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Dr. Robert Jeffress

Robert Jeffress - How To Know If You're Really Saved (Part 1)

August 4, 2025 | S25 E370 | 29:0

Robert Jeffress - How To Know If You're Really Saved (Part 1)
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 (Part 1) | August 4, 2025
  • ...
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  • ♪♪♪
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  • Male announcer: from the pulpit of the first baptist church
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  • Of dallas, texas, this is "pathway to victory" with
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  • Dr. robert jeffress.
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  • Dr. robert jeffress: hi, i'm robert jeffress and welcome
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  • Again to "pathway to victory."
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  • If someone like a detective were to examine your life, would they
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  • Find enough evidence 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 we're
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  • Going to undertake as we begin a brand new study in the book
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  • Of james.
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  • You see, james believed that authentic faith always reveals
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  • Itself through our actions.
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  • And today we're going to discover why good works matter
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  • More than you might think.
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  • My message is titled "how to know if you're really saved" on
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  • Today's edition of "pathway to victory."
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  • Announcer: where there's genuine faith, there will always be
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  • Visible fruit.
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  • In his brand new book, "how to know if you're really saved,"
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  • Dr. robert jeffress helps you take stock of the evidence of
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  • Your faith, the spiritual fruit in your daily life.
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  • This outstanding verse by verse walk through the book of james
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  • Will help you cultivate the spiritual fruit that reflects
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  • Genuine faith.
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  • Request how to know if you're really saved when you give
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  • A generous gift to support the ministry of "pathway
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  • To victory."
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  • Jeffress: 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, pastor of the
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  • Coral ridge presbyterian church.
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  • And in that method of sharing your faith, dr. kennedy
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  • Suggested there are two questions you can ask somebody
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  • To determine their relationship with god whether or not they're
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  • Truly saved.
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  • The first question is very simple.
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  • Have you come to the place in your life where you know with
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  • Absolute certainty that if you died, god would welcome you
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  • Into heaven?
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  • Now, a non-christian will say, "well, i hope so or i think so."
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  • Well no, eternity is 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, "if you were standing before god and he
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  • Were to ask you, 'why should i let you into my heaven?'
  • 00:02:40.316 --> 00:02:44.854
  • 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 ten commandments or
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  • I live by the golden rule or i attend church or i got
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  • Baptized," they will point to some work or works they
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  • 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, ephesians 2:8-9 says, "for by
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  • Grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of
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  • Yourselves it is a gift of god, not as a result of works lest
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  • 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 and what we think and how we
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  • Treat other people?
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  • Such an idea is preposterous.
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  • Good works do matter.
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  • In fact, the same paul who wrote those words in ephesians 2:8 and
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  • 9 also added a verse, verse 10 about the place of good works in
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  • A believer's life.
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  • He says, "for we are his workmanship created in
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  • Christ-jesus for good works, which god prepared beforehand so
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  • That we would walk in them."
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  • Paul says in verses 8 and 9, "we are not saved by our works," but
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  • He adds in verse 10, "we are saved for good works."
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  • You see, the apostle paul believed that good works without
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  • Faith leads to spiritual death.
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  • But james, as we're going to see today, says "faith without works
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  • Is a dead nonexistent 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."
  • 00:04:33.329 --> 00:04:40.436
  • Where there is genuine faith, there will always be
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  • Visible fruit.
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  • If there is no fruit, if somebody lives their life and
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  • There is no spiritual fruit, it means there is no saving faith.
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  • That is the message we're going to unpack over these next weeks
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  • From the letter we call james.
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  • If you have your bibles, turn to james chapter 1, beginning
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  • With verse 1.
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  • I wanna make two observations about the book
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  • Of james as we begin this study.
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  • First of all, james is intensely practical.
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  • It's a practical book.
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  • Now james was pastor, as we'll see in a moment of the church
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  • In jerusalem.
  • 00:05:26.716 --> 00:05:28.050
  • He was the first pastor of the church, well, not the first, but
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  • He was an associate pastor, then became pastor of the church in
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  • Jerusalem and he had the job as i do every day of trying to keep
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  • His congregation awake every sunday morning.
  • 00:05:40.163 --> 00:05:43.666
  • And so james had a style of writing that's very captivating.
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  • He uses a lot of pithy phrases, things like be quick to hear but
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  • Slow to speak and slow to anger.
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  • Prove yourselves to be doers of the word and not hearers only.
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  • He uses lots of illustrations in his letter.
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  • He talks about ships and rudders, horses and bridles,
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  • Fires and springs of water.
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  • He makes startling statements to grab his reader's attention.
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  • He'll say things like, we'll see next time, "count it all joy
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  • When you encounter various trials."
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  • How do you pull that off?
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  • How can you be joyful?
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  • Why would you be joyful in the midst of trials?
  • 00:06:24.707 --> 00:06:27.877
  • Or he says things like verse--chapter 2, "you believe
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  • That god is one, congratulations.
