will be from John 15, a few verses, and then from James chapter 2, but first of all from John chapter 15 beginning at verse 5. Jesus says, I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit. For apart from me, you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in me, he is thrown away like a branch and withers. And the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire and burned. If you abide in me and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. By this, my Father is glorified that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. And then turn to James chapter two. Begin reading at verse 14. And we'll go to the end of the chapter. This afternoon, we'll deal with the first part of James chapter three, first two verses, really, of James chapter three. But James chapter two, verse 14. What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, go in peace, be warmed and filled without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. But someone will say, you have faith and I have works. Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. You believe that God is one. You do well. Even the demons believe and shudder. Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless? Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? You see that faith was active along with his works and faith was completed by his works. And the scripture was fulfilled that says, Abraham believed God and it was counted to him as righteousness. And he was called a friend of God. You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. And in the same way was not also Rahab the prostitute justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way? For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead. May God bless to us the reading of his holy word. Dear people of God, called to be saints. Have you ever been so convicted of something, so moved by something that you absolutely had to act on it? Perhaps you were at the state fair and you saw a display And you were so taken in by it, you had to buy in. Or maybe it was just a sales pitch. And you were so moved. Or maybe you saw someone and you absolutely had to have a date. You were so compelled by what you saw, by what you felt, by what you were told. Had to do it. You know, he compulsively bought in. Well, then you should understand what James is talking about in this section. Now, before we get to this section, though, understand its context, why he's dealing with this subject. James is teaching us, God's people, in a world opposed to Jesus Christ, how we are to grow up in Christ, become like him. And James has shown us that because we're in a world of opposition, we're going to face all kinds of trials. shown us how to handle these trials with joy and with prayer, knowing that God is through these trials, because he's sovereign, through these trials, he's using them to develop our Christ-like character. He is teaching us how to avoid temptation, how to handle our anger, our resentment, how to deal with deception. and how to trust him who is the overflowing fountain of all good. Trust him who is working in everything for the good of those who love him who've been called according to his good purposes. James has taught us that this kind of trust in a sovereign God who is working all things out in conformity with his will, that kind of faith results in a changed speech, a godly speech, and in godly actions. And he has warned us against worldliness, and he's given a good example of that by saying, don't be like the world and judge people according to how they are dressed. in their external appearances, the color of their skin, their nationality, and so on. He warns us that we are to show mercy as Jesus has shown us mercy. Because mercy, he says, triumphs over judgment. And it's in light of all of this that he now takes up Another very important question that's directly related to this whole subject of worldliness. Two questions. First question is, and this is very important for us who have made a confession of faith, what good is it if a man has confessed his faith but doesn't follow that up by acting on it. He says he's a Christian. and he does certain things like a Christian, but doesn't really, for example, worship God as God commands in his word. He says he's a Christian, but he never forgives those who sin against him. He says he's a Christian, but he doesn't love another sinner enough to help that sinner overcome his sin. He says he's a Christian, but he still lives according to his own lusts and his own desires No matter what the Bible says, he still acts according to gut instinct. He says he believes that Christ is his Savior and his Lord, but he really doesn't follow Christ, who says, if you love me, you will keep my commandments. And James says, what good is a confession That doesn't change you. I can say, I believe that all men are created equal, but if I treat a person of another race, creed or color with disrespect, my statement is meaningless. And James is implying that kind of a confession is no good at all. That's the first question. And the second question is, can that kind of confessed faith save a person? And again, the implication of James is no. I mean, that's pretty obvious. To claim something doesn't mean you actually have it. I can claim to have a million dollars, but I assure you I don't have it. To confess to believe in Jesus as Savior and Lord and not to live consistent with that confession, that's not really faith, is it? It's useless. It's not saving faith. True faith, says Hebrews, is being sure of what we hope for, certain of what we do not see. We are so sure that Jesus Christ is coming again to make all things new and to usher us into the new heavens and the new earth that it changes our whole perspective and way we live in this life and time. And James is saying that's what the ancient, or Hebrews, pardon me, is saying that's what the ancients were commended for. By faith, Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, a worldwide flood, in holy reverence, spent years gathering supplies and building an ark to save his family. He believed and he acted to the mockery of the world in which he lived. And that took him a long time. And he worked in a lot of sunshine. warned about things not yet seen. It's a genuine faith. James gives an example of seeing a person without clothes or daily food, and that's a pretty dire situation. If you say you love Jesus and you see such a person, and you say, Oh, man, I wish you the best. And you have the means to help out, but don't do it. What's the good of your words? What does your love mean? Not to help in that situation when you're able. If you confess Jesus is a denial, James says, of the love and the mercy of Christ. Such a confession, unaccompanied by action, is useless. It's dead. There's no life in it. Now, that example is a soul-searching example. We all can say that we see others who confess to be Christian or religious, and we say, yeah, but they're not