What About the End Times?

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ:

 

Jesus said to His disciples: “See that no one leads you astray. For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray. And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are but the beginning of the birth pains” (Matthew 24:4b-8).

 

I have often been asked this question: “Are we living in the end times?” I then typically ask, “Why do you ask?” “What are you thinking?”

 

Well, the short answer to this profound question is: Yes. We are living in the End Times. But the usual question to follow is this: “When did the End Times begin?”

 

Jesus said to His disciples: “‘It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by His own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.’ And when He had said these things, as they were looking on, He was lifted up, and a cloud took Him out of their sight. And while they were gazing into heaven as He went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, and said, ‘Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw Him go into heaven’” (Acts 1:7-11).

 

So, the End Times began with Jesus’ bodily ascension into heaven to which He said previously, “Then what if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where He was before?” (John 6:62)

 

Since, Christ’s bodily ascension nearly 2,000 years ago, the world has been living in the End Times. Generation after generation has experienced wars and rumors of wars. Generations have experienced nations rising against nations. Generations have experienced famines, plagues, earthquakes, and other weather-related phenomenon. This, the fallen sinful world has experienced. But, if we are living in the End Times, why do these End Times last so long? The answer to this is that we are being tested. Our faith in Christ is being tested.

 

Jesus assures us saying, “But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only. For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. Then two men will be in the field; one will be taken and one left. Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one left. Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect” (Matthew 24:36-44).

 

Regarding Christ not knowing the day and hour, He spoke this during His time of humiliation when He voluntarily limited His divine powers prior to His death upon the cross. Now that He is risen from the dead and bodily ascended into heaven, the exalted Christ certainly knows when He will return, since He has resumed His full and constant use of His divine powers.

 

The end of the world will not be spurred on by man. There is nothing man can do to usher in the Last Day. The Last Day has been prepared by the Triune God — the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. As the Holy Spirit inspired the Psalmist: “Put not your trust in princes, in a son of man, in whom there is no salvation. When his breath departs, he returns to earth; on that very day his plans perish” (Psalm 146:3-4). So, we are not to cling to sinful man, since sinful man always follows his sinful desires. Instead, cling to Jesus, for He “is the Way, and the Truth, and the Life” (John 14:6). By grace through faith in Christ alone, we come to the Father.

 

On the Last Day, the entire world will witness Christ’s return. He will return the same way He went up. On the Last Day, we “will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory” (Mark 13:26) who will “judge the living and the dead” at His appearing (2 Timothy 4:1).

 

In Christ,

Pastor Adelsen

Funeral Sermon: "At Peace with Christ" (Ecclesiastes 3:1-8)

 

Robert, Randy, Brian, and Jon, family and friends of Judy:

Grace, mercy, and peace be to you from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! Amen!

[Intro: Times and Seasons]

“For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven” (Ecclesiastes 3:1).

Each day we have is beyond our own human control. Everything comes and goes at the time that God has appointed. As God spoke in Psalm 90: “For all our days pass away under your wrath; we bring our years to an end like a sigh. The years of our life are seventy, or even by reason of strength eighty; but their span is but toil and trouble; they are soon gone, and we fly away” … “So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom” (Psalm 90:9-10, 12).

Today, we certainly see the wages of sin, which is death. Due to sin, no human being can overcome death. But, although we all die due to sin, by grace through faith in Jesus, “the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23b).

Today, Judy has received the victory! She has joined the happy throng singing the triumph song: Glory, laud, and honor unto Christ, the King! (Onward Christian Soldiers, LSB 662, Stanza 4). She is wearing the robe of Christ’s righteousness that covers all of her sins with her fellow saints in the Church Triumphant! She has received the free gift of God, that is eternal life – and all by grace through faith in Jesus Christ alone!

[Faith and Determination]

Judy loved to dance. In fact, she met her husband Robert at the Play-Mor ballroom. Although, that night, the two did not dance – as she declined Robert’s invitation, their dating life and marriage would not be void of dancing.

But back in 2012 and 2013, it was the thought that Judy would not ever dance again, due to cancer and other infections. For a time, she was unable to walk. But due to her faith and determination, she was able to walk again – and dance again.

Besides dancing, Judy enjoyed her flowers, especially her large Hosta garden. She also enjoyed the company of her cats.

