James 2 - 2007.01.27

"But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?" —James 2:20

A conflict of long duration has prevailed between those who are inclined to emphasize James affirmation here, and Paul's emphasis on salvation as "… not of works, lest any man should boast." (cf. Eph. 2:8-9) The fact is, these are not contradictory, but complimentary elements that, rightly understood give redemptive truth proper balance.

Paul's concern is that no "good works" of any sort or in any number can remedy the malady of sin and give eternal life and hope to failed humanity. Eternal life is offered to us freely, as a gift, through the atoning work of the Lord Jesus Christ, who paid in full the penalty for sin. Salvation cannot be "earned" by our works, and has no element of personal merit in it. The gain is ours by faith alone, and the glory belongs to the Lord Jesus Christ. The old hymn is accurate, "Nothing good have I whereby Thy grace to claim— I'll wash my garments white in the blood of Calvary's Lamb. Jesus paid it all, all to Him I owe; sin had left a crimson stain— He washed it white as snow!"

James does not dispute that faith initiates salvation, but simply argues that faith can only be verified by the changes it produces. That is in perfect agreement with the teaching of Christ, "Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit [Matt. 12:33; Cf. Luke 6:43-45]." It is the design of salvation to restore us not only to God's favor, but to a right relationship with Him, in which we aspire to please Him. The life that pleases God has first a heart that loves Him, and a desire to do His will.

Our works can never eventuate in salvation, but the true nature of salvation by grace through faith is that it does eventuate in the pursuit of "good works." This emphasis is abundant in scripture. The believer is "created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them [Eph. 2:10]." "But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life [Rom. 6:22]." Paul, the great exponent of justification by faith alone, discounts the testimony of those who "profess that they know God, but in works… deny Him [Titus 1:16]," and urges Titus "in all things" to show himself "a pattern of good works [Titus 2:7]," declaring that Christ "gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto Himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works [Titus 2:14]." Believers are to be "ready to every good work," and "they which have believed in God [should] be careful to maintain good works (cf. Titus 3:1,8,14)."

A life of works honoring to God is the very design of scripture; "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works [II Tim. 3:16-17]."

The writer to the Hebrews, whether Paul or some other, instructs, "Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: [Heb. 10:22-24]." Add to this the counsel of the apostle Peter, "Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation [I Pet. 2:11-12]."

God's standards have never been lowered, and His salvation does not provide an excuse for careless living. He saves the best of sinners, as well as the worst, by grace alone, because our works could never qualify to save us. But, when He saves He not only imputes the righteousness by which we are qualified for heaven, but He imparts the righteousness which can make that salvation evident on earth. Thus the apostle John declares, "If we say that we have fellowship with Him and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth [I John 1:6]." James is right. Faith without works is dead!

For HIS glory and our good,

"Pastor" Frasier

James 1 - 2007.01.20

"A double minded man is unstable in all his ways." —James 1:8

In its context, this terse verse has to do with the prayer for wisdom enjoined upon the believer in v. 5-6. When James says "But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering," he is, really defining faith as unwavering confidence in God's character and power to fulfill a legitimate request. That is not faith which is ambivalent and "wavering."

There is in this text, however, a principle of broader application. It is a judgment upon that profession of faith which emerges as halfhearted commitment to Christ which divides its loyalty between the Lord and the world. The condition is rampant in the churches and explains many of the problems we have to deal with, especially the problem of "believers" who are in and out of church, running from church to church looking for self gratification, and dropping out of church altogether. It is also the explanation for so many of the sins which mar the testimony of professing Christians and cause the name of God to be blasphemed among the unconverted (cf. Rom. 1:21-24a). Half hearted Christianity is unstable and woefully unpredictable. It is not biblical Christianity, and is not the fruit Christ died to produce.

Consider the declaration of the prophet Hanani in II Chronicles: "The eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward Him [II Chron. 16:9, my italics]." And the savior said, No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon [Matt. 6:24]." Those who try to "make the best of both worlds," have missed the true nature of Christian experience.

