Expository & Systematic Bible Study – James Series 24/06/2024

Study 13 - RECEIVING AND RETAINING GOD'S GRACE THROUGH LIVING

(NOT DEAD) FAITH
James 2:14-17; Ephesians 2:8-10.

“What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have
not works? can faith save him? If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute
of daily food, And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed
and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to
the body; what doth it profit? Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being
alone.” (James 2:14-17). Can that faith without grace and works save that man? If
there is anything to go over and over again in the word of God, it is grace and faith.
We are saved by grace through faith, remain steadfast in the Lord by grace through
faith, and endure persecutions and suffering by grace through faith. “For by grace
are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not
of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in
Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should
walk in them.” (Ephesians 2:8-10). We are saved by grace through faith. We receive
all from God by grace through faith.

1. TRANSFORMING GRACE THROUGH DEFINITE, DECISIVE FAITH

Ephesians 2:8-10; Titus 2:11-14

Grace transforms, it does not excuse Adam, depravity, or our sins. None is a sinner
by grace. We do not need grace to do evil or have depravity, but grace transforms.
“For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live
soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed
hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus
Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and
purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.” (Titus 2:11-14).
The grace of God brings salvation that makes you different from what you were before.
And this grace transforms and teaches us to live soberly and righteously in this
present world.

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(i) Transforming Grace through Trusting Faith - Titus 2:11-14; Romans 12:2-3;
Hebrews 10:38-39; Galatians 2:20. “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation
hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly
lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;
Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and
our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us
from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good
works.” (Titus 2:11-14). It doesn’t say that the grace was accepted by all men, but
that it has appeared unto all men. You must accept this grace of God as it appears
unto you. And those that have this grace live soberly not sinful, careless or frivolous
life. Also, you will deny worldly lust and temptation to worldliness. Do you ever say
‘NO’ to the Devil, the Tempter and the Temptress? Do you influence others to
unrighteousness by your body anatomy? Our lives must be transformed if grace has
come into our lives. “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed
by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and
acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” (Romans 12:2). In your personal life,
marriage, educational pursuits, career, and lifestyle, you will not follow the way of the
world. A transparent life, the Lord will give everyone in Jesus Name.

(ii) Transparent Godliness through Tenacious Faith - Hebrews 10:22-23; 2 Peter

1:3-4,5-6; 3:11-14; 2 Corinthians 1:12. If the life has not been totally changed, you
hold on there, for it is that tenacious faith that makes us to have the transparent
godliness. If our godliness is only in public, when others are not there, in private, you
lose your godliness and do evil, that is not being transparent. “Let us draw near
with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from
an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast
the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)”
(Hebrews 10:22-23). God is Faithful, and because of that, He has promised.
“According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto
life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory
and virtue: Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises:
that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the
corruption that is in the world through lust. And beside this, giving all
diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge
temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;” (2 Peter
1:3-6). The life we live is not according to our human power, but divine power. God
calls us to virtues and not to vices. Partakers of the divine nature do not steal, commit
adultery, or fornication, and live pernicious lives. But they live godly and righteous
lives.

(iii) Transcending Goodness under Tried Faith - 1 Peter 1:7-9; Matthew 5:44-46;
Romans 12:20-21; 1 Peter 4:10,12-16. There is goodness at the normal human level,
but when grace comes, it takes us higher than the human level to a transcending
goodness. From the story of the Good Samaritan, he went beyond expectation to take
care of the man who needed help. When you hear about holiness, grace, endurance,
and faith, you go beyond what you have heard and learned, that is the transcending
goodness. “That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold
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that perished, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and
honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: Whom having not seen, ye
love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy
unspeakable and full of glory: Receiving the end of your faith, even the
salvation of your souls.” (1 Peter 1:7-9). There will be trials of our faith in our
places of work, at home, and in the community, and this is how we know the
transcending goodness and grace in our lives.

