Tag Archive | faith

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

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

Rich in Joy

Jun26

Listen, my beloved brethren: did not God choose the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him?
James 2:5 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/jas.2.5.NASB1995

Do you ever notice you’re smiling without realizing it? You might be alone or in a crowd but there is this smile on your face for no apparent reason. This verse brought that to mind. I believe the joy of knowing the richness of faith in God and that I belong to His everlasting kingdom is the reason.

Do you find contentment and joy knowing that you are part of something bigger and better than the life you live now? Are you experiencing the joy of the Lord and His grace being poured out on you?

Is it time to put your trust in Him?

🌹The Lord is my strength and my shield; My heart trusts in Him, and I am helped; Therefore my heart exults, And with my song I shall thank Him.
Psalms 28:7 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/psa.28.7.NASB1995

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon
https://indasharonjesus.org

Personal Favoritism

Jun24

My brethren, do not hold your faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ with an attitude of personal favoritism.
James 2:1 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/jas.2.1.NASB1995

I’ll be honest. I struggled with the meaning of this verse. I was not satisfied with the commentaries I consulted and the different translations just confused me.

But God . . .

I understand that the interpretation of the Word of God should be viewed in the context, in this case, of the letter, but I kept coming back to a personal viewpoint. (Which I truly believe was guided by the Holy Spirit).

“Personal favoritism.” Was I looking at myself? Was I thinking I am something special because I belong to the Lord? I will confess that I am truly blessed and my Lord God is a very, very special part of my life but do I act as if I am above others because of all the blessings God has given me? Do I think and act as if I am one of His favorites? That would not be very humble of me. I needed to change my viewpoint, all of God’s children are His personal favorite.

For the Lord your God is the God of gods and the Lord of lords, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God who does not show partiality nor take a bribe.
Deuteronomy 10:17 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/deu.10.17.NASB1995

As God’s child we can feel pretty special but all are special in God’s sight. Jesus shed His blood for all people. He called me to walk with Him. I made a choice to follow. He does the rest. I’m still a flawed sinner saved by grace. There have been many, many people of faith who have done extraordinary service to and for the Lord but not without God enabling them.

🌹Look to Jesus . . .

. . . the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Hebrews 12:2 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/heb.12.2.NASB1995

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon
https://indasharonjesus.org

Living By Faith?

Jun23

If anyone thinks himself to be religious, and yet does not bridle (control) his tongue but deceives his own heart, this man’s religion is worthless.
James 1:26 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/jas.1.26.NASB1995

Are the words that come from our mouth God honoring? Is it truth that springs from our lips, refreshing, soul lifting, even in the presence of non-believers?

I said, “I will guard my ways That I may not sin with my tongue; I will guard my mouth as with a muzzle While the wicked are in my presence.”
Psalms 39:1 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/psa.39.1.NASB1995

I will delve further into the controlling of tongues more in chapter 3 of James.

Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.
James 1:27 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/jas.1.27.NASB1995

What is pure and undefiled religion in the sight of God?

First it is to be doers of the word and to live by faith, for the righteous shall live by faith. Under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, we being justified and righteous by our Lord, are given the opportunity to join in our Lord’s work as He works through us. Serving our Lord by feeding the hungry; quenching the thirst of the thirsty; welcoming strangers into the church; clothing the naked; visiting the sick; and visiting those in prison.
So let us learn to do good; seek justice, reprove the ruthless, defend the orphan, plead for the widow. Let us, because Jesus purified us for Himself, be a people zealous for good works.
Romans 2:13a/Galatians 3:11b/Matthew 25:35-36/Isaiah 1:17/Titus 2:14 NASB1995

🌹For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.
Ephesians 2:10 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/eph.2.10.NASB1995

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon
https://indasharonjesus.org

Speaking the Gospel

May29

Whoever speaks, is to do so as one who is speaking the utterances of God; . . . so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
1 Peter 4:11a, c NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/1pe.4.11.NASB1995

What a privilege we have to be entrusted with the gospel of Jesus Christ. To tell people about the saving grace we embrace. But do we? Are we embarrassed, ashamed, afraid? Fear is the greatest deterrent I’ve found to sharing the gospel. Fear of rejection being at the top of the list. Contentment in our own salvation is another. God commands us to go into all the world and make disciples, so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who examines our hearts.
1 Thessalonians 2:4; Matthew 28:19-20 NASB1995

So, what can we do?

🌹Remember those who led you, who spoke the word of God to you; and considering the result of their conduct, imitate their faith.
Hebrews 13:7 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/heb.13.7.NASB1995

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon
https://indasharonjesus.org