Brandon told me that Martin Luther wanted to throw the book of James out because it talked so much of works and faith. However, as Brookhills goes through James 1 I am realizing that James speaks of faith and obedience. Romans speaks a lot of grace and salvation, but tucked into chapter 2 Paul also speaks of the Law and obedience.
Romans 2:13-15a "For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the law who will be justified. For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law. They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts"
James 1: 22 "But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing."
Now, please please don't misunderstand me. I am in no way saying that WORKS will SAVE anyone. I am saying that works SHOW our faith. Works show our obedience to the Word of God and to His law. May Christians no longer be only hearers of the Word on Sunday mornings but Doers of the Word ALL THE TIME. May we fulfill the Great Commission. May we serve the poor, the orphans, and the widows with a joyful heart.
After hearing Sunday's sermon, I realized that I need to be in the Word MORE. In order to DO the Word, I must know the Word.
I encourage everyone to devote more time each day to reading the Word of God. In two days, I have read from the Old and New Testament and can already see how the Word is woven together. It is not disconnected books all bound together. It is beautiful and priceless.
