Just By Faith, Period

1. Free Grace Destroys human pride and merit— Rom 3:27
a. Boasting excluded—there were, in Paul’s day, the Judiazers, who were telling Christians they had to obey the law in addition to faith in Christ—Gal 6:13

(1) Works does not exclude boasting: Rom 4:1-3
(2) In works, God owes you salvation—Rom 4:4
(3) Salvation by Grace through Faith excludes boasting. Rom 4:5
(4) Why? 1 Cor 1:29, 1 Cor 3:21, 1 Cor 4:7, Gal 6:14, Eph 2:9

2. The Bottom Line—3:28
a. This is the conclusion, the bottom line of all Paul has been saying since Rom 1:16-17
b. Justified by faith—by faith in Christ, we are declared justified, we are declared righteous, we are pronounced Holy, we become adopted into the family of God.
c. Without the deeds of the Law—added for emphasis, and to insure Sola Fide—it is apart from works! Titus 3:5, Gal 2:15-16

3. Only One Salvation, no matter who you are—3:29

a. The Christian Faith is the universal faith, the only true Faith-John 14:6, Acts 4:12, Is 45:22

(a) He is God of the Jews, He is God of the Gentiles whether they acknowledge it or not.
(b) He is the God of the Buddhists,
(c) He is the God of the Muslims, no matter what their teachers say.

b. This faith is centered only on the actions of God, not the Actions of man. 3:30

4. God is Just and Holy, the Law is upheld, and we are saved—3:31
a. The accusation of antinomianism — 31
b. The Law established—God forbid: yea, we establish the law.
(5) Every Sin is dealt with judiciously
(6) Every crime is adjudicated
(7) Every sentence is served
(8) Every injustice is righted.
(9) The Holiness of God is respected, God’s sense of justice is satisfied,

5. But What about James? Only three alternatives:
a. Option 1—James and Romans/Galatians/John, etc., disagree, and the Bible is therefore not inerrant and infallible—there is an open contradiction (and a very large one) in the Bible.
b. Option 2—James is not a canonical writing, and the Bible is therefore suspect—if one book has been included in the canon of scripture which should not be there, others might also have been included wrongly.
c. Option 3—We must interpret James so that it agrees with the rest of the Bible.

6. First, some principles of interpretation:
a. The Bible is all true, and it agrees with itself. The Bible does not contradict itself—scripture, as Jesus said, “cannot be broken…”
b. You must compare scripture with scripture—1 Cor 2:10-13, 2 Pet 1:20-21
c. The plain statements of didactic (teaching) scriptures explain other scriptures.
d. Parables don’t explain truth—in fact, they usually obscure it and conceal it—by design.
e. Historical passages tell us what happened, but they often are misunderstood unless there is a clear explanation in the context.
f. The Context, The Subject, The Audience (who is being addressed), must be taken into account
g. The time of writing and the time perspective (future, past, present, to the writer) must be taken into account.
h. What covenant is in force at the time of the writing must be taken into account.
i. The interpretation must agree with the Analogy of the Faith (the teaching of the Bible as a whole), in simple terms, the tail does not wag the dog.
j. You don’t overthrow a hundred verses because of one or even a few obscure passages.

7. So, in approaching James, we must briefly examine the question: “How are we saved?”
a. We must compare the contexts
b. What is the subject of Romans? Salvation (Rom 1:16-17). That is why the Romans road is so convenient and true a tool for witnessing.
c. The subject of Galatians? The proper teaching on Salvation by Grace alone through Faith alone.
d. The subject of John? Salvation—John 20:30-31
e. What then, is the subject of James? Practical Christianity
(10) Trials, 1:3-12, Temptations—1:13-18
(11) Obedience and practical religion in action—1:19-27
(12) Discrimination against the poor in favor of the rich—Chapter 2
(13) Controlling the tongue—3:1-12
(14) Practical Wisdom—3:13-18
(15) Humility—4:1-12
(16) Dependence on God—4:13-17
(17) Employers being just with workers—5:1-6
(18) Endurance—5:7-12
(19) Prayer—5:13-18
(20) Reaching out to straying brothers—5:19-20
(21) James is about practical Christianity

