James Chapter 2
This chapter is a litmus paper of our faith. Do we truly believe in the saving work of Jesus Christ? James tells us that if we do, there is going to be evidence that should be apparent in the life of the believer. Chapter 1 ended with the thought that if one is a true believer, not just one who says I believe there’s a God (religion), but one who has decided to be a Christ follower, then the love of Christ will be apparent. As a Christ follower our eyes will be opened to the needs of others all around us including the needs of orphans and the widows. And more importantly we will do something about those needs when we see them.
Let's Reflect
1. As a believer we should not show partiality to whom?
Matthew 22:34-40But when the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together. And one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him. “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”
2. James repeated to the Jews exactly what Jesus had taught, that we should love our neighbor as ourselves. When we show partiality, we are in danger of two things, what are they? See verses 4 and 6
3. Showing partiality to people is literally a sin. It is breaking the law of God. If we keep the whole law, but break it in this one point we are doing what according to the end of verse 10?
4. James talks about the fact that someone cannot have true faith without there being works, or evidence of that __________. We do not want to confuse what James is saying here. Doing good works for God does not bring about salvation. Paul said it best in Ephesians.
Ephesians 2:8-10For 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. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
5. But if we are true believers in Jesus, we will see the needs of others all around us and we will want to do what we can for others. What is the example that James gave of this?
6. James gives two examples from the Old Testament – Abraham and Rahab. It says that with Abraham (his works) was counted to him as righteousness. I like to think of this in simple terms. The action that Abraham took was proof that he truly believed God. Abraham trusted God. No one could do what Abraham did or was about to do, unless they trusted God like Abraham did. Abraham trusted that God was going to bring his son back to life or supply the needed sacrifice. He had to have had genuine faith in the one true God. His actions (his works) proved his faith – it was counted to him as righteousness. The same is true of Rahab – she truly believed that God was the one true God when two of His servants showed up at her door looking for a place to hide. At that moment she made a choice to believe that God was who He said He was, and her actions proved it. What kind of faith does one have without works? See verse 26.
Isn’t it ironic that James, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, chose these two people as examples of people who demonstrated their faith in God by their works. Abraham, we understand. He was the father of the Hebrew nation. But Rahab? A prostitute? Yet when we look at the chapter known as the “hall of faith” in Hebrews 11, we find that Rahab is listed there. It is proof that God can save anyone, and He does. And God can use anyone for His purpose; and He does. The same God that created Abraham, created Rahab. And He is the same God that created you and me.
