Faith That Works

Although there is some debate over who actually wrote this book the best fit is the brother of Jesus....

[1] Ellsworth, R. (2009). Opening up James (p. 18). Leominster: Day One Publications.

VIDEO: JesusLilleBro

The book of James was written by the half-brother of Jesus. During Jesus’s public ministry, James did not accept him as the Messiah (). His unbelief came to a screeching halt when Jesus appeared to him as the risen Lord ().

During Jesus’s public ministry, James did not accept him as the Messiah () - For not even his brothers believed in him... His unbelief came to a screeching halt when Jesus appeared to him as the risen Lord ().

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.. His unbelief came to a screeching halt when Jesus appeared to him as the risen Lord ().

We know from the book of Acts that as Peter began to move among the churches and various Jewish communities surrounding Jerusalem - James became a more prominent Leader in the Jerusalem Church -

A summary of his teachings - circulated among churches

The Book of James is basically a Summary of his teaching...

James 1:1 ESV

James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes in the Dispersion: Greetings.

He wrote from Jerusalem to Jewish believers living throughout the Roman empire - may who had left Jerusalem because of persecution. There was a second wave of Jewish Christians who left during the persecution instigated by Herod Agrippa I ().

Canonical Context: The book of James is considered to be the earliest of all the New Testament epistles. It was probably written sometime between ad 45 and 50.

James became a Leader in the Jerusalem Church

After all isn’t this 2018 - we’re living in a time where we have unprecedented access to information and education,

In fact, my job here is getting more difficult because if I make a mistake or quote the wrong stat - you can fact check in seconds…

So why would we take the time navigate some ancient book when we have a world of up-to-date information at our finger tips....

We have knowledge - we have education (many of you have far more that I do) - we have facts… But there is a growing hunger in our world for something more … #eat together day - Jordan Peterson’s 12 rules for life - there is a growing hunger and desire for wisdom...

He wrote from Jerusalem to Jewish believers who had been scattered by persecution. It is most likely that this was the persecution instigated by Herod Agrippa I ().

Not like many other letters - this is a summary of many of his teachings - circulated among clusters of Jewish Christians who now find themselves living in a very different environment - Some of you here today know what that’s like - you’re feeling the pressure of being in a different culture far from home…

Purpose / Intention Statement: James writes to give wisdom to believers who are under considerable cultural pressure and persecution for continuing to live distinctly as people of genuine faith in Jesus

James understands that the true test of faith isn’t whether or not your can answer theological questions in bible study, or if you can quote scripture and sing hymns when the church gathers - but whether or not your faith works in the real world...

Wisdom is ...

and for calling wanderers back to the true faith.

These wise principles from James mess with our everyday lives they point out bad attitudes and behaviors, they warn us of potential problems… But James isn’t simply presenting some moral system to live by, he’s not giving us 12 rules for life and saying become a better person…

That way of thinking is opposite to the Gospel - it contradicts the good news in Jesus Christ - which is why some people have criticized James as teaching something different from what Paul teaches in books like Galatians and Ephesians where he says,

(ESV) 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

But James doesn’t contradict PAUL at all - this isn’t a different message - James IS NOT giving us wise teachings for becoming a better person - - this is wisdom for living as people who have been MADE BETTER BY GOD’S GRACE…

English Standard Version Chapter 1

18 Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.

opening section of James is about facing trials and temptations and he wraps up the section with these words…

James 1:16–18 ESV

Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.

James is reminding his readers of who God really is and who we are because of what he’s done.

It is during trials and temptations that we are prone to forgetting who God is and sometimes questioning God's Character

It is during trials and temptations that we can forget who we are because of what God has done for us.

we are recipiants of God’s grace - Of his own will he brought us forth = new birth. A new begining.

- His word was spoken to us and something clicked - a door opened deep within, His grace broke through in our lives, - all of a sudden we could see what we couldn't see before - that we need Jesus - that in him alone there is forgiveness and new life… and in repentance and belief we became his own redeemed people - a new creation -

James is reminding his readers of who they really are! They are recipients of God’s grace - born a new creation in Christ!

and in repentance and belief we became his own redeemed people.

This is wisdom for living in the new reality of who we are in Christ -

The wisdom he gives is about living up to a our true value, our true identity, our true destiny… Because of God’s Grace... We are already valuable (Jesus paid for us with his own blood) we are already his beloved children (God has made us sons through Jesus ) we are already citizens of heaven (the Spirit is given as a guarantee that there is a place reserved for us in God’s kingdom)

But we forget ---

But James calls us to true faith - true faith isn’t just a few practices we participate in once or twice a week, true faith is not simply a few doctrinal statements that we've memorized and know how to defend, true faith isn’t positive thinking or self-confidence or warm fuzzy feelings - true faith is an all consuming trust and love for Jesus that compels us to live in surrender to and dependence on him.

BONUS: NOT USED

e to the Gospel – which says that it is Jesus who makes us holy – not our efforts… If you are in Christ you are HOLY God has Made you Holy – that’s why you don’t just live like you used to- that’s why you pursue a different way of life because you have already been set aside for a purpose – to be his servant missionaries – to do that we are to live differently before ‘outsiders’

This way of thinking is opposite to the Gospel – which says that it is Jesus who makes us holy – not our efforts… If you are in Christ you are HOLY God has Made you Holy – that’s why you don’t just live like you used to- that’s why you pursue a different way of life because you have already been set aside for a purpose – to be his servant missionaries – to do that we are to live differently before ‘outsiders’

Because the teaching of James is so practical the book has often been criticized as something that contradicts Paul’s teaching in books like

That way of thinking is opposite to the Gospel - it contradicts the good news in Jesus Christ - which is why some people have criticized James as teaching something different from what Paul teaches in books like Galatians and Ephesians where he says,

(ESV) 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

it contradicts

But James doesn’t contradict PAUL at all - this isn’t a different message - James IS NOT giving us wise teachings for becoming a better person - - this is wisdom for living as people who have been MADE BETTER BY GOD’S GRACE…

James gives us wisdom for living in the new reality of who we are in Christ

Grace he is giving wise teachings for living as people who have been made better....

All due respect to Martin Luther but James IS NOT giving us wise teachings for becoming a better person - he is giving wise teachings for living as people who have already been made better....

Achieving righteousness by following a set of principles - contradicts the main message of the Bible - that Jesus alone can make us righteous…

James is saying, to God’s Grace…

But the way does that is by pointing to Jesus – God’s story and plan for us in JESUS – calling us to believe he is our only hope – that his grace is enough – that he has obeyed on our behalf – that being with him is greater, better, richer, more glorious, ….

Than blazing our own trail (the path of our own making)