Faith, Works, Justified Part 2

Jul10

Jericho is conquered. (Joshua 6:1-21)
Joshua upheld the word of his spies.

Joshua said to the two men who had spied out the land, “Go into the harlot’s house and bring the woman and all she has out of there, as you have sworn to her.” So the young men who were spies went in and brought out Rahab, her family and her other relatives and placed them outside the camp of Israel.
Rahab with her father’s household and all she had, Joshua spared; and she has lived in the midst of Israel to this day, for she hid the messengers whom Joshua sent to spy out Jericho.
Joshua 6:22-25 NASB1995

By faith Rahab the harlot did not perish along with those who were disobedient, after she had welcomed the spies in peace.
Hebrews 11:31 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/heb.11.31.NASB1995

Rahab, who was a harlot in Jericho, is part of the lineage of Jesus. (Matthew 1:5)

🌹It’s not about where you came from, your past, or your abilities or inabilities. It’s about what God can and will do with a surrendered heart of faith willing to work in obedient faith for His purpose and glory.

Jesus is the One who justifies.

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon
https://indasharonjesus.org

Faith, Works, Justified Part 1

Jul9

You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone.

In the same way, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way? For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.
James 2:24-26 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/jas.2.24-26.NASB1995

In Joshua, chapter one, God’s people were about to cross into the Promised Land given by God. ¹Joshua sent two men, spies, to view the land, especially Jericho. The king of Jericho got wind of this and sent word to Rahab to bring the men out who had entered her house.
But . . . the woman had taken the two men and hidden them, and she said, “Yes, the men came to me, but I did not know where they were from. It came about when it was time to shut the gate at dark, that the men went out; I do not know where the men went. Pursue them quickly, for you will overtake them.” But she had brought them up to the roof and hidden them in the stalks of flax which she had laid in order on the roof. So the men pursued them on the road to the Jordan to the fords; and as soon as those who were pursuing them had gone out, they shut the gate.
Joshua 2:4-7 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/jos.2.4-7.NASB1995

¹Rahab asked of the men she hid to have mercy upon her and her family confessing that, “the Lord your God, He is God in heaven and on earth beneath.” The men agreed to deal kindly and faithfully.

¹Rahab helped the men escape and their parting words were . . .
. . . “We shall be free from this oath to you which you have made us swear, unless, when we come into the land, you tie this cord of scarlet thread in the window through which you let us down, and gather to yourself into the house your father and your mother and your brothers and all your father’s household.
Joshua 2:17-18 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/jos.2.17-18.NASB1995

She said, “According to your words, so be it.” So she sent them away, and they departed; and she tied the scarlet cord in the window.
Joshua 2:21 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/jos.2.21.NASB1995

Continually Seeking Him,

🌹Sharon
https://indasharonjesus.org

¹Reference: Joshua 2:1-21

Faith: Soul Preserver

Jul8

But are you willing to recognize, you foolish fellow, that faith without works is useless?
Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up Isaac his son on the altar? You see that faith was working with his works, and as a result (by the deeds) of the works, faith was perfected (completed); and the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “And Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness,” and he was called the friend of God.
James 2:20-23 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/jas.2.20-23.NASB1995

The work of God is that we believe in Jesus. The gift of God is grace through faith.
John 6:29/Ephesians 2:8 NASB1995

Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself.
James 2:17 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/jas.2.17.NASB1995

🌹But My righteous one shall live by faith; And if he shrinks back, My soul has no pleasure in him. But we are not of those who shrink back to destruction, but of those who have faith to the preserving of the soul.
Hebrews 10:38-39 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/heb.10.38-39.NASB1995

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon
https://indasharonjesus.org

Belief or Faith?

Jul7

But someone (will) may well say, “You have faith and I have works; show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works.”
James 2:18 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/jas.2.18.NASB1995

Are you content being a believer? You said the prayer. You got baptized. Then . . . No fruit. No obedience. No spiritual growth.

Jesus said, “Why do you call Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?”
Luke 6:46 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/luk.6.46.NASB1995

Faith is more than believing. Faith is living. Living for Jesus . . .

In obedience to His word.

What I tell you in the darkness, speak in the light; and what you hear whispered in your ear, proclaim upon the housetops.
Matthew 10:27 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/mat.10.27.NASB1995

Growing, nourishing your spirit.

but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
2 Peter 3:18a NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/2pe.3.18.NASB1995

Bearing fruit.

My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples.
John 15:8 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/jhn.15.8.NASB1995

Faith is being all in, sold out to the Lord.

