translations. Perhaps it will help to know that in Christ we have the liberty to speak judiciously. James had pointed to this liberty when he warned of looking in the mirror. Later he provides this law for us as judges of our own speech.

    [I reverse the order of James description to provoke your thought.]

    13 For judgment is without mercy to the one who has not shown mercy.

    In Christ we are free to judge, yet will we show mercy?

    [Therefore,] 12 Speak and act as those who are to be judged by the law of freedom. 13b Mercy triumphs over judgment.

    Jesus’ authority gives us that same grace to show mercy to another, who like us, does not deserve mercy for breaking the Royal Law of Almighty God.

    Faith and Works

    What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but does not have works? Can such faith save him?

    James 2:14 CSB

    James immediately goes to examples so familiar of faithlessness and hypocrisy by those of the church. He points to the same partiality and inaction to help the poor where our words only have no impact for Christ.

    “Go in peace, stay warm, and be well fed…” Words, empty, fruitless dismissal of a soul in need.

    18 But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.”

    James never argues that we are saved by works (as some misleadingly emphasize). Nor does he dispute that we are saved by faith alone (which some use as excuse for a no-works easy one-time claim to Christ).

    20 Senseless person! Are you willing to learn that faith without works is useless?

    He continues with the scriptural examples of Abraham and Rahab, then categorically states:

    You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone… For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.

    James 2:24,26 CSB

    James tells us, “judge the true faith of one who claims Christ by their works.

    Do they show evidence of their faith by how Jesus has become their Lord? Do you?

    δικαιόω – Justified

    δικαιόω – dikaioō from the root  δίκαιος (G1342)

    • to render righteous or such he ought to be
    • show, exhibit, evince, one to be righteous, such as he is and wishes himself to be considered
    • declare, pronounce, one to be just, righteous, or such as he ought to be

    The root word of ‘just‘ is more often translated as ‘righteousness.’

    • righteous, observing divine laws
    • in a wide sense, upright, righteous, virtuous, keeping the commands of God
    • in a narrower sense, rendering to each his due and that in a judicial sense, passing just judgment on others, whether expressed in words or shown by the manner of dealing with them

    James has much more practical advice for the church.

    To be continued...

  • Hebrews 11- a Genealogy of Faith

    Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

    Hebrews 11:1 NKJV

    Faith is the Substance

    What is your greatest hope? Your eternal longing?

    ἐλπίζω elpizō – to hope

    How can you be sure of the things we hope for, to be certain of the things we cannot see?

    Matthew used this same word for hope pointing back to the prophesy of Isaiah.

    “And in His name the [nations] Gentiles will hope.”

    Matthew 12:21 NASB

    Previously the author of Hebrews has called on us to ‘draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith.’How do we know that the new covenant in Christ now replaces the old?

    In the same way that our forefathers had hope – by faith.

    πίστις pistis – faith

    Faith is the substance, faith is the reality, faith is the assurance – many descriptions, all showing it as evidence of our hope.

    We may discuss and dissect the reasons for our hope in God, our confidence in Christ. And we may wander from the path of true faith from time to time. Yet its evidence remains as the light of our hope eternal.

    faith – conviction of the truth of anything

    • a conviction or belief respecting man’s relationship to God and divine things
    • the conviction that God exists and is the creator and ruler of all things
    • relating to Christ a strong and welcome conviction that Jesus is the Messiah, through whom we obtain eternal salvation in the kingdom of God
    • belief with the predominate idea of trust (or confidence) whether in God or in Christ, springing from faith in the same

    Our faith is the evidence of things hoped for. Yet some have faith in that which is not reality or truth, therefore the writer of Hebrews follows with evidence from history.

    2 For by it our ancestors won God’s approval.

    a genealogy of Jewish faith

    אֱמֶת = Faith is real and true; faith is truthfulness

    Hebrews 11:

    Without elaboration on the author’s entire genealogy of faith, take a brief look at: the verse – person exemplifying faith – Old Testament verse equivalent.

    6 Now without faith it is impossible to please God, since the one who draws near to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.

    Hebrews 11:6 CSB

    13 These all died in faith, although they had not received the things that were promised. But they saw them from a distance, greeted them, and confessed that they were foreigners and temporary residents on the earth.

