Sunday
Morning Bible Study
June
16, 2019
Pray for Peru team
Introduction
The book of James is possibly one of the earliest things written in the New
Testament.
It’s thought to have been written around AD 40-50
It was written by James, the half-brother of Jesus.
James’ father was Joseph, while Jesus’ father was God.
Though James didn’t believe Jesus was the Messiah until after the resurrection,
James would eventually be recognized as the leader of the church in Jerusalem.
James was known in the early church as “James the Just” because of his
great devotion to God and purity of life.
Ancient historian Eusebius describes James’ prayer life, that he…
was frequently found upon his knees begging
forgiveness for the people, so that his knees became hard like those of a
camel, in consequence of his constantly bending them in his worship of God, and
asking forgiveness for the people[1]
While the apostle Paul wrote mainly to Gentiles, James is writing to the
Jews.
His teachings are going to be very practical (hence our “tools” pic) and
will draw much from Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, as well as the book of
Proverbs.
2:14-26 Living Faith
:14 What does it
profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can
faith save him?
profit – ophelos – advantage, profit. What good is it.
he has – echo – to have,
i.e. to hold
Present active infinitive
does not have – echo – to
have, i.e. to hold
Present active subjunctive
faith – pistis – conviction of the truth of anything,
belief; in the NT of a conviction or belief respecting man’s relationship to
God and divine things, generally with the included idea of trust and holy fervor
born of faith and joined with it
works – ergon – business,
employment, that which any one is occupied; any product whatever, anything
accomplished by hand, art, industry, or mind; an act, deed, thing done: the
idea of working is emphasized in opp. to that which is less than work
can – dunamai – to be able, to be capable, strong and
powerful
present passive indicative
save – sozo – to save, keep safe and sound, to
rescue from danger or destruction
Aorist active infinitive
:14 if someone says he has faith
Faith in what?
Keep the context in mind:
(James 2:1 NASB95) My brethren, do not hold your faith in our glorious Lord Jesus
Christ with an attitude of personal favoritism.
It’s faith in Jesus Christ.
:14 Can faith save him?
I’m not a fan of how the NKJV translates this phrase.
It would be better to say, “Can THAT faith save him?”
The issue isn’t whether or not we are saved by
faith, but whether or not a person can be saved when their faith does not
produce works.
James has already developed a thread about the kind of life that a healthy
faith produces – doing things like bridling your tongue, caring for orphans, or
not showing partiality.
Bridling the tongue
(James 1:26 NKJV) If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and
does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one’s religion is
useless.
Caring for orphans and widows
(James 1:27 NKJV) Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to
visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted
from the world.
Not showing partiality
(James 2:1 NKJV) My brethren, do not hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the
Lord of glory, with partiality.
Now we get another idea of how our faith should play out:
:15 If a brother or
sister is naked and destitute of daily food,
naked – gumnos – properly; unclad, without clothing,
the naked body; ill clad
destitute – leipo – leave behind, to be destitute of, to
lack; to be wanting, to fail
daily – ephemeros – lasting for a day; daily
food – trophe – food, nourishment
is – huparcho – to begin below, to make a beginning;
to be
Present active subjunctive
RWP – Third class condition (supposable)
:15 destitute of daily food
Though there are different Greek words being used, this reminds me of a
phrase in the Lord’s Prayer.
(Matthew 6:11 NKJV) Give us this day our daily bread.
I wonder if sometimes we forget that God will be using other brothers and
sisters to answer our prayers.
:16 and one of you says
to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the
things which are needed for the body, what does it profit?
:17 Thus also faith by
itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
says – epo – to speak, say
aorist active subjunctive
depart – hupago – to lead under, bring under; to
withdraw one’s self, to go away, depart
present active imperative
peace – eirene – a state of national tranquility;
peace between individuals, i.e. harmony, concord; security, safety, prosperity,
felicity, (because peace and harmony make and keep things safe and prosperous)
be warmed – thermaino – to make warm, to heat; to warm one’s
self
present middle imperative (warm yourself)
filled – chortazo – to feed with herbs, grass, hay, to
fill, satisfy with food, to fatten; to fill or satisfy men; to fulfil or
satisfy the desire of any one
present passive imperative
give – didomi – to give
aorist active subjunctive
needed – epitedeios – fit, suitable, convenient,
advantageous; needful, esp. of the necessities of life
body – soma – the body
both of men or animals
profit – ophelos – advantage, profit
For the sake of providing proper balance with James’ example here, let me
point out a few things…
:15 If a brother or sister is …
James uses the term “brother” 19 times in his epistle.