She loved her family, especially her husband Robert and her sons Randy, Brian, and Jon.

Most importantly, her faith in Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior is what kept her going all of her life. Through thick and thin, Jesus was always there for her. He never left her, nor forsake her. He is with her to this day! Today she is in the presence of her Lord and Savior. She is completely satisfied as she hungers no more, neither thirsts anymore. She is no longer suffering the effects of sin. She is at bliss with her fellow saints in the Church Triumphant!

For us today, we are experiencing loss. With any loss, we grieve. So, do not be ashamed to grieve at the loss of Judy this day, or in future days. But also know this: As Christians, we grieve not as the unbelieving world grieves. We grieve in the sure and certain hope that we will be with our loved ones again who have died in the faith! “For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with Him all those who have fallen asleep. … Therefore encourage one another with these words” (1 Thessalonians 4:14, 18).

So, don’t be ashamed to grieve. Grieving is natural. And we all grieve in different ways. But always remember, Christians have the sure and certain hope that because Christ lives, everyone in Christ also lives!

[At the Appointed Time]

We should also remember that “for everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven” (Ecclesiastes 3:1).

All things have their time. All things have their definite hour. Everything comes and goes at the time that God Himself has appointed: “A time to be born, and time to die” (Ecclesiastes 3:2a).

Birth has its own time, and death has its own time. As we do not have our own birth planned out, we also do not have our own death planned out either. A baby is in the hand of God and is not born until its hour of birth comes. Women labor and concern about the birth of their baby, and they predict the time, but there is nothing certain about it. Nor do we die, except at our appointed hour.

For Judy, she may have thought when she was diagnosed with cancer in 2012 that death was near, or when her kidneys failed, but only God knew her appointed date and time.

Essentially, God is saying: “Why fear death?” Afterall, we cannot live any longer than the Lord has prescribed, nor die any sooner. So, we each have “a time to be born, and a time to die” (Ecclesiastes 3:2a).

But our sinful nature may say: “What about those people who die of their own initiative? What about those who died too young? Could they not have saved their lives?” No. God has set this hour and even the means and kind of death. God sets the moments of our life and of our death. They are fixed.

Now, our sinful nature may not like this. Our sinful nature likes the idea that we have some form of control. But this is a great comfort. God has indeed numbered our days. Our birth and our death are in His control.

Now, the time between our birth and our death, we perform the works of man.

“A time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted” (Ecclesiastes 3:2b).

These are the works of human life. In the spring there is planting, in the autumn there is plucking up. As Judy enjoyed taking care of her flowers and plants, she would be familiar with this. The flowers and plants would only last so long, then they would be plucked up for the next season. This is our life. This is our life now.

So, for everything there is a season. A season to weep, a season to laugh, a season to mourn, a season to dance, and on and on.

For each of these works, there is a defined time. There is a time to weep, there is a time to laugh. But it often happens that when we want to be very joyous, a sudden disturbance arises. Therefore joy – like all seasons – has its appointed time.

What God teaches us in Ecclesiastes 3 is this: Enjoy the present things. Enjoy all the blessings that God has bestowed upon us and all creatures – His Daily Bread – because they will come to an end.

Even as the grass withers and the flower fades through the seasons of our life, the Word of our God will stand forever (Isaiah 40:8). The Word of the Lord never withers nor fades but endures forever!

All material things are temporal – they will fade away, but our faith in Christ is eternal! Our faith is eternal, because the eternal God – the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – strengthens our faith through His Means of Grace: Word and Sacrament!

Since, the Word of the Lord endures forever, Judy is at peace. She is at peace because she has entered by the Door of the Sheep – Jesus Christ, who is our Good Shepherd.

She – and all who trust in Christ – received this peace at their Baptism. For “there is one body and one Spirit – just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call – one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all” (Ephesians 4:4-6).

You see, at your baptism, you were joined to Christ Himself. You were joined to His suffering, His death, and His bodily resurrection. In doing so, by faith in Christ alone, we share in the fruits of His cross: forgiveness of sins, which begets eternal life and salvation!

So, we acknowledge one Lord: Jesus Christ; one Faith: that is true doctrine as confessed in the Creeds; one Baptism: where we are joined to Christ.

