I must first apologize that I have changed my mind, regarding diving into Paul's foundations, as mentioned in Bite 1. I felt that as this message was complete, I should let it go, not wanting to break Paul's foundations, which will take a few messages, which I believe should be sequential. So will begin this later.

OUR TEXT today is IAKOBOS Chapter 2

What the strange title you ask?

Actually, it is a very common one, which most believers would know. James Chapter 2. The King who commissioned the original King James Bible, apparently felt that Iakobos should be translated James instead of Jacob, which is almost certainly the correct name that should have been used. (And I personally believe that, ironnically, chapter 2, would even have something to say to this king, though we should be very grateful for what he commissioned and that it is a free Enlish translation, even to this day.)

I cannot tell you how many times I have felt God tell me to read this chapter. I think I get it now. It is so foundational. And I needed to learn from it.

The subject of this chapter is primarily this:

FAITH WITHOUT WORKS IS DEAD!

We should really let that sink in. As I do that  , I have to ask myself, what works am I showing my faith by. Or am I just like a bird in a tree, singing away and thinking everything is OK, when actually my faith is as good as dead! Unless I know that I have works which show my faith, my faith may not be faith in Yeshua at all!

If this chapter does not wake us up, it really should!

I am not going to put the text here, so I encourage you to read chapter 2 for yourself and then return.

If the above statement is true, then we are really not believers, as we may have thought we were, unless there is proof of our faith in our works. I know that may come as a shock, but let is hear this out, examining the word.

Is this why we read in the book of Revelation, messages such as these to the churches? 

Rev 2:5 Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent.

To another church, Smyrna, He is positive about their works:

Rev 2:9 "I know your works, tribulation, and poverty (but you are rich); ...

To Pergamum He says:

Rev 2:13 "I know your works, and where you dwell, where Satan's throne is. And you hold fast to My name, and did not deny My faith even in the days in which Antipas was My faithful martyr, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells.

To Thyatira:

Rev 2:13 "I know your works, and where you dwell, where Satan's throne is. And you hold fast to My name, and did not deny My faith even in the days in which Antipas was My faithful martyr, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells.

To Sardis:. 

I have not found your works perfect before God.

And also

Therefore if you will not watch, I will come upon you as a thief, and you will not know what hour I will come upon you.

How fortunate to have a wake up call from Jesus about your works, which are absent, lest you be destroyed in your ignorance! ("My people perish for lack of knowledge.)

To Philadelphia He is very positive about their works, even though they are of little strength, because they have kept His word , and have not denied his name.

Finally to the Laodiceans (whom many, like Chuck Missler believe describes most accurately many churches of today)  he writes:

Rev 3:15 "I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. Rev 3:16 So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth.

I think the paint a very clear picture, regarding the churches. But what about the individual?

Rev 20:12 And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books.

It does not get much plainer than this. We have the books. We are supposed to read and obey them, by faith in Yeshua, who has placed his spirit with us.

Mat 7:26 "But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: Mat 7:27 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.

And then, here is the thing: We will be judged by the law of liberty, because we have a saviour, who, if we have transgressed the law, fights in the heavenly court for us (provided, of couse, that we also confess and repent of our sin.) Then he wins the case for us and we are not condemned with all other sinners. But what if we show no mercy to others, and are partial towards them, because perhaps they are not where we in our pride think we are. So we give them lower esteem and do not take them as seriously as we would take the rich o in the church pew, who is given the choice seat.

Let us consider the poor and the humble and the meek. For they have a special place in His heart.

Psa 41:1 Blessed is he who considers the poor; The LORD will deliver him in time of trouble

They may even have little strength, but they do not deny His name and he may put before them an open door, that no man may shut, while we do not eve give them the time of day! I am grateful that mercy has shown me this.

Luk 1:53 He has filled the hungry with good things, And the rich He has sent away empty.

Let us walk out our faith with works that show that we are walking with and in the Spirit of our saviour, Yeshua the Messiah, knowing that without works our faith is dead!

The song that comes to mind, right now is from ...

AWAKEN THE SEED.