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.
James gives an illustration of how vain it is to simply say we have faith, when in reality we do not manifest that we have continued trusting Christ Jesus the Lord alone. True faith will give temporal clothing and food to brethren who come seeking these things. Such a work is not out of a slavish, legalistic motive, but from the love of Christ shed abroad in our hearts. It is a sure impossibility to possess true God-given faith apart from works which prove that faith to be genuine.
Yet, have you ever come to the house of the Lord seeking Christ, only to hear the preacher speak from a passage such as this but never feed you the Bread from heaven or bring forth the garment of Righteousness. Even so, you came spiritually naked and hungry and were sent away without those things which are needful for the soul. If a brother or sister comes to a professing believer seeking where the garments of righteousness may be found, where true life may be found, and the professing believer does not declare that Christ is the Lord our Righteousness, the Bread from heaven, what does it profit? If we say that Christ is our All but we do not speak of Him who is Peace, it is like sending away a naked and hungry loved one with vain words and no substance. Those who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ continue steadfastly determined to preach, not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your servants for Jesus sake (2 Co. 4:4.)
Remember what a doer of the word is? He is one who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues therein (Ja 1:25.) Faith begins believing that Christ Jesus the Lord clothes sinners in the garment of God's righteousness. The work of the believer is to continue steadfastly in this faith. "Doing the work" is manifest when believers continue to feed sinners with the Bread from heaven. If we possess true faith, those who come seeking spiritual clothing and food OR temporal clothing and food, will go away with ALL, those things needful for the body. Not because we are working for acceptance with the Lord, but because by God's grace we believe and are thankful that we ARE clothed and fed in the Beloved. By the preserving grace of God, true faith looks into the perfect law of liberty and continueth therein, he not being a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed (Ja 1: 25.) Even so faith without works is dead being alone.
SOVEREIGN GRACE BAPTIST CHURCH Of Princeton, New Jersey
LOCATION & TELEPHONE Rocky Hill Firehouse, 2nd floor 150 Washington Street, Rocky Hill, NJ, 08553 Pastor's Telephone: 615-513-4464
SCHEDULE OF SERVICES Sunday 10 AM Bible Class 11 AM Morning Worship Thursday 7:00 PM Mid-week Service (The first Sunday of each month, morning worship begins at 10am followed by observing the Lord's Table. Afterwards we have lunch together.)
We welcome you to join us in worshipping the Lord our Righteousness.