WEBVTT 00:00:00.479 --> 00:00:08.720 Yeah, what a joy for 11 years that we've been able to give 10% of what you give to other ministries. 00:00:08.880 --> 00:00:14.480 And that's because we get to support other ministries that are focusing on stuff that we don't get to do. 00:00:14.640 --> 00:00:20.800 We don't get to focus on those things locally or internationally, but we get to support parachurch ministries that do focus on that. 00:00:20.879 --> 00:00:27.359 So when you give to us, you're giving to us to help this church run, but you're also giving to different ministries around the world. 00:00:27.679 --> 00:00:31.039 As well, I'm overjoyed to report back to you as we've been talking the last few months. 00:00:31.199 --> 00:00:52.240 If you remember back in May, we bought the suite to the to the right of us on the other side of that wall, and it's gonna be our group room, and we're already using that, but another suite on the back of the building that we're leasing out, and we started to talk about like how do we how do we uh get those spaces up to what we want them to be, and then there's some other areas of our building need attention, and then we had to take out some debt to purchase that, and so how are we gonna deal with that debt? 00:00:52.320 --> 00:00:54.880 And so we've been raising money for the past few months. 00:00:55.039 --> 00:01:17.280 It's just my pleasure, joy to report back that we have pledged, that you have pledged$698,000 over the next 18 months, and that's that's a huge, huge number, and as well, what a joy to be a part of church that's leading in generosity to create spaces so that you can be here, and your family can be here, and the next family can be here. 00:01:17.439 --> 00:01:30.400 And so the elders, the leadership board here, we're gonna get together and get some pricing on different things and try to chip away at some debt, try to chip away at some different key areas of our building that need attention for us to keep moving forward. 00:01:30.560 --> 00:01:35.680 The prayer I've sent it out on email a couple times, but I want to pray the prayer that I've emailed out. 00:01:35.760 --> 00:01:36.400 So let's pray together. 00:01:36.480 --> 00:01:37.439 We're gonna pray this together. 00:01:37.519 --> 00:01:38.000 Let's pray. 00:01:38.239 --> 00:01:56.079 Heavenly Father, would you, as we sit here this morning as a church, would you grant us not a perfect building, not a perfect facility, but would you grant us a gospel movement that is possible because your Holy Spirit's at work? 00:01:56.560 --> 00:02:02.480 Would you give us a sweet community of peace, of rest, and growth? 00:02:03.280 --> 00:02:07.040 And God, we pray uh for this season, just has been true for 11 years. 00:02:07.120 --> 00:02:18.639 We pray it for now that we would have the right amount of resources for this moment for this church to take the next step to continue our vision and our values. 00:02:18.719 --> 00:02:25.759 And so, God, would you give us open hands and would you give us full hearts with your love for us? 00:02:26.159 --> 00:02:32.960 Would we live in the lavishness of the gospel and would we exist to lavish that gospel on the next person? 00:02:33.199 --> 00:02:35.199 And would we do this in your sovereignty? 00:02:35.360 --> 00:02:43.120 As we open your word this morning, have mercy on us as we listen and have mercy on the one who speaks. 00:02:43.520 --> 00:02:44.159 Amen. 00:02:45.039 --> 00:02:49.680 Today we're finishing James chapter two, quite a passage if you are listening along. 00:02:49.759 --> 00:02:54.639 You're like, oh, that was read, and then Steve said the sentence that were more broken, but more loved. 00:02:54.800 --> 00:02:57.759 You're like, let's see how Russ is going to reconcile this. 00:02:58.000 --> 00:03:06.639 The book of James is in the New Testament, and yet it can feel like a book of demand, of get your act together, perform for God. 00:03:06.800 --> 00:03:08.319 This is how you're right with him. 00:03:08.560 --> 00:03:10.080 It can feel like that for sure. 00:03:10.240 --> 00:03:26.639 And so it's easy to read James, and especially this passage in James, and wonder how do we reconcile James with the lavishness of grace that we read in other places in the New Testament, especially in Paul. 00:03:28.560 --> 00:03:32.639 But we have to remember we read any part of the Bible in light of the whole Bible. 