James helps us see ourselves as we are. Faith or no faith? Hearers or doers?

We all need to examine ourselves. Beliefs. Attitudes. Actions.

Avoid partiality, 2:1 Negative command. The Faith of our Lord, Acts 6:7; 13:7-12

Partiality & the problem, 2:2-4 Specific behavior addressed. AAttendance. MModesty. LLanguage.

Partiality & the problem, 2:2-4 Favoritism. RRich over poor, poor over rich. WWhite over black, black over white. MMen over women, women over men. Problem: Judges.

Contradicts God and common sense, 2:5-7 God’s view, 2:5; 1 Cor. 1:26-29; Mt. 5:3 Common sense, 2:6, 7 RRich are ruthless. RRich are irreverent, Acts 11:26 EExceptions, Job 42:10; Mt. 27:57

Keep the royal law, 2:8; Mt. 7:12 Love the poor. Love the rich. Love all.

Partiality is sin, 2:9 Transgression, 1 Jn. 3:4 Convicted by the law. NNot a man. NNot the “church of Christ.”

One transgression makes us guilty, 2:10 Circumcision, Gal. 5:1-4 Idolatry, Mk. 10:21, 22 Attendance. Modesty. Language.

There is One source of authority, 2:11 God gives all the commands!

We will be judged by the law of liberty, 2:12 New Testament, Jas. 1:25; Rom. 8:2 Judged, Jn. 12:48

Mercy triumphs over judgment, 2:13 Be merciful, Mt. 5:7 No mercy for others, no mercy for you.

Can faith alone save, 2:14? Claim of faith. No works. Faith alone, 2:17, 18, 20, 24, 26

Six arguments why faith alone cannot save, 2:15-26 Pronouncement, not performance, 2:15-17; 1 Jn. 3:16-18 Claim, not conduct, 2:18; Mt. 21:28-32 Belief, not behavior, 2:19, 20; Mk. 1:23, 24

Six arguments why faith alone cannot save, 2:15-26 Action, not assertion, 2:21-24; Gen. 15:6; 22 Deed, not declaration, 2:25; Josh. 2:1-21; 6:22, 23 Work, not words, 2:26

James helps us see ourselves as we are. Faith or no faith? Hearers or doers?

We all need to examine ourselves. Beliefs. Attitudes. Actions.