Robert Jeffress - How To Know If You're Really Saved

August 9, 2025 | S25 E380 | 29:0

Pathway to Victory offers a practical application of God’s Word to everyday life through the clear, biblical teaching of Pastor Jeffress.

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Dr. Robert Jeffress | Robert Jeffress - How To Know If You're Really Saved | August 9, 2025
  • ♪ music ♪
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  • From the pulpit of the first baptist church
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  • Of dallas, texas,
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  • This is "pathway to victory" with dr. robert jeffress.
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  • Hi, i am robert jeffress,
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  • And welcome again to "pathway to victory."
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  • If someone like a detective were to examine your life,
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  • Would they find enough evidence
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  • To convict you of being a christian?
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  • It's a sobering question, isn't it?
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  • Well, that's exactly the kind of spiritual examination
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  • We're going to undertake
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  • As we begin a brand new study in the book of james.
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  • You see, james believed that authentic faith
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  • Always reveals itself through our actions,
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  • And today, we're going to discover
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  • Why good works matter more than you might think.
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  • My message is titled, "how to know if you're really saved"
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  • On today's edition of "pathway to victory."
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  • ♪ many are they increased that troubled me ♪
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  • ♪ many are they that rise up against me ♪
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  • ♪ many there be which say of my soul ♪
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  • ♪ there is no help for him in god ♪
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  • ♪ but thou, oh lord are a shield for me ♪
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  • ♪ my glory and the lifter of my head ♪
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  • ♪ thou, oh lord are shield for me ♪
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  • ♪ my glory and the lifter of my head ♪
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  • -♪ but thou ♪ -♪ but thou ♪
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  • ♪ but thou, oh lord are a shield ♪
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  • -♪ are a shield ♪ -♪ are a shield for me ♪
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  • ♪ my glory and the lifter of my head ♪
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  • -♪ but thou ♪ -♪ but thou ♪
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  • ♪ but thou, oh lord are a shield ♪
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  • -♪ are a shield ♪ -♪ are a shield for me ♪
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  • ♪ my glory and the lifter of my head ♪
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  • -♪ but thou ♪ -♪ but thou ♪
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  • ♪ but thou, oh lord are a shield ♪
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  • -♪ are a shield ♪ -♪ are a shield for me ♪
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  • ♪ my glory and the lifter of my head ♪
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  • ♪ but thou, oh lord are a shield for me ♪
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  • ♪ my glory and the lifter ♪
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  • ♪ of my head ♪
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  • ♪ of my head ♪
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  • (applause)
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  • Where there's genuine faith,
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  • There will always be visible fruit.
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  • In his brand new book,
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  • "how to know if you're really saved,"
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  • Dr. robert jeffress helps you take stock
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  • Of the evidence of your faith,
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  • The spiritual fruit in your daily life.
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  • This outstanding verse-by-verse walk
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  • Through the book of james
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  • Will help you cultivate the spiritual fruit
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  • That reflects genuine faith.
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  • Request "how to know if you're really saved"
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  • When you give a generous gift
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  • To support the ministry of "pathway to victory."
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  • ♪ music ♪
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  • Many of you may have learned to share your faith
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  • Through the program called "evangelism explosion."
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  • It was developed by the late dr. d. james kennedy,
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  • Pastor of the coral ridge presbyterian church,
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  • And in that method of sharing your faith,
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  • Dr. kennedy suggested there are two questions
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  • You can ask somebody
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  • To determine their relationship with god,
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  • Whether or not they're truly saved.
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  • The first question's very simple,
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  • Have you come to the place in your life
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  • Where you know with absolute certainty that if you died,
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  • God would welcome you into heaven?
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  • Now, a non-christian will say,
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  • "well, i hope so," or "i think so."
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  • Well, no, eternity's too long to be wrong.
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  • If you're really saved, you know that.
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  • The second question is even more informative,
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  • You can ask somebody,
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  • If you were standing before god
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  • And he were to ask you,
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  • "why should i let you into my heaven?"
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  • What would you say?
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  • And 99% of the people you ask that question to will say,
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  • "well, i would say because i keep the 10 commandments,"
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  • Or "i live by the golden rule,"
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  • Or "i attend church"
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  • Or "i got baptized."
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  • They will point to some work or works they have done
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  • And yet we know the right answer to that,
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  • We read it a few moments ago,
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  • Ephesians 2:8-9 says,
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  • "for by grace you have been saved through faith,
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  • And that not of yourselves, it is a gift of god,
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  • Not as a result of works lest anyone should boast."