00:03:32.719 --> 00:03:33.919 We don't just read James. 00:03:34.080 --> 00:03:40.719 When we read James, we're reading James in light of the entire biblical story of our rescue in Jesus alone. 00:03:40.879 --> 00:03:48.879 And we need to ask, in all of James' bluntness, in all of that, what is his heart? 00:03:49.280 --> 00:03:51.680 What is the heart behind this bluntness? 00:03:52.000 --> 00:03:53.759 What is James's heart? 00:03:54.159 --> 00:03:58.479 About 10 years ago, we were in our first year as a church. 00:03:58.719 --> 00:04:11.599 I was at lunch with two of our amazing leaders, and one of them at this lunch, right in the middle of the lunch, out of nowhere, he looked at me and he said, I want to be candid with you. 00:04:11.919 --> 00:04:13.840 And you're like, okay, here we go. 00:04:14.000 --> 00:04:17.519 That's an opening phrase for whatever comes next. 00:04:17.759 --> 00:04:19.519 I want to be candid with you. 00:04:19.839 --> 00:04:24.879 And he said, You sound rude on text. 00:04:27.439 --> 00:04:27.759 Me? 00:04:28.079 --> 00:04:28.959 I'm rude? 00:04:29.519 --> 00:04:35.120 But I just sort of nodded along and he explained, but inside I was all stirred up. 00:04:36.000 --> 00:04:41.120 Me, I'm not rude on text, I'm efficient on text. 00:04:42.160 --> 00:04:43.439 Is what I am. 00:04:44.319 --> 00:04:53.120 And then I remembered something that the guy who told me this, the guy who told me this, this guy loves me. 00:04:54.560 --> 00:04:58.240 It kind of changes everything else, doesn't it, about that corrective word? 00:04:59.360 --> 00:05:06.399 Because then the question becomes, all right, what is the heart behind this corrective word? 00:05:08.480 --> 00:05:15.120 See, this guy just wanted me to be a good leader who communicates well and doesn't upset people. 00:05:17.120 --> 00:05:18.480 I'm still trying. 00:05:21.199 --> 00:05:23.199 That's just what he wanted. 00:05:23.600 --> 00:05:27.519 And now, of course, now I can't put enough cheesy emojis in my text. 00:05:27.680 --> 00:05:30.480 If you've gotten a text from me, it's like triple thumbs up. 00:05:30.639 --> 00:05:33.759 Like, was that really needed? 00:05:34.319 --> 00:05:35.839 Smiley face, hard eyes. 00:05:36.000 --> 00:05:37.279 It's a popular one for me. 00:05:37.439 --> 00:05:41.199 Like, I've just chosen, I'd rather be cheesy than rude. 00:05:41.920 --> 00:05:43.519 So that's what that's about. 00:05:44.560 --> 00:05:49.839 But I had to ask, what is the heart behind the word? 00:05:50.079 --> 00:05:51.199 What is the heart behind this? 00:05:51.360 --> 00:05:52.959 And that's what we got to do here with James. 00:05:53.040 --> 00:05:54.879 What is James's heart? 00:05:55.839 --> 00:06:01.519 So this week I read a little bit of history through this book called Not by Paul Alone. 00:06:01.680 --> 00:06:03.680 It's by David Nienhouse. 00:06:04.079 --> 00:06:11.839 And Nienhouse says that James wrote his letter against Marsonian teaching. 00:06:12.879 --> 00:06:14.000 There's Marcion. 00:06:14.800 --> 00:06:16.800 Second century heretic. 00:06:17.759 --> 00:06:26.639 So James is seeing what this guy is saying, what these followers of this saying, and that was that Paul was the only true voice of Christianity. 00:06:26.879 --> 00:06:33.839 And those people were taking that lavishness of grace, and they were just living their lives however they want. 00:06:34.720 --> 00:06:39.680 And James is going, uh, that's not Paul, that's not Christianity. 00:06:39.839 --> 00:06:51.040 And so what Nienhaus proposes in this book is that we have James not as a correction to Paul, but we have James as a correction to the people who misread Paul. 00:06:51.279 --> 00:06:52.720 That's a big difference. 