8. Analysis of James 2:14-26

a. Context—the issue of ignoring poor Christians in favor of the rich. James 2:1 James also makes the point that a failure in this area may reveal serious sin problems in our lives…James 2:8-9
b. Remember, contrary to what some teach, the New Covenant presents a moral compass for believers in Christ, and James is challenging the believers to look at the compass.
c. Then he addresses a much larger and more vital issue—if they are living in such a way as to be considered lawbreakers, are they saved? James 2:14
(22) Let’s define this issue Biblically —if a man or woman claims to have faith, but there is no evidence, is that true faith?
(23) NO! True faith results in a changed life. John 10:27 ""My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me." Eph 2:10
(24) So Biblically, taking the definition of Faith that the Bible teaches us, what is James saying? He is saying, “can that kind of Faith save him?”
(25) James is talking about false faith, as the next few verses plainly show—James 2:15-17
(26) For an example, James uses the case of a cruel and sarcastic rich man, who wishes a brother or sister well, but does nothing to help—those wishes are revealed to be false thereby. Faith which has no works is not real faith!

d. Show me—James 2:18-19 James is asking for proof—is there proof of salvation in your life?
e. And then he confirms that he is talking about real faith, with the example of the demons—2:19
f. What kind of faith do demons have? Have demons trusted in Christ? Do demons cling to Christ? NO! The demons have an intellectual faith, they know (without any doubt) that Christ is who He says He is, and they tremble because they know their end, but their faith is NOT saving faith.
g. The payoff line—James 2:20 è i.e., if you have the kind of faith that demons have, you are not saved!

9. Two Examples—the ones given by James

a. Abraham on Mount Moriah—James 2:21-24
(27) When did the incident on Mount Moriah take place? Gen 22:1-2 – The answer is—several years after Issac’s birth!
(28) When was Abraham pronounced righteous in God’s sight? Gen 15:1-6. Abraham was pronounced righteous before God many years before Issac was even born
(29) Abraham believed the promise of God, which included, though hidden, the promise of Christ, and God accounted it to him for righteousness.
(30) Abraham was, at that point, righteous in God’s sight, and God will not impute sin once a man has been declared righteous—Rom 4:6-8
(31) Therefore the test James mentions was not a justification for salvation, and could not have been so, since Abraham had been declared righteous by God many years before Issac was born, and more years still before Gen 22. Instead, this must be speaking of a visible justification—a proof to Abraham and to anyone watching that Abraham was FOR REAL—2:22-24
(32) The word “perfect” in 2:22 is teleioo = “complete, the goal fulfilled, fully matured.”
(33) Abraham’s consistent witness of his faith showed the reality of his faith—On God’s record books, we are justified by faith alone, and saved by Grace alone—what follows is evidence and proof of our salvation.
(34) Did God know the outcome of the test? YES! God knew Abraham would prove faithful.
(35) What was God doing in the test? He was teaching Abraham about sacrifice, about atonement, about faithfulness, etc.

b. Example 2—Rahab—James 2:25
(1) Rahab had heard of God, and had believed in Him because of His mighty works. Josh 2:9-13
(2) So Rahab gave testimony to her faith in Jehovah, and then she proved it by her actions! By her actions, she rejected her people, her king, her pagan “gods”, and she accepted Jehovah as Lord.

10. Biblical Doctrine Paralleling James.
a. The Salvation Order--Eph 2:8-10 By Grace, Through Faith, Unto Good Works
b. The Phillipian Jailer—Acts 16:32-33 –After he was saved, his whole family was saved, and they followed their Lord in Baptism
c. John 10:26-28
d. The absolute bottom line—James is referring to works which prove the reality of salvation, not works which maintain or earn salvation.

