1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:04,240 So thankful for the Ohms family and we're gonna be welcoming some other 2 00:00:04,240 --> 00:00:07,880 families over the coming rest of this month and next month which is exciting. 3 00:00:07,880 --> 00:00:14,400 But James starts us last week talking about joy and trials and had a lot of 4 00:00:14,400 --> 00:00:21,480 conversations with you about this how we do that. Had a lot of conversations about 5 00:00:21,480 --> 00:00:26,680 if God loved me why would he bring trials into my life? That was one of my 6 00:00:26,680 --> 00:00:30,680 favorites because I thought that too like why would a good God allow for 7 00:00:30,680 --> 00:00:35,080 trials in this life and it's not comforting at all but say well there's 8 00:00:35,080 --> 00:00:38,920 sin in the world so we're going to go through those things. It doesn't always 9 00:00:38,920 --> 00:00:43,480 feel like a warm blanket. It doesn't always bring comfort but the fact that 10 00:00:43,480 --> 00:00:50,360 James implores us to find joy even in trials though that doesn't mean when 11 00:00:50,360 --> 00:00:55,120 trials come or bad things come in life that we go hey can I have another thank 12 00:00:55,120 --> 00:01:01,080 you? I don't I'm not like that I don't expect any of you to be. But now he's 13 00:01:01,080 --> 00:01:06,600 gonna finish chapter one with really the the reason why we can have joy in trials. 14 00:01:06,600 --> 00:01:12,520 It's because of faith. This understanding of true faith and I know we've looked at 15 00:01:12,520 --> 00:01:15,120 Lord's Day 7 we'll get there in a little bit we're gonna look at a bunch of 16 00:01:15,120 --> 00:01:18,380 different things in the height of our catechism today which is a catechism we 17 00:01:18,380 --> 00:01:23,760 use in the Reformed faith to help guide us to truths in Scripture. We do not hold 18 00:01:23,760 --> 00:01:28,480 that equal with Scripture by any means. Without Scripture we wouldn't have a 19 00:01:28,480 --> 00:01:32,520 catechism or a Belgian confession or a Canaan's Adorner if you're Lutheran the 20 00:01:32,520 --> 00:01:37,680 Luther, small or big catechism or the Westminster catechism. All of that is 21 00:01:37,680 --> 00:01:45,200 founded on Scripture, little side note. But how do we walk out faith in the 22 00:01:45,200 --> 00:01:50,940 midst of trials? How do we walk out faith just in our everyday life? That every day 23 00:01:50,940 --> 00:01:57,240 you wake up to have faith in God, have faith in the the things of God, God's 24 00:01:57,240 --> 00:02:01,400 promises in your life. From the minute you wake up and you go through all sorts 25 00:02:01,400 --> 00:02:04,960 of emotions, I'm not gonna take this personally, but how many people could 26 00:02:04,960 --> 00:02:09,520 have slept after their alarm went off, could have slept in? Yeah 27 00:02:09,520 --> 00:02:13,960 exactly. Jason's hand first went up. I won't take that personally at all. But 28 00:02:13,960 --> 00:02:18,680 understand you have choices to make just like in faith you have choices to make 29 00:02:18,680 --> 00:02:23,840 and how we walk through those, James is gonna round us out today in the end of 30 00:02:23,840 --> 00:02:28,520 chapter 1. And what he's gonna do, he's going to bring about an understanding of 31 00:02:28,520 --> 00:02:37,720 how the world actually sees a person of faith by what they do. Because the world 32 00:02:37,720 --> 00:02:42,640 can tell about who you believe in or let's liken it to, I mean people can tell 33 00:02:42,640 --> 00:02:47,160 who you root for when it comes to sports because of maybe the things you say, 34 00:02:47,160 --> 00:02:54,200 things you wear, you know maybe you you made sure everybody was home on Friday 35 00:02:54,200 --> 00:02:59,560 to watch the Bulls right and go we're gonna make the playoffs this year. Nope 36 00:02:59,560 --> 00:03:05,240 nope we didn't. Same thing as last year but I made sure I wanted to watch that. 37 00:03:05,240 --> 00:03:12,160 We wanted to endure that I guess as a family. But we, people know especially 38 00:03:12,160 --> 00:03:18,240 Cubs fans right. I mean all the garb, all the flags and all of that stuff I know 39 00:03:18,240 --> 00:03:22,720 they're Cubs fans right. I knew it when I threw the egg. I get it right that they 40 00:03:22,720 --> 00:03:28,800 are Cubs fans. But I wonder if the same goes through for people of Munster 41 00:03:28,800 --> 00:03:33,000 Church about their faith in God, not Munster Church. So yeah in the future we 42 00:03:33,000 --> 00:03:37,200 may have shirts and all that kind of stuff. Be careful and I've said this 43 00:03:37,200 --> 00:03:42,800 before about like that magnet that we have in the