Oct 7: James Chapter 2

OBSERVATION:
SINS to avoid:
V1, showing favoritism
PROMISES to claim:
V10, stumbling at one point is guilty of breaking all of the law;(this is not a positive promise however it seems to be a promise regarding what to expect for our behavior) V13, mercy triumphs over judgment
EXAMPLES to follow:
V16; V21, Abraham; V25, Rahab
COMMANDS to obey:
V1, don't show favoritism, V12, speak and act as those who are going to be judged
STUMBLING BLOCKS to avoid:
V9, showing favoritism

INTERPRETATION:
WHO?
everyone then and today, us
WHAT?
making judgment that is suppose to be left to God who is the ultimate lawmaker and judge; we are asked to use our best judgment but not to be the judge of others
WHERE?
No locations mentioned
WHEN?
approximately 50ad
WHY?
God does not show favoritism to his children and he doesn't not want us to act as if we are in the position to be the judge; only his authority will judge us, we must not assume we have such power
HOW?
pray for acceptance of others, seek others who model generous spirits

APPLICATION:
Theme? do not judge, show faith and works together
Best verse? V22, faith completes our deeds
Challenging? V4, we have been discriminating to others even when it's not our desire to be so evil
Difficult?
Encouraging? V13, mercy triumphs over judgment
Favorite? V18, "I will show you my faith my what I do."
Gift? V13, mercy triumphs over judgment
Helpful? V14, what good is faith without deed
Informative? V14-15, our action is evidence of our faith
Just do it? God, let us trust you as the lawmaker and judge, make our actions reveal our faith to the world


James Chapter 2:1 - 26

Favoritism Forbidden
1My brothers, as believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, don't show favoritism. 2Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in shabby clothes also comes in. 3If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, "Here's a good seat for you," but say to the poor man, "You stand there" or "Sit on the floor by my feet," 4have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?
5Listen, my dear brothers: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him? 6But you have insulted the poor. Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court? 7Are they not the ones who are slandering the noble name of him to whom you belong?

8If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, "Love your neighbor as yourself,"[a] you are doing right. 9But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers. 10For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. 11For he who said, "Do not commit adultery,"[b] also said, "Do not murder."[c] If you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker.

12Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, 13because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment!

Faith and Deeds
14What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? 15Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. 16If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? 17In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
18But someone will say, "You have faith; I have deeds."
Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do.

19You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.

20You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless[d]? 21Was not our ancestor Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? 22You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. 23And the scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,"[e] and he was called God's friend. 24You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone.

25In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction? 26As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.