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Dr. Robert Jeffress

Robert Jeffress - How To Know If You're Really Saved (Part 2)

September 2, 2025 | S E | 29:0

Robert Jeffress - How To Know If You're Really Saved (Part 2)
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 2) | September 2, 2025
  • ♪♪
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  • Male announcer: from the pulpit of the first baptist church of
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  • Dallas, texas, this is "pathway to victory"
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  • With dr. robert jeffress.
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  • Dr. robert jeffress: hi, i'm robert jeffress,
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  • And welcome again to "pathway to victory."
  • 00:00:15.405 --> 00:00:18.575
  • The apostle paul wrote that we're saved by grace through
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  • Faith, not by our works, but the half brother of jesus, james,
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  • Insisted that faith without works is dead.
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  • Some christians see this as a contradiction.
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  • So how do we reconcile these two truths?
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  • Well, today we'll discover the inseparable relationship between
  • 00:00:37.026 --> 00:00:40.864
  • What we believe and how we behave.
  • 00:00:40.864 --> 00:00:43.766
  • My message is titled "how to know if you're really saved" on
  • 00:00:43.766 --> 00:00:48.171
  • Today's edition of "pathway to victory."
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  • ♪ many are they increased that troubled me. ♪
  • 00:00:52.642 --> 00:01:00.917
  • ♪ many are they that rise up against me. ♪
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  • ♪ many there be which say of my soul, ♪
  • 00:01:09.225 --> 00:01:18.468
  • ♪ "there is no help for him in god." ♪
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  • ♪ but thou, oh, lord, are a shield for me, ♪
  • 00:01:25.642 --> 00:01:34.617
  • ♪ my glory and the lifter of my head. ♪
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  • ♪ thou, oh, lord, are a shield for me, ♪
  • 00:01:42.792 --> 00:01:50.600
  • ♪ my glory and the lifter of my head. ♪
  • 00:01:50.600 --> 00:02:02.245
  • ♪ oh, thou, oh, thou, oh, thou, ♪
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  • ♪ oh, lord, are a shield, a shield, ♪
  • 00:02:05.949 --> 00:02:10.053
  • ♪ a shield for me, my glory ♪
  • 00:02:10.053 --> 00:02:12.922
  • ♪ and the lifter of my head. ♪
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  • ♪ oh, thou, oh, thou, oh, thou, ♪
  • 00:02:23.733 --> 00:02:26.903
  • ♪ oh, lord, are a shield, a shield, ♪
  • 00:02:26.903 --> 00:02:30.206
  • ♪ a shield for me, ♪
  • 00:02:30.206 --> 00:02:32.208
  • ♪ my glory and the lifter of my head. ♪
  • 00:02:32.208 --> 00:02:40.516
  • ♪ oh, thou, oh, thou, oh, thou, ♪
  • 00:02:40.516 --> 00:02:43.519
  • ♪ oh, lord, are a shield, a shield, ♪
  • 00:02:43.519 --> 00:02:47.056
  • ♪ a shield for me, ♪
  • 00:02:47.056 --> 00:02:48.992
  • ♪ my glory and the lifter of my head. ♪
  • 00:02:48.992 --> 00:03:00.970
  • ♪ oh, thou, oh, lord, are a shield for me, ♪
  • 00:03:01.938 --> 00:03:09.946
  • ♪ my glory ♪
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  • ♪ and the lifter of my head, ♪
  • 00:03:13.816 --> 00:03:24.827
  • ♪ of my head. ♪
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  • [congregation applauding]
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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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  • ♪♪
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  • Jeffress: now, let's look at james the martyr.
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  • As i said, he became pastor probably in ad 44.
  • 00:04:25.621 --> 00:04:30.793
  • He served as pastor until 62 ad when he was executed.
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  • Now, we don't have any biblical record of his execution, but we
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  • Have secular recordings of it.
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  • Eusebius, the church historian, says that members of the
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  • Sanhedrin, that sect of the jews that denied supernatural work,
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  • They actually took james up to the pinnacle of the temple and
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  • Threw him into the kidron valley, 170 feet below.
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  • Now, that would kill most people, but it didn't
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  • Kill james.
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  • He still remained alive, and so they came and they tried to
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  • Stone him to death.
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  • When that didn't work, they took a wooden club used to beat out
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  • Washed clothes, and they crushed his skull in, and that's how
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  • James ultimately died as a martyr.
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  • He died faithful to the lord and savior jesus christ and his
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  • Older brother jesus.
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  • That is the life of james.
