James 2 verse 14, hear the word of the Lord. What does it profit my brothers? If someone says he has faith but does not have works, can faith save him? If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, depart in peace, be warmed and filled, but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? Thus 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 without your works. I'll show you my faith by my works. You believe there's one God, you do well. Even the demons believe and tremble. But do you want to know, O foolish man, what faith without works is dead? Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works, faith was made perfect? And the scripture was fulfilled, which says, Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness, and he was called the friend of God. You see then that man is justified by works and not by faith only. The word of the Lord. Father, we come before you today needing you in a special way like we've never needed you before. This is a new passage of scripture and this congregation will never be made up as it is today. I pray that you'd help us to care deeply for what you think about these matters. Thank you for one more opportunity to serve your sheep in this location. If this is the last time, I pray that you'd make it the best time. And I pray that you'd strengthen me in this task, remove me from the burden of being in the way, and I pray that you'd work around me and through me, work for me if you would, oh God, in this hour. The blessings thus far will not suffice for your sheep being fed, and so we ask you to feed them in the mighty name of Jesus, amen. I have some questions for us to answer this morning. First of all, my dear friend who is consistently doubting your salvation, do you wonder if your saving faith in Jesus is the right kind of faith? Is it saving faith at all? My friend who has potentially weak faith, You are hoping that it will carry out and be found faithful. I wonder if it will be. Do you think you'll lose your Christianity? To my friend who is objective driven, consistently trying to get things done at the cost of just about everything, do you have great confidence in your ability to systemize and get things done, hoping that it doesn't take too long? Dear friend who just loves the Bible as a piece of literature, Old Testament specifically, have you considered that there is life-changing, soul-shaking, faith-testing truth in its pages? And I would say fifthly, dear older friend, not just those who are 80, but those who are 86, and I think we have a friend in here who's 93, are you wondering if God counts what you're doing, even if you haven't got it done? The way that you're leaning matters, and when you die, if you're leaning in the right direction, does God take that into account? These are questions we hope to answer in the time to come. We've read the passage of scripture before us, and now a little storytelling. There was a guy named Abraham, maybe you've heard of him. He was born about one third the way through recorded human history, about 2,000 years before Christ, and about 2,000 years after Adam. And he was 75 years old and the Lord called him in Genesis chapter 12, the first book of your Bible. If you've never opened a Bible, then you'll need that sort of direction, I suppose, and that's not a problem. And Genesis chapter number 12, he calls the 75-year-old man and says, I want you to follow me and I want you to know I've chosen you. You didn't choose me, I chose you. And I'm gonna give you a great nation. These dear people that are gonna come from you, Abraham, are gonna bless all nations. And I'm gonna give it to you biologically through a real son of yours. Abraham is 75, his wife is 66 years old. I'm not guessing, those ages are found for us in the Bible. She's nine years younger than him. And Genesis tells us he's 75. That means his wife at that point is 66 years old. They haven't had children, she can't have children. We know later on in Genesis chapter number 12, he promises them land. You're gonna get a piece of land, I'm gonna give it to you. 75 years old, no sons, and yet the Lord has made a promise to him. And then, in Genesis chapter number 15, we're gonna say that this is, well, we're gonna carefully carry these microphones, probably hundreds of dollars worth over here, maybe thousands. This is Genesis 15. At Genesis chapter number 15, we have 75 years old, Genesis 15. The Lord said to Abraham, Isaac wasn't yet born, Abraham, I want you to look to the heavens, see if you can count the stars. If you can, you can count your children. Abraham still doesn't have a son, and his wife is still barren. She is, at this time, probably, we find out from Genesis chapter number 16, that Abraham is 86 years old. 11 years has passed. Probably, he is at this point, 86 years old. He was 75, now he's 86, wife is 77, and still no biological children. And God told Abraham, in you, I will give you so many children. He said a second thing, if you go wander out to the beach, and if you can count those grains of sand, you can count your kids. And it says, Abraham believed God. In Genesis chapter number 15, verse number six, Abraham believed God and it was counted to him for righteousness. That verse is quoted in this passage that we read this morning. Look again in James chapter number 2. You're going to notice in James 2 verse number 23, the scripture was fulfilled which says, Abraham believed God, it was counted to him for righteousness. Let's review. He's 75 years old in Genesis chapter number 12. He is 86 years old, probably, in Genesis chapter number 15, and this is where he is counted righteous because he believes God. God said, go out and number the stars, go out and number the sand. If you can number either one of them, you can count your kids. still doesn't have a single son born to him, probably 86 years old, because in chapter 16 he's 86. So I'm just gonna go on a limb here and say he's probably close to 86 years old when he, and if he's not, if he's younger than that, what I'm gonna show you is even more miraculous. But he is no older than 86 years old when it says he believes