They all consistently refer to other believers – those who are a part of
the church.
Though we also have an obligation to help unbelievers, it seems to me the
case that James is bringing up involves a situation where there’s someone in
the church, someone you know, who has a great need.
Also keep in mind, there are also going to be times when the thing the
person is asking for is not what they need.
Our modern American culture is pretty well off and
sometimes folks think they are needy when they’re not really needy.
A person who says they need money or they will
lose their phone – its possible that they may need
financial support, but losing a phone is not the end of the world.
Paul also brings up another situation when it’s not proper to help someone:
(2
Thessalonians 3:10 NKJV) For even when we were with you, we
commanded you this: If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat.
There were some in Thessalonica who simply expected the church to take care
of all their needs.
They felt that “the world owed them a living”.
Paul said it would be okay if that person wasn’t helped.
Over the years I have seen plenty of people who are good
at crying big crocodile tears about their situation, when the answer is real simple – get a job.
When we hand them money, we’re just keeping them from
doing what they really need – to get a job.
:16 you do not give them the things which are needed
I think it’s a safe assumption that you also have the means to give
something to help out.
Solomon wrote,
(Proverbs
3:27 NKJV) Do not withhold good from those to whom it is
due, When it is in the power of your hand to do so.
Lesson
Faith helps the poor
I could give you reasons why it’s not good to help every person, but
James’ point is that genuine faith has concern for those in need.
Often what others need isn’t money, it’s simple help.
If your “faith” is truly in the “Lord Jesus of Glory”, then perhaps our
actions will display the same kinds of things that He did.
When Jesus was approached by a leper,
(Mark 1:41 NKJV) Then Jesus, moved with compassion, stretched out His hand
and touched him, and said to him, “I am willing; be cleansed.”
No money involved.
He touched the man. He healed the
man.
After Jesus had been speaking to the crowd,
(Matthew
15:32 NKJV) Now Jesus called His disciples to Himself
and said, “I have compassion on the multitude, because they have now continued
with Me three days and have nothing to eat. And I do not want to send them away
hungry, lest they faint on the way.”
He ended up feeding the multitude.
When Jesus encountered a funeral procession for the only son of a widow,
(Luke 7:13 NKJV) When the Lord saw her, He had compassion on her and said to her,
“Do not weep.”
He raised the son from the dead. No money involved.
But Jesus saw her.
Later in the same chapter, Jesus will be eating dinner
with Simon the Pharisee when a “sinner” woman came into the room, and as Caleb
pointed out last week, Jesus said to Simon, “Do you see this woman?”
When Jesus encountered two blind beggars in Jericho,
(Matthew
20:34 NKJV) So Jesus had compassion and touched their eyes.
And immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed Him.
When Peter and John encountered the lame man sitting at the gate of the
Temple,
(Acts 3:6 NKJV) Then Peter said, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have
I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.”
Illustration
A missionary in India wrote,
Doug Nichols (Bothell, Washington.
Leadership, Vol. 15, no. 2.) writes,
“While serving with Operation Mobilization in India in 1967, tuberculosis
forced me into a sanitarium for several months. I did not yet speak the
language, but I tried to give Christian literature written in their language to
the patients, doctors, and nurses. Everyone politely refused. I sensed many
weren’t happy about a rich American (to them all Americans are rich) being in a
free, government-run sanitarium. (They didn’t know I was just as broke as they
were!)
“The first few nights I woke around 2:00 A.M. coughing. One morning during
my coughing spell, I noticed one of the older and sicker patients across the
aisle trying to get out of bed. He would sit up on the edge of the bed and try
to stand, but in weakness would fall back into bed. I didn’t understand what he
was trying to do. He finally fell back into bed exhausted. I heard him crying
softly.
“The next morning I realized what the man had been
trying to do. He had been trying to get up and walk to the bathroom! The stench
in our ward was awful. Other patients
yelled insults at the man. Angry nurses moved him roughly from side to side as
they cleaned up the mess. One nurse even slapped him. The old man curled into a
ball and wept. The next night I again
woke up coughing. I noticed the man across the aisle sit up and again try to
stand. Like the night before, he fell back whimpering.
