Our 100th Episode on ECAT! | Liberty at Home

It's episode 100 of Liberty at Home here on ECAT.

Hello, friends, both here in Easton and around the globe.

It's time for episode 100. Yes, that's right.

It's our 100th episode of Liberty at Home right here on

ECAT. I'm your host, Pastor Adam

Rivero of the Liberty Baptist Church here in town.

For those of you who may not know, we started Liberty at Home

on Facebook during the initial days of the COVID pandemic.

After 86 episodes, we wrapped for a bit before moving over

here to Easton Community Access Television.

We've been airing for three seasons now.

I want to thank all the kind staff at ECAT for their help in

making this weekly broadcast happen, particularly Adam

Guerrero, the Director of Community Media here at the

station. Now with all that being said, we

still have a devotion to share, so let's get right to it by

turning in our Bibles to James chapter #2 where we'll begin

reading in verse #18 Yeah, a man may say, thou hast faith and I

have works. Show me thy faith without thy

works, and I will show thee my faith by my works.

They'll believe us that there is one God.

Thou doest well, the the devils also believe and tremble.

But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is

dead? Was not Abraham, our father,

justified by works when he had offered Isaac, his son upon the

altar? See us now how faith wrought

with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?

As a pastor, people often bring certain Bible passages to my

attention that they find troublesome.

I firmly believe that the Bible is God's inspired word, and as

such it is without error. Yet I also recognize that there

are certain passages of Scripture that can cause

confusion if they're not thoroughly studied out.

Often I'm asked about James chapter 2, specifically about

James 2 · chapter mention

how the chapter seems to suggest that Abraham achieved salvation

by good works. Of course, as Baptists, and more

importantly as Biblicists, we hold dear the fact that we are

not saved by works, but rather by trusting in Christ's finished

work on the cross. The confusion specifically comes

from some of the verses we just read, James chapter 2, verses 20

James 2:20–21

through 21, which says, But wilt thou know, O vain man, that

faith without works is dead? Was not Abraham our father,

justified by works when he offered Isaac his son upon the

altar? Now this passage may seem

problematic at first glance, seemingly teaching that

salvation can be obtained through good deeds.

In fact, did you know that the reformer Martin Luther, who

rejected the Catholic teaching of salvation by works, didn't

even believe the book of James was part of the Biblical Canon

because of these verses and other verses in the book as

well? Yet a closer inspection shows

that James explanation of Abraham's works is in perfect

harmony with the doctrine of salvation by grace taught

throughout the rest of Scripture.

The passage through the example of Abraham as well as Rahab

later on shows us that good works do not save us.

Rather, good works naturally flow from someone who already

has faith. That's why James says in verse

23 of chapter 2 And the scripture was fulfilled, which

saith Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for

righteousness, and he was called the friend of God.

Now what's James saying? It's clear that he is

encouraging believers to be active in performing charitable

acts because saying you have faith yet not expressing it

outwardly is of little help to someone who's in need.

And that's why in some verses before James chapter 2, verses

James 2:14–16

14 through 16, it says, What does it profit, my brethren?

Though a man say he have faith and have not works, can faith

save him if a brother or sister be naked or destitute of daily

food? And what if you say unto them,

Depart in peace, be warmed and filled, notwithstanding you give

him not those things which are needful to the body, what does

it profit? The clear call of scripture is

that salvation cannot be achieved on our own merits.

Our good works are like filthy rags.

As it says in Isaiah chapter 64 verse six.

Isaiah 64 · chapter mention

You can never give enough money, join enough philanthropic

organizations, or do enough charitable acts to achieve a

heavenly home. Those that teach that works can

save someone have earned from Bible doctrine and have changed

the pure message of the Gospel. James chapter 2 teaches us

James 2 · chapter mention

something much different. For those who are believers,

good works are an outgrowth of our new life in Christ.

Just as an apple tree produces apples and a Grapevine brings

forth grapes, the natural byproduct of a Christian must be

good works. Can someone be saved by their

works? Never should a person who calls

themselves a believer be active in good works.

Yes, it's a necessity. Well, thanks for joining us for

episode 100 of Liberty Home. We've got one more episode for

this season, so don't forget to tune in next week as we give you

another dose of biblical truth. In the meantime, though, I hope

you'll join us this week at Liberty Baptist Church for

services. You can find us at 800

Washington St. and we meet every Sunday and Wednesday.

Learn more about our church and find our live stream services at

our website, mylibertybaptist.org.

Well, this is Pastor Adam Rivero signing off for the week and

reminding you that where the Spirit of the Lord is, there's

liberty. Catch you next week here on

Liberty at Home.