Bible Discussion Replies PAGE 161

(James Part 14):

James 4:2 - Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not.

The first one is you lust, and this is the normal word for lust, EPITHUMIA, to put your desire upon something. You lust, and the consequence is you have not: Secondly, you kill. Thirdly, and you desire to have. Consequence number two: and cannot obtain: Fourthly, you fight. Fifthly, and you war. Consequence number three: Yet you have not, because you ask not.

James 4:3 - Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.

The sixth indictment: You ask. Consequence: and receive not, because you ask amiss, or wrongly, meaning wrong motive, that you may consume it upon your HEDONEI, your hedonistic desires.

This is quite a section. First of all, you lust and you don't have. That's very frustrating. He says you kill. Can lust kill? Oh yes! Look at David in the Old Testament. He wanted Bathsheba but she was someone else's wife. So, he had her husband go out on the front lines on the battlefield and had him killed so he could marry Bathsheba. Yes, lust can kill.

James 4:4 - Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? Whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.

In the Textus Receptus, from which we get our King James translation, it is the only manuscript that has both adulterers and adulteresses. In all the other manuscripts, it's just feminine, adulteresses.

Some of the sages, when they read that, they thought that's not fair because men are involved too. They think you're talking about actual sexual adultery, so they added the men to make it both. But he's not talking about the actual physical act. He's talking about spiritual adultery. The reason why the feminine word is in the text is because it's making reference to the body of Christ or the church which happens to be feminine.

(James Part 13):

James 4:1 - From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members?

From where come wars and fightings among you? What is the cause, the source? Come they not here, from out of your lusts that are warring in your members? Notice how I read that. The word war is actually warring. It's a Present Participle. It's continuously going on.

But even more important than that is the word for lusts. Come they not hence, even of your lusts warring in your members? There is a word, EPITHUMIA, which is used for lust in the scriptures. And EPITHUMIA means to place your desire upon something. This is not that word. The Greek word used here is HEDONEI. We get our word hedonism from this word. It means to seek pleasure for gratification.

This is not lusting to own something or lusting to have something. It's not covetousness. It means I have to seek some kind of activity to satisfy some kind of pleasure to satisfy and give me gratification. We are said to live in a hedonistic society. That's what we usually try to do.

Our physical life, our flesh, our bodies have been limited because of a work schedule all week long. And so, we can hardly wait to get out there and find some pleasure to find gratification for the things that we seek. It's actually worse than lust. From where do your hedonistic desires come from that are warring in your members? It's from the lusts that are warring.

In Verses 2 and 3, there are six indictments, and four consequences.

(James Part 12):

James 3:6 - And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.

That's the word GEHENNA. There are different words in the scriptures for the word hell. This is used 11 times by Jesus. GEHENNA comes from the Hebrew word that means the Valley of Hinnom. It's on the southeast of Jerusalem. It's a deep valley. I read somewhere that it's the garbage dump. People come and they just dump their garbage over and it falls down into this valley, and it is constantly burning.

If a poor person dies and they have no money for a funeral, they just take their body and throw them over. Criminals, their bodies are thrown into the Valley of Hinnom. So, when he uses GEHENNA, the tongue is set of fire by GEHENNA. The tongue sets out the entire course of life, in a philosophical approach.

Think back on things that we may have said to people that destroyed relationships or destroyed our jobs. Affliction with the tongue is one of the things that you just can't forget. You can offend somebody and come and apologize and repent, and they can forgive you, but they'll always remember. And Satan knows that. The tongue can be a dangerous weapon. And it is!

James 3:13 - Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.

This particular word knowledge (EPISTEMON) means somebody with specialized knowledge. A lawyer would be somebody with specialized knowledge. A physician would be somebody with specialized knowledge. Even amongst the sages that studied the scriptures, they have specialized knowledge.

So, who is a wise man endued with specialized knowledge amongst you? Let him shew out of a good conversation, which means lifestyle, his works with meekness of wisdom.

(James Part 11):

James 3:1 - My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation.

It says, "My brethren," so again, he's talking to Jewish believers. Be not many masters, and the word masters (DIDASKALOI) is the word teachers. And the word "be" is literally the word become. That's very important. He is not restraining called teachers to teach. It says be not many teachers, but it is literally do not become many teachers.