Jesus came to “lay down [His] life for the sheep” (John 10:15b), so that He “may take it up again” (John 10:17) for which He did on that Good Friday and Easter morning, so that all who would trust in Him would live with Him forever.

Today, Judy and her fellow saints are at peace. They are dwelling in the house of the Lord and receiving the feast that is prepared for all the faithful (Psalm 23). May we on our appointed day join her and all the faithful in heaven!

For us this day, we have the sure and certain hope that because Christ lives, we shall also live, as we – with the Church Triumphant in Heaven – await Christ’s coming on the Last Day! Amen!

The peace of God which surpasses all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus, our Lord. Amen.

T SOLI DEO GLORIA T

Judy Sellnow's Obituary: https://hantge.com/obituaries/judith-judy-sellnow/

Funeral Sermon: "Receiving God's Inheritance" (John 14:1-6)

 

Ida, family and friends of Del:

Grace, mercy, and peace be to you from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! Amen!

[Intro]

“Let not your hearts be troubled” (John 14:1a). Del’s death came as a shock. One day, we are expecting his return home from the hospital. The next day, to our surprise Del did return home, but not to the home we expected. He was called to his heavenly home.

Even with Del receiving his inheritance – “an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading” (1 Peter 1:4) – our own sinful nature still asks questions, like: “What could I have done differently?” Or: “Why couldn’t I have had more time?”

When we lose a loved one, it is natural to ask questions to God through prayer. And don’t hold back. God can handle all we ask Him.

Although Del’s death comes as a shock, due to Del’s faith in Christ, we grieve not as the unbelieving world grieves. As Christians, we grieve in the sure and certain hope that we will be with our loved ones again who have died in the faith. “For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with Him all those who have fallen asleep. … Therefore encourage one another with these words” (1 Thessalonians 4:14, 18).

So, don’t be ashamed to grieve. Grieving is perfectly natural. Afterall, Jesus grieved. And everyone grieves in different ways. But always remember, Christians have the sure and certain hope that because Christ lives, everyone in Christ also lives.

[Receiving Christ’s Means of Grace]

Throughout Del and Ida’s marriage, they had many lively conversations together. Although they never argued, the two discussed many topics. At the beginning of their marriage, one conversation went this way: Ida said to Del, “I am going to church every Sunday.” To which Del replied, “I go to church four times a year.” “Well, I am going to church every Sunday.” To which Del said, “I don’t want you to go alone.”

For practically every Sunday, you could find Del and Ida right here at First Lutheran Church as they received Christ’s Means of Grace through His Word and Sacrament. At each Sunday Divine Service, the Triune God – the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – continually forgave Del’s sins and strengthened his faith in Christ as his Savior.

Even on Tuesday mornings, Del and Ida would be found here at First Lutheran together as they came for fellowship and to study God’s Word at each Tuesday morning Bible Study. While at home relaxing on their back porch, Del and Ida continuously studied and discussed God’s Word as God strengthened their faith.

Del was a kind and caring gentleman who would do anything – including giving up his life – for his wife Ida. This, he took to heart from His Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (Ephesians 5:25-31). Today, Del has joined the Church Triumphant with all the faithful. He is wearing the robe of Christ’s righteousness that he received at his baptism that covers all of his sins. Today, Del is in the presence of His Lord Jesus Christ who has “swallowed up death forever” and has wiped away all his tears (Isaiah 25:8). All his pain is gone. He is completely satisfied as He is in the presence of the Good Shepherd.

[The Way to God the Father]

For us here this morning, “Let not your hearts be troubled” (John 14:1a). Today, we see the wages of sin, which is death. Due to sin, no human being can overcome death. But, although we die due to sin, by grace through faith in Jesus, “the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23b).

For Christ’s disciples, they certainly did not want to see Jesus leave them. They are stirred up and shaken at the thought that Jesus was going away from them.

To this, Jesus says to them and us, “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in Me” (John 14:1). Now, this departure of Jesus is a cause for distress. Nobody wants to be left alone. Nobody likes to be separated from our loved ones and friends. This grief is only natural. But Jesus does not leave them and us alone, even after He departs.