In contrast meditate on the commitment of the Psalmist, just for example. "With my whole heart have I sought thee… [Ps. 119:10]." He sought the Lord with singleness of heart and mind. "Teach me, O Lord, the way of thy statutes; and I shall keep it unto the end. Give me understanding, and I shall keep thy law; yea, I shall observe it with my whole heart [Ps. 119:33-34]." He was committed to whole hearted obedience. And, "I will praise thee with my whole heart… [Ps. 138:1]." He was addicted to whole hearted praise. Every New Testament believer ought to be able to pray, by virtue of God's grace, as did Hezekiah, "Remember now, O Lord, I beseech thee, how I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is good in thy sight. [Isa. 38:3]." And if in the battle we have tasted defeat, then ought our prayer to be, "Teach me thy way, O LORD; I will walk in thy truth: unite my heart to fear thy name [Ps. 86:11]."

If we would avoid the instability of the "double minded man," our position must be that of the apostle who declared, "God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by Whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world [Gal. 6:14]." Scripture leaves no room for compromise between the Savior and the world. Neither should we.

"Take the world, but give me Jesus, all its joys are but a name;
But His love abideth ever, Through eternal years the same
Take the world, but give me Jesus, Sweetest comfort of my soul;
With my Savior watching o'er me, I can sing though billows roll.
Take the world, but give me Jesus, Let me view His constant smile;
Then throughout my pilgrim journey, Light will cheer me all the while.
Take the world, but give me Jesus, In His cross my trust shall be;
Till, with clearer, brighter vision, Face to face my Lord I see .

chorus
Oh, the height and depth of mercy! Oh, the length and breadth of love!
Oh, the fulness of redemption, Pledge of endless life above!"
—Fanny Crosby

For our good,

"Pastor" Frasier

2 Thessalonians 3 - 2007.01.13

"But ye, brethren, be not weary in well doing." — II Thess. 3:13

For whatever reason, a situation had developed in the church at Thessalonica in which some of the members of the fellowship were guilty of "disorderly conduct (3:11)." That disorder is defined as "working not at all, but are busybodies." It was not moral mischief into which these folk had fallen, nor doctrinal heresy, but irresponsibility and idle meddling in the affairs of others.

Out of this incident, the Holy Spirit instructs us in several areas. We are taught, for example, the responsibility of Christians to be self-sustaining. Insofar as it is possible, the orderly believer will be self supporting. Paul admonishes them sharply; "… we exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread ( v.12)." The honest poor are always pitied in scripture, but the negligent are reproved. If a man cannot work, or truly cannot find work, he may be excused, but the able bodied are given no quarter.

A second area addressed here is that of "minding one's own business." "Busybodies," or meddlers in other men's matters (gossips, e.g.) do not come off well in scripture. Peter exhorts, "… let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters (I Pet. 4:13)." And Paul discredits certain widows who "… learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house; and not only idle, but tattlers also and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not (I TIm. 5:13)."

Probably we would be very slow to label this as "disorderly conduct," but that is what the Word of God calls it, and so ought we. It is a fine illustration of the high level of conduct to which scripture calls us as believers. No less interesting, however, is the counsel given to the orderly believes regarding how to relate to those who were here indicted. "Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us (v. 6). "The reasons for shunning the companionship of disorderly fellow believers are at least two; first, as a disciplinary action designed a community reproof designed to heighten their awareness of their impropriety and second, to prevent the disorder from spreading. Companionship with disorder, as with sin, makes one susceptible to catching the disease.

Should the word of exhortation, and the community reproof fail to restore these wayward saints to order, the rest of the congregation is instructed, "If any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed. Yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother ( v.14,15)." Here is the prescription of discipline, and the disposition that is to accompany it: "Count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother." (Clearly, fellowship, in the early church, was precious and to lose it was a high price to pay. We could learn a lot from that today!)