living according to what they say. Right? We can all say that. The question here is, what about us? And I think if we're honest, We have to say that all too often, our actions don't match up with our words. They do not measure up to the standard of Christ for sure. Now we here confess that we are not saved by our works. We're saved by the grace of God alone. on the merits of Jesus Christ alone, by faith alone. And yet isn't it true that although we admit all of our works fall far short of the glory of God, that those of us who have been saved in Jesus Christ can look back and with amazement see that we have been changed. To our astonishment, the more we have grown in our understanding of the beauty and the perfection of our Savior, we have seen our depravity and our sin, and we have seen that we have grown in humility and then in mercy and understanding and love and compassion toward others. And that's why we confess in Lord's Day 24 that it is impossible for people who have been united with Christ, grafted in, is what it says, into Christ by true faith, not to produce fruits of gratitude. So one who confesses faith and yet shows no love for uniting in worship with God's people, for being a part of the family of God, for living like Jesus, but rather has set his desire to be like the world, to live like the world and according to the desires of the flesh, They're more passionate about their daily living, the latest sports scores, than about the faith or serving others and helping those in real need. James says such a faith, not accompanied by works, is dead. Words without deeds are empty. And the question is, where does that leave us? Now, the point is James is not just trying to bump us in depression. His whole point is to get us to realize we cannot separate what we believe from how we live, talk, walk, relate to others, and so on. The two are intimately connected. And so he says, there are those, verse 18, who would suggest It's fine for you to believe what you want. There are lots of people who believe things and they go to church and they do all nice things but they're a bunch of hypocrites. That's fine for you. But they don't want to be hypocrites. They simply want to live what they consider to be a good life. They're going to help people where they see that they can help people. They're going to do the best that they can. And they believe that in the end, God, if there is God, will show them mercy for doing their best. You have faith? Great. They have works. They live by what they do. And if you want to live by faith, bully for you. Just don't force it on them. The problem is that like people who say they are Christians but don't live it, people who live by works still are operating with a useless faith in works. They have a faith. It doesn't save them any more than people who believe but don't act on it. Sometimes people who claim faith think they are superior to people without faith. And those without faith think that they are superior because at least they're not hypocrites. They think they're doing just fine without faith because they are kind and they are compassionate and they help the needy and so forth. And James is simply trying to show us they're both falling short of the glory of God. And that's why he issues a challenge. Show me your faith. without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do." And again, his point is you cannot separate what you believe from how you actually live from your actions. The two go hand in hand. Show me your faith by what it does. What good does it do? How does it save you? And I will show you my faith by how it changes my life. And he gives a stunning example of those who have a sort of faith, but no works that flow from it. And he says, you believe that there was one God. That's awesome. So do the demons. And they're trembling in their boots because they're going to face the judgment. Remember how when Christ cast the demons out of the pigs, how they begged him not to destroy them? They wanted to, pardon me, he didn't cast them out of the pigs, he cast them out of the demon-possessed man. They wanted to go into the pigs, thinking that would save them. They knew who Jesus was. They confessed he was the Christ, the Holy One of God, the Son of God. And they were trembling because they know their end. And many people today are worse off because although they confess a faith, even a faith in Jesus as the Son of God, they do not serve him as God. Their works do not flow from a faith. They do not realize that their end is the eternal fires of hell. And those who do not confess faith, but still think that their works somehow make them good and worthy of some reward, their faith, James is saying, is useless. They are yet also destined for the fires of eternal hell. And so James moves on in his argument, and he says, you foolish man. And he's addressing the one who claims to have faith without having works, And he says, do you want evidence, biblical evidence, that faith without deeds is useless or dead? Think about Father Abraham. He's an example of a living faith that was acceptable to God. Was not he considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? You go back to Genesis 22, and we indeed see that. What this means when we read God saying, now I know that you fear God. because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son. Now I know." You see, Abraham's faith was, you could say, justified. That is, it was proven genuine by his works. Hebrews tells us that God tested Abraham Abraham reasoned, that is Abraham believed, he had his eyes of the future, and he believed, well God can raise my son from the dead. And in that faith he offers up Isaac. And that's why James says, you see that his faith and his actions were working together. They were working in harmony and his faith was made complete. It grew up by what he did. Thus what God had said earlier in Genesis 15, when he said, Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness, is brought to fulfillment here. That is, it's brought to further completion, it's proven true, his faith matured through his trial, what James is trying to say in this book, and so he is known as God's friend. So, James says, you see that a person is justified, that he is proven by what he does and not by faith or just a confession of faith alone. Now, most of us have grown up in a Reformed church and we hear a statement like that and we gasp. We just celebrated Reformation. We believe in that principle by faith alone. We know all about how Martin Luther had such difficulty with that statement and we have to understand Martin Luther didn't like the book of James. He really struggled with James. But we have to remember some basic principles when we interpret scripture. And that is always to remember context. Interpreting scripture with scripture. We have to remember what Paul was dealing with when he says in Romans chapter 3 that we are justified freely by God's grace through the redemption that came