BOOK OF JAMES (2)

MAIN POINTS OF CHAPTER 2

The Sin of Partiality (vs. 1-13)

Faith Without Works is Dead (vs. 14-26)

James 2:1–4 ESV

My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory. For if a man wearing a gold ring and fine clothing comes into your assembly, and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in, and if you pay attention to the one who wears the fine clothing and say, “You sit here in a good place,” while you say to the poor man, “You stand over there,” or, “Sit down at my feet,” have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?

“respecter of persons” is one word in the Greek (prosopolepsia) and defined as “to accept or respect the person of any one, to pay regard to external appearance, condition, circumstances, etc. to show partiality” (Moulton 353).

Galatians 3:27–28 ESV

For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

gal 3

1. What is the incorrect way to judge another person?

Answer: By their outward appearance

2. How then are we to judge?

John 7:24 ESV

Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment.”

3. When you show partiality what are you doing?

jn 7

James 2:9 ESV

But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors.

James 2

James 2:4 ESV

have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?

James 2

Ecclesiastes 5:19 ESV

Everyone also to whom God has given wealth and possessions and power to enjoy them, and to accept his lot and rejoice in his toil—this is the gift of God.

4. Why is it sinful to judge a person on the amount of wealth they have?

Ecclesiastes 5:19 ESV

Everyone also to whom God has given wealth and possessions and power to enjoy them, and to accept his lot and rejoice in his toil—this is the gift of God.

E

Ecclesiastes 1:1–3 ESV

The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem. Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher, vanity of vanities! All is vanity. What does man gain by all the toil at which he toils under the sun?

James 2:5–9 ESV

Listen, my beloved brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him? But you have dishonored the poor man. Are not the rich the ones who oppress you, and the ones who drag you into court? Are they not the ones who blaspheme the honorable name by which you were called? If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well. But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors.

James 2:5–7 ESV

Listen, my beloved brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him? But you have dishonored the poor man. Are not the rich the ones who oppress you, and the ones who drag you into court? Are they not the ones who blaspheme the honorable name by which you were called?

James 2:

5. Who has God chosen in the world to be rich in faith? Why?

God has chosen those who are poor.

Those who do not have much of anything in this life can only look to God for their help. These people do not experience the luxuries of this life and thereby look forward to the luxuries in heaven.

James 2:10–13 ESV

For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it. For he who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not murder.” If you do not commit adultery but do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law. So speak and so act as those who are to be judged under the law of liberty. For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

James 10:

6. In this instance, what are the 3 sinful things James states the rich have done to Christians?

1.oppress you 2.drag you before the judgment seats 3.they blaspheme the honorable name by which you are called

James 2

7. How should we treat others according to the “royal” law?

You shall love your neighbor as yourself.

James 2:10–13 ESV

For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it. For he who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not murder.” If you do not commit adultery but do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law. So speak and so act as those who are to be judged under the law of liberty. For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

Matt 5

Matthew 5:42 ESV

Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you.

Matthew 5:48 ESV

You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Faith Without Works is Dead

Matt 5:

James 2:14-

James 2:14–17 ESV

What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

James 1:22 ESV

But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.

8. What is defined as a “dead” faith?

Faith by itself with no evidence of works is a dead faith.

titus 3

Titus 3:3–5 ESV

For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another. But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit,

Ephesians 2:8–9 ESV

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

Romans 5:8 ESV

but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

James 2:18–26 ESV

But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder! Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless? Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works; and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”—and he was called a friend of God. You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. And in the same way was not also Rahab the prostitute justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way? For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead.

9. How does one really know if true faith exists in an individual?

10. How does God know whether one truly believes Him?

John 3:36 ESV

Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.

Abraham and Rahab stand as examples of ones whose obedience evidenced their Professed Faith

11. How was Abraham justified by works?

James 2:21 ESV

Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar?

James 2:22–23 ESV

You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works; and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”—and he was called a friend of God.

James 2:

12. How was Rahab justified by works?

James 2:25 ESV

And in the same way was not also Rahab the prostitute justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way?

Hebrews 11:31 ESV

By faith Rahab the prostitute did not perish with those who were disobedient, because she had given a friendly welcome to the spies.

Heb 11:

13. When the spirit leaves the body, what happens to the body?

14. When faith departs from obedience, is there any justification?