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  • The demons believe that and they shudder as well."
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  • There are a number of startling statements in the book of james.
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  • It's a practical book, but secondly, james appears to
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  • Be problematic.
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  • There are problems people think with the book of james.
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  • In fact, martin luther, i just mentioned a moment ago, was so
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  • Convinced that james did not belong in the bible that he
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  • Called it the epistle of straw.
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  • It's not weighty.
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  • He doesn't talk about things like the atonement,
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  • The resurrection.
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  • He only mentions jesus twice.
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  • He never talks about the second coming, never talks about the
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  • Holy spirit.
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  • So people assume that james really doesn't belong in
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  • The bible.
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  • But that's a misunderstanding of what james is about.
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  • James assumes all of these truths, but he's talking about
  • 00:07:20.663 --> 00:07:24.534
  • Practicing our faith.
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  • Now, before we dive into the deep end of this epistle, what
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  • I wanna do today in the few moments that we have together is
  • 00:07:30.573 --> 00:07:34.143
  • Really three things.
  • 00:07:34.143 --> 00:07:35.478
  • First of all, we're going to gain an overview of this letter
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  • We call james, understanding the background of any of the book of
  • 00:07:38.781 --> 00:07:42.752
  • The bible.
  • 00:07:42.752 --> 00:07:44.086
  • Any book of the bible is important if you're gonna
  • 00:07:44.086 --> 00:07:46.322
  • Understand what's being said.
  • 00:07:46.322 --> 00:07:48.391
  • You can't interpret and apply scripture correctly unless you
  • 00:07:48.391 --> 00:07:52.895
  • Understand the background of the writing of a book and we're
  • 00:07:52.895 --> 00:07:56.165
  • Gonna do that for a few moments today.
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  • Secondly, i wanna survey the topics we're going to be
  • 00:07:58.334 --> 00:08:01.237
  • Exploring in the weeks ahead, kind of think of it as a preview
  • 00:08:01.237 --> 00:08:04.974
  • Of coming attractions, if you will.
  • 00:08:04.974 --> 00:08:07.710
  • And then i want to leave you today with two practical
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  • Principles that come from the book of james that i want us to
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  • Keep in mind these next weeks.
  • 00:08:14.183 --> 00:08:16.786
  • First of all, an overview of the book.
  • 00:08:16.786 --> 00:08:19.088
  • Who is the author?
  • 00:08:19.088 --> 00:08:20.723
  • Well, that seems to be a simple question when you look at verse
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  • 1: "james, a bond servant of god and of the lord jesus christ to
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  • The twelve tribes who were dispersed abroad."
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  • Who's the writer of the book?
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  • Well, he says at the beginning, this is kind of like an email.
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  • You know, in our letters, does anybody still write letters?
  • 00:08:39.075 --> 00:08:42.411
  • But if you write a letter, you sign your name at the end of
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  • The letter.
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  • And so if you receive a letter, you have to flip through the
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  • Pages and see who sent it.
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  • Well, in james's day in the first century, they would put
  • 00:08:50.786 --> 00:08:54.156
  • Their name at the top of the letter, the sender and then the
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  • Recipient kind of like our emails today.
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  • So james identifies himself.
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  • James wrote this letter, right?
  • 00:09:03.466 --> 00:09:06.035
  • Well, that's right, but the problem is there are at least
  • 00:09:06.035 --> 00:09:08.704
  • Five different james's 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's in the bible.
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  • First of all, there's james, the father of judas.
  • 00:09:18.814 --> 00:09:22.284
  • Did you know there were two apostles named judas jesus had.
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  • Not just one but two.
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  • There's the bad one, judas iscariot, but then there's
  • 00:09:28.324 --> 00:09:31.627
  • 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, "i'm
  • 00:09:36.666 --> 00:09:38.934
  • Not that one, i'm the other one.
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  • I'm the other judas."
  • 00:09:40.836 --> 00:09:42.204
  • Well, the other judas, the good judas had a father named james
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  • And we know nothing about him.
  • 00:09:46.208 --> 00:09:48.244
  • So, that's probably not the writer of this letter.
  • 00:09:48.244 --> 00:09:51.447
  • Secondly, there was james, the son of alphaeus.
  • 00:09:51.447 --> 00:09:54.784
  • He was an apostle.
  • 00:09:54.784 --> 00:09:56.118
  • He was the brother of matthew, but we don't know a whole lot
  • 00:09:56.118 --> 00:09:59.555
  • About him other than what we find in matthew 10, verse 3.
  • 00:09:59.555 --> 00:10:03.659
  • And then thirdly, there's a james who was known as james,
  • 00:10:03.659 --> 00:10:05.961
  • "the less."
  • 00:10:05.961 --> 00:10:07.329
  • Isn't that a horrible name for somebody?
