(First published June 17, 2019)
Thou believest
that there is one God;
thou doest well:
the devils
also believe,
and tremble.
But wilt
thou know,
O vain man,
that faith
without works
is dead?
- James 2
Introduction...
James ... brother of our Lord Jesus Christ ... is concerned about our eternal security.
He is addressing the "vain man"... the one who presumptuously thinks he has eternal life because he "believes"
... not realizing that even devils can "believe"... can agree ... that there is a God in Heaven ... and a Jesus Christ ... that suffered and died on a cross.
Therefore ... our belief ... the kind of belief in Jesus Christ that seals our relationship with our Creator ... must have evidence that is firmly rooted in God's definition of genuine Love
...not with the self-centered theatrical ... superficial "Hollywood-type" of hugs and kisses
... BUT a genuine Love for God and Love for others
... especially Love for our "forever family"... genuine brothers and sisters in Christ, wherever they may be found
... especially Love for our "forever family"... genuine brothers and sisters in Christ, wherever they may be found
... not merely a "vain" gesture coming from a "vain"-hearted man.
"vain"
[G2756]
= empty .. devoid of truth
= no evidence of faith
= endeavours resulting in
nothing
nothing
= of no purpose
(Lexicon)
= destitute of spiritual
wealth
wealth
= without effect
From:
[G2755]
= glorying without reason
= conceited
= eager for empty glory
[G1380]
= following one's own
opinion
opinion
= judgment .. view
Saying a prayer, even establishing a teaching and soul-winning ministry, may not qualify according to the defining Holy Spirit-filled Words of James
... IF ... some other very vital things are missing from our presumed position in Christ.
So many teachers and church leaders find it more convenient to sit behind a desk or stand behind a pulpit ... exclusively cherry-picking selected detached portions of Scripture
... than rolling up their sleeves to do hands-on physical and spiritual ministry helping fellow Christians rebuild their lives
... which is ... ultimately ... the most effective way to also build a real Church
... through the loving example of our true Shepherd ... the Lord Jesus Christ.
... which is ... ultimately ... the most effective way to also build a real Church
... through the loving example of our true Shepherd ... the Lord Jesus Christ.
Before it is too late to qualify for the Rapture ... with our own presumed type of "faith" and "belief"
... let's examine these vital things James specifies for us so well
... let's examine these vital things James specifies for us so well
... lest we find ourselves left behind on earth ... facing God's wrath ... weeping and gnashing teeth ... after the Rapture takes place.
* * * * *
James Chapter 2:
1
My brethren,
have not the faith
of our Lord Jesus Christ,
the Lord of glory,
with
respect of persons.
respect of persons.
"respect of persons"
[G4382]
= partiality .. favortism
= (not treating everyone
with the same respect)
with the same respect)
2
For if there come
unto your assembly
a man with a gold ring,
in goodly apparel,
and there come in also
a poor man
in vile raiment;
The foundation for defining "respect of persons"... is being rendered down to a "money issue" AGAIN
... thee "root of all evil" issue.
Let's also consider the emphasis Jesus places on the "root of all evil"
... using the Word:
... money ..."Mammon"
... as His Word of choice
... when looking for a Word that directly opposes eternal life
... as a warning that:
... using the Word:
... money ..."Mammon"
... as His Word of choice
... when looking for a Word that directly opposes eternal life
... as a warning that:
"No man can serve
two masters:
for either
he will hate the one,
and
love the other;
or else
he will hold to the one,
and
despise the other.
Ye cannot serve
God and mammon."
-Matt.6:24
By "serving" mammon Jesus meant ... engaging in a type of idolatry that reveals that one is really not a genuine Christian at all
... but someone "devoted to monitary calculations"... letting money dictate ... one's actions
... making economic benefits ... the determining factor regarding God-given responsibilities
... making economic benefits ... the determining factor regarding God-given responsibilities
... rather than letting God and His Word determine the way we respond to situations God brings into our life on a daily basis
... situations such as we see in the account of the Good Samaritan
... who "just happened" to come across an injured person
... lying in his path of life one day.
