October 30, 2009

  • RELATING TO GOOD WORKS [JAMES 04]


    Date:  10/11/2009 Awana Varsity
    Resources:  John MacArthurs Commentary on James, & a sermon series from Denton Bible Church
    Audio:  http://eek-71.xanga.com/audio/53cd43732661/


    How the Christian Relates to GOOD WORKS
    James 2:14-26


    INTRO
      •  How does the Christian deal with James ch. 2?... vs 17?  vs 21 & 25?
      •  How do you answer the question "If we are saved b Grace, & once you are saved you can't lose it, then can do whatever evil you want?"
      •  You can't be truly saved and yet live a rebellious life... Paul, Peter, John, Jude, all deal with this same question.
      •  write in your bible margin...
          >  vs 14  "question"
          >  vs 18  "challenge"
          >  vs 21  "examples"
          >  vs 26  "illustration"


    1.  QUESTIONS...  vs 14-17
      •  Question #1  (vs 14) Is there such a thing as "saving faith" w/o a CHANGED life?
      •  Question #2  (vs 15-16) If all my faith produces is "religious TALK", what good is it?
      •  Conclusion  (vs 17) faith w/o works is DEAD.  It is necrotic (necrosis)... like a dead, gangrenous limb


    2.  CHALLENGE...  vs 18-20
      •  I dare you!...  can you SHOW that you are a Christian merely by your words?  NO you cannot!
      •  consider Judas...
      •  vs 19  a Jewish "doctrinal statement"
      •  there is no difference between an orthodox but dead "christian" and a demon!... Demons are the greatest example of dead orthodoxy
      •  Conclusion  (vs 20) faith w/o works is EMPTY and barren


    3.  EXAMPLES...  vs 21-25
      •  ABRAHAM...
          >  vs 18  circle "show me"... vs 22 "you see"... vs 24 "you see"
          >  James is not talking about Justification before God, BUT BEFORE MEN
      •  1 Pet 3:1-6
          >  wives win unbelieving spouses by "showing them" their fsith
          >  children, what do you hate to do? (dishes, vacuum, etc.) then DO IT.  SHOW THEM your faith!
      •  RAHAB the Harlot...
          >  believed Gods message, received his messengers  see Heb 11:30-31,
          >  how did she SHOW she believed it?... she left a different way, turned her back on Jericho


    4.  ILLUSTRATION...  vs 26
      •  How do you know you are ALIVE as a Christian?
      •  there is a "body" and a "spirit"... a DOCTRINAL form and a functional OBEDIENCE.
      •  Fruit of the Spirit


    CONCLUSION
      •  a faith that saves is a faith that works!
      •  dead branches are broken off and burnt up... see Jn 15:6
      •  to be a Christian is to be BORN AGAIN... to be CHANGED... to be DIFFERENT!
      •  Jesus wants nothing to do with external profession w/o internal change that works its way out into CHANGED LIVES... don't be a Judas!