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  • But does that mean god doesn't care about our actions?
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  • God's disinterested in our works?
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  • Does god not care about what we say,
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  • And what we think, and how we treat other people?
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  • Such an idea is preposterous, good works do matter.
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  • In fact, the st. paul who wrote those words
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  • In ephesians 2:8-9 also added a verse, verse 10,
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  • About the place of good works in a believer's life.
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  • He says, "for we are his workmanship,
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  • Created in christ jesus for good works,
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  • Which god prepared beforehand
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  • So that we would walk in them."
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  • Paul says in verses eight and nine,
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  • "we are not saved by our works,"
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  • But he adds in verse 10,
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  • "we are saved for good works."
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  • You see, the apostle paul believed
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  • That good works without faith leads to spiritual death,
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  • But james, as we're going to see today,
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  • Says faith without works is a dead non-existent faith.
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  • How do you reconcile those two statements?
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  • Martin luther, the great reformer, said it this way,
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  • "faith alone saves, but saving faith is never alone."
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  • Where there is genuine faith,
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  • There will always be visible fruit.
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  • If there is no fruit, if somebody lives their life
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  • And there is no spiritual fruit,
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  • It means there is no saving faith.
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  • That is the message we're going to unpack
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  • Over these next weeks
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  • From the letter we call james.
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  • If you have your bibles,
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  • Turn to james 1 beginning with verse one.
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  • First of all, an overview of the book.
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  • Who is the author?
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  • Well, that seems to be a simple question
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  • When you look at verse one,
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  • James, a bondservant of god
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  • And of the lord jesus christ,
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  • To the 12 tribes who are dispersed abroad.
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  • Who's the writer of the book?
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  • Well, he says at the beginning,
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  • This is kind of like an email, you know, in our letters,
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  • Does anybody still write letters?
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  • But if you write a letter,
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  • You sign your name at the end of the letter,
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  • And so, if you receive a letter,
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  • You have to flip through the pages and see who sent it.
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  • Well, in james day, in the first century,
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  • They would put their name at the top of the letter,
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  • The sender and then the recipient,
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  • Kind of like our emails today.
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  • So james identifies himself,
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  • James wrote this letter, right?
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  • Well, that's right, but the problem
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  • Is there are at least five different james
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  • In the new testament
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  • And we have to decide which one we're talking about.
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  • On your outline, i've listed the five james in the bible.
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  • First of all, there's james, the father of judas.
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  • Did you know there were two apostles named judas?
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  • Jesus had not just one but two.
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  • There's the bad one, judas iscariot,
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  • But then there's another judas.
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  • By the way, wouldn't you have hated to be the other judas?
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  • Can you imagine spending your life going around saying,
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  • "i'm not that one, i'm the other one.
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  • I'm the other judas."
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  • Well, the other judas,
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  • The good judas had a father named james
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  • And we know nothing about him,
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  • So that's probably not the writer of this letter.
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  • Secondly, there was james, the son of alphaeus.
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  • He was an apostle.
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  • He was the brother of matthew,
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  • But we don't know a whole lot about him
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  • Other than what we find in matthew 10:3.
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  • And then thirdly,
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  • There's a james who was known as james the less.
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  • Isn't that a horrible name for somebody?
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  • James the less, the younger.
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  • We really only know one thing about him that was,
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  • He was a follower of christ
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  • Who was there at the crucifixion
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  • According to mark 15:40.
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  • And then fourthly, you've got james, the brother of john.
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  • He too was an apostle.
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  • In fact, he and his brother
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  • Were both called the sons of thunder.
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  • Something about their personality gave them that nickname.
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  • They were both sons of zebedee, james and john.
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  • We know that james, by the way,
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  • This james was the first apostle
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  • To be martyred for his belief.
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  • He was beheaded under the order of herod agrippa i.
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  • And then the final james
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  • Is the one i believe is the writer of this epistle.
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  • He was known as james the just,
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  • Not because he was equitable and fair,
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  • But because he was a righteous man.
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  • He's mentioned in galatians 1:19,
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  • But i did not see
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  • Any of the other apostles paul wrote
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  • Except james, the lord's brother.
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  • That's the writer i believe of this letter,
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  • The brother, to be technical, the half brother of jesus.
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  • What do we mean by the half brother of jesus?
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  • Well, let's look at james, the brother, for just a moment.
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  • We all know mary and joseph had a son,
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  • Their first son named jesus, right.
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  • He was the son of mary.
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  • Mary was his biological mother.
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  • Joseph was his legal father, but not biological father.