“I don’t like bad smells, and I didn’t want to become involved, but I got
out of bed and went over to him. When I touched his shoulder, his eyes opened
wide with fear. I smiled, put my arms under him, and picked him up. He was very light due to old age and advanced
TB. I carried him to the washroom, which was just a filthy, small room with a
hole in the floor. I stood behind him with my arms under his armpits as he took
care of himself. After he finished, I picked him up, and carried him back to
his bed. As I laid him down, he kissed me on the cheek, smiled, and said
something I couldn’t understand.
“The next morning another patient woke me and handed me a steaming cup of
tea. He motioned with his hands that he wanted a tract. As the sun rose, other patients approached
and indicated they also wanted the booklets I had tried to distribute before.
Throughout the day nurses, interns, and doctors asked for literature.
“Weeks later an evangelist who spoke the language visited me, and as he
talked to others he discovered that several had put
their trust in Christ as Savior as a result of reading the literature. What did it take to reach these people with
the gospel? It wasn’t health, the ability to speak their language, or a
persuasive talk. I simply took a trip to the bathroom.”
C. S. Lewis (Letters to Malcolm.
Christianity Today, Vol. 37, no. 10.) wrote, “I am often, I believe,
praying for others when I should be doing things for them. It's so much easier
to pray for a bore than to go and see him.”
dead – nekros – one that has breathed his last;
departed; one whose soul is in heaven or hell; destitute of life, without life,
inanimate; destitute of force or power,
itself – heautou – himself, herself, itself, themselves
does not have – echo – to
have, i.e. to hold
Present active subjunctive
is – eimi – to be, to exist, to happen, to be
present
Present active indicative
:18 But someone will say,
“You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and
I will show you my faith by my works.
will say – ereo – to utter, speak, say
Future active indicative
have – echo – to have,
i.e. to hold
Present active indicative
without – choris – separate, apart; without any;
besides. This word is not in the TR (ek is used instead), but is in WH.
:18 I will show you my faith by my works
Lesson
Faith that can be seen
show – δείκνυμι deiknumi – to show, expose to the eyes; to give
evidence or proof
Aorist active imperative
Future active indicative (2nd time)
Genuine faith can’t be hidden from those who know you.
James would say that real faith is something you can see.
James’ half-brother Jesus said in His sermon on the mount:
(Matthew
5:16 NKJV) Let your light so shine before men, that they
may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.
Illustration
Sergei is a new believer in Russia.
He’s been on fire for the Lord.
God has been changing his life. Among
other things, he no longer drinks.
His mother-in-law has noticed, and
is not happy. She thinks he must be a
part of some cult.
I think it’s wonderful that someone is noticing the change,
even if for the moment they are uncomfortable.
There’s an old saying,
If you were accused of being a Christian, would there be enough proof to
convict you?
All through His ministry, Jesus did things that showed who He was.
When John the Baptist had a brief moment
of doubt –
(Matthew
11:4–5 NKJV) —4 Jesus answered and said to them, “Go
and tell John the things which you hear and see: 5 The blind see
and the lame walk; the lepers are cleansed and the deaf
hear; the dead are raised up and the poor have the gospel
preached to them.
And then came that moment when Jesus Himself was put on
trial.
Video - The Passion – Jesus
condemned by the Sanhedrin
Don’t be afraid to “show” the world who you are and what you believe.
James would say that your works are a good testimony as to who you are.
:19 You believe that
there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble!
You believe – pisteuo – believe
Present active indicative
is – eimi – to be, to exist, to happen, to be
present
Present active indicative
you do – poieo – to make; to do
Present active indicative
believe – pisteuo – believe
Present active indicative
demons – daimonion –
deity, divinity; a spirit, a being inferior to God, superior to men; evil
spirits or the messengers and ministers of the devil
tremble – phrisso – to bristle, stiffen stand up; to
shudder, to be struck with extreme fear, to be horrified
Present active indicative
:19 You believe that there is one God
Or, “You believe that God is one”
James is referring to the great creed of Judaism, known as the shema, the great declaration of One God:
(Deuteronomy
6:4 NKJV) “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord
is one!
In James’ day, most of the world believed that there were many “gods”. It was the Jew who was different, believing
that there was only One God. But here James is trying to say that it’s not that
big of a deal to believe in One God because the demons know that this is
true. They tremble at Him.
