An old TV show used the phrase "just the facts" as an investagator dealt with his job and the people he encountered. That is the same way we need to deal with faith.
In our time together this week, we have talked about what faith is and how faith is strengthened. Let me close out this week by giving us some thoughts about how faith is seen. It is kind of like this: if you say you have faith but no one sees your faith, you must not have faith. Does that make sense?
The book of James has lots to say about this truth. My favorite statement about faith comes not from the Bible but from a comical song of years gone by. Here are some of the lyrics:
It's about as useless as a screen door on a submarine
Faith without works baby it just ain't happenin'
One is your right hand one is your left
It's your light, your guide, your life and your breath
Faith without works is like a song you can't sing
It's about as useless as a screen door on a submarine.
(Screen Door by RICH MULLINS)
A screen door on a submarine is useless. Get the point? In James 1 there are several points that lead us to get this point. Read on and may the Lord give us light, guidance, life and our breathe as we live by faith...
James 1:19-26 (New Living Translation)
Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. Human ange does not produce the righteousness God desires. So get rid of all the filth and evil in your lives, and humbly accept the word God has planted in your hearts, for it has the power to save your souls. But don't just listen to God's word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. For if you listen to the word and don't obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like. But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don't forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it. If you claim to be religious but don't control your tongue, you are fooling yourself, and your religion is worthless.
It is not faith BY works. It not faith AND works. It is faith THAT works.
In our time together this week, we have talked about what faith is and how faith is strengthened. Let me close out this week by giving us some thoughts about how faith is seen. It is kind of like this: if you say you have faith but no one sees your faith, you must not have faith. Does that make sense?
The book of James has lots to say about this truth. My favorite statement about faith comes not from the Bible but from a comical song of years gone by. Here are some of the lyrics:
It's about as useless as a screen door on a submarine
Faith without works baby it just ain't happenin'
One is your right hand one is your left
It's your light, your guide, your life and your breath
Faith without works is like a song you can't sing
It's about as useless as a screen door on a submarine.
(Screen Door by RICH MULLINS)
A screen door on a submarine is useless. Get the point? In James 1 there are several points that lead us to get this point. Read on and may the Lord give us light, guidance, life and our breathe as we live by faith...
James 1:19-26 (New Living Translation)
Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. Human ange does not produce the righteousness God desires. So get rid of all the filth and evil in your lives, and humbly accept the word God has planted in your hearts, for it has the power to save your souls. But don't just listen to God's word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. For if you listen to the word and don't obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like. But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don't forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it. If you claim to be religious but don't control your tongue, you are fooling yourself, and your religion is worthless.
It is not faith BY works. It not faith AND works. It is faith THAT works.
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