The Epistle of James Faith in Action James

The Epistle of James Faith in Action

James in the New Testament Gospel (4) History (1) Epistle (21) Prophecy (1) Matthew Mark Luke John Acts General (8) Hebrews James 1 Peter 2 Peter 1 John 2 John 3 John Jude Revelation Epistle (21) Paul (13) Romans 1 and 2 Cor. Galatians Ephesians Philippians Colossians 1 and 2 Thess. 1 and 2 Tim. Titus Philemon 2

Time Period in NT History Preparation for the Church / Life of Christ c. A. D. 1 – 30 Period 1 ( Matthew through John ) Period 2 Establishment of the Church c. A. D. 30 – 60 ( Acts through Philemon ) Period 3 Latter Developments in the Church c. A. D 60 – 90 ( Hebrews through Revelation ) 3

Book Background Title: James 1. The title “James” is taken from the Greek transliteration of the Hebrew “Jacob” (Iakobos), a common Jewish name in the first century. 4

Book Background Author: James 1. Which James is the author? There are four mentioned in the NT: a) James, the son of Zebedee (Mt. 4: 21; Mk. 1: 19; 5: 37; 9: 2; 10: 35; Lk. 5: 10; Acts 12: 1 -2); b) James, the son of Alphaeus (Mt. 10: 3; Mk. 3: 18; Mk. 15: 40); c) James, the father of Judas (Lk. 6: 16); and d) James, the brother of Jesus (Mt. 13: 55; Mk. 6: 3; Jn. 2: 12; 7: 2 -10; Gal. 1: 19; 2: 1, 9, 10, 12; Acts 1: 13 -14; 12: 17; 15: 13; 21: 18; 1 Cor. 9: 5; 15: 7; Jude 1). 2. James, the brother of Jesus is likely the author. 5

Book Background Audience: Jewish Christians 1. Like the book of Hebrews, the book of James was written to Jewish Christians 6

Book Background Purpose: 1. 7

Book Background Date: 1. 8

Book Background Theme: Faith in Action 1. The theme of the book of James is “faith in action”. James emphasizes hearing and doing God’s word 9

Keys to the Book • Key verses: 1: 22 -25 • Key word: “faith” (1: 3, 6; 2: 1, 5, 14 -26; 5: 15) 10

Outline of the Book Faith in Action • Greeting (1: 1) • The Tests of Faith (1: 2 -18) • The Characteristics of Faith (1: 19 – 4: 17) • The Responsibilities of Faith (5: 1 -20) 11

Outline of the Book Faith in Action • Greeting (1: 1) • The Tests of Faith (1: 2 -18) – Faith tested by outward trials (1: 2 -12) – Faith tested by inward temptations (1: 13 -18) 12

Chapter 1 Themes • Greeting (1: 1) • Joy in trials (1: 2 -4) • Asking for wisdom (1: 5 -8) • Poor and rich (1: 9 -11) • Temptations (1: 12 -18) • Hearing and doing (1: 19 -27) 13

Trials and Temptations James 1: 2 -15 Trials (vv. 2, 12) Gr. peirosmos Temptations (vv. 1315) Gr. peirazo Outward tests that lead Inward tests that lead to maturity to sin Endurance needed Self-control needed 14

Trials According to James and Paul James (1: 2, 12) Paul (Rom. 5: 3 -5) 1. Joy in trials 1. Joy in tribulation 2. Endurance 2. Steadfastness 3. Approvedness 4. Crown of life 4. Hope 5. Love him 5. Love of God 15

From Desire to Death James 1: 13 -15 Action Result 1. Desire receives a suggestion 2. Desire meditates on the enticement 3. Desire gives birth to sin 4. Sin grows up and brings forth death Enticement Drawn toward the bait God’s law is broken (1 Jn. 3: 4; 5: 17) Separated from God (Isa. 59: 1 -2; Eph. 2: 1 -4) 16