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  • The holy spirit was the father of jesus.
  • 00:11:29.378 --> 00:11:33.716
  • But what people don't realize
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  • Is that joseph and mary
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  • Had a number of other children after jesus.
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  • They had boys and girls,
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  • And they had them the old fashioned way.
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  • Some faith traditions teach the perpetual virginity of mary,
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  • That she remained a virgin.
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  • No, she didn't remain a virgin,
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  • She had many children.
  • 00:11:58.440 --> 00:11:59.942
  • Where do we find that in scripture?
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  • In matthew 13:55-56,
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  • The critics of jesus were saying,
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  • Who is this guy who's claiming to be the messiah?
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  • Is it not the carpenter son, joseph?
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  • And is not his mother called mary,
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  • And his brothers james, and joseph,
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  • And simon, and judas, and his sisters,
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  • Are they not all with us?
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  • Where then did this man come up with these things?
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  • There's a listing there,
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  • The sons and daughters that mary and joseph had together.
  • 00:12:30.105 --> 00:12:34.243
  • Now, we've looked at james, the brother.
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  • Let's look at james, the pastor.
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  • And as i said, from the earliest days of the church,
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  • It's evident that peter
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  • Was the beginning leader of the church at jerusalem
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  • And john was his associate pastor.
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  • But somewhere, that began to change
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  • Because when we come to acts 12,
  • 00:12:54.530 --> 00:12:57.233
  • James was the recognized leader of the church at jerusalem.
  • 00:12:57.233 --> 00:13:01.337
  • You say, how do you know that?
  • 00:13:01.337 --> 00:13:03.005
  • Well, remember in acts 12
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  • When peter was miraculously released from prison
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  • And he went to the home of john mark
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  • Where the other believers were praying for peter's release
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  • And he appeared to them, told what had happened,
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  • And he sent word to make sure
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  • That they told james what had happened.
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  • Why james?
  • 00:13:22.191 --> 00:13:23.459
  • Because he was the leader of the church.
  • 00:13:23.459 --> 00:13:25.194
  • Thirdly, james, the writer,
  • 00:13:25.194 --> 00:13:26.896
  • We've really talked about this
  • 00:13:26.896 --> 00:13:28.430
  • And i don't have time to pursue it.
  • 00:13:28.430 --> 00:13:30.432
  • There are only two candidates
  • 00:13:30.432 --> 00:13:32.201
  • Really for the authorship of james.
  • 00:13:32.201 --> 00:13:34.536
  • One is james, the apostle who's the brother of john.
  • 00:13:34.536 --> 00:13:38.107
  • The other is this half brother of jesus.
  • 00:13:38.107 --> 00:13:41.176
  • I believe when you compare the greek style used
  • 00:13:41.176 --> 00:13:45.447
  • In the epistle of james with james speech in greek
  • 00:13:45.447 --> 00:13:50.286
  • That is written in acts 15,
  • 00:13:50.286 --> 00:13:53.155
  • There are similarities there
  • 00:13:53.155 --> 00:13:54.623
  • That really argue for the half brother of jesus
  • 00:13:54.623 --> 00:13:57.693
  • Being the author.
  • 00:13:57.693 --> 00:13:59.128
  • Now let's look at james, the martyr.
  • 00:13:59.128 --> 00:14:02.364
  • As i said, he became pastor probably in ad 44.
  • 00:14:02.364 --> 00:14:07.703
  • He served as pastor until 62 ad when he was executed.
  • 00:14:08.804 --> 00:14:12.841
  • Now, we don't have any biblical record of his execution,
  • 00:14:13.943 --> 00:14:16.378
  • But we have secular recordings of it.
  • 00:14:16.378 --> 00:14:19.715
  • Now let's look at james, the letter.
  • 00:14:19.715 --> 00:14:22.985
  • It was probably written in ad 44
  • 00:14:22.985 --> 00:14:26.055
  • And notice that it's written
  • 00:14:26.055 --> 00:14:27.690
  • To the 12 tribes that are dispersed.
  • 00:14:27.690 --> 00:14:31.694
  • It's a reference to jewish christians.
  • 00:14:31.694 --> 00:14:34.964
  • He wrote to jewish christians
  • 00:14:34.964 --> 00:14:36.799
  • Who had been dispersed from jerusalem
  • 00:14:36.799 --> 00:14:39.301
  • To other parts of the roman empire.
  • 00:14:39.301 --> 00:14:41.403
  • Now, a couple of things i would say about this letter,
  • 00:14:41.403 --> 00:14:44.907
  • First of all, it's very application-oriented.