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  • Now, let's look at james the letter.
  • 00:05:34.023 --> 00:05:37.260
  • It was probably written in ad 44.
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  • And notice that it's written to the 12 tribes that
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  • Are dispersed.
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  • It's a reference to jewish christians.
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  • He wrote to jewish christians who had been dispersed from
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  • Jerusalem to other parts of the roman empire.
  • 00:05:52.575 --> 00:05:56.179
  • Why had they been dispersed?
  • 00:05:56.179 --> 00:05:58.014
  • Well, it came in waves.
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  • It started in acts 7 when stephen was the first christian
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  • Martyr, and he was stoned to death.
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  • And paul--saul of tarsus, who became the apostle paul, played
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  • A part in that.
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  • Then there were subsequent persecutions that forced the
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  • Jews out of jerusalem, there was a famine in judea that made them
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  • Want to leave as well, but that was all part of god's plan to
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  • Share the gospel.
  • 00:06:27.043 --> 00:06:28.444
  • Now, what's interesting is these jews who had been dispersed
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  • Throughout the roman empire, if they were able, they came back
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  • To jerusalem several times a year for important feast
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  • And celebrations.
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  • And when james saw these fellow christians, jewish christians
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  • Come back, he noticed attitudes and actions in them that did not
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  • Correspond to their faith.
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  • He noticed that some because of persecution were considering
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  • Giving up their faith, and he wrote this epistle to say look,
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  • The mark of a genuine christian is not just what he professes
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  • But what he possesses, a new kind of life, works, visible
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  • Works that confirm christianity.
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  • And that's why james wrote this letter to the 12 tribes.
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  • Now, a couple of things i would say about this letter, first of
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  • All, it's very application-oriented.
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  • There are 108 verses in the letter of james.
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  • Fifty-four, half of those verses are commands.
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  • For every verse of biblical content there is a command, an
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  • Application to make.
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  • This is about faith in action.
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  • It's also interesting that james uses more figures of speech,
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  • More analogies than paul does in all of his letters combined.
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  • James is a preacher.
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  • He's trying to be practical and clear.
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  • There are also more allusions to the sermon on the mount in the
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  • Letter of james than in all of the rest of the bible.
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  • And that's interesting because it came from the lips of james'
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  • Older brother jesus.
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  • And it's also important, again, to remember there's no great
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  • Doctrine that is explained in james, which led martin luther
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  • To call it an epistle of straw, but it's not because james said
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  • These doctrines are important.
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  • Doctrine is very important.
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  • But james assumed those truths were believed by his audience.
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  • Now, what is the purpose of james?
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  • At the root of james is a desire to produce spiritual maturity
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  • In people.
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  • You find the word perfect throughout the bible.
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  • He's not talking about flawlessness, he's talking
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  • About maturity.
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  • The word perfect, the greek word means to be mature, complete.
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  • They were spiritually stunted in their growth.
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  • It's the same problem that paul encountered with
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  • The corinthians.
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  • In 1 corinthians 3:2, he said, "i gave you milk to drink, not
  • 00:09:02.865 --> 00:09:07.536
  • Solid food; for you were not able to receive it.
  • 00:09:07.536 --> 00:09:11.173
  • Indeed even now, you are not able."
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  • James said the same thing.
  • 00:09:15.411 --> 00:09:17.346
  • "we need to go back to the basics because you're not
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  • Spiritually mature as proven by your action."
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  • James' goal was maturity.
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  • You know, that doesn't mean we're ever going to be flawless.
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  • None of us is going to be flawless.
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  • Do i hear an amen to that?
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  • But god's not so interested in our ultimate destination as he
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  • Is in the direction in which we're headed.
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  • The real test of spiritual maturity is not whether or not
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  • You're perfect.
  • 00:09:46.409 --> 00:09:47.743
  • You're not going to be perfect.
  • 00:09:47.743 --> 00:09:49.311
  • But are you moving closer to christ every day, are you moving
  • 00:09:49.311 --> 00:09:53.983
  • Further away from christ?
  • 00:09:53.983 --> 00:09:55.551
  • It's the direction james is concerned about, and he talks
  • 00:09:55.551 --> 00:09:59.822
  • About spiritual maturity.
  • 00:09:59.822 --> 00:10:02.191
  • Now, let's look at the topics in the book of james.
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  • Our friend chuck swindoll says that all scripture can be
  • 00:10:06.162 --> 00:10:09.665
  • Divided into one of two categories.
