James 2:14-26

Intro:

Recap on last week

v. 8-13

Showing impartiality in our love and mercifulness is an aspect of the identity-based action/living put on all Christians.

Observations:

v. 14, saving faith is not unresponsive to the will of God

v. 15-16, James provides a practical example of such unresponsiveness; when God says to love our neighbors as ourselves, how is such love fulfilled by “thoughts and prayers”

v. 17, James solidifies his point from his questions in v. 14

v. 18, James anticipates a rebuttal and begins a diatribe

There is also a serious grammatical difficulty here. Clearly with verse 18 the diatribe style is in play, but where does this end? Who is the “someone” who is quoted? There are five basic options.

1. An ally to James is introduced at this juncture, and the ally engages in dialogue on behalf of James; James resumes speaking in verse 19.

2. The speaker in verse 18 is an opponent of James, and James resumes speaking in verse 19. Even though this option is not without its difficulties, it seems to be the best one, particularly in modified form.

3. Verse 18 is comprised of an imaginary dialogue between two fictive persons.

4. James resumes speaking midway through verse 18, “Show me your faith without deeds.”

5. The opponent of James is the speaker through verse 19, and James resumes speaking in verse 20.

Nystrom, D. P. (1997). James (p. 150). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.

v. 19-20, James continues on this point of the uselessness of lonely faith by equating lonely faith with demon faith, but emphasizes their appropriate response. He asks afterwards if they will then see how pointless workless faith is

v. 21-26, James cites two historical examples for his point, Abraham and Rahab

Abraham’s work: Offering Isaac as a sacrifice

Faith was working with his works and the works resulted in faith perfected

Confirms this with quoting

Rahab’s work: Received and protected messengers

Conclusion: Man is justified by works through faith; works is to faith as spirit in the body

Head- What does it mean?

v. 14-17,

In transitioning from the call to be loving and merciful, James continues deeper into this point

Jesus further contextualizes this passage in mentioning it along side the greatest commandment in

The faith that is content to look at the need of a brother or sister and withhold loving and merciful action is a faith God does not intend to be among His people. It is a useless faith, a dead faith

For James to reference this passage in light of the discussion on partiality from v. 1-7, he then begins to transition to the warning of his point against partiality in v. 9: showing partiality is a sin, for it is not loving a neighbor as one would love themself; therefore committing this sin convicts us as transgressors by the entirety of the law.

v. 18-20,

James provides a potential rebuttal and then a response to said rebuttal

To sin in one part of the law is to have the entirety of the law condemn you.

There is also a serious grammatical difficulty here. Clearly with verse 18 the diatribe style is in play, but where does this end? Who is the “someone” who is quoted? There are five basic options.

1. An ally to James is introduced at this juncture, and the ally engages in dialogue on behalf of James; James resumes speaking in verse 19.

2. The speaker in verse 18 is an opponent of James, and James resumes speaking in verse 19. Even though this option is not without its difficulties, it seems to be the best one, particularly in modified form.

In v. 11, he fleshes out his example with murder and adultery, two different kinds of sin. To commit one kind of sin over another is to transgress against the entire law nonetheless.

3. Verse 18 is comprised of an imaginary dialogue between two fictive persons.

4. James resumes speaking midway through verse 18, “Show me your faith without deeds.”

5. The opponent of James is the speaker through verse 19, and James resumes speaking in verse 20.

James continues on this point of the uselessness of lonely faith by equating lonely faith with demon faith, but emphasizes their appropriate response. He asks afterwards if they will then see how pointless workless faith is

v. 21-26,

v. 21-26, James cites two historical examples for his point, Abraham and Rahab

Abraham’s work: Offering Isaac as a sacrifice

Faith was working with his works and the works resulted in faith perfected

Confirms this with quoting

Rahab’s work: Received and protected messengers

Conclusion: Man is justified by works through faith; works is to faith as spirit in the body

Heart- Do I buy it?

Does anyone feel confused by these observations in v. 14-26?

, 23

-2 4

Does this inaction engulf “thoughts and prayer” comments people often make in the midst great tragedy?

How does v. 12-13 fit into this discussion if it is impossible to keep the entire law?

In what ways do you see James warning you about the actionless faith in your life?

How does action-based faith look in our context as sailors?

Hands- So What? How then should I live?

How

Walk with God

Keep Christ first

Keep sin out of your life

James 2:14-26

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