back, like having that on 44 00:03:42,800 --> 00:03:47,600 your bumper or maybe on your car. Like you should probably think of how you're 45 00:03:47,600 --> 00:03:53,680 gonna drive. I have yet to get in six years calls from anybody be like oh 46 00:03:53,680 --> 00:03:57,400 those are the kind of people you have at Munster Church. That so-and-so cut me off 47 00:03:57,400 --> 00:04:01,800 on 80-94. I don't know how many people would actually like look into Munster 48 00:04:01,800 --> 00:04:04,680 Church and probably you're driving fast enough where they thought it was Faith 49 00:04:04,680 --> 00:04:09,320 Munster that's fine. Let them get the call. Charlie can deal with it. But 50 00:04:09,320 --> 00:04:17,120 understand when we wear Jesus the world expects certain things of us and some 51 00:04:17,120 --> 00:04:25,320 people expect to get hypocrisy and that's hard. Oh you're a Christian. Oh 52 00:04:25,320 --> 00:04:28,840 that must mean you're gonna judge me. You're gonna hate on me. You're gonna 53 00:04:28,840 --> 00:04:31,800 this that or the other thing. Because in a lot of ways we've we've built a little 54 00:04:31,800 --> 00:04:36,960 bit of a bad name for ourselves. But what does it look like to actually walk out 55 00:04:36,960 --> 00:04:41,560 faith? Walking out Jesus, your relationship with Jesus, your 56 00:04:41,560 --> 00:04:47,160 understanding of Jesus, the truths of God's Word. So James is gonna start 57 00:04:47,160 --> 00:04:52,760 breaking this down. My first point is that faith can be seen. A dynamic of true 58 00:04:52,760 --> 00:04:57,360 faith is being, and we're gonna start with conviction right off the bat. I'm 59 00:04:57,360 --> 00:05:02,040 okay if you're audibly grown so did I. That point one is that you're quick to hear, 60 00:05:02,040 --> 00:05:07,760 slow to speak, slow to anger. 61 00:05:09,200 --> 00:05:18,640 Just gonna let that sit. Slow that we are quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to 62 00:05:18,640 --> 00:05:24,600 anger. James 1 19 says know this my beloved brothers. Let every person be 63 00:05:24,600 --> 00:05:31,080 quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger. For the anger of man does not 64 00:05:31,080 --> 00:05:37,560 produce the righteousness of God. Therefore put away all filthiness and 65 00:05:37,560 --> 00:05:44,160 rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted Word which is 66 00:05:44,160 --> 00:05:50,120 able to save your souls. So right off the bat he's gonna go right here. I warned 67 00:05:50,120 --> 00:05:54,160 us two weeks ago, this is exactly what James does, that part of walking out 68 00:05:54,160 --> 00:06:02,120 faith is that we're quick to listen, slow to speak, and I'm also going to say type 69 00:06:02,120 --> 00:06:12,160 or post, okay, and slow to anger. I think it's funny kind of the rhythm of that. 70 00:06:12,160 --> 00:06:19,040 That what gets us in trouble is when we don't listen and we're quick to speak 71 00:06:19,040 --> 00:06:24,840 and we go from 0 to 10 when it comes to anger. Well some people are like, oh yeah, 72 00:06:24,840 --> 00:06:32,000 they just have a bad temper. That's not an excuse. That for a believer, for a 73 00:06:32,000 --> 00:06:39,320 person of faith, that we are to be slow to anger and James doubles down on it 74 00:06:39,320 --> 00:06:47,000 when he says for the anger of man. So that's different than the righteous 75 00:06:47,000 --> 00:06:54,760 anger of God. So are we allowed to be angry? If we're going to be angry at the 76 00:06:54,760 --> 00:07:00,160 level of righteous anger of God which is against enslavement, which is against 77 00:07:00,160 --> 00:07:05,480 hypocrisy, which is against darkness, which is against saying one thing, living 78 00:07:05,480 --> 00:07:11,880 another, it's saying one thing or thinking another, those are the thing. 79 00:07:11,880 --> 00:07:15,360 Divisive spirits, Proverbs talks about that, is one of the only thing the Lord 80 00:07:15,360 --> 00:07:21,680 hates or abhors is a divisive spirit. So if you are being divisive in a situation 81 00:07:21,680 --> 00:07:27,960 in your life, guess what? In that moment, God hates what you're doing and if you 82 00:07:27,960 --> 00:07:34,280 are a person of faith, you should probably stop. But he's not talking about 83 00:07:34,280 --> 00:07:40,320 God's anger. He's talking about man's anger and if we kind of find what the 84 00:07:40,320 --> 00:07:46,240 root of man's anger, who thinks they know what it is? What is the root cause of 85 00:07:46,240 --> 00:07:57,920 man, humanity's anger? Ego. What else? You're almost there. Pride. Who said pride? 