  • 00:10:07.329 --> 00:10:10.399
  • James, "the less", "the younger."
  • 00:10:10.399 --> 00:10:12.568
  • We really only know one thing about him that was he was
  • 00:10:12.568 --> 00:10:15.604
  • A follower of christ who was there at the crucifixion,
  • 00:10:15.604 --> 00:10:18.708
  • According to mark 15, verse 40.
  • 00:10:18.708 --> 00:10:22.011
  • And then fourthly, you've got james, the brother of john.
  • 00:10:22.011 --> 00:10:26.382
  • He too was an apostle.
  • 00:10:26.382 --> 00:10:28.017
  • In fact, he and his brother were both called the sons of thunder.
  • 00:10:28.017 --> 00:10:33.255
  • Something about their personality gave them
  • 00:10:33.255 --> 00:10:35.424
  • That nickname.
  • 00:10:35.424 --> 00:10:36.759
  • They were both sons of zebedee.
  • 00:10:36.759 --> 00:10:39.095
  • James and john.
  • 00:10:39.095 --> 00:10:40.930
  • We know that james, by the way, this james was the first apostle
  • 00:10:40.930 --> 00:10:45.167
  • To be martyred for his belief.
  • 00:10:45.167 --> 00:10:47.336
  • He was beheaded under the order of herod agrippa the i.
  • 00:10:47.336 --> 00:10:51.907
  • And then the final james is the one i believe is the writer of
  • 00:10:51.907 --> 00:10:56.879
  • This epistle, he was known as james, "the just", not because
  • 00:10:56.879 --> 00:11:02.084
  • He was equitable and fair, but because he was a righteous man.
  • 00:11:02.084 --> 00:11:06.489
  • He's mentioned in galatians 1:19, but i did not see any of
  • 00:11:06.489 --> 00:11:10.926
  • The other apostles, paul wrote, except james,
  • 00:11:10.926 --> 00:11:15.131
  • The lord's brother.
  • 00:11:15.131 --> 00:11:17.867
  • That's the writer i believe of this letter, the brother, to be
  • 00:11:17.867 --> 00:11:22.104
  • Technical, the half brother of jesus.
  • 00:11:22.104 --> 00:11:25.775
  • What do we mean by the half brother of jesus?
  • 00:11:25.775 --> 00:11:29.111
  • Well, let's look at james the brother for just a moment.
  • 00:11:29.111 --> 00:11:31.947
  • We all know mary and joseph had a son, their first son named
  • 00:11:31.947 --> 00:11:38.654
  • Jesus, right.
  • 00:11:38.654 --> 00:11:40.089
  • He was the son of mary.
  • 00:11:40.089 --> 00:11:43.392
  • Mary was his biological mother.
  • 00:11:43.392 --> 00:11:46.395
  • Joseph was his legal father, but not biological father.
  • 00:11:46.395 --> 00:11:51.500
  • The holy spirit was the father of jesus.
  • 00:11:51.500 --> 00:11:55.771
  • But what people don't realize is that joseph and mary had
  • 00:11:55.771 --> 00:12:00.476
  • A number of other children after jesus.
  • 00:12:00.476 --> 00:12:04.113
  • They had boys and girls and they had them the old-fashioned way.
  • 00:12:04.113 --> 00:12:11.554
  • Some faith traditions teach the perpetual virginity of mary that
  • 00:12:11.554 --> 00:12:16.926
  • She remained a virgin.
  • 00:12:16.926 --> 00:12:18.260
  • No, she didn't remain a virgin.
  • 00:12:18.260 --> 00:12:20.563
  • She had many children.
  • 00:12:20.563 --> 00:12:21.931
  • Where do we find that in scripture?
  • 00:12:21.931 --> 00:12:23.833
  • In matthew 13, verses 55 to 56.
  • 00:12:23.833 --> 00:12:27.803
  • The critics of jesus were saying, "who is this guy who's
  • 00:12:27.803 --> 00:12:31.473
  • Claiming to be the messiah, is it not the carpenter's son
  • 00:12:31.473 --> 00:12:35.911
  • Joseph and is not his mother called mary and his brothers
  • 00:12:35.911 --> 00:12:40.683
  • James and joseph and simon and judas and his sisters are they
  • 00:12:40.683 --> 00:12:45.821
  • Not all with us?
  • 00:12:45.821 --> 00:12:47.189
  • Where then did this man come up with these things?"
  • 00:12:47.189 --> 00:12:51.160
  • There's a listing there the sons and daughters that mary and
  • 00:12:51.160 --> 00:12:55.030
  • Joseph had together.
  • 00:12:55.030 --> 00:12:56.999
  • And among those was james, the writer of this epistle, who had
  • 00:12:56.999 --> 00:13:01.937
  • An older brother named jesus.