... situations such as we see in the account of the Good Samaritan
... who "just happened" to come across an injured person
... lying in his path of life one day.
For example ... when the Word of God tells us that we must "recompense" ... "requite"... pay back ... our parents (Mark 7)
... by personally caring for them ... helping them continue to benefit from our God-ordained ... loving family environment
... simply because we love and honor them according to the Word of God
... by personally caring for them ... helping them continue to benefit from our God-ordained ... loving family environment
... simply because we love and honor them according to the Word of God
... BUT ... we decide to withhold that care because we had our heart set on getting a more expensive car this year or that vacation in Hawaii
... this violates the Authority of the Word of God ... making us guilty of idolatry.
*See Post..At this blog*
"Rapture..Do You Qualify?"
..Nov. 27, 2018..
Gratifying our own fleshly desires
... making "mammon" the preeminent factor in our decisions ... regarding obedience to the Word of God
... reveals that something is seriously wrong with our presumed "relationship" with the One who is supposed to be
... preeminently in Authority over the decisions we make and actions ... works ... of obedience ... we do.
... making "mammon" the preeminent factor in our decisions ... regarding obedience to the Word of God
... reveals that something is seriously wrong with our presumed "relationship" with the One who is supposed to be
... preeminently in Authority over the decisions we make and actions ... works ... of obedience ... we do.
This has nothing to do with the false doctrine of "works salvation"
... but exclusively pertains to evidence and fruit of genuine salvation
... but exclusively pertains to evidence and fruit of genuine salvation
... as we shall see.
(btw ... Fear of the false doctrine of "works salvation" has shipwrecked many souls who have gone overboard ... in countering it ... to the point of paranoia
... feeding right into the fleshly "pick and choose" mentality of the spiritually ... and physically slothful
... who now feel justified in avoiding any type of works
... which the Word of God tells us ... is actually ... required EVIDENCE of salvation
... and proof of a changed heart and indwelling of the Holy Spirit.)
... and proof of a changed heart and indwelling of the Holy Spirit.)
When this is validated ... we will not see our relationship with Christ as a buffet
... where we can just pick and choose which Words of God we will obey and how long we will stay the course obeying
... but honor His Authority as our King
... serving Him ... by serving others as His Word and Spirit specify
... until our assignments are thoroughly completed.
... serving Him ... by serving others as His Word and Spirit specify
... until our assignments are thoroughly completed.
Money. . .
"The Root of all Evil"
. . .AGAIN
3
And ye have respect
to him
to him
that weareth
the gay [fine] clothing,
and
say unto him,
Sit thou here
in a good place;
and
say to the poor,
Stand thou there,
or
sit here under
my footstool:
Sitting with ... and associating with ... the rich
... are very fleshly safe choices ... indeed.
... are very fleshly safe choices ... indeed.
Since "time"... can also be equated to "money"... it is likely that those who wear gold rings and fine clothes
... will not require any time ... work ... or financial ministering on our part
... in fact ... to be a friend of the rich ... can often be very financially profitable for us.
... will not require any time ... work ... or financial ministering on our part
... in fact ... to be a friend of the rich ... can often be very financially profitable for us.
However ... the poor ... wearing shabby ... cheap ... even dirty clothing ... most likely will require time ... financial assistance ... some effort ... and inconvenience on our part
... in order to help them be restored ... to a functioning life again
... in order to help them be restored ... to a functioning life again
... many of whom ... in these end times ... have become poor and forsaken ... through persecution
... as a result of their allegiance to Christ and own God-ordained ministry to others.
... as a result of their allegiance to Christ and own God-ordained ministry to others.
The idea of ministering to the poor ... however ... puts fear of financial loss into fleshly hearts
... revealing the identity of the real "fearful and unbelieving" mentioned in Rev. 21
... revealing the identity of the real "fearful and unbelieving" mentioned in Rev. 21
... who are quick to deflect their responsibilities back to God Himself
... through well-honed preaching emphasizing that our help must only come solely from God
... thereby relieving themselves of any responsibility to do anything
... making the serious mistake of putting God to the test ... which is something God hates.
