Living Out Our Faith Openly (v.15-16)

John

Living Out Our Faith • Sermon • Submitted 3 years ago

James 2:15–16

Faith

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Introduction

We are back to our study of James 2. We started this long second paragraph last week with verse 14 which says...

James 2:14 KJV 1900

What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?

So, without any delay, let’s get right into our study tonight. We will be doing two verses - verses 15 and 16. Both verses constitute an entire sentence or thought. Let’s read them together. Then do a little word study and get right into the spiritual application.

James 2:15–16 KJV 1900

If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, 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?

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WORD STUDY

Verbs

Be – to be in a state; to be or exist in a state or condition; often of states that are enduring as opposed to temporary.

Destitute – to miss (lack); to be without or lack.

Say – to say (express); to express in words.

Depart – to go away; to move away from a place into another direction.

Be ye warmed – to warm oneself; to cause oneself to become warm or warmer.

Filled – to be satiated; to be filled to satisfaction (on food or drink).

Ye give – to cause to have, in the abstract or physical sense.

Nouns

Brother – believer <-> brother; a male believer understood as one’s own sibling in God’s family; sometimes used of any sibling (regardless of gender) in God’s family.

Sister – believer <-> sister; a female believer understood as one’s own sibling in God’s family.

Food – any food, whether solid or liquid; that is used as a source of nourishment by humans or animals.

Peace – blessing of peace; a state of peace that is a blessing or favor from God.

Body – the entire structure of an organism, animal, or human being.

Profit – advantage (benefit); benefit resulting from some event or action.

Adverbs

Not – negative.

Adjectives

Naked – to be poorly dressed <-> be naked; to be or become vested in sparse or low-quality clothing; conceived of as being naked.

Daily – for the day; pertaining to the current day.

Needful – necessary for relief or supply.

Conjunctions

If – if; if perhaps

Or – But; and; now

And – and; also

And – but; and; now

And – and; also

Notwithstanding - but; and; now

SPIRITUAL APPLICATION

What is the Holy Spirit talking about?

The Holy Spirit is still talking about faith and works.

What is the Holy Spirit saying about faith and works?

The Holy Spirit is illustrating how faith and works go together. In His illustration, He speaks of a brother or sister who is without clothing and food. Knowing the need, a fellow brother or sister says to them, “Go in peace, be warm and be filled.” BUT that same brother or sister does nothing to help them. Actions speak louder than words. Wishing them good will does not feed them or cloth them. Therefore, there is no advantage or profit.

Again, we must remember that the Holy Spirit is building upon the premise already stated in verse 14 which says…

James 2:14 KJV 1900

What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?

The idea being that a person of truth faith will be a person who demonstrates that faith through their words and actions.

To further the point, the Holy Spirit gives us a very spiritual application.

James 2:15–16 (KJV 1900)

Note first of all that the Holy Spirit directs our attention to other brothers and sisters in Christ. He is not speaking of how we treat all people. Instead, He focuses in on those who are spiritual siblings in Christ. Scripture is quite clear about our adoption into God’s family. That adoption in turn makes us spiritual siblings. We are bound together as joint-heirs with Christ. Here are some key verses that speak to this.

Romans 8:15 KJV 1900

For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.

Romans 8:23 KJV 1900

And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.

Galatians 4:5 KJV 1900

To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.

Ephesians 1:5 KJV 1900

Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,

We are adopted as His sons and daughters when we fully accept Christ as our Savior. As such, we then count each other as brothers and sisters in Christ. The implication then is that we are to see and treat each other as brothers and sisters in Christ. For this reason, the Holy Spirit directs our attention those with whom will spend eternity. The bond of our heavenly family is always a greater bond than our blood family. It is bond that is bought and purchased by the precious blood of Christ. Therefore, we should always seek to help those who are part of that wonderful heavenly family. There are many New Testament passages that admonish us to love one another, to pray for one another, to forgive one another, and to help one another. This passage, James 2:15-16, indirectly speaks to that very face.