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  • Scripture is either talking about the way to god, how to be
  • 00:10:12.802 --> 00:10:17.373
  • Right with god, becoming a christian, the way to god or
  • 00:10:17.373 --> 00:10:21.510
  • Secondly, our walk with god.
  • 00:10:21.510 --> 00:10:25.581
  • James fits under the latter category.
  • 00:10:25.581 --> 00:10:28.150
  • It's not about the way to god.
  • 00:10:28.150 --> 00:10:29.952
  • You'll never find out how to be saved by reading the letter of
  • 00:10:29.952 --> 00:10:33.622
  • James, but it's talking about our walk with god after
  • 00:10:33.622 --> 00:10:37.460
  • We're saved.
  • 00:10:37.460 --> 00:10:38.828
  • And james says if you are truly saved, there's going to be
  • 00:10:38.828 --> 00:10:43.032
  • Evidence of it.
  • 00:10:43.032 --> 00:10:44.366
  • There are some tests that you need to apply to your life.
  • 00:10:44.366 --> 00:10:47.903
  • By the way, paul said the same thing in corinthians.
  • 00:10:47.903 --> 00:10:50.806
  • He said test yourself to see if you are really in the faith.
  • 00:10:50.806 --> 00:10:56.112
  • When he said test yourself, he wasn't saying give yourself a
  • 00:10:56.112 --> 00:11:00.950
  • Theological exam to see if you can give five reasons for the
  • 00:11:00.950 --> 00:11:04.854
  • Virgin birth or three reasons to be pre-millennial in your view
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  • Of eschatology.
  • 00:11:09.091 --> 00:11:10.493
  • He's talking about test your behavior to see if you are truly
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  • In the faith.
  • 00:11:14.864 --> 00:11:16.198
  • That's exactly what james says.
  • 00:11:16.198 --> 00:11:18.267
  • And now, let me go through some of these trials.
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  • This is the preview of coming attraction, some of these test
  • 00:11:20.336 --> 00:11:24.473
  • James gives to us.
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  • First of all, our response to trials.
  • 00:11:25.808 --> 00:11:28.944
  • Do trials in life, which are inevitable, do they drive you
  • 00:11:28.944 --> 00:11:32.515
  • Closer to god or further away from god?
  • 00:11:32.515 --> 00:11:35.518
  • James says, "consider it all joy, my brethren, when you
  • 00:11:35.518 --> 00:11:38.621
  • Encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of our
  • 00:11:38.621 --> 00:11:42.491
  • Faith produces endurance."
  • 00:11:42.491 --> 00:11:45.194
  • Secondly, a test is your response to temptation.
  • 00:11:45.194 --> 00:11:49.598
  • God tests us to strengthen our faith, satan tempts us to
  • 00:11:49.598 --> 00:11:54.036
  • Destroy our faith.
  • 00:11:54.036 --> 00:11:55.638
  • "let no one say," james 1:13-14, let nobody say, "when he is
  • 00:11:55.638 --> 00:12:00.543
  • Tempted, 'i am being tempted by god,' for god cannot be tempted
  • 00:12:00.543 --> 00:12:04.647
  • By evil, and he himself does not tempt anyone."
  • 00:12:04.647 --> 00:12:08.350
  • Thirdly, another test, our obedience to the word.
  • 00:12:08.350 --> 00:12:11.921
  • James 1:22, "prove yourselves to be doers of the word, and not
  • 00:12:11.921 --> 00:12:17.159
  • Mere hearers who delude themselves."
  • 00:12:17.159 --> 00:12:20.496
  • Some people have deluded themselves into thinking if they
  • 00:12:20.496 --> 00:12:23.098
  • Possess a certain amount of knowledge about the bible or if
  • 00:12:23.098 --> 00:12:27.069
  • They keep hearing good sermons over and over again, somehow
  • 00:12:27.069 --> 00:12:30.039
  • That makes them spiritually mature.
  • 00:12:30.039 --> 00:12:33.209
  • No, it's not hearing the word, it's hearing and doing the word.
  • 00:12:33.209 --> 00:12:38.280
  • Isn't that what jesus said?
  • 00:12:38.280 --> 00:12:39.949
  • "everybody who hears my word and," what, "acts upon it is
  • 00:12:39.949 --> 00:12:45.454
  • Like the person who built his house on the foundation on
  • 00:12:45.454 --> 00:12:49.625
  • The rock."
  • 00:12:49.625 --> 00:12:51.427
  • Our obedience to the word.
  • 00:12:51.427 --> 00:12:52.795
  • Fourthly, our attitude toward the wealthy.
