Text: James 2:19
Demons are not completely opposite from even the most faithful child of God. The faithful will believe, fear, and obey God. The demons will only believe and fear. Their meeting of God’s expectations is incomplete. The difference is between doing some or doing all that God instructs. God expects total obedience (Matthew 28:20). Falling short of God’s will is sin (Romans 3:23).
How we often fall short:
Salvation
- What God expects of us – believe (John 8:24), repent (Luke 13:3,5), confess (Romans 10:9-10), be baptized (Acts 2:38), live faithfully (Revelation 2:10)
- How we fall short – trying to be saved by faith alone (James 2:24); trying to be saved without baptism (1 Peter 3:21); believing that once we’re saved, we’re always saved (Galatians 5:4)
Church Selection
- What God expects of us – be part of a church of His people (Acts 9:26); be part of a group that is striving to follow the pattern in all things (2 Timothy 1:13; 1 Corinthians 4:17)
- How we fall short – forsaking the assembly (Hebrews 10:25); joining & remaining with a group that tolerates sin & error (1 Corinthians 5:1-2; 2 John 9-11)
Morality
- What God expects of us – to not be conformed to the world (Romans 12:2); to conform to the example of Christ (1 Peter 2:21-22)
- How we fall short – viewing grace as a license to sin (Jude 4); living as the world lives (1 Peter 4:3)
Priorities
- What God expects of us – seek first the kingdom (Matthew 6:33); lay up treasures in heaven (Matthew 6:20); set your mind on things above (Colossians 3:2)
- How we fall short – focusing on the things of this life (Matthew 6:19; Luke 8:14)
Conclusion
- God wants a total commitment from us
- Anything short of this will put us in danger of receiving the same penalty as the devil and his angels (Matthew 25:41)