He's talking about the ambitious ones who want to teach. In the synagogue, when it came to the reading of scripture, they would ask someone to come up and read the scripture and give a homily or a message on the scripture for that week. And so, people in the congregation would prepare all week long so they could be the teacher. My brethren, do not become many teachers, knowing that we shall receive, and notice the word we because James includes himself, we shall receive the greater condemnation.

There's more responsibility for those who teach!

Brother Spencer,

Amen! As long as we understand that we cannot produce anything spiritual, we do well. The only thing we can produce is flesh! And the only spiritual good that God approves of is the work of His Spirit. It is such a blessing to be used by God from time to time as He sees fit, but He is the one who does the work, and He alone receives the glory. We have nothing to boast.

God Bless!!!

Gen.1.27-28 "God blessed them"

"So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them./And God blessed them." We have the template in the inaugural vision of St. John. The seven stars are angels and it is heaven while the seven churches is th body of the church, the bride and it consists of saints redeemed from the earth. What we considere as Up and Down and Across are directions that shift about the single point that is Jesus Christ in his glory. This glory of the Son has never changed. This vision carries this glory as declared by the writer to the Hebrews. "Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power."(Heb.1.2) "And his voice as the sound of many waters," and "and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength." are the signatories to the everlasting Covenant. The seven days establish the Law of the Spirit delineating the Alpha and Omega aspect of Jesus Christ. These are part of the attributes of the signatories to the Covenant. The seven days establish the Law of the Spirit delineating the Alpha and Omega aspect of Jesus Christ.

The world of man covers the land, the vegetation, celestial objects marine life together with fowls of the air and beasts of the field. In blessing man God blessed them as well. Their development is continuous and their blessing is in context of the risen Christ with the Ancient of days. When a man is bold he is compared to a lion, 'lion of Judah' for example. This likeness explains 'after our likeness' where both man and animal alike come under it. Similarly the angels and the stars in in his right hand are taken it comes under the Law of the Spirit who blessed man '"'with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ.'

This everlasting Covenant is sealed with the blood of the Lamb who was worthy to break open the book bound with 7 seals.

I thank the Lord for the word. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

A correction:

The Ancient who is none other than the Word is validated his in deed the Alpha and Omega and also he is the Lord eternally settled in the heavens.

Please read as

" The Ancient who is none other than the Word validates Christ as the Alpha and Omega and also he is the Lord eternally settled in the heavens.('Jesus Christ the same,yesterday..etc.,-Heb.13.8)

Gen.1.5 "The First Day"

"And the evening and the morning were the first day."

What is the intent of the Spirit in presenting the composite image of the Ancient of days with the risen Christ? St John heard and he was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, " Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last"(Rev.1.11) The Ancient who is none other than the Word is validated his in deed the Alpha and Omega and also he is the Lord eternally settled in the heavens. So Ancient of the days presents the will of God and the risen Christ is the Word who was with God'. The vision makes so much as clear to us: there was in the appearance of Christ nothing of the intimacy that was between the master-disciple association.

The Lord's day is not Sabbath or Sunday as imposter churches would have us believe. In the 'now' of St John on the isle of Patmos the Spirit is setting him before The Word was God and all the symbols assembled there is to delineate the divine Will. The seven candles are provisional and is in danger of being removed from its stand. The church of Ephesus, for example,"or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent." (Rev.2.5,7) This is followed by a formula," He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches." The body of church when finished shall be that of an overcomer even as Christ the head overcame and set the Way.

So seven days in the ch.1 of the book of Genesis carry a similar formula.

Evening sets us in the divine Will even as St John was set, the creative process triggered by command frames the world to which only faith allows entry to the fellowship of God with Man. This man is whom we see holding seven stars in his right hand. As Alpha and Omega creative process shall continuously serve many warning to the disobedience till there is no more night but the morning. That is new heaven and the new earth. (Rev.21.25)

These seven days are pillars of the house built by Wisdom.

In a world where we tend to find our worth in worldly possession and pleasures and materiality, it is better to take Luke 12:15 to heart.

When Jesus said, take heed, and beware of the covetousness: for a man's life consisted not in the abundance of the things which he possesses.

Pray for Bible believing Christians, and even the heathens to find their worth in Jesus Christ always.

Hi JackyBleeker.

Thanks for responding.

I believe your inquiry is what did I mean by this part of my post.

(It's not a demonstrative works trip we put ourselves on, it is a demonstration of power from God that works in us.

A believers should ask themselves, "Am I doing this for me? Is it organic or natural?

The lack of God's faith would put one on a works trip.

