Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost – September 13, 2015
Live Faith’s Lifestyle
A few decades ago there was a show on television titled, The Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous. You may remember it. If you are too young, perhaps you have heard of a current program titled MTV Cribs. It does basically the same thing. In both programs, cameras take you inside the luxurious homes of athletes and celebrities as they paint a picture of the type of lifestyle they live. And let’s be honest, it is definitely a unique lifestyle they live.
But truth be told, we all have lifestyles that are, to a degree, unique. Lifestyles formed by the culture in which we grew up; the people with whom we associate; the things that we like; and on how much the Lord has blessed us materially. However, while we all may have lifestyles that are somewhat unique, as believers joined together with a common faith there is also a lifestyle that we share. What does it look like? Well, James helps us get a picture as he encourages us to Live Faith’s Lifestyle.
James 1:17-27 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. 18 He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created. 19 My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, 20 for man’s anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires. 21 Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you. 22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 23 Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror 24 and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25 But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it—he will be blessed in what he does. 26 If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless. 27 Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.
In his second letter to his good friend Timothy, the Apostle Paul wrote, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”[1] In that one passage Paul eloquently states a very important truth - the Bible is sufficient. It is sufficient for creating faith –it teaches. It is sufficient for guiding us in a holy life – it rebukes and corrects. It is sufficient for training us in righteousness. What else is it that we want from God but to be righteous before him?
The Scriptures give us righteousness in the gospel of forgiveness in Jesus Christ. In the Ten Commandments they show us how to live in a way that is right before God. Then in the good news of our salvation through Jesus Christ, they give us the proper motivation to love God and the zeal for his glory so that we grow in such obedience. In this way we are thoroughly equipped for every good work.
It is this life lived to the glory of God, equipped for every good work, that stands at the forefront of the letter that James wrote. Yet with that said, James does not teach a life of good works apart from faith. He does not contradict the clear passages of the Bible that tells us “it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works.”[2]
No, James did not contradict that truth. He understood that one must come before the other. The horse must go before the cart. That is, the truth that we have been saved in Jesus Christ purely by the grace of God must come before we can go out and live our life for God. And notice how he gets that point across in our text, “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. 18 He chose to give us birth through the word of truth.”
When we first hear the words, “every good and perfect gift,” we might be inclined to think of the many and varied worldly blessings that God has so gracious given to us. To be sure – they are good gifts from our heavenly Father. But of all the gifts God has given to us, James wants to draw our attention to one specific one: “He chose to give us birth through the word of truth.” He’s talking about the gift of faith.
Now, you love the gift of spouse or parents God gave you. You might love the ability to play sports or to read. You might love the outdoors - hunting and fishing. But there is no greater gift that God has given us than the gift of faith to believe in Jesus Christ as our Savior. When James talks about God choosing to give us birth, he’s talking about everything that involves you going from unbeliever to believer. He’s talking about how, right now, you are one who is on the path to heaven, even though at one point in your life you were on the road to hell.
Wow! What an incredible God we have who would do that for us! After all, what is there about us that the Ruler of the Universe would want any part of us? Is there anything you have done so special that the One who sees all would say, “I just have to choose you?” Why does the One, who was complete and lacking nothing before any of us were born, love me so deeply that he would send his own Son to suffer and die in my place? The answer: his gracious goodness.
In his gracious goodness he guided and ruled history so that when the time was right his Son would be born. In his gracious goodness, Jesus, true God, willingly went to the cross and rose again as payment for our sin and guilt. In his gracious goodness God recorded this truth for all of time and eternity in his Holy Word. So that, in his gracious goodness, God the Holy Spirit could bring you to faith that you might receive all the benefits of Christ’s work for you.
Now, what I just told you isn’t anything you don’t already know. But you see, that’s the point! James wasn’t telling his readers anything new either - James says, “My dear brothers, take note of this…” Literally in the Greek James is saying, “my dear brothers, you know this.” In other words…since you know it, live like you know it. Live faith’s lifestyle!