The issue is not just “believing”, or even believing in something important
like the doctrinal statement of the shema.
Even the demons would agree with the shema.
The point is about having a true, living faith in Jesus Christ – a faith
that can be seen.
:20 But do you want to
know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?
:20 do you want to know
you want – thelo – to will, have in mind, intend; to be
resolved or determined, to purpose; to desire, to wish; to love; to like to do
a thing, be fond of doing; to take delight in, have pleasure
Present active indicative
Not just “Do you know”, but “Do you WANT to know”.
Jesus said to the lame man at Bethsaida,
(John 5:6 NKJV) When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he already had been in
that condition a long time, He said to him, “Do you want to be made
well?”
James is trying to teach an important doctrinal truth.
The issue is, do you really want to know the truth?
to know – ginosko – to know, understand, perceive, have
knowledge of
Aorist active infinitive
foolish – kenos – empty,
vain, devoid of truth
is – eimi – to be, to exist, to happen, to be
present
Present active indicative
dead – nekros – dead
Other mss have
useless – argos – idle, lazy,
useless
:21 Was not Abraham our
father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar?
:21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works
All words, whether it’s Greek or English, have a breadth of meaning – we
call it “semantic range”.
The word “justified” has its own range of meanings.
justified – δικαιόω dikaioo – to render righteous; pronounce such as he ought to be
It is built upon a root word (δίκη dike) that
means “custom, right, just”
Aorist passive indicative
We make a mistake in thinking that this word is only used to describe
salvation.
Paul often (not always) links this word to salvation.
(Romans 3:28 NKJV) Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart
from the deeds of the law.
We are made right with God when we put our faith in the
finished work of the cross – Jesus died for our sins.
But be careful here, the word and its various related forms are used in
ways beyond the requirement for “eternal life”.
Here are a few of many samples:
The Jewish leaders worked hard to complain about every aspect of Jesus’
life, including how He reached out to sinners.
He told them:
(Matthew 11:19 NLT) The Son of Man, on the other hand,
feasts and drinks, and you say, ‘He’s a glutton and a drunkard, and a friend of
tax collectors and other sinners!’ But wisdom is shown to be right by
its results.”
(Matthew 11:19 NKJV) …But wisdom is justified by
her children.”
Wisdom isn’t achieving salvation. Wisdom is shown to be correct when Jesus
reaches out to lost people.
In telling the parable about the laborers in the vineyard, Jesus has the
master of the vineyard saying to the laborers…
(Matthew 20:4 NKJV) …‘You also go
into the vineyard, and whatever is right I will give you.’
There is nothing about salvation here.
When Jesus told the Pharisee that the great commandments included loving
your neighbor as yourself, the Pharisee responded,
(Luke 10:29 NKJV) But he, wanting to justify
himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”
(Luke 10:29 NLT) The man wanted to justify his
actions, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”
James is using here a broader idea of “justified”.
James isn’t declaring that “works” apart from faith are necessary for
salvation, he’s saying that works are necessary to show that a person’s faith
is “right” or “genuine”.
If you pay attention, James never disconnects “faith” as a requirement of
salvation”, he simply wants to clarify that it’s not just any old “faith”, but
a genuine faith that displays itself in good works.
And the “good works” that James talks about are not the works of the Law, but works from a loving heart – like caring for the
poor, purity of heart, and bridling the tongue.
:21 when he offered Isaac his son on the altar
Later in life, Abraham was asked by God to sacrifice his only son Isaac.
Out of obedience, Abraham took Isaac up to Mount Moriah, and was about to
kill his son, when God stops him.
(Genesis
22:12 NKJV) And He said, “Do not lay your hand on the lad,
or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have
not withheld your son, your only son, from Me.”
This is the moment that James is referring to, when Abraham’s faith is
shown to be genuine.
he offered – anaphero – to carry or bring up, to lead up; to
put upon the altar, to bring to the altar, to offer
Aorist active participle
altar – thusiasterion – the altar for slaying and burning of
victims used of
:22 Do you see that faith
was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect?
see – blepo – see
Present active indicative
was working together – sunergeo – to work
together, help in work, be partner in labor; to put forth power together with
and thereby to assist
Imperfect active indicative
Continuous action in the past
Abraham’s faith was a partner with his works. He didn’t just sit on the sofa and trust God,
he got up and took his son to Mount Moriah to sacrifice him.
works – ergon – business,
employment, that which any one is occupied; that which one undertakes to do,
enterprise, undertaking; any product whatever, any thing
accomplished by hand, art, industry, or mind; an act, deed, thing done: the
idea of working is emphasised in opp. to that which
is less than work
made perfect – teleioo – to make
perfect, complete; to carry through completely, to accomplish, finish, bring to an end; add what is yet wanting in order to render
a thing full
Aorist passive indicative
Note that James is not throwing “faith” out the window.