    The author of Hebrews takes this genealogy of faith and applies it as evidence that these jewish ancestors had not yet received the Lord’s certain promise. He continues with Moses, who of course recorded these genealogies along with the Law in five books.

    Moses – Mosheh – מֹשֶׁה

    23 By faith Moses, after he was born, was hidden by his parents for three months… reference to Exodus 2:2.

    He proceeds with a more extended biography of Moses relating it to institutions of faith established for a later time, that is, fulfillment by the Messiah. Yes, Moses was a savior of the Hebrews, even when they resisted the Lord. But the Law and Covenants of Moses were imperfect forerunners of the Perfection to come.

    By faith he instituted the Passover and the sprinkling of the blood, so that the destroyer of the firstborn might not touch the Israelites.

    Hebrews 11:28 CSB; מֹשֶׁה

    From Moses to Christ

    30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell down … 31 By faith Rahab the prostitute welcomed the spies in peace and didn’t perish with those who disobeyed.

    32 And what more can I say? Time is too short for me to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and the prophets, 33 who by faith…

    Familiar stories of faith follow (also worth your time in brief here). He races through the generations from the Judges, past King David and to the prophets. Then addition of a prophetic reminder of what these persecuted Hebrews, both Jews and Christians were beginning to experience.

    Persecution by the world

    … Other people were tortured, not accepting release, so that they might gain a better resurrection.

    36 Others experienced mockings and scourgings, as well as bonds and imprisonment. 37 They were stoned, they were sawed in two, they died by the sword, they wandered about in sheepskins, in goatskins, destitute, afflicted, and mistreated.

    Are you familiar with the persecution of Jews and Christians by Roman rulers like Claudius, Nero, Domitian and later many others?

    Those who received these letters to the church either needed or would need encouragement due to these cruelties for followers of Jesus. Even in this day Christians suffer and die for our faith.

    According to Open Doors, every month:

    • 255 Christians are killed
    • 104 are abducted
    • 180 Christian women are raped, sexually harassed or forced into marriage
    • 66 churches are attacked
    • 160 Christians are detained without trial and imprisoned

    More Christians died for their faith in the 20th century than in the 1st, yet Christians living in a world of hatred have always suffered for the sake of Christ.

    Christians martyred since the time of Jesus at 70 million

    David B Barrett, researcher, Christian Today

    Returning to the author of Hebrews’ argument for those suffering for Christ:

    39 All these were approved through their faith, but they did not receive what was promised…

    And he assures us that God provided something better for us, in Christ.

    To be continued...

  • Hebrews 6-Our Inheritance through Faith & Perseverance

    I will indeed bless you, and I will greatly multiply you.

    Hebrews 6:14; Genesis 22:17

    What an inheritance we expect from God! A blessing passed on from generation to generation, then unto us and eventually to our heirs. No chosen people can claim any inheritance like the Jews.

    From a detailed Commandment and covenants of scripture the LORD makes wondrous promises of inheritance to the generations. Trouble is, none of us are faithful – no not one. For we all sin against God and must often repent. This is reason enough for our sacrifice as part of our worship. It goes back to Genesis, the faith of Abraham in the beginning.

    Faith beyond traditions

    “THEREFORE,” begins the writer of Hebrews in this important transition of his letter, leave elementary school. And learn the important things of our faith beyond the obvious traditions and practices.

    Two dangers confront believers.

    • We stand where we are. We are chosen by God, we are ‘in,’ we were born into the right religion and family line. Heaven is assured for us (but not others) and God blesses me because of who I am.
    • Or we turn back from where we ought to be. Call it ‘intentional sin,’ for we want nothing to do with God. No repentance, ever. And who cares about God’s inheritance?

    The writer of Hebrews begins by asking us not to stand still in our elementary look at religion. We must repent of our ‘dead works,’ which we think ought to earn us a fair judgment.

    Hebrews 6:

    Therefore, let us leave the elementary teaching about Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works, faith in God…

    Hebrews 6:1 CSB

    Why do we need perseverance in our faith? Because just following the rules does not assure us eternal life.