00:06:54.560 --> 00:07:06.240 So James' heart seems to be to help people, help us rightfully exercise the grace and the freedom that we already have in Jesus. 00:07:06.560 --> 00:07:17.279 And James's heart over and over again in this letter is for our faith to actually matter, for it to mean something, for it not just to be empty words. 00:07:17.600 --> 00:07:25.360 So James 2, verse 14, what good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? 00:07:25.680 --> 00:07:27.360 Can that faith save him? 00:07:27.519 --> 00:07:33.360 Alright, can that faith, like not faith in Jesus, that faith, the faith that's empty, saying that? 00:07:33.680 --> 00:07:35.120 Can that faith save him? 00:07:35.279 --> 00:07:48.079 Verse 15, if a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, Go in peace, be warmed and filled, without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? 00:07:48.480 --> 00:07:53.519 So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. 00:07:54.240 --> 00:07:59.519 Point number one, enlivened faith is the root of a flourishing life. 00:07:59.839 --> 00:08:03.199 Faith that's alive leads to a flourishing life. 00:08:03.519 --> 00:08:08.480 Faith that's alive creates works, obedience, godliness. 00:08:08.720 --> 00:08:11.439 Now, two years ago, I was with some fishing buddies. 00:08:11.519 --> 00:08:15.199 We were out in Wyoming, we woke up in the morning and we were gonna go fish at Crystal Creek. 00:08:15.279 --> 00:08:19.279 So we stopped by the fly shop, we talked to our buddy Baker, we said, hey, we're gonna head out to Crystal Creek. 00:08:19.439 --> 00:08:20.399 He said, Oh, great spot. 00:08:20.480 --> 00:08:22.560 We've never been there before, so we need some intel. 00:08:22.720 --> 00:08:31.519 And so he says, Hey, well, you head straight out of town, take a right on Grovaunt Road, drive 45 minutes on Grovaunt Road, it's gonna become a gravel road, just keep going. 00:08:31.680 --> 00:08:38.559 45 minutes into the canyon, you'll see a campground on the left, right after the campground, there's a bridge, fish at the bridge, park right there. 00:08:39.120 --> 00:08:41.919 We say, Great, what should we look for on the way? 00:08:42.159 --> 00:08:45.039 He says, No, no, no, no, can't miss it. 00:08:45.279 --> 00:08:48.720 Right on Grovaunt, 45 minutes, campground, bridge, can't miss it. 00:08:48.879 --> 00:08:53.679 We say, okay, but you know, driving 45 minutes on a gravel road in one direction is quite a commitment for us. 00:08:53.759 --> 00:08:55.200 So, like, is there a landmark? 00:08:55.360 --> 00:08:56.480 He's like, no, no, no, no. 00:08:56.960 --> 00:08:58.000 You can't miss it. 00:08:58.159 --> 00:08:59.519 There's one road. 00:09:00.559 --> 00:09:02.559 Drive until you get there, right? 00:09:02.639 --> 00:09:08.000 He's thinking these moron city guys, they're stressed out, their GPS is not gonna work. 00:09:08.159 --> 00:09:09.519 Like, they don't understand. 00:09:09.600 --> 00:09:11.360 There's like two roads in the county. 00:09:11.519 --> 00:09:17.200 Like, just get on Grovaunt Road and head, like that's it, only goes to one spot, it goes to the bridge. 00:09:17.519 --> 00:09:19.279 So we turn on Grovaunt Road. 00:09:19.440 --> 00:09:21.120 Sure enough, we do pass some stuff. 00:09:21.279 --> 00:09:22.159 He could have told us about it. 00:09:22.399 --> 00:09:24.639 Little town of Kelly, like two buildings, he didn't mention it. 00:09:24.799 --> 00:09:28.159 Lower Slide Lake, beautiful, he didn't mention that. 00:09:28.480 --> 00:09:32.799 And we drive into the canyon, sure enough, campground on the left, then the bridge. 00:09:32.960 --> 00:09:34.159 Here's a picture from that bridge. 00:09:34.240 --> 00:09:37.039 Actually, I took this, my buddy's down there on the left fishing. 00:09:37.200 --> 00:09:38.159 Beautiful, isn't it? 00:09:38.399 --> 00:09:39.440 That's where the road goes. 00:09:39.600 --> 00:09:40.399 That's where it leads. 00:09:40.559 --> 00:09:41.519 Doesn't go anywhere else. 00:09:41.600 --> 00:09:42.720 That's where it leads. 