James 2:20-26 - Justification and Our Good Works

 James 2:20-26

20 But are you willing to acknowledge, you foolish person, that faith without works is useless? 21 Was our father Abraham not justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? 22 You see that faith was working with his works, and as a result of the works, faith was perfected; 23 and the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “And Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness (Genesis 15:6),” and he was called a friend of God. 24 You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. 25 In the same way, was Rahab the prostitute not justified by works also when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way? 26 For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.

Message: Justification and Our Good Works

Time: Thought to be James, the half-brother of Jesus, though he was not a follower when Jesus was walking on the earth. He believed post-resurrection. He likely wrote this in AD 45-48. This is like the first New Testament book written and it was written to Jewish Christians. It is focused on practical application or how God's people are to "act" like God's people and this is a faith that produces life change. 

What the Lord is Saying:

In my study of justification, I've seen that whether a Jew or Gentile, we are all sinners. The Law declares this to us and yet obedience to the Law cannot save us nor can man save his or herself. It is only in Jesus, the perfect One, who took all my sin, justified me through Him and only in Him, my faith in Him can I be justified. The instrument God uses is faith to bring about my righteousness. I am still a sinner but now I'm stamped free and clear. I am justified before Him only by faith. To add a work I must add all works. But in believing in Him, this faith results in good works. Faith works. 

James 2:20-26 states

- Faith without works is useless

- Faith perfected through works

- Abraham believed and it was reckoned to him as righteousness

- Yet, a man is justified by works

- Faith without works is dead

Romans 5:18 - So then, as through one offense the result was condemnation to all mankind, so also through one act of righteousness the result was justification of life to all mankind. God declares us righteous on the basis of the righteousness of Christ. This comes through the instrument of faith. But faith is not simply belief, but believing truth and putting our hope and life and surrender to God. 

Good works are not independent of our faith, but the main point here is that our faith is based upon the finished work of Jesus and not on our good works and yet good works follow our faith. Thus, in our lives, good works will follow. 2 Corinthians 5:17 -- Therefore if anyone is in Christ, this person is a new creation; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. In Christ, the old is gone, meaning the old things of doing and living are gone and now we live and do life differently. 

Authentic faith can be seen through the newness of the person in Christ--how they will demonstrate their authentic faith. If there are no good works then the gift of faith has not occurred. 

Let faith reign and be seen by all people through our good works. 

Promise: God does not declare us righteous based on His transformation of us but only on the basis of the perfect righteousness of Christ. Once declared, we cannot help but do what is right. 

Prayer: God you are holy. Your ways are sure. You know no sin and you have declared me righteous in a perfect manner, transforming me by your perfection, through the substitute of Jesus on the cross of Calvary, paying for my sin, and conquering death to rise again. And now I thank you because in my life I see you doing good works. People rush to give me the credit and say thank you to me all of the time, but it is in You in me that I thank. You make me new and you have transformed me. I give you glory. Continue to help me be true to this and give you glory always. Amen.

Note: I follow the readings from the Tabletalk Magazine devotional, though I am a little behind and working through 2017 devotionals. 2017 is a study of key biblical doctrines celebrating the 500th year of the Reformation. The month of June is about justification; May was about solus Christus - Christ Alone; April, salvation by grace alone; March, the sovereign providence of God; February, the doctrine of revelation and the various aspects of the doctrine of Scripture that sola Scriptura seeks to preserve; January, the doctrine of God.

Mankind's Condition - The Sins of the Gentiles - Though born with God being evident, Gentiles do not honor God or give thanks, look to their selves for truth, and God gives them over to their sin, and in the process God's wrath is sin which will culminate on the Day of the Lord. The Sins of the Jews - Jews thought their status meant only Gentiles were true sinners. Romans 2 and 3 explains that Jews are just as guilty before God. 

The Law Speaks - The Law and Accountability - the Law reminds us we are sinners and doing good will not outweigh this bad; I am condemned. Righteousness According to the Law - The Law can make one righteous if obedient to all, but we are sinners. Human Inability - man cannot make himself righteous because he is a sinner. 

Only Justified through Christ (God) - The Obedience of One - with Jesus all obedience was completed in Him which resulted in Him taking on all sin; we trust only in His words, not ours. God's Initiative In Justification - God initiates the act of justification through the work of Christ alone; he saves us out of His kindness. Faith and Justification - no one is continually righteous; only through Jesus one will be made righteous; to be made righteous one must believe in God, ask for His mercy. 

Saved by Faith - Faith and Righteousness - Faith is what God uses in us to build the bridge to being accepted by God and restored to a right relationship with Him. Justification and Sin - Nothing changes the fact that we are sinners, but our status before God changes by Christ's obedience as this declares us to be righteous. Not by any of our works - Justification is by faith alone. By adding any work, we must add all works. Why Faith - Faith is the instrument [or what we do] to usher in to our life the finished act of righteousness. 

Faith Works - What is Saving Faith - Saving faith is not simply understanding truth, it is believing the truth is true and then living by that truth.