Jesus says we have no reason to be troubled. He says, “Believe in God; believe also in Me” (John 14:1b). Now, this is not a reference to just general faith, but this is a reference to trust. Jesus is saying, “Trust in God the Father; Trust also in Me.”

God the Father sent Jesus on a mission and when His mission is complete, Jesus is to return. His mission was to suffer and die for all the sins of mankind, so that all who trust in Jesus would receive forgiveness of sins, eternal life, and salvation – and all by grace through faith in Him alone!

As Jesus says “believe, believe,” He is giving us the assurance that trust in God the Father would be enough, but trust in God the Father and God the Son is more than enough.

We and the disciples are to keep on trusting in the view of Christ’s departure of what Jesus again assures us: “In my Father’s house are many rooms” (John 14:2a). These rooms are all permanent abiding places. This is the promise the Good Shepherd makes to us in Psalm 23: “I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever” (Psalm 23:6b).

This departure of Jesus ushers in the glorious and eternal reunion. With this great promise, Jesus plants the comfort of the sure and certain hope in His disciples and in us!

But how do we get to the Father’s house? This is what Thomas asked Jesus: “How can we know the way?” (John 14:5b)

Jesus said to Thomas, “I am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6).

Here, Jesus does not say, “I show you the way,” like a second Moses; but, “I am the Way.” Nor, “I have the truth,” like another Elijah; but, “I am the Truth.” Not only, “I lead to life,” as one of his apostles could preach; but, “I am the Life.”

Jesus – the Word made flesh – is the Son of God and is of the identical essence of the Father, born of the virgin Mary, who was sent on His mission as the one Mediator between God and man, in all that He is and all that He does. Jesus as the Way bridges a chasm. Now, if the bridge lacks as little as an inch of reaching across, this bridge is not a bridge, but plunges down and is only rubble. Jesus is the only Bridge that lasts forever. He is the only Bridge to God the Father.

“All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned – every one – to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all” (Isaiah 53:6). As we have all gone astray, the Good Shepherd took upon Himself all of our sins, so that we – by faith in Him – would know the only Way to God the Father.

Jesus continues saying, “I am the Truth” and thus “I am the Way.” This means far more than Jesus is truthful. Nor is He merely of the truth. If this were all, Jesus could not be “the Way.” But Jesus is the actual embodiment of the Truth. He is the very reality of God the Father’s plans of grace and their execution.

“I am the Life.” Jesus is the one and only source of blessed existence and life for us. In our sin is death, the separation from God the Father. Left to ourselves, we would remain in this separation forever, dead beyond hope. But in the Person of Jesus, God the Father sent us “the Life.” Through Himself, Jesus abolishes the separation and once more unites us with God the Father. This union kindles life in us! This union gives us “eternal life.”

So, how is this union accomplished? How does Jesus become ours, and we His? It is all by faith when He comes to us and kindles confidence and trust in us. This He does through His Means of Grace: Word and Sacrament. Through hearing and believing His Word, Christ is in us, and we are in Him. God fills us with His grace so that we will be with Him forever. This is what Del received throughout His life and by his faith in Christ, he is still receiving this grace as He is in the presence of the Good Shepherd, who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.

Today, Del and all the faithful in heaven are at the table that Christ has prepared for all who trust in Him. Del and the entire Church Triumphant are at the Great Banquet in heaven receiving the “feast of rich food, a feast of well-aged wine, of rich food full of marrow, of aged wine well refined” (Isaiah 25:6). He is in the presence of the Good Shepherd. Though we have yet to see Christ in the flesh, Del is seeing Him as he rejoices in His sight.

For us this day, we have the sure and certain hope that because Christ lives, we shall also live, as we – along with Del and his fellow saints in the Church Triumphant – await Christ’s coming on the Last Day!

May we receive the same victory over death – the inheritance – that Del has received by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, who alone is the only Way to God the Father. Amen!

The peace of God which surpasses all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus, our Lord. Amen.

T SOLI DEO GLORIA T

Del Rutske's Obituary: https://hantge.com/obituaries/delbert-rutske/

Sermon for Pentecost 15: "Show Me Your Faith" (James 2:1-10, 14-18)

 

Grace, mercy, and peace be to you from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! Amen!

 

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ:

[Intro]

Too many of us are partial Christians. As “partial” Christians, our Christian convictions only apply to a small part of our life – and for many, that portion is shrinking.

