Hebrews and James: Faith Without Works Is Dead

As I have studied the Bible I have been continually {amazed} by the way God conveys His messages through His Word.  Studying Hebrews and James together was eye opening.  Faith cannot {and will not} exist without works.  Faith without works is like a tree without fruit.  It is dead...it is not reality.  Get this people... JESUS {RADICALLY} CHANGES YOU.  When Jesus is in your heart, you are {FOREVER} changed.

So how do Hebrews and James fit together?

In Hebrews we are encouraged to stand strong in our faith in the Work of Christ.  Instead of living a rebellious life, we are to be so {enamored} with the grace of Christ that we {reject} our sin in favor of honoring God.  The author of Hebrews gives examples of people of the Old Testament who stood firm in their faith.  Interestingly, the author of Hebrews does not simply state that, “Abraham had faith”, rather, he focuses on the work that was provoked by his faith.  

Faith produces fruit and this theme is apparent...

Abraham offered his son as a sacrifice, Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau, Noah built an ark, and Rahab did not perish because she followed instructions to stay in her house. (Check out Hebrews 11 and this post to see more examples of beautiful faith!)

Jesus Himself {perfected} our faith and is the example to which we ought to look.

Likewise, James makes it very clear that faith does not exist without works.  He goes so far to say that {faith without works is dead}. Does this mean we must work to earn our salvation?  

Absolutely not!  

Essentially James outlines the fact that true faith in Christ is not a stale and unchanging faith, but instead a {life-altering renewal} which changes us from the inside out. When we place our faith in Christ, we will be given the grace to {love} those we once hated, to {think} before we speak, and to {overcome} the temptations of the flesh even when the world scoffs at us.  Knowing that Christ is both the author and finisher of our faith, we can live out our changed lives, out of love for Him.

...looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

~Hebrews 12:2

Thoughts from Thessalonians

I cannot read Thessalonians without being reminded of how wonderful it is that my identity is found in Christ.  As I marvel at God's greatness, I cannot help but to be reminded of my...well...my nothingness. Here is one lesson I learned from the study of Paul's letter to the Thessalonians...

   

Basing our self-esteem on ourselves is vain, imprudent, and comparable to building a house on the sand.  

As humans we are imperfect.  

When we believe that we are great based on our own works, we are setting ourselves up for depression when something does not go our way and our self-fabricated life comes crashing down.

Contrarily, basing our self-esteem on God is like basing our self-esteem on a rock.  

Finding our esteem, not in what we have accomplished through our own determination or hard work (or for that matter our failures),

but rather in the work of Christ 

is vital, as regardless of what happens in our lives, 

our status before God will never change. 

What hope, what joy, what sweet freedom may be found in this astounding truth! 

Don't Waste Your Life-Risk-Piper

Therefore risk is woven into the fabric of our finite lives.  We cannot avoid risk even if we want to.  

Ignorance and uncertainty about tomorrow is our native air. 

 All of our plans for tomorrow's activities can be shattered by a thousand unknowns whether we stay at home under the covers or ride the freeways.  One of my aims is to explode the myth of safety and to somehow deliver you from

 the enchantment of security.  

Because it's a mirage.  

It doesn't exist.  

Every direction you turn there are unknowns and things beyond your control.

~John Piper

Esther risked her life...

"Go, gather all the Jews to be found in Susa, and hold a fast on my behalf, and do not eat or drink for three days, night or day.  I and my young women will also fast as you do.  Then I will go to the king, though it is against the law, and if I perish, I perish." ~Esther 4:15-16

...and she saved a nation.


Joab risked Israel's forces trusting that the Lord would do what was best...

"Be of good courage, and let us be courageous for our people, and for the cities of our God, and may the Lord do what seems good to him." ~2 Samuel 10:12

...and he won a battle.

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego risked their lives...

"O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter.  If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king.  But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.  ~Daniel 3:16-18

...and showed Nebuchadnezzar the power of God.

Mary risked her reputation and even her life...

""I am the Lord's servant," Mary answered. "May it be to me as you have said." Then the angel left her." Luke 1:38

...and was used by God to bring into the world our Savior.

Ezekiel risked his reputation and his life...

He said: “Son of man, I am sending you to the Israelites, to a rebellious nation that has rebelled against me; they and their ancestors have been in revolt against me to this very day. The people to whom I am sending you are obstinate and stubborn.Say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says.’ And whether they listen or fail to listen—for they are a rebellious people—they will know that a prophet has been among them.  And you, son of man, do not be afraid of them or their words. Do not be afraid, though briers and thorns are all around you and you live among scorpions. Do not be afraid of what they say or be terrified by them, though they are a rebellious people. You must speak my words to them, whether they listen or fail to listen, for they are rebellious. ~Ezekiel 2:3-7

...and was used by God to be a messenger to God's people.

