James 2

 

 

Chapter 1

            All Is Well When God Is Good

                        Good comes from suffering.

                        All good comes from God.

                        Humbly do good for the Giver.

 

THE REAL THING HAS REAL EFFECT

 

Genuine GM parts.  Coke, the Real Thing.  Certified organic.  When does the advertising claim of “authentic” matter most to us?

 

FAITH IS INCONSISTENT WITH FAVORITISM

 

James 2:1-13

Danger in poor judgment

 

Read James 2:1-4

            What evil thoughts go through our minds which can make it very natural for us to treat wealthy people with more concern than we might have toward a poorer person?

 

 

 

            Explain how such thoughts and the actions which follow put us into the category of “judges.”

            How does the word “glorious,” a description of our Lord Jesus Christ, help put this issue into its proper perspective?

 

 

Read James 2:5-7

            What is God’s definition of wealth?

 

            Read 1 Corinthians 1:26-31.  Agree or Disagree and Explain  A rich Christian should wonder more than most about whether he really is one of God’s children, because God has chosen the poor to be rich in faith (James 2:5).

 

           

            Looking at things from God’s perspective, why did the Jewish Christians’ treatment of the poor make no sense?

 

Read James 2:8-13

            If someone who was in the habit of showing favoritism said to James, “Well, at least I’m not doing any really bad sins,” how would James respond?

 

 

            Describe situations in our day in which James 2:10 could be well used.

 

 

            God’s will is intended to reflect what freedom from the slavery to sin looks like.  His perfect law is a very good thing.  What use should a Christian make of God’s law?

 

 

            The end of verse 13 reads, literally, “Mercy boasts as being something better than judgment.”  In what way is this true in regard to our relationship with God?  our relationship with others (2:4)?

 

 

AUTHENTIC FAITH IS NEVER ALONE

 

James 2:14-26

There’s a difference between fake and real

 

Read James 2:14-17

            In what way is claiming to have a faith without works similar to saying to a hungry person, “Go in peace,” but giving him no food?

            What reasons might one have for claiming to have faith when no faith is present?

 

 

Read James 2:18-26

            Some in James’ audience appeared to be claiming to have an “alone faith.”  What words are used to describe such a concept (vv. 17, 18, 20)?

 

 

            Many who received the smallpox vaccine have a scar caused by the active ingredients in the vaccine.  Imagine that there was a fake vaccine.  This fake vaccine didn’t produce a scar.  Years later many of those with fake vaccine died.  Those with the scar lived.  What might someone mean if they say, “I was saved by/from/as a result of this scar?”  In what way is this similar to James’ thought in verses 21 and 24?

 

 

 

 

            To understand the false teaching James was confronting is to better understand his way of speaking of justification and works.  Compare James 1:24 with Romans 3:28 (“a man is justified by faith without works of law”).  Explain how both are true.         

 

           

 

            Abraham’s actions are described as a fulfillment of the Scripture which described Abraham’s faith and righteousness years before.  In what way is the relationship between faith and works similar to the relationship between prophecy and its fulfillment (vs. 22—brought to completion)?

 

 

 

The Real Thing Has Real Effect

Faith is inconsistent with favoritsm

Authentic faith is never alone

 

Passport to the Scattered Tribes