James 2

February 20, 2023

Faith and Works

James 2.14-26

James’ claim that faith without works is dead is not a commentary on a person’s eternal destiny, but a believer’s spiritual vitality. We were saved on purpose with a purpose…to walk in the good works that God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

It comes down to doing what God says. When it comes to various trials that we are going through, we patiently endure knowing that God is at work in us through the trial to transform us more and more to live and love like Jesus. And when it’s the trials that others are going through, we love them in practical, demonstrable ways knowing that God is working through us to love our neighbor to transform us more and more to live and love like Jesus.

Now let me make a comment here. If your faith is not producing works…it’s not evident to others that you have trusted in Jesus…you have one of two problems. You have trusted in Jesus, but your faith needs an overhaul. You’ve stepped off Torah Road, and you need to get back on it. Or…you have not trusted in Jesus and are lacking faith. Both are a problem.

I’ll finish with this. It comes back to wisdom. Hearing and doing. Believing and working. As believers, that’s the way we are called to live our lives. Trusting God fully…no matter what.

pro rege

This post is based on a sermon from our James series. Download the podcast at: Central Christian Church Main Service, or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube or Twitter: @ccclancaster. You can also download our Central Christian app in the iTunes App Store.

February 13, 2023

Love Your Neighbor As Yourself

James 2.1-13

Do not hold your faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ with personal favoritism. But love your neighbor…all your neighbors…as yourself.

We all have blindspots…areas of our lives where we simply don’t see it. Areas where our actions, attitudes or words may be hurting or alienating others. And so, as painful as it is sometimes, it’s good to be reminded of our need to make loving others a priority.

Living out our faith…so speaking and so doing…takes a commitment on our part to love God first. That means that we have to do what He says. Live life according to His rules. To walk in obedience…obedience motivated by love. Not holding back certain areas of our life as “off limits”, but being all in.

Some of you do a great job of making everyone feel important…of making them feel like they belong. Some of us have some work to do. But we are all in process, one foot in front of the other, headed to the kingdom.

James is writing to a group of folks…not unlike us. We too need to take seriously the charge not to show personal favoritism. And my prayer for us is that no matter the place a person comes from…cultural, socio-economic, geographic, whatever…they will be welcomed by us, they will feel like they belong, and they will know that they are loved. That’s going to take all of us.

pro rege

This post is based on a sermon from our James series. Download the podcast at: Central Christian Church Main Service, or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube or Twitter: @ccclancaster. You can also download our Central Christian app in the iTunes App Store.