86 00:07:57,920 --> 00:08:07,200 Alright, give Avya a high five. Good. Pride. Well pastor, there's a lot more 87 00:08:07,200 --> 00:08:11,760 things that I'm angry about. Yeah, but the root of that is you. The root of that is 88 00:08:11,760 --> 00:08:15,520 me. Again, we're not talking about righteous anger. We are not. We're talking 89 00:08:15,520 --> 00:08:21,080 about man's anger. We're talking about sinful anger. Why do you think the first 90 00:08:21,080 --> 00:08:27,640 four commandments given from God to the Israelites had everything to do with 91 00:08:27,640 --> 00:08:35,440 man's ability to try and replace God? Because he knew we would. Given of 92 00:08:35,440 --> 00:08:41,640 ourselves we won't, we wouldn't need God because we'd want to be God's ourselves. 93 00:08:41,640 --> 00:08:48,160 How did they know that that was even a possibility? They were in Egypt. Pharaoh 94 00:08:48,160 --> 00:08:55,200 was God. Or a God, lowercase g, always lowercase g, but that's what he thought 95 00:08:55,200 --> 00:08:59,920 about himself. I'm here to tell you, as a position of 96 00:08:59,920 --> 00:09:06,040 authority in an organization, the minute I think that way, it's over for me. The 97 00:09:06,040 --> 00:09:13,400 minute that ego and that pride, that thinking, thus saith Jim, no. And I have 98 00:09:13,400 --> 00:09:20,320 ten elders that will keep me honest to that. And a wife that very much will keep 99 00:09:20,320 --> 00:09:25,160 me honest to that. But understand that that's what he's talking about. He's 100 00:09:25,160 --> 00:09:31,320 talking about those things. When I, in my mind, in my thoughts, in my speech, in my 101 00:09:31,320 --> 00:09:38,280 post, place myself over somebody else taking a God-like position. Now I know 102 00:09:38,280 --> 00:09:44,400 some of you are saying, but I defend the goodness and the righteousness of 103 00:09:44,400 --> 00:09:51,520 God. I get it. I get it. But at some point, or a lot of the points, we don't make it 104 00:09:51,520 --> 00:09:57,720 about that. We make it about winning and losing. We make it about TKO, a total 105 00:09:57,720 --> 00:10:02,120 knockout in a conversation. Whether you're in the boardroom, whether you're 106 00:10:02,120 --> 00:10:06,520 in the family room, whether you're in the sanctuary or whatever it is, when we get 107 00:10:06,520 --> 00:10:12,640 into fights, when we get angry, we want to beat that person. All I know is Jesus 108 00:10:12,640 --> 00:10:17,240 could have done that all the time. We could go through, go to Luke chapter 4, 109 00:10:17,240 --> 00:10:22,000 the first time he was the attempt to hit on his life. Some of you may not even 110 00:10:22,000 --> 00:10:26,560 realize that, that they tried to kill him in Luke chapter 4 for saying that the 111 00:10:26,560 --> 00:10:31,240 scriptures are being fulfilled in him. They wanted to stone him, meaning either 112 00:10:31,240 --> 00:10:36,280 stones come at you or you get thrown two stones, meaning off a cliff. And what does 113 00:10:36,280 --> 00:10:40,560 Luke say? He passed right through him for it was not the right time. But at any 114 00:10:40,560 --> 00:10:45,800 time, right? Woman caught in the act of adultery. At any time, he could have been 115 00:10:45,800 --> 00:10:51,640 like, and you're all dead. He could have, but he didn't because we're to learn how 116 00:10:51,640 --> 00:10:59,440 to work through these situations, these ideas of judgment. Now, it's totally...the 117 00:10:59,440 --> 00:11:04,080 Bible is used to be held accountable, to hold people accountable, to rebuke them 118 00:11:04,080 --> 00:11:09,840 when they are doing something evil. Absolutely. We are called to do that, but 119 00:11:09,840 --> 00:11:17,960 this anger is not the righteous anger of God. It is the sinful anger of man. This 120 00:11:17,960 --> 00:11:25,400 understanding of being quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger is that for 121 00:11:25,400 --> 00:11:32,880 a believer, our practices should be humility and patience because that is 122 00:11:32,880 --> 00:11:39,920 mirroring the heart of true faith. That in trials, in affliction, in conflict, we 123 00:11:39,920 --> 00:11:49,360 are to have true faith. That this faith is a gift from God, granted to those who 124 00:11:49,360 --> 00:11:55,600 he calls. So we will get to Lord's Day 7, but we're going to go to Lord's Day...we're 125 00:11:55,600 --> 00:12:01,440 going to go to question and answer 20 first. And then we'll get to question 126 00:12:01,440 --> 00:12:06,520 21, what is true faith? The first, are all people then saved through Jesus Christ 127 00:12:06,520 --> 00:12:13,080 as they were lost through Adam? The answer, no, only those are saved who, 128 00:12:13,080 --> 00:12:20,360 through true faith, was grafted into Christ and accept all his benefits. That 129 00:12:20,360 --> 00:12:25,920 the world, someone who is not of the elect, someone who does not claim Jesus 130 00:12:25,920 --> 00:12:31,040 as Lord, right, this isn't an us versus them, this is those being called of faith 131 00:12:31,040 --> 00:12:40,840 has been given this gift of true faith. How does that sit with us this morning? 