We see this often in our personal and public lives. We may say – or hear fellow Christians – say things like:

• “Due to my faith, I am personally opposed to abortion, but I think women should have the right to choose.”
• “Religion and politics must be kept separate.”
• “I can believe in evolution and still be a Christian.”
• “My religious faith should have nothing to do with how I vote.”
• “I know Jesus is the only way to salvation, but I don’t want to offend people by talking about Jesus.”

Our modern world tears us apart. The modern world separates our lives into independent sectors: Education is education, politics is politics, science is science, and so on.

Our history has been a long story of each sector declaring its independence from the control and presence of religion. There certainly has been some good through secularization, but this process has had its costs: we are no longer whole. We often are forced to become partial Christians.

Our modern world also breaks us apart as we no longer trust in the mystery of God’s presence and His action. Instead, we live our lives reduced to a series of causes and effects that science can describe and predict. Thus, our lives become increasingly this-worldly. We focus on today, but not eternity.

Religion, itself, has become increasingly individualistic, as well. Instead of attending a Confessional and Christ-centered church, many people choose churches that adhere to their personal thoughts and feelings, instead of a church that adheres to God’s Law and Gospel. We see this within our own family and friends.

If anything, many people would rather have a “god” who fills in the gaps. So, whatever cannot be understood by science and human reason, then “god” fills in those parts of our life.

Partial Christians believe Christianity only applies to only small parts of their lives. In doing so, they are succumbing to the compartmentalized secular world.

Today on this 15^th Sunday after Pentecost, the Triune God – the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – teaches us that we ought to live out the whole Christian faith in our daily lives.

[Sin of Partiality]

Due to our sinful nature, we are a partial people. For good or bad, we care how people look, dress, and speak. We even tend to divide people by age and skin color. Through the Holy Spirit, James teaches us that partiality has no place in God’s Kingdom.

James writes: “My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory” (James 2:1).

James then cuts to the core. You see, our sinful nature likes shiny things, rather than dull things. Our very eyes catch the costly gold ring and fine clothing, and we think, “This man must have money. Come on in. You are welcome here.”

Some time ago, I experienced this at a department store. Now, I never dress shabby, but I noticed a change. After eating at a nice restaurant, I walked around a fancy department store wearing a suit, tie, and dress shoes. While there, I was certainly noticed by the staff. They wanted to assist me everywhere I went. On other times, when I wore only a polo, I was not even noticed. When it appeared, I had money to spend, I received all the help a man could ever want. But when it appeared I didn’t, I was ignored.

Through the Holy Spirit, James is saying that showing partiality is indeed a sin. To the rich man in fine clothing, we may say “‘You sit here in a good place,” while [we may] say to the poor man, ‘You stand over there,’ or, ‘Sit down at my feet’” (James 2:3).

The fine dressed man receives all the attention, while no respect whatsoever is shown to the poor man. The poor man is just told to sit over there, as far from us, on the floor. No one would ever think of treating the rich visitor in this way. This is the point James makes. Instead of respecting people as equals, James’ hearers were only following evil worldly ideas.

James’ point is that his readers should have shown courtesy to every visitor without making distinctions. He says: “Have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?” (James 2:4)

Is the soul of the one worth more than the soul of the other? Are not all men, rich and poor, equal in the house of God? Something is really wrong here with the faith of these people. They are fine attending church services – sitting in the pew, singing hymns, and going through the motions – meanwhile, they are judging each person around them. They are hearers only and not doers of the Word (James 1:22).

So, James reminds them about fulfilling the royal law: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself” (James 2:8b). If the Christian is doing this, they are doing well. “But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors. For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become accountable for all of it” (James 2:9-10).

[Faith Without Works is Dead]

James then cuts deeper into the core. This sin of partiality is a faith issue.

“What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him?” (James 2:14)

Typically, “faith” usually means trust – a dependence upon something. But that is not what James is saying here. When James says: “What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him?” he is referring to “faith” as a mere knowledge of a subject.

Satan and his demons most definitely believe in Jesus. But they do not trust in Jesus. Or if you ask a random person, “Do you believe in Jesus?” A “yes” to this question only answers the fact that they have knowledge in Jesus. This is not the same as trust.