  • 00:14:44.907 --> 00:14:48.978
  • There are 108 verses in the letter of james, 54.
  • 00:14:48.978 --> 00:14:53.449
  • Half of those verses are commands.
  • 00:14:53.449 --> 00:14:56.285
  • For every verse of biblical content,
  • 00:14:56.285 --> 00:14:59.555
  • There is a command, an application to make.
  • 00:14:59.555 --> 00:15:03.625
  • This is about faith in action.
  • 00:15:03.625 --> 00:15:06.829
  • It's also interesting
  • 00:15:06.829 --> 00:15:08.063
  • That james uses more figures of speech,
  • 00:15:08.063 --> 00:15:11.333
  • More analogies than paul does
  • 00:15:11.333 --> 00:15:14.103
  • In all of his letters combined.
  • 00:15:14.103 --> 00:15:16.505
  • James is a preacher.
  • 00:15:16.505 --> 00:15:17.806
  • He's trying to be practical and clear.
  • 00:15:17.806 --> 00:15:20.576
  • Now, what is the purpose of james?
  • 00:15:20.576 --> 00:15:23.412
  • At the root of james is a desire
  • 00:15:23.412 --> 00:15:25.881
  • To produce spiritual maturity in people.
  • 00:15:25.881 --> 00:15:29.551
  • You find the word perfect throughout the bible.
  • 00:15:29.551 --> 00:15:32.488
  • He's not talking about flawlessness,
  • 00:15:32.488 --> 00:15:34.857
  • He's talking about maturity.
  • 00:15:34.857 --> 00:15:37.593
  • The word perfect,
  • 00:15:37.593 --> 00:15:38.861
  • The greek word means to be mature, complete,
  • 00:15:38.861 --> 00:15:42.698
  • They were spiritually stunted in their growth.
  • 00:15:42.698 --> 00:15:46.301
  • Are you moving closer to christ every day
  • 00:15:46.301 --> 00:15:49.972
  • Or are you moving farther away from christ?
  • 00:15:49.972 --> 00:15:52.274
  • It's the direction james is concerned about
  • 00:15:52.274 --> 00:15:55.911
  • And he talks about spiritual maturity.
  • 00:15:55.911 --> 00:15:58.847
  • Now, let's look at the topics in the book of james.
  • 00:15:58.847 --> 00:16:02.818
  • Our friend chuck swindoll says
  • 00:16:02.818 --> 00:16:05.087
  • That all scripture can be divided
  • 00:16:05.087 --> 00:16:07.056
  • Into one of two categories.
  • 00:16:07.056 --> 00:16:09.425
  • Scripture is either talking about the way to god,
  • 00:16:09.425 --> 00:16:13.595
  • How to be right with god,
  • 00:16:13.595 --> 00:16:15.097
  • Becoming a christian,
  • 00:16:15.097 --> 00:16:16.465
  • The way to god, or secondly, our walk with god.
  • 00:16:16.465 --> 00:16:21.670
  • James fits under the latter category.
  • 00:16:22.438 --> 00:16:24.907
  • It's not about the way to god,
  • 00:16:24.907 --> 00:16:26.708
  • You'll never find out how to be saved
  • 00:16:26.708 --> 00:16:28.977
  • By reading the letter of james,
  • 00:16:28.977 --> 00:16:31.080
  • But it's talking about our walk with god
  • 00:16:31.080 --> 00:16:33.682
  • After we're saved.
  • 00:16:33.682 --> 00:16:35.350
  • And james says, if you are truly saved,
  • 00:16:35.350 --> 00:16:38.787
  • There's going to be evidence of it.
  • 00:16:38.787 --> 00:16:40.589
  • There's some tests that you need to apply to your life.
  • 00:16:40.589 --> 00:16:44.560
  • By the way, paul said the same thing in corinthians.
  • 00:16:44.560 --> 00:16:47.496
  • He said, "test yourself
  • 00:16:47.496 --> 00:16:49.698
  • To see if you are really in the faith."
  • 00:16:49.698 --> 00:16:52.501
  • First of all, our response to trials.
  • 00:16:52.501 --> 00:16:55.671
  • Do trials in life, which are inevitable,
  • 00:16:55.671 --> 00:16:58.273
  • Do they drive you closer to god or further away from god?
  • 00:16:58.273 --> 00:17:02.277
  • James says, "consider it all joy, my brethren,
  • 00:17:02.277 --> 00:17:05.080
  • When you encounter various trials,
  • 00:17:05.080 --> 00:17:07.649
  • Knowing that the testing of our faith produces endurance."