132 00:12:40,840 --> 00:12:49,760 That true faith is a gift. Does any of us have a reaction to that? That what? Peace. 133 00:12:49,760 --> 00:12:54,520 Interesting. Anyone else? When you hear that true faith is a gift that we are 134 00:12:54,520 --> 00:13:00,280 given, what goes through your mind or your emotions when you hear that? 135 00:13:00,280 --> 00:13:13,400 Thankful. Anyone else? Comfort? Sure. Hope. These are all positive. I'm going to be a 136 00:13:13,400 --> 00:13:21,920 little more realistic. I go, oh no. That I've been given the gift of true faith 137 00:13:21,920 --> 00:13:28,240 and how badly I've stepped in it when it comes to that. That when I'm walking out 138 00:13:28,240 --> 00:13:32,680 in anger towards my spouse, my kids, my church, whoever, the person in front of 139 00:13:32,680 --> 00:13:40,480 me, that I'm denying the gift of true faith. Though it's hopeful and comforting 140 00:13:40,480 --> 00:13:47,520 in all of those things, like, ooh, that's a responsibility. So what is this true 141 00:13:47,520 --> 00:13:52,480 faith? True faith is question and answer 21 of Lord's Day 7. We know this, we've 142 00:13:52,480 --> 00:13:58,160 learned it, I'm just going over it because it calls for this. True faith is 143 00:13:58,160 --> 00:14:04,240 not only a sure knowledge by which I hold as true that all God has revealed to us 144 00:14:04,240 --> 00:14:11,960 in Scripture, it is a wholehearted trust which the Holy Spirit creates in me by 145 00:14:11,960 --> 00:14:18,000 the gospel that God has freely granted not only to others but also to me. 146 00:14:18,000 --> 00:14:23,080 Forgiveness of sins, eternal righteousness, and salvation. These are 147 00:14:23,080 --> 00:14:33,040 gifts of sheer grace granted solely by Christ's merit. So if I'm doing the 148 00:14:33,040 --> 00:14:38,560 transitive property, whether I know that definition right or not, that if true 149 00:14:38,560 --> 00:14:46,640 faith, the gifts of faith means listening, not being quick to speak, and not being 150 00:14:46,640 --> 00:14:54,760 angry, then there is a responsibility I have to the gift of true faith. And the 151 00:14:54,760 --> 00:15:02,080 thing about gifts is God gives them, we are to receive them and use them. I'm 152 00:15:02,080 --> 00:15:07,400 sure some of you in time have gotten a gift that you kind of had to paste a 153 00:15:07,400 --> 00:15:12,360 weird smile on because you thought to yourself, I don't see a receipt, I have no 154 00:15:12,360 --> 00:15:16,280 idea what to do with this, and it's been sitting somewhere in your house, 155 00:15:16,280 --> 00:15:20,240 crawl space, or closet, or whatever, and you will never use it. That is not what 156 00:15:20,240 --> 00:15:26,080 we're talking about today. That to strive knowing that James is how we not work 157 00:15:26,080 --> 00:15:31,640 out our salvation but because of our salvation get to work, that part of that 158 00:15:31,640 --> 00:15:38,480 work is showing the world a true faith. Quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to 159 00:15:38,480 --> 00:15:46,240 anger. But pastor, I have a worker that just doesn't come on time and it drives 160 00:15:46,240 --> 00:15:55,040 me insane. We've talked about, like I get so angry. Okay, what is God saying to you 161 00:15:55,040 --> 00:15:59,240 in that moment? I'm not saying you have to let them off the hook. I am not all 162 00:15:59,240 --> 00:16:03,960 about a world of participation trophies that you break a rule, you're gonna get 163 00:16:03,960 --> 00:16:11,400 in trouble. The Bible makes that very clear. But the anger side of it, do we 164 00:16:11,400 --> 00:16:15,280 leave that with the Lord? Do you ask, Lord, give me patience as I deal with this 165 00:16:15,280 --> 00:16:21,280 employee? Give me patience as I deal with whatever it is? Or do we just want to 166 00:16:21,280 --> 00:16:27,200 hammer it? We just want to get it done because we want it our way. I think 167 00:16:27,200 --> 00:16:31,960 that's the crux. That's where I think we stray from this understanding of true 168 00:16:31,960 --> 00:16:36,040 faith, this understanding of the gifts that James is telling us we get, that we 169 00:16:36,040 --> 00:16:40,000 because of being people of faith we have been given, now I know it's kind of cheesy 170 00:16:40,000 --> 00:16:46,880 but two ears one mouth. As a talker I get that a lot. Thanks