00:09:42.960 --> 00:09:44.320 It goes to one spot. 00:09:44.480 --> 00:09:45.919 You can't miss it. 00:09:46.399 --> 00:09:51.519 So Baker at the fly shop knows what James knows. 00:09:52.000 --> 00:09:52.879 There's one road. 00:09:52.960 --> 00:09:53.759 You can't miss it. 00:09:53.840 --> 00:09:56.960 It's theirs, just the way it works, it's the way it goes. 00:09:57.600 --> 00:10:00.879 Faith that's alive flourishes with fruit. 00:10:01.039 --> 00:10:03.279 Not perfectly, but it does. 00:10:03.919 --> 00:10:05.120 There's one road. 00:10:05.440 --> 00:10:07.600 This will lead to that. 00:10:08.720 --> 00:10:16.639 Now, in verse 14, James says that people can use religious words to voice faith, but they never actually have it. 00:10:16.960 --> 00:10:18.720 That's not really saving faith in Jesus. 00:10:18.799 --> 00:10:20.720 That's just religious words. 00:10:21.919 --> 00:10:31.679 And then James says that works or fruit actually can bring peace to a believer because it can affirm the believer that the faith is real. 00:10:32.799 --> 00:10:39.279 Now, that by itself could send us in all sorts of directions of being performative and then guilty and ashamed and insecure. 00:10:39.600 --> 00:10:40.559 That's why it's so great. 00:10:40.639 --> 00:10:41.279 We have Paul. 00:10:41.440 --> 00:10:43.120 We have other New Testament. 00:10:43.279 --> 00:10:45.120 We read this in light of the bigger story. 00:10:45.279 --> 00:10:51.600 And Paul, at the end of his life, where you would assume he's more mature in Christ, he calls himself the worst sinner of all. 00:10:51.679 --> 00:10:55.759 In Romans 7, he says he does stuff he shouldn't do, he's not doing stuff he should do. 00:10:56.080 --> 00:10:59.519 So what we see is that this is not a call to perfection. 00:11:00.480 --> 00:11:14.159 This is an ongoing walk in the gospel, the Holy Spirit working in us, a walk of imperfection and confession, but it's in a direction over time toward godliness and grace. 00:11:15.120 --> 00:11:16.480 James 2, 18. 00:11:16.720 --> 00:11:19.440 But someone will say, You have faith and I have works. 00:11:19.600 --> 00:11:24.399 Show me your faith apart from works, and I will show you my faith by my works. 00:11:24.639 --> 00:11:27.200 You believe that God is one, you do well. 00:11:27.440 --> 00:11:29.440 Even the demons believe and shudder. 00:11:29.600 --> 00:11:34.320 Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless? 00:11:34.879 --> 00:11:37.200 Alright, so point number two, it's an old point. 00:11:37.360 --> 00:11:39.279 Stole it from a sermon a few weeks ago. 00:11:39.519 --> 00:11:40.240 Great point. 00:11:40.399 --> 00:11:41.519 No reason to not use it. 00:11:41.600 --> 00:11:42.960 Let's just keep using good points. 00:11:43.120 --> 00:11:43.759 Point number two. 00:11:43.840 --> 00:11:44.960 It's an old preacher trick. 00:11:45.120 --> 00:11:45.919 Point number two. 00:11:46.559 --> 00:11:51.039 God's love is not a result of our transformed lives. 00:11:51.679 --> 00:11:55.679 God's love is the source of our transforming lives. 00:11:55.840 --> 00:11:57.840 See, our lives are transforming. 00:11:58.639 --> 00:12:00.000 And God is at work in that. 00:12:00.159 --> 00:12:03.600 Verses 18 through 20, James says that even demons believed. 00:12:03.759 --> 00:12:04.960 They just don't care. 00:12:05.840 --> 00:12:07.840 They don't want to submit to the creator. 00:12:07.919 --> 00:12:09.039 They went their own way. 00:12:09.200 --> 00:12:12.000 And because of that, they shudder. 00:12:12.879 --> 00:12:14.559 Because there is a terror. 00:12:14.879 --> 00:12:24.480 There's a terror in the inner self, a great insecurity when you're not settled in your belovedness to the Creator, to the Heavenly Father. 00:12:24.720 --> 00:12:27.679 You just can't stop looking for something. 00:12:28.320 --> 00:12:29.600 Looking for something else. 00:12:30.159 --> 00:12:34.879 What else do I need to make me whole, worthy, forgiven, righteous? 00:12:37.759 --> 00:12:39.120 Verse 21. 00:12:40.720 --> 00:12:45.919 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? 