  • 00:17:07.649 --> 00:17:11.887
  • Secondly, a test is your response to temptation.
  • 00:17:11.887 --> 00:17:16.325
  • God tests us to strengthen our faith.
  • 00:17:16.325 --> 00:17:19.461
  • Satan tempts us to destroy our faith.
  • 00:17:19.461 --> 00:17:22.364
  • "let no one say," james 1:13-14,
  • 00:17:22.364 --> 00:17:25.567
  • "let nobody say when he is tempted,
  • 00:17:25.567 --> 00:17:27.803
  • 'i'm being tempted by god'
  • 00:17:27.803 --> 00:17:29.805
  • For god cannot be tempted by evil
  • 00:17:29.805 --> 00:17:32.374
  • And he himself does not tempt anyone."
  • 00:17:32.374 --> 00:17:35.144
  • Thirdly, another test, our obedience to the word,
  • 00:17:35.144 --> 00:17:38.647
  • James 1:22, "prove yourselves to be doers of the word
  • 00:17:38.647 --> 00:17:43.085
  • And not mere hearers who delude themselves."
  • 00:17:43.085 --> 00:17:47.189
  • Some people have deluded themselves into thinking
  • 00:17:47.189 --> 00:17:49.591
  • If they possess a certain amount of knowledge
  • 00:17:49.591 --> 00:17:52.127
  • About the bible,
  • 00:17:52.127 --> 00:17:53.729
  • Or if they keep hearing good sermons over and over again,
  • 00:17:53.729 --> 00:17:56.398
  • Somehow that makes them spiritually mature.
  • 00:17:56.398 --> 00:17:59.868
  • No, it's not hearing the word,
  • 00:17:59.868 --> 00:18:02.538
  • It's hearing and doing the word,
  • 00:18:02.538 --> 00:18:05.140
  • Isn't that what jesus said?
  • 00:18:05.140 --> 00:18:06.642
  • "everybody who hears my word and" what?
  • 00:18:06.642 --> 00:18:10.045
  • "acts upon it is like the person
  • 00:18:10.045 --> 00:18:13.015
  • Who built his house on the foundation, on the rock."
  • 00:18:13.015 --> 00:18:17.686
  • Our obedience to the word.
  • 00:18:18.253 --> 00:18:19.588
  • Fourthly, our attitude toward the wealthy.
  • 00:18:19.588 --> 00:18:22.658
  • My brethren, don't hold your faith
  • 00:18:22.658 --> 00:18:24.660
  • In the glorious lord jesus christ
  • 00:18:24.660 --> 00:18:26.828
  • With an attitude of personal favoritism.
  • 00:18:26.828 --> 00:18:29.498
  • James is going to talk about how we treat the wealthy
  • 00:18:29.498 --> 00:18:33.135
  • And how we treat the poor.
  • 00:18:33.135 --> 00:18:35.070
  • It's not what we believe,
  • 00:18:35.070 --> 00:18:36.972
  • It's what we believe and apply that matters.
  • 00:18:36.972 --> 00:18:41.310
  • Next, he says, our speech is a good test
  • 00:18:41.310 --> 00:18:44.846
  • Of whether we're saved or not.
  • 00:18:44.846 --> 00:18:46.949
  • When you go to the doctor, what does he do in an exam?
  • 00:18:46.949 --> 00:18:50.252
  • The first thing he does,
  • 00:18:50.252 --> 00:18:51.787
  • Stick out your tongue and say, "ah."
  • 00:18:51.787 --> 00:18:55.123
  • Why is he interested in your tongue?
  • 00:18:55.891 --> 00:18:58.160
  • Because that little strip of mucus membrane
  • 00:18:58.160 --> 00:19:01.330
  • Is an indicator of the physical health,
  • 00:19:02.164 --> 00:19:04.600
  • The health of the rest of your body.
  • 00:19:04.600 --> 00:19:06.635
  • James says the same thing is true about our speech,
  • 00:19:06.635 --> 00:19:09.871
  • Our tongue, our speech is an indicator
  • 00:19:09.871 --> 00:19:12.608
  • Of whether we're saved or not.
  • 00:19:12.608 --> 00:19:14.810
  • That's a survey of what we're going to be looking at from james.
  • 00:19:14.810 --> 00:19:18.614
  • Now, i want to leave you with two applications today.
  • 00:19:18.614 --> 00:19:21.550
  • One, and i want you to write it down,
  • 00:19:21.550 --> 00:19:23.752
  • Courtesy of martin luther, "faith alone saves."
