Introduction – Martin Luther’s View on Book of James

[02:35] Let's come to James, Chapter Two, verses 14 to 26. It is not often that you hear a Christian criticize the Bible or a Christian criticize a book of the Bible, so it's rather surprising if you know of a famous Christian theologian who would criticize the Book of James. I'm talking about Martin Luther, a very well-known Christian, someone who began the Protestant Reformation centuries ago. He said about the Book of James that it “is a letter of straw”, meaning a letter, James is a letter written to the Jews who were dispersed during his time. It's a letter of very little worth, like wood, hay, stubble, straw. The reason why he thinks James which we are studying today “is a letter of straw” is because it has very little of the gospel within. So, it's of little value according to Luther. In fact, he goes on even to say that James “mangles the Scriptures and thereby opposes Paul and all Scripture”. So, this is really quite surprising and troubling at the same time that a well-known theologian will look at the book of the Bible like James, and say this is a contradictory book. Why does Luther think so? Well, let's look at what Paul says and then square it up with what James says.

 Apostle Paul’s Teachings on Faith and Works

Roman 3:28, Ephesians 2:8-9

Paul in many parts of the Bible teaches about the good news of Jesus Christ. The main message of the Bible is the good news of Jesus Christ. How a man can get right with God? And the Bible really tells us no man can get right with God by his own efforts. No man can be able to do all the law, fulfil the law to the degree that God is obliged to save you. So, Paul makes it very clear, “[For] we hold that one is justified…” [Romans 3:28], the word “justified” here means someone who is made right with God. We hold that no one is made right with God. No one is declared right with God. No one is justified by the works of the law but everyone who is justified, is justified by faith, by believing that God sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to die and to pay for our sins. So, this is a very clear message. This is what is unique about Christianity. You don't do, do, do, do, do to get right with God because you can't. We are so sinful but it is done. It is done for you in Jesus and all you need to do is to repent of your sin, believe in Jesus and Jesus' righteousness is credited to you, given to you freely. This is not just in Romans but Paul would repeat it in Ephesians and in many other parts of the Bible that we are saved by grace, God's unconditional favour to undeserving people. For by grace are you saved through faith, again not by the works of the law, not by what you do but by believing in Jesus and how he has paid it all. So, this is what the Bible talks about.

James 2:21, 24

Now what does James say? James, in Chapter Two, says “Was not Abraham our father justified by works” [James 2:21]. You can kind of feel the tension. Hey!!... Paul says no one “…that one is justified by faith apart from the works of the law” [Romans 3:28]. But James says “…Abraham our father was justified by works” [James 2:21]. And he doesn't just say this once. He says it again in Verse 24 “We [You] see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone” [James 2:24]. Now I think you can see very clearly why Luther would look at James and say I'm very troubled by this book. Now to be fair to him, he said this hundreds of years ago with very little help elsewhere. He kind of saw the light of the gospel and there were no great communities of learning, and scholarship that was available to him. But it does make us think is Paul, right? Or is James, right? Or both right? Or both wrong?

Faith & Works

Are there two ways to God, faith and works? How are these two things related? So today we're going to look at James, Chapter Two, and try to understand and get to the bottom of faith and works, and see if… was it Paul who was right? Or was it James who was right? Or was it both wrong? Or both right?

1. The Professions of Faith

James 2:14

So, let's start with this person, imagine that this man who comes and says I have faith, I believe but I don't do anything else. What do you think about this man who says he has faith? And that's exactly what James would tell us in Verse 14 onwards, he talks about a man who gives a profession of faith who says he has faith but very little else, “What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him?” [James 2:14]. So, we look at someone who says he has faith but does not have works, he's quite happy there. I'm a believer. I believe the Bible. I believe the gospel but I don't have works to show it. I'm quite happy right where we are. And James asked, can that faith save him? I want you to see that James, if you read a little between the lines, understands that faith saves. He doesn't say, does that work save him? He says, does that faith save him? He understands a man is saved by… is saved through faith and not by works, he understands that. But the question he's asking is can that faith, can that kind of faith, that kind of faith that is all in what you say but not in what you do? Can this kind of faith save? Can someone walk into church and say, I believe in Jesus but his life has never been changed? Can that faith save? So, the word “that” is very important. It's therefore unfortunate that in some Bible versions, the word “that” is omitted in the translation. I grew up loving, studying, memorizing King James [version] and that word “that” is not there but actually it's there in a Greek. And so many translations have wisely included, can that faith save him? And this word makes a whole world of difference.

