New Focus Church

Those who have the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ the Lord of glory are rich beyond the wealth of this world and heirs of God. How we act, how we live and treat others is to be conditioned and regulated by our experience of God's love and Christ's salvation.

James teaches us about pure religion and distinguishes it from vain religion. Pure religion is the effect of the engrafted word, the gospel of Jesus Christ, in the heart of a sinner and the outworking of grace in a believer's life.

Luk 12:32 Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

Luk 12:33 Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth.

Luk 12:34 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

James teaches us the difference between those who look into the gospel and see themselves and those who look into it and see Christ.

James is teaching us that the Lord Jesus, and salvation and everlasting life by Him, is God's free gift, His good and perfect gift that comes down from the Father of lights. Preaching the gospel is the means by which the gift of grace is received and experienced by faith.

Luk 12:13 And one of the company said unto him, Master, speak to my brother, that he divide the inheritance with me.

Luk 12:14 And he said unto him, Man, who made me a judge or a divider over you?

Luk 12:15 And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.

Luk 12:16 And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully:

Luk 12:17 And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits?

Luk 12:18 And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods.

Luk 12:19 And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.

Luk 12:20 But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?

Luk 12:21 So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.

The old man and the new man in the nature of every believer battle for supremacy and cause us to trust the Lord more and more. The trials and temptations of life are our occasion to trust Christ more but they also supply the devil with an opportunity to stir up the old man to sin.