The context of Faith Without Works Is Dead! Preached by @Johnny Chang #johnnychang #faithwithoutworkisdead #jesuschrist #biblicaltruth #christianity

Faith without works is dead. What does that mean? A lot of people think it's talking to believers. Believers have to have faith and then they have to produce works because believers are the ones who have faith. Now, let's go to James chapter 1 verse 1. Let's see who he's speaking to. James, a servant of God, and the Lord of Yeshua, Mashiach, which is Jesus, to the 12 tribes which are scattered in broad greetings. So in James chapter 1 verse 1, when he starts this epistle, do you know who he's talking to? The 12 tribes of Israel, or the 12 tribes, the Jews. So you think it's believers, right? Okay, did believers crucify Jesus or did Jews crucify Jews? Who? So let's read it carefully. James chapter 5 verse 6. You have condemned and killed the just, and he does not resist you. Remember, the Bible says in Romans, the Bible says in 1 Corinthians, who is the just? Who is Jesus? The just? So wait, I thought that he was talking to all believers. You see, you see what happens now, right? When you start to understand context, you go, oh my gosh, now you start to feel sad. You guys don't understand the context of James chapter 2, because you didn't read James chapter 1, and you didn't read it all the way to James chapter 5. You just assumed what your past, your priest, or whoever told you that faith without works is dead. You yourself didn't go and check and study the scriptures to show yourself approved. That's why you believe that faith without works is dead, and you beat yourself up when you don't produce works, which is exactly what Satan wants you to do. So let's think about this for a second. Let me put this into context here. He's speaking to the Jews, and then he tells them, James, who is a believer? I'm going to show you guys my faith through my work. Do you know why? When he's speaking to the Pharisees, which is the Jews, what does he ask them? He says, your faith without works is dead, right? Do you know why he's saying that to them specifically? Can I ask you guys? Because they have no faith, exactly. So think about this for a second. Who is the author and finisher of faith? Jesus Christ. Who did all the works according to John 17 verse 3 and 4? I came to do the work that you gave me to do, and I have completed the work. That's why on the cross he says to Ted Listye. Who? Yeshua Mashiach. They're sitting there and they're thinking that they have their faith. And what he's saying to them is, how can you have faith when you literally crucify the author and the finisher of faith, which is Jesus Christ? And how can you have works when you don't even believe in the work of Jesus Christ? And you're talking about your own works. That's why he says, to the 12 tribes, faith thought works is dead. Do you understand now? That's the context. But what did you think? And what were you taught? Faith thought works is dead. So faith has to genuinely produce works. Look, I have to look good. And then you feel bad and you spiral or you get high-hard and go, yeah, I have so much faith. Look at all my works. God is super blessing me. At the end of the day, it puts the spotlight again back onto you, which you didn't even realize you was doing, right? That is trusting in self, not trusting in God. It's not that hard to understand. Even this brother keeps denying. Bro, you don't even know what you're talking about. He is talking to believers, really. And is that why in James chapter 5 verse 6, you have condemned and killed you, yay. Meaning you guys have condemned and killed the just. And he does not resist you. You killed him and he doesn't resist you. He's still trying to accept you. He's trying to preach to them. And in James chapter 2 verse 10 and 11, because the Jews care about the law, he says, if you break when you break them all, hello, he's trying to tell them, you cannot come to God through the law. Because if you break when you break them all, sure, you may not have slept around, but you lied and you coveted. And that's why you're going to burn in hell. Understand? You guys have to understand context.