  • 00:13:01.937 --> 00:13:04.139
  • Now i want you to put yourself in james's sandals for a few
  • 00:13:04.139 --> 00:13:07.276
  • Moments and think about what it would like to be have jesus as
  • 00:13:07.276 --> 00:13:12.948
  • Your older brother.
  • 00:13:12.948 --> 00:13:15.017
  • Can you imagine anything more annoying?
  • 00:13:15.017 --> 00:13:19.088
  • I mean, here's the perfect child, never late to dinner,
  • 00:13:19.088 --> 00:13:23.659
  • Always washes his hands, never sits in time out.
  • 00:13:23.659 --> 00:13:27.963
  • Your mother's always saying to you, "why can't you be more
  • 00:13:27.963 --> 00:13:31.267
  • Like jesus?"
  • 00:13:31.267 --> 00:13:34.937
  • Who would wanna grow up listening to that?
  • 00:13:34.937 --> 00:13:38.040
  • And i think that explains why james rejected jesus as the
  • 00:13:38.040 --> 00:13:42.278
  • Messiah at first.
  • 00:13:42.278 --> 00:13:44.079
  • In fact, so did all of his brothers and sisters.
  • 00:13:44.079 --> 00:13:47.883
  • None of them followed him at all.
  • 00:13:47.883 --> 00:13:51.186
  • It was tough being a younger sibling of jesus.
  • 00:13:51.186 --> 00:13:55.190
  • But jesus never let their rejection keep him from pursuing
  • 00:13:55.190 --> 00:13:59.862
  • His ministry.
  • 00:13:59.862 --> 00:14:01.263
  • They said, they went to him at one point, john 7, verse 5, and
  • 00:14:01.263 --> 00:14:05.935
  • Said, "you know, you've got to come home.
  • 00:14:05.935 --> 00:14:08.103
  • You've got to quit this messiah stuff.
  • 00:14:08.103 --> 00:14:10.439
  • It isn't working.
  • 00:14:10.439 --> 00:14:11.941
  • Nobody's following.
  • 00:14:11.941 --> 00:14:13.275
  • People are gonna think you're crazy."
  • 00:14:13.275 --> 00:14:14.944
  • But jesus knew who he was.
  • 00:14:14.944 --> 00:14:16.378
  • He pursued his ministry.
  • 00:14:16.378 --> 00:14:17.980
  • He didn't listen to his family members, but he never lost his
  • 00:14:17.980 --> 00:14:23.852
  • Concern for his family members.
  • 00:14:23.852 --> 00:14:25.654
  • Remember after his resurrection, 1 corinthians 15 says he made
  • 00:14:25.654 --> 00:14:30.059
  • A number of appearances, special visits to people to show he
  • 00:14:30.059 --> 00:14:34.363
  • Had been raised from the dead.
  • 00:14:34.363 --> 00:14:35.965
  • And among those first people jesus appeared to was his half
  • 00:14:35.965 --> 00:14:39.969
  • Brother james and james became a believer.
  • 00:14:39.969 --> 00:14:43.539
  • In fact, all of his siblings became a believer because 40
  • 00:14:43.539 --> 00:14:47.309
  • Days after his resurrection when he was preparing to ascend to
  • 00:14:47.309 --> 00:14:54.950
  • The mount of olives where we find from the mount of olives we
  • 00:14:54.950 --> 00:14:58.654
  • Find in acts 1:14 that jesus's family, his brothers and sisters
  • 00:14:58.654 --> 00:15:03.926
  • Were among those in the upper room who were praying.
  • 00:15:03.926 --> 00:15:08.297
  • And so jesus saw his siblings converted.
  • 00:15:08.297 --> 00:15:13.068
  • By the way, i think there's a principle here.
  • 00:15:13.068 --> 00:15:15.804
  • I mean we can't control anybody's responses to
  • 00:15:15.804 --> 00:15:19.008
  • The gospel.
  • 00:15:19.008 --> 00:15:20.409
  • We've got a ministry of sharing christ with as many people as
  • 00:15:20.409 --> 00:15:24.747
  • Possible, but the first audience we ought to be concerned about
  • 00:15:24.747 --> 00:15:28.617
  • Is our family, our fathers, our mothers, our brothers and
  • 00:15:28.617 --> 00:15:33.789
  • Sisters, children and grandchildren.
  • 00:15:33.789 --> 00:15:36.325
  • They're the most important audience we have to share the
  • 00:15:36.325 --> 00:15:39.328
  • Gospel with.
  • 00:15:39.328 --> 00:15:40.662
  • And i think jesus illustrated that in his
  • 00:15:40.662 --> 00:15:42.965
  • Post-resurrection appearances.
  • 00:15:42.965 --> 00:15:46.602
  • Now, we've looked at james, the brother.
  • 00:15:46.602 --> 00:15:48.504
  • Let's look at james, the pastor.