A man received a message from his neighbour one day and this is what the message read, “Sorry sir I am using your wife… When you are not present at home… In fact, much more than you do. I confess this now because I am feeling very guilty. Hope you will accept my sincere apologies.” Naturally, the man read this fainted, collapsed, went to hospital. The next day he got another message from the same neighbour, “Sorry sir spelling mistake. It is not wife but WiFi”. Words are very important. One word can make a whole world of difference.

The Importance of Works in Faith

So, James is not saying, can faith save him? James is saying, can that kind of faith save him? Because there are people today coming to church who says, I believe in Jesus. [10:53] Many people can say they believe in Jesus but there are actually two kinds of faith, two kinds of people who say I believe. There's the first kind who say I believe in Jesus and there are works that have been manifested throughout the period of time I believe. And there's another group that says, I believe in Jesus but I have no works. James asks, can that kind save him? It's a rhetorical question meaning the answer obviously [is] no, it can't save. Now in case you don't understand what this is all about, James then paints a picture, or rather, I just want you to be reminded that this is a reference to true and false religion which we have studied in Chapter One. James is continuing that trend. Someone may have a true religion manifested in speech, service and sanctification, and a fake one where there is nothing at all. It's empty, it's vein.

James 2:15

So, in case we don't get it, let's go to this story, this picture, imagine a brother or sister destitute. He comes into the church and one of you says to that person, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled.” very nice words. Aiyo… so pitiful. Aiyo… may God bless you. Now it's nothing wrong to say these words but is everything wrong when you say these words as an excuse not to do anything for them. This is just plain platitudes. NATO - No Action, Talk Only. James asks, “…what good is that?”. What good is this kind of faith? When you see people, your brother or sister in need and you don't do anything. Is this kind of faith any good? Is this kind of faith able to save?

A story is told of a man who was speaking to the boyfriend of his daughter. They are planning to get married. So, he asks him, what do you do for a living? The young man says, I have no job at this point of time. What do you plan to do? I don't know but I know God will provide. How do you intend to start a family with my daughter? I don't know but God will provide. How would you take care of kids when you have kids? I don't know but God will provide. So, he asked many questions and the answer always is God will provide. Dinner is over and the wife now asks the husband, so dear, what do you think about the boyfriend? The husband said he has no job and he has no plans but the good news is he thinks I am God.

James 2:17

[13:49] Will you marry your daughter to someone like that? No action, talk only. No, you wouldn't. He says, God will provide but he does nothing. And would you believe someone who says, I believe in God but I don't do anything? What's the use of this kind of faith where it's mere profession but no works. “So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.” [James 2:17]. It's useless. It can't do anything. So, James is saying, saying, just saying, “I have faith” but having no works in your life is no good. It's akin to that false, empty, worthless religion that reaps death and not allows you to get the crown of life. Real faith or life-giving faith will show itself in works. I want to be very clear. James is not teaching that we are saved by faith plus works, but James is saying we are saved by faith that works. Be very, very clear there, so we are saved by faith that works, that's this particular kind, not the kind that is all talk and no walk. So, the profession of faith, first man.

2. The Proof of Faith

James 2:18

Let's look at a second man. Second man is someone who is not just saying he has faith but he's going to be telling you, I can show you my faith by my works. The proof of faith is where we come to. I want you to also know that the proof of faith is not so much proving yourself before God because God sees everything, God knows everything. But this is proving your faith before men because James says, “Show me your faith…,” and then he goes on to say, “…I will show you…” So, it's showing me and you. It's showing one another. How can people know your faith? Well, he says, very simple by your works and that's how we can know one another’s. So, proving or showing real faith (the kind that saves) not the kind that's empty and vain, is through your works.

The Role of Works in Proving Faith

So, “…someone would [will] say, “You have faith and I have works”. This is an opponent of James. I think this person is saying, actually there are two kinds, two kinds of faith. You have faith and I have works. I need to insert a few words here so that it's clear. I think James is saying, this opponent is suggesting one person is saying, you have faith that is without works. And the other person is saying, I have works, in other words, I have faith that works. All right, I need to insert these words so that it's clear. You have faith that have works is really saying, you have faith without works and I have faith with works.