Note again the text.

James 2:15–16 (KJV 1900)

We are presented now with a need. Our spiritual sibling is in need of clothes and food. The word “naked” means to poorly dressed or sparsely dressed. The indication is that of someone who is too poor to afford the appropriate clothing that will protect them from the elements. Not only are they in need of clothes, but they are also destitute of daily food. The word “destitute” means to be without or to lack the necessary item. In other words, they are hungry and have nothing to eat.

One of the things that Scripture often instructs us to do is to meet the needs of those less fortunate than us. Note the words of Christ in Matthew 25 when He said...

Matthew 25:34–40 KJV 1900

Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

1 Peter 4:9–10 KJV 1900

Use hospitality one to another without grudging. As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.

3 John 5–8 KJV 1900

Beloved, thou doest faithfully whatsoever thou doest to the brethren, and to strangers; which have borne witness of thy charity before the church: whom if thou bring forward on their journey after a godly sort, thou shalt do well: because that for his name’s sake they went forth, taking nothing of the Gentiles. We therefore ought to receive such, that we might be fellowhelpers to the truth.

Again, the point is this. We have duty to meet the needs of those less fortunate and especially when those people are our spiritual brothers and sisters. Christ likened helping them as helping Him. The Holy Spirit in 1 Peter noted it as ministry (…so minister…). By the way, in that same verse, the indication is that we minister God’s grace when we show hospitality to others. And, then, in the 3 John, when we meet the needs of our brothers and sisters we become “fellowhelpers” in the truth.

Now, back to our text.

James 2:15–16 (KJV 1900)

The emphasis here is on the word “say.” Remember verse 14!

James 2:14 KJV 1900

What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?

Again, the emphasis on the word “say.” Talk is cheap. Faith is only effective faith when it is express through actions. Here the person saying the words “Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled” is a person who acknowledges there is need. Yet, in spite of knowing there is need, all you do is offer hollow expressions of kindness. Why are they hollow? Words will not keep a person warm. Words do not fill a hungry stomach. Thus, the words are empty and hollow. There is no meaning. There is no profit. There is no advantage to the person in need. In the end, the platitudes are not for the needy. The platitudes are the for the one who sees a need and is not interested in meeting that need. Too many times we are quick to say “God bless you” and never lift a hand to help.

Ecclesiastes 5:1–7 KJV 1900

Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house of God, and be more ready to hear, than to give the sacrifice of fools: for they consider not that they do evil. Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter any thing before God: for God is in heaven, and thou upon earth: therefore let thy words be few. For a dream cometh through the multitude of business; and a fool’s voice is known by multitude of words. When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for he hath no pleasure in fools: pay that which thou hast vowed. Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay. Suffer not thy mouth to cause thy flesh to sin; neither say thou before the angel, that it was an error: wherefore should God be angry at thy voice, and destroy the work of thine hands? For in the multitude of dreams and many words there are also divers vanities: but fear thou God.

This particular passage deals with making vows to God. However, some of its truth can be applied to our text this evening as well. Specifically, we must not be “rash” with our mouths or “hasty to utter any thing.” This is what happens when we see a brother or sister in need. We are hasty to say “God bless you” or “I will pray for you.” Unfortunately, we do nothing to lift a hand to help. Now, I know that there are times when there is nothing that can be done. But I think we can all agree that this is not always the case. There are many times when we can lift a hand and meet the need. However, we take the easy road by saying “Depart in peace, by ye warmed and filled.”

Now, back to the text and the last thought for this evening.

James 2:15–16 (KJV 1900)

Faith and works always go together. That is, of course, the entire point of this passage. While we continue our journey here on earth, we must deal with the physical as well as the spiritual. In dealing with the physical, we must seek to help those who are in need of basic things like comfort, covering, and food. Sometimes, we must learn to pray less and simply do more to help others. There is, as you already know, no profit talking the talk but not walking the walk.

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