  • 00:15:48.504 --> 00:15:51.173
  • As i said from the earliest days of the church, it's evident that
  • 00:15:51.173 --> 00:15:54.977
  • Peter was the beginning leader of the church at jerusalem and
  • 00:15:54.977 --> 00:16:01.083
  • John was his associate pastor, but somewhere that began to
  • 00:16:01.083 --> 00:16:05.854
  • Change because when we come to acts chapter 12, james was the
  • 00:16:05.854 --> 00:16:10.592
  • Recognized leader of the church at jerusalem.
  • 00:16:10.592 --> 00:16:13.629
  • You say, "how do you know that?"
  • 00:16:13.629 --> 00:16:15.364
  • Well, remember in acts 12 when peter was miraculously released
  • 00:16:15.364 --> 00:16:19.468
  • From prison and he went to the home of john mark where the
  • 00:16:19.468 --> 00:16:22.471
  • Other believers were praying for peter's release and he appeared
  • 00:16:22.471 --> 00:16:27.276
  • To them, told what had happened, and he sent word to make sure
  • 00:16:27.276 --> 00:16:31.380
  • That they told james what had happened.
  • 00:16:31.380 --> 00:16:34.516
  • Why james?
  • 00:16:34.516 --> 00:16:35.851
  • Because he was the leader of the church.
  • 00:16:35.851 --> 00:16:37.619
  • When we come to acts 15, the jerusalem council, perhaps the
  • 00:16:37.619 --> 00:16:41.957
  • Most important church council to date, it's clear that james was
  • 00:16:41.957 --> 00:16:47.696
  • The one presiding over that council and made the
  • 00:16:47.696 --> 00:16:51.133
  • Determination of whether or not gentiles had to be circumcised
  • 00:16:51.133 --> 00:16:55.904
  • To become christians.
  • 00:16:55.904 --> 00:16:57.272
  • We'll look at that more in just a few moments.
  • 00:16:57.272 --> 00:17:00.576
  • Every time paul went to jerusalem, five times, according
  • 00:17:00.576 --> 00:17:05.147
  • To scripture, he always met among others with james.
  • 00:17:05.147 --> 00:17:09.852
  • In fact, it was james who extended the right hand of
  • 00:17:09.852 --> 00:17:13.021
  • Christian fellowship to paul, affirming that paul was called
  • 00:17:13.021 --> 00:17:16.859
  • The minister to the gentiles.
  • 00:17:16.859 --> 00:17:19.661
  • Thirdly, james, the writer, we've really talked about this
  • 00:17:19.661 --> 00:17:22.798
  • And i don't have time to pursue it.
  • 00:17:22.798 --> 00:17:24.900
  • There are only two candidates really for the authorship
  • 00:17:24.900 --> 00:17:27.970
  • Of james.
  • 00:17:27.970 --> 00:17:29.338
  • One is james, the apostle who's the brother of john.
  • 00:17:29.338 --> 00:17:32.541
  • The other is this half brother of jesus.
  • 00:17:32.541 --> 00:17:35.677
  • I believe when you compare the greek style used in the epistle
  • 00:17:35.677 --> 00:17:40.682
  • Of james with james's speech in greek that is written in acts in
  • 00:17:40.682 --> 00:17:46.188
  • Acts 15, there are similarities there that really argue for the
  • 00:17:46.188 --> 00:17:50.626
  • Half brother of jesus being the author.
  • 00:17:50.626 --> 00:17:53.629
  • Now let's look at james the martyr.
  • 00:17:53.629 --> 00:17:56.798
  • As i said, he became pastor probably in 8044.
  • 00:17:56.798 --> 00:18:02.204
  • He served as pastor until 62 ad when he was executed.
  • 00:18:02.204 --> 00:18:07.376
  • Now, we don't have any biblical record of his execution, but we
  • 00:18:07.376 --> 00:18:11.180
  • Have secular recordings of it.
  • 00:18:11.180 --> 00:18:14.183
  • Eusebius, the church historian, says that members of the
  • 00:18:14.183 --> 00:18:19.388
  • Sanhedrin, that sect of the jews that denied supernatural work,
  • 00:18:19.388 --> 00:18:25.861
  • They actually took james up to the pinnacle of the temple and
  • 00:18:25.861 --> 00:18:30.232
  • Threw him into the kidron valley 170 feet below.
  • 00:18:30.232 --> 00:18:34.469
  • Now that would kill most people, but it didn't kill james.
  • 00:18:34.469 --> 00:18:37.906
  • He still remained alive and so they came and they tried to
  • 00:18:37.906 --> 00:18:41.777
  • Stone him to death.
  • 00:18:41.777 --> 00:18:43.445
  • When that didn't work, they took a wooden club used to beat out
  • 00:18:43.445 --> 00:18:47.583
  • Wash clothes and they crushed his skull in and that's how
  • 00:18:47.583 --> 00:18:51.186
  • James ultimately died as a martyr.