mom. But understand, 171 00:16:46,880 --> 00:16:55,360 it's true. Checking my anger or for some of us anger slash rage, checking that at 172 00:16:55,360 --> 00:17:00,400 the door. I don't know anyone that says, you know what, I really came to know the 173 00:17:00,400 --> 00:17:04,600 Lord because I was at a church full of rage and I felt completely judged and 174 00:17:04,600 --> 00:17:09,160 completely hated on when I got there. I don't know anybody that goes, ooh I want 175 00:17:09,160 --> 00:17:16,560 that Jesus. No. I'm not saying we need to be wimps either but we are to love, we 176 00:17:16,560 --> 00:17:22,880 are to listen, we are to speak truth and life and we are to be patient not only 177 00:17:22,880 --> 00:17:26,720 in our own afflictions but also in the afflictions other people cause us and 178 00:17:26,720 --> 00:17:33,120 guess what? Patient in their afflictions as well. Why? Because we are not called 179 00:17:33,120 --> 00:17:38,160 just to sit with this little light by ourselves in our room or on a Sunday 180 00:17:38,160 --> 00:17:41,840 just all of us here together. No, we're supposed to take it out. What does that 181 00:17:41,840 --> 00:17:50,240 mean? James tells us in verse 22. He tells us, but be doers of the word not 182 00:17:50,240 --> 00:17:55,600 hearers only deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a 183 00:17:55,600 --> 00:18:00,560 doer he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he 184 00:18:00,560 --> 00:18:05,520 looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he looks like. But the 185 00:18:05,520 --> 00:18:11,280 one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty and perseveres being no 186 00:18:11,280 --> 00:18:19,760 hearer who forgets but a doer who acts he will be blessed in his doing. Keep that 187 00:18:19,760 --> 00:18:24,720 up there. I think it's a great understanding. I'm not gonna ask how many 188 00:18:24,720 --> 00:18:28,120 people spend a lot of time in the mirror, right? Because I don't want to out anybody, I 189 00:18:28,120 --> 00:18:31,680 don't want anyone to feel uncomfortable but for a lot of us it's 190 00:18:31,680 --> 00:18:35,560 something we do we don't even think about it, right? Whether we have to get 191 00:18:35,560 --> 00:18:39,560 things just right or whether it's just like okay I'm brushing my teeth looking 192 00:18:39,560 --> 00:18:46,560 in the mirror I'm done. It's the person that looks intently in a mirror. Maybe 193 00:18:46,560 --> 00:18:51,120 it's to notice all the blemishes, maybe it's the dark circles under the eye or 194 00:18:51,120 --> 00:18:56,920 maybe it's like I'm 52 how do I have acne still I don't care what it is but 195 00:18:56,920 --> 00:19:03,080 then you turn away and go what was I looking at? What was I seeing? It's the 196 00:19:03,080 --> 00:19:10,320 same thing with faith. Friends, this has been very clear, hasn't changed, of how 197 00:19:10,320 --> 00:19:14,360 we're supposed to walk out lives of faith. How we're supposed to walk in 198 00:19:14,360 --> 00:19:23,640 truth and in love. It even says in liberty, in perseverance. But how many 199 00:19:23,640 --> 00:19:28,840 of us may go wow Jim made a good point today and then by four o'clock this 200 00:19:28,840 --> 00:19:34,440 afternoon you go what did we do? What did he say? And believe me for a preacher if 201 00:19:34,440 --> 00:19:38,880 you understand one thing from what I said by noon today I count it as a win. 202 00:19:38,880 --> 00:19:44,600 But understand what the Bible is saying is for all of us people of faith we know 203 00:19:44,600 --> 00:19:49,000 what we're looking at, we know how to walk it out, we know how to be doers of 204 00:19:49,000 --> 00:19:58,040 the word but the minute we stop reading we forget or the minute life gets real 205 00:19:58,040 --> 00:20:06,760 hard we choose to forget or when all of a sudden I'm being attacked I forget 206 00:20:06,760 --> 00:20:10,000 that I'm supposed to be a person of faith and I go to become a person of 207 00:20:10,000 --> 00:20:15,680 wrath because I have to defend myself. I'm not gonna let anyone put me down I'm 208 00:20:15,680 --> 00:20:22,360 gonna defend myself I'm gonna punch back. Well let's if we model our faith after 209 00:20:22,360 --> 00:20:28,400 the faith of Jesus we can go he didn't do that now he called out those that 210 00:20:28,400 --> 00:20:33,120 need to be called out he corrected what need to be corrected absolutely he did 211 00:20:33,120 --> 00:20:39,680 but did Jesus need to defend himself because he was right with the Father do 212 00:20:39,680 --> 00:20:43,280 we need to defend ourselves if we're right with the Father and I know some of 213 00:20:43,280 --> 00:20:47,680 you're saying but