James 2

Jas 2:1-13 NASB  My brethren, do not hold your faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ with an attitude of personal favoritism.  (2)  For if a man comes into your assembly with a gold ring and dressed in fine clothes, and there also comes in a poor man in dirty clothes,  (3)  and you pay special attention to the one who is wearing the fine clothes, and say, “You sit here in a good place, “and you say to the poor man, “You stand over there, or sit down by my footstool,”  (4)  have you not made distinctions among yourselves, and become judges with evil motives?  (5)  Listen, my beloved brethren: did not God choose 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. Is it not the rich who oppress you and personally drag you into court?  (7)  Do they not blaspheme the fair name by which you have been called?  (8)  If, however, you are fulfilling the royal law according to the Scripture, “YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF,” you are doing well.  (9)  But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors.  (10)  For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all.  (11)  For He who said, “DO NOT COMMIT ADULTERY,” also said, “DO NOT COMMIT MURDER.” Now if you do not commit adultery, but do commit murder, you have become a transgressor of the law.  (12)  So speak and so act as those who are to be judged by the law of liberty.  (13)  For judgment will be merciless to one who has shown no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment.

  • Who is James speaking to? (James 1:1)
  • What specific practice is James railing against?  Why do you think he highlights this specific behavior?
  • Why does James say that believers behaving this way are committing sin? – at least 3 points.
  • What words does James use to describe the law?  Discuss what that means? (2 terms)
  • What is James’ final point about our behavior and its implication?

Jas 2:14-26 NASB  What use is it, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but he has no works? Can that faith save him?  (15)  If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food,  (16)  and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and be filled,” and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that?  (17)  Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself.  (18)  But someone may well say, “You have faith and I have works; show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works.”  (19)  You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder.  (20)  But are you willing to recognize, you foolish fellow, that faith without works is useless?  (21)  Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up Isaac his son on the altar?  (22)  You see that faith was working with his works, and as a result of the works, faith was perfected;  (23)  and the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “AND ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS RECKONED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS,” and he was called the friend of God.  (24)  You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone.  (25)  In the same way, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way?  (26)  For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.

  • Verses 14-16: What is James’ point in these examples?  How would you summarize these verses in your own words?
  • Verse 17 – What do  you see in Verse 17?
  • Gen 15:1-6 NASB  After these things the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision, saying, “Do not fear, Abram, I am a shield to you; Your reward shall be very great.”  (2)  Abram said, “O Lord GOD, what will You give me, since I am childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?”  (3)  And Abram said, “Since You have given no offspring to me, one born in my house is my heir.”  (4)  Then behold, the word of the LORD came to him, saying, “This man will not be your heir; but one who will come forth from your own body, he shall be your heir.”  (5)  And He took him outside and said, “Now look toward the heavens, and count the stars, if you are able to count them.” And He said to him, “So shall your descendants be.”  (6)  Then he believed in the LORD; and He reckoned it to him as righteousness.
  • Rom 4:2-4 NASB  For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God.  (3)  For what does the Scripture say? “ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS CREDITED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS.”  (4)  Now to the one who works, his wage is not credited as a favor, but as what is due.
    • Jas 2:23-24 NASB  and the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “AND ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS RECKONED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS,” and he was called the friend of God.  (24)  You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone.
    • Testing Faith:  Exodus 16:4, Exodus 20:20, Deu 8:2, Deu 8:16, Deu 13:3.  What do these verses reveal about why God tests his people?  Why do you think He needs to test his people?
    • What is James point in referencing the story of Abraham?
    • What was Paul’s point?
    • Are they contradictory?