Abraham risked.  Ruth risked.  Joshua risked.  Gideon risked. Rahab risked.  Paul risked.  The disciples risked. 

Did these people know the outcomes of their risks?

No.

Did these people always end up on the other side of the risk unharmed?

No.

Were they right to risk?

Yes.  For if they had not taken those risks....those risks which were taken through "sanctified wisdom", as John Piper says, they would have been incapable of bringing glory to God.

"Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." Matthew 5:16

Our sole purpose is to bring glory to God.

We bring glory to God, then not by avoiding risks, but trusting God in those risks. 

As it is written: "For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered."  No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." ~Romans 8:36-29

Piper warns that risks must not be taken out of selfishness or self-reliance. 

"Without Christ, we are all legalists or lechers at heart--wanting to do our own thing, or wanting to do God's thing in our way to prove our own ability.  Since we are wired this way, we need protection.  God has given us another way to pursue risk.  Do it "by the strength that God supplies--in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ" (1 Peter 4:11).  And the way God supplies his strength is through faith in his promises.  Every loss we risk in order to make much of Christ, God promises to restore a thousandfold with his all-satisfying fellowship."

"It is not the impulse of heroism, or the lust for adventure, or the courage of self-reliance, or the need to earn God's favor.  

It is simple trust in Christ--that in him God will do everything necessary so that we can enjoy making much of him forever.  

Every good poised to bless us, and every evil arrayed against us, will in the end help us boast only in the cross, magnify Christ, and glorify our Creator.  Faith in these promises frees us to risk and to find in our own experience that 

it is better to lose our life than to waste it."

~John Piper

Thankfulness

Let us thank God heartily as often as we pray that we have His Spirit in us to teach us to pray. Thanksgiving will draw our hearts out to God and keep us engaged with Him; it will take our attention from ourselves and give the Spirit room in our hearts. ~Andrew Murray

Strong in Spirit and Steadfast in Character

Esther

Deuteronomy 5:16 - Honour thy father and thy mother, as the LORD thy God hath commanded thee; that thy days may be prolonged, and that it may go well with thee, in the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.

Currently, I am using Beth Moore's study guide to work through the book of Esther.  

One of the verses that stood out to me tonight was Esther 2:20

Now Esther had not revealed her family and her people, just as Mordecai had charged her, for Esther obeyed the command of Mordecai as when she was brought up by him.

This verse stood out to me for a couple of reasons.

Esther was Queen 

Esther was fully grown 

Mordecai had essentially been Esther's father

Esther did not have to continue obeying the commands of Mordecai

But, she did.  

Esther continued on obeying the man who God had made her spiritual head.  Respecting his wishes.  Later on in Esther we will see how her obedience to the man who had essentially been her father would allow her to be used by God in an unbelievable way.

Following someone else's instructions is never easy.  After all, we are all self-centered human beings who tend to believe, "Its my way or the highway".  Nevertheless, Esther persevered and demonstrated a strength in spirit and a steadfastness in character.

I love the following quotes from Beth Moore.

Oh, the favor that can come our way in a workplace or elsewhere through our simple willingness to follow instructions.  Impatient and self-promoting people don't win favor this way; those who respect authority who aren't insulted by instruction, who practice the art of truly listening, and who follow through by doing what they're asked win it.

Only a person strong in character and steadfast in spirit can follow someone else's instructions for long.

With a godly spirit of humility, strength, and dignity, Esther, Queen of Persia, continued to respect her "father".  What an example.

Personally, this is a powerful testimony to me of the need to respect the wishes of those God has placed over me as my leaders.  I am blessed enough to have parents who are both my earthly and spiritual "heads".  Though it is not always easy to respect the wishes of my parents or seek their advice on different issues, God makes it clear that respecting those He has put over us, whether it be husbands, fathers, mothers, bosses, or any other type of authority is vital.

Romans 13:1-2

Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities.  For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God.  Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves.

Colossians 3:12

Put on therefore, as God's elect, holy and beloved, a heart of compassion, kindness, lowliness, meekness, longsuffering....

As Christians, we ought to ask for a heart of lowliness, meekness, and humility, that we would have the strength and steadfastness to learn from and respect, and obey those whom He has placed over us, as leaders and protectors.  

We ought to be grateful for Jesus...the ultimate example of one who demonstrated unbelievable obedience to His Father....obedience that would lead to an excruciating and terrible death on the cross...that, through the resurrection, He could overcome death and save us from our selfish, sinful, rebellious ways.

Are You Doing God's Will or Your Own? - Paul Washer

Prayer...its the end of self.

Eric Ludy - The Gospel

Who am I? I am His CHILD! Who am I? I am HIS PRECIOUS AND REDEEMED CHILD! My Jesus took my punishment so that I may live in the light of His GRACE, rather than the pit of guilt and despair. Truly these truths are life-changing. How can it not be? Once I was a rebel, now I am HIS chosen! Use me Jesus! I am yours!