Unfortunately the spirit of Pharisee is alive and prevalent to this very day.
I implore my brothers and sisters to focus on Christ and the core of our faith so that you will be well grounded and will not have any problems wading through all of the “ologies” and “isms” of men.
There are many who come to salvation who are told they still have work to do or are told that “now you have to do,,,,” or that “now you should be doing…..” . Run from those who say you must do, have to do, or should do anything else other than receiving Christ as savior.
There are misguided theologies that teach “faith without works is dead” meaning one is not saved unless they work. It appears to me that is not what James is saying here:
James 2: 17
"In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead."
Whenever you run into this scripture twisting, run for the hills and find someplace else to attend. Lifting verses out of context to create a pretext is dangerous. Always use scripture to resolve scripture. For example:
Eph 2: 8-9
8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast.
We are saved by grace, not works. James implores us to put our faith in motion and does not say that we have to work to be saved. The difference is HUGE. Paul in Ephesians drives this point home.
Look to the words of Christ to see the only real work required for salvation:
John 6 28:29
Then they asked him, “What must we do to do the works God requires?”
29 Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.”
John 3:16
16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
So, if we do the following it means game, set, match as we are justified before our living GOD and our salvation is secure:
Romans 10: 9
That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.
Don’t let anybody sell you on anything different and don’t let anybody confuse Justification with Sanctification which has been at the root of discourse since the reformation.
None of these statements are meant to imply that we should rest on our “Blessed Assurance” and do nothing. Au contraire! As James implored, put your faith in motion.
Listen to the words in this song by Josh Wilson, my video of the week, as preparation for next weeks message:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6B1Lv8k5pEc
Until then, may the LORD bless us and keep us, in Jesus name I pray.
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