2. TRAMPLED GRACE BY DEAD, DEADENING FAITH

James 2:14,17; Jude 1:4

There are people who trampled upon the Son of God, made the grace of God vain, and
they trampled upon the goodness of God. And these people are deadened perpetually
to knowledge, the voice of God from Heaven, any invitation from God, warnings from
God that show us how to remain in the grace and godliness that God provided through
Christ at Calvary. “What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath
faith, and have not works? can faith save him? Even so faith, if it hath not
works, is dead, being alone.” (James 2:14,17). Before you came to Christ, no work
will recommend you to God. But as you believe in Him, then that faith will bring about
works of grace, joy, peace, long-suffering, meekness, gentleness, fidelity, and
faithfulness. Our faith should produce something practical and pleasant with the
people we are living with. “For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were
before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace
of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord
Jesus Christ.” (Jude 1:4). There are people who trampled upon the grace of God and
turned it into a license for evil and immoral acts.

(i) Misunderstood Grace by Nominal Believers - James 2:14,17-19; Titus 1:16;

Hosea 8:2-3,12; Hebrews 12:15-17. “What doth it profit, my brethren, though a
man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? Even so faith,
if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith,
and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee
my faith by my works. Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well:
the devils also believe, and tremble.” (James 2:14,17-19). Do you believe in God?
Do you believe that God sees the evil you do in the secret? Do you believe that except
your righteousness exceeds that of the Pharisees and Sadducees you will not enter
into the kingdom of God? You must not misunderstand grace like a nominal
churchgoer. “Israel shall cry unto me, My God, we know thee. Israel hath cast
off the thing that is good: the enemy shall pursue him. I have written to him
the great things of my law, but they were counted as a strange thing.” (Hosea
8:2-3,12). Israel says that he believes in God, but does not tremble at the word of God,
but counts it as a strange thing. These are the people who misunderstand the grace
of God as nominal believers only in name.

(ii) Misusing Grace for Non-Christian behaviour - Jude 1:4-6; 1 Corinthians 13:5-6;
1 Peter 4:15-17; 1 Corinthians 15:2. There are people who think that grace covers all
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things even while they are committing evils and immoral acts. That is not grace but
licentiousness. “By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I
preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.” (1 Corinthians 15:2). You
will not believe in vain.

(iii) Misapplied Grace by Natural Beasts - Romans 6:1-2,14-18; 2 Peter 2:12-17;

Jude 1:4,10,12-13. “For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were
before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace
of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord
Jesus Christ. But these speak evil of those things which they know not: but
what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt
themselves. These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you,
feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about
of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by
the roots; Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering
stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever.” (Jude 1:4,10,12-
13). There are people who crept into our church that want to deliberately poison your
heart against our General Superintendent but we will not believe their lies.

Don’t misunderstand the grace of God, use it alright and apply it properly so that you
don’t misuse or misapply the grace of God so that you will not trample under the grace
of God

3. TRIUMPHING GRACE THROUGH DISTINCT DISTINGUISHING FAITH

Romans 5:1-2,5; 1 Timothy 1:14

There is the grace that triumphs in trials, temptations, difficulties and storms of life.
Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, and other Patriarchs of faith distinguished themselves
by faith and obedience unto God. We will not be like the common people. When you
have the grace of God and those triumphs, then you will have the distinguishing faith
as well. We come to God, and by His grace, we triumph all the past life. “Therefore
being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and
rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And hope maketh not ashamed; because the
love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto
us.” (Romans 5:1-2,5). We have access by faith to this grace of God when it appeared
unto us, and we accept it. “And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant
with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.” (1 Timothy 1:14). This is the
triumphant grace.

(i) Overcoming the World and Worldliness by Grace through Faith - 1 John 5:4-
5; James 4:4,6-7; 1 John 2:15-17; 5:13,18-19. “For whatsoever is born of God
overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even
our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus
is the Son of God?” (1 John 5:4-5). Our faith is what overcomes the world. Jesus
came from heaven so that He could lift the sons of men into heaven to become the
sons of God. He is the Only Saviour of the world, and no other name is given except
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the Name of Jesus for our salvation that comes through faith. And this salvation
makes us overcome the world. “Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that
the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a
friend of the world is the enemy of God. But he giveth more grace. Wherefore
he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. Submit
yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” (James
4:4,6-7). When a man or woman leaves the wife or husband and does with another
person that thing he or she should do only with the spouse, that is adultery. We are
the bride of Christ as our Bridegroom. And if you as a bride of God leave Christ, and
love the world, that is the spiritual adulterer and adulteress. We need to overcome the
world no matter how small or big the temptation. “Love not the world, neither the
things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father
is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of
the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the
world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God
abideth for ever.” (1 John 2:15-17). Love not the world, their dancing, immorality,
drinking, smoking, tradition, festivals, celebrations, the lust of the eyes and the flesh,
we will not love them.