  • 00:12:52.795 --> 00:12:55.898
  • "my brethren, don't hold your faith in the glorious lord jesus
  • 00:12:55.898 --> 00:12:59.301
  • Christ with an attitude of personal favoritism."
  • 00:12:59.301 --> 00:13:02.705
  • James is going to talk about how we treat the wealthy and how we
  • 00:13:02.705 --> 00:13:06.942
  • Treat the poor.
  • 00:13:06.942 --> 00:13:08.310
  • It reflects our salvation, our attitude toward people who are
  • 00:13:08.310 --> 00:13:13.382
  • Different than we are.
  • 00:13:13.382 --> 00:13:15.217
  • Next, our response to god's command.
  • 00:13:15.217 --> 00:13:18.587
  • You know, the most theologically basic principle of judaism was
  • 00:13:18.587 --> 00:13:23.626
  • The oneness of god.
  • 00:13:23.626 --> 00:13:25.694
  • "hear, oh, israel, the lord your god is one god."
  • 00:13:25.694 --> 00:13:29.231
  • James says in james 2, verses 19 and 20, "you believe that god
  • 00:13:29.231 --> 00:13:33.335
  • Is one.
  • 00:13:33.335 --> 00:13:34.703
  • You do well; the demons believe that and shudder."
  • 00:13:34.703 --> 00:13:38.674
  • It's not our orthodoxy that impresses god, it is our
  • 00:13:38.674 --> 00:13:42.745
  • Orthopraxy, our practice of our faith.
  • 00:13:42.745 --> 00:13:47.950
  • Did you know demons, if they had the ability to, could go on our
  • 00:13:47.950 --> 00:13:51.487
  • Website firstdallas.org, pull up our articles of faith, what we
  • 00:13:51.487 --> 00:13:56.225
  • Believe, and the demons would agree with just about every one
  • 00:13:56.225 --> 00:13:59.828
  • Of our articles of faith.
  • 00:13:59.828 --> 00:14:02.665
  • They believe it.
  • 00:14:02.665 --> 00:14:04.033
  • They believe.
  • 00:14:04.033 --> 00:14:05.367
  • They are very orthodox, but that doesn't make them believers.
  • 00:14:05.367 --> 00:14:08.938
  • It's not what we believe, it's what we believe and apply
  • 00:14:08.938 --> 00:14:13.409
  • That matters.
  • 00:14:13.409 --> 00:14:15.210
  • Next, he says our speech is a good test of whether we're saved
  • 00:14:15.210 --> 00:14:19.782
  • Or not.
  • 00:14:19.782 --> 00:14:21.116
  • When you go to the doctor, what does he do in an exam?
  • 00:14:21.116 --> 00:14:24.019
  • The first thing he does, "stick out your tongue and say ah."
  • 00:14:24.019 --> 00:14:29.525
  • Why is he interested in your tongue?
  • 00:14:29.525 --> 00:14:32.094
  • Because that whole strip of mucus membrane is an indicator
  • 00:14:32.094 --> 00:14:36.966
  • Of the physical health, the health of the rest of your body.
  • 00:14:36.966 --> 00:14:40.436
  • James says the same thing is true about our speech,
  • 00:14:40.436 --> 00:14:43.605
  • Our tongue.
  • 00:14:43.605 --> 00:14:44.974
  • Our speech is an indicator of whether we're saved or not.
  • 00:14:44.974 --> 00:14:48.477
  • James 3, verses 5 and 6, "the tongue is a small part of the
  • 00:14:48.477 --> 00:14:52.247
  • Body, yet it boasts of great things.
  • 00:14:52.247 --> 00:14:55.317
  • See how great a forest is set aflame by such a small fire."
  • 00:14:55.317 --> 00:15:00.856
  • Only takes a spark to get a fire going.
  • 00:15:00.856 --> 00:15:04.727
  • The same way it only takes a careless word about another
  • 00:15:04.727 --> 00:15:08.163
  • Person to destroy a person's reputation, to destroy a family,
  • 00:15:08.163 --> 00:15:13.068
  • To destroy an entire congregation.
  • 00:15:13.068 --> 00:15:15.738
  • That's why james speaks so much about our speech.
  • 00:15:15.738 --> 00:15:19.241
  • Seventh, our desire for true wisdom is a measure of
  • 00:15:19.241 --> 00:15:22.678
  • Our faith.