I believe the love of Christ in us accomplishes the activity of God in our lives)

However, I didn't say "Am I doing this for God?"

I believe any Spiritual good that we do, it is God doing it THROUGH us. "For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. Philippians 2:13.

We ask what is our motives, WHO ARE GLORYFYING? Ourselves or God?

Am I trying to PRODUCE my own fruit?

In John 15 Jesus said "I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for WITHOUT ME YOU CAN DO NOTHING.

Also.

I stated, "The lack of God's faith would put one on a works trip'.

Are we doing what we do to be sure of salvation? Or are we doing it because we are saved?

I believe God saves us and it is he that sanctifies us.

Matthews 7:22-23 reads Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?

And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

Have you noticed this passage of scripture is not pointing out the sins in these people, life that is hindering them.

The emphasis is on all the good they thought they were doing in Jesus name.

Here we have a person doing things in the flesh and not being led by the spirit because Christ was NEVER in them.

God bless.

Gen.1.5 Day and Night (2 of 2)

"And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day."

The psalm quote ' the darkness and the light are both alike to thee.' (139.12b) makes day and night as of equal weight. It is what these two words mean by the Word which is sound as well as a sign. God called the light Day and it is a sign. So when Jesus said, 'I am the light of the world' it is a sign continuing from the sign of his Virgin birth. Similar he would refer his death and resurrection to the sign of Jonah."and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas:"(Mt.12.39)

God similarly calls darkness Night. The Word makes it holy since the gospel that the Son preached set the warning to the world, "I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work."( Jn 9.4-5) The Night is a sign for the disbelieving generation. In the Matthew quote the sign of Jonah was for the evil and adulterous generation who ' seeketh after a sign.' Thus in the seven days of the creative process is set in a narrative mode these generations are graded under darkness against the generation of 'I-am-the light' sign of Jesus Christ. The Spirit also inform the the creative process being continuous: The Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. In what direction the Spirit is taking us? Up and Down and Across. As indicative of it Jesus Christ set the Way. "I am the Way". "this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven." ( Acts 1.11). As children of light we bear the image of the heavenly. "The first man is of the earth, earthy; the second man is the Lord from heaven."And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly."(1 Cor.15.47-49)

Evening refers to the unseen world of divine Will. By faith we enter into the morning. It means resting in his promises.

Gen.1.5 "Day" (1 of 2)

"And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day." Why call it a day? God is from everlasting to everlasting is it not? Day can only explained from the Son. He is the visible image of the invisible God. It pleased that all things by him consist and he is before all things. In short it pleased the Father that in Jesus Christ all things should dwell. Thus the day is settled according to the good pleasure of his Will. Another reason is to differentiate the earthly ministry of the word became flesh from Word was with God. Jesus confessed,"For I say unto you, that this that is written must yet be accomplished in me, And he was reckoned among the transgressors: for the things concerning me have an end." What is written of me belongs to the Word was God and his inalterable will.

The Word is a sign and also a sound. Jesus came to the world was a sign. Isaiah referred to his virgin birth.(Isa.7.14).This sign was set before the creation of the sun,moon and stars. "and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years:"(Gen.1.14) Without the sun what are days or weeks merely words. Here day is specifically refers to the word of God. The command number of 7 is holy because God is holy.

The Spirit furthermore makes the Ancient of days hyphenate with the risen Christ in the inaugural vision of St John to illustrate Jesus Christ as the fulfilment of the Law. The seven golden candlesticks seven stars in series of seven refer to the whole Law, which was God.(Rev.1.20). This day is special because it is a decree: " I will declare the decree: the Lord hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee." It is the testimony of God, so the Law makes the decree the Sovereign Will as declared.(Ps.2.6) This day is as special as the manner the Word became flesh."Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet" (Mt.1.22-23)

Gen.1.3-4 "Good" (2 of 2)

"And God said, Let there be light: and there was light./And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness."