So, this someone is suggesting that there are two kinds of faith that are real, that are efficacious. But James says, no, there's really only one kind of real faith. His logic goes, “Show me your faith apart from your works,”. I think the implication is you really can't. You can't show me faith without works, you can't. Show me, try… try…, he's challenging the person. And James then goes on to say but “I will show you my faith by my works.”, I can, I can show you faith by works. You can't if you do not do it by your works.

So, there's only one kind of real faith and that is the kind that results in works. Charles Swindoll, he has this quote, quite interesting. “Faith is like calories; …” What do you mean? “You can't see them, but you can always see their results!”. Faith is like calories. You can't see it but you can see the results.

You know, when a man says, I love you, you really have to ask yourself, does he really love me? Because if he never spends time with me, never listens to me, never does anything for me, never helps me when I need to, but he spends all his time with another woman, saying whatever he says, he doesn't love me. I can't see love but I can see the results of love. Faith is pretty much the same thing.

Now someone may then protest, eh… but I read the Bible, I've been to Bible studies, I memorize gospel like catechism. Well, “Show me your faith apart from your works and I will show you my faith by my works.” [James 2:18]. There's only one real kind, the kind that results in works.

James 2:19

And so, you say you believe, “You believe that God is one; …”. So, I'm referring to the person who is very good, maybe in doctrine, in learning, in the teachings of the Bible, you believe that God is one. God is one is a great statement taken from Deuteronomy, Chapter Six, the Shema of Deuteronomy. So, James is saying with this one statement referring… he's referring to someone who may be well educated in Bible. He knows the Bible. God is one. Good doctrine. James says, “…you do well.”, very good, better than someone who doesn't know and the person may be quite smart about himself. Eh… I believe, see I believe the Bible. I believe God is one, I believe Jesus, I believe heaven, I believe hell, I believe sin, I believe these things.

And then James gives a sucker punch because he says, “Even the demons believe - and shudder!”. Do you know that demons know a lot about the Bible? I'm always very impressed when I, impress in a not so good way I suppose. I'm always impressed when I read about how the devil will come to Jesus and quote to him Psalm 91. I mean most of us don't even know what is Psalm 91, we know Psalm 23 that's all. But he knows Psalm 91, he quotes Psalm 91 to Jesus and he quotes it correctly, understanding that Psalm 91 is not about anybody else but about Jesus. It's a Messianic Psalm; the devil knows a lot about the Bible. The devils, the demons believe that God is one, Deuteronomy [Chapter] Six, and the demons even have an emotional response to doctrine, they shudder.

So, there may be many Christians today who say, I've been to Bible studies. I graduated from seminary. I grew up in a home that teaches me the Bible. Surely, I'm saved, right? Surely my faith is good, right? James says you believe that God is one. Okay, it's not bad but your faith is demon-like, maybe not even like them because at least they shudder, you don't. So, James is saying faith, saying you have faith, feeling you have faith without the works of faith is like demons. That's all. So, someone suggests there are two kinds of faith. James says there's only really one kind of real faith, the kind that results in works because the works are the proof of real faith. So, let me ask you, do you see faith in action or are they missing in action? FIA or MIA, what's it for you in your life?

Tell Me Without Telling Me

Some young men told me that there's a social media challenge or social media phenomenon on TikTok and so on. It's called “Tell Me Without Telling Me”. Have you heard before? If you have not heard that you are old like me. “Tell Me Without Telling Me”, basically it's “#TheTellMeChallenge” on TikTok and so on, which explained here is a game where social media users share without using direct mentions of the subject. You say, liah bo kiu [unable to understand in Singlish], don't know what this is. Never mind, you're old like me, it's fine.

Let me give you an example, all right, “Tell Me (you are Singaporean) Without Telling Me (you are Singaporean)”. Let's try… Huh? What? Singlish, okay. Singlish the la, the lor, okay, that's one. Any other? Complain, okay, complain, all right. What else? Kiasu [afraid to lose in Singlish], okay, good. What else? Chope table, very good. Queue up…wow, you all think very much like me leh… Chope already! Kopi Peng Siu Dai [Iced coffee less sweet]. What else? I like to join long queues. I can leave my things in a cafe and nobody will take. You BTO or Resale? Well, I can say all these things and you know that I'm a Singaporean without me telling you, you're Singaporean, right?

