The Study of James: Chapter 2:10-26

July 27, 2009

~Denise Grant

 

James 2:10-11 – “For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. For he who said, ‘Do not commit adultery’, also said, ‘Do not murder.’ If you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker.”  James reminds us that if we’ve broken even one law (The Ten Commandments), we have broken them all and therefore, have sinned!  Ask for forgiveness and then renew your effort to show your faith by your actions.

 

James 2:12-13 – “Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment!” Your sins are forgiven by God’s mercy alone. There’s nothing you can do to earn forgiveness and you certainly can’t forgive others of their sins. But when you withhold forgiveness from others after having received it yourself, it shows you don’t understand or appreciate God’s mercy toward you. “For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.” Matthew 6:14-15.  “Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” Ephesians 4:31-32.

 

James 2:14 – “What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him?” True faith cannot help but transform your life. There are people who claim to be a Christian without ever inviting Christ into their hearts; never turning their lives completely over to Him and have no personal relationship with Christ. Similarly, a wealth of people exist, who attend church on Sundays - for every wrong reason. Just because you have been brought up with a belief in God, the Bible, the Ten Commandments, or even to attend church - does not make you a Christian. Intellectual assent (an agreement with a set of Christian teachings) is incomplete faith.

 

James 2:15-17 – “Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. 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? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.” Living the way God wants you to live does not earn your way into heaven either, but it does show that your commitment to God is real. Godly conduct is not a substitute for, but a verification of your faith in Christ.

 

James 2:18 – “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.” You are saved by faith in Christ -not by the good things you do. While it’s true your good works can never earn your salvation, true faith always results in a changed life and good works. After all, even demons know who Jesus is - but they don’t obey Him “You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that – and shudder.” James 2:19. True faith involves a commitment of your whole self to God.

 

James 2:20-24 – “You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless? Was not our ancestor Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. 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. You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone.” James says Abraham was declared good because of what he did, and Paul says he was declared good because of what he believed – “What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather, discovered in this matter? If, in fact, Abraham was justified by works, he had something to boast about – but not before God. What does the Scripture say? ‘Abraham believed God and it was credited to him as righteousness’. Now when a man works, his wages are not credited to him as a gift, but as an obligation. However, to the man who does not work but trusts God who justifies the wicked, his faith is credited as righteousness.”  Romans 4:1-5. James and Paul are not opposing one another, but complementing each other. Belief brings your salvation; and active obedience demonstrates that your belief is genuine.

 

James 2:25-26 – “In 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? As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.” When Israel’s spies came to Jericho, Rahab hid them and helped them escape (read Joshua 2). This demonstrated her faith in God’s purpose for Israel. As a result, she and her family were saved when the city was destroyed. Even a prostitute can turn their life around and be used of God. Hebrews 11:31 “By faith the prostitute, Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient.”

 

My Grandmother Vaughn – a Godly pastor’s wife - used to say: “What you say and do – should mesh.  What you say you will do – should be”.

 

Heavenly Father,

 

     It is my hearts’ deepest desire to follow You. I give You praise for the work You have started in me.  Help me mirror You by my actions and deeds so my life is pleasing to You in every way. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Denise Grant - Just "clay" in the Master Potter's hands.

 

"If we ever forget that we are one nation under God, then we will be a nation gone under." ~Ronald Reagan

 

“If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land."  2 Chronicles 7:14