You Asked For It: Faith vs Works
June 1, 2025Pastor Josh Starnes presented today's message, "You Asked For It: Faith vs Works" A video of today's message is here on YouTube. This series started with folks being asked to submit scriptures that they would like explained/explored. So, it's quite literally: "You asked for it!"
Today's topic is Faith versus Works: Romans 4:1-5, James 2:14-17, and Ephesians 2:4-10.
Josh started the message with a brief rundown of the Exodus events from the Israelite slaves in Egypt crying out for God's help all the way to the Israelites receiving the Ten Commandments at Mt. Sinai (Exodus 1-20). Among the several things he highlighted was the 4th Commandment: "Do not take the Lord's name in vain" which is not a great translation of the Hebrew. Learning about what this commandment really means is one of the great Ah-ha moments of my life which came early in my studies of the Torah and drove me to learn more and more. I explain much of it here: Oh My God, No Message Recording.
Interestingly, the whole of Josh's message hit upon another Ah-ha moment during my Torah studies, settling in my mind an issue that had been rolling around most of my life. The issue is: "What's the right balance of faith versus works?" Which gets one saved?" Did the new covenant (agreement between God and Man) nullify the old covenant? What's the place/need of the Old Testament for Christians? Certainly, it doesn't mean that how we behave doesn't matter any longer.
What I've learned aligns well with what Josh said in his message: "Faith in Jesus is what is required for salvation, period. Works (following God's laws, serving others, etc.) is our response to that gift of salvation. Good works demonstrate to the world that we have that faith and also shows God's ways in a good light to the world. Put in reverse, religious people that act poorly (in opposition to God's laws) reflect badly on God and degrade His reputation. So, "Be a light unto the nations." The Menorah (a candelabra) is a symbol of that phrase from the Book of Isaiah and is the official symbol of the State of Israel.Here are two previous essays on this topic:
Galatians #1: Jesus Did Everything
He Is Risen Indeed!
Bonus
No Such Thing as Righteous Anger
Focus on the Family is offering a series of five short videos (each under 5 minutes) in which Brant Hansen, author of Unoffendable, is being interviewed by Jim Daly. These videos are free to watch: sign up.From the webpage: "As sinners who have experienced God's grace and forgiveness, Christians should be the least likely to be surprised and offended by the words and actions of our fellow sinners. Unfortunately, we tend to become angry at those around us—and hold on to that anger—when we have no right to do so. There's a better way! Learn why "righteous anger" is not a biblical concept. Discover the power of forgiveness even in the face of unspeakable evil. Learn how to become unoffendable at home, in the workplace, and anywhere you interact with others."
Brant makes it clear that letting go of your anger is not saying that the behavior you're mad about is right or OK. You still may need to take some kind of action. But anger is never the appropriate action.
Here are the titles of the five videos:
The Struggle with Righteous Anger
Forgiveness in a Broken World
Letting Go of Anger: A Journey of Peace
The Power of Ongoing Forgiveness
Grace at Home: Navigating Anger
Bonus2
Shavuot / Pentecost
This coming Sunday (6/8/25) is Pentecost for Christians - 50 days after Easter. For the Jewish community, 50 days after Passover is Shavuot, Festival of Weeks (referring to seven weeks after Passover). Shavuot started on 6/1/25 and ends(ed) at nightfall on June 3rd. Pentecost (Acts 2) is when the Holy Spirit descended upon the disciples who were likely all together because they were celebrating Shavuot (much like the Last Supper was likely a Passover celebration). Shavuot celebrates God's giving of the Ten Commandments at Mt. Sinai. For more discussion, see Bonus: Shavuot (שָׁבוּעוֹת) and Pentecost (Πεντηκοστή). This was the topic for our Family Dinner last Saturday evening.
While Passover celebrates freedom from external bondage (slavery in Egypt), Shavuot celebrates freedom from internal bondage (by providing rules to live well by). The Holy Spirit comes to everyone with Pentecost just as the Torah comes to everyone with Shavuot.
For a little more about the Feast of Weeks / Shavuot, see: What is the Feast of Weeks? and/or What Is Shavuot?.
And here's an interesting article about Shavuot and Pentecost from the point of view of a Messianic Jewish community. (Messianic Jews are Jews who believe in Jesus.) The Power of the Feast of Weeks.
Bonus3
Service to Others / Inspiration for Others
Lynn and I watched two documentaries the other night, both on Netflix: The Quilters and Air Force Elite: Thunderbirds.
Both had been recommended to us very recently. In fact, the one about the Thunderbirds was recommended to us just last Thursday by a couple who shared the moment with us atop the Hotel Polaris by the U.S. Air Force Academy during graduation ceremonies when it was announced that the Thunderbirds were canceled due to weather. We still got to watch them that night via this documentary, up close and personal.
The two stories, completely different in nature, do have two themes in common: service to others and inspiration for others. Pursuing both can bring out the best in just about anybody regardless of their standing in society.
May 22, 2018: Thunderbirds at the USAF Academy Graduation Ceremony.