... through well-honed preaching emphasizing that our help must only come solely from God
... thereby relieving themselves of any responsibility to do anything
... making the serious mistake of putting God to the test ... which is something God hates.
So while God is waiting on those ... who call themselves by His Name ... to care for the needs of others ... as His body and representatives on earth
... they are busy sin-digging ... trying to come up with a reason why God Himself is not dropping everything right out of the sky ... for the needy person.
... See the Book of Job.
These false professors ... reject God's commands to help those in need (especially those of the household of God ... brothers and sisters in Christ)
... because they are fearfully unable to trust God to supply their own ... often extravagant "needs."
These are the ones who will be left behind at time of Rapture because mammon ... not God Almighty ... is their "god" and decision-maker.
Yes ... indeed ... the road is narrow and very few will actually be on it
... because they have spent their life deciding for themselves which Words of God they will obey and which Words they will disregard.
Yes ... indeed ... the road is narrow and very few will actually be on it
... because they have spent their life deciding for themselves which Words of God they will obey and which Words they will disregard.
4
Are ye not then
partial in
yourselves,
yourselves,
and
are become judges
of evil thoughts?
5
Hearken,
my beloved brethren,
Hath not God chosen
the poor of this world
rich in faith,
and
heirs of the kingdom
which
he hath promised
he hath promised
to
them that love him?
them that love him?
6
But ye have
despised the poor.
despised the poor.
Do not rich men
oppress you,
and
draw you before
the judgment seats?
7
Do not they blaspheme
that worthy name
by the which
ye are called?
ye are called?
8
If ye fulfil
the royal law
the royal law
according to
the scripture,
the scripture,
Thou shalt
love thy neighbour
love thy neighbour
as thyself,
ye do well:
Incomplete faith and obedience show up clearly in this 8th verse ... when we rightly divide "love thy neighbor as thyself."
Everything we have comes from ... and belongs to ... God.
He has entrusted His provisions to us for the purpose of meeting our basic needs
... as well as for the purpose of helping other genuine Christians recover to a place where they can experience
... the same sort of basic life we would need ... if we were walking in their shoes.
... as well as for the purpose of helping other genuine Christians recover to a place where they can experience
... the same sort of basic life we would need ... if we were walking in their shoes.
A five ... or ten ... or hundred ... dollar bill and a hug
... do not cover what God has indicated in this verse.
... do not cover what God has indicated in this verse.
While God does not expect us to become poor by helping a multitude ... (unless He decides to increase our ability to do so)
... He does expect genuine Christians to individually ... and collectively ... study His example of the Good Samaritan
... and thoroughly ... and completely ... help those we come across on a daily basis
... again ... beginning with brothers and sisters in Christ ... and our own household ... within reason and ability.
... and thoroughly ... and completely ... help those we come across on a daily basis
... again ... beginning with brothers and sisters in Christ ... and our own household ... within reason and ability.
And ... shameful to even mention ... but necessary ... is the warning to be careful that the love of money and desire to cling to a lifestyle beyond what God would call "basic" or "adequate"
... would lead anyone to look for ways to accuse a brother or sister ... in an attempt to disqualify them to receive the sort of complete help they need
... to rebuild their life ... so they are able to use their God-given gifts to help others as well.
... to rebuild their life ... so they are able to use their God-given gifts to help others as well.
What we are commanded to do in this verse demands some serious meditation and spiritual adjustments
... after having absorbed so many false interpretations from opinions ... doctrines of men ... and the world.
... after having absorbed so many false interpretations from opinions ... doctrines of men ... and the world.
... And ... no ... passing the responsibility on to the systems of this world does not fulfill God's requirements ... so we can recoup tax dollars.
