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Pentecost 16 2024, Proper 18
Immanuel Lutheran Church, Hamilton, Ohio
Pastor Kevin Jud
September 8, 2024
Isaiah 35:4-7a, James 2:1-10, 14-18, Mark 7:31-37
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What do you need to do to be saved? Does your salvation come from faith in Christ or come from good works, or some combination.
In Ephesians chapter 2 we read, Ephesians 2:8–9 (ESV) 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” You are saved by grace through faith. Not as a result of works.
But then today, in our reading from James, we learn, James 2:17 (ESV) 17 So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.” This then seems to beg the question; do you somehow earn salvation by doing good works?
Earning salvation by works is the default sense we have by nature, and virtually all world religions follow the idea that you merit redemption by doing something.
In Islamic teaching salvation comes from obeying Allah’s law and carrying out the five pillars of Islam, which are doable. You declare Allah is God and Mohammed is his prophet. You pray five times a day. You give to the poor. You fast during Ramadan. And, you make a pilgrimage to Mecca once in your lifetime. For a Muslim, they think they know what they need to do to be saved. They have been given a list.
When you make up a religion it generally comes with a list of things to do to please the god figure.
Hinduism: Salvation is achieved by purifying oneself from evil in each life. Sikhism: Salvation is achieved by performing proper worship and conduct. Confucianism: Salvation is achieved by conforming to the rules of society on earth. Buddhism: Salvation is achieved through the path of wisdom or the path of compassion. Unitarianism and Wicca: Salvation is a non-issue because the sin nature doesn't exist, and the afterlife is whatever you want it to be.
What do you need to do to be saved? Folks just want a list so they can get to work saving themselves.
Christianity is the only major religion that teaches that salvation is a gift from God. It is not something you earn. It is not by works, so no one can boast. But… faith without works is dead.
You are not saved by good works, but good works are necessary for the Christian. Works do not save you and works are necessary. This can be confusing. I think one question can help clarify things.
Why do you do good works? Why do take care of your children? Why do you help your neighbor? Why do you serve on a board at church? Why do you work hard at whatever you have been given to do even when no one is watching? Why do you give an offering to Immanuel?
Why do you give money to Immanuel? Let’s look at that for a moment. What is your motivation for making an offering to church? Is it the price of admission? Are you trying to pay off God so He will forget your sins? Are you trying to buy salvation? Are you trying show off to others? No. No. No and no. That is not why you give. You give… in response… to what God has done for you.
We learn about giving from Paul in 2 Corinthians 9:6–8 (ESV) 6 The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 7 Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.”
You give in cheerful response to what God has done for you in Jesus Christ. I like to think that you should give until it hurts and then give a little more until it feels good.
You do all good works in cheerful response to what God has done for you in Jesus Christ. Good works are a natural result of faith in Christ. Jesus does all the work of salvation and forgiveness on the cross and at the empty tomb, and delivers these gifts to you in three ways; in the waters of Holy Baptism, in Holy Communion, and in the Word of God, most clearly in the words of absolution. Through His three means of grace, Jesus delivers you from the domain of darkness and gives you His light. So, as a redeemed child of God, we learn in, Matthew 5:14–16 (ESV) 14 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”
You are the light of the world because of what Christ has done for you. You shine this light in service to others because you have been made light in Christ. If you are light you will shine.
Now good works can be quite ordinary as you serve your neighbor at home, at school, at work, at church, in the community. Cooking, cleaning, diaper changing, driving, doing your job, doing your homework, setting the table, clearing the dishes, taking out the trash, unloading the dishwasher. Good works are often quite ordinary. Good works also can be extraordinary as you go above and beyond in service when the need arises, such as adopting a child, taking in a family member, providing ongoing assistance to someone in need, caring for someone who is ailing. Generally there are no trophies or awards for your good works. If all goes well, people see your good works and give glory to God. And so you let your light shine. The light you receive from Jesus.
Faith without works is like a dark light bulb… it does not shine. There are people who claim to have faith in Jesus, but they embrace the darkness; they embrace sin, they are purposely and repeatedly sinning without remorse; without repentance.
If a married man is having an affair he is not light in the world. He is darkness. He can claim to have faith in Jesus, but faith without works is dead. It is darkness. There are so, so many who claim to have faith in Jesus but do not follow Jesus. They may honor Jesus with their lips, but their heart is far from Him.
Good works come from you being who you are in Christ. You are the light of the world in all that you have been given to do. In all you do, you bring the fruit of the spirit, Galatians 5:22–23 (ESV) 22 …love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.” And so, in all you do, you bring light and push back the darkness.
Faith produces good works. You cannot claim to have faith but not have the good works of the light. You do good works because you are the light of the world. And it is not an easy thing to be the light of the world. As a follower of Jesus you are in an ongoing struggle against the natural sin that flows from your sinful nature, encouraged by the world around you, and the devil himself. As the light of the world, you struggle against the darkness that surrounds you. And when you fail in your struggle and give in to the darkness, you stop…you repent… you turn away from the darkness… you receive forgiveness from Jesus and continue to let your light shine. To be a follower of Jesus is to know that you cannot earn your forgiveness, you cannot be good enough. Even if you could be good enough, that is not good enough as we learn in Luke 17:10 (ESV) 10 So you also, when you have done all that you were commanded, say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty.’ ” To follow Jesus is to know you are poor in spirit and Jesus has made you a part of the Kingdom of Heaven.
Good works come from you being who you are in Christ. You are the light of the world in all that you have been given to do. In all you do, you bring the fruit of the spirit, Galatians 5:22–23 (ESV) 22 …love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.” And so, in all you do, you bring light and push back the darkness.
Famously we read in, Ephesians 2:8–9 (ESV) 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” Works do not save you. But here in Ephesians there is the full truth, so let’s keep reading Ephesians 2:10 (ESV) 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” Works do not save, but being saved causes you to do good works.
You are a redeemed child of God. You are forgiven by the blood of Jesus. You are the light of the world. Let your light shine in all that you do. Amen.