James Chapter 2 Part 2

 

©lightwritingmatters 2015

Theme Scripture: --James 4:17 “Therefore, if one knows how to do what is right and yet does not do it, it is a sin for him.”

Theme Scripture Chapter One:

Faith Without Works Is Dead: “For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.” – James 2:26

The statement above to the eye of one not ‘born again’ [John 3:3-8] may confuse the person who is a ‘belief’ only believer. Or one who may have a passing understanding that the gospel is a combination of ‘believing and faith’ together with repentance but who does not believe, nor do they have faith in the subject of the gospel, who is Jesus. And they may not be inclined to repent of their sin. The greek word for ‘believe’ is ‘pisteuō’ [Strong’s # G4100] while the greek word for ‘faith’ is pistis [Strong’s #G4102].

This needs to be fully understood. For example only: You may believe each time you turn the light switch on there will be illumination as a result. Yet, one who is experienced in life does not have ‘faith’ illumination will always be the result. Why? Because many things can happen that will prevent the light from turning on. It may have burned out. Maybe the circuit breaker is off. It may remain unlit because electricity to the area is off, and so on. So you believe, maybe more habitually than mindfully, the light will turn on. Some mistake that habit as faith but each time it does not respond as you believe you must rectify your problem with ‘faith’ because of a major set back. In time, you turn on the switch knowing it may not work one/some time. 

Faith is based on something remaining unchanged so as not to challenge that in which you have placed your faith. For instance, the Holy Word of GOD states that HIS Word does not go forth from HIS mouth and returns void. It WILL be what it was intended to be.-- Isa 55:11 [Additional scriptures Romans 11:29; Titus 1:2; Hebrews 6:17 & 13:8.] There is  a rich history, by way of the Bible, of instances when GOD foretold something and it transpired, regardless of the impossibility of the event/incident foretold from a human perspective. It builds faith in the ‘believer’. In fact, the Apostle Paul writes to Christians, “For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.: – Romans 15:4. 

FYI, the Bible definition of ‘faith’ is found at Hebrews 11:1 “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Do you see the connection between faith and hope? Paul basically says the Bible provides us with sufficient evidence to have a solid faith in GOD’s ability to deliver on HIS Word, which includes promises. Faith gives birth to hope. Further, there is this support: “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” Romans 10:17 [Read the full context of this Romans 10:14-17. See the logical progress from belief to faith?] 

14 What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? 17 Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

This is easy to follow as an example, right? Common sense really. In vs 15 we find a hypothetical situation. The brother or sister is in need but the ‘fix’ is to wish them well and send them on their way. But where is the evidence of a ‘Christian’ faith? There is no evidence of ‘loving your neighbor as yourself’ because the situation was unaffected by the well wishes of the fellow believer. No works born from the faith in the one sending them away. Beyond that, consider someone might assist the person with their needs from an outpouring of humanity completely detached from a belief in GOD, a god or any religious inclination. You need not believe in anything but humanity and be moved to ‘work’ at fixing the need for food and clothing issues. How much more should a ‘believer’ manifest their faith by working at providing the needs to the one who has no clothes and no food? 

18 But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. 19 You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble! 20 But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead? 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? 22 Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect? 23 And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed in God, and it was  accounted to him for righteousness.” And he was called the friend of God. 24 You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.

Notice the final point made by James is vs 24. Abraham was justified by works and not his faith only. Works come from the abundance of the Christ’s Spirit in us. We have gifts of the Spirit and we should manifest the fruitage of the Spirit. 1 Corinthians 12/Galatians 5:22,23

25 Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way?

Another great example. She already manifested a tacit faith in the GOD of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob when she expressed concern for her safety because of the miracles Joshua’s GOD had performed. Read Joshua chapter 2. Not only does she explain how she knows their GOD but also she strikes an agreement with them to protect her and her family. They commit to the agreement but give her a bit of responsibility on her part. See verses Joshua 2:17-20. Thus, by a combination of her faith and the works she was responsible to secure her family's safety. 

26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

Totally straight forward. From the moment you are born again, your faith grows through the first works – “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” –Romans 12:1,2 

Presentation of ourselves a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God. Nonconformance with the world. Transformation and renewal of our minds. All works attending our faith.

Lastly, this finishes Chapter 2. Notice how the theme scripture is still applicable. If we know what is right and we do not do it it is a sin. James only makes that statement once but it is equally applicable in both Chapters 1 and 2.

Chapter 3 part 1 will be posted August 15, 2023, GOD willing.

