WEEKLY
SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON
An
international Sunday school lesson commentary
For
Sunday February 4, 2018
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150,000 readers worldwide
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FAITH
WITHOUT WORKS IS DEAD
(Faith
leads to action)
(James
2:14-26)
Faith that doesn’t manifest
itself through good deeds is equivalent to “no faith at all”, and indeed, is
dead and worthless in the eyes of GOD (James 2:17). GOD gauges our faith
directly by our actions, and what we say means very little to GOD, if our words
come from an unrighteous mind (evil impure thoughts).
Man continues to prove, over time, that he
seldom does what he says he will do. On the contrary, man always, 100% of the
time, does that which is in his “heart” (“kardia”-the way man thinks). And so
“man’s heart” (“thoughts”) remains the barometer by which GOD measures our
faith, for HE seldom takes into account what a man might say, if his mind is
not fixed on right “right living”.
It is the duty of the Christian to build
his or her foundation on the “Most High Faith” of the “Most High GOD”. We have
the charge from CHRIST to demonstrate our love by readily and willingly showing
love to others, and, by our volition to serve and aid our fellowman whenever,
and wherever, the need exists. True faith always manifests itself through good
deeds, and serves as evidence of who we really are “on the inside”.
This section of James’ letter to the Jewish
Christians begins with two probing questions;
· What’s the use of saying you have faith, if you don’t prove it by
your actions? (v.14)
· What good does it do to believe that there is only one GOD, if you
don’t act accordingly, by obeying only HIS commandment to show love to one
another, through our acts of good deeds towards one another? (Vs.19-20)
Both of these questions help us to focus
squarely on “the relationship” between “Faith and Works”. In his first question
James asks, “What good is it?”, or “Of what advantage can it be if our faith in
GOD doesn’t manifest itself in our good deeds? Here James wants us to envision
a man who “says he is a Christian” simply because “he thinks he has faith”.
However, this same man “hasn’t exhibited any good or GODly works”, as a result
of that professed faith.
This particular man, for instance, hasn’t
endured many trials or temptations, doesn’t have the right attitude towards
wealth, doesn’t eagerly receive GOD’s Word into his heart, and doesn’t care for
orphans or widows. In addition, this man often shows favoritism toward certain
people, and exhibits all of the “bad fruit” that James had previously mentioned
in this letter.
Intellectual acceptance of GOD is not, in
itself, a “Saving Faith”, because, even demons know that GOD exists (v.19). A
“Saving Faith” will always have a discernible positive impact on a person’s attitude
and behavior. Faith that does not produce “good fruit” in our life, and, in the
lives of others, is NOT a Saving Faith, and cannot save anyone from the penalty
that GOD imposes on our sin.
In verses 20-26, James uses the examples of
Abraham (Genesis 22:16-18) and Rahab (Joshua 2:1-7) to help us distinguish
between “Professed Faith” and “Saving Faith”. In Genesis 22, Abraham, who was
declared “righteous” by GOD, had to show his faith through his actions by
offering up his own son as a living sacrifice to GOD, simply because GOD asked
him to, and without even understanding why.
In Joshua 2, Rahab, a Gentile woman, “acted
on her faith in GOD” by risking her life, and the lives of her family to
protect the men of GOD, who had come to spy out her homeland. And so here, it
becomes increasingly clear that, we are made right with GOD by our righteous
deeds, and not just, by “saying we have faith” (James 2:21-25). And just as the
body is dead without a spirit, so also, faith is dead without good deeds (v.26).
“Saving Faith” is a faith that is
manifested through good works before and under GOD, even while under pressure
and duress from our emotions. Any so-called faith that is not accompanied by
good works is not a faith that can save a person from eternal damnation. People
like Abraham and Rahab show a dynamic obedience to GOD under pressure and
duress that can only be considered as “Saving Faith” by GOD in Heaven, our ETERNAL
JUDGE.
A Sunday school
lesson by,
Larry D. Alexander
LARRY
D. ALEXANDER- Official Website
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