Morning Moments

JAMES Devotional Outline and Notes

I. Wisdom's Wealth 1:1-27
II. Worthwhile Works 2:1-26
A. Impartiality - without favoritism
B. Impertinence - without disrespect
C. Impervious - without being moved or affected
D. immature - without maturity

D. Immature 2:20-26

Once again the recipients are clearly the scattered Jewish Christians. James does precisely what Paul does in the Galatians epistle as he uses Abraham, the father of the faithful as an example. It was in no way works, but faith by which Abraham was declared righteous before God, but that faith produced works and not vice versa.

Many a spouse has tried for years to please the other spouse only to discover that some people can never be pleased unless it benefits them. That is selfish, sensual, and devilish as Scripture describes it. Until one is satisfied with Jesus, he/she cannot be satisfied with himself/herself and until that happens no one else can satisfy or please them for any length of time. It is spiritual immaturity to think one can eat of the good things of God without the godly works that follow faith. It is okay to BE a baby when you are a baby, but to stay one is abnormal. Activity is a sign of life. Without FAITH it is impossible to please God. Saving faith produces!

1. The Obvious

2:20. But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?

The argument begins and ends with the obvious - whatever lives is active and whatever is not active is dead. Dead faith is not saving faith. What is the evidence of faith - THAT is the issue! It is obvious that if we are raised to newness of life by the power of the Holy Spirit there will be ACTIVE evidence of faith in our lives.

2. The Offering

2:21. Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? 22. Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?

The prime example of this living faith is the father of the faithful, Abraham, who was justified by faith alone and not by works, but gave clear evidence of that faith by his willingness to sacrifice his son (his only son so far as God's promise was concerned). Our faith too, demands that living sacrifice according to Paul in Romans 12:1-2. We also find Abraham used as an example in Romans 4. Hebrews 11 gives a clear account of the evidence of his faith. It is God who initiates our faith and it is He who culminates it, hence Jesus is referred to as the Author and Finisher of our faith by the writer of Hebrews.

3. The Obedience

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. 24. Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.

It is important for us to understand that no work whatsoever saves, whether it is circumcision, baptism, or whatever. Faith alone justified Abraham. His belief, trust, confidence in, reliance upon God THEN motivated him to obedience. It was faith his willing to trust God completely (perfectly, maturely) that produce works or evidence that was pleasing to God. He is called the friend of God here and in 2 Chronicles 20:7 and Isaiah 41:8. Want to be God's friend? Trust and Obey!

God took the initiative in first revealing Himself to Abraham, just as He takes the initiative in revealing Himself to us. He issued Abraham a command which demanded that he trust Him - "leave and go." As evidence of Abraham's trust and willingness to obey he "left and went." Obedience is always the evidence of true faith.

4. The Observation

2:25. Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?

What greater illustration could be given of God's love and forgiveness than this woman found in Joshua chapter 2? She was an harlot who became an ancestor of Jesus (Mat 1:4). Her faith was evidence by her actions. So, you have the case of male and female, patriarch and prostitute. It does not matter who one is, all must come to God by grace through faith alone. Don't confuse the evidence with the faith though - that is dangerous.

5. The Obvious Conclusion

2:26. For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

James ends the argument as he began it - no evidence, no faith. The body is the house in which the person lives, so where there is no spirit there is no life. In the same way, James is saying that where there is no evidence there is no faith. Jesus put it this way, "By their fruit you shall know them." A good tree bears good fruit - love, joy, peace, long-suffering, goodness, faithfulness, meekness, temperance through which others are reached for Christ and from which others are served for Christ.

BLESSINGS!