Faith/Faithfulness – Part 2 James 2:1 - 26

Last week, we started this series on the book of James.  The church is its 2nd decade of existence, the Jews were scattered, so James writes a letter to the churches to give counsel and as a guide to help Jewish Christians navigate cultures with completely different norms and their beliefs than those that existed in Jerusalem.  We shared about suffering, how that suffering exists and is the natural course of life since the fall of mankind but that suffering doesn’t change the fact that God is good.  Suffering exists but as God’s children, He can use the trials of life to develop us into complete and mature Christians.  That is why James starts his letter off with “consider it pure joy.”  Remember, James was writing this letter to help navigate the Christian Jews on practical things of living as Christians in a world of different cultures and beliefs.

This morning, I want us to look at a subject that James writes about concerning faith.  Do you remember the devastating fires of Yellowstone National Park that burned out of control for months in 1988? Hundreds of thousands of acres were blackened and people across the US and around the world mourned the ruining of that beautiful national landmark.

Scientists discovered that the fires of 1988 were the best thing that ever happened at Yellowstone. They discovered that one species of pine tree reproduces itself only when a fire's heat opens the pine cones, sending spores floating to the ground. Those adult trees, though killed by the fire, have brought forth a flourishing new crop. And this new food source allows the growth of larger herds of elk, bison, and moose. What seemed like a terrible loss three decades ago has brought new life to Yellowstone today!

Sometimes the fires of adversity burn fiercely in our lives. It seems as if God has abandoned us, left us to struggle alone. We're frightened, devastated by the destruction we see around us.  Those fires, however, can bring us new, stronger dependence on Him. God allows the struggles in our lives to bring us closer to Him, and in the end bear more fruit in His name. As Paul said in Romans 8:28, "We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose."

Mark 11:22 - 24 “And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God.  For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.  Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.”  The writer of Hebrews gives us a definition of faith in Hebrews 11:1: “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.”  

When James writes in his letter concerning faith, he is not contradicting what Jesus, Paul or any of the writers said concerning faith.  In his letter, when he uses the word faith, he was not using the term that just meant mental ascent.  The term faith also means faithfulness.  In Hebrews 11, known as the hall of faith or faith in action chapter, we see that everyone that is mentioned in this chapter was motivated by their faith into action.  So, let’s look at what James said.  In navigating through the cultures and beliefs of the world, James shares three areas where one should put their faith in action.

1. Deeds: James 2:14 – 26. Actuate the Word of God. We can look at the hall of faith and see those heroes of faith.  If we look at their lives, it was not their works that saved them or made them great, but their faith in God which motivated them to obey God’s command which resulted in their being saved.  Hebrews 4:2 -3 “For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.  For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.”  Matthew 9:22

2. Conduct: James 2:1 – 11

3. Speech: James 1:19; 3:1 - 8