Abraham’s faith was matured through his actions.
:23 And the Scripture was
fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him
for righteousness.” And he was called the friend of God.
fulfilled – pleroo – to fill
up, to render full, i.e. to complete; to make complete in every
particular, to render perfect; to carry through to the end, to
accomplish
aorist passive indicative
believed – pisteuo – believe
Aorist active indicative
accounted – logizomai – to reckon, count, compute, calculate,
count over
Aorist passive indicative
friend – philos – friend, to be friendly to one, wish
him well; a friend; an associate.
Quoting from 2Chr. 20:7.
When Jehoshaphat was surrounded by his enemies, he prayed for God’s help
and said,
(2
Chronicles 20:7 NKJV) Are You not our God, who
drove out the inhabitants of this land before Your people Israel, and gave it
to the descendants of Abraham Your friend forever?
(Isaiah 41:8 NKJV) “But you, Israel, are My servant, Jacob whom I
have chosen, The
descendants of Abraham My friend.
called – kaleo – to call
Aorist passive indicative
:23 the Scripture was fulfilled
Long before Isaac was even born, Abraham had an encounter with God.
(Genesis 15:5–6
NKJV) —5 Then He brought him outside and said, “Look now toward heaven, and
count the stars if you are able to number them.” And He said to him, “So shall
your descendants be.” 6 And he believed in the Lord, and He accounted it to him for
righteousness.
Paul makes his case in Romans 4 that this was when Abraham was saved.
(Romans 4:2–3 NKJV)
—2 For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to
boast about, but not before God. 3 For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham
believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.”
It wouldn’t be until many years later that God would ask Abraham to
sacrifice his son Isaac.
The author of Hebrews tells us that even this sacrifice was done by
(Hebrews
11:17 NKJV) By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up
Isaac…
Abraham did this because he still believed Isaac was the
promised son, and that God would even raise him from the dead if necessary.
James is telling us that this much later act of sacrifice was what made
Abraham’s faith “perfect” or “mature”.
Abraham’s actions showed his faith was real.
:24 You see then that a
man is justified by works, and not by faith only.
You see – horao – to see with the eyes; to see with the
mind, to perceive, know; to see, i.e. become acquainted with by experience, to
experience; to see, to look to
present active indicative
then – toinun (“certainly” + “now”) – therefore,
then, accordingly
Not in some mss
justified – dikaioo – to render righteous or such he ought
to be; to show, exhibit, evince, one to be righteous, such as he is and wishes
himself to be considered; to declare, pronounce, one to be just, righteous, or
such as he ought to be
present passive indicative
only – monos – alone (without a companion),
forsaken, destitute of help, alone, only, merely
Again, James is not saying that we are saved by our works, but by a faith
that produces good works.
The works don’t save you, but they prove that your faith is real.
:25 Likewise, was not
Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and
sent them out another way?
likewise – homoios – likewise, equally, in the same way
harlot – porne – a woman who sells her body for sexual
uses
justified – dikaioo – to render righteous or such he ought
to be; to show, exhibit, evince, one to be righteous, such as he is and wishes
himself to be considered; to declare, pronounce, one to be just, righteous, or
such as he ought to be
Aorist passive indicative
received – hupodechomai – to receive as a guest
aorist middle participle
messengers – aggelos – a messenger, envoy, one who is sent,
an angel, a messenger from God
sent them out – ekballo – to cast
out, drive out, to send out
aorist active participle
:25 was not Rahab the harlot also justified
Lesson
Anyone can be saved
Before Israel crossed the Jordan River to begin their conquest of the
Promised Land, Joshua sent two spies to check out their first target – the city
of Jericho.
They spent their first night in Jericho at the house of a Canaanite prostitute
named Rahab.
When the king of Jericho heard there were spies in town, she hid them on
her roof, and sent them on their way safely the next day.
