Lesson (3946)(11-07-22) James 2:1-26
“My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons. For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment; And ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool: Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts? Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him? But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats? Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are called? If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well: But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors. For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law. So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty. For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment. What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way? For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.”
Today’s quote makes several very important points. Therein, James made it very clear, again, that he was talking directly to the Jews. His listeners, did at that time, still believe they were bound by the old laws of the Jews. James clearly, and correctly, stated that if one violates the smallest element of the “law”, that one is guilty of violating the law in it’s entirety.
We must remember too that James leaned toward forced obedience to those laws and was in open conflict with Paul as to what should be taught as “Christianity” to the Gentiles. Galatians 2:12 tells us that James was afraid of the Jewish hierarchy. Therefore, James, as well as some of the other apostles, insisted that Paul force the Gentile prosilytes to be circumcized and to obey other commandments of the old law.
There is one final point that should be mentioned here. That is James’ reference to dead faith.
It behooves us all to note that faith without works is indeed dead. However, a dead faith is still faith. Faith assures one’s “born again” status and the salvation of one’s eternal soul. However, if one does not exercise one’s faith, he/she will have done nothing toward the purpose of moving the lost to Jesus Christ.~
