S6E19: Pure Love (Purity of the Body pt. 2)

Throughout the history of the Christian church there has been this tension between works and faith. Martin Luther struggled with the notion of works of salvation because he had found no joy in doing these works when he was a Catholic monk. Where Luther found his joy was in the simple proclamation that "the just shall live by faith." He called the book of James "an epistle of straw," and said that its emphasis on works contradicted Paul's emphasis on salvation by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone. But as we see in today's lesson, James' epistle doesn't contradict, but rather complements Paul's writings. We are saved through faith, true, but we are saved FOR good works, and our faith is demonstrated BY our works. "Will you faithfully participate in the ministries of the local church by your service?" This is our focus today in James' epistle.

Text: James 2:1-17

Recorded at Ebenezer UMC on September 9, 2018

S.D.G.