Preacher: Jeremy Herbert
Theme: Real faith matures by prayer persistence in God’s truth
Text: James 1:21-22,
“Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness
and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.
But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” (ESV)
Overview of the book of James:
- Ancient Wisdom for a Modern World
- James is the oldest book in the NT.
- Key verses: James 1:21-22
- Paradox: there are some who see James’s message in opposition to Paul’s message:
- Paul: Romans 5:1, “we have been justified by faith”
- Paul addresses our justification to God
- James: James 2:24, “a person is justified by works and not by faith alone”
- James address our justification in the eyes of men
- Paul: Romans 5:1, “we have been justified by faith”
- Key themes:
- Wisdom
- Maturity/Wholeness/Integration
- Applying all of God’s word to all of our life
- Matching our practice up with our creed
- Matthew 12:50, “For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.”
- Real faith is proven by practice and not profession
- There is a danger in compartmentalizing our lives
- There is no part of our lives that is off-limits to God and His word
- Faith grows by
- repeatedly obeying the truth
- over time
- through testing
- Real faith sees testing as opportunities for growth
- Real faith will product the real life of Christ:
- Controlled tongue
- Care for others
- Community with believers
- Personal purity
- Real faith will display real change