The Wrath of Man James 1: 19 -20 Wrath of Man Wrath of God 1. Flairs up, violent, outbursts 2. Leads to sin 1. Settled 3. Impatient 4. Does not work the righteousness of God 2. Punishes sin (Rom. 1: 18) 3. Longsuffering (Rom. 9: 22) 5. Display of God’s righteous character (Rom. 2: 5) 17

Hearers of the Word James 1: 21 -22 Action Attitude 1. Put away Sin is removed first 2. Receive The Word is received 3. Doers of the word Application 18

Hearers and Doers James 1: 23 -27 Hearers Only Hearers and Doers 1. Looks by forgets 2. Deluded / deceived 1. Looks and continues doing 2. Honest 3. Not blessed 3. Blessed 4. Vain religion 5. Pure and undefiled religion 19

Outline of the Book Faith in Action • Greeting (1: 1) • The Tests of Faith (1: 2 -18) • The Characteristics of Faith (1: 19 – 4: 17) – Faith hears and does (1: 19 -27) – Faith removes discrimination (2: 1 -13) – Faith works (2: 14 -26) – Faith controls the tongue (3: 1 -12) – Faith follows heavenly wisdom (3: 13 -18) – Faith draws near to God (4: 1 -10) – Faith does not judge (4: 11 -12) – Faith is dependent upon God (4: 13 -17) 20

James 1 Lessons for Today 1. Christians can have joy in trials because they know they will be perfected by them and be rewarded one day for their steadfastness (1: 2; Mt. 5: 12; Rom. 5: 3 -4; 1 Pet. 1: 6 -9; 4: 12 -13). 2. Patience (endurance) has its “perfect work” – salvation (1: 4; 5: 10 -11; Lk. 21: 19; Rom. 2: 7). 3. God is liberal in his giving and good in his giving (1: 5, 17; 2 Cor. 9: 8 -15). 21

James 1 Lessons for Today 4. Both poverty and riches can test a person (1: 9 -10; Prov. 30: 7 -9; 1 Tim. 6: 9 -10, 17 -19). 5. The Christian’s reward is a “crown of life” (1: 12; 2 Tim. 4: 8; 1 Pet. 5: 4; Rev. 2: 10). 6. We should not blame God for temptation (1: 13; Gen. 3: 12 -13)? 7. Sin brings spiritual death (1: 15; 5: 20; Rom. 6: 16, 23; 7: 5). 22

James 1 Lessons for Today 8. We are brought forth (begotten, born again) by God’s word when we obey it and are baptized (1: 18; Jn. 3: 5; Eph. 5: 26; Tit. 3: 5; 1 Pet. 1: 22 -23). 9. Guard your tongue and be “slow to speak” (1: 19, 26; Prov. 10: 19; 17: 27 -28). 10. God’s word saves souls (1: 21; Lk. 8: 12; Ac. 11: 14; Rom. 1: 16; 1 Cor. 1: 18; 15: 2). 23

James 1 Lessons for Today 11. Hearing and doing God’s word, not just hearing, is what God wants (1: 22 -25; Mt. 7: 24 -26; Lk. 6: 46). 12. Christians are under the Law of Christ, the perfect law of liberty (1: 25; 1 Cor. 9: 21; Gal. 6: 2). 13. Christians, individually, should take care of orphans and widows as they have opportunity (1: 27; Gal. 2: 9; 6: 10). Christians are to keep themselves unspotted from the world of sin as they go through life (1: 27; 1 Jn. 2: 15 -17). 24

Outline of the Book Faith in Action • Greeting (1: 1) • The Tests of Faith (1: 2 -18) • The Characteristics of Faith (1: 19 – 4: 17) – Faith hears and does (1: 19 -27) – Faith removes discrimination (2: 1 -13) – Faith works (2: 14 -26) – Faith controls the tongue (3: 1 -12) – Faith follows heavenly wisdom (3: 13 -18) – Faith draws near to God (4: 1 -10) – Faith does not judge (4: 11 -12) – Faith is dependent upon God (4: 13 -17) 25

Chapter 2 Themes • No respect of persons (2: 1 -13) • Faith without works is dead (2: 14 -26) 26

