The Bottom Line

February 7

As I shared previously, I am currently involved in a Beth Moore study on the book of James.  Sometimes you come across a powerful message that needs to be passed on. I want to share what I emailed to the ladies in the group.

Week 4 Day 1 is titled Dead By Itself  

In the same way faith, if it doesn’t have works, it dead by itself.  James 2:17

This is a powerful, powerful lesson today.  It is not meant to trip us up with controversies but spur us on to good works.

I am printing this quote up and sticking it somewhere visible in the house....

FAITH IS MEANT TO DO SOME GOOD.

Ephesians 2:8-10 is the verse which brought my husband to a saving knowledge of Christ at 28 years old.  He came to realize there was nothing he, himself, could do to be saved. 
Jesus had done it all.

             For it is by grace you have been saved through faith and this is not from yourself, it is the gift of God, not by works, so that no one can boast.

What good is the most gorgeously wrapped present, if we don’t open it up and receive the gift inside?  Jesus is just waiting for so many people to personally accept his sacrificial gift that was given for them.

Let’s unite today and pray for people we know and love (and some we find hard to love) to have the Holy Spirit get under their skin and do his job of conviction!

I find typing or writing key passages helps to put them a little deeper into my brain and maybe they will even reach my heart. Just reading or sharing this part of today’s lesson  to someone is a POWERFUL way to share the Gospel.  We could say, “Check out what I read in a Bible Study today.  What do you think about this?"

From Beth Moore:

“The bottom line for James is that real faith is demonstrative.  The Spirit surfaces sooner or later.  In Romans 10:10, Paul says that we believe in Jesus with our hearts.  Like the heart pumps blood to every limb and any limb without it is dead, our faith is pumped into our actions and extremities without it are dead....According to Word Biblical Commentary, the Greek verb forms in this section could be stated like this:  “if a person keeps on saying he or she has faith but keeps on having no works” (emphasis added),  then the person may not be saved....Somebody who is lost but thinks she’s saved could just go on living in deception to the shocking end. Sound application here could be the difference between life and death.  The Holy Spirit does his job.  He convicts and compels.  If we can keep on living without any intervention, interference, or empowerment from Him (not us), He may not be present within us....If you think this may be you, praise God that the very conviction you’re feeling is a crystal clear work of His Holy Spirit. Ask Jesus to come into your heart this very moment, to save you to the uttermost, and to bring forth much fruit through the course of your life.  He loves you so and wants you to be wholly secure in Him.

James 2:19 says You believe that there is one God.  Good!  Even the demons believe that  and shudder.

The question on the middle of the page reads:

"After soaking in James 2:19 how does that revelation hit you personally?"

My response:

 “Im glad the belief has gone beyond head knowledge, to the depth of a daily relationship.

Can't live without Him!  Hooray! The Good News is I never have to!"