Tag Archives: faith

Sound Doctrine Good Works

Sound Doctrine leading to Good Works

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Today we’re beginning the “book of” Titus!

This letter has a distinctly familial feel to it and with good reason. Titus was another one of Paul’s beloved sons in the faith!

Like Timothy who was left in Ephesus with a similar mission, Titus was left in Crete to set in order the things which still needed doing which included establishing sound doctrine and pastors in all the churches on the Isle.

Crete is an island which was part of the Roman empire and though it is not small (approximately 3,800 square miles) its population 2000 years ago was only about 200,000 people. This equates to about 78 people per square mile. For scale Tampa, FL is only about 114 square miles and currently boasts about 3,376 people per square mile.

The point being that in each township there was a relatively small population and yet in each town where there was a church, each had at least two pastors of equal authority which played into the purpose of God for the church and for Titus being sent into the hostile area.

Paul quoted one of the prophets of Crete as saying, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts and lazy gluttons”. Paul agreed with this assessment.

So sound doctrine was paramount as was correcting error and silencing opposition in the church. Titus had his work cut out for him, but the result was to establish Christians throughout Crete who were eager for good works!

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Response Good Works

The Response of Good Works

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We covered several things in this message but predominantly we addressed our response to oppressions & trials.

James encourages us towards patience and good works, but words like these are not typically embraced by modern Christians. Even our T-shirts represent sentiments which the Apostles and the early church would have never believed came from a child of God. Things such as “don’t test the Jesus in me” and “I’m forgiven… not perfect!” or “the Jesus in me is about to beat up the devil in you”.

While in most cases I don’t honestly believe they mean these things seriously, they reveal a heart that is NOT in submission to Christ. Plain and simple!

I am not at all convinced that most modern Christians take their need to suffer insults and injury from the world and count it a privilege, rather than a means for justified retribution. But James nevertheless encourages patience and good works as does Peter. Additionally Paul takes it further in his letter to the Philippians by telling us that to count all opposition an honor to suffer for Christ.

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Friendship world hostility

Friendship with the world is hostility towards God

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James has been building up to a point where he can confront these Jewish believers in their sin.

In chapter 3 he told them that if they were self seeking, envious with bitter jealousy then they were a child in the faith and carnal with character that is both unproven and unapproved.

So when James begins chapter 4 he starts with the statement that is essentially saying…
“All of these things being true you tell me where are all of your fights and Wars and jealousies and outbursts coming from?”

Of course he points out that their friendship with the world is violence towards God.

Furthermore, if they – even as Christians – are determined to maintain that worldly alliance, they are making themselves God’s enemy!

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Heart mouth believe

The Mouth reveals what the Heart believes

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James began his letter by addressing how to deal with temptation when it comes. He offers an example of asking God for wisdom, he explains that hearing God’s words without living them is to deceive yourself and then tells us that if someone cannot control what they say, their worship of God is empty and in vain.

He then goes into detail explaining that faith without correlating works is also dead, empty and vain.

Now in chapter 3 James revisits all of these truths in order to address sin in the midst of these Christians in chapter 4.

This letter of James is highly structured and makes some very well developed points towards success in Christian living, each of which build on each other so long as you do not neglect to follow the trail of thoughts he lays down.

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Dead Faith James works

Dead Faith

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James introduces the concept of “dead faith”, a wording which is entirely unique in all the Bible.

Now James is not saying there is a different “type” of faith, but rather a different condition or expression of faith. Or as in this case, a lack of expression!

Paul also introduces a novel expression of his own which is very similar. He called it “sincere” or “non-hyprocritical” faith.

Then Peter comes along and indirectly mentions the same by telling us that one of the benefits of temptations and trials (unintended by the enemy of course) is that it reveals the “genuineness” of our faith. 

So the existence of “genuine” or “sincere” or “non-hyprocritical” faith requires the existence of its opposite which would be faith that is “insincere”, “ingenuine” or “hypocritical”.

So the question is – Is “insincere” faith the same thing as “dead” faith? I believe it is, albeit they are nuanced in slightly different direction.

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