Self-Deception

Dear Brethren,

The Epistle of James contains timeless and deeply spiritual concepts.  James’ letter was written, not to the Jews, but to all twelve tribes of Israel scattered abroad, the, ‘Diaspora.’  James knew very well where the Lost Ten Tribes of Israel were in his day.  If fact, many representatives of all twelve tribes still came to the Feast of Tabernacles each year in Jerusalem (Acts 26:7).  Today, this letter is for us, the Church of God, the spiritual Israel of God (Galatians 6:16).

James addresses the matter of going on to perfection through faith.  That is his theme throughout the book of James.  Faith is a personal belief in God the Father.  Faith is a personal belief in Jesus Christ, the Son of God.  Faith is accepting the sacrifice of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of our sins.  When God graciously gives us that kind of faith – our lives and our minds change completely (Ephesians 2:8).  James goes on to show how that kind of true faith produces good works"Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone."  (James 2:17)

The book of James is very authoritative.   There are sixty imperative statements – commands, exhortations and entreaties.  There are twenty-three quotes from the Sermon on the Mount.  Though James, the half-brother of Jesus, was not one of the original apostles, he became an apostle and the leader of the Church at Jerusalem (Galatians 1:18-19, Acts 5:19).

James was not patient with hypocrisy.  He was a champion of the oppressed, and came to their aid.  Highly educated for his day, in near classical purity, James uses seventy Greek words not found elsewhere in the Scriptures.  James was conservative and single-minded.  James tells us to count it all joy when we have various trials – knowing that trials prove and improve our faith (James 1:2-3).  He gives us a checklist for spiritual growth and instructions on how to go on to perfection.

Martin Luther, an Augustinian monk and founder of Protestantism, because he did not understand the truth of God, nor the writings of James, called James’ book, “an epistle full of straw.”  Luther taught  justification by faith alone because he did not understand the relationship between faith and works.  Faith without works is a dead faith.  James wrote in 2:20:  "Will you know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?"  James reveals how faith and works are both vital to salvation.  “What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? Can faith save him?  If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, and one of you say unto them, depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? [this faith did not serve the needs of the destitute, therefore it is a dead faith] Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.  Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: show me thy faith without thy works, and I will show thee my faith by my works.”  (James 2:14-18)

What does James mean by "works?"  James used the same Greek word that Paul used, "ergon," which means to work, toil, do labor – as in, "Be ye doers of the word."  (James 1:22)  Protestants think that belief or faith in Jesus is entirely sufficient for salvation, and that they do not need to be doers of the word or keep the Law of God.  They have been taught that Jesus did it all for us – and that there is nothing required of us except "belief."  For example, God's Word says to keep the Sabbath holy, but they conclude that Jesus kept the Sabbath perfectly – so we don't have to keep it anymore.  Protestants would conclude that by keeping the Sabbath, we are trying to work for our salvation.  True faith in Jesus Christ, however, also means believing that we must do what Jesus taught we should be doing.  True faith therefore results in our obedience to the Word of God.  The definition of “works” then, as James is using it, means doing what God says to do – from keeping the Ten Commandments, right down to visiting the fatherless and widows in their affliction.  (James 1:27)

The book of James contains over a dozen examples of wrong practices by those who are self–deceived“Be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.” (James 1:22)   Here's another example of self-deception:  "If any man among you seems to be religious, and bridles not his tongue, but deceives his own heart, this man's religion is vain."  (James 1:26)  Being careful not to offend in what you say is a good work.  Worshipping God on the Sabbath is a good work – being doers of the word.  "Whosoever shall keep the whole Law, [that is works] and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all."  (James 2:10)  People do not like that verse because they want God to grade on the curve – but it is like this – you cannot pop a balloon a little bit…  you cannot break the Law of God a little bit – when you break God’s Law – you break the whole thing!  When we endure life’s trials we will gain a reward.  “Blessed is the man that endures temptation [trials]: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love Him.”  (James 1:12)

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Sermon:  "Self-Deception"

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