It's episode 100 of Liberty at Home here on ECAT.
Hello, friends, both here in Easton and around the globe.
It's time for episode 100. Yes, that's right.
It's our 100th episode of Liberty at Home right here on
ECAT. I'm your host, Pastor Adam
Rivero of the Liberty Baptist Church here in town.
For those of you who may not know, we started Liberty at Home
on Facebook during the initial days of the COVID pandemic.
After 86 episodes, we wrapped for a bit before moving over
here to Easton Community Access Television.
We've been airing for three seasons now.
I want to thank all the kind staff at ECAT for their help in
making this weekly broadcast happen, particularly Adam
Guerrero, the Director of Community Media here at the
station. Now with all that being said, we
still have a devotion to share, so let's get right to it by
turning in our Bibles to James chapter #2 where we'll begin
reading in verse #18 Yeah, a man may say, thou hast faith and I
have works. Show me thy faith without thy
works, and I will show thee my faith by my works.
They'll believe us that there is one God.
Thou doest well, the the devils also believe and tremble.
But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is
dead? Was not Abraham, our father,
justified by works when he had offered Isaac, his son upon the
altar? See us now how faith wrought
with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?
As a pastor, people often bring certain Bible passages to my
attention that they find troublesome.
I firmly believe that the Bible is God's inspired word, and as
such it is without error. Yet I also recognize that there
are certain passages of Scripture that can cause
confusion if they're not thoroughly studied out.
Often I'm asked about James chapter 2, specifically about
how the chapter seems to suggest that Abraham achieved salvation
by good works. Of course, as Baptists, and more
importantly as Biblicists, we hold dear the fact that we are
not saved by works, but rather by trusting in Christ's finished
work on the cross. The confusion specifically comes
from some of the verses we just read, James chapter 2, verses 20
through 21, which says, But wilt thou know, O vain man, that
faith without works is dead? Was not Abraham our father,
justified by works when he offered Isaac his son upon the
altar? Now this passage may seem
problematic at first glance, seemingly teaching that
salvation can be obtained through good deeds.
In fact, did you know that the reformer Martin Luther, who
rejected the Catholic teaching of salvation by works, didn't
even believe the book of James was part of the Biblical Canon
because of these verses and other verses in the book as
well? Yet a closer inspection shows
that James explanation of Abraham's works is in perfect
harmony with the doctrine of salvation by grace taught
throughout the rest of Scripture.
The passage through the example of Abraham as well as Rahab
later on shows us that good works do not save us.
Rather, good works naturally flow from someone who already
has faith. That's why James says in verse
23 of chapter 2 And the scripture was fulfilled, which
saith Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for
righteousness, and he was called the friend of God.
Now what's James saying? It's clear that he is
encouraging believers to be active in performing charitable
acts because saying you have faith yet not expressing it
outwardly is of little help to someone who's in need.
And that's why in some verses before James chapter 2, verses
14 through 16, it says, What does it profit, my brethren?
Though a man say he have faith and have not works, can faith
save him if a brother or sister be naked or destitute of daily
food? And what if you say unto them,
Depart in peace, be warmed and filled, notwithstanding you give
him not those things which are needful to the body, what does
it profit? The clear call of scripture is
that salvation cannot be achieved on our own merits.
Our good works are like filthy rags.
As it says in Isaiah chapter 64 verse six.
You can never give enough money, join enough philanthropic
organizations, or do enough charitable acts to achieve a
heavenly home. Those that teach that works can
save someone have earned from Bible doctrine and have changed
the pure message of the Gospel. James chapter 2 teaches us
something much different. For those who are believers,
good works are an outgrowth of our new life in Christ.
Just as an apple tree produces apples and a Grapevine brings
forth grapes, the natural byproduct of a Christian must be
good works. Can someone be saved by their
works? Never should a person who calls
themselves a believer be active in good works.
Yes, it's a necessity. Well, thanks for joining us for
episode 100 of Liberty Home. We've got one more episode for
this season, so don't forget to tune in next week as we give you
another dose of biblical truth. In the meantime, though, I hope
you'll join us this week at Liberty Baptist Church for
services. You can find us at 800
Washington St. and we meet every Sunday and Wednesday.
Learn more about our church and find our live stream services at
our website, mylibertybaptist.org.
Well, this is Pastor Adam Rivero signing off for the week and
reminding you that where the Spirit of the Lord is, there's
liberty. Catch you next week here on
Liberty at Home.