“Therefore everyone who confesses Me before men, I will also confess him before My Father who is in heaven.
And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. He who has found his life will lose it, and he who has lost his life for My sake will find it.
Matthew 10:32, 38-39 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/mat.10.32-39.NASB1995

No act of worthiness means anything, but only faith through the Spirit in us working through love.
Galatians 5:5-6 NASB1995

Belief is not enough.

🌹You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder.
James 2:19 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/jas.2.19.NASB1995

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon
https://indasharonjesus.org

Blessed Be The Lord!

Jul4

Splendor and majesty are before Him, Strength and joy are in His place.

Ascribe to the Lord, O families of the peoples, Ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.
Ascribe to the Lord the glory due His name; Bring an offering, and come before Him; Worship the Lord in holy array.

Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, From everlasting even to everlasting.

Then all the people said, “Amen,” and praised the Lord.
1 Chronicles 16:27-29, 36 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/1ch.16.27-36.NASB1995

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon
https://indasharonjesus.org

P.S. Happy Independence Day!
Birthday of the United States of America!
❤️🤍💙🇺🇸

Faith in Action

Jul3

If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and be filled,” and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that?
James 2:15-16 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/jas.2.15-16.NASB1995

I just have to say, “I know and serve an amazing God.”

My husband and I went out to breakfast and as we were leaving we noticed an older woman of seventy sitting in the foyer. She was drinking a cup of water, graciously given by the management of the restaurant, after having walked in the heat. This woman was headed to an ATM.

Here’s where God steps in…

We were asked if we knew where an ATM was in the area. With this one question the door of opportunity to practice our faith opened the door to put our faith into action. We took this woman, in an air-conditioned vehicle, to an ATM and then delivered her safely home. We talked of Jesus and we will be praying for her. What a wonderful blessing it was to practice our faith with action; to be a part of God’s plan.

🌹Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself.
James 2:17 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/jas.2.17.NASB1995

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon
https://indasharonjesus.org

🙏 Thank you, Lord, for giving me a testimony to share with these verses. To You, God, be all the glory!!! Amen.

Faith Works

Jul2

What use is it, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but he has no works? Can that faith save him?
James 2:14 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/jas.2.14.NASB1995

Works is an outpouring of faith. The desire, the call to serve sincerely, comes from a heart to serve our Lord God. Do you know that you know that you know you are saved?

Salvation is a commitment to follow and serve God.

Are you content in your salvation?

(Recommended reading: Matthew 25:31-46)

🌹But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in what he does.
James 1:25 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/jas.1.25.NASB1995

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon
https://indasharonjesus.org

Showing Mercy

Jul1

If, however, you are fulfilling the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well.
But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors.
For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all. For He who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not commit murder.” Now if you do not commit adultery, but do commit murder, you have become a transgressor of the law.
James 2:8-11 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/jas.2.8-11.NASB1995

No matter the sin, big or small, sin is a transgression of the Lord’s law.

If we do not love our neighbor – anyone who is not us – we sin.

If we show favoritism to some; looking down on others, we sin.

Abiding by all the laws yet neglecting one, we are transgressors, sinners, of the entire law.

for you once were not a people, but now you are the people of God; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
1 Peter 2:10 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/1pe.2.10.NASB1995

🌹So speak and so act as those who are to be judged by the law of liberty. For judgment will be merciless to one who has shown no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment.
James 2:12-13 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/jas.2.12-13.NASB1995

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon
https://indasharonjesus.org

No Partiality

Jun30

But you have dishonored the poor man. Is it not the rich who oppress you and personally drag you into court?
James 2:6 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/jas.2.6.NASB1995

The righteous mighty One, shows no partiality to princes nor regards the rich above the poor, for they are all the work of His hands.
Job 34:17b,19 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/job.34.19.NASB1995

Do they not blaspheme the fair name by which you have been called?
James 2:7 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/jas.2.6-7.NASB1995

We, the called of God, the righteous mighty One, need to stand strong. Let us follow God by not showing partiality. We, God’s beloved, should walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God. Let us continue to build each other up into our most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keeping each other in the love of God, waiting anxiously for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life.
Colossians 1:10/Jude 1:20-21 NASB1995

🌹so that you would walk in a manner worthy of the God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory.
Thessalonians 2:12 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/1th.2.12.NASB1995

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon
https://indasharonjesus.org

Thank, Praise, Exalt

Jun27

I will give thanks to You, O Lord, among the peoples; I will sing praises to You among the nations. For Your lovingkindness is great to the heavens And Your truth (faithfulness) to the clouds. Be exalted above the heavens, O God; Let Your glory be above all the earth.
Psalms 57:9-11 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/psa.57.9-11.NASB1995

🌹My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast; I will sing, yes, I will sing praises!
Psalms 57:7 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/psa.57.7.NASB1995

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon
https://indasharonjesus.org