God requires complete ... personally financed ... hands-on ministry of God's people helping God's people
... for many spiritual ... as well as economic reasons
... to assure our spiritual growth and His glory ... as the "Love Initiator"... in every hands-on call to minister to the needs of others
... for many spiritual ... as well as economic reasons
... to assure our spiritual growth and His glory ... as the "Love Initiator"... in every hands-on call to minister to the needs of others
... because ...
"By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another."
-Jn.13:35
God hates any attempts to try to make Him share His glory with the world
... a world that is at enmity with Him ... hates Jesus Christ ... and has declared war on God's people
... a world that is at enmity with Him ... hates Jesus Christ ... and has declared war on God's people
... therefore ... warns us to come out of the world system and be separate from it
... being in the world ... but "not of the world"... not joining ... mingling with it.
... being in the world ... but "not of the world"... not joining ... mingling with it.
9
But if ye have
respect to persons,
ye commit sin,
and
are convinced
of the law
of the law
as transgressors.
10
For whosoever
shall keep
shall keep
the whole law,
and yet
offend in one point,
he is guilty of all.
11
For he that said,
Do not commit adultery,
said also,
Do not kill.
Now if thou
commit no adultery,
yet if thou kill,
thou art become
a transgressor of the law.
12
So speak ye, and so do,
as they
that shall be judged
by the law of liberty.
13
For he shall have
judgment
without mercy,
without mercy,
that hath shewed
no mercy;
no mercy;
and
mercy rejoiceth
against judgment.
One of the signs of end times ... is lack of natural affection.
Without mercy ... the hearts of people will turn cold ... without the ability to empathize ... or experience any real compassion.
Without mercy ... the hearts of people will turn cold ... without the ability to empathize ... or experience any real compassion.
These are all signs of unregenerate hearts ... having only "a form of godliness"... but too self-centered to care enough to invest in the complete spiritual and physical restoration of others ... in obedience to the Word of God.
14
What doth it profit,
my brethren,
though a man say
he hath faith,
and
have not works?
can faith save him?
15
If a brother or sister
[fellow Christian]
be naked,
and
destitute
of daily food,
16
And one of you
say unto them,
Depart in peace,
be ye warmed
and filled; notwithstanding
and filled; notwithstanding
ye give them not
those things
which are needful
to the body;
what doth it profit?
Actually "clothed"... "warmed"... and "fed" are only examples of things needed for general application in this passage ... which has to do with ..."profiting"... benefiting a fellow believer
... but when brought into the totality of the context of this chapter ... we see that the passage really
... rests on the already established admonition to be doing everything for others ... as one would do for self.
... rests on the already established admonition to be doing everything for others ... as one would do for self.
17
Even so faith,
if it hath not works,
is dead, being alone.
18
Yea, a man may say,
Thou hast faith,
and
I have works:
shew me thy faith
without thy works,
and
I will shew thee
my faith
my faith
by my works.
By investing some serious time meditating on the above verse ... we can discover how worldy "works without faith"
... can become powerful enough to take control of
... religious "faith without works."
... can become powerful enough to take control of
... religious "faith without works."
Read further ... to discover in greater detail how this can happen. . .
19
Thou believest that
there is one God;
thou doest well:
the devils also
believe, and tremble.
believe, and tremble.
20
But wilt thou know,
O vain man,
that
faith without works
is dead?
21
Was not Abraham
our father
our father
justified by works,
when he had offered
Isaac his son
upon the altar?
upon the altar?
22
Seest thou how faith
wrought with his works,
and
by works
was faith made perfect?
Incomplete faith is "dead faith" that will bring about an ..."I don't even know you"... response in the end from the Lord Jesus Christ
... who will then shut the door in their face ... just before bringing His wrath upon the Earth.
... who will then shut the door in their face ... just before bringing His wrath upon the Earth.
