"Pure religion and undefiled be fore God and the Father is this" (1:27). What follows in this verse presents some of the fruits that are to be seen in lives possessed with true faith. Some have imagined a problem or conflict here., They have thought that the way of salvation was presented in these words. But that is not the case. That would be to contradict scores of passages of Scripture which make it clear that salvation comes only through faith in the Christ of the cross and the resurrection. James is not giving a definition of the Christian life in the verse before us, but rather a description of the effect which the possession of the Christian life will have upon outward conduct. He wants us to know that “believing and doing are blood relatives.” The Christian life must express itself. “Though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?" (2:14). There is a great deal of difference between merely say ing one has faith and actually having it. One may make a loud profession and have no posses sion. Simon Magus was like this. He believed and was baptized, and yet it is clear that he had no vital part in the things of God (Acts 8:9-24). James is here writing about a spurious kind of faith. A man may talk about having faith, but if there are no evidences of it in his life, it is clear that the kind of faith he has is not saving faith. For the Children M emory V erse : “Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you” (John 15:14). Have you ever been told to “prac tice what you preach” ? Followers of the Lord Jesus Christ should be different from those who are not Christians. They should not say that they are Christians, and continue to live for Satan. Their speech, man ners, kindness, helpfulness, cheerful ness, and love should show that what they say is true. The Lord Jesus told His disciples that whatever Christians do for oth ers, they are really doing for Him. When they give clothing to the poor, they are giving it to Him. When they give food to the hungry and drink to the thirsty, they are provid ing for His needs. When they take strangers into their homes, they are taking Him in. When they visit the sick or those in prison, they are visit ing Him. The Saviour said, “Inas much as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.” Sometimes we think of the things that we would do for the Lord Jesus SEPTEMBER, 1947 How F riends of J esus A ct (J as . 1:22; M att . 25:34-46)
if He were to visit our home. He will not come, but He has told us to treat others as though we were en tertaining Him. What a difference that would make in the way that we treat members of our family, our friends, our neighbors, and the strangers that we meet! God says, “Be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only.” If Christians would “practice what they preach” by be ing kind, and considerate, and living their religion rather than merely talking about it, other people would want to know their Saviour, too. It is because so many Christians are hateful, untrustworthy, lazy, and slovenly that worldly people have no desire to become followers of the Son of God. Our dress, habits, speech and action should cause others to want to know our Lord. Ask the Holy Spirit to show you how you may be a better doer of the Word, for as His friend, you should be do ing daily whatever He commands you to do.
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“ That in all things He might have the preeminence” fittingly describes the expanding ministry o f F aith Theologi cal Seminary. Aiming to combine the highest scholarship with vital spiritual living, F aith stresses evangelism and a holy life, and its teaching is centered around the work of Christ as Saviour and Lord. Accordingly the training at F aith is true at every point to the great Chris tian fundamentals. While the system of doctrine contained in the Scriptures and expounded in the historic Westminster Confession o f Faith and Catechism forms the basis of instruction, the Sem inary is not connected with any par ticular denomination, but seeks to train men who shall serve the Lord wherever He shall call them to work. True to the written word, F aith thus exalts Him who is the living Word o f God. For information regarding support of the Seminary, address Roland K. Armes, Treas., P.O. Box 4299-K, Philadelphia, Pa K 947
Section of a homelike dormitory room, where lifelong friendships are cemented. Inset, the ade quate dining holl facilities pro mote wholesome Christian fel lowships.
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