"Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.”

Living and fruitful too.

(The introductory part of the bible study notes in KL)

The Epistle of James                         14 Sep 2012

Study 6: ‘Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.” (2:14-26)

The specific problem James is dealing with: believers in Christ have fallen into a common and real problem… their faith has no works.
- The reality of this problem is stated in many places: Mt 13:1-12, Lk 13:6-10, 2Pet 1:5ff.
- "... add to your faith... they make you that ye shall neither be  barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ." If you don't add to your faith these things, then you shall be barren and unfruitful. That's plain enough.
- James is not wasting time with the hypothetical, or dealing with those that are spiritually dead, asking them to bear fruit!
- Many believe that such a situation is not possible, and insist, “without fruit, such are not even  God’s children; they are spiritually dead! Period.” However, the Scriptures declare such a notion as fiction and  a fairy tale.
- That’s why we have this passage in James dealing with this real problem among the 'beloved brethren.'

1. Avoid some common and popular errors:
a.  Dead faith is NOT false faith or no faith, but faith without works; a dead man isn’t a false man (e.g a piece of log!) or no man, but a real man without life. A fruitless tree is not a dead tree or a false tree, but a real tree without fruit! Get this basic idea clear in your mind.
- James is dealing with God’s children, therefore those who can and ought to bear fruit but are not. He deals with those whom he addresses as  “brethren… beloved brethren.”
- He is not dealing with those still dead in trespasses and sins, exhorting them to prove the genuineness of their faith with works. That would be like asking the dead to perform some acts to show that they have life and are not dead! Only a foolish man expects fruit from a dead, lifeless tree!
- “Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance” (Lu 3:8 ) can only be addressed to the children of God. Who would ask the dead to bring for fruit worthy of repentance?

b. James is NOT dealing with justification of a condemned man before God by their faith!!! That’s a heresy in itself! James is dealing with BELOVED BRETHREN!!!
-  Justification before God is not by faith, man's act of believing. It is the just (justified by  God) who shall live by faith – i.e. faith is an effect and fruit of justification, and therefore CANNOT POSSIBLY be the instrumental means of justifying the condemned before God.  Faith evidences the justified state of a man by God’s free and sovereign grace; YES, faith is the instrument to EVIDENCE the justification that has occurred by God's free and sovereign grace.
- Justification of a man under  condemnation of sin and death before God is by God’s free grace alone  (the manner), based on the righteousness/blood/faith of Christ alone (the basis)
-  Imputation of a man's faith to him is NOT NOT NOT the same as the imputation of  Christ’s righteousness to him!!! v23. Very many are completely oblivious of their confusion and delusion on this!!!
- James is dealing with the fruitlessness in God’s children – their faith is not accompanied by works, and is therefore unprofitable, like a living but fruitless fig tree. No one expects fruit from dead trees! Only the mad do!
- “Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.” Titus 2:14. But that’s not seen in some believers - and that's not a hypothetical problem. And James deal with that specific problem in this passage.

c. The  popular notion of justification by faith alone is completely repudiated  by “ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith  only (alone).” Both works and faith justify a man in the same way. How do they justify a man?
-  Both certify/demonstrate/evidence/vindicate that he is a justified man by the free and sovereign grace of God based on the righteousness/ blood/ faith of Christ alone. -  It is like saying, both breath and activities evidence the presence of life already bestowed.

Avoid these plain errors or your understanding will be MESSED UP, and be held in bondage to lies.

blah... blah... blah..

p/s
Faith without work is like a tree without fruit.
Faith without work is not like a tree that does not exist!
Faith without work is not like a dead tree.
Faith without work is like a living tree without fruit.
Faith without work is faith alone... without accompanying fruit.

Faith alone is faith ALONE
Faith alone is not no faith
Faith alone is not false faith.
Faith alone is faith without works.

And James says believers DO HAVE SUCH PROBLEM.
'Faith alone is NOOOOOO good,' says James.
Abraham's faith is accompanied by works.
Even Rahab's faith is accompanied by works.

'Follow them, beloved brethren,' says James!

余雅靜
Thanks for the clarification, Pastor. I guess I've been exposed to lies on this topic. But I would like to ask questions.. What are "good works?" How would people know if they are doing "good works" or not? If not, what are some things they can do so that they are "pleasing God?" Are there differences between "bear fruits" and "good works?" awww! I hope I'm not asking stupid questions...

Sing F Lau
Jane, a godly Elder once told me,

'The only stupid questions are the unasked ones!'

Asking questions is a useful way to learn.

What are good works? Christ said in Mt 25
34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:
35 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:
36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.
37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?
38 When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?
39 Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?
40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

Few things to note:
- Christ took notice of simple mundane deeds of kindness... no big flashy media catching deeds.
- The righteous were oblivious that such were good deeds they have done to the saints...
- Christ noticed them all because there were done to Himself.

余雅靜
Thanks for answering, Pastor. It is interesting how all these years, I was being lied to by the devil, thinking that "good works" are complicated, like volunteer work that I used to do. It looks like "good works" are limited to food, drink, shelter, and clothes, but I think I'm wrong. Matthew told me that by volunteering, they are stealing the fruits of our labour.

[Matthew has deleted all his comments]

Sing F Lau
"Their doctrine of legal justification here would legally negate this verse."
========

WHOSE doctrine of legal justification WHERE would legally negate WHICH verse, and HOW does it do so, and WHY legally'?
This one question on your one statement asks for 5 answers.

Sing F Lau
"Legal justification is about handing down debt to their children...."
=======

Legal justification is about WHO handing down WHAT debt to their children? Please elaborate.

How does John 8:56 relate to the point you are making?

It is either you are TOOOO deep that I cannot understand, or you are too confused and incoherent that I'm lost.

Sing F Lau
There is no implication. It is EXPRESSLY STATED, not implied!!!

Sing F Lau
It is EXPRESSLY STATED that Abraham was justified by works... so no implication that Abraham was justified by works.

This express statement would necessarily negate the fiction that this passage has anything to do with legal justification by the righteousness of Jesus Christ.

Sing F Lau
Have you answer this question yet?

Your statement: "Legal justification is about handing down debt to their children...."

My question: Legal justification is about WHO handing down WHAT debt to their children?

When you answer this question, quote the question, and leave your answer after it. Thanks.

Sing F Lau
Matthew, I'm not interested at all in what all those protestants teach... I am only interested in what the Scripture teaches. So, stick to the Scriptures, and it will help us to learn some truth. Studying all the errors of the protestants will still leave you as confused and misguided as ever.

And what has John 8:56 to do with the issue of justification? Was Jesus dealing with justification when he said those words to his hearers?

Tolonglah, jangan tembak buta buta! Nanti I panggil you sibuta!!!

Sing F Lau
Matthew, forget it... it is a PAIN to discuss any subject with you!!!

God calls His elect out of every nook and cranny of the whole wide world...

Falsehood is found in protestant and non-protestant circles, and regardless where it is found, truth should be heralded.

You go and specialize your effort to fight the RC and her daughters.

Sing F Lau
With the revelation of how many USA Christians are being "imputed" with the legal debt of their leaders. This is important.
===========

I say that is JUST PLAIN STUPID to relate that to the biblical subject of legal justification.

Legal justification is God's free and sovereign act of imputing Christ's righteousness to the elect who are by nature in the state of condemnation and death, thereby declaring them righteous, thereby giving warrant for them to be regenerated by the Holy Spirit.

Archived here:

https://things-new-and-old.blogspot.com/2012/09/even-so-faith-if-it-hath-not-works-is.html