Salvation

1. The Problem of Man—Mat 5:20—You and I are not righteous in ourselves, not in any sense of the word.
a. Rom 3:10-11—all are sinners; Ps 58:3—we are sinners from birth, we are, in and of ourselves, unholy, unclean, unrighteous creatures. We are really fit for neither heaven nor earth.
b. Our sin offends the Holy God we serve, and our rebellion spits in His face, even as He makes His offers of Love.
c. WE have no righteousness, our accounts in heaven are overdrawn, overdue, overloaded, and impossible for us to pay.
d. Not only are we loaded down with sin, we are completely destitute of merit

2. But now, “two words upon which all of history rests.”

a. “But now…” These two words bridge the gap between the Old Testament and the New
(1) In the old times, men were still considered guilty of sin…Paul tells us in Romans 1 that they are without excuse…
(2) But God was patient, and had not destroyed the human race and judged it for its rebellion against a Sovereign and Holy God.
(3) But now…..Acts 17:30-31
(4) God’s patience has gone on since the beginning of the human race, but now no more, because He has appointed a day--Acts 17:31

b. But Now, The Plan of God: God’s plan was determined before the foundation of the world, and was manifested in God’s time
(1) God had a Redeemer—1 Pet 1:18-20
(2) He is the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world—Rev 13:8, 17:8
(3) God Promised redemption before time began—Titus 1:1-2
(4) Before time began, God the Father promised God the Son, “If you will be their Redeemer, I will give you a people, I will give them eternal life!”
c. God’s plan is a mystery to us, revealed a piece at a time—Rom 16:25-27
(1) Paul often refers to the Gospel as a mystery—1 Cor 2:7, Col 1:26-7, 1 Tim 3:16
(2) The Gentile nations were cut off, but now…Eph 2:11-13
(3) The old covenant was good, but now there is a new covenant…..Heb 8:5-6—
(4) The old sacrifices never paid for sin, only put off the reckoning from year to year—but now—Heb 9:24-28
(5) Once we were lost, but now….1 Pet 2:9-10
(6) God’s plan will come to full fruition

3. The righteousness of God
a. Author of God’s Righteousness—God—Phil 3:9, Isa 45:8, 2 Cor 5:21
(1) This is not some plan hatched in a theological seminary.
(2) Calvin, Luther, and Knox did not sit down one day over a pot of coffee and say, “Imputed Righteousness—that’s it!”
(3) This is the plan and mystery of God from before the foundation of the world, manifested and brought forth in our time—Mat 25:34

b. Nature of God’s Righteousness imputed to our account—this is IMPUTED Righteousness—Rom 4:6-8. Imputation is one of the most important words in the New Testament—the entire fourth chapter of Romans is dedicated to expositing the concept of imputed righteousness.
c. Source of the Righteousness of God—
(1) the righteous life and infinite being of our Savior.
(2) Christ fulfilled every precept of the Law—He lived a life of perfect conformity to God’s will.
(a) Mat 5:17-20
(b) Rom 3:28-31—The Law is upheld and recognized as Holy and True—Isa 42:21,
(c) Heb 4:14-15—He had no sin, He knew no sin, He did no sin, yet Christ suffered the penalty of the Law.
(i) By His infinite Being
(ii) By His absolute power and righteousness

d. Extent of God’s Righteousness—it is total!
(1) The righteousness of God is infinite, as the One who wrought it on our behalf is infinite.
(2) This is not some righteousness wrought for a temporary fix, the blood of Christ covers all our sins—Heb 7:25, Jn 10:27-28

e. Duration of God’s Righteousness—There is no end to the Righteousness of God. ‘everlasting righteousness,’ Daniel 9:24, Psa 119:142, Isa 51:6-8, Heb 9:12

f. Influence of God’s Righteousness
(1) God’s righteousness destroys the guilt of Sin—Heb 9:26
(2) God’s imputed righteousness is the basis of our fellowship and relationship with Him—Eph 2:13
(3) This righteousness has eternal consequences —Heb 9:27-28
(4) This righteousness enables us to live for Christ—Col 1:13-14 , Eph 5:8

4. Righteousness is apart from the Law—3:21
a. Righteousness is not against the Law, it is apart from it
b. Examples of uses of “Law: in the Bible
(1) “Law” as self-righteousness—Luke 18:9, Phil 3:4-9, Rom 10:1-4
(2) “Law” as one of the two or three divisions of the Old Testament—Mat 22:40, Lk 24:44
(3) The Law of Moses—Luke 2:22, John 1:17
(4) The Law written on hearts, i.e., the human conscience—Rom 2:15
(5) The Law written in nature—Ps 19:1-6
(6) The economy, or dispensation of Law as opposed to the economy or dispensation of Grace—Rom 6:14