  • 00:19:23.752 --> 00:19:28.757
  • I don't want anybody to leave today confused
  • 00:19:28.757 --> 00:19:32.394
  • About the role of faith and works.
  • 00:19:32.394 --> 00:19:35.731
  • We are saved by faith in god's grace,
  • 00:19:35.731 --> 00:19:39.501
  • Not by our works.
  • 00:19:39.501 --> 00:19:42.104
  • I told you about the big hubbub they had,
  • 00:19:42.104 --> 00:19:44.706
  • The council of jerusalem determining whether gentiles
  • 00:19:44.706 --> 00:19:48.443
  • Could believe in christ without becoming jews.
  • 00:19:48.443 --> 00:19:52.681
  • Could you become a christian without being circumcised
  • 00:19:52.681 --> 00:19:56.285
  • And keeping the jewish law?
  • 00:19:56.285 --> 00:19:57.853
  • And some said, "no, they've got to come through judaism."
  • 00:19:57.853 --> 00:20:00.822
  • Others said, like peter,
  • 00:20:00.822 --> 00:20:02.324
  • "no, they ought to be able to come to christ directly."
  • 00:20:02.324 --> 00:20:06.428
  • And so, they had this meeting,
  • 00:20:06.428 --> 00:20:08.130
  • And at the end of the meeting and the disagreements,
  • 00:20:08.130 --> 00:20:11.867
  • Peter said this in acts 15:11,
  • 00:20:11.867 --> 00:20:14.436
  • "but we believe that we are saved
  • 00:20:14.436 --> 00:20:17.272
  • Through the grace of the lord jesus
  • 00:20:17.272 --> 00:20:20.642
  • In the same way as they gentiles also are."
  • 00:20:20.642 --> 00:20:25.881
  • And then james stood up.
  • 00:20:26.381 --> 00:20:28.150
  • He made a speech and he came to this conclusion
  • 00:20:28.150 --> 00:20:30.652
  • In verse 19, james said,
  • 00:20:30.652 --> 00:20:32.387
  • "therefore, it is my judgment
  • 00:20:32.387 --> 00:20:34.823
  • That we do not trouble those gentiles
  • 00:20:34.823 --> 00:20:38.360
  • Who are turning to god from among the gentiles."
  • 00:20:38.360 --> 00:20:41.563
  • In other words, it's not the works,
  • 00:20:41.563 --> 00:20:43.999
  • It is the grace of jesus that saves them.
  • 00:20:43.999 --> 00:20:47.336
  • James believed that faith alone saves.
  • 00:20:47.336 --> 00:20:50.972
  • But the second principle i want you to write down is this,
  • 00:20:50.972 --> 00:20:54.209
  • Saving faith is never alone.
  • 00:20:54.209 --> 00:20:57.546
  • And that's what james was saying in verse 26 of chapter two,
  • 00:20:57.546 --> 00:21:01.049
  • "for just as the body without the spirit is dead,
  • 00:21:01.049 --> 00:21:04.753
  • So faith without works is dead."
  • 00:21:04.753 --> 00:21:08.423
  • And by the way, the apostle paul
  • 00:21:08.423 --> 00:21:10.992
  • Agreed with that statement as well.
  • 00:21:10.992 --> 00:21:13.662
  • Remember, in galatians 5:19-23,
  • 00:21:13.662 --> 00:21:17.032
  • He said, "now the deeds of the flesh,
  • 00:21:17.032 --> 00:21:20.035
  • The deeds of unbelievers are evident.
  • 00:21:20.035 --> 00:21:22.938
  • They are sexual immorality, impurity,
  • 00:21:22.938 --> 00:21:26.875
  • Indecent behavior, idolatry, witchcraft, hostility,
  • 00:21:26.875 --> 00:21:30.812
  • Strife, jealousy, outburst of anger, selfish ambition,
  • 00:21:30.812 --> 00:21:34.716
  • Dissensions and factions, envy, drunkenness,
  • 00:21:34.716 --> 00:21:39.121
  • Carousing, and things like these
  • 00:21:39.121 --> 00:21:41.890
  • Of which i forewarn you just as i have,
  • 00:21:41.890 --> 00:21:45.093
  • That those who practice such things
  • 00:21:45.093 --> 00:21:48.130
  • Will not inherit the kingdom of god.
  • 00:21:48.930 --> 00:21:51.666
  • But the fruit of the spirit,
  • 00:21:52.267 --> 00:21:54.269
  • The evidence of a christian is love, joy,
  • 00:21:54.269 --> 00:21:59.107
  • Peace, patience, kindness, goodness, and faithfulness,
  • 00:21:59.107 --> 00:22:04.379
  • Gentleness, self-control.