  • 00:18:51.186 --> 00:18:54.590
  • He died faithful to the lord and savior jesus christ and his
  • 00:18:54.590 --> 00:18:59.962
  • Older brother jesus.
  • 00:18:59.962 --> 00:19:02.231
  • That is the life of james.
  • 00:19:02.231 --> 00:19:05.067
  • Now let's look at james the letter.
  • 00:19:05.067 --> 00:19:08.270
  • It was probably written in 8044 and notice that it's written to
  • 00:19:08.270 --> 00:19:13.108
  • The 12 tribes that are dispersed.
  • 00:19:13.108 --> 00:19:17.079
  • It's a reference to jewish christians.
  • 00:19:17.079 --> 00:19:20.482
  • He wrote to jewish christians who had been dispersed from
  • 00:19:20.482 --> 00:19:23.619
  • Jerusalem to other parts of the roman empire.
  • 00:19:23.619 --> 00:19:27.222
  • Why had they been dispersed?
  • 00:19:27.222 --> 00:19:29.057
  • Well, it came in waves.
  • 00:19:29.057 --> 00:19:31.393
  • It started in acts 7 when stephen was the first christian
  • 00:19:31.393 --> 00:19:36.231
  • Martyr and he was stoned to death and paul--saul of tarsus,
  • 00:19:36.231 --> 00:19:41.770
  • Who became the apostle paul, played a part in that.
  • 00:19:41.770 --> 00:19:45.307
  • Then there were subsequent persecutions that forced the
  • 00:19:45.307 --> 00:19:48.477
  • Jews out of jerusalem.
  • 00:19:48.477 --> 00:19:50.579
  • There was a famine in judea that made them want to leave as well,
  • 00:19:50.579 --> 00:19:55.317
  • But that was all part of god's plan to share the gospel.
  • 00:19:55.317 --> 00:19:59.488
  • Now what's interesting is these jews who have been dispersed
  • 00:19:59.488 --> 00:20:02.658
  • Throughout the roman empire, if they were able, they came back
  • 00:20:02.658 --> 00:20:06.595
  • To jerusalem several times a year for important feast
  • 00:20:06.595 --> 00:20:10.332
  • And celebrations.
  • 00:20:10.332 --> 00:20:12.167
  • And when james saw these fellow christians, jewish christians
  • 00:20:12.167 --> 00:20:16.838
  • Come back, he noticed attitudes and actions in them that did not
  • 00:20:16.838 --> 00:20:21.710
  • Correspond to their faith.
  • 00:20:21.710 --> 00:20:23.945
  • He noticed that some because of persecution were considering
  • 00:20:23.945 --> 00:20:27.316
  • Giving up their faith and he wrote this epistle to say look,
  • 00:20:27.316 --> 00:20:31.586
  • The mark of genuine christian is not just what he professes, but
  • 00:20:31.586 --> 00:20:35.657
  • What he possesses a new kind of life works, visible works that
  • 00:20:35.657 --> 00:20:41.596
  • Confirm christianity.
  • 00:20:41.596 --> 00:20:43.465
  • And that's why james wrote this letter to the 12 tribes.
  • 00:20:43.465 --> 00:20:47.769
  • Now a couple of things i would say about this letter.
  • 00:20:47.769 --> 00:20:51.373
  • First of all, it's very application oriented.
  • 00:20:51.373 --> 00:20:55.377
  • There are 108 verses in the letter of james, 54, half
  • 00:20:55.377 --> 00:21:00.382
  • Of those verses are commands.
  • 00:21:00.382 --> 00:21:02.751
  • For every verse of biblical content, there is a command,
  • 00:21:02.751 --> 00:21:08.457
  • An application to make.
  • 00:21:08.457 --> 00:21:10.058
  • This is about faith in action.
  • 00:21:10.058 --> 00:21:13.128
  • It's also interesting that james uses more figures of speech,
  • 00:21:13.128 --> 00:21:17.799
  • More analogies than paul does in all of his letters combined.
  • 00:21:17.799 --> 00:21:22.938
  • James is a preacher.
  • 00:21:22.938 --> 00:21:24.306
  • He's trying to be practical and clear.
  • 00:21:24.306 --> 00:21:27.175
  • There are also more allusions to the sermon on the mount in the
  • 00:21:27.175 --> 00:21:31.046
  • Letter of james than in all of the rest of the bible.
  • 00:21:31.046 --> 00:21:35.150
  • And that's interesting because it came from the lips of james's
  • 00:21:35.150 --> 00:21:39.621
  • Older brother jesus.
  • 00:21:39.621 --> 00:21:41.890
  • And it's also important again to remember there's no great
  • 00:21:41.890 --> 00:21:46.828
  • Doctrine that is explained in james, which led martin luther
  • 00:21:46.828 --> 00:21:52.033
  • To call it an epistle of straw, but it's not because james said
  • 00:21:52.033 --> 00:21:55.904
  • These doctrines are important.