God and it's counted to him for righteousness. Now if this is 11 years, if this is 11 years, I'm gonna take about four and a half more of these. One, two, three, we're gonna come right on over here to this mic stand right here. This mic stand I'm gonna put right up front here. Abraham, we're gonna find out in Genesis chapter number 23 is 136 years old. 136 years old when his wife Sarah dies at 127 years. Sarah, a little piece of trivia, she's the only woman in the Bible whose age is mentioned. And it's mentioned when she dies. 127 years old, Genesis chapter number 23. What you read about in James chapter number two in verse number 21, Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? That happened in Genesis chapter 22. Genesis chapter 22, Abraham might be as old as 136 years old. And that's if his wife died immediately after today's episode. I'm driving home a point to you, a great share of what we're going to enjoy in these next few minutes. And when I say few, I mean several fews. is there's going to be a major point that I want you to get. It's really helpful both for the interpretation of this passage and for the application of it to your life and mine today. All right, 11 years between the time Abraham is promised and the time he believes and is accounted as justified, righteous. Then at 136 years old maybe, He has to offer Isaac his son on the altar. That's found in Genesis 22. Now let's just do a little thinking here. I think this will bless you. If it's true that he's 86, that Mike's saying, he's no older than 86. And if it's true that he's 136 here, that's 50 years. 50 years between James 2.21 and James 2.23. Not only is there 50 years between those two events, But it's in reverse in the book of James. You'll notice he's counted righteous here when he's 136 and Isaac is in his 30s. That's right, Isaac was in his 30s when he was offered on an altar. But here he's 86, 50 years between James 2.21 and James 2.23. Counted as righteous over here, justified by his works. Counted as righteous, justified by his works. Counted as righteous in his 80s, counted, justified by his works when he's 130 some years old. 50 years between what he did and what he believed. 50 years between believing and it working itself out in his works. 50 years of legitimate faith. Now, there are those in this who really mean well. They look at this passage and they say, well, this is not really talking about justification before God. It's talking about justification before people. Now, if you've never thought of that before in your life, nevermind. Nevermind. Don't let me distract you. But I do want to point everyone to chapter 1, verse 27. Look at it, please. Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this. You see, James is not concerned necessarily with what people are saying about your faith, because he knows that the only thing that matters is the real you before God the Father, in verse 27. Did you hear me? It's right there in your Bible, isn't it? Do you see that in chapter one, verse 27? Pure religion before God and the Father is this. Did you see that in your Bible right there in your lap? I need some help. Is just one or is there anyone else who sees it? Thank you. So that means that this is then about people living their faith in front of God. in front of God. There's plenty of people making their mileage religiously, living out what they believe is good religion in front of other people. The one that James is concerned about is the one that God sees. And so he didn't change, James didn't change his mind. There's two things about James you need to know this morning, the half brother of Jesus. We've got like four messages, four sermons left in this book, and then we're done. We'll be done by the end of June. James, God willing, James says, number one, I don't think that you the reader, you the listener, I don't think you're idiots. I think you know the stories in the book of Genesis. And so he doesn't feel the need to tell you where they're found. He believes you know where they are because you are one of the 12 tribes scattered abroad. You know your Old Testament. You know the stories. You can tell them to your kids and grandkids because you love your Bible. When your kids wanna hear from Papaw, Papaw doesn't just talk to them about everything else. He makes sure they're discipled in the faith. And so what really matters in our conversation is what we know about what the Lord has done in the hearts of other people. So here is, again, is Abraham, declared righteous, Genesis 15, and here in James 2.24. Over here, he's justified by his works, How does this happen? Number one, remember, James knows that you know about the book of Genesis. What else does James know? James knows that he's dealing with a particular group of people here that might be tempted with certain sins. We got that in verses 13-17 of chapter 1 in a previous message. People who do not repent when they hear the Word of God preached. We got that in chapter 1 verses 18-25. People who show favoritism to others. We got that in chapter two, verses one through 12. These are people that have temptations like everyone else, even though they're struggling to stand up under the load of being persecuted for their faith. And James says in the passage we've read today, that there's a certain kind of faith that turns away people that they ought to be loving in chapter two, verse 15 and 16. If a brother, verse 15, or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says, be gone with you, but lots of warm thoughts and prayers. Right? Verses 15 and 16. Thoughts and prayers. Major good vibes coming your way. That's how I'm feeling towards you. Lots of love. Sandwiches and crackers and lots of sodie pop are right here. And I just want you to know, it's the thought that counts. Here, the Bible says that Jesus, nor God, are particularly thrilled with that approach. Chapter two in verse one, my brethren, do not hold the faith of the Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with these problems. So as we decide who we're going to serve and who we're going to love, the Lord says, if there is a