  • 00:22:04.946 --> 00:22:06.882
  • Against such things there is no law."
  • 00:22:06.882 --> 00:22:10.986
  • The fruit of the spirit,
  • 00:22:10.986 --> 00:22:13.789
  • Where there is genuine faith,
  • 00:22:13.789 --> 00:22:15.657
  • There is going to be genuine, visible fruit.
  • 00:22:15.657 --> 00:22:20.962
  • Where there is no fruit, there is no faith.
  • 00:22:21.830 --> 00:22:26.635
  • That's the message of james.
  • 00:22:26.635 --> 00:22:29.671
  • ♪ music ♪
  • 00:22:30.005 --> 00:22:33.742
  • James challenges us to examine our lives
  • 00:22:34.609 --> 00:22:37.579
  • For the evidence of authentic faith.
  • 00:22:37.579 --> 00:22:40.081
  • Are we merely hearers of the word or are we doers as well?
  • 00:22:40.081 --> 00:22:44.486
  • It's a question each of us must honestly answer.
  • 00:22:44.486 --> 00:22:48.023
  • I'm truly excited about this journey through james
  • 00:22:48.023 --> 00:22:50.859
  • And i hope you'll join us for the entirety of this series.
  • 00:22:50.859 --> 00:22:54.563
  • Now, in closing, i want to remind you
  • 00:22:54.563 --> 00:22:56.364
  • That "pathway to victory" exists
  • 00:22:56.364 --> 00:22:58.433
  • Because of friends like you.
  • 00:22:58.433 --> 00:23:00.335
  • Our pathway partners and other supporters
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  • 00:23:02.537 --> 00:23:04.206
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  • 00:23:04.206 --> 00:23:08.376
  • Radio listeners, and digital audiences everywhere.
  • 00:23:08.376 --> 00:23:12.581
  • In an age when many churches water down the gospel,
  • 00:23:12.581 --> 00:23:16.585
  • You help us maintain our commitment
  • 00:23:16.585 --> 00:23:18.453
  • To teaching the whole counsel of god.
  • 00:23:18.453 --> 00:23:21.490
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  • 00:23:21.490 --> 00:23:25.327
  • Together, we are piercing the darkness
  • 00:23:25.327 --> 00:23:28.363
  • With the light of god's word.
  • 00:23:28.363 --> 00:23:30.298
  • Now, please stay right there,
  • 00:23:30.298 --> 00:23:31.600
  • I'll be back with more "pathway to victory"
  • 00:23:31.600 --> 00:23:34.269
  • In just a moment.
  • 00:23:34.269 --> 00:23:36.838
  • Every believer wants to see clear evidence
  • 00:23:37.739 --> 00:23:40.242
  • Of their spiritual growth
  • 00:23:40.242 --> 00:23:41.776
  • And discover the fruit that god is producing in their lives.
  • 00:23:41.776 --> 00:23:45.547
  • Dr. robert jeffress shows you exactly
  • 00:23:45.547 --> 00:23:47.849
  • How to recognize that fruit in his brand new book,
  • 00:23:47.849 --> 00:23:50.785
  • "how to know if you're really saved."
  • 00:23:50.785 --> 00:23:53.221
  • The book of james teaches us that the christian life
  • 00:23:53.221 --> 00:23:56.191
  • Is about more than just knowing god's word,
  • 00:23:56.191 --> 00:23:59.261
  • It's about living it out.
  • 00:23:59.261 --> 00:24:00.929
  • In my new book, "how to know if you're really saved,"
  • 00:24:00.929 --> 00:24:03.698
  • I'll walk you through what it truly means
  • 00:24:03.698 --> 00:24:05.700
  • To be a doer of the word,
  • 00:24:05.700 --> 00:24:07.836
  • Showing you how to respond to trials,
  • 00:24:07.836 --> 00:24:10.272
  • Control your speech, endure hardships,
  • 00:24:10.272 --> 00:24:13.041
  • Resist temptation, and so much more.
  • 00:24:13.041 --> 00:24:16.111
  • This outstanding 232-page book
  • 00:24:16.745 --> 00:24:19.147
  • Will help you examine the evidence of your faith
  • 00:24:19.147 --> 00:24:21.883
  • And see the spiritual fruit
  • 00:24:21.883 --> 00:24:23.451
  • That should be growing in your daily life.