So let me do the tell me challenge without telling me challenge, “Tell Me (you have faith) Without Telling Me (you have faith)”. [23:35] How do you do it? Can I say I have faith? Cannot. James is giving us a “Tell Me Without Telling Me” Challenge 2000 years ago, and he's saying the only way is by your works. That's how you tell your faith. So, what kind of works? Someone asks after the first service, What kind of works? Let me be very clear, the works here, I think, so far in Chapter Two is don't show favouritism, love your neighbour as yourself, remember? And then today we are also seeing verses 14 to 26 same thing, love your neighbour as yourself, meet the needs of the needy around you. Don't ignore them. Don't neglect them. And so, it is all anchored in loving your neighbour. And to bring us a step back to true and false religion in Chapter One, James tells us true religion is in the realms of speech, service and sanctification. There are three clauses there and in particular, Chapter Two, focuses on service, mercy, meeting needs. Of course, it involves other things like controlling your speech and keeping yourself unstained. It's all about obedience to God. So, a man with real faith will not be thought only, it will be evidence in obedience, in speech, in service, in sanctification.

So, we have come to understand how first of all, James gives us a man who professes faith saying, I have faith but have not works. Can this kind of faith save him? Rhetorical question, no. Then the second thing is a person who says, I can show you my faith by my works. That's how you know I have legit, real deal faith that saves.

3. The Patterns of Faith

Finally, James gives us two examples or two patterns of faith. It will be seen in two persons, Abraham and Rahab. Abraham and Rahab are very different. Abraham is a Jew, or at least, is the father of the Jews, and Rahab is a Gentile. Abraham is the respected patriarch of Israel and Rahab is a prostitute. So, they are very different but both of them are united in that both belief and both evidence their belief in the way they obey God.

Models of Faith and Works - Abraham

James 2:21

So, let's look at Abraham, “Was not Abraham our father justified by works…”. Now this is the… this is the part that trips Luther up, right? Because here we read Abraham is justified by works. It seems to contradict Romans 3:28, Ephesians 2:8-9 and many other passages. But we must understand the context here is not so much justification in terms of being declared righteous by God or before God, but it is to be seen as righteous before man. James has affirmed that a man is saved through faith. We have seen or we will see later on, in Verse 23, that Abraham did believe God and that faith is what resulted in him receiving righteousness.

This is a quote from Genesis 15, Verse 6 that took place 20 over years, around there, before he offered his son, Isaac, on the altar. So actually, Abraham was already righteous in Genesis 15 long before he offered his son. So, the Bible is telling us Abraham is positionally righteous before God long ago when he believed and God credited to him righteousness. It's like sending money just like that, imputed to him, credited to him, accounted to him. Abraham is a righteous man because of faith but this justified by works is really before men. Show me your faith and I'll show you your… it's… it's justified before men. So, I don't think this justified refers to the same way or referring to the same idea as Paul presented. This is not justification before God but this is being vindicated or proven righteous before man.

James 2:22

So, Abraham was proven righteous before man and I suppose also all angels who are watching everything that is happening on planet Earth. Abraham was proven righteous by his works of faith, his obedience. Be very clear, Abraham was already righteous in Genesis 15 by faith. This is just proving his righteousness before men and all. So that's why, I think he goes on to say “…faith was completed by his works;”. It's not saying that there was anything lacking in Abraham's faith in the beginning. No, his faith was good enough. He's the father of faith but it is completed in a sense, it is made manifest. It is made evident. It is made clear and obvious to everyone by his works because before that you may not see, God sees but you may not see. Now everybody sees, he offered his son Isaac in obedience.

James 2:23-24

I think this is also how we should understand why he says “…Scripture was fulfilled…” [James 2:23] in that God's righteousness given to Abraham is made very clear when Abraham obeyed God by his obedience. So, Abraham is now called a friend of God. For those who are taking notes, you may want to know it's from 2 Chronicles and Isaiah 41, but I think the whole point should be very clear, “You see that a person is justified…”, I think this is with reference to before men and all, “by works and not by faith…” that is “… alone” [James 2:24].