brother or sister that you just simply won't deal with, someone who has the faith of the Lord with you, and you won't deal with them, you're gonna basically disregard them, walk on from them, You have questionable faith. In this passage, he says, if it's not true, then let's demonstrate it. In verse number 20, he says, do you want to know that faith without works is dead? He says, I'll give you two illustrations. And we only looked at one of them today. Abraham, a Hebrew man. And then one of the times we'll meet before the end of June, it will be Rahab, the very non-Hebrew woman in verses 25 and 26. So we've set a lot of the table and it's time to move through and handle these things. These are big issues. Because it's very clear here that if you hold James up next to Galatians, you're not sure they're gonna look alike. What's going on here? He's using very specific words like justification, and faith and works. Very clear words that we see all over the New Testament. Why is he using those words? What is he trying to communicate? Does he know what Paul has been preaching in Galatia? Probably. But why does he appear to be arguing with Paul? He's not. So let's remind ourselves of what James himself said in verse 22. Do you see, chapter two, verse 22, do you see that faith was working together with his works? And by works, faith was made perfect. If you were to put it in terms that you and I can understand today, he said, faith brings with it works. Real faith brings works with it. Works by themselves don't justify, but faith by itself will never justify. Works do not justify, but faith that brings no works with it never justifies. Now let's talk about what that word justify means. It is the equivalent to the word that we would use today, acquittal. It is basically saying, when was Abraham declared acquitted of his sins against God? Well, he was declared righteous right over here. And here's what James is saying. I know Genesis 15 says that he was declared righteous. I said so here in verse 23, but I want you to know something. Verse 22, that faith that Abraham God at age 86 brought works with it until he was 136 years old. Come here a minute. I'm not kidding you. Verse number 23, Abraham was declared righteous when he believed God. Verse 22, he brings, because it's saving faith, he brings works with him and he can't help it. It doesn't say Abraham brought works. It says faith brought works. You see that in verse 22? All right, use your own eyeballs and make sure you use your own hand and underline that in your Bible. For seven years I've been begging you to use a pen in your Bible so that the next time you discuss this in small group or with your children, you're not starting with nothing. So here is James saying he believed God and it was counted to him for righteousness and he became a friend of God at age 86. Verse 22, he had saving faith that brought works with it. By the time that his wife was nearly dead in his 130s, he is living his faith. How is he living his faith? In a way no one has ever had to live their faith before. Kill your son, Abraham. as a burnt offering. Tonight, we will talk more about that out of Hebrews 11 and just exactly how much faith that really was. But in verse number 23, it says that scripture, Genesis 22, or forgive me, Genesis 15, was fulfilled. All right, so here's another key to the interpretation of this passage. I mean, some things are so murky over the last 700 years that you have to take a whole Sunday morning service to talk about it. He says this faith that he got here in Genesis 15 brought works with it. Abraham didn't even have to try to do that because he had saving faith. So that saving faith brought real works with it. And right up here, boom, when he had to live his faith in verse number 22 of James 2, You could say that that was fulfilled. The righteousness that we said was Abraham's, we all could say was Abraham's when he lived by faith and did something unimaginable. He obeyed God in the face of seeming contradiction. God says, get up and get up. Take your son over to the hill called Moriah and offer your son as a burnt offering. And I'm sure he wept much over that. I mean, remember, this is the big deal here. He was promised a son here at 75. Here at 86, he still doesn't have a son. At 100 years old, his son is born. And his son is not married yet. I mean, you can't marry a kid off when he's a toddler or when he's a young teenager. And you know, it was difficult. Now Isaac is in his mid thirties and he's still not married. And you find out in Genesis 24, he's married at the age of 40. So he is unmarried and there are no grandchildren yet for Abraham. And Abraham has been told, Abraham, you're gonna have a son and that son is gonna bring you many, many, many, many, many, many, many sons. But that one son is lower middle age and still doesn't have a wife. And so daddy, we're talking 137 year old granddad Abraham, does not have the promise that God has given him. In the face of that contradiction, in the face of God giving him a promise that God has not yet fulfilled, God gives Abraham a command that seems to contradict a promise that God gave him. Take that son that's going to give you millions of grandchildren and kill him. And that is why James says, I want to just talk to you about what real faith does. It obeys when it doesn't make sense to obey. What kind of Bible did Abraham have to read? He had nothing. He didn't have good news for today verses on the Christian radio. He didn't have daily devotions that someone gave him for a graduation gift. He had his walk with God. promises from the Lord himself. You and I are living at a great advantage. We have the word of God chapter 1 verse 22. And James says, I want to see if the promises you received that you said you believed, I want to see if you're going to keep listening to those promises. And then you're going to find out as you get older as a Christian, You're gonna find some commands you're supposed to obey that you haven't been obeying, and you're gonna look in that book, and you're gonna have an opportunity to show whether or not you had saving faith