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  • Request your copy of "how to know if you're really saved"
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  • 00:24:42.837 --> 00:24:46.741
  • If you are truly saved, there's going to be evidence of it,
  • 00:24:46.741 --> 00:24:50.679
  • There's some tests that you need to apply to your life.
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  • Thank you for your generous support
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  • Of "pathway to victory."
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  • 00:25:02.390 --> 00:25:07.562
  • Authentic belief always reveals itself through our actions.
  • 00:25:08.730 --> 00:25:12.634
  • How we spend our money, our speech, and our relationships
  • 00:25:12.634 --> 00:25:17.238
  • All demonstrate whether we truly belong to jesus christ.
  • 00:25:17.238 --> 00:25:21.509
  • In short, our knowledge of scripture means nothing
  • 00:25:21.509 --> 00:25:24.679
  • If it doesn't change how we live.
  • 00:25:24.679 --> 00:25:27.716
  • Well, even genuine believers face difficult days.
  • 00:25:27.716 --> 00:25:31.386
  • Next time, we'll explore a surprising truth that trials
  • 00:25:31.386 --> 00:25:35.256
  • Aren't meant to break us, but to build us.
  • 00:25:35.256 --> 00:25:38.627
  • In fact, we can actually find joy in our troubles.
  • 00:25:38.627 --> 00:25:42.998
  • Stay tuned for a preview
  • 00:25:42.998 --> 00:25:44.265
  • Of what's coming up next in our series,
  • 00:25:44.265 --> 00:25:46.167
  • "how to know if you're really saved."
  • 00:25:46.167 --> 00:25:49.204
  • James says, "the road of this life is difficult,
  • 00:25:50.138 --> 00:25:54.075
  • There are a lot of bumps and jolts,
  • 00:25:54.075 --> 00:25:57.212
  • But when you go through those bumps and jolts
  • 00:25:58.146 --> 00:26:00.849
  • Means you're headed in the right direction,
  • 00:26:00.849 --> 00:26:03.685
  • But those bumps and jolts in and of themselves
  • 00:26:03.685 --> 00:26:06.154
  • Can be a benefit to you right now.
  • 00:26:06.154 --> 00:26:09.391
  • It may result those trials
  • 00:26:09.391 --> 00:26:11.493
  • In a strengthening of your faith for the future.
  • 00:26:11.493 --> 00:26:15.363
  • Set your dvr and join us next time for the message,
  • 00:26:15.363 --> 00:26:18.333
  • "triumph over troubles" here on "pathway to victory."
  • 00:26:18.333 --> 00:26:24.873
  • Step away from your daily routine
  • 00:26:25.607 --> 00:26:27.509
  • And immerse yourself in god's masterpiece
  • 00:26:27.509 --> 00:26:30.011
  • On the pathway to victory cruise to alaska,
  • 00:26:30.011 --> 00:26:32.547
  • June 13 through 20, 2026.
  • 00:26:32.547 --> 00:26:35.417
  • Imagine starting each day immersed in god's word,
  • 00:26:35.417 --> 00:26:38.687
  • Then stepping out to witness god's grandeur
  • 00:26:38.687 --> 00:26:41.489
  • From the majestic glaciers to soaring eagles.
  • 00:26:41.489 --> 00:26:44.959
  • These moments in god's creation
  • 00:26:44.959 --> 00:26:46.861
  • Will deepen your faith in powerful ways.
  • 00:26:46.861 --> 00:26:49.698
  • Experience five star dining, luxurious state rooms,
  • 00:26:49.698 --> 00:26:52.967
  • And exceptional service while visiting iconic ports
  • 00:26:52.967 --> 00:26:55.904
  • Like juneau, ketchikan, and skagway.
  • 00:26:55.904 --> 00:26:58.640
  • We'll explore god's word together
  • 00:26:58.640 --> 00:27:00.508
  • Against the backdrop of his most impressive handiwork.
  • 00:27:00.508 --> 00:27:04.446
  • I promise you'll return home with memories
  • 00:27:04.446 --> 00:27:06.981
  • That will last a lifetime
  • 00:27:06.981 --> 00:27:08.783
  • And a heart renewed by god's presence.
  • 00:27:08.783 --> 00:27:11.953
  • To book your spot on the 2026 pathway to victory
  • 00:27:11.953 --> 00:27:15.023
  • Cruise to alaska,
  • 00:27:15.023 --> 00:27:16.291
  • Call 888-280-6747
  • 00:27:16.291 --> 00:27:19.861
  • Or go to ptv.org.
  • 00:27:19.861 --> 00:27:19.861