Holiness of God is a name.(' and holy is his name'-Lk.1.49). He is Good. "And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good?there is none good but one, that is, God."( Mk 10.18-19). Testimony of Jesus is our authority in analying the spiritual significance of the creative process. God the Father wills it so. He saw it was good seeing it was the Son who made the light to appear."the darkness and the light are both alike to thee." God saw the light as good for the simple reason that "All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made." ( Jn 1.3) The Word was with God explains this process of working within the divine Will. It is to this Jesus promised,"Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father."( Jn 14.12) Unity of the Spirit assures the state where God may be all in all."(1 Cor.15.28)

The Spirit provides only what is necessary to be within the will of God so what does faith means to us? "According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:/Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will."(Eph.1.4-5). Ungodly man upon reading the first chapter of Genesis is worried about the dinos than of what God expects of him to a child of light. Faith tells 'Amen' because God saw the light was good and being adopted in the Son he himself is part of his life. In him was the light: the life of man. Without faith his future is determined here and now: "Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels."(Mt.25.41)

Hi, thank you for teaching!!!

Am I doing this for me? Yes

Am I doing this for God? Yes could you help me understand what you mean when asking this question ?

Gen.1.3 "the light" (1 of 2)

Holiness of God is a name and it has many sides one of which is what we are looking at. Love. God is love. The Father Son relationship has a direction so the adoption of man in their fellowship works about two axes: Across and Up and Down. "For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.(Heb.2.10) This was in the will of the Father. It is the emblem of the Lamb slain before the foundation of the world. Before sending the world become flesh the Spirit of God was at work. 'In the beginning' it says.

"And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters." (Gen.1.2b)

The Will of God is complete as the waters on which the Spirit works is also complete. This entire depth spiritually gives the generations of man from beginning to the end. The word of God reached them as well as the Word who became flesh. "But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:/ Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God." (Jn.1.12-13). Against those whom the Spirit of God could work with we have another set of generations, "and darkness was upon the face of the deep." St John's gospel refers to them, "In him (Jesus Christ) was life; and the life was the light of men./And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not."( Jn 1.4-5). He was the true Light and as sent by his Father of lights nothing lay hidden before him. "But Jesus did not commit himself unto them, because he knew all men, and needed not that any should testify of man: for he knew what was in man."( Jn 2.24-25)

God indicated His foreknowledge when He separated the light from darkness. "And God said, Let there be light: and there was light./And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness."(Gen.1.4-5)

ol saying 'seeing is believing'

using the eyes to understand something

is the easy way

Not seeing and believing using the heart/intuition to understand something

is the gifted way

Amen Brother Jesse.

Great lesson!

If Christ Spirit is in us it's impossible to "not" bear fruit.

We don't produce the fruit. We bear it!

It is Christ that works in us and if he is not working in you he's not in you.

I love the Greek word you mentioned for works. (ACTIVITY) And it's not us acting out or completing a task.

It's the Lords Spirit that fills and activates these vessels of ours!

It's not a demonstrative works trip we put ourselves on, it is a demonstration of power from God that works in us.

A believers should ask themselves, "Am I doing this for me? Is it organic or natural?

The lack of God's faith would put one on a works trip.

I believe the love of Christ in us accomplishes the activity of God in our lives.

Thank you and God bless you for a lesson on this highly debated section of scripture.

Ecclesiastes 2

Verses 11-13

11 Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labour that I had laboured to do: and, behold, all was vanity and vexation of spirit, and there was no profit under the sun.

12 And I turned myself to behold wisdom, and madness, and folly: for what can the man do that cometh after the king? even that which hath been already done.

13 Then I saw that wisdom excelleth folly, as far as light excelleth darkness.

The preceding text describes Solomon's admittedly wild abandon into drinking wine (verse 2); then into planting gardens and accumulation of cattle; silver and gold again something he was warned against doing. Deuteronomy 17:16-17 states:

16But the king must not acquire many horses for himself or send the people back to Egypt to acquire more horses, for the LORD has said, 'You are never to go back that way again.' 17He must not take many wives for himself, lest his heart go astray. He must not accumulate for himself large amounts of silver and gold.

The end of this chapter illustrates Solomon's conclusion of the value of wisdom; but the fact that the wise and foolish all come to one fate; and they are forgotten quickly.

Ecclesiastes 3

Verses 1-8 are the famous verses in the song written originally in 1959 by Pete Seeger called "Turn, turn, turn" and later performed by Judy Collins and the Byrds in the 1960s. They added the verse "I swear it's not to late" when referring to a time of peace which fit into the whole concept of the peace movements against Vietnam at the time. Other than that additional verse the song sticks pretty well with the scriptural text and is certainly a good way to remember it. It is interesting that Solomon looks at war and such matters and seems to accept it along with the rest of the good and bad in light of the fact that he basically had peace during his reign.

Ok I will.

