Two pleasant ladies came by the house and began talking up the Jehovah's Witnesses without saying so. After some time I got them to confess their own opinions, which were not in harmony with the Word. They kept repudiating the Holy Trinity - their opinion, even though the Trinity is taught from Genesis 1 onward.
I have found the same thing happening with the Epistle of James. There are several obstacles in discussing the Bible and Luther.
- Everyone likes to take a poke at Luther, often based only what they heard from someone else.
- Luther may be mentioned here and there, but very few actually study Luther or read him regularly. I have always gained a lot from Luther. That is why I am posting Daily Luther Sermon Quotes, year around.
- James is not studied much, and yet it is full of great wisdom, likely aimed at pastors and leaders of congregations. I am touching on matters in order, so readers can follow carefully.
KJV James 1:3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. 4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. 5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. 6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. 7 For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. 8 A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.
KJV James 1:16 Do not err, my beloved brethren. 17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. 18 Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.
This is a passage about Jesus Christ. He is the perfect gift, the only gift from above - a classic phrase from Jesus speaking in John 3. As the Incarnate Word, Jesus gives us spiritual birth (begat us) and good works - spiritual gifts come from that birth.
James 1:23 For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: 24 For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. 25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.
Paul often emphasized faith as basic doctrine - Romans and Galatians - James is writing about the natural connection between faith, good works, and the fruits of the Spirit. Faith and works do not oppose one another, and works are not added on (Roman Catholic) to complete or finish salvation.
James 1:27 Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.
The pure and undefiled (Justified by Faith) will naturally visit orphans and widows. There is no gap between willing and doing.
James 2:14 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, 16 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? 17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
This is a perfect example of showing the shallowness of saying something and doing nothing. Roman Catholics use this notion to say, "Faith is perfected in love (works)." However, that claim means separating the energy of the Gospel Word from its effects on the believer. The question remains with this emphasis on the Law, "When are the works enough?" That is much more like a burden than a joy.
Believing in Christ turns the labor of life into joy, as so many nurses, mothers, and grandmothers have said. The "mewing and puking babes" (Shakespeare) are a delight. Even as they grow, squabble, run into trouble, and become young adults, they fill parental and grandparental lives with happiness.
KJV James 2:18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. 19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. 20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? 22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? 23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. 24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.
What do you think of a rich man who breaks up his marriage, breaks up another marriage to gain his Bathsheba, and gives millions of dollars away to show his works? Is he not a hypocrite, not only for his actions but also for his example, corrupting the weak and destroying faith?
When people believe in Jesus Christ as the Son of God, Savior, who died for our sins and rose from the dead, our sins are taken away, drowned in the ocean of God's grace.
Faith in the Good Shepherd is access to His grace, and the only access.
Works, however they may glitter - a new library named after the donor, a new chapel made of shiny copper - never gain access to God's grace and forgiveness. Works are the result, not the cause of forgiveness.