00:12:46.159 --> 00:13:00.480 You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works, and the scripture was fulfilled that says Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness, and he was called a friend of God. 00:13:00.639 --> 00:13:04.720 You see that a person is justified by works, and not by faith alone. 00:13:05.039 --> 00:13:12.000 And in the same way, was not also Rahab the prostitute justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way? 00:13:12.240 --> 00:13:17.519 For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead. 00:13:17.840 --> 00:13:21.440 So James says, Abraham and Rahab were justified by works. 00:13:21.600 --> 00:13:37.679 Yet we believe, Protestant faith, we believe that justification, your relationship with God being secure, and that you can rest at it, being free in it, that justification is by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. 00:13:38.080 --> 00:13:38.960 Full stop. 00:13:40.320 --> 00:13:41.759 Well, this is interesting, isn't it? 00:13:42.000 --> 00:13:45.279 Seems like in the Bible we have these two different thoughts. 00:13:45.519 --> 00:13:52.639 Because Paul says in Romans 3.28, Paul says, we're justified by faith apart from works of the law. 00:13:52.879 --> 00:13:58.559 And then James says in James 2, 24, a person is not justified by faith alone. 00:13:58.879 --> 00:14:01.759 Now remember, justification is like the endeavor, the pursuit. 00:14:01.840 --> 00:14:02.399 We're all on it. 00:14:02.559 --> 00:14:04.720 Middle school, high school, 80 years old. 00:14:04.799 --> 00:14:05.440 We're all on it. 00:14:05.600 --> 00:14:10.960 The pursuit to be worthy, forgiven, righteous, acceptable to God. 00:14:11.120 --> 00:14:13.679 How do we know I'm right with God? 00:14:14.000 --> 00:14:16.480 How can I be secure and at peace? 00:14:17.279 --> 00:14:27.360 And so for James, it seems like, for James, justification is about the evidence that you're already justified. 00:14:28.559 --> 00:14:32.000 James assumes the gospel and tells you its effects. 00:14:32.080 --> 00:14:36.399 Remember, he's writing at a particular time to a particular people for a particular reason. 00:14:37.120 --> 00:14:40.559 James assumes the gospel and tells you its effects. 00:14:41.440 --> 00:14:45.519 Now, let's say you're at Max on the square for a dinner. 00:14:46.399 --> 00:14:54.799 Blackened shrimp, beer battered, eight-ounce filet, some side items, red wine, warm white chocolate, bread pudding. 00:14:54.960 --> 00:14:58.639 I mean, you went all out, spared no expense. 00:14:58.879 --> 00:15:00.240 Great, oh, what a great meal. 00:15:00.399 --> 00:15:01.519 Great meal, oh what a great night. 00:15:01.840 --> 00:15:02.879 Great night, great meal. 00:15:03.519 --> 00:15:04.559 Meal's over. 00:15:05.360 --> 00:15:08.320 You know that the bill's gonna check's coming. 00:15:08.559 --> 00:15:09.600 It's gonna be a good one, too. 00:15:09.679 --> 00:15:10.480 It's gonna be a big one. 00:15:10.559 --> 00:15:11.360 You're at max. 00:15:11.600 --> 00:15:12.240 Good food. 00:15:12.480 --> 00:15:13.279 Big check. 00:15:13.519 --> 00:15:14.799 Check's coming. 00:15:15.120 --> 00:15:16.000 And you know it. 00:15:16.240 --> 00:15:17.759 You're just kind of preparing yourself for that. 00:15:17.919 --> 00:15:19.039 Okay, here it comes. 00:15:19.200 --> 00:15:25.120 And right about then the owner just comes by and says, Hey, I got you. 00:15:25.279 --> 00:15:26.639 It's already paid for. 00:15:28.159 --> 00:15:32.639 Now James says that you would say, Wow, thanks. 00:15:32.960 --> 00:15:33.919 Amazing. 00:15:34.960 --> 00:15:36.960 Owner, I will sing your praises. 00:15:37.279 --> 00:15:41.039 Owner, I will use this extra money to buy someone at Blizzard this week. 00:15:41.279 --> 00:15:44.639 Owner, I, what what can I do for you, owner? 00:15:44.799 --> 00:15:45.600 That's what James says. 00:15:45.679 --> 00:15:46.720 This is the focus of James. 00:15:46.799 --> 00:15:48.080 The justification was free. 00:15:48.240 --> 00:15:48.960 What are the effects? 