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[continued from yesterday]
The Bible teaches a lot about justification. Justification is when God says that a sinner who believes is righteous because of what Christ did on the cross. It is not a process; it is an act. God does it for the sinner when he trusts Christ, not the sinner himself. It happens only once. It never changes. How can you tell if a person is justified by faith if this relationship is only between the sinner and God? Abraham's example provides a definitive answer: the justified individual experiences a transformed life and adheres to God's will. His actions show that he has faith. James used another event from Abraham's life, one that happened a long time after Abraham became a Christian. This event is when Isaac is put on the altar (Gen. 22). Abraham did not get saved by following God's strict order. His obedience showed that he was already saved. In James 2:22 we read, “Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?" His obedience proved that he already was saved. His faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. Faith and works are perfectly related. "Abraham wasn't saved by faith and works, but by a faith that works," someone said. How could Abraham be "justified by works" (James 2:21) when he had already been "justified by faith" (see Rom. 4)? He was justified before God by faith, and his righteousness was declared; he was justified before men by works, and his righteousness was shown. No one saw Abraham put his son on the altar, but the inspired record in Genesis 22 lets us see the event and see how Abraham's faith was shown by what he did. Dynamic faith listens to God and shows itself in everyday life and work. Unfortunately, we still have church members today who fit the description given in Titus, “They profess that they know God; but in works they deny Him,” (Titus 1:16). Paul also said, "This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works." (Titus 3:8). Joshua 2 and 6 tell the story of Rahab, who is his second example. Israel was getting ready to attack Jericho, which was in the land they had promised them. Joshua sent people into the city to see what it was like. There they met Rahab, a prostitute, who protected them and said she believed what God had said and what he was going to do. When the city fell, the men fulfilled their promise to save her and her family. It's an interesting story. But it is one of the best examples of saving faith in the Bible (see Heb. 11:31). Rahab heard the Word and understood that her city was going to be destroyed. This truth made her and the people around her feel so sad that their hearts melted (Josh. 2:11). Rahab reacted with her thoughts and feelings, but she also acted on her will: she did something. She put her own life in danger to protect the Jewish spies, and she put her own life in danger again by telling her family the good news of their rescue. The Hebrew word that is translated as "harlot" in Joshua 2 can also mean "an innkeeper." The spies went to Rahab's guest house because it was normal for them to do so. In James 2:25, the Greek word "harlot" definitely means someone who is immoral. This is also what Hebrews 11:31 says. Matthew 1:5 says that she married into Israel and became an ancestor of our Lord. What a blessing! You can't help but think of the "bad Samaritan" in John 4 when you read about Rahab, who was one of the first people in the Bible to win souls. Rahab could have had a dead faith, which is just an intellectual experience. Or she could have had a demonic faith, which would have opened her mind and stirred her emotions. But she had dynamic faith: her mind knew the truth, her heart was moved by the truth, and her will acted on the truth. She showed her faith through her actions. When you see how little information there is, you can see how amazing Rahab's faith was by looking at what she did. Today, we have the whole truth about God through His Word and His Son. We live past Calvary, where the Holy Spirit teaches us the Word and shows us what's wrong. " For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: . . ." (Luke 12:48). Her faith stands as a condemnation of the disbelief prevalent among contemporary sinners. James 2 stressed that a mature Christian lives by the truth. He doesn't just believe in old teachings; he lives by them every day. His faith is not the dead faith of the intellectuals or the evil faith of the spirits that have fallen. Men like Abraham and women like Rahab had a living faith that changed their lives and worked for God. Every professing Christian should look into his heart and life to make sure he has real saving faith, or dynamic faith. "Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. . . . " (2 Cor. 13:5a). Satan is the master of lies, and one of his tricks is to copy others. If he can make someone believe that fake faith is real faith, he has that person under his control. As we look inside ourselves, we can ask ourselves these questions: 1. Did I ever really understand that I was a sinner and tell myself and God this? 2. Did my heart ever tell me to run away from the coming wrath? Have I ever really been scared about my sins? 3. Do I really get the gospel, which says that Christ died for my sins and came back to life? Do I know and admit that I can't save myself? 4. Did I really feel sorry for my sins and stop doing them? Or do I secretly love sin and want to enjoy it? 5. Have I put my faith in Christ alone for my salvation? Do I have a living relationship with Him through the Word and the Spirit? 6. Has my life changed? Do I keep doing good things, or do I only do them sometimes and not very well? Am I trying to grow in the things of the Lord? Is it clear to others that I've been with Jesus? 7. Do I want to tell other people about Christ? Or am I embarrassed by Him? 8. Do I like being with other Christians? Do I enjoy worship? 9. Am I ready for the Lord to come back? Or will I be embarrassed when He comes for me? Not every Christian has the same personal experience, and there are different levels of sanctification. But for the most part, the spiritual inventory that came before can help someone figure out where they really stand with God. "Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: and see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting." (Ps. 139:23–24).