  • 00:21:55.904 --> 00:21:57.572
  • Doctrine is very important, but james assumed those truths were
  • 00:21:57.572 --> 00:22:02.177
  • Believed by his audience.
  • 00:22:02.177 --> 00:22:04.613
  • Now what is the purpose of james?
  • 00:22:04.613 --> 00:22:07.382
  • At the root of james is a desire to produce spiritual maturity
  • 00:22:07.382 --> 00:22:12.454
  • In people.
  • 00:22:12.454 --> 00:22:13.822
  • You find the word perfect throughout the bible.
  • 00:22:13.822 --> 00:22:16.591
  • He's not talking about flawlessness.
  • 00:22:16.591 --> 00:22:19.060
  • He's talking about maturity.
  • 00:22:19.060 --> 00:22:21.663
  • The word perfect, the greek word means to be mature, complete.
  • 00:22:21.663 --> 00:22:26.868
  • They were spiritually stunted in their growth.
  • 00:22:26.868 --> 00:22:30.305
  • It's the same problem that paul encountered with
  • 00:22:30.305 --> 00:22:32.541
  • The corinthians.
  • 00:22:32.541 --> 00:22:33.909
  • In 1 corinthians 3:2, he said, "i gave you milk to drink, not
  • 00:22:33.909 --> 00:22:38.580
  • Solid food, for you were not able to receive it.
  • 00:22:38.580 --> 00:22:42.217
  • Indeed, even now, you are not able."
  • 00:22:42.217 --> 00:22:46.455
  • James said the same thing.
  • 00:22:46.455 --> 00:22:48.390
  • We need to go back to the basics because you're not spiritually
  • 00:22:48.390 --> 00:22:51.893
  • Mature as proven by your action.
  • 00:22:51.893 --> 00:22:55.564
  • James's goal was maturity.
  • 00:22:55.564 --> 00:22:59.801
  • Jeffress: james challenges us to examine our lives for the
  • 00:23:04.005 --> 00:23:07.742
  • Evidence of authentic faith.
  • 00:23:07.742 --> 00:23:09.544
  • Are we merely hearers of the word or are we doers as well?
  • 00:23:09.544 --> 00:23:13.982
  • It's a question each of us must honestly answer.
  • 00:23:13.982 --> 00:23:17.452
  • I'm truly excited about this journey through james and i hope
  • 00:23:17.452 --> 00:23:20.689
  • You'll join us for the entirety of this series.
  • 00:23:20.689 --> 00:23:24.059
  • Now in closing, i want to remind you that "pathway to victory"
  • 00:23:24.059 --> 00:23:27.195
  • Exists because of friends like you.
  • 00:23:27.195 --> 00:23:29.764
  • Our pathway partners and other supporters make it possible for
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  • Us to bring god's uncompromising truth to television viewers,
  • 00:23:33.401 --> 00:23:37.873
  • Radio listeners, and digital audiences everywhere.
  • 00:23:37.873 --> 00:23:41.877
  • In an age when many churches water down the gospel, you help
  • 00:23:41.877 --> 00:23:46.381
  • Us maintain our commitment to teaching the whole
  • 00:23:46.381 --> 00:23:49.551
  • Counsel of god.
  • 00:23:49.551 --> 00:23:51.219
  • Your generosity is making an eternal difference.
  • 00:23:51.219 --> 00:23:54.890
  • Together we are piercing the darkness with the light
  • 00:23:54.890 --> 00:23:58.527
  • Of god's word.
  • 00:23:58.527 --> 00:23:59.861
  • Now please stay right there.
  • 00:23:59.861 --> 00:24:01.196
  • I'll be back with more "pathway to victory" in just a moment.
  • 00:24:01.196 --> 00:24:06.001
  • Announcer: every believer wants to see clear evidence of their
  • 00:24:07.302 --> 00:24:10.205
  • Spiritual growth and discover the fruit that god is producing
  • 00:24:10.205 --> 00:24:13.775
  • In their lives.
  • 00:24:13.775 --> 00:24:15.110
  • Dr. robert jeffress shows you exactly how to recognize that
  • 00:24:15.110 --> 00:24:18.647
  • Fruit in his brand new book, "how to know if you're
  • 00:24:18.647 --> 00:24:21.550
  • Really saved."
  • 00:24:21.550 --> 00:24:22.918
  • Jeffress: the book of james teaches us that the christian
  • 00:24:22.918 --> 00:24:25.186
  • Life is about more than just knowing god's word, it's about
  • 00:24:25.186 --> 00:24:29.357
  • Living it out.
  • 00:24:29.357 --> 00:24:30.692
  • In my new book, "how to know if you're really saved," i'll walk
  • 00:24:30.692 --> 00:24:33.662
  • You through what it truly means to be a doer of the word,
  • 00:24:33.662 --> 00:24:37.465
  • Showing you how to respond to trials, control your speech,
  • 00:24:37.465 --> 00:24:41.236
  • Endure hardships, resist temptation, and so much more.
