Central to James’ argument is that living faith results in transformed lives, particularly in the crucible of persecution and suffering. This transformation affects character (1:19-21) and attitudes (2:1-7) because it is about our lives being shaped by love for God and for neighbour (2:8-13). This means that there should also be a change in behaviour… Continue reading Faith and works, hearers and doers
Tag: James
Can I choose between faith and works?
James continues to tease out the relationship between faith and works to show that the two go hand in hand together. Having used a practical example, he now uses logic by setting up a hypothetical debating partner. A look at the text (Read James 2:18-26) The hypothetical interlocutor suggests that it is possible for one… Continue reading Can I choose between faith and works?
What does saving faith look like?
“How are you?” It’s a standard greeting but not one we expect a response to. We ask it, expecting the other person to say “I’m fine.” So, what do we do when the other person misses the social cues and gives an honest and reasonable answer to the question? Do we say “Bless you” and… Continue reading What does saving faith look like?
The perfect law
James’ emphasis on practical faith could be mistaken for legalism. How does this fit with the Gospel? Well James now helps us to think about what it means to obey the Law of God, specifically as it relates to favouritism. A look at the text (Read James 2:8-13) The Law is “the royal law” of… Continue reading The perfect law
Partiality
One of the crucial concerns that the New Testament letter writers shared was that church gatherings would be characterised by unity. For Paul, a significant aspect of this was the wiping out of ethnic divisions between Jew and Gentile, for James, the focus was on divisions based on class and wealth. A look at the… Continue reading Partiality
Hearers and doers
So, we are to be slow at speaking and slow to anger, just God is slow to anger and abounding in love and prompt in listening. However, this desire to listen is not meant to be passive. Jesus talked about his followers being “both hearers and doers of his word”, so too does James. A… Continue reading Hearers and doers
Slow to anger
My mum used to remind me when I was little that I had two ears and only one mouth. The moral of this, she argued, was that I should spend twice as much time listening as talking. A look at the text (Read James 1:19-21) James says that we must be quick when it comes… Continue reading Slow to anger
James 1:19-27 Listening and doing
This morning’s sermon…. Slowing the game down Sometimes in a frantic football game you need the player with skill, experience, patience just to put their foot on the ball, pause and slow the game down a bit giving everyone time to get their breath and their bearings. Then they get things moving again with a… Continue reading James 1:19-27 Listening and doing
Tested
How do we respond when we face trials and testing? This is particularly important when testing involves suffering. We may at times be tempted to give up on seeking to do what is good and right. This was certainly a temptation that the Psalmists faced when they looked around and saw the wicked prospering. We… Continue reading Tested
Evaluation
It may surprise us, given Scriptures warning about pride, arrogance and boasting that New Testament authors, including Paul as well as James do argue that there is a place for boasting. The surprising twists concern who can boast and the basis of their boast. A look at the text (Read James 1:9-11) James contrasts the… Continue reading Evaluation
Faithroots 