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Taking a bull.....by the horns

Discussion in 'Baptist Theology & Bible Study' started by stilllearning, Oct 2, 2011.

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  1. stilllearning

    stilllearning Active Member

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    ===============
    October 2, 2011
    ===============
    GRAB YOUR BIBLES James 2:18-23
    ===============
    Tonight my message is going to be about....taking a bull by the horns:
    The bull, of the issue.....that almost kept the book of James....out of the Bible!
    ===============
    LETS READ THE TEXT James 2:18-23
    ===============
    The truly exciting part....about being a preacher:
    ------------------------
    ➀I “know” as a Christian...that salvation is “by grace through faith”:
    ➁But...when I come to a passage...that seems to contradict that:
    --------
    ➂It is exciting.....watching the LORD...explain it to me!
    ===============
    V.18A “Yea, a man may say,”
    -A CHALLENGE.....WE “SHOULD” MAKE TO OTHERS-
    (If they are professing Christians:)
    --------------------------------------------------
    Because....it’s everybody’s business:
    When a Christian...isn’t living right!
    ===============
    V.18B “Thou hast faith, and I have works:”
    -ASKING ANOTHER BELIEVER....TO “PUT UP OR SHUT UP”-
    (You may have....a profession of faith:)
    But I am....living for the LORD:
    --------------------------------------------------
    The reason....such strong language is called for:
    Is because....this is a serious issue:
    ------------------------
    Professing Christians....who are not living right:
    Badly hurt...the cause of Christ!
    ===============
    V.18C “shew me thy faith without thy works,”
    -AN EXPLANATION....AS TO OUR NEED FOR GOOD WORKS-
    (Because.....there is no other way:)
    To prove.....that you are truly saved:
    --------------------------------------------------
    And proving it to others...is important to The LORD!
    ===============
    V.18D “and I will shew thee my faith by my works.”
    -THE WAY THE LORD.....HAS ARRANGED THINGS IN THIS LIFE-
    (Every Christian....that is being faithful:)
    Should be an example....for us to follow:
    Because it brings glory........to our heavenly Father!
    ------------------------
    See Matthew 5:16
    “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works,
    and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”
    --------------------------------------------------
    -A DANGEROUS LINE......YOU DO NOT WANT TO CROSS-
    Taking credit.....for what the Lord is doing in you:
    ------------------------
    Be sure to remind everyone....to give the Lord all the Glory!
    ===============
    V.19A “Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well:”
    -HOW CAN SOMEONE HAVE A PROFESSION.....AND YET THEIR LIFE DOESN’T CHANGE?-
    (When they don’t believe.....the “right things”:)
    --------------------------------------------------
    This is an answer...to the question of this passage!
    ===============
    V.19B “the devils also believe, and tremble.”
    -BEING....A STEP SHORT....OF BEING BORN AGAIN-
    (People may “know” ....all the right things:)
    But refuse....to accept them by faith:
    --------------------------------------------------
    Missing Heaven.....by 18 inches!
    ===============
    V.20A “But wilt thou know, O vain man,”
    -THE PROBLEM......HUMAN BEINGS ARE FACED WITH-
    (We are vain:)
    And can easily deceive ourselves:
    --------------------------------------------------
    This is why...the details of God’s Word are important!
    ===============
    V.20B “that faith without works is dead?”
    -A MESSAGE......CHRISTIANS NEED TO KEEP TELLING THEMSELVES-
    (Because we already have salvation:)
    --------------------------------------------------
    What is important now...is “obedience”!
    ===============
    V.21A “Was not Abraham our father justified by works,”
    -OUR OLD TESTAMENT EXAMPLE.....OF SALVATION BY FAITH-
    (Yet even he.....was “justified” by works:)
    ----------------------
    Because he proved his faith....by good works!
    --------------------------------------------------
    -THE TRUTH BEHIND “BEING JUSTIFIED”......IN JAMES-
    “justified” Lit.(to be declared righteous)
    The exact word is used in Romans...about being saved:
    But here is not about salvation!
    --------------------------------------------------
    -YOU MIGHT ASK........WHY IS THE SAME WORD DIFFERENT HERE?-
    Because of the “direction” ....it is being pointed!
    ------------------------
    ➀In Romans....it’s being point toward God:
    (Being “justified” before God.)
    ------------------------
    ➁But here....it’s pointed toward other people!
    (Being “justified” before men.)
    --------------------------------------------------
    God doesn’t need our good works.....because He sees our heart:
    But men can’t see into our heart.....so they require good works!
    ===============
    V.21B “when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?”
    -AN EVENT HAVING NOTHING TO DO......WITH ABRAHAM’S SALVATION-
    (Because he was already saved by Grace...just like us:)
    --------------------------------------------------
    -THE THEOLOGICAL QUESTION....YOU MUST KNOW THE ANSWER TO-
    (“When was Abraham saved”?)
    At what point....in his life?
    --------------------
    Knowing the answer to this question:
    Will iron out....the rest of Scripture:
    In the area of “works” & “Grace”!
    --------------------------------------------------
    -THE SECOND PART.....TO THIS QUESTION-
    (When did the nation Israel get saved?)
    ------------------------
    Another place......where error, can get us off track;
    --------------------------------
    Some say...they were saved when they went into the promised land:
    But they were actually saved by Grace....in Egypt:
    During the Passover:
    -----------
    And they received “believers baptism”
    When they went through the Red sea.......
    1 Corinthians 10:1-2
    V.1 ¶ Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea;
    V.2 And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea;
    ===============
    V.22A “Seest thou how faith wrought with his works,”
    -A GREAT EXAMPLE.....OF FAITH “PRODUCING WORKS”-
    (He was saved by faith:)
    Because He believed God:
    -------------------------
    Then his faith....produced good works:
    --------------------------------------------------
    Every one of you who are truly born again:
    Will be naturally....producing good works:
    ------------------------
    But those of you.....who are just playing games:
    Will find living for the Lord...impossible to do!
    ===============
    V.22B “and by works was faith made perfect?”
    -OUR FAITH....IS MADE COMPLETE BY OUR WORKS-
    (Our faith is incomplete...without good works:)
    --------------------------------------------------
    Because our good works:
    Are the only way....we can show our faith!
    ===============
    V.23A “And the scripture was fulfilled which saith,”
    “Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness:”
    -THE SECRET......SATAN IS HIDING FROM THE RELIGIOUS WORLD-
    (The fact that Abraham....was saved:)
    Long before...any of his good works:
    --------------------------------------------------
    -THE MOMENT.......OF ABRAHAMS SALVATION-
    (Is recorded for all to see:)
    See Genesis 15:5-6
    V.5 And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven,
    and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be.
    V.6 And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness.
    ------------------------
    See Romans 4:1-5
    V.1 ¶ What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found?
    V.2 For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath [whereof] to glory; but not before God.
    V.3 For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.
    V.4 Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.
    V.5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.
    ------------------------
    See Romans 4:9-11
    V.9 ¶ [Cometh] this blessedness then upon the circumcision [only], or upon the uncircumcision also? for we say that faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness.
    V.10 How was it then reckoned? when he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision.
    V.11 And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which [he had yet] being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also:
    ===============
    V.23B “and he was called the Friend of God.”
    -BEING RECONCILED TO GOD...WITHOUT ANY GOOD WORKS-
    (Being saved by faith.....makes us friends with God:)
    --------------------------------------------------
    And our good works....
    Prove to the world....we are God’s friend!
    ===============
     
    #1 stilllearning, Oct 2, 2011
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