So, Abraham is proven righteous before men by his works of faith. I don't want anybody to be confused so I want to make it explicit saying, Abraham, how was he saved? By grace through faith, God did not save Abraham because he offered his son. No, God saved Abraham because Abraham believed and God graciously gave him righteousness, all right, let's be very clear. Abraham is not saved because he sacrificed. No, Abraham is saved because he believed. He is saved by grace through faith, not of works, Genesis 15:6, but his faith is evidenced by his works, Genesis 22, coming after faith. He is thus proven righteous before all, I think here “all” referring to men and angels by his works. He is not saved through faith plus works but he is saved by a faith that works. That kind of faith that's what we are talking about.

Models of Faith and Works - Rehab

James 2:25

Let's go to Rahab, Rahab is the same thing, shorter here. She was also justified by works. How? Before men, not before God. So, we see a kind of two ends of the spectrum, Abraham, the respected Jewish patriarch, and then you have Rahab, the despised Gentile prostitute. No matter where you are in this spectrum, everyone is saved by a kind of faith that manifests itself by works.

The Final Word on Faith and Works

James 2:26

So, we end with Verse 26, “For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead.”. This is the key idea because it's repeated three times in the verses before us, [Verse] 17, faith without works is dead. Faith without works is useless [Verse 20]. Faith apart from works is dead [Verse 26]. I have faith but I don't have works. James says that's a dead kind, a useless kind, a no-good kind, the false kind that cannot save kind, the kind that even demons have. But the kind of faith that saves is the one that can fulfil the “Tell Me Without Telling Me” Challenge. I show you my faith by my works. So, saying “I have faith” but no works is no good. The real faith, the life-giving faith, must show itself in works. That's I think a wrap of [verses] 14 to 26, I hope it's crystal clear. I hope when we see Luther in heaven, we can have a good laugh. But let me conclude with a few thoughts, I want to be very, very certain that you are very, very certain about the gospel.

1. We are saved by grace through faith alone

Number one, we are all saved by only this one way, by grace, by God's unconditional favour toward us through faith alone. The Reformation threw up five Solas, not solar panels but five Solas, five things that characterize Biblical faith. Sola Gratia which means grace alone. Sola Fide means faith alone. Sola Christus means Christ alone. Sola Scriptura means the Bible alone. And so, Soli Deo Gloria means to God be the glory alone. [33:33] Only if someone understands that we are saved by grace through faith alone can all these five be in position, because if you think you are saved by works then it's no more Christ alone. It's no more the Bible alone. It's no more grace alone. It's no more faith alone. It's no more God's glory alone. It is all these things only if we understand we are saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ alone.

1.Faith and works are NOT 2 ways to God

We are also saying that faith and works are not two ways to God. Whether you are in the Old Testament or New Testament, there is only one way to God and that is grace through faith in God's promised Savior. So don't confuse. Don't ever think that a man can be justified before God by his own works. No, mission impossible because we are all so sinful we can never fulfil it satisfactorily.

III. Real Faith must be evidenced by works

The third thing which we are focusing a lot on is that real faith must be evidenced by works. I'm not talking about perfection but there must be works in your life. As Jesus would say, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, …”, a lot of profession but no works, only those “…who do the will of my Father…” [Matthew 7:21].

The Bible goes on to say “He will render to each one according to his works; to those who by patience in well-doing…, he will give eternal life;” [Romans 2:6-7]. A lot of people get very stumbled by this. Ah… I thought Apostle Paul is an apostle of grace telling us that we are saved by grace through faith. Why does he talk about works? Because Paul understands that real grace, real faith will result in works. And on that final day when we all stand before God, God will pour out, list out all the things we have done. And those who do not know God, obviously will have no works, no obedience to God to show for. But those who believe in Jesus who have the authentic, real faith, there will be the works and they will receive eternal life because they have faith that works, not faith plus works.

It's the same in Titus one, “They profess to know God, but they deny him by their works.” [Titus1:16]. First John, “Whoever says, ‘I know him’ but does not keep his commandments, is a liar, …” [1 John 2:4]. You don't really have real faith. Chapter Two, Verse Five, “…whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we know that we are in him” [1 John 2:5].