  • 00:15:22.678 --> 00:15:24.013
  • James 3, verses 13 and 18, there are two kinds of wisdom in
  • 00:15:24.013 --> 00:15:28.150
  • The world.
  • 00:15:28.150 --> 00:15:29.485
  • There's a wisdom that comes from below and there's a wisdom that
  • 00:15:29.485 --> 00:15:32.755
  • Comes from above.
  • 00:15:32.755 --> 00:15:34.323
  • Which wisdom are you using to shape your life?
  • 00:15:34.323 --> 00:15:38.093
  • And then our humility.
  • 00:15:38.093 --> 00:15:39.428
  • James 4, verses 1 through 17, god is opposed to the proud, but
  • 00:15:39.428 --> 00:15:43.932
  • He gives grace to the humble.
  • 00:15:43.932 --> 00:15:46.869
  • Another reflection of our faith, a test of our faith is our
  • 00:15:46.869 --> 00:15:51.473
  • Attitude toward money.
  • 00:15:51.473 --> 00:15:53.242
  • Chapter 5, verses 1 to 6, "come now, you rich, weep and howl for
  • 00:15:53.242 --> 00:16:00.082
  • Your miseries which are coming upon you.
  • 00:16:00.082 --> 00:16:02.785
  • For your riches have rotted and your garments have
  • 00:16:02.785 --> 00:16:05.454
  • Become moth-eaten.
  • 00:16:05.454 --> 00:16:06.922
  • Your gold and your silver have rusted, and their rust will be a
  • 00:16:06.922 --> 00:16:10.626
  • Witness against you and will consume your flesh like fire."
  • 00:16:10.626 --> 00:16:15.197
  • James isn't saying it's wrong to possess money or possess the
  • 00:16:15.197 --> 00:16:19.234
  • Things moneys buys, but if you're truly a christian, you
  • 00:16:19.234 --> 00:16:23.238
  • Realize how temporal those things are.
  • 00:16:23.238 --> 00:16:26.708
  • You know, when you think about it, there are only two things
  • 00:16:26.708 --> 00:16:29.745
  • That can happen to your money or your possessions you buy
  • 00:16:29.745 --> 00:16:33.215
  • With money.
  • 00:16:33.215 --> 00:16:34.550
  • You can either lose them through a fire, through moths,
  • 00:16:34.550 --> 00:16:38.420
  • Through rust.
  • 00:16:38.420 --> 00:16:39.755
  • You're either going to lose them or secondly, you're going to
  • 00:16:39.755 --> 00:16:42.558
  • Leave them all behind one day.
  • 00:16:42.558 --> 00:16:45.294
  • You're going to lose everything or you're going to leave
  • 00:16:45.294 --> 00:16:47.963
  • Everything behind.
  • 00:16:47.963 --> 00:16:49.331
  • That's why you don't put your trust in riches.
  • 00:16:49.331 --> 00:16:52.668
  • Next, he says a test of our faith is our response to
  • 00:16:52.668 --> 00:16:56.772
  • Physical illness.
  • 00:16:56.772 --> 00:16:58.440
  • James 5, verse 14 to 15, "is any among you sick?
  • 00:16:58.440 --> 00:17:03.011
  • Then he must call for the elders of the church and they are to
  • 00:17:03.011 --> 00:17:06.215
  • Pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the
  • 00:17:06.215 --> 00:17:09.985
  • Lord; and the prayer offered in faith will restore the one who
  • 00:17:09.985 --> 00:17:13.822
  • Is sick."
  • 00:17:13.822 --> 00:17:15.190
  • What is that about?
  • 00:17:15.190 --> 00:17:17.059
  • We're going to talk about that.
  • 00:17:17.059 --> 00:17:18.427
  • We're going to talk about the power of faith-kneeling and the
  • 00:17:18.427 --> 00:17:22.798
  • Role healing plays in the church.
  • 00:17:22.798 --> 00:17:25.901
  • And finally, our desire to restore sinners is a test of
  • 00:17:25.901 --> 00:17:31.773
  • Whether we're saved or not.
  • 00:17:31.773 --> 00:17:33.242
  • When you see a fellow christian fall into sin, what's
  • 00:17:33.242 --> 00:17:37.045
  • Your attitude?
  • 00:17:37.045 --> 00:17:38.413
  • Do you secretly rejoice thinking it makes you look
  • 00:17:38.413 --> 00:17:41.950
  • Better somehow?
  • 00:17:41.950 --> 00:17:43.285
  • "boy, i would never do such a thing like that."