00:15:49.120 --> 00:15:50.399 James is like, what are the effects? 00:15:50.480 --> 00:15:51.039 What are you gonna do? 00:15:51.200 --> 00:15:52.399 What are the effects? 00:15:52.879 --> 00:15:54.879 What are the effects of free justification? 00:15:55.039 --> 00:15:55.919 That's James. 00:15:56.320 --> 00:16:03.679 Now, justification for Paul is the focus on that radical free grace and freedom. 00:16:04.159 --> 00:16:07.440 You finish your meal at max, owner comes by. 00:16:08.639 --> 00:16:10.399 Hey, I got you. 00:16:10.480 --> 00:16:11.759 It's already paid for. 00:16:12.399 --> 00:16:17.440 And in Pauline theology, you would say, great, wow, amazing. 00:16:17.679 --> 00:16:18.480 It's free. 00:16:18.639 --> 00:16:19.279 I'm free. 00:16:19.360 --> 00:16:24.080 And out the door you go singing and dancing, full stop, into the story. 00:16:24.639 --> 00:16:26.480 That's very Paul. 00:16:26.639 --> 00:16:31.360 But then Paul then teaches the effects of the gospel after that full stop. 00:16:32.240 --> 00:16:33.360 How do we make sense of this? 00:16:33.440 --> 00:16:35.039 I love this quote, I've read it before, C. 00:16:35.120 --> 00:16:35.200 F. 00:16:35.279 --> 00:16:35.440 W. 00:16:35.519 --> 00:16:37.360 Walther, a 19th-century Lutheran. 00:16:37.440 --> 00:16:40.240 I think this helps clarify this difference. 00:16:40.559 --> 00:16:44.159 How does this work itself out in your heart and life? 00:16:45.200 --> 00:16:50.559 The gospel does not require anything good that man must furnish. 00:16:50.720 --> 00:16:59.440 Not a good heart, not a good disposition, no improvement of his condition, no godliness, no love either of God or men. 00:16:59.679 --> 00:17:04.000 It issues no order, but changes a man. 00:17:04.400 --> 00:17:12.559 It plants love into his heart and changes him capable, makes him capable of all good works. 00:17:13.200 --> 00:17:16.079 It demands nothing, but it gives all. 00:17:16.240 --> 00:17:20.079 Should this fact not make us leap for joy? 00:17:21.039 --> 00:17:27.839 Grace wins, merit and performance are over, spiritual insecurity is over in Jesus. 00:17:28.079 --> 00:17:30.880 Now, what might that freedom create? 00:17:31.519 --> 00:17:34.079 Now I do wish James was clearer. 00:17:34.559 --> 00:17:35.119 I do. 00:17:35.279 --> 00:17:36.480 I can't change that. 00:17:36.640 --> 00:17:40.319 I wish I just said, like, hey, James, add in a few more verses right here. 00:17:40.480 --> 00:17:41.599 That would be really nice. 00:17:41.759 --> 00:17:45.839 But he was writing at a particular time, particular people, particular reason. 00:17:46.079 --> 00:17:51.119 The fuller context of the book doesn't let these verses mean what they seem to mean. 00:17:51.359 --> 00:17:57.599 Because even in the last verse of the book, James declares the full forgiveness of sinners in Christ alone. 00:17:58.160 --> 00:18:02.079 So he would not just be contradicting Paul, he'd be contradicting himself. 00:18:02.799 --> 00:18:15.519 So he must mean something like works are evidence and therefore a fulfillment of the justification because it's an effect of the gospel. 00:18:15.920 --> 00:18:22.880 If James is confusing, Paul seems to be more clear, and he does write about Abraham, Romans 4, 22. 00:18:23.200 --> 00:18:24.960 Paul writing here about Abraham. 00:18:25.119 --> 00:18:34.880 That is why his faith was counted to him as righteousness, but the words it was counted to him were not written for his sake alone, but for ours also. 00:18:35.599 --> 00:18:46.799 It will be counted to us who believe in him, who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord, who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification. 00:18:47.039 --> 00:18:47.839 By faith, right? 00:18:47.920 --> 00:18:48.640 That's what Paul said. 00:18:48.880 --> 00:18:54.000 By faith, by the belief alone, you can be counted as righteous. 00:18:54.240 --> 00:18:59.200 James says, look how the obedience is a fulfillment of that faith. 00:18:59.440 --> 00:19:03.759 And Paul says, look how faith creates that obedience. 