My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory. For if a man wearing a gold ring and fine clothing comes into your assembly, and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in, and if you pay attention to the one who wears the fine clothing and say, “You sit here in a good place,” while you say to the poor man, “You stand over there,” or, “Sit down at my feet,” have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? Listen, my beloved brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him? But you have dishonored the poor man. Are not the rich the ones who oppress you, and the ones who drag you into court? Are they not the ones who blaspheme the honorable name by which you were called? If you really fulfill 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 but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it.” (James 2:1–10, ESV) What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? 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? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.” (James 2:14–18, ESV)Grace and peace to you from our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
How’s your heart? By saying that, I mean, how is your faith? James here gives us a big warning. He says, in effect, make sure you have a heart faith, not a head faith. He strengthens the warning in the verse following our text.
You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder!” (James 2:19, ESV)Satan and all his demons have that kind of faith. Knowledge of God and all that he has done. Faith that exists only in the knowledge of God, in the head. Head faith vs. heart faith. To make it very clear James gives us a test.
What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him?” (James 2:14, ESV)To see if your faith is in the heart, you only need to look at what you do, what kind of good works you have. He gives two specific examples.
For if a man wearing a gold ring and fine clothing comes into your assembly, and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in, and if you pay attention to the one who wears the fine clothing and say, “You sit here in a good place,” while you say to the poor man, “You stand over there,” or, “Sit down at my feet,” have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?” (James 2:2–4, ESV)
This should give us pause. James is very clear. If you have head faith, it isn’t faith in Jesus to save you, therefore you have no faith at all. You are not a Christian. You are hell bound. In other words, he says, “This is not how Christians act.”
So, let’s get specific about ourselves.
Do you hold a grudge against someone who has done you wrong, instead of being forgiving?
“This is not how Christians act.”
Are you so focused on our new building that everything else is pushed aside?
“This is not how Christians act.”
When you give, do you hope that you get credit for all you do to help people in need?
“This is not how Christians act.”
Are you afraid to speak up when you see sin in your family because you don’t what to make waves?
“This is not how Christians act.”
Have you had a petty argument with your spouse, and not begged forgiveness in Jesus, or offered it?
“This is not how Christians act.”
Rest assured that if I haven’t hit you between the eyes with this list, I could go on. Eventually, I’d say something to you that the answer would be,
“This is not how Christians act.”
Is James telling us that we are not Christians? Well, let’s look at the text. “Brothers” he says. In fact, he uses that word to describe his readers 15 times in the book. The answer is “no”. He is simply pointing out the attitude that certain actions and attitudes among us need a warning. We are not immune to falling away from faith. As faithful Christians, we are all tempted to “Head faith” instead of “Heart faith”. We are all sinners who sin. Everything we do is covered with sin. That’s the law doing its work within you. If it doesn’t hit you square in the heart, James makes sure you understand.
For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it.” (James 2:10, ESV)You can’t keep the law perfectly without breaking a single little point. Does this make you doubt your salvation? Do you look at your life and think it is hopeless?
Is the answer to preach more law, to force us into good works? Absolutely not! Preaching the law only doesn’t make better Christians. Only the Gospel does that. Listen to “Salvation unto us has come” (LSB 555)
Faith clings to Jesus’ cross alone And rests in Him unceasing; And by its fruit true faith is known, With love and hope increasing. For faith alone can justify; Works serve our neighbor and supply The proof that faith is living.Faith clings to Jesus’ cross alone! What increases faith is hearing about Jesus and all that he has done for you. All the sin that covers everything you do is taken by Jesus to the cross. You have forgiveness for all your failings. It isn’t good works that strengthens your faith. It isn’t even lack of good works that damns you. Lack of good works points you back to the cross for forgiveness.
It is the Holy Spirit alone who creates and strengthens faith (Heart faith!). He does it through the Gospel. He assures you that God forgives you personally. What Christians need is a solid connection to Jesus.
“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit.” (John 15:1–2, ESV)In Jesus, the fruit of the cross is good works. You can count on it when you focus on all that he has done for you.
Not enough? With God there is always more. You have a rock-solid connection to Jesus. He is present here in his Word and Sacraments. It begins with God’s work in you in Holy Baptism. It is strengthened even more as you hear God’s word preached to you with all the force of the law, that convicts you of your sin, and the Gospel that assures you of forgiveness. Worship here is defined by all that. It’s the touchpoint of your life.
Just look at the Lord’s Supper. Jesus connects to you through his very body and blood, what he sacrificed to the cross for you. And afterwards we pray
“Strengthen us through the same in faith toward you and in fervent love toward one another.”Faith filled with Christ himself can’t help but be active in love toward others.
Listen again to the collect for today and hear it clearly again.
O God, without whose blessing we are not able to please you, mercifully grant that your Holy Spirit may in all things direct and govern our hearts; through Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord. . . . AmenThe peace of God that passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in Jesus Christ. Amen.
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