Respect of Persons James 2: 1 -13 Favoritism / Discrimination 1. It is inconsistent with the teaching of Christ 2. It results from judging with evil thoughts 3. It dishonors others 4. It lacks love 5. It is a sin 6. It lacks mercy James 2: 1 -13 Verse 1 Verse 2 -4 Verses 5 -7 Verse 8 Verses 9 -11 Verse 12 -13 27

Paul and James On Works Paul: Not Justified by Works (Rom. 3: 19 -28) Issue: How will a sinner be saved? The basis of the sinner’s justification is not works of law-keeping, but faith Paul says “No!” to the legalist who trusts in his law-keeping works of merit James: Justified by Works (Jas. 2: 14 -26) Issue: How will a saint remain saved? The basis of the saint’s justification is a faith that works, not faith apart from works (not faith only) James says “Yes!” to the intellectualist who abandons his obedient works of faith 28

James 2 Lessons for Today 1. Being a respecter of persons (prejudice, favoritism) is a sin (2: 1, 9; Acts 10: 34). 2. We must not be “judges with evil thoughts” (2: 4; 12: 24 ff; 1 Tim. 6: 4). Mt. 3. Poor brethren are rich in faith (2: 5; Mt. 5: 3; Rev. 2: 9). 4. We must love our neighbor as our self (2: 8; Lev. 19: 18; Mt. 22: 39; Lk. 10: 27 -28; Gal. 5: 14). 29

James 2 Lessons for Today 5. Breaking God’s law with just one sin is a serious matter (2: 9 -11; 1 Jn. 3: 4; 5: 17). 6. The New Testament Law of Christ is the “law of liberty” (2: 12; James 1: 25; 1 Cor. 9: 21; Gal. 5: 1; 6: 2). 7. The person who shows no mercy to others will be shown no mercy from God (2: 13; Mt. 5: 7; 18: 32 -35; Lk. 6: 37 ff). 30

James 2 Lessons for Today 8. Christians must say and do with regard to their benevolence or any activity of the Christian life (2: 12, 14 -16; Mt. 7: 21 -23; 1 Jn. 3: 17 -18). 9. Good works are a part of the Christian’s life (2: 14 -26; Eph. 2: 10; Tit. 2: 14; 3: 8). Faith and works are not mutually exclusive. Faith is made perfect (complete) when faith actively works to obey God’s word (2: 22; Gal. 5: 6; 1 Thess. 1: 3). 31

James 2 Lessons for Today 10. Salvation by “faith only” is a man-made doctrine that does not come from God’s word (2: 24). Faith alone apart from obedient works is dead (2: 17 -20, 26; Rom. 1: 5; 16: 26). 32

Outline of the Book Faith in Action • Greeting (1: 1) • The Tests of Faith (1: 2 -18) • The Characteristics of Faith (1: 19 – 4: 17) – Faith hears and does (1: 19 -27) – Faith removes discrimination (2: 1 -13) – Faith works (2: 14 -26) – Faith controls the tongue (3: 1 -12) – Faith follows heavenly wisdom (3: 13 -18) – Faith draws near to God (4: 1 -10) – Faith does not judge (4: 11 -12) – Faith is dependent upon God (4: 13 -17) 33

Chapter 3 Themes • Controlling the tongue (3: 1 -12) • Earthly wisdom vs. heavenly wisdom (3: 13 -18) 34

Wise Use of the Tongue A Little Member Used for Good Tongue Mouth Lips Used for Evil 35

James 3 Lessons for Today 1. 36

Chapter 4 Themes 37

James 4 Lessons for Today 1. 38

Outline of the Book • • Faith in Action Greeting (1: 1) The Tests of Faith (1: 2 -18) The Characteristics of Faith (1: 19 – 4: 17) The Responsibilities of Faith (5: 1 -20) – Faith’s duty in riches (5: 1 -6) – Faith’s duty in waiting (5: 7 -11) – Faith’s duty in speech (5: 12) – Faith’s duty in prayer (5: 13 -18) – Faith’s duty in conversion (5: 19 -20) 39

Chapter 5 Themes 40

James 5 Lessons for Today 1. 41