00:19:04.079 --> 00:19:13.519 So our justification is free, nothing for you to add, and yet that free justification is seen over time in somebody's life. 00:19:13.759 --> 00:19:15.359 Here's what this has to do with you. 00:19:15.519 --> 00:19:18.319 2 Corinthians 5, 17 through 21. 00:19:19.599 --> 00:19:22.880 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. 00:19:23.359 --> 00:19:25.039 The old has passed away. 00:19:25.200 --> 00:19:26.720 Behold, the new has come. 00:19:26.960 --> 00:19:33.599 All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation. 00:19:33.839 --> 00:19:42.960 That is, in Christ, God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. 00:19:43.200 --> 00:19:47.599 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. 00:19:47.839 --> 00:19:51.839 We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 00:19:52.079 --> 00:19:53.680 And then I love this verse 21. 00:19:53.839 --> 00:20:04.720 For our sake, he, Jesus, God made him, Jesus, to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. 00:20:04.880 --> 00:20:06.640 That's the great exchange. 00:20:06.960 --> 00:20:12.400 Our sin put upon Jesus, his righteousness given to us by grace through faith. 00:20:12.559 --> 00:20:16.160 At least Fitzpatrick, she writes about this justification. 00:20:16.319 --> 00:20:19.839 What does it mean for you in her book, Because He Loves Me? 00:20:20.000 --> 00:20:21.119 What does this mean for you? 00:20:21.279 --> 00:20:24.079 What do you live in day in and day out in the gospel? 00:20:24.240 --> 00:20:27.279 What is this lavishness that you exist in? 00:20:28.640 --> 00:20:30.400 Here's what she writes. 00:20:30.720 --> 00:20:50.079 Because God has accredited or imputed Jesus' perfect obedience to you, when God looks upon you, he sees you as a person who always does the things that are pleasing to him, is so focused on accomplishing his will and work that doing so is your daily food. 00:20:50.319 --> 00:21:17.599 Doesn't seek your own will, but seeks his will instead, doesn't seek to receive glory, praise, respect, worship from others, has always kept all his commandments, lives in such a way that your life brings holiness to others, loves others and lays down your life on a consistent basis, lives in such a way that the people around you know that you love your Heavenly Father more than anything else, seeks to obey every command so that righteousness will be fulfilled. 00:21:17.759 --> 00:21:23.359 In God's opinion, the only one that matters, that's your record today. 00:21:24.480 --> 00:21:31.039 Man, you take that list out of grace, that is a burden. 00:21:31.279 --> 00:21:36.240 That is an exhaustion of spirituality and pursuit. 00:21:36.880 --> 00:21:41.920 But that has been accredited to us in Jesus, imputed, given to you. 00:21:42.720 --> 00:21:44.400 That's how lavish this is. 00:21:53.839 --> 00:21:54.880 Have y'all been keeping up? 00:21:55.200 --> 00:21:58.640 Hit the mainstream this week, in the mainstream media. 00:21:58.880 --> 00:22:03.839 We've been along for the right About five years we've been talking about Katman National Park, is where the fat bears come. 00:22:03.920 --> 00:22:06.559 They show up in June just to catch you up to speed. 00:22:06.640 --> 00:22:07.519 Here are the bears. 00:22:07.599 --> 00:22:10.799 They come to Brooks Falls in Katman National Park. 00:22:10.880 --> 00:22:13.839 And every year we celebrate Fat Bear Week. 00:22:14.000 --> 00:22:17.759 How fat did the bears get from June to September? 00:22:18.559 --> 00:22:21.200 And so Tuesday was Fat Bear Tuesday. 00:22:21.279 --> 00:22:23.359 The Rangers set up a tournament. 00:22:23.519 --> 00:22:30.960 So the last week, one bear against another, and all the bear community nerds, they all vote who got fatter. 00:22:32.160 --> 00:22:34.480 It's a very serious tournament. 00:22:36.160 --> 00:22:41.680 So last year, if you remember 747 won, Bear Force won. 00:22:41.839 --> 00:22:45.759 Bear Force claimed the title. 00:22:46.000 --> 00:22:48.640 That's the champion last year. 00:22:48.960 --> 00:22:52.240 Now this year it was Chunk versus Grazer in the finals. 