5. The Revelation of Righteousness—3:21c “…law is revealed…”
a. Something previously hidden and veiled in types and shadows is now revealed fully.
b. But it is something that always existed
(1) How were the Old Testament saints saved? By believing the Gospel—Gal 3:8-9. The Gospel in Gen 12:1-3—How is this statement considered to be the Gospel? “...in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed."
(a) God said it was the Gospel
(b) Well, the only aspect in which Abraham can be said to touch ALL the families of the earth is that Abraham is the ancestor of the Messiah—every family will be represented in Heaven—Rev 5:9 “…You … have redeemed us to God by Your blood Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation,
(c) Gal 3:6, 7, 16—Abraham believed the promise of God, WHICH INCLUDED the coming Redeemer--and, as we see later when we look at Hebrews, Abraham saw God’s plan “afar off”, and God put it to his account for righteousness—
(d) Abraham was saved by IMPUTED RIGHTEOUSNESS—Rom 4:1-8, 4:17
c. Old Testament Salvation
(1) Salvation is Salvation--The real answer to how Old Testament believers were saved is this: "God's people in the Old Testament were saved the same way that people are saved in New Testament times, that is, by grace, through faith in the sacrifice of Christ."
(2) The Revelation of Christ Well, it is true that Christ was not fully revealed until He came in the flesh, but try the following mysterious passage on for size! Heb 11:24-26
(3) The Eternal Christ—Job 19:25-27—Most scholars believed that Job lived in the times of Abraham--several hundred years before even Moses. How could Job know about the Redeemer?
(4) How could Job know that the Redeemer would be God Incarnate--God the Son? There are some liberal theologians around today who read the Bible from cover to cover and can’t figure out that Jesus is God! Job had no Bible!
(5) The answer has to be, because there is no other answer, that God revealed to Job sufficient information for Job to have faith in what God was going to do. Job did not know the all details, though he knew a lot more than others, but Job believed in God's promise of redemption, because God had apparently revealed it to him in some way.

d. The only way of salvation was always salvation by Grace through Faith.
(1) The Law was a parenthesis in the history of God's dealings with the human race. Grace, which was the only way of eternal salvation even in times of Law, was the heart of the covenant with Abraham, which came 400 years before the law! Gal 3:17-18
(2) The purposes of the Law
(a) To teach us the horrible nature of our sinfulness and our inability to save ourselves--The Law could never save, only condemn—Rom 3:19-20
(b) To prepare Israel for the Coming of the Redeemer; the Law is our tutor to lead us to Christ—Gal 2:16-3:29

6. Two Witnesses—“…being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets,…” Lk 24:25-27

a. Witnessed by the Law, i.e., in this context, the five books of Moses……The books of Moses were full of shadows that pointed forward to the Cross
(1) The Promise in the Garden: the Promise of the Seed, the animal skins provided
(2) Abel’s knowledge of blood sacrifice: Heb 11:4
(3) Noah sacrificing after the Flood
(4) The Sacrifice on Mt. Moriah (Gen 22), and the other sacrifices of the Patriarchs
(5) The Passover Lamb
(6) Imputed righteousness was taught in the books of the Law--Genesis 15:6, 2 Peter 2:5; Hebrews 11:7.
b. Imputed righteousness was taught in the books of the Prophets
(1) Psalms 51:14, Psalms 71:15, 16, 19, 24, Psalms 85:10, 13, Psalms 89:16, Psalms 119, 142, Psalms 145:7.
(2) The righteousness of the Messiah, as connected with salvation, is the constant theme of the Prophets, especially of Isaiah. Isaiah 42:21, Isaiah 45:8, Isaiah 45:24, 25, Isaiah 46:13, Isaiah 51:5, 7, Isaiah 61:11, Isaiah 54:17, Isaiah 56:1, Isaiah 61:11, Isaiah 62:1, 2.
(3) The other prophets also refer to these “New Covenant” themes—Jeremiah 23:5, Daniel 9:24, Hosea 10:12, Malachi 4:2.