The Word for Today with Ray

Wednesday, February 7, 2018

Faith Shown by Works James 2:18

The people within the “twelve tribes scattered abroad” were exhorted by James to have “faith” that “works”. He used the example of merely “saying words to” and not “providing for” a person who is destitute of food and clothing to demonstrate how “faith” without any “activity” would be worthless. In chapter two and verse eighteen of his letter, James declared how his “faith” is “shown by” his “works” where we read:

Yes, a man may 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.

The verse begins, “Yes, a man may say, You have faith, and I have works:” James began with the word, “Yes” or “nevertheless, notwithstanding, rather and moreover”, “a man may say” which means “a person whether male or female utters, speaks and tells”, “you have faith” or “the conviction that God exists and is the creator and ruler of all things, the provider and bestower of eternal salvation through Christ and a strong and welcome conviction or belief that Jesus is the Messiah through whom we obtain eternal salvation in the kingdom of God ”, “and I have” which means “the person speaking holds, owns, possesses and is closely joined to” “works” or “business, employment, enterprise and undertakings”. James referred to a person who defends their “works” position by separating “faith” from“works” in another individual.

The verse goes on to say, “show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.” James continues, “show me” or “James desired for the person with this position to expose, give evidence to and proof of” “your faith” which refers to “the person's conviction that God exists and is the creator and ruler of all things, the provider and bestower of eternal salvation through Christ and a strong and welcome conviction or belief that Jesus is the Messiah through whom we obtain eternal salvation in the kingdom of God ” “without your works” or “by not having business, employment, enterprise and undertakings”, “and I will show you” which means “James would expose, give evidence to and proof of” “my faith” which refers to “his own conviction that God exists and is the creator and ruler of all things, the provider and bestower of eternal salvation through Christ and a strong and welcome conviction or belief that Jesus is the Messiah through whom we obtain eternal salvation in the kingdom of God ” “by my works” or “out of and from his business, employment, enterprise and undertakings”. James declared his “faith” in Jesus Christ was demonstrated by the “works” he employed.

When we consider these words of James, we notice once again James' intent to be certain his readers knew that “faith” is shown by the “works” someone does. When a person comes to believe in, trust in, cling to and rely upon Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord, their “actions” and “activities” will be aligned with their speech and declaration. These traits are complementary to one another, and the evidence that a person has “faith” is easily seen by the way they act. In other words, when people believe in Jesus, those around them will know it because their lives will reflect what they believe.

Next time James tells his readers “the devils believe, and tremble”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.

Tuesday, February 6, 2018

Faith without Works is Dead James 2:17

As James, “the servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ”, wrote to the people within the “twelve tribes scattered abroad”, he asked them what it “profited” if a person said he had “faith” and did not “have works”. He used the example of speaking to a person who was without daily provisions of food or clothing without actually providing for their physical needs. Their “saying” would be of no profit without actions, and in chapter two and verse seventeen of his letter, James concluded that “faith without works is dead” in the same manner where we read:

Even so faith, if it has not works, is dead, being alone.

The verse begins, “Even so faith, if it has not works,...” James began with the words, “Even so faith” which means “and, also, indeed in this manner and thus it is when the conviction that God exists and is the creator and ruler of all things, the provider and bestower of eternal salvation through Christ and a strong and welcome conviction or belief that Jesus is the Messiah through whom we obtain eternal salvation in the kingdom of God ”, “if it has not” or “does not hold or keep” “works” which refers to “business, employments, enterprises and undertakings”. James referred to “faith” like the emptiness of only saying to a person “be warmed and filled” without actually doing something to meet their needs.

The verse continues, “...is dead, being alone.” James added, “is dead” or “destitute of life, force and power which is inactive and inoperative”, “being alone” which means “according to, toward and along itself”. In other words, there is no “life” or “profit” to “faith” when it is by itself, and “faith” is “inactive and inoperative” if it merely stands by itself.

When we think through these words of James, we may be challenged to wonder what Paul the apostle meant by sharing that “faith” is all that is needed for salvation. We must remember, these teachings are not contrary, but rather complementary to one another. James surmised that “Faith” “works”, and those who have true “faith” in God and His Son Jesus Christ will manifest it within their lives. In other words, their “works” demonstrate and declare what they actually believe. Jesus desires for us to have an “active” and “alive” “faith” that trusts in Him, and when we apply James' words to our own lives, others will discover what we truly believe.

Next time James asks his readers to “show” their “faith without” their “works”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Monday, February 5, 2018

Be Warmed and Filled James 2:16

James, the “servant of God and the Lord Jesus Christ”, asked his readers “what does it profit” if a person “says he has faith” and does not “have works”. He began to share with them an example of “a brother or sister” who is “naked, and destitute of daily food”, and in chapter two and verse sixteen of his letter, James continued with his illustration as he referred to telling the “naked and destitute of food” to “be warmed and filled” where we read:

And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be warmed and filled; notwithstanding you give them not those things which are needful to the body; what does it profit?