What interests me in particular is that the "well doers" are not instructed to forsake either the disorderly or the church. There was no call to separation from the church because of the misconduct of a few. The aim was clearly for "… reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness (II Tim. 3:16)." If we are in the right when trouble comes to the church, this passage makes it clear that our calling is not to abandon ship, but to plug the leak. Our call from God is to do everything possible to rescue the faltering brother, not let him drown. It may be difficult, and it may take time. But if we are "doing well," "let us not be weary in well doing!" Be an asset, not a liability. That is the divine order. To "cut and run" may be more comfortable— for a while, but it is not more Christlike, nor more consistent with the Word of God.

For HIS praise,

"Pastor" Frasier

2 Thessalonians 2 - 2006.10.06

"But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth: Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle. Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace, Comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work." — II Thess. 2:13-17

Welcome to 2007! What kind of a year will it be? No one can answer that question, because we "know not what shall be on the morrow [James 4:14]." However, if we cannot know what a day, or a year, will bring, anyone who knows the scriptures and takes them seriously can know what the trend is. This little epistle, and this chapter, for example, give clear indication that the trend is downward, from a moral and spiritual perspective. The world is not getting "better and better," nor will it, until the King returns!

The unregenerate world is full of groundless confidence in the future, placing its hopes in science and technology, the economy, education, government etc., fully persuaded of the inevitable perfectability of man. Scripture leaves no room whatever for such false optimism. "But evil men and seducers will wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived [II Tim. 3:13]." This morose trend will continue, as this epistle declares, until it eventuates in a man who will be worshiped as God, otherwise known as the antichrist. 2007, whatever it may bring on the surface of human society, or for specific individuals within this society, will be but one more thread in the fabric of human corruption and ultimate divine judgment. In the process, "God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all may be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness [II Thess. 2:11-12]."

Within the commwealth of the deluded there is a unique segment not caught up in the prevailing trend. Paul calls them "brethren beloved of the Lord." These comprise the true Church of the Lord Jesus Christ, and they are distinguished by three things. First, they are "chosen [of God] to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth." Elsewhere Paul writes, "…He hath chosen us in [Christ] before the foundation of the world," that is, before time began. "Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will [Eph. 1:4-5]."This is in perfect agreement with the affirmation of the Lord Jesus Christ to His disciples, "Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you… [John 15:16]."

Second, the true church is called of God, by the gospel; that is by the message of salvation embedded in the scriptures. God has one device for persuading men and drawing them to Himself, and that is the testimony of Jesus Christ. It is not "powerpoint," but the power of His Spirit persuading sinners of their lost condition and God's gracious provision in the death of His Son. It is not the atmosphere of great cathedrals or theatres that are passed off as churches, but witness of the Truth as it is in Jesus that God employs to bring His elect out of the delusion of this present evil world and into the Kingdom of His dear Son.

Third, the true church is confirmed by God, and "kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time [I Pet. 1:5]." Thus Paul prays, "Now our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and God, even our Father… stablish you in every good word and work." Biblical Christianity is not a do-it-yourself enterprise, but entirely dependent upon the grace and power of God.

Chosen by God, called of God, confirmed by God; these are the people apart, who can maintain their spiritual and moral equilibrium in a world that is spiraling downward at a fearsome rate. Notwithstanding these divine initiatives which assure our stability and perseverance, we are admonished to cooperate with the Holy Spirit in the task. "Hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word or our epistle." In other words, stick to the Word of God, and avoid the "fads," as one brother put it, that are drawing many in the visible church away from solid ground. This is extremely simple, but vital. As a new year dawns, let us reaffirm our confidence in and our committment to the word of God "which (alone) is able to make [us] wise unto salvation… given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works [II Tim. 3:15-17]." And let us take fresh confidence in the God Who having "begun a good work in [us] will peform it until the day of Jesus Christ [Phil. 1:6]."

For HIS praise,

"Pastor" Frasier