Practical Faith

Practical Faith – James 2:18-19 – April 12, 2015

I like to start with something kind of funny today. 

While walking down the street one day a US senator is tragically hit by a truck and dies. His soul arrives in heaven and is met by St. Peter at the entrance.

"Welcome to heaven," says St. Peter. "Before you settle in, it seems there is a problem. We seldom see a high official around these parts, you see, so we're not sure what to do with you."

"No problem, just let me in," says the man.

"Well, I'd like to, but I have orders from higher up. What we'll do is have you spend one day in hell and one in heaven. Then you can choose where to spend eternity."

"Really, I've made up my mind. I want to be in heaven," says the senator.

"I'm sorry, but we have our rules." And with that, St.Peter escorts him to the elevator and he goes down, down, down to hell.

The doors open and he finds himself in the middle of a green golf course. In the distance is a clubhouse and standing in front of it are all his friends and other politicians who had worked with him. Everyone is very happy and in evening dress.

They run to greet him, shake his hand, and reminisce about the good times they had while getting rich at the expense of the people. They play a friendly game of golf and then dine on lobster, caviar and champagne.

Also present is the devil, who really is a very friendly & nice guy who has a good time dancing and telling jokes. They are having such a good time that before he realizes it, it is time to go. Everyone gives him a hearty farewell and waves while the elevator raises.

The elevator goes up, up, up and the door reopens on heaven where St. Peter is waiting for him. "Now it's time to visit heaven."

So, 24 hours pass with the senator joining a group of contented souls moving from cloud to cloud, playing the harp and singing.

They have a good time and, before he realizes it, the 24 hours have gone by and St. Peter returns. "Well, then, you've spent a day in hell and another in heaven. Now choose your eternity."

The senator reflects for a minute, then he answers: "Well, I would never have said it before, I mean heaven has been delightful, but I think I would be better off in hell."

So St. Peter escorts him to the elevator and he goes down, down, down to hell. Now the doors of the elevator open and he's in the middle of a barren land covered with waste and garbage. He sees all his friends, dressed in rags, picking up the trash and putting it in bags as more trash falls from above.

The devil comes over to him and puts his arm around his shoulder. "I don't understand," stammers the senator. "Yesterday I was here and there was a golf course and clubhouse, and we ate lobster and caviar, drank champagne, and danced and had a great time. Now there's just a wasteland full of garbage and my friends look miserable. What happened?"

The devil looks at him, smiles and says, "Yesterday we were campaigning....Today you voted."

18 But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.”  Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. 19 You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.

1.     James is real practical here.  He says faith has evidence.  Actions speaker louder than words. 

James then lists some evidences of faith.  First faith does not show favoritism, bias or prejudice.  Listen to what he writes in 2:1-4, 2   (My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism. 2 Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in filthy old clothes also comes in. 3 If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, “Here’s a good seat for you,” but say to the poor man, “You stand there” or “Sit on the floor by my feet,” 4 have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?) 

2.      Faith does not discriminate.  Peter said in Acts 10:34 that God is no respecter of persons.  When we discriminate we are acting out an evil heart and thoughts. 

a.     Corrie Ten Boom and her family went to consecration camps because they believe that the Jewish people were worth helping and saving in WW2

b.     James goes on to say, Listen, my dear brothers and sisters: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he PROMISED those who love him? 6 But you have dishonored the poor.

1.      Reality check, those who are poor in the eyes of the world are be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he PROMISED those who love him. 

2.     When we are show favoritism based on economics, social standing or appearance we dishonor the poor and God.  Faith like God looks not on the outward but on the heart.  Some of the noblest and kindest people I have know are poor.  Talk about the homeless man who helped a young beggar in Philadelphia.

c.      James continues, Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court? 7 Are they not the ones who are blaspheming the noble name of him to whom you belong?``  The rich according to James do 3 things.  They exploit, litigate and blaspheme.  Why because they are selfish. 

3.     James then says faith loves.  8 If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,”[a] you are doing right.  James calls love the royal law.  It is a direct command of Jesus Christ the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.  When we are doing this we are doing right.  Love is faith in action.  Paul said in 1 Cor 13:13, “These three remain, faith, hope and love but the greatest of these is love.  Love is faith’s hand extended. 

a.     James then says, But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers. 10 For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. 11 For he who said, “You shall not commit adultery,”[b] also said, “You shall not murder.”[c] If you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker.  Simple, direct and precise.  To show favoritism you are a law breaker of God.  You are no better than an adulterer, or murderer.  Makes you think. 

b.     He then leaves us with one more thought, “Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, 13 because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment.”  There is an accounting coming.  What we speak and do matters.  When we love we walk in freedom and we receive mercy as we give mercy.  Mercy and love always triumph over judgment.  Love always, operate in grace and mercy.  Jesus did this with Zaccheaous. 

4.     James says today that faith is practical. Listen is 2:14 What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? 15 Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. 16 If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? 17 In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by ACTION, is dead.

a.      James reminds us that faith without evidence is mental ascent only.  It is words, lip service and meaningless clap trap.  You are lying to yourself, God and others. 

b.     If you don’t help others when you can your faith is useless and a lie.  Truth is you just don`t want to be bothered.  Your just being plain selfish.

c.      Your faith without works is dead.  Just like you are.   Living but dead.  Can see yet blind.  Able to hear but deaf.  

5.     18 But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.”

Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. 19 You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.  20 You foolish person, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless?

a.     James hits the church at that time and ours with practicality.  You say you have faith.  I have faith with actions.  You can show me your faith without deeds.  I will show you my faith by what I do.  It is like the man who says to his wife.  I love you and never shows any affection.  His words are hollow.   She wants affection, communication, love and attention.  It is action guys.  

b.      Obviously someone said to James, Ì believe in God.  His response was well so does the demons.  This dispels the phrase many people say, I believe in God.  So what.  At least the demons believe and shudder in fear.  You can believe in God and go to hell.  At recent Stats Can report says, 87% believe in heaven and God.  Yet only 28% practice some form of religion, 5% are considered born again.  That means 95 out of every 100 in Canada are going to hell.  That is both alarming and challenging.  That is why we need revival. 

c.      James then says faith without works or evidence is useless.  It is like telling the CRA you filed your taxes without the paperwork or evidence.  They will not believe you and will want their money.  It is like telling the policeman you have a licence to drive yet cannot produce your card that says you can.  It is useless.

6.     James closes with two examples.  Abraham was willing to offer his son Isaac the child of promise.  This act showed he had faith.  The result was it was credited to him as righteousness. 

      The second example was Rahab who offered protection and hid the two spies.  Righteousness here is right attitude of God, leading to right motives, and followed by right actions. 

a.      James closes off this chapter with five conclusions by Abraham and Rahab`s example.  When faith is accompanied by deeds.  It is faith that is complete.  Nothing needs to be added.

b.     Secondly, James says when faith is followed up by deeds it is credited to our heavenly account.  You are storing up treasures in heaven.  Sending material ahead for your mansion.  Your motives, attitudes, faithfulness, obedience, love and actions do count.  This is called reward for service.  Just like you getting paid when you work.  It is the law of sowing and reaping.

c.      You are a friend of God.  Abraham by what he did was called a friend of God.  True friends always show their friendship by what they do.  Talk about incident at Lakeside leader office. 

d.     A person is considered righteous by what they do not just by faith alone.  Now deeds cannot save you but they show your faith.  C.H. Spurgeon said, Morality may keep you out of jail but only the blood of Jesus Christ can save you.  James point is that faith must be shown. 

e.     As the body is dead without the spirit so faith without works is dead.