More Proof (5 of 12)
Series: Less is More
Joey Rodgers
James 2:14-26
I love Cheetos! What's not to love? These puffy little morsels of hydrogenated soybean and corn meal can satisfy the more vicious of craving. After all, there's a micro-explosion of cheddar cheese in every bit - so they say!
When I see a Cheetos, I'm reminded of James where he begs the question - What kind of faith do you have?
Do you have a puffed up faith that's all volume w/ no substance or a faith that works? Do you have a faith that's artificial or authentic? Truth is - it's too easy for us to practice a religious lifestyle that appears to be more than what we are. It's tempting to pretend to be a friend of Jesus, when we're really only an acquaintance. This is what it means to have a Cheese Puff Faith - all volume w/ little substance. Cheese Puff religionists are puffed up w/ religious air who take up space in the church bowl, yet if you were to crush them you'd be fortunate to get a teaspoon of substance. This is what James 2:14-26 is all about.
Before we go further, let me clear up a misconception. Since early Christianity, scholars have had difficulty reconciling James' teachings on salvation w/ Paul's. Many have held James involves works contradicting Paul's view of grace.
This was such an issue James almost didn't make the Canon. But what we find isn't that they stand toe-to-toe fighting one another, but back-to-back clarifying saving faith.
Paul says salvation is by grace alone through faith free of any effort of man; it's dependent on Christ's work on the cross alone. Paul opposes the idea of legalism/goodness as a means of gaining God's favor. He says it's impossible to gain heaven by anything other than Christ alone!
As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us live ...
Series: Less is More
Joey Rodgers
James 2:14-26
I love Cheetos! What's not to love? These puffy little morsels of hydrogenated soybean and corn meal can satisfy the more vicious of craving. After all, there's a micro-explosion of cheddar cheese in every bit - so they say!
When I see a Cheetos, I'm reminded of James where he begs the question - What kind of faith do you have?
Do you have a puffed up faith that's all volume w/ no substance or a faith that works? Do you have a faith that's artificial or authentic? Truth is - it's too easy for us to practice a religious lifestyle that appears to be more than what we are. It's tempting to pretend to be a friend of Jesus, when we're really only an acquaintance. This is what it means to have a Cheese Puff Faith - all volume w/ little substance. Cheese Puff religionists are puffed up w/ religious air who take up space in the church bowl, yet if you were to crush them you'd be fortunate to get a teaspoon of substance. This is what James 2:14-26 is all about.
Before we go further, let me clear up a misconception. Since early Christianity, scholars have had difficulty reconciling James' teachings on salvation w/ Paul's. Many have held James involves works contradicting Paul's view of grace.
This was such an issue James almost didn't make the Canon. But what we find isn't that they stand toe-to-toe fighting one another, but back-to-back clarifying saving faith.
Paul says salvation is by grace alone through faith free of any effort of man; it's dependent on Christ's work on the cross alone. Paul opposes the idea of legalism/goodness as a means of gaining God's favor. He says it's impossible to gain heaven by anything other than Christ alone!
As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us live ...
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