The Role of Works in Salvation

So, no works means no real faith, no life-giving faith. I think this is a very important… I laboured a lot about these things because we live in a day of confusion, great confusion, even in a church where many people come to church and they actually believe that they are saved when they may not be. Because they said a prayer, they walked the aisle, the pastor prayed over them, and they now kind of, are told they are Christians but they're not very sure, because since the time they walked the aisle, raised their hands, said a sinner’s prayer, have the pastor pray over them, their life has not changed. So, they are confused, am I really saved? And if this is not answered, there will be a great day of consternation, great day of shock, because we will stand before God and some may hear, in fact, not some, the Bible says many will hear Jesus say, I never knew you. Many will say, Lord, Lord, and Jesus will say, I never knew you, depart from me, you workers of iniquity. You have no works. You never do the will of my Father.

And the reason why we talk about this a lot is because we are concerned for you. I'm not here trying to shake your assurance. I'm not… I don't think God wants to shake the assurance of his people but I do want to shake people away from false presumption. If you are a true believer, actually, a sermon like this, a message like this will give you greater assurance, because you cannot examine your life and objectively say there are these works that God has brought about in my life through faith, I'm thankful. But for someone who has no works, this is deeply unsettling but the goal of this unsettling is not to make you feel bad for the sake of it, but to perhaps gently, well not gently, but clearly nudge you to say, I really need to repent and believe in Jesus. I really need to ask God for that real faith and not a phony, superficial, fake and worthless one. I hope it will lead you to true salvation, that's the goal.

The Importance of Obedience in Faith

Saved through faith alone, but faith that is not alone. It will produce works, faith that works. So, as we pause and take a look at James, what is James about? James is a book about wisdom. Remember the chiastic structure? Remember how James resources deeply from the Sermon on the Mount and from the book of Proverbs. It's a book about wisdom and what is the main thing about wisdom, folks? What's the main thing about wisdom? Belief? Oh, very good. I was hoping… I'm glad someone remembered at least what we looked at last week. Wisdom is about obedience. Wisdom is not about knowledge alone because Jesus says, whoever hears these words of mine and puts them into practice, you are wise. But whoever hears these words, and do not put them into practice, you are a fool. So real wisdom is not just in knowledge, as I said today, you can be very smart with DeepSeek and ChatGPT. But real wisdom is not in knowing but in obeying.

And the wise people obey God. In what ways? Chapter One, we learn real wisdom is endurance through trials. You don't blame God; you don't become angry with God but you obey Him. Chapter Two, we learn love your neighbour as yourself, visit the orphans and widows in their affliction. So, the wise obey God in at least two ways, we have learned in Chapter One, Chapter Two, steadfastness, in service, in mercy. We are going to learn more in Chapters Three, Four and Five. But the wise does all these things because he understands the need to lay a good foundation for the judgment to come. He's building his house so that when the storms come it will stand. So, let me ask you, how's your house? I'm not asking your house in Orchard Road or Holland Road or whatever, I'm asking about your house when judgment comes, will it stand? Do you have real faith or not? Be clear, we are not saying that you do these things to earn salvation. No but evident salvation because it's about faith that works, not faith plus works. And in Chapter Two in particular, let us not forget, it's about showing mercy, giving, loving, serving, not showing favouritism, neither neglecting or ignoring.

Last quote, “Instead of manoeuvring for the best possible advantage, …” a truly wise man, a man of faith, a man who wants to obey God will give himself to “…another for the sake of Christ”. I hope that this community of believers, not all of you are believers I hope you will be one day soon, but the community of believers will live out faith and works, and obedience, and love, and mercy. That's God's will, that's how God is God, going to be glorified and that's how we will all be judged on that final day. So, let's work out, not work for, work out our salvation with fear and trembling, be wise.

Closing Prayer

Let's bow for word of prayer together. Father, thank you again for your word and we pray that we will be a people who are diligent, not just to be hearers but be doers, and all that is only possible because there is real faith implanted in us. So, I pray again for gospel-lighters to work out their salvation with fear and trembling, and I pray for those who do not know Jesus as yet, that you will give them wisdom. And today, they will turn from sin and believe in Jesus Christ, bless your people. We ask in Jesus’ name, Amen.