back there. Because if you had saving faith back here, Grandpa Abraham, you're gonna have it over here when it looks like you're losing everything before you got a single promise fulfilled from God. He owns precious little of the promised land, and he has not one grandchild. And Abraham didn't know the end of the story. Abraham didn't know how God was gonna fulfill. And so I don't know exactly how God is speaking to you right now, but let's talk about God. God is powerful enough to do a couple of things. Well, many, but in the passage, a couple. He's powerful enough to produce works in you all the way up until your dying day. He is powerful enough to not only give you the faith to believe, but then to keep producing works in you to assure yourself that you had real faith, even if it takes 50 years to prove it to you. This is huge because there are people in this room I'm afraid you might not have grown for the last three or four or six or eight years of your life. And I just want to ask you, isn't, according to the book of James, the proof that your profession of faith was real is that it brings real works with it that sometimes hurt your feelings? Sometimes you're required to do things that hurt your feelings, bother your schedule, and yet we have people all over these United States, particularly in this area of our world, in our country, that say they have that, but never get to this. And the Lord says, I am so powerful that I will not only give you the faith to believe the gospel, I'll give you the kind of faith that will keep producing stuff that you ain't got in you to produce unless I'm doing it. And so here's the test. Can you look back in your life over the last three to five to seven years and see anything that God himself did? Or was it all done because you're just a great person? Because I want to look in my own life and say, Bill Sturm, what have you done recently that is the fruit of the Holy Spirit? What have you done recently that is an act of God's providence? If the answer is nothing, then I really didn't believe back here in Genesis 15. Because God, who will give you the faith, faithful is He who calls you, who also will do it. For it is God who works in you, both to will and to do of His good pleasure. He who began a good work in you will perform it till the day of Jesus Christ. So our God is powerful enough to take the most faithless person in the room and give them saving faith. I wonder if there's one in this room today you say, I did not have that faith when I walked in this room. Why should I have any faith? Because Christ died for you. He paid for all of your sins, your transgressions, your iniquities, your trespasses against God. The worst person that you can criminalize. is to sin and incriminate yourself against the Lord God, and every one of us have done it. But He has died for you as a criminal, suffered for your sins, paid for all of your iniquities, and even the stuff that we don't think is terribly sinful, but has made a wreck, He died for that. And He can save you. I wonder if there's one in here that is coming to faith even now. Maybe there's someone who'd say, well, I would believe, but I don't know if I can live the life. If you ever get the real faith and put it in what Christ has done, he will continue to do real things and assure your heart until he calls you home that you have the real deal. This is not a works mixed with grace situation. If you've fallen down and you're a Christian, there is something inside of you that says, I hate what I've become. And he drives you deeper to the throne and brings you to himself and washes you clean again. He doesn't leave you to yourself. He has never lost a single one of his elect. And you won't be the first. That is our God. He has always had the idea to begin with true faith and produce the truest work. And we, as mankind, typically like to say we have faith, but we don't typically have any compulsion in us to forgive people that hurt us. To let them off the hook. I know I'm ringing bells in here, I mean to. What kind of preacher am I that doesn't decide what grass the sheep should go besides? Some of us have never stopped thieving. Steal, steal, steal. And every time we do it, we justify it. Is there nothing inside of you driving anything from here to here that says, you know that's filthy, that's got to stop? Well, You say that's not me. Well, maybe it's not, but let me ask you some questions. It's kind of a feeler here as we close. Here we go. The landing gear is down. Here we are. When was the last time you know somebody who says they have had real faith who actually made a move of conviction? Here's what a move of conviction sounds like. You move out from someone that you're committing adultery with. You tell the truth. That's what a move of conviction is. You were known as a liar, now you're not. Two, when did you last see someone make a deep discipling decision that affected the composition of their friends? When was the last time you know a professed Christian that made a hard choice that affected who would hang out with them? Three, What supernatural display of life-changing encounter with Jesus can you remember in your life from the last year? Because the Lord saves his people. And the result when he saves us is he puts the Holy Spirit inside of us. And this is good. The effects are that we become painfully aware that Jesus Christ wants to have us more than we want to be had. And that brings me a great sense of peace. I'm Bill Sturm, the Christian, and I can be Bill Sturm, the non-pastor tomorrow, and I still have the Lord working in me. I am not attached to my work, and I hope you men are not attached to yours like you're attached to Jesus. Ladies, we learned from Lot's wife that she was totally sunk in on how good is my husband known in the community. And Jesus says, I want that affection, that allegiance, that loyalty. I want it all and I'm coming to get it. And I'm not waiting for you to surrender it. He is the Lord of glory and he will be king. What does he demand from the world? Full surrender, no questions asked. You and me. Let's stand together as we pray.