SEVEN HEBREW WORDS EVERY CHRISTIAN SHOULD KNOW: EMUNAH

Sermon Notes, January 15, 2017

Rev. Garry McGlinchy

Pastor Garry’s second sermon in the series “Seven Hebrew Words Every Christian Should Know,” was based on James 2:14-26, and the word was emunah, meaning faith taking action.  Last week’s word, hesed, was loving kindness: God extends His loving kindness to us so we can extend loving kindness to others. 

The literal meaning of this week’s word, emunah, is to take firm action.  It comes from the Hebrew word aman which is used to express firmness, steadfastness or fidelity.  Emunah is used in Exodus 17:12 when Moses has to keep his hands up in the air to insure the Israelites’ victory over their Amalekite attackers.  Aaron and Hur held his hands up so that his hands remained steady till sunset.  In Deuteronomy 32:4, Moses sings of a faithful, just and upright God who does no wrong.  And emunah is the central theme throughout the 89^th Psalm.

When we break down the meaning of the Hebrew characters, we can gain an even greater meaning to emunah.  Hebrew is read from right to left. 

                  1.      Aleph – Ox - Leader, Strength, Sacrifice (sacrificial ox.)

2.      Mem –Water – Reflection, Spirit, fullness of life. 

3.      Noon – Fish - Activity, Life, Multi-directional, Man.

4.      Hey – Window – Revelation, to reveal Grace.

Emunah interpreted into the New Testament pictures means “The Leader’s Reflection in Man by Grace.”  Isn’t this what happens when a person accepts Jesus as their savior?

In verses 14-16, James lays out what true emunah looks like.  “What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds?”  Often when someone claims to have faith, what they are actually referring to is a knowledge that God exists, or that they are in agreement with Christian ideologies and teachings.  This kind of faith knowledge lacks the true meaning of what faith actually is.  True faith, complete faith, requires action.  It goes beyond the transformation of one’s mind.  True faith transforms one’s overall conduct.  Ask yourself “How has Jesus changed my life since He first took up residence in my heart?”  If there’s been no change, you do not truly believe the truth of the Gospel that you claim to believe.

In verse 17, James says “In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.  Salvation is not earned simply by serving and obeying the Lord.  Serving and obeying the Lord are the products of a person whose faith in God is true and authentic.  In other words, our good deeds cannot save us; however they are verifications of our faith in Christ.  James expounds on this idea in verses 18 and 19.  Some think that James’ words in verse 18 are a contradiction of what Paul says in Romans 3:23.  However James wasn’t disagreeing with Paul.  He was confirming and clarifying Paul’s teaching.  Paul speaks against those who try to be saved by deeds instead of faith.  James speaks against those who confuse a higher knowledge of God with true faith.  James drives this point home in verse 19 when he says, “Even the demons believe . . .”

In verses 21-26, James gives two examples of people who displayed true authentic faith, emunah.  The first is Abraham.  After Abraham offered his son as a sacrifice on the altar “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”  God did provide a sacrifice, just as Abraham told his son.  True faith brings salvation.  Active obedience demonstrates that our faith is genuine.  The second example that James talks about is Rahab.  When the Israelite spies came to Jericho to scout out the city, Rahab hid them and aided in their escape.  By doing this, Rahab demonstrated true faith in God’s purpose for Israel.  As a result, she and her family were spared when the walls of Jericho came crashing down.

Emunah goes further than knowledge-based faith can take us.  It requires the believer to be moved into action.  If you are a Christ-follower then you know this to be true: you are surrounded by people who desperately need Jesus in their lives.  And since we are called to share the Gospel with all of humanity, then this means that we need to allow faith to take action in us, through the guidance of the Holy Spirit that was freely given to us.  Emunah is less about knowing and more about doing.  As James points out, true authentic faith changes our overall conduct.  True emunah is displayed for the world to see through the actions that we take.  Our good deeds are the banner sign of someone with true authentic faith.  Emunah is the Leader Reflecting in Man by Grace.