  • 00:17:43.285 --> 00:17:45.521
  • Do you rejoice or do you have a desire to restore a fallen
  • 00:17:45.521 --> 00:17:49.658
  • Brother or sister in christ?
  • 00:17:49.658 --> 00:17:52.361
  • That's a survey of what we're going to be looking at
  • 00:17:52.361 --> 00:17:55.597
  • From james.
  • 00:17:55.597 --> 00:17:56.932
  • Now, i want to leave you with two applications today.
  • 00:17:56.932 --> 00:17:59.234
  • One, and i want you to write it down, courtesy of martin luther,
  • 00:17:59.234 --> 00:18:03.372
  • Faith alone saves.
  • 00:18:03.372 --> 00:18:06.375
  • I don't want anybody to leave today confused about the role of
  • 00:18:06.375 --> 00:18:11.413
  • Faith and works.
  • 00:18:11.413 --> 00:18:13.582
  • We are saved by faith in god's grace, not by our works.
  • 00:18:13.582 --> 00:18:20.822
  • A man died and found himself at the entrance to the pearly
  • 00:18:20.822 --> 00:18:24.193
  • Gates, and an angel was checking people into heaven.
  • 00:18:24.193 --> 00:18:27.729
  • And the angel said to the man, "now, you have to understand to
  • 00:18:27.729 --> 00:18:30.098
  • Get into this place you have to score at least a thousand points
  • 00:18:30.098 --> 00:18:33.936
  • In your previous life.
  • 00:18:33.936 --> 00:18:35.804
  • So let's find out a little about you.
  • 00:18:35.804 --> 00:18:37.439
  • Can you tell me about yourself?"
  • 00:18:37.439 --> 00:18:39.174
  • The man said, "well, i attended church a lot of times.
  • 00:18:39.174 --> 00:18:42.778
  • I hardly missed a sunday."
  • 00:18:42.778 --> 00:18:44.813
  • The angel said, "well, that's good.
  • 00:18:44.813 --> 00:18:46.481
  • You get three points for that.
  • 00:18:46.481 --> 00:18:48.383
  • Anything else?"
  • 00:18:48.383 --> 00:18:49.985
  • "well, let's see.
  • 00:18:49.985 --> 00:18:51.353
  • I taught a 7th grade sunday school class, never said a curse
  • 00:18:51.353 --> 00:18:54.456
  • Word, i don't smoke or drink or chew, or go with girls who do."
  • 00:18:54.456 --> 00:19:01.263
  • The angel said, "well, that's impressive.
  • 00:19:01.263 --> 00:19:03.131
  • You get ten points for that."
  • 00:19:03.131 --> 00:19:05.534
  • The man was kind of exasperated.
  • 00:19:05.534 --> 00:19:07.202
  • He said, "three points?
  • 00:19:07.202 --> 00:19:08.570
  • Ten points?
  • 00:19:08.570 --> 00:19:09.905
  • At this rate i'll never get into heaven except by the grace
  • 00:19:09.905 --> 00:19:12.541
  • Of god."
  • 00:19:12.541 --> 00:19:13.875
  • Angel said, "bingo, you get a thousand points for
  • 00:19:13.875 --> 00:19:16.411
  • That answer."
  • 00:19:16.411 --> 00:19:19.481
  • The angel's right.
  • 00:19:19.481 --> 00:19:21.350
  • None of us gets into heaven except for the grace of god.
  • 00:19:21.350 --> 00:19:24.186
  • And by the way, james believed that as well.
  • 00:19:24.186 --> 00:19:28.490
  • You say, "how do you know james believed that?"
  • 00:19:28.490 --> 00:19:31.493
  • We're not from the epistle of james, but from james' own words
  • 00:19:31.493 --> 00:19:35.597
  • In acts 15, beginning with verse 6, i told you about the big
  • 00:19:35.597 --> 00:19:40.702
  • Hubbub they had, the council of jerusalem, determining whether
  • 00:19:40.702 --> 00:19:44.840
  • Gentiles could believe in christ without becoming jews.
  • 00:19:44.840 --> 00:19:49.778
  • Could you become a christian without being circumcised and
  • 00:19:49.778 --> 00:19:53.515
  • Keeping the jewish law?
  • 00:19:53.515 --> 00:19:54.850
  • And some said no, they've got to come through judaism.
  • 00:19:54.850 --> 00:19:57.886
  • Others said like peter, no, they ought to be able to come to
  • 00:19:57.886 --> 00:20:01.823
  • Christ directly.
