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Through the Bible with Les Feldick
LESSON 3 * PART 4 * BOOK 53
James 1:24 – 3:6 - Part 2
All right now let’s get back again in the book of James and we’ll keep moving on, little by little. All right, so back to James chapter 2 where we left off. We’re in verse 18. And James is dealing with this whole concept of faith plus works and we’re showing the comparison wherePaul says, "It’s faith plus nothing for salvation." James 2:18
"Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.’"
No, because he didn’t do the works that the Law demanded.
Now verse 20.
James 2:20
"But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?" All right, now verse 21. James 2:21
"Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?"
Was it at that time in Abraham’s life that he became a man of faith and a believer? James is using the offering of Isaac as a works that was proving Abraham’s faith. Paul on the other hand is showing us that Abraham’s faith was intact before any works. Romans 4 verse 1.
Romans 4:1
All right now verse 2.
Romans 4:2-3a
"For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; (brag) but not before God. Every word of this Book "...inspired by the Holy Spirit, holy men of God wrote as they were moved by the Spirit."
So, Genesis 1 to the last verse of Revelation is Scripture, it’s the Word of God. God is dealing differently today under Grace than He did with Israel under the Law. All right, but here we find Abraham as the epitome of God’s saving someone by faith and faith alone, because that’s why Paul uses Abraham then as an example for us, even in this Age of Grace. Verse 3 again.
Romans 4:3
Abraham believed God, (and offered up his son Isaac? Abraham believed God – period!) God spoke it, Abraham believed it! Romans chapter 1 verse 16. Romans 1:16a
believeth;…" When someone makes a profession of faith, they’d better be ready for the fact that God is going to work a change in their lifestyle.
And they are going to begin to work out that salvation that has begun with their faith. Salvation is going to come by itself and it’s going to stand on faith and faith alone - but with the understanding that a changed life is going to follow. A believer is going to be only too anxious to share his faith. Now let’s turn to Romans chapter 3 and look at verses 24 through 26.
Romans 3:24-25a
Whom (speaking of Christ) God has set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood,…" Now continuing the verse.
Romans 3:25b-26
We’ve got to make a little headway in James, so now verse 22 of James chapter 2. Here we find James enlarging on his argument - and well he may - because James doesn’t understand Paul’s doctrine of grace as yet. James is still the legalist.
James 2:22
"Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works (or his works) was faith made perfect?" If you haven’t got works, you must not have faith, and you cannot have saving faith unless you’ve got the works. When we maintain that as soon as we’re condemned by the Law, and we know that we’re a lost sinner, we gain salvation by faith and faith alone in what Christ has already done. It’s finished.
All right, back to James, and verse 23.
James 2:23
"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." James 2:24
"Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only."
Did God have to see Abraham perform some work in order to see his faith? God sees the heart! We need to see works. We can’t tell if a person is a believer or not, only God can do that. James 2:25
Let’s go back to Joshua chapter 2 verse 9. It prompted her to put her faith in the God of Israel. Not a word yet about her works. James 2:26
"For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also." Well, he says, it’s the same way if you’re going to tell me that you can have faith and not works. Well remember, now, just the analogy that James is looking at works under the Law and it’s valid for these Jewish believers, but it is not the same as we under Grace can operate. All right, chapter 3.
James 3:1a
So again we understand that James is talking to fellow Jewish believers. "Thou art the Christ the Son of the Living God." James 3:1-2
The tongue! James 3:3-4a
James 3:5
Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!"
Gossip. James 3:6
False accusations.

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