the world's attacking right the world's gonna make it hard 214 00:20:47,680 --> 00:20:54,160 yeah the Bible's made that very clear that should not be a shock to you the 215 00:20:54,160 --> 00:20:59,640 world doesn't like me because I'm a believer friends that's not a new idea 216 00:20:59,640 --> 00:21:06,880 that goes all the way back to the first century we read that Easter Sunday the 217 00:21:06,880 --> 00:21:10,720 cover-up the money the power the authority the darkness has been there 218 00:21:10,720 --> 00:21:16,240 since guess what the darkness has remained now there's a time limit on the 219 00:21:16,240 --> 00:21:21,720 darkness it has an expiration date it will be all put to death at one point 220 00:21:21,720 --> 00:21:27,040 but we're not there yet but what the Lord's calling each and every one of us 221 00:21:27,040 --> 00:21:32,440 is to remember the faith that has been instilled in us for good works for being 222 00:21:32,440 --> 00:21:38,760 doers what are good works Lord's Day 33 question answer 91 what are good works 223 00:21:38,760 --> 00:21:45,080 only those which are done out of true faith can form to God's law and are done 224 00:21:45,080 --> 00:21:54,640 for God's glory and not those based on your own opinion or human tradition 225 00:21:54,640 --> 00:22:01,200 remember that umbrella grace we prayed for it this Lord's Day cuts right there 226 00:22:01,200 --> 00:22:08,800 that the world is not done given your interpretation of the scripture it is 227 00:22:08,800 --> 00:22:14,840 the scripture alone what the scripture says we should do now we get caught up 228 00:22:14,840 --> 00:22:19,680 in interpretations oh we get caught up in interpretations that's a whole nother 229 00:22:19,680 --> 00:22:25,880 sermon series but understand that you can take any interpretation and bring it 230 00:22:25,880 --> 00:22:29,560 back to the original you can the original Greek the original Hebrew and 231 00:22:29,560 --> 00:22:33,640 how many of you know how to do that exactly and so understanding that if 232 00:22:33,640 --> 00:22:37,480 you go okay is what I'm reading really true go back to the simplest 233 00:22:37,480 --> 00:22:42,040 understanding of the law that all the law and the prophets hang on these two 234 00:22:42,040 --> 00:22:48,200 things love for God which means holding up his commandments and loving people 235 00:22:48,200 --> 00:22:55,000 it's that peace though if we think about it that peace is the one that we can and 236 00:22:55,000 --> 00:22:59,540 we can have dividing lines as many rows as we have in this church of what is it 237 00:22:59,540 --> 00:23:04,960 mean to love what does it mean to come alongside because we are called to 238 00:23:04,960 --> 00:23:09,440 correct and rebuke we are called to do all these things we're supposed to do 239 00:23:09,440 --> 00:23:18,000 those things the law in Christ tells us to but we are to do it in love that 240 00:23:18,000 --> 00:23:23,600 doesn't mean there isn't consequences one thing I know about faith is there 241 00:23:23,600 --> 00:23:29,280 are gonna be some people that don't get it the Bible makes that very clear 242 00:23:29,280 --> 00:23:36,080 but I called out to you Lord Lord and the Lord said I never knew you but there 243 00:23:36,080 --> 00:23:42,840 are people in the world today that they think they have this down they think 244 00:23:42,840 --> 00:23:46,880 they've got Jesus all figured out almost to the point where they don't need him 245 00:23:46,880 --> 00:23:53,120 and guess what that's the missing piece we can do all of these good things but 246 00:23:53,120 --> 00:23:58,960 the good works that Christ is seen in us with that are being done through the 247 00:23:58,960 --> 00:24:06,760 Father conform to God's law are done for God's glory and there's the dividing 248 00:24:06,760 --> 00:24:12,880 line we do a lot of things in faith for our own glory oh man I really love doing 249 00:24:12,880 --> 00:24:17,160 the soup kitchen this week it made me feel so good well if that's what you're 250 00:24:17,160 --> 00:24:22,880 chasing yeah not a bad thing but are you doing it because your life is submitted 251 00:24:22,880 --> 00:24:32,600 to Christ guess what it flows top-down elders and deacons for the joy of 252 00:24:32,600 --> 00:24:39,200 serving are you doing it for by God's law for God's glory and not based on 253 00:24:39,200 --> 00:24:47,000 your own opinion awkward the council rooms full of opinions but it's what is 254 00:24:47,000 --> 00:24:53,960 God word God's Word says I've said this over the last couple weeks because we're 255 00:24:53,960 --> 00:24:58,360 getting ready to cast lots we'll talk about that in May and in June and we have 256 00:24:58,360 --> 00:25:04,280 