As she sent them out,
(Joshua 2:9 NKJV) and said to the men: “I know that the Lord has given you the land, that the terror of you has
fallen on us, and that all the inhabitants of the land are fainthearted because
of you.
Rahab had become a believer in the God of Israel.
She asked for mercy for herself and her family when Israel attacked.
How do we know she even had faith?
(Hebrews
11:31 NKJV) By faith the harlot Rahab did not perish
with those who did not believe, when she had received the spies with peace.
She and her family would become folded into the nation – and she would have
the honor of being the great-grandmother of King David.
Yet how do we know that her faith was genuine?
Because her actions showed her faith was genuine.
Her actions “justified” her faith.
Are you thinking you could never be saved?
Do you think you’re beyond hope?
You’re not. You are exactly the kind
of person Jesus came to save.
(Luke 19:10 NKJV) for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was
lost.”
All through His ministry, Jesus reached out to all kinds of people,
including those rejected by the rest of society because they were “sinners”.
Last week Caleb mentioned Jesus’ encounter with the sinner woman at a
dinner held at a Pharisee’s house.
(Luke 7:47–50 NLT)
—47 “I tell you, her sins—and they are many—have been forgiven, so she
has shown me much love. But a person who is forgiven little shows only little
love.” 48 Then Jesus said to the woman, “Your sins are forgiven.” 49 The men at the table said among themselves, “Who is this man, that
he goes around forgiving sins?” 50 And Jesus said to the woman, “Your
faith has saved you; go in peace.”
This woman too found faith in Jesus, and it resulted in a
change of her life – a real, visible love for Jesus.
Tax collectors were considered the worst among sinners because they were
Jewish men who worked for the evil Roman empire, taking money from their Jewish
brethren.
One day Jesus encountered a tax collector named Zacchaeus,
and announced He was going to have dinner at Zacchaeus’ house.
(Luke
19:8–10 NKJV) —8 Then Zacchaeus stood and said to the
Lord, “Look, Lord, I give half of my goods to the poor; and if I have taken
anything from anyone by false accusation, I restore fourfold.” 9 And Jesus
said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because he also is a son
of Abraham; 10 for the Son of Man has come to seek
and to save that which was lost.”
Was Zacchaeus saved by giving his money away? No. He
was saved by his trust in Jesus, which in turn was put into action.
:26 For as the body
without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
as – hosper – just as, even as
:26 faith without works is dead
Your faith is more than just having “fire insurance” from hell.
Your faith should be at the root of how your life changes after
encountering Jesus.
“Does Jesus only enable me to “make the cut” when I die? Or
to know what to protest, or how to vote or agitate and organize? It is good to
know that when I die all will be well, but is there any good news for life? If
I had to choose, I would rather have a car that runs than good insurance on one
that doesn’t. Can I not have both?”
― Dallas
Willard, The Divine Conspiracy:
Rediscovering Our Hidden Life In God
Lesson
Passing the Test
It’s not a bad thing to test things.
Do you ever check the date on the milk in the refrigerator?
Paul said we ought to think about testing our “faith”.
(2
Corinthians 13:5 NKJV) Examine yourselves as to
whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that
Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you are
disqualified.
Illustration
In an issue of “Meat & Poultry” magazine, editors quoted from
“Feathers,” the publication of the California Poultry Industry Federation,
telling the following story:
It seems the US Federal Aviation Administration has a unique device for
testing the strength of windshields on airplanes. The device is a gun that
launches a dead chicken at a plane’s windshield at approximately the speed the
plane flies. The theory is that if the windshield doesn’t crack from the
carcass impact, it’ll survive a real collision with a bird during flight.
It seems the British were very interested in this and wanted to test a
windshield on a brand new, speedy locomotive they were developing. They
borrowed the FAA’s chicken launcher, loaded the chicken and fired. The
ballistic chicken shattered the windshield, went through the engineer’s chair,
broke an instrument panel and embedded itself in the back wall of the engine
cab. The British were stunned and asked the FAA to recheck the test to see if
everything was done correctly. The FAA reviewed the test thoroughly and had one
recommendation: “Use a thawed chicken.”
Testing is good, but be sure you do the test
properly.
It is not enough to just “say” you believe in Jesus.
Real faith produces good works.
Has today made you wonder whether your faith is genuine?
Come to Jesus.
Put your life in His hands.
Follow Him (do what He says)