Please pray for my daughter-in-law Vivian. They will be flying back to the U.S. to be home from their trip to Kenya. Pray that she does not have any problem with immigration when she returns. She has a proper VISA and is flying with my son, their baby, and my other son yet I hear that immigration can be difficult even with this VISA. Pray that she not be detained and that all can go through immigration services at the airport without any problems.

Thank you. They will arrive in Sea-Tac airport on Thursday morning.

Dear Yolanda,

I will be praying for you according to your requests and the interceding work of the Holy Spirit to guide me in prayer and to pray with me and in me and through me. I am glad you are admitting to being weak in faith. That is a good place to start as you seek God more and more.

Remember, our salvation is not dependent on how strong our faith is. It is dependent on the mercy of God and the grace of electing us to salvation before the creation of the world. As Romans 8:29-31 speaks of God predestining us, calling us, justifying us, and glorifying us in the life to come, we can be sure that the Lord will complete what has been started by the Holy Spirit's regenerating power in us to bring us from being dead in sin to being alive in the spirit and of having Him give us faith to believe the gospel and to place our faith and trust and hope in Jesus Christ and all that He has done for us. We are now children of the Father and are blessed with all of God's riches kept for us in the life to come. It is a sure thing that we will continue in faith because it was given to us and begun in us by God and He will complete it when He glorifies us with our Lord Jesus in the life to come.

Remember what the man said to Jesus when he asked Jesus to heal his child. Jesus asked him if he believed He could make his child well. The man answered, "Yes, I believe, help me in my unbelief."

We all have areas in our life where we doubt or are weak in faith because we still have our sinful nature to draw us away from having pure, faultless faith in Jesus. But, we do not have to have pure, faultless faith to be saved. We abide in Jesus everyday and our faith is empowered by the Holy Spirit to cause us to endure until the end. Be encouraged and put your hope in God who is able to abundantly, exceedingly five us and do in us more than we could ever ask or think. He is far greater than our human frailty and sinful corruption that we battle against. He is able to do what we cannot!

Dear Bibleman72

I do remember to pray for you. How is your skin infection doing? How is your mom doing?

I will pray for the Lord to heal your emotions and mental state. Depression, worry and anxiety are very hard to overcome without God's intervention, so I pray for Him to deliver you and to cause you to make steady progress in treating this disorder. I pray that your skin is healing and that the right medication has helped to destroy the bacteria that causes impetigo. It is a frustrating skin infection because whenever you touch an open sore and touch a healthy part of your body the infection is transferred to that new part easily. So, I do hope that this is being treated aggressively and that God will give you healing from this, clearing up all the sores and bringing your skin and it's micro-environment returns to health and the ability to fight such infections.

Dear Cee Dem.

Happy to pray for your nephew, James.

So, so young and asthma attacks can be so unpredictable as to when they occur nor to their severity.

I carry an epi-pen everywhere. Thankfully, haven't had to use it yet but there have been a few close calls. I have asthma but also a condition that cause my throat to close up with the slightest provocation such as a cracker crumb or pollen that hits the back of my throat. When this happens I cannot pass air in or out. It is hard to fight the normal natural panic that our body goes into when this happens. I have an action plan for this. It happened just a few weeks ago when we were on our road trip. But I was able to recover on my own. Afterwards, I reminded my husband about how to use the epi-pen and what to do in case I pass out and cannot breathe.

It is good for everyone with breathing disorders to have an action plan and for many family members to know how to treat a person who goes into respiratory distress because they will not be able to tell anyone what to do. Also, having loved ones learn CPR is important also. I am trained in it but it does me no good if I need it to be performed on me.

I pray for James to come back to consciousness and recover in a miraculous way.

This must be hard for his parents and siblings along with you and other relatives who were with him when he had this attack.

I pray for the Lord to help everyone who is feeling the impact of this that they will trust Him always and believe that He is with us always even with your nephew in this time.

Dear Belinda, I will pray for Herbert and Bettita. Strokes are so hard to estimate what can be recovered post brain bleed. Will be praying that all of the therapy and medical help is successful. Will pray for God to extend his healing touch to Herbert. And will pray for Bettita during this time.

(James Part 10):

James 2:15 - If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,

It says if a brother or sister be naked, that is, they have insufficient clothing. It doesn't mean that they are bare naked. It means that they have insufficient clothing. And destitute of daily food. The word food means nourishment. So, we're talking here about the necessities of life.

James 2:16 - And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?