This is what James is saying. He is discussing a false understanding of faith: faith that is just mere knowledge that has no effect on the person who has it.

Faith itself cannot be seen. Faith makes its presence known by a proper confession and through natural works.

This is exactly what Jesus taught! He said: “You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus you will recognize them by their fruits” (Matthew 7:16-20).

So, if there is a man who declares that he has “faith,” but everyone sees, that his “works” do not belong to such a faith, this man has no such true faith. So, if a man says, “My Christian faith has nothing to do with how I live my life” or he says, “Due to my Christian faith, I am opposed to this or that, but I will not withhold your right to do what you want” then this man may not be a Christian. There are no fruits falling from his supposed faith. Or, what if a person devoutly attends Sunday church services, but acts like a heathen the rest of the week?

The question James issues is this: “Is that faith able to save?” That answer is: No. True faith in Jesus Christ certainly saves, but a fruitless faith does not save. To this, through the Holy Spirit’s inspiration, James says to us: Show me your faith!

Now, you may be thinking, does this align with our favorite Lutheran verse from the Apostle Paul: “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9)? That answer is: Yes. Sometimes we forget what follows those verses: “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10).

James and Paul have exactly the same conception of saving faith. We are indeed justified by faith without works of the Law: a true and living trust in the Savior Jesus Christ.

You see, Paul does not have in mind one kind of faith when he says that faith without works saves, while James has in mind another kind of faith when he says that without works faith does not save. Both Paul and James refer identically to the same kind of a faith, and they both attribute to it regeneration, justification, and salvation.

Now, Paul and James do deal with different kinds of works. Paul deals with works of Law with having nothing to do with true faith, which are the boast of all the Pharisees and all works-righteous people, who think they are able to save themselves by such works. Now, trust in works of the Law is the direct opposite of faith in Christ alone. Works alone in order to earn salvation do not save.

James, here, deals with gospel works – the fruits of our faith – which is the evidence of the presence of true faith.

Both James and Paul attribute salvation to a living faith. Paul roots out what destroys and excludes faith. James stimulates sluggish faith. These two are in perfect agreement! They both call for the fruits of faith!

“So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead” (James 2:17).

What good is a dead tree? What good is a dead branch? What good is a tree that does not bear fruit? They are worthless. They are thrown into the fire and burned.

“But someone will say, ‘You have faith and I have works.’ Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works” (James 2:18).

So, the absence of good works that flow from faith in Christ show that this “faith” is not genuine. This person has a false faith. He has the same faith as that of a demon, who certainly believes in Jesus, but will not trust in Jesus and follow Him. 

[The Whole Christian]

So, how do we protect ourselves from being a partial Christian? How do we become a whole Christian? God gives us the answer!

True faith is the product of God through His Means of Grace. “Faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the Word of Christ” (Romans 10:17). Therefore, if we have no constant life in God’s Word, we cannot have true faith. Jesus says: “Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the Vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the Vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in Me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing” (John 15:4-5). But when we are in His Word by hearing His Word, receiving God’s forgiveness through Absolution and the Sacrament of the Altar, God strengthens our saving faith. We also grow in true faith when we have an active life in Bible Studies. You see, God strengthens our faith through Word and Sacrament! The Triune God does all the hard work! True faith receives salvation.

True faith is also always productive. Good works are those which the Word of God commands, describes, and effects through us. If we claim to have faith, but have no good works, that claim is a lie. Good works are loving our neighbor. Good works are living out the Christian life.

True faith is what draws us to the Triune God: redemption.

We are all poor, miserable sinners. But God did not leave us in this state. God the Father showed His steadfast love to you and me by sending His Son Jesus Christ to take on all of our sin and replace it with His righteousness. This Christ accomplished through His atoning suffering and death, so that by grace through faith in Christ alone, we would receive forgiveness of sins, which leads to eternal life and salvation.

Christ has come to redeem, forgive, regenerate, and fulfill all His promises. So, trust in Christ and cling to Him! Show your faith in Him! It is only through clinging to Christ and His love for us that we live the whole Christian life as we love God and serve our neighbor in repentance and true faith. Amen!

The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus, our Lord. Amen.

T SOLI DEO GLORIA T