The verse begins, “And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be warmed and filled;” James began with the words, “And one of you say” or “one of the people within the twelve tribes utters, speaks, answers, calls, grants or tells” “unto them” which refers to “the person who is naked and without food”, “Depart” or “withdraw yourself or go away” “in peace” which means “by way of tranquility, harmony and concord”, “be warmed” or “heated” “and filled” which means “satisfied, full and fattened”. James continued his question with merely stating and offering of words to satisfy the hungry and cold.

The verse goes on to say, “notwithstanding you give them not those things which are needful to the body; what does it profit? James continued, “notwithstanding” which means “moreover, but and then” “you give them” or “his readers bestow, grant, supply and furnish to the needy” “not those things which are needful” or “the suitable, convenient and advantageous necessities” “to the body” which means “the corpse or physical human being”; “what” or “which, why or whom” “does it profit” which means “bring advantage, benefit or gain”. When a person is not actually given the “necessities” for their bodies such as “food” and “clothing”, there is no “advantage” or “profit” to them at all.

When we meditate upon these words of James, we understand his exhortation to be sure your “works” match your “faith”. Saying words of comfort to a person who is hungry or in need of clothes does nothing about their physical needs. James desired for his readers to have their “faith” to “work”, and like unto a row boat that has only one oar in the water at a time, we will only go in circles singling them out. “Faith” “works”, and when we allow Jesus Christ to be the Lord and Savior of our lives, we will know how to say what He has to say, but also be able to meet physically needs for those who are in demand.

Next time James shares how “faith, if it has not works, is dead”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Sunday, February 4, 2018

A Brother or Sister Destitute James 2:15

The people within the “twelve tribes scattered abroad” were instructed by James to not have “respect of persons”. He told them that God “shall have judgment without mercy, that has showed no mercy”, and if they followed his ways, “mercy” would “rejoice against judgment”. James asked them whether saying one has “faith” “can save” “without works”. In chapter two and verse fifteen of his letter, James began to give and example of a “brother or sister” who is “naked, and destitute of food”. We read:

If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,

The verse begins, “If a brother or sister be naked,...” James began with the word, “If” which means “in case that, provided that, except and though” “a brother” or “a male fellow believer who is united to another by the bond of affection in Christ” “or sister” which refers to “a female believer who is united to another by the bond of affection in Christ” “be naked” which means “is unclad, without clothing, open and bare”. James drew his readers' attention to people who were believers in Jesus and yet without clothing.

The verse goes on to say, “...and destitute of daily food,” James added, “and destitute” or “left behind, lagging, inferior and wanting” “of daily” which means “that which lasts for a day” “food” or “nourishment, rations and meat”. James added the idea that these “brothers and sisters” were lacking in daily provision of daily substance.

When we consider these words of James, we can use our imaginations to think about those who are “destitute” of daily provisions. James draws our attention to this example to demonstrate how “faith” alone does not help them. Jesus desires for us not only to be “nourished” and “clothed” upon, but also to have “faith” that “works”. As James continued to instruct his readers, we shall see how Jesus desires for us to be His practical examples in this world, and may He guide us to live in this manner.

Next time James finishes his thought concerning the “naked and destitute” “brother or sister”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Saturday, February 3, 2018

Can Faith without Works Save? James 2:14

As James continued to share with his fellow brethren who were “scattered abroad”, he challenged them to have no “respect of persons” and told them if they did so, they violated the “law of God” and were offenders of the “whole law” if they broke it in “one point”. After declaring that a person would “shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoices against judgment” in chapter two and verse fourteen of his letter James asked whether there is “profit” if a person “says he has faith” and does not “have works”. We read:

What does it profit, my brethren, though a man say

he has faith, and have not works? can faith save him?

The verse begins, “What does it profit, my brethren, though a man say he has faith,...” James began with “What does it profit”” or “What advantage, accumulate or benefit”, “my brethren” or “brothers and sisters who were fellow believers which were united to each other by the bond of affection and in Christ”, “though a man” which refers to “if and whether a man” “say” or “utters, speaks, calls and tells” “he has faith” or “holds, owns and possesses the conviction that God exists and is the creator and ruler of all things who is the provider and bestower of eternal salvation through Christ and the strong and welcome conviction or belief that Jesus is the Messiah through whom we obtain eternal salvation in the kingdom of God”. James asked his readers to consider “the benefit” that a person has when they “declare” that they “believe” God is who He says He is and that Jesus is the Savior.

The verse continues, “...and have not works? can faith save him?” James added, “and have not” or “does not hold, own or possess” “works” which means “business, employment, enterprise and undertaking”, “can faith” or “can or will the conviction that God exists and is the creator and ruler of all things who is the provider and bestower of eternal salvation through Christ and the strong and welcome conviction or belief that Jesus is the Messiah through whom we obtain eternal salvation in the kingdom of God be able to and have the power to” “save him” which means “deliver him from the penalties of the Messianic judgment and the evils which obstruct the reception of the Messianic deliverance”. James' question was whether “faith” without “works” can “deliver” a person from the “Messianic judgment” to come.

