The book of James

Summer Workshops

James Ch 2Discrimination and

faith

The book of James

Overview of James

Ch 1 Ch 2 Ch 3 Ch 4 Ch5

James addresses •the pride of the rich 1:9-11 2:1-9 4:13-17 •persecution by the rich 2:6-7 5:6 •pay withheld by the rich 5:4-6

He also addresses •those tempted to retaliate with violent acts 2:11 4:2 •or words 1:19-20, 26 3:1-12 4:11-12 5:9

He responds with •a call to wisdom 1:5 3:14-18 •faith 1:6-8 2:14-26•and patient endurance 1:9-11 5:7-11

Paul Rom 3:2828 For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from observing the law.

James2:2424 You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone.

Or KJV: 28Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.

What do we have to believe to be saved?

Is there some minimum set of beliefs?

What are they?

Can we do what we like and be saved?

Are there some minimum set of behaviors that we must do to be saved?

What are they?

Faith Deeds

The Green house effect

Different:

•Issues - Jewish laws and Christian lifestyle•Contexts - how to know and how to show •Emphases - root and fruit

14 What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? 15 Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. 16 If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it?

17 In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. 18 But someone will say, "You have faith; I have deeds."       Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do.

Faith Deeds

Jean-Francois Gravelet

Blondin (1824-1897)

19 You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.

 

20 You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless? 21 Was not our ancestor Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? 22 You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. 23 And the scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness," and he was called God's friend. 24 You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone.

 25In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction? 26As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.

Gordon Spykman:

'We are indeed justified by faith alone.

But faith does not remain alone.

It works.' Reformational Theology