by Jesus apart from works of the law. And there Paul uses Abraham as an example of justification by faith alone, telling us in chapter 4 that he was credited as righteous by God through faith before he was circumcised. That is, not on the basis of his works. And Paul, in this context, is making the point, dealing both with Jews and Gentiles, that no one is saved by works of the law, but all of us are saved by faith in Jesus' atoning work. Now, James does not, for one moment, disagree with the Apostle Paul. All along in the book of James, he has been emphasizing the necessity of faith. right from the very beginning. But while Paul is dealing with those who might think that salvation is theirs because they are observing the works of the law, the whole series that Pastor Scotty's been dealing with, they think that they're saved by their circumcision, or they think that their work's added to their faith something, that's what Paul is dealing with. And he's saying to them, no, your works don't add a thing. James is dealing with those who say, well, we believe, and that's all that's important. I can live as I want. He's dealing with the antinomians. Law is irrelevant. That's Old Testament. We live by New Testament. Love, love, love. Do what you want. And that's prevalent today. And there are people, they make a confession of faith, and they, that's taken care of. I'm done. And there is no further, really, development of their faith. They don't really make a practice of daily reading of the word, of daily study, Christian fellowship. It goes out the window. They just live like their neighbor down the street who's not a believer. They go out earning money as much as they can, having all the fun that they want. But the things of the faith, they just kind of put on the back burner. There are people like that. And Jesus says, if you love me, you will keep my commandments. Follow me. But they seem to forget this, and they live as they wish, believing that the thing that's going to get them to heaven is simply their confession. But faith undeveloped, unmatured, Faith that is not living and working is not faith. It's dead. So James is emphasizing, you see, exactly the same point as the Apostle Paul. The necessity of true faith for salvation. And we know this because earlier he had asked if a person who says he has faith, but it has no consequences, he asked, can that faith save you? That's James's whole interest here. His answer is no. James is concerned that believers have a living, developing, growing faith, not just a stated faith. Abraham believed God and it was considered justified by faith, and later he was declared righteous because he acted on that faith. His actions didn't justify him before God, but verified the reality of his faith. It was living, it was real, it was dynamic. He was so convicted, he was willing to sacrifice his own son for God's sake. And James is emphasizing that faith without that kind of development, that kind of growth, that kind of maturing is dead. It's like a fence post. You can stick it in the ground, but it's dead. No signs of life. But a root that appears dead may show itself alive when it sprouts a shoot. Just as Jesus said, if you abide in me, you will bear much fruit. And James adds one more illustration to drive home the point. Book of Joshua, about Rahab, she makes a marvelous confession of faith to the spies. saying, I know that the Lord, Yahweh, has given this land to you and that a great fear of you has fallen on us so that all who live in this country are melting in fear because of you. We have heard about how Yahweh has saved you, for Yahweh, your God, is God in heaven above and on the earth below. And James here says that like Abraham, her faith Her confession of faith was verified. It was vindicated because at a threat to her own life, she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction. Her faith was justified. It was vindicated, proven true. As the body without a spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead. And keep in mind that the whole book of James is really concerned about genuine faith. That's why it's such a soul-searching book. It's not a book about works, really. That's a common misunderstanding. But what James is concerned is that together, as a people in a world opposed to God, we grow up in our faith. to be image bearers of God, to be Christ-like, to reflect Christ's character and be shining lights in a dark world. Remember what he said, chapter 1, verse 27, pure and undefiled religion before God and our Father in this is this, to visit orphans and widows and in their distress and to keep oneself unstained from the world. And in chapter 2, he develops that worldliness, pointing out that favoritism is the prime example of worldliness, judging on the basis of externals. And he follows that up with a concern that faith is not just saying we believe something and don't act on it. That's worldliness. True faith always acts, and true faith to James is that everything God reveals in his word is true. It's a deep-rooted assurance that our sins are forgiven out of sheer grace earned for us by Christ, and that motivates us, you see, to live as Jesus lived. We confess together, Lord's Day 44, that only the holiest in this life have a small beginning of the obedience that God desires. And yet, with all seriousness of purpose, we all begin to live according to all, not only some, but all of God's commandments. Because we belong to Jesus, Christ, by his Holy Spirit, assures us in our hearts of eternal life. the new heavens and the new earth, and makes us wholeheartedly willing and ready from this point on to be living for him. Is that your confession? Good. Is that your life? Christ calls us to follow him. And that means, for example, that we must not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. Do we still pursue dating relationships with unbelievers, regardless of what Jesus says? Do we maintain sexual purity? Or do we live as we desire? Do we restrain our tongues? Or do we gossip and slander? Do we worship God as he commands in his word? Or just act and worship the way we feel like it? When we have a grievance against someone, do we deal with it as God instructs, Matthew 18? Or do we ignore it, bear grudges, or slander and gossip? You say, do we just confess Christ? or do we follow him? And Jesus says, if you live in me, if you abide in me, you will bear much fruit. The Apostle Paul, very consistent with the Lord and with the Apostle James, says, work out your salvation. Work it out in fear and in trembling. in reverence for what Christ has done, abide in, listen to, follow Christ in his word, knowing that it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good pleasure. And if any of us find that our confession is not bearing the fruit of Christlikeness. Turn in repentance. Ask for mercy. You will find it because mercy triumphs over judgment. Take up your cross and follow him. Live in him and you will bear much fruit. Amen.