When we think through these words of James, we may be inclined to attempt to answer his question rather than ponder it. Paul the apostle showed how “faith” saves a person, and yet, James' question was whether “faith” alone could do so. Jesus Christ provides the “faith” to believe, and unless “the Father draws” a person, they will never know His Salvation. We shall explore this idea of “faith” and “works” more as James continued to write, but suffice it for now to know both “faith” and “works” are important and essential in the believer in Jesus' life.

Next time James refers to “a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Friday, February 2, 2018

Judgment without Mercy James 2:13

James, “the servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ”, continued to exhort the people within the “twelve tribes scattered abroad” concerning violating the “whole law” of God by transgressing the law in “one point”. His readers were to “speak” and “do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty”, and in chapter two and verse thirteen of his letter, James continued to instruct them as he wrote concerning “judgment without mercy” where we read:

For he shall have judgment without mercy, that has showed no mercy;

and mercy rejoices against judgment.

The verse begins, “For he shall have judgment without mercy, that has showed no mercy;” James began with the word, “For” which means “because, as, even, indeed, no doubt, seeing then and therefore” “he shall have judgment” or “selection, sundering, separation and a sentence of condemnation and damnation as punishment” “without mercy” which means “inexorable, unrelenting and unforgiving”, “that has showed” or “made, prepared, produced and acquired” “no mercy” which means “no kindness, goodwill or clemency”. This stern warning of pending condemnation is for people who are without any pity and clemency for others.

The verse goes on to say, “and mercy rejoices against judgment.” James continued, “and mercy” or “kindness, goodwill or clemency” “rejoices against” which means “glories, exults and boasts one's self to the injury of a person or thing” “judgment” which refers to “selection, sundering, separation and a sentence of condemnation and damnation as punishment”. James' idea is that “kindness and goodwill” will” toward people will prevent or “glory” over pending condemnation.

When we consider these words of James, we realize the great value there is in “mercy” toward others. “Respect of persons” who are wealthy, powerful and well-stationed in life over those with lesser strengths only aligns us with those “without mercy”. Lest we be drawn away to this doomed fate, let us live toward others as Jesus did with abundant “mercy” and “grace” to “whosoever will”.

Next time James shares about the “profit” of “faith” and “works”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Thursday, February 1, 2018

Judged by the Law of Liberty James 2:12

James, the “servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ”, told the people within the “twelve tribes scattered abroad” that if they “offend” the “law” of God in “one point”, they are “guilty of all” of it. He used the examples of a person who “commits adultery” as opposed to one who “kills” to demonstrate either one makes the person a “transgressor of the law”. In chapter two and verse twelve of his letter, James refers to those who will be “judged by the law of liberty” where we read:

So speak, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty.

The verse begins, “So speak, and so do,...” James began with the words, “So speak” or “utter a sound, use the tongue or faculty of speech, articulate sounds, tell and use words to declare one's mind and disclose one's thoughts”, “and so do” which means “make, bring forth, produce, construct, form and fashion”. James challenged his readers not only to “say” but also “do” his further exhortation.

The verse goes on to say, “...as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty.” James continued, “as they that shall be” which means “be about, be on point of doing or suffering something, intend, have in mind and think to be” “judged” which means “separated, put asunder, picked out, selected, chosen, approved, esteemed, preferred, deemed, thought of, determined, resolved and decreed” “by the law” or “the law demanding faith, the moral instruction given by Christ, esp. the precept concerning love and the name of the more important part (the Pentateuch) which is put for the entire collection of the sacred books of the Old Testament” “of liberty” which means “license to do as one pleases or freedom”. James' readers were to see themselves as those who were to be “separated, chosen, selected and approved” by God as A. R. FAUSSET wrote through “the Gospel law of love which is not a law of external constraint, but of internal, free, instinctive inclination. The law of liberty, through God's mercy, frees us from the curse of the law, that henceforth we should be free to love and obey willingly. If we will not in turn practice the law of love to our neighbor, that law of grace condemns us still more heavily than the old law, which spake nothing but wrath to him who offended in the least particular”.

When we think through these words of James, we realize the importance of having our “doing” to be consistent with our “saying”, and the driving force behind this consistency must be knowing that we have the “law of liberty” in Jesus Christ. Jesus wants everyone to have a relationship with Him, and when we humble ourselves, repent from our sins and turn to Him, we will enjoy the judgment based on “freedom” in His law rather than “judgment” for failure to comply with it. Jesus made it possible for every person to be free from the “judgment” of the law because He took that “judgment” upon Himself. Our part now is simply to believe in His finished work on the cross, and may He ever help us to believe.

Next time James shares about those who “have mercy without judgment”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.