Lesson 37 September 12

Review:

2:15 -16 Illustration of BD with no works - no application

Sets up another hypothetical case.

2:15 If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food,

2:16 and one of you says to them, "Go in peace, be warmed and be filled," and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that?

Inoperative faith - which speaks of no application - here w/o any desire to act; therefore no productivity as a believer. No DGP.

2:17 Conclusion about this powerless faith. - states the proposition that he intends to demo - prove in the rest of the chapter.

Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself.

True faith, like a living tree, it will reveal its life by the fruit it produces in the life.

Observations:

1. Lip service is useless when the ability to help is present.

2. Need to evaluate the situation - & your ability to aide the one in need.

3. Must be careful not to misapply the promise of living grace - Mt 6:25-30

4. Exhortation to us in C/A - is that when you can help - DO SO!!

2:18 Real faith is not hidden - but on display

But someone will say, "You have faith and I have works.

2nd half is James' response to the challenge of the objector

Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do.

Implication: that faith cannot be demonstrated apart from works, DGP.

Summary:

1. James is declaring that I will show you my faith by what I do, my life will reflect the BDRS, my faith.

2. The reality of the Spirit empowered life is reflected in DGP.

3. DGP, the works of faith that James refers to has as its source the doctrine in your soul being applied.

4. What James is saying is that one can observe the lifestyle - what one does and see if indeed it lines up with the WOG.

5. For the one with BD and continuing to renew the N&S of his conscience to DVPT there will be changes in the life to correspond with that DVPT.

2:19 Illustration to prove that understanding of DVPT is not enough!

You believe that God is one.

- This expresses the first line of the Jewish confession of faith recited by the pious Jew 2x a day, morning and evening. Deut. 6:4-5

You do well;

- I sense here a note of irony and sarcasm in James' reply and the following.

- What he is trying to get across with the illustration coming up is that intellectual understanding - comprehension of truth is by itself inadequate to meet the pressures - tests of life.

Now the illustration

the demons also believe and shudder.

- They have an intense belief in God's existence and power but their belief brings them no peace and contentment.

- Mt 8:29; Mk 1:24; 5:7; Lk 4:34; 8:28; Acts 19:15

They also know their fate: MT 8:29; 25:41; LK 8:31

2:20 Draws a logical conclusion in a question to the objector

But are you willing to recognize, you foolish fellow,

- His refusal to recognize the facts is tantamount to neg vol

that faith without works is useless?

- play on words here - works is e;rgwn ; useless avrgh, = barren, inactive, unprofitable, unproductive.

Summary:

1. The only source of true works - bonifide production in the life (ph-2) is the word of God in you put into practice.

2. (axiom) Therefore BD must precede DGP.

3. (axiom) DGP is to follow one who has BDRS.

4. (axiom) BD apart from works is barren & unproductive.