(ii) Overpowering our Weakness and Wilfulness by Grace and Faith - Matthew
26:34-35,41,56,58,69-70; Romans 8:3-4,37; 2 Corinthians 12:9-10; Judges 16:17.
“Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this night, before the cock
crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. Peter said unto him, Though I should die with
thee, yet will I not deny thee. Likewise also said all the disciples. Then cometh
Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and saith unto the disciples,
Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder. Watch and pray, that ye enter not into
temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. But all this was
done, that the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled. Then all the
disciples forsook him, and fled. But Peter followed him afar off unto the high
priest's palace, and went in, and sat with the servants, to see the end. Now
Peter sat without in the palace: and a damsel came unto him, saying, Thou
also wast with Jesus of Galilee. But he denied before them all, saying, I know
not what thou sayest.” (Matthew 26:34-35,41,56,58,69-70). Peter was warned by
Christ as you see in this passage, but he was careless, prayerless and wilful despite
the weakness that was pointed out to him. But you will not be like Peter in this
passage. The weakness and wilfulness in your life can only be overcome by faith and
grace, and you will overcome.

(iii) Overturning others' Wandering in the Wilderness by Grace through Faith -

1 Corinthians 10:5-11; Proverbs 21:16; Hebrews 3:8,10,12-14,19; Psalm 119:10-11.
Others wandered in the wilderness, but thank God for Joshua and Caleb who did not
follow them. We will overcome and overturn the plans of the enemies in our lives. You
might be close to someone who is prone to wandering, worldliness and wilfulness, but
you have to make up your mind like Caleb and Joshua, with a purpose of heart that
you will not defile yourself. Make up your mind to have the victory, the triumph and
the overturning power not to be like others, and you will overcome in Jesus Name.
“The man that wandereth out of the way of understanding shall remain in the
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congregation of the dead.” (Proverbs 21:16). If he remains there until Christ comes,
then all the worship and Bible Study is in vain. And the leaders have laboured in vain
over him or her. “With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander
from thy commandments. Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not
sin against thee.” (Psalms 119:10-11). The word of God we hear needs time to settle
in our hearts and transform our lives, and the word becomes your second nature.
Pray the word of God, and live the word out in every other area of your life.

Today you will pray to have grace to do what you have heard, and then we will have
faith to do the word of God. And you will not get offended at the word of God you have
heard. But you will allow the word of God to work and transform your lifestyle,
behaviours and character.

Quotable Quotes from Pastor (Dr) W.F Kumuyi.

We are saved by grace through faith, remain steadfast in the Lord by grace through
faith, and endure persecutions and suffering by grace through faith.

We receive all from God by grace through faith.

Grace transforms, it does not excuse Adam, depravity, or our sins.

None is a sinner by grace.

Do you ever say ‘NO’ to the Devil, the Tempter and the Temptress? Do you influence
others to unrighteousness by your body anatomy? Our lives must be transformed if
grace has come into our lives.

God is Faithful, and because of that, He has promised.

God calls us to virtues and not to vices.

When you hear about holiness, grace, endurance, and faith, you go beyond what you
have heard and learned, that is the transcending goodness.

Our faith should produce something practical and pleasant with the people we are living
with.

There are people who think that grace covers all things even while they are committing
evils and immoral acts. That is not grace but licentiousness.

Jesus came from heaven so that He could lift the sons of men into heaven to become the
sons of God.

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You might be close to someone who is prone to wandering, worldliness and wilfulness,
but you have to make up your mind like Caleb and Joshua, with a purpose of heart that
you will not defile yourself.

Note:

This is an outline from the message preached by Pastor (Dr) W.F Kumuyi, the General Superintendent of the
Deeper Christian Life Ministry Worldwide at the Monday Bible Study in Lagos HQ Church, Nigeria, West Africa
on Monday 15th July 2024.

Watch the GS Message Video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V1xL6j3_LfQ