  • 00:20:01.823 --> 00:20:03.558
  • And so they had this meeting, and at the end of the meeting
  • 00:20:03.558 --> 00:20:07.262
  • And the disagreements, peter said this in acts 15:11: "but we
  • 00:20:07.262 --> 00:20:12.200
  • Believe that we are saved through the grace of the lord
  • 00:20:12.200 --> 00:20:16.605
  • Jesus, in the same way as they," gentiles, "also are."
  • 00:20:16.605 --> 00:20:22.978
  • And then james stood up.
  • 00:20:22.978 --> 00:20:25.113
  • He made a speech and he came to this conclusion in verse 19.
  • 00:20:25.113 --> 00:20:28.650
  • James said, "therefore it is my judgment that we do not trouble
  • 00:20:28.650 --> 00:20:34.323
  • Those gentiles who are turning to god from among the gentiles."
  • 00:20:34.323 --> 00:20:38.627
  • In other words, it's not the works, it is the grace of jesus
  • 00:20:38.627 --> 00:20:42.864
  • That saves them.
  • 00:20:42.864 --> 00:20:44.499
  • James believed that faith alone saves.
  • 00:20:44.499 --> 00:20:48.103
  • But the second principle i want you to write down is this:
  • 00:20:48.103 --> 00:20:51.440
  • Saving faith is never alone.
  • 00:20:51.440 --> 00:20:54.543
  • That's what james was saying in verse 26 of chapter 2, "for just
  • 00:20:54.543 --> 00:20:58.714
  • As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works
  • 00:20:58.714 --> 00:21:04.486
  • Is dead."
  • 00:21:04.486 --> 00:21:05.821
  • And by the way, the apostle paul agreed with that statement
  • 00:21:05.821 --> 00:21:09.591
  • As well.
  • 00:21:09.591 --> 00:21:10.926
  • Remember in galatians 5, verses 19 to 23 he said, "now the deeds
  • 00:21:10.926 --> 00:21:15.564
  • Of the flesh," the deeds of unbelievers, "are evident.
  • 00:21:15.564 --> 00:21:20.001
  • They are sexual immorality, impurity, indecent behavior,
  • 00:21:20.001 --> 00:21:25.240
  • Idolatry, witchcraft, hostility, strife, jealousy, outburst of
  • 00:21:25.240 --> 00:21:29.945
  • Anger, selfish ambition, dissension, and factions, envy,
  • 00:21:29.945 --> 00:21:35.117
  • Drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which i
  • 00:21:35.117 --> 00:21:39.721
  • Forewarn you, just as i have, that those who practice such
  • 00:21:39.721 --> 00:21:44.259
  • Things will not inherit the kingdom of god.
  • 00:21:44.259 --> 00:21:49.364
  • But the fruit of the spirit," the evidence of a christian, "is
  • 00:21:49.364 --> 00:21:54.536
  • Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, and
  • 00:21:54.536 --> 00:22:00.275
  • Faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such
  • 00:22:00.275 --> 00:22:04.846
  • Things there is no law."
  • 00:22:04.846 --> 00:22:08.116
  • The fruit of the spirit.
  • 00:22:08.116 --> 00:22:10.852
  • Where there is genuine faith, there is going to be genuine
  • 00:22:10.852 --> 00:22:16.691
  • Visible fruit.
  • 00:22:16.691 --> 00:22:18.693
  • Where there is no fruit, there is no faith.
  • 00:22:18.693 --> 00:22:23.732
  • That's the message of james.
  • 00:22:23.732 --> 00:22:27.068
  • ♪♪
  • 00:22:27.302 --> 00:22:31.039
  • Jeffress: genuine faith isn't just about what we know,
  • 00:22:32.140 --> 00:22:35.777
  • It's about how we live.
  • 00:22:35.777 --> 00:22:37.345
  • And i hope today's message has challenged you to examine not
  • 00:22:37.345 --> 00:22:40.615
  • Just your beliefs but your behavior as well.
  • 00:22:40.615 --> 00:22:44.553
  • And we're just getting started in this powerful study of james,
  • 00:22:44.553 --> 00:22:48.590
  • And i hope that you'll join us for the entire series.
  • 00:22:48.590 --> 00:22:52.227
  • Now, before we wrap up today, i want you to know that every time
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  • We broadcast "pathway to victory" on television, radio,
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  • And digital streaming platforms it's because someone cared
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  • Unchanging word boldly.
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  • Thank you so much for your support, as together we pierce
  • 00:23:27.529 --> 00:23:31.132
  • The darkness with the light of god's word.
