James 2:17-26

Verse 17: Faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.

Verse 20: There is evidence to prove that faith without deeds is useless.

Verse 21: Abraham was considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar.

Verse 22: Abraham’s faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did.

Verse 24: A person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone.

Verse 25: Rahab was considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies.

Verse 26: As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead (without force or power, without life, destitute of a life that recognizes and is devoted to God, because given up to trespasses and sins, inactive as respects doing right)

Choose Faith!

Finding Acceptance

Yes, those are mustard seeds; a representation from scripture of faith.

Justification – all of us were (and are) on an equal standing with God before He rescued us. I remember how we were imprisoned by sin SO THAT he could show His great mercy to us.

Our justification is a gift to us from God. Once again, the “universe” is equalized. We are once again on an equal playing field. Only now this equal field has nothing whatsoever to do with us. It is only because of Jesus Christ and His sacrifice that we are justified before God.

We are justified as a gift by His grace.

1. As a gift

2. By His grace

See? Nothing to do with us.

He is the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. So what is our part? Have faith! (Rom 3:26)

We cannot justify ourselves, so we are wasting our energies to try to perform properly to gain anything from Him.

Either we accept His justification or we are NOT justified (made right with God).

When we try to justify ourselves, we lose our “rest” in Him. We are spinning our wheels with NO result – to no purpose – to no end.

I’d rather rest in His justification just as I have trusted in His grace. And this is done through faith alone, in Christ alone.

Sanctification – we are set apart, set aside. We belong to God as His people.

God is looking for “a people” to call His own – a precious possession.

We are His by His doing, not our own.

Just as we cannot justify ourselves, neither can we set ourselves apart. We would once again be striving and performing if we tried to sanctify ourselves. We must allow ourselves to be sanctified through faith.

Grace through faith.

Justification through faith.

Sanctification through faith.

Notice a theme? We must have faith!

Where do we get faith? That is also given to us by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

We have nothing that we have not been given. He gave us a measure of faith with salvation.

We acquire more faith by hearing His Word. Our part is in the hearing of the Word. We must read, and hear His Words to gain a greater measure of faith.

Deuteronomy 1:21 See the LORD your God has given you the land. Go up and take possession of it as the LORD, the God of your fathers, told you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.

The Lord has given us everything that pertains to life and godliness through Jesus Christ. Now we must take possession of it through faith. We are not to be afraid or fearful.

What has He given you (or not given you)? Name it. Then possess it by faith!