Email questions: lightwritingmatters@gmail.com

©lightwritingmatters 2015

 NOTICE: If you are feeling inclined or feeling led to want Jesus as your Savior, your leader, your King, your source of Peace and Joy but are feeling woefully inadequate, uninformed on how best to get to know HIM, or find yourself at wit’s end because you believe yourself trapped and in need of GOD, please know Jesus stands ready to welcome you with HIS Holy Spirit. Believe these words: “16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. “—John 3:16

“Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, 20 and that He may send Jesus Christ, who was preached to you before, 21 whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things, which God has spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began.” – Acts 3:19-20

“Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born [a]again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” 4 Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” 5 Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.” – John 3:3-8

If you need help, please feel free to leave a comment and I will respond.  †

DISCLAIMER: The thoughts published on this blog, in total, are the opinions, thoughts and considerations of the writer/author of every post. Images are sourced from various places, mostly from travels done by the author and therefore the sole property of the author.  

Book of James Deep Dive Chapter 2 Part 1

 

©lightwritingmatters 2015

Theme Scripture: --James 4:17 “Therefore, if one knows how to do what is right and yet does not do it, it is a sin for him.”

Theme Scripture Chapter One:. “ 12 So speak and so do as those who will be judged by the law of liberty. 13 For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.”--James 2:12-13

We will get into the reason these two verses conclude the first 13 verses of chapter 2 at the end. Please focus on ‘law of liberty’ and how our liberty affects our judgment. Please also consider the Theme Scripture and how in the section ‘Beware of Personal Favoritism’ explicitly supports the truth spoken in the Theme Scripture.

Beware of Personal Favoritism

“1 My brethren, do not hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with partiality.” ← This statement is very cogent when we understand what the phrase ‘the Lord of glory’ carries as a thought. From Vine's Expository: “Supernatural, emanating from God (as in the Shekinah "glory," in the pillar of cloud and in the Holy of Holies, Ex 16:10; 25:22) In essence, it describes exactly who the Lord Jesus Christ is and from whom HE comes. HE comes from the ‘GLORY of GOD’. Jesus, like HIS Father, is not partial. Scripture states GOD is partial to neither Jew or Greek, free man or slave, male or female! [Gal 3:28] If you read your Bible you know about the ’Glory of God’ from when Moses came down off Mount Sinai after beholding GOD as HE passed by Moses. Moses' face was so brilliant when he returned to the Israelites waiting for him he covered his face often except when he went in to speak with GOD! [Ex 34:35] What a powerful essence of GOD. So James is saying we cannot hold a faith in Jesus Christ, who is from the ‘Lord of glory’ and be partial. It is incongruent with who GOD is! 

James begins to explain why he opens Chapter 2 with the statement above. “2 For if there should come into your assembly a man with gold rings, in fine apparel, and there should also come in a poor man in filthy clothes, 3 and you pay attention to the one wearing the fine clothes and say to him, “You sit here in a good place,” and say to the poor man, “You stand there,” or, “Sit here at my footstool,” 4 have you not shown partiality among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts?

Have you yourself ever participated in such an activity of partiality? Have you observed it in a church you attend/attended? We must be independent of those who manifest partiality in this matter completely  aligned with the GOD OF GLORY.  Do we or will we reverently hold that as a footstep follower of Jesus, our King, we must eradicate any vestige of partiality from our hearts/minds/spirits. 

Notice the question James asks in vs 4 “have you not shown partiality among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts?” Manifestly, it should cause us to repel from such thinking and/or behavior! 

Read on to see how James builds this out further.. 

5 Listen, my beloved brethren: Has God not chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him? 6 But you have dishonored the poor man. Do not the rich oppress you and drag you into the courts? 7 Do they not blaspheme that noble name by which you are called?

Woah! Think about what James just juxtapositioned to the reader:

• God chose the poor to be rich in faith and heirs to the kingdom to those who love him.

• If  you dishonor the poor and you consider yourself a Christian then James tells it like it is: You blaspheme the noble name of which you are called. CHRISTian.

Truly meditate on this over and over in prayer until the behavior is gone and you no longer see things through the eyes of partiality.

8 If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you do well; 9 but if you show partiality, you commit sin, and are convicted by the law as transgressors.

Oops! AGAIN James speaks directly: If you practice loving your neighbor yay for you!  But if you show partiality, what? You commit sin, and are CONVICTED as a law breaker. So, be diligent in praying for that sin to be removed from your heart, mind and spirit.