And one of you say unto them, and this is a traditional Jewish phrase, "Depart in peace," that's Shalom, be ye warmed and filled; You say this, notwithstanding you give them not those things which are needful to the body; so, what does it profit?

You see, if a poor person comes in that's not clothed properly for the winter, or just doesn't have proper clothing, and maybe needs food, he's talking to believers because their whole value system has been corrupted. "Well, I'll say a prayer for you, okay? I'll pray that God provides warmth and food for you along the way." And then you go over to the rich person and spend all your time with the rich person, showing favoritism. What is the benefit of this?

James 2:17 - Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.

Even so faith, if it has not works (that is, activity), is dead, being alone. It's dead faith. That means it's not living. It's not alive. If you put a Geiger counter up to their heart, the needle wouldn't even move!

(James Part 9c):

James 2:14 Continued

In our culture and society down through the years, we somehow got all messed up, and now we're on a works trip. Some people teach that "If you have enough faith to believe, God will bless you." What a trap! They hold seminars and charge a lot of money per person on how to have enough faith to get rich.

But in the meantime, while you're trying to figure that out and they are taking your money, they're becoming rich. Do you see how that works? They show up in their expensive suits and rings and they say look at me. You can have these things too. This shows success that what I'm about to teach you works because look, it works for me!

And people fall for this, and they show up. It's like look at this guy. See how rich he is. If it works for him it's got to work for me. I'll pay the money for this. It's just the opposite of what the scripture says. But we choose to believe it because we get in debt, and we get in hardships, and there's things that we want that we can't get, and it appeals to us just like it did to the poor Jewish believers who had nothing.

(James Part 9b):

James 2:14 Continued

But the faith of the bible is a word that describes the presence and activity of God's Spirit. It has nothing to do with a human being, except that this activity is going on inside of them because of the presence of God's Spirit.

Works does not produce faith. But faith produces works. In other words, if somebody came up to me and said, "You know, you could be richer if you believed certain pieces of scripture from the bible and you had enough faith," I would have to work at it. It would be my works producing the faith. That's not the faith of the bible. That's human works. But yet faith itself that comes from God is working. It's active. It has to be.

If you've got the Spirit of God who created the universe and holds it all together, and He lives inside of you, and for you to say nothing's happening, or He's not ministering to me, or He's not convicting me or doing anything in my life, that's where the writers of the bible say that it's time to take inventory.

I don't know how you got saved, but that's what salvation means, that you are born of the Spirit of God. It doesn't mean that you have intellectual agreement with the bible. It means you've been born of the Spirit of God. So, if a man says that he has faith, and doesn't have activity, can his faith save him? No! He has a human faith that bears no fruit that he has spiritual faith that only comes from God.

(James Part 9a):

James 2:14 - What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?

He says what doth it profit, my brethren, and again he's talking to believers, though a man should say, and that's a Subjunctive, a man should say that he has faith, and have not works? Can faith save him? Literally, can the faith save him? Faith has a Definite Article in the Greek text. And the question itself in Greek expects the answer no. Can the faith save him if he says he has faith but does not have works?

Now the word works in the Greek text literally means activity. And if I put faith and activity together, I understand that if God's Spirit is present in me, he's not dormant. I mean the energy of God is active and alive. I might not be able to sense it as a human being, but His Spirit is active and alive in me.

If faith is a word that describes the presence and activity of God's Spirit, what he's saying is that if you say you have the faith, but you don't have any activity of faith in you, can the faith that you're talking about save you? And the answer is no. you do not have saving faith!

And as I've shared with you before, there are two kinds of faith, human faith, and the biblical faith which is spiritual. The human faith is found in everyday life. We live by faith. I don't know if you realize that or not but the fact that you get dressed and go someplace shows that you thought you were going to make it there. You get ready expecting to be there. There's another kind of human faith that's religious. We carry it into the religious part of our life in a human way. And we produce our own faith. And that's what most people teach today, the human faith. They say where is your faith?

(James Part 8):

James 2:8 - If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well:

Verse 8 is the principle. If you fulfil the royal law, and this is the same as the law of liberty. It's called Torah or Kingdom Law. Royal means belonging to the king. If you fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, and this is Leviticus 19:18, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself, and then he says you do well:

And then in Verse 9, we have the problem:

James 2:9 - But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors.

But if you have respect to persons (showing partiality or discrimination), you commit sin, and are convinced (or convicted) of the law as transgressors.