Nothing less than obedient faith is required for salvation ... a genuine faith
... that is evidenced by a heart of real love ... that cares enough to invest its life in works that physically ... as well as spiritually ... support fellow believers
... helping them rebuild their lives ... so the body can grow and all may continue to work together
... that is evidenced by a heart of real love ... that cares enough to invest its life in works that physically ... as well as spiritually ... support fellow believers
... helping them rebuild their lives ... so the body can grow and all may continue to work together
... using their gifts and talents to further the true Gospel of salvation
... their works also testifying to ... and providing evidence of
... genuineness through their obedience to the loving ... empathetic ... merciful ... caring ... written Word of the King of kings and Lord of lords ... Jesus Christ.
... genuineness through their obedience to the loving ... empathetic ... merciful ... caring ... written Word of the King of kings and Lord of lords ... Jesus Christ.
23
And the scripture
was fulfilled
which saith,
Abraham believed God,
and it was
imputed unto him
for righteousness:
and
he was called
the Friend of God.
24
Ye see then how
that by works
a man is justified,
and
not by faith only.
Abraham obeyed God to the point of being willing to sacrifice his own son.
True ... that was Old Testament ... but our relationship with the Lord Jesus requires no less obedience
... for He tells us that it might become necessary ... at some point ... to "foresake" all earthly associations
... indicating that our love for ... and relationship with Jesus ... must be preeminent in our life ... even before family or anything else in this world.
... indicating that our love for ... and relationship with Jesus ... must be preeminent in our life ... even before family or anything else in this world.
"And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life."
- Matt. 19:29
It's what we do ... not just what we say ... that validates who we really are spiritually
... and proves to the world that real Christians are the ones personally carrying out the Love of God
... through the physical ... as well as ... spiritual great commission
... and proves to the world that real Christians are the ones personally carrying out the Love of God
... through the physical ... as well as ... spiritual great commission
... because we are God's servants ... following His desires ... established in His Word
... following His example ... as the Helper ... of those who have no help.
... following His example ... as the Helper ... of those who have no help.
In this way causing everyone to praise God and glorify His Name ... Word ... and great Love
... instead of giving that praise ... glory ... and our works to the world's agents
... looking to them to be mankind's saviour and "god"
... promoting a false type of religion that does not require repentance from sin ... or a righteous life.
... instead of giving that praise ... glory ... and our works to the world's agents
... looking to them to be mankind's saviour and "god"
... promoting a false type of religion that does not require repentance from sin ... or a righteous life.
When the world becomes "god" by filling a physical need
... this is how ...
"works without faith"
... takes control over ...
"faith without works."
... this is how ...
"works without faith"
... takes control over ...
"faith without works."
25
Likewise also was not
Rahab the harlot
justified by works,
when she had received
the messengers,
and
had sent them out
another way?
While we are now justified by faith and the Blood of Jesus Christ ... Rahab was "justified" by her works
... which were EVIDENCE of her heart being in harmony with the will of God and God's people.
... which were EVIDENCE of her heart being in harmony with the will of God and God's people.
Things changed ... with Jesus at the cross
... nevertheless ... the definition of "justification" was still the same
... in that it still served as EVIDENCE of the condition of one's heart
... nevertheless ... the definition of "justification" was still the same
... in that it still served as EVIDENCE of the condition of one's heart
... so for this reason James is able to use Rahab as an example of "justification" in the New Testament.
26
For as the body
without
the spirit
is dead,
so faith
without
works
is dead
also.
So what happens to those who choose to ignore the needy person lying in the path in front of them??
"Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry himself, but shall not be heard."
-Prov. 21:13
So what happens to those who choose to ignore the needy person lying in the path in front of them??
"Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry himself, but shall not be heard."
-Prov. 21:13
* * * * *
If you have just realized that your type of "belief"... is an "incomplete faith" ... falling short of works that provide solid evidence of the indwelling Holy Spirit's motivation to obey the Word of God and are concerned that you may be left behind at time of Rapture
● Scroll to top of this page
● Click on gift wrapped in gold in left column
● Follow the directions
with a sincere heart
with a sincere heart
♡♡♡
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