 10 For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all. 11 For He who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not murder.” Now if you do not commit adultery, but you do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law. 12 So speak and so do as those who will be judged by the law of liberty.

What exactly is the ‘law of liberty’? Vine’s Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words says this: “(e) "the law of liberty," Jam 1:25; 2:12, a term comprehensive of all the Scriptures, not a "law" of compulsion enforced from without, but meeting with ready obedience through the desire and delight of the renewed being who is subject to it; into it he looks, and in its teaching he delights; he is "under law (ennomos, "in law," implying union and subjection) to Christ," ← Italics for emphasis by author of this blog.

Liberty is our purchase by Christ’s blood and no other person thereafter has a claim on us. We are ‘free indeed’. [John 8:36]  

 13 For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

We are faced now with the immutable fact of being ‘freed by our Lord’ and all of that is based first on GOD’s Mercy, Christ’s shed blood, Christ’s resurrection and our repentance and acceptance of Jesus as our Lord! Since we have freedom because of the mercy of GOD how could we then withhold mercy from anyone else?

So what is mercy? From Vine’s Expository Dictionary “"is the outward manifestation of pity; it assumes need on the part of him who receives it, and resources adequate to meet the need on the part of him who shows it. It is used”(b) of men; for since God is merciful to them, He would have them show mercy to one another’

Reader, we have no excuse. If we glory in the freedom of Christ and are blessed in HIS merciful sacrifice for us, how could we possibly withhold mercy from another? The only restriction is if there is a need for another but the one who wishes to help lacks resources to provide the need. When talking about our attitude towards others we should especially  possess NO sense of partiality between those who are poor and those who are not. It is thus absolutely incumbent on us to pray, meditate, practice until it is no longer part of our person to do away with partiality.

As a reminder, please remember the theme scripture, ‘if you know what is right and do not do it is sin!

Part 2 due August 2, 2023

©lightwritingmatters 2015

NOTICE: If you are feeling inclined or feeling led to want Jesus as your Savior, your leader, your King, your source of Peace and Joy but are feeling woefully inadequate, uninformed on how best to get to know HIM, or find yourself at wit’s end because you believe yourself trapped and in need of GOD, please know Jesus stands ready to welcome you with HIS Holy Spirit. Believe these words: “16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. “—John 3:16

“Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, 20 and that He may send Jesus Christ, who was preached to you before, 21 whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things, which God has spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began.” – Acts 3:19-20

“Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born [a]again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” 4 Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” 5 Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.” – John 3:3-8

If you need help, please feel free to leave a comment and I will respond.  †

DISCLAIMER: The thoughts published on this blog, in total, are the opinions, thoughts and considerations of the writer/author of every post. Images are sourced from various places, mostly from travels done by the author and therefore the sole property of the author.

 

 

©lightwritingmatters 2015

Theme Scripture: --James 4:17 “Therefore, if one knows how to do what is right and yet does not do it, it is a sin for him.”

Theme Scripture Chapter One: 21 Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. – James 1:27

In essence, we must no longer be smudged with dirt, must no longer wreak of whatever defiles us and we must humble ourselves to receive the Word of GOD which HE plants in our hearts which is able to save our soul. According to the Holy Word of GOD when we repent of sin and freely invite JESUS into our heart because we have faith in HIS saving and redeeming sacrifice, our heart undergoes a transformation. “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” – Romans 12:2

To the body of Chapter One: 

Doers—Not Hearers Only

Following is key information for anyone and everyone!

“22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; 24 for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was.”

Imagine wanting to plant vegetables for food. You watch a video on how to plant and nurture with keen interest. You have the plant, you want to enjoy the fruit it has the potential to produce but you do not follow the instructions in the video. You now ‘know’ how to do it but if you do not do it what good is the knowledge? Knowing GOD, knowing our SAVIOR, knowing the Bible and knowing the HOLY work of the HOLY SPIRIT is knowledge learned. But if like the veggie, you do not follow the instructions for the potential fruit of the Holy Spirit then all you have is knowledge. And vs 24 is so correct. What is the saying in the world, ‘if you don’t use it, you lose it’? Same with Bible knowledge. Having the knowledge but doing nothing with it will only in time fade from our ‘memory/knowing’ and eventually not only disappear but could become lost and no longer influential. 