These words still have the same implication for us today. You know what Jesus has done, and you know how you don’t deserve it. You know you possess eternal life right now, and you how you have done nothing to bring it about. So out of love for what your heavenly Father has done; in thanksgiving for all Christ won for; in order to bring glory to God; go live faith’s lifestyle. James points out what it looks like.
Faith’s lifestyle is characterized by being quick to listen. Listen to what, you say? Are we to listen to what our ears want to hear? To what your will and emotions want you to do? To what your reason says? No, listen to God’s word. Listen to what it says about who you really are by nature; what Jesus has done; and who he has made you to be. Listen! Not just on Sunday’s, but every day. Listen! Not just with the ear, but with the heart.
Faith’s lifestyle is characterized by being slow to speak. Oh, this is one we have a hard time with, and James had a lot to say about it. Go home this afternoon and read the third chapter of this book. Notice carefully the conclusion he draws. “With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God’s likeness. 10 Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be.”[3]
Speak words that build up, not tear down. Don’t gossip or slander. Speak words seasoned with love. Avoid cliques and divisions. Speak words that heal, not hurt. Speak words that encourage, not discourage. Speak words that carry the message of the gospel. Faith’s lifestyle is characterized by being eager to do. What better illustration can be given than the one our Lord gives through the pen of James: “Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror 24 and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.”
We would call such a person a fool, an idiot, a clown, a buffoon. What are we going to call ourselves? What we really are – sinners. How often do we look for shortcuts in our lives as Christians and wonder if being a child of God really needs to be as challenging and difficult in this world as the Holy Scriptures make it out to be at times? How many times are we found pondering, “How seriously do I need to take the words of Jesus?” We are accountable for our lives, dear friends. How do they look before your all-seeing and all-knowing God? How many symptoms can we find in ourselves that indicate spiritual illness? More than we care to share.
That’s why I want to take you to another portion of the words James speaks this morning. They are found in the words with which this section started. Not only does every good and perfect give come from God. Not only is the greatest gift the fact that he has done everything to call us to faith and pay for our sins. But our God is one that doesn’t change.
Think about what that means for you! The one who has professed his undying love for you and then sent his Son to take your place under his wrathis not going to all of a sudden change. The one who promised that the blood of his Son has removed the guilt of your rebellion and the stain of your sin is not going to now take it all back. The one who has heard every last ugly word and seen every last wayward action isn’t going to say, “Enough is enough.”
No, instead he comes to you, as he has today, and lovingly calls you to repentance. He calls you to admit your sin, not make excuses. He calls you to confess your guilt, not hide it. He calls you to acknowledge your transgressions; not act as if nothing is wrong. Then he invites you to look to the cross and says, “My Son carried those sins and I punished him in your place.” He summons us to walk with him to the empty tomb to hear him say, “See how it is empty. That’s because I accepted my Son’s payment on your behalf. You are forgiven.” He bids us to gaze into his Word and hear him say, “See these heavenly streets paved in gold; see these mansions in this home of heaven; I have prepared them for you and they are yours through my Son Jesus Christ. He puts his hand on our shoulder and whispers in our ear and says “I love you…and as my dear child I give you the willpower, the understanding, and the ability with the Holy Spirit’s help to change your life. Not so you can go live Joel’s lifestyle; or Bob’s or Dicks or Sally’s or Jane’s for that matter; not so you can get comfortable with a sinful lifestyle or grow apathetic about a hatred for sin - for that would lead to spiritual death and a loss of all these gifts - but so that you could live faith’s lifestyle.” Amen.
[1]The Holy Bible: New International Version. (1984). (2 Ti 3:16–17). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.
[2]The Holy Bible: New International Version. (1984). (Eph 2:8–9). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.
[3]The Holy Bible: New International Version. (1984). (Jas 3:9–11). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.