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Dynamic faith is faith that is real, faith that has power, and faith that changes your life.
James talked about this kind of real saving faith. First of all, dynamic saving faith is based on the Bible. God's Word gives us a new life, which is what we call our spiritual birth (James 1:18). We get the Word, and it saves us (James 1:21). "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." (Rom. 10:17). James used Abraham and Rahab as examples of active saving faith because both of them heard and accepted God's message through His Word. The object of faith is what makes it good. The man in the jungle kneels down in front of a stone idol and asks it for help, but he doesn't get any. No matter how much faith someone has, if it is not directed at the right thing, it will not do anything. A lot of honest people may say, "I believe," but the most important thing is, "In whom do you believe?" We are not saved by faith in faith; we are saved by faith in Christ as He has shown us in His Word. Dynamic faith is rooted in God's Word and encompasses the entirety of the individual. Dead faith only affects the mind; demonic faith affects both the mind and the emotions; but dynamic faith affects the will. There is a part of the whole person in true saving faith. The mind comprehends the truth, the heart yearns for the truth, and the will executes the truth. The people of faith mentioned in Hebrews 11 were doers: they heard God's voice and did what he said. Once more, "Faith is not believing in spite of evidence; faith is obeying in spite of consequence." Genuine faith that saves leads to action. Dynamic faith is not just thinking about things or feeling bad about them; it makes you want to do what you should. And this obedience is not just a one-time thing; it lasts for the rest of your life. It makes things happen. There are many different kinds of works mentioned in the New Testament. "The works of the law" (Gal. 2:16) refer to the sinner's effort to satisfy God through adherence to the Mosaic law. It is impossible for a sinner to be saved by the law's works. People who are not saved and live for the things of the old nature do "the works of the flesh" (Gal. 5:19). There are also "wicked works" (Col. 1:21) and "dead works" (Heb. 9:14). You will always find good works where there is dynamic faith—saving faith. James then used the lives of two famous Bible characters, Abraham and Rahab, to show how his ideas worked. You couldn't find two people who are more different! Abraham was a Jew, and Rahab was not. Abraham was a holy man, but Rahab was a sinful woman and a prostitute. God was Abraham's friend, but Rahab was one of God's enemies. What did they have in common? Both had faith in God that would save them. To understand this example, you should read Genesis 15 and 22. God told Abraham to leave Ur of the Chaldees and go to Canaan, where he would become the great nation of Israel. God would send the Savior into the world through Israel. Genesis 15 tells the story of how Abraham was saved. God showed His servant the stars at night and made a promise: "So shall thy seed [descendants] be!" What did Abraham do? "And he [Abraham] believed in the Lord, and the Lord counted it to him for righteousness" (Gen. 15:5–6). The word "counted" is a legal or financial term that means "to put to one's account." Abraham's spiritual bank account was empty because he was a sinner. He was out of money! But he had faith in God, and God put righteousness on Abraham's account. Abraham didn't have to work for this righteousness; God gave it to him. He was made right by faith. He was justified by faith (read Rom. 4). [continues tomorrow] |
AuthorBible study is crucial for spiritual growth, understanding God and His plan, gaining wisdom for daily life, finding joy and purpose, and building your faith. As you daily engage with Scripture, may God's word equip you to live a godly life and come to a greater place of serving others. Archivestexts
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