00:22:52.319 --> 00:22:54.000 I'm sure you're already aware of all this. 00:22:54.079 --> 00:22:55.519 I mean, just filling you in. 00:22:55.599 --> 00:22:57.440 There's Grazer up top, and then Chunk. 00:22:57.519 --> 00:23:00.319 And Grazer really dominated the entire tournament. 00:23:00.400 --> 00:23:06.160 I mean, Grazer, she was just demolishing her opponent over and over again. 00:23:06.400 --> 00:23:09.119 And yes, she is the queen fat bear grazer. 00:23:09.359 --> 00:23:09.920 There she is. 00:23:10.000 --> 00:23:11.359 She is our queen of the tournament. 00:23:11.519 --> 00:23:16.240 She is the winner this year, 2023, fattest bear grazer. 00:23:16.559 --> 00:23:18.640 Now look at the before and after of Grazer. 00:23:19.279 --> 00:23:20.400 Quite the transformation. 00:23:20.559 --> 00:23:25.359 I mean, you would have thought like that's like a cub, or that's like her like 15 years ago. 00:23:25.519 --> 00:23:28.480 That was her in like, I think it says July 8th. 00:23:28.640 --> 00:23:30.640 That was her just a few months ago. 00:23:30.720 --> 00:23:31.759 What a transformation. 00:23:32.000 --> 00:23:33.279 Look how fat she got. 00:23:33.440 --> 00:23:34.640 That's unbelievable. 00:23:34.799 --> 00:23:35.920 Isn't that incredible? 00:23:36.160 --> 00:23:38.000 What an incredible transformation. 00:23:38.559 --> 00:23:42.079 Grazer first started coming to Brooks Falls in 2005. 00:23:42.240 --> 00:23:43.839 So she's been around a long time. 00:23:44.000 --> 00:23:49.680 And the Rangers say that she has become an incredible, incredible fisher lady bear. 00:23:49.920 --> 00:23:52.240 And then along the way, she had two cubs. 00:23:52.400 --> 00:23:53.759 So she's a mama bear. 00:23:53.839 --> 00:23:55.359 And she's fierce. 00:23:55.599 --> 00:23:56.960 She is mean. 00:23:57.359 --> 00:24:01.680 I mean, if any bear comes near her cubs, she charges them. 00:24:01.839 --> 00:24:05.200 If any bear comes near her, she charges them. 00:24:05.359 --> 00:24:07.039 Amen, mama bears. 00:24:07.279 --> 00:24:10.559 Last night I tried a little something with Christy, and Christy charged me. 00:24:11.119 --> 00:24:12.960 Mama bear stuff, fierce. 00:24:13.279 --> 00:24:15.279 Wrong timing, not sure. 00:24:17.119 --> 00:24:19.680 Grazer knows, here's what Grazer knows. 00:24:20.000 --> 00:24:21.279 Our queen fat bear. 00:24:21.359 --> 00:24:22.480 Here's what Grazer knows. 00:24:22.640 --> 00:24:31.680 To flourish, to flourish, she will have to fight to stay in the lavish provision of those falls. 00:24:32.000 --> 00:24:33.519 That's what she knows. 00:24:33.839 --> 00:24:36.319 It's true over and over and over again. 00:24:36.559 --> 00:24:44.640 Flourishing doesn't occur as a Christian as you leave God's grace to go to work for Him. 00:24:45.519 --> 00:24:56.240 Flourishing works, fruit develops as we grow more astonished in the abundance of provision that we have in Christ. 00:24:56.480 --> 00:24:56.799 Right? 00:24:56.960 --> 00:24:57.839 The road leads there. 00:24:58.079 --> 00:24:59.039 This will lead to that. 00:24:59.279 --> 00:25:03.039 Not perfectly, but in God's grace, a growth in grace. 00:25:03.359 --> 00:25:04.400 Let's pray together. 00:25:04.720 --> 00:25:08.079 God, thank you for your grace and mercy to us. 00:25:10.559 --> 00:25:20.079 Thank you that your grace not only saves us, but your grace transforms us and is at work in us. 00:25:21.279 --> 00:25:30.079 God, would you help us to find our security in you, our meaning in you? 00:25:31.839 --> 00:25:45.519 God, for so many of us, we have lived in an insecurity of faith when it comes to passages like this that have sent us on to performance, to scorecarding our good, bad, good work, bad work. 00:25:46.480 --> 00:25:55.759 God, would we come into a piece of what it means to have free justification by grace, through faith, in Christ alone. 00:25:56.720 --> 00:26:02.480 And with that fuel and transform our hearts in great ways. 00:26:04.799 --> 00:26:06.000 In Jesus' name we pray. 00:26:06.079 --> 00:26:06.559 Amen.