three-year terms here at Munster and it's it is it's a lot of fun it is it 257 00:25:04,280 --> 00:25:08,360 working with all different people all different skill sets but the three-year 258 00:25:08,360 --> 00:25:12,560 term thing gets hard as the only constant in the room Lord willing you 259 00:25:12,560 --> 00:25:16,040 know it's kind of the joke you know pastors we get to joke too about all of 260 00:25:16,040 --> 00:25:21,480 you there's whether or not we tell from a sermon but understand that it's kind 261 00:25:21,480 --> 00:25:24,080 of like one the first year you're learning you're picking it up great 262 00:25:24,080 --> 00:25:27,640 second year you're like oh now we're in stride there you're like I can't wait to 263 00:25:27,640 --> 00:25:34,080 be done what as pastors we feel a little bit of that whiplash not gonna lie I'm 264 00:25:34,080 --> 00:25:38,120 just gonna throw that out there because at the end of the day getting unity 265 00:25:38,120 --> 00:25:42,360 takes time now if we know as a church where we're going and I believe as 266 00:25:42,360 --> 00:25:48,440 Munster Church we're working in that space it's a lot easier but what are our 267 00:25:48,440 --> 00:25:52,560 good works the good works of your counsel should be based on these as well 268 00:25:52,560 --> 00:25:57,840 done for by God's law for God's glory and not based on our own opinion or 269 00:25:57,840 --> 00:26:06,480 human tradition what does that mean that the one sentence that I can't stand as a 270 00:26:06,480 --> 00:26:18,080 pastor is well this is the that is heresy maybe not quite heresy but 271 00:26:18,080 --> 00:26:22,320 understand that goes against a lot of this well this is the way we've always 272 00:26:22,320 --> 00:26:25,760 done it and I know some of you and you can double down that it's actually a 273 00:26:25,760 --> 00:26:29,600 good thing right it's a good thing that we preach the gospel every Sunday 274 00:26:29,600 --> 00:26:34,800 totally buy into that right totally but we can throw that on all these different 275 00:26:34,800 --> 00:26:42,360 things that if it follows God's Word and it's giving God the glory and what does 276 00:26:42,360 --> 00:26:46,240 that mean oh this is gonna hurt and it hurts me first that means it may cause 277 00:26:46,240 --> 00:26:50,680 us to be uncomfortable just because we're doing it in a church and we're 278 00:26:50,680 --> 00:26:54,600 comfortable about it doesn't mean that it's for God's glory or maybe even by 279 00:26:54,600 --> 00:27:00,680 God's Word no it's for our comfortability friend if the Christian 280 00:27:00,680 --> 00:27:05,400 faith was derived and guided by Jim's comfortability or your comfortability 281 00:27:05,400 --> 00:27:11,000 this church wouldn't exist because we all know it's not about us or at least 282 00:27:11,000 --> 00:27:17,440 we should and that's what James is saying true faith is not about you true 283 00:27:17,440 --> 00:27:26,240 faith is about Christ in you the hope of glory true faith is dynamic it's 284 00:27:26,240 --> 00:27:31,200 manifesting not only our beliefs but also our actions we are engaged in God's 285 00:27:31,200 --> 00:27:37,520 Word to be transformed doers of his Word rather than passive spectators that's 286 00:27:37,520 --> 00:27:41,520 why if someone says you know what pastor Jim I serve for years and years and 287 00:27:41,520 --> 00:27:47,360 years I'm gonna take a break now until I'm dead and you're 45 I know now 288 00:27:47,360 --> 00:27:53,000 you're in the 90s club you do whatever you want pastorally fat phenomenal you're 289 00:27:53,000 --> 00:27:58,280 playing with house money but understand that for a lot of us we go so hard for 290 00:27:58,280 --> 00:28:04,000 the church and for being honest we burn out and we get scared to do it again 291 00:28:04,000 --> 00:28:07,040 well guess what if we're in a system where burnout doesn't necessarily 292 00:28:07,040 --> 00:28:15,080 happen it's okay to take a season a season off that's totally fine but we 293 00:28:15,080 --> 00:28:20,200 all are still to be doers of the word we never get to hang up our faith coat and 294 00:28:20,200 --> 00:28:26,360 go oh not this season of life you know what I'm in my 50s now I don't need to 295 00:28:26,360 --> 00:28:35,320 be doer I've been a doer of the word since I made my profession of faith so 296 00:28:35,320 --> 00:28:41,020 you're in your 50s now so you get to hang faith up no nothing in here says 297 00:28:41,020 --> 00:28:46,200 that that though it may be hard and though we may need to ask for that 298 00:28:46,200 --> 00:28:53,080 double that double portion of energy and spirit God still got this but the right 299 00:28:53,080 --> 00:28:57,560 mindset comes with that