Here is a fact some believe: If you have been born again you are saved and the Holy Spirit lives in you. This is true. Exactly what Jesus said in John 3:3! Some believe you cannot be ‘un’saved. It is true that belief/faith in Jesus as having been put to death, resurrected to life along with a repented heart equals salvation. Nothing we do adds to that salvation. That salvation, the presence of Christ’s Holy Spirit in our hearts should continuously not only help us acquire knowledge but also remind us to DO something with that knowledge, primarily live it and share it with those who do not yet have the ‘good news’ of salvation by Jesus! But, if you become lazy, no longer listening to the urging of the Holy Spirit then like any other thing in our human body our saved heart could fade to lethargy to the point of entropy. Entropy is ‘the gradual decline into disorder’.  The  lack of using our knowledge can leave you so very vulnerable to sin. The consequences can be grave. Does it mean you are no longer saved? Only GOD knows that answer. But, the goal of the enemy of GOD has his eyes set on taking every believer out. He could see the disinterested inactive heart like a vegetable plant that never got planted and cared for in the garden to produce fruit. After exposure to long days without nutrients from the ground or rain water, no protection from bugs or disease it wilts and if not rescued by action may likely perish. It is not that the ‘work’ of keeping our faith strong brings us salvation. No, only Jesus does that. But, that salvation generally produces the work to keep your heart working eternally. Again, salvation comes from faith in Jesus and a repented heart. That fact should motivate us to be so grateful we do not become lazy in our walk with the Lord. In every lifetime together with circumstances changes can occur for the moment. Check our this observation from King Solomon: “I returned and saw under the sun that—

The race is not to the swift,

Nor the battle to the strong,

Nor bread to the wise,

Nor riches to men of understanding,

Nor favor to men of skill;

But time and chance happen to them all.” [Italics and bold added for emphasis]- Ecclesiastes 9:11 

We must stay the course, relationally with our Savior, pleading always as King David did: “Teach me Your way, O LORD; I will walk in Your truth;Unite my heart to fear Your name.” — Psalm 86:11 NOTICE the action on David’s part – WALK in YOUR truth/Unite my heart/Fear Your Name. Do any of those indicate a sedentary faith? If this is difficult here is an excellent prayer King David wrote that may be of assistance to all of us. “Teach me to do Your will, For You are my God;Your Spirit is good. Lead me in the land of uprightness.” – Psalm 143:10 There is nothing in his words from three thousand years ago which is out of step for the Christian walk today. Nothing!    

 25 But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.”

There is evidence of being a doer of works which will be a blessing to those who are busy in the Lord. Busy is a subjective term. Each person has their life and being busy in the Lord will look differently from Christian to Christian but even if it is with all your might and it is really nothing in comparison to others, the key is ‘doing’ not ‘hearing’ only. The defining scripture of a doing Christian is found here: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.” Note the final admonition by the Apostle Paul after the definition of fruitage of the Spirit. “If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.” Again, activities, living, walking in the Spirit! 

26 If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one’s religion is useless. 27 Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.

And here comes the one thought that gets stuck in the craw of many who feel they are ‘religious’. Just the saying ‘I am religious’ can be a deception we have fallen for and should be well evaluated each time we think or say it. What does that even mean to me, why am I justifying myself with that statement? What do I think it counts to me as credit?Remember, salvation is from Jesus. Our lives living in HIM should be Holy  Spirit driven which produces its own fruit. Living a life directed by Jesus’ Holy Spirit will be evident to those looking on and they will themselves define it as you being religious. That is what is meant by James “Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.”

That is it for James chapter One review. Please do your own research on all of James chapter one and see what the Holy Spirit reveals to you from your study. 

Remember the theme scripture too: “Therefore, if one knows how to do what is right and yet does not do it, it is a sin for him.” We will get to a deeper look at this when we review chapter four of the Book of James.

Chapter two should be posted July 18, 2023, GOD Willing. 

©lightwritingmatters 2015

 NOTICE: If you are feeling inclined or feeling led to want Jesus as your Savior, your leader, your King, your source of Peace and Joy but are feeling woefully inadequate, uninformed on how best to get to know HIM, or find yourself at wit’s end because you believe yourself trapped and in need of GOD, please know Jesus stands ready to welcome you with HIS Holy Spirit. Believe these words: “16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. “—John 3:16

“Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, 20 and that He may send Jesus Christ, who was preached to you before, 21 whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things, which God has spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began.” – Acts 3:19-20

“Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born [a]again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” 4 Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” 5 Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.” – John 3:3-8

If you need help, please feel free to leave a comment and I will respond.  †

DISCLAIMER: The thoughts published on this blog, in total, are the opinions, thoughts and considerations of the writer/author of every post. Images are sourced from various places, mostly from travels done by the author and therefore the sole property of the author.