    2 teaching about ritual washings, laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment.

    Basics. These are the foundation of our elementary school. We know these practices, but these ritual works are not the steps of faith which lead to our inheritance.

    4 For it is impossible to renew to repentance those who were once enlightened, who tasted the heavenly gift, who shared in the Holy Spirit… and who have fallen away.

    Listen, here; for you know these who claim to be ‘christians.’

    … they are recrucifying the Son of God and holding him up to contempt.

    Hebrews 6:6B CSB

    Beloved believers, he speaks of Jews who have come to know the Messiah and received the Holy Spirit. Yet they turn away from an inheritance of their eternal promise to stand on their own right works.

    And dear Christian brothers and sisters, who does not know one recrucifying Christ with easy teachings denying Christ’s commandment?

    Many despaired that Jesus did not come to the Jews taking the Throne of the Temple victoriously. Even now many Christians lament the same.

    Christ came not to conquer a throne of Jerusalem, but to conquer sin and death upon the altar of sacrifice. For זָבַח the sacrifice is that which is given, slaughtered in divine judgment.

    God’s love for the world

    Who receives the blessings of God? John’s gospel also points toward this.

    He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, he gave them the right to be[e] children of God, to those who believe in his name, who were born, not of natural descent…

    John 1:11-13a CSB

    God blessed the Jews, but also blesses the gentiles. The writer of Hebrews uses the blessing of God’s rain as illustration. God’s blessing falls upon the good and the evil. (What will you do with this same blessing?)

    7 For the earth which drinks in the rain that often comes upon it, and bears herbs useful for those by whom it is cultivated, receives blessing from God; 8 but if it bears thorns and briers, it is rejected and near to being cursed, whose end is to be burned.

    He says, “We are confident of better things in you. God is not unjust and will not forget your work. He remembers your labors of love toward Him and toward the saints. (NOT Saints, revered examples of the faiths with a capital “S,” but saints, our beloved fellow followers of Christ.)

    Ministering to the saints

    For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister.

    Hebrews 6:10 NKJV

    We show our love of God through ministering to others who grow in His love. These saints in our midst receive the same rain by which the Lord blesses us.

    Let us not become the thorns to be sifted into the fire of judgment.

    He asks us to demonstrate the same diligence for the full assurance of your hope until the end. Do others receiving rain turn against us? Or do they rail against the Lord, even persecuting some proclaiming Christ even to death? Yes, but death only of this flesh of dust, which has received the water and the Spirit.

    We minister to our fellow saints,serving the Lord’s Holy messengers of the Spirit, fellow failing flesh given eternal life. And the writer gives us the reason.

    12 … so that you won’t become lazy but will be imitators of those who inherit the promises through faith and perseverance.

    These saints some churches capitalize, “Saints,” as examples for us. Yet the call of Christ and scripture is to minister to the many ‘saints’ among us. For we are the church, saints in the flesh, are brothers and sisters of the Lord by the Spirit.

    God’s Promise through Abraham

    The writer of Hebrews makes clear that not even all followers of Moses received the promise. He now mentions how God guarantees His promise, referring back to Genesis 22.

    God swore it; Abraham waited; his heir waited. And for what reason did the LORD swear this oath to Abraham of the promise?

    That we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to seize the hope set before us. [v.18]

    We still expect God to act for us NOW. (Nothing has changed since Abraham and Moses.) Yet the LORD has purpose in blessing different generations with His more perfect will of eternal promise.

    How does the writer of Hebrews link Abraham and the Messiah Jesus? Once again, he returns to the most symbolic Holy of Holies, which Moses later built.

    This Hope as an anchor of the soul

    19 We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.

    It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain. 20 Jesus has entered there on our behalf…

    As our hopes and fears leave us tossed about in the depth and vastness of eternity; yet like a ship held secure, Christ holds us in place. He makes the most certain intercession for our soul in the Holiest place before God the Father.

    20 Jesus has entered there on our behalf as a forerunner, because he has become a high priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.

    Once again, the writer of Hebrews compares Jesus Christ to Melchizedek. He will follow this mature teaching through scripture in his next chapter.

    To be continued...