Faith Defined - James

Review background on Epistle of James.

1. Is there a difference between a Christian and a churchgoer? If so, what is the difference? James answers this question.

Read James 1:22-25

2. James writes that a person who professes to be a Christian is to be what? Doer of the word. Not what? Hearer of the word.

3. What does James mean by being a “doer of the word?” Curtis preaches the word of God. What does he normally end his sermon with? Application of God’s word. How to do God’s word in the coming week. Why? How many of the 800 or so who listened do so?

4. What does James mean by “hearer of the word?” Person hears Curtis preach. At end of sermon, leaves church and over the next week does not give the sermon another thought. Does not do anything that Curtis preached on from the word of God. Another name for “hearer of the word” is “pew filler.” Why does such a person come to church? Tradition – raised to go to church on Sunday; what a “Christian” does on Sunday; have to in order to stay on God’s “good list.”

5. What illustration does James give of someone who is only a hearer of the word? Read verses 23-24.

6. What does James say will happen to a person who is a doer of the word? Blessed. How? Remember Hebrews 11:6. What are the rewards the author is referring to? rewards/blessings - material, emotional, spiritual, (the gifts of the Spirit – Galatians 5:22) wisdom and knowledge, holiness/godliness, answers to questions. Perseverance to withstand adversity – See James 1:2-4. The more time you spend with God the more rewards/blessings you receive. Ultimate reward is eternal life.

Jesus on the difference between a doer of the word and a hearer of the word – Matthew 7:24-26: Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.

According to Jesus and James, it’s not enough to be a hearer of the Word, one must be a doer.

Read James 2:1-7

7. What did James tell his audience not to do? Prejudice for the rich and against the poor. Emphasize verse 1 – Show prejudice for or against no man if you profess to have faith in Jesus Christ. What example did he give of their failing? Read verses 2-3. Give up to date example.

8. How did members of the church judge who sat where? Appearance; name. Why do you think the people James wrote to showed partiality to the wealthy over the poor? Greed? Seeking influence? Give up to date example. Who will feel more welcomed in our church/receive preferential treatment – Bill Gates or David Crowder? A person wearing a suit, tie, and Dockers pants or a person in a well worn shirt, blue jeans, cheap pair of sneakers, and tatted up arms? Well respected mom of four or a lady with a “bad reputation?” What does James say? WDJD – What did Jesus do? He reached out to both rich and poor, the “good people” and the “bad people.”

Read James 2:8-13

9. According to James, because the audience was practicing prejudice they were committing what? Sin.

10. What commandment were they breaking? Leviticus 19:18; Mark 12:31.

Response of James audience – Coming down on us a little harsh, aren’t you James? So we don’t keep all of the commandments. At least we believe there is a God. That’s all that matters.

Read James 2:14-20

11. After reading verses 14-20, what are the answers to the two questions James asks in verse 14:

a. What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Their faith is worthless. Read verses 17 and 20. The people James was rebuking – the “hearers of the word only” group … they claimed to be Christians (Christ-like). Based on what? We believe in Jesus Christ. We believe he died and was resurrected. OK, so we show prejudice for the rich and against the poor. We don’t feed the hungry. We don’t look after widows and orphans. We still believe in God and His only Son Jesus Christ. As James points out who else believes there is one God? The demons believe and live in fear of that fact. The people James is writing to have no such fear or otherwise they would not be so bold to call themselves Christians and yet commit such egregious sin. Bring up to today. OK, you believe in Jesus Christ. You believe he died and was resurrected. And yet, you live your life not acknowledging that truth. Based on the life you live Mon-Sat., no one would know you were a Christian …. not friends, co-workers, not even your spouse and children. Jesus is nowhere evident in your everyday walk. Consequently, sin is prevalent in your life. Reason why – you are not a doer of the Word.

b. Can that faith save him? No. True faith produces outward evidence of that faith. Read Romans 10:9-10; John 3:16-21; II Corinthians 13:5.

Read James 2:21-26

12. James offers Abraham and Rahab as examples for “faith and works” argument. How did they illustrate the relationship of faith with works?

Abraham – Read Hebrews 11:17-19. If Abraham had refused to obey God’s command to offer Isaac as a sacrifice, of what worth is Abraham’s faith in God and His promise to produce through Abraham a great nation? By obeying God (works), Abraham gave credibility to his faith in God and His promise. See verse 22. By his works, Abraham “justified” his faith. The word “justified” is a legal term. Abraham was on trial to determine if his faith in God was true. God passed judgment in Abraham’s favor based on the evidence – Abraham’s actions/works.

Rahab the harlot – talk about in the next lesson

Many, including church leaders such as Martin Luther, have gotten the wrong impression about James argument regarding faith and works. They believed James was teaching that works are necessary to attain salvation. They call him the anti-Paul because the apostle Paul taught that faith alone, not works, produced salvation. James is not saying that works are necessary to attain salvation. He is saying that works are necessary to provide evidence/proof that one is saved/follower of Jesus. In that respect, Paul and James were in agreement. One of the major themes in Paul’s epistles was living a life based on God’s word. The reason Paul placed a greater emphasis on faith is because the audience he was writing believed works were necessary to ATTAIN salvation. James emphasized works because the audience he was writing to believed that works played no role in one’s faith.

Application

Take time this week to practice II Corinthians 13:5. Meditate upon this verse. Ask yourself this question: If you were put on trial for being a Christian, what would the verdict be? Guilty of being a Christian or not guilty of being a Christian? Do you have proof (works) that you can offer as evidence to convict you of being a Christian? Can you call witnesses (co-workers, spouse, friends, children) who will testify on your behalf that you are guilty of being a Christian? Would you be “justified” as Abraham and Rahab?