  • 00:24:41.236 --> 00:24:46.241
  • Announcer: this outstanding 232 page book will help you examine
  • 00:24:46.241 --> 00:24:49.678
  • The evidence of your faith and see the spiritual fruit that
  • 00:24:49.678 --> 00:24:53.181
  • Should be growing in your daily life.
  • 00:24:53.181 --> 00:24:55.650
  • Request your copy of "how to know if you're really saved"
  • 00:24:55.650 --> 00:24:58.720
  • When you give a generous gift to support the ministry of "pathway
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  • To victory" or when you become a pathway partner.
  • 00:25:01.923 --> 00:25:05.126
  • With your ministry gift of $75 or more, we'll send you not just
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  • The book, but also the personal and group study guide and the
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  • Complete message series on both cd and dvd.
  • 00:25:12.934 --> 00:25:16.338
  • Jeffress: if you are truly saved, there's gonna be
  • 00:25:16.338 --> 00:25:19.741
  • Evidence of it.
  • 00:25:19.741 --> 00:25:21.076
  • There's some tests that you need to apply to your life.
  • 00:25:21.076 --> 00:25:24.346
  • Thank you for your generous support of "pathway to victory."
  • 00:25:24.346 --> 00:25:27.549
  • Your partnership helps us bring bold biblical and practical
  • 00:25:27.549 --> 00:25:31.219
  • Teaching into homes across the nation and around the world.
  • 00:25:31.219 --> 00:25:37.993
  • Jeffress: james understood a profound truth.
  • 00:25:37.993 --> 00:25:40.929
  • Genuine faith always produces visible fruit.
  • 00:25:40.929 --> 00:25:44.866
  • If there's no fruit, there's no faith.
  • 00:25:44.866 --> 00:25:47.802
  • It's that simple.
  • 00:25:47.802 --> 00:25:49.537
  • Today we met the author jesus's own half brother who became
  • 00:25:49.537 --> 00:25:53.675
  • A powerful witness for christ.
  • 00:25:53.675 --> 00:25:55.710
  • Next time we'll dive into the practical test james gives us to
  • 00:25:55.710 --> 00:25:59.881
  • Examine our faith.
  • 00:25:59.881 --> 00:26:01.549
  • How do we respond to trials, to temptation, to god's word?
  • 00:26:01.549 --> 00:26:06.087
  • These everyday responses reveal whether our faith is real or
  • 00:26:06.087 --> 00:26:10.392
  • Just religious talk.
  • 00:26:10.392 --> 00:26:12.160
  • Stay tuned for a preview of what's coming up next in our
  • 00:26:12.160 --> 00:26:14.963
  • Series "how to know if you're really saved."
  • 00:26:14.963 --> 00:26:19.134
  • Jeffress: did you know demons, if they had the ability to,
  • 00:26:19.134 --> 00:26:21.536
  • Could go on our website firstdallas.org, pull up our
  • 00:26:21.536 --> 00:26:25.407
  • Articles of faith, what we believe, and the demons would
  • 00:26:25.407 --> 00:26:29.310
  • Agree with just about every one of our articles of faith.
  • 00:26:29.310 --> 00:26:33.848
  • They believe it.
  • 00:26:33.848 --> 00:26:35.216
  • They believe they are very orthodox, but that doesn't make
  • 00:26:35.216 --> 00:26:38.620
  • Them believers.
  • 00:26:38.620 --> 00:26:40.055
  • It's not what we believe, it's what we believe and apply
  • 00:26:40.055 --> 00:26:44.592
  • That matters.
  • 00:26:44.592 --> 00:26:45.927
  • Announcer: set your dvr and join us next time for part two of the
  • 00:26:45.927 --> 00:26:49.264
  • Message "how to know if you're really saved" here on "pathway
  • 00:26:49.264 --> 00:26:52.867
  • To victory."
  • 00:26:52.867 --> 00:26:54.636
  • Announcer: witness god's glory on display in america's
  • 00:26:55.804 --> 00:26:58.640
  • Last frontier.
  • 00:26:58.640 --> 00:27:00.041
  • Jeffress: alaska's majestic wilderness showcases our
  • 00:27:00.041 --> 00:27:03.044
  • Creator's handiwork like nowhere else on earth.
  • 00:27:03.044 --> 00:27:06.781
  • And you're invited to experience it firsthand on the 2026
  • 00:27:06.781 --> 00:27:11.119
  • "pathway to victory" cruise to alaska.
  • 00:27:11.119 --> 00:27:13.655
  • Announcer: experience the unforgettable adventure june 13
  • 00:27:13.655 --> 00:27:16.925
  • Through 20, 2026.
  • 00:27:16.925 --> 00:27:18.893
  • To book your cabin, call... or go to ptv.org.
  • 00:27:18.893 --> 00:27:27.235