Author: Lindsey Baker Jr.

James chapter two opens by telling us that God is no respecter of persons. One who wears good raiment and a gold ring have no more standing in the sight of God (James 2:1-5) than one who wears cheaper clothing. God looks on the heart and not on the outward appearance. Even poor men may be heirs of the eternal inheritance. One who would mistreat another because he is poor is guilty of blaspheming the name of Christ (James 2:6-7). Only one thing will stand tall in the sight of God and that is a faith which works by love.

The fruit of faith is deeds. Faith is of no worth unless it demonstrates its love by works. No sinner can be saved unless he is willing to be baptized in the blood of the lamb. The lesson in this chapter is to Christians. They then refused to care for those in need. It was impossible for them to be saved even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead being alone (James 2:17).

James uses Abraham as an illustration of one whose faith was made perfect by his works. Abraham’s life was a demonstration of faith in action. When he was told to leave his home, “he went forth not knowing whither” (Hebrews 11:18) he went. This was an act of faith. “By faith he sojourned in the land of promise” (Hebrews 11:9). Each of these acts of faith secured divine approval, but the supreme trial was when he offered up Issac.

Abraham’s faith was a working faith. The faith that saves is the faith that obeys. It takes faith plus action to secure a blessing from God. No man ever secured any kind of blessing either spiritual or temporal, on account of his own faith until after that faith had expressed itself in an action. Abraham was called the friend of God because he was always ready to do what God said for him to do.

“By Faith Noah, being warned of God Concerning things not seen as yet, moved with godly fear…” (Hebrews 11:7)

The expression “by faith” or its equivalent “through faith” or “in faith” is frequently used. A more particular focus on the subject of walking by faith will be seen through Noah ending by listing the meaning of “walking by faith.”

“By faith Noah,” these words introduced the man who built the ark (Gen. 5 through 10). Noah was in the tenth generation from Adam, descending from Seth through his father Lamech. His name means “rest.” The scriptures give a favorable account of his life being witness that he was just and upright, and that he found grace in the eyes of the Lord. God revealed to Noah his purpose of destroying mankind, except for a remnant, and gave detailed instructions for the building of the ark and the preservation of Noah and his family, along with specimens of lower order of life in the animal kingdom. The faith of Noah was truly great in his acceptance of God’s word “concerning things not seen as yet.” It was a new and utterly different thing that God would do in the flood, and no precedent for such a thing ever having been heard. Up to that time, no rain at all, much less a flood, had ever fallen upon the earth, all vegetable life being watered by a mist rising from the ground (Gen. 2:5,6).

“Moved with godly fear” indicates that part of Noah’s motivation was fear. It was called here “godly fear,” the validity of that type of response to God’s word is indicated. All human motivation classified, generally, under three of love, hope of reward, and fear. All three are summoned in the sacred scripture to urge and persuade men to obey the Lord.

Let us turn our attention to walking by faith. Since faith comes by hearing God’s word (Rom 10:17), it follows that walking by faith means walking as directed by God’s word. It means (1) that we should not walk by sight (2 Cor. 5:7), (2) that we should not be guided by our own fallible, human feeling and emotion (Rom. 8:4), (3) that we should not rely merely upon what seems right in our own eyes (Prov. 14:12), (4) that we should not be guided by human traditions (Mark 7:9), (5) that we ought not to be influenced in our religious convictions and practices by the opinions of human majorities (Matt. 7:14) (6) that we must not allow the views and customs of our ancestors to be determinative (1 Peter 1:18), and (7) that we have no business consulting merely our own desires and pleasures where sacred things are involved, “For Christ pleased not himself.” (Rom. 15:3)

Timothy (Timotheus) disciple who was “The son of a certain woman who was a Jewess, and believed; but his father was Greek: which was well reported on by the brethren that were at Lystra and Iconium.” (Acts 16:2)

Timothy was well reported of by brethren that were of two cities, because he was well-trained and taught by his grandmother, Lois, and his mother Eunice.

“When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also.” (2 Tim. 1:5)

“but continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and has been assured of know of whom thou has learned them; and that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is Christ Jesus.” (2 Tim. 3:14-15)

As a result of the teaching and the example of faith he observed in his mother and his grandmother, the Bible says in Acts 16:2 that Timothy was well-reported of by the brethren that were at Lystra and Iconium. Timothy understood that “A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches.” Proverbs 22:1 This observation was made before Timothy was further taught by Paul (2 Tim. 1: 13-14) and elders (1 Tim. 4:14) and others. Having a good name is important in that many things about each of us are noticed by our brethren: Do we have the proper role models in our lives? Are we studying to show ourselves approved? Timothy was a young man who loved the Lord, and he studied God’s word in that other brethren saw it in him. Are we entangling ourselves too much in the affairs of this life, which hampers our service to the Lord? Are we honest and respectful in showing our love to our brethren?

Timothy was well-reported of by the brethren because of his love and service to the Lord.