too that the kingdom of God is not dependent on 300 00:28:57,560 --> 00:29:01,760 whether or not you're a doer of faith that's another thing we have to 301 00:29:01,760 --> 00:29:08,000 understand about ourselves because it's not for our glory it's for God's glory 302 00:29:08,000 --> 00:29:13,040 the hardware catechism then doubles down on this truth in Lord's Day 32 303 00:29:13,040 --> 00:29:18,960 question answer 86 since we have been delivered from our misery by grace 304 00:29:18,960 --> 00:29:23,240 through Christ without any merit of our own we didn't do anything Christ did at 305 00:29:23,240 --> 00:29:27,560 all why then should we do good works just leave that up there don't go go 306 00:29:27,560 --> 00:29:37,760 back then why should we do good works what a selfish question God's done all 307 00:29:37,760 --> 00:29:44,680 the work he I have salvation because of Jesus and it would be great if I didn't 308 00:29:44,680 --> 00:29:50,200 have to do anything with it well I'd work catechism helps us here because 309 00:29:50,200 --> 00:29:56,360 Christ having redeemed us by his blood is also restoring us by his spirit into 310 00:29:56,360 --> 00:30:02,080 his image so that with our whole lives we may show that we are thankful to God 311 00:30:02,080 --> 00:30:06,520 for his benefits so that he may be praised through us so that we may be 312 00:30:06,520 --> 00:30:12,960 assured through our faith by its fruits and so that by our godly living our 313 00:30:12,960 --> 00:30:25,360 neighbors may be won over for Christ what the Heidelberg catechisms missional 314 00:30:25,360 --> 00:30:31,400 yes it is Dan Ardsmath it totally is that understand that by working good 315 00:30:31,400 --> 00:30:42,040 works our neighbors may be won over Wow this is us making the conversation 316 00:30:42,040 --> 00:30:48,880 connect that the way we live out our faith as the opportunity for others to 317 00:30:48,880 --> 00:31:00,560 see it to be won over gonna land the plane with this question is the way you 318 00:31:00,560 --> 00:31:08,000 are being a doer of the word something that can win somebody over for Jesus I 319 00:31:08,000 --> 00:31:13,040 get it that's a hard question that's almost not fair and understand I asked 320 00:31:13,040 --> 00:31:21,360 myself the same that the way I live out my faith every day of the week not just 321 00:31:21,360 --> 00:31:26,160 the hour and a half on Sundays not just every other Wednesday at gems or cadets 322 00:31:26,160 --> 00:31:36,320 or whatever we're involved in is my faith me doing can someone be won over 323 00:31:36,320 --> 00:31:43,240 by that because I think that's the real question am I living out my truth am I 324 00:31:43,240 --> 00:31:49,000 living out true faith in a way that people are gonna look at that and go 325 00:31:49,000 --> 00:31:54,280 man I know we're different but they love me and they won't stop asking me to 326 00:31:54,280 --> 00:31:59,760 church maybe I should go with the way that we live out our faith meaning in 327 00:31:59,760 --> 00:32:04,920 trials this is what happens when we go through every verse and that family just 328 00:32:04,920 --> 00:32:09,560 went through all that and they're not fighting there they're not bickering they 329 00:32:09,560 --> 00:32:14,840 didn't get divorced but like they love each other through it and I've seen a 330 00:32:14,840 --> 00:32:18,840 bunch of people drop off food so much so that they even brought stuff over to our 331 00:32:18,840 --> 00:32:22,680 house other people I don't need your food at our house they just bring it 332 00:32:22,680 --> 00:32:28,000 over to other people like you see the differences there you see the difference 333 00:32:28,000 --> 00:32:32,680 in the way it the way we act wait they found joy in trials they said that 334 00:32:32,680 --> 00:32:37,020 through this God's teaching me something that God is producing something in me 335 00:32:37,020 --> 00:32:43,520 they have a peace in the midst of wherever the world would have anxiety 336 00:32:43,520 --> 00:32:52,800 what is that that they might be won over for the sake of Jesus as redeemed 337 00:32:52,800 --> 00:32:58,280 children of God we are called to reflect his holiness and his righteousness in 338 00:32:58,280 --> 00:33:08,840 every single aspect of life true faith compels us to flee from sin to pursue 339 00:33:08,840 --> 00:33:14,600 purity and integrity with our thoughts our words and our deeds so Munster 340 00:33:14,600 --> 00:33:22,880 Church gems gems leaders former Calvinets all of us let us strive to 341 00:33:22,880 --> 00:33:30,080 keep ourselves unstained from the world shining as beacons of light in a dark 342 00:33:30,080 --> 00:33:39,080 world that desperately needs to be won over