  • 00:23:31.132 --> 00:23:34.302
  • Now, please stay right there.
  • 00:23:34.302 --> 00:23:35.737
  • I'll be back with more in just a moment.
  • 00:23:35.737 --> 00:23:39.508
  • Announcer: every believer wants to see clear evidence of their
  • 00:23:40.675 --> 00:23:43.578
  • Spiritual growth and discover the fruit that god is producing
  • 00:23:43.578 --> 00:23:47.148
  • In their lives.
  • 00:23:47.148 --> 00:23:48.483
  • Dr. robert jeffress shows you exactly how to recognize that
  • 00:23:48.483 --> 00:23:52.020
  • Fruit in his brand-new book "how to know if you're really saved."
  • 00:23:52.020 --> 00:23:56.157
  • Jeffress: the book of james teaches us that the christian
  • 00:23:56.157 --> 00:23:58.560
  • Life is about more than just knowing god's word.
  • 00:23:58.560 --> 00:24:02.163
  • It's about living it out.
  • 00:24:02.163 --> 00:24:03.832
  • In my new book "how to know if you're really saved," i'll walk
  • 00:24:03.832 --> 00:24:07.035
  • You through what it truly means to be a doer of the word,
  • 00:24:07.035 --> 00:24:10.839
  • Showing you how to respond to trials, control your speech,
  • 00:24:10.839 --> 00:24:14.609
  • Endure hardships, resist temptation, and so much more.
  • 00:24:14.609 --> 00:24:19.648
  • Announcer: this outstanding 232-paged book will help you
  • 00:24:19.648 --> 00:24:22.617
  • Examine the evidence of your faith and see the spiritual
  • 00:24:22.617 --> 00:24:25.987
  • Fruit that should be growing in your daily life.
  • 00:24:25.987 --> 00:24:29.024
  • Request your copy of "how to know if you're really saved"
  • 00:24:29.024 --> 00:24:32.093
  • When you give a generous gift to support the ministry of "pathway
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  • To victory"
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  • Complete message series on dvd video and mp3 format audio disc set.
  • 00:24:44.706 --> 00:24:49.711
  • Jeffress: if you are truly saved, there's going to be
  • 00:24:49.711 --> 00:24:52.781
  • Evidence of it.
  • 00:24:52.781 --> 00:24:54.149
  • There are some tests that you need to apply to your life.
  • 00:24:54.149 --> 00:24:57.719
  • Announcer: thank you for your generous support of "pathway
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  • To victory."
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  • Teaching into homes across the nation and around the world.
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  • Jeffress: authentic belief always reveals itself through
  • 00:25:10.198 --> 00:25:13.068
  • Our actions.
  • 00:25:13.068 --> 00:25:14.402
  • How we spend our money, our speech, our relationships all
  • 00:25:14.402 --> 00:25:19.207
  • Demonstrate whether we truly belong to jesus christ.
  • 00:25:19.207 --> 00:25:23.011
  • In short, our knowledge of scripture means nothing if it
  • 00:25:23.011 --> 00:25:26.715
  • Doesn't change how we live.
  • 00:25:26.715 --> 00:25:29.351
  • Well, even genuine believers face difficult days.
  • 00:25:29.351 --> 00:25:32.988
  • Next time we'll explore a surprising truth that trials
  • 00:25:32.988 --> 00:25:36.825
  • Aren't meant to break us but to build us.
  • 00:25:36.825 --> 00:25:40.428
  • In fact, we can actually find joy in our troubles.
  • 00:25:40.428 --> 00:25:44.833
  • Stay tuned for a preview of what's coming up next in our
  • 00:25:44.833 --> 00:25:47.369
  • Series "how to know if you're really saved."
  • 00:25:47.369 --> 00:25:50.939
  • Jeffress: james says the road of this life is difficult.
  • 00:25:52.073 --> 00:25:56.244
  • There are a lot of bumps and jolts.
  • 00:25:56.244 --> 00:25:59.914
  • But when you go through those bumps and jolts, it means you're
  • 00:25:59.914 --> 00:26:03.451
  • Headed in the right direction, but those bumps and jolts in and
  • 00:26:03.451 --> 00:26:07.389
  • Of themselves can be a benefit to you right now.
  • 00:26:07.389 --> 00:26:11.493
  • It may result, those trials, in a strengthening of your faith
  • 00:26:11.493 --> 00:26:16.197
  • For the future.
  • 00:26:16.197 --> 00:26:17.666
  • Announcer: set your dvr and join
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