Posts by Kevin Collins
A Living Faith Evidenced in Wise Speech and Conduct Part 1 (James 3:1–18)
The Book of James is held together by the theme Tests of a Living Faith. The main exhortation of James is to be a doer of the Word, and not a hearer only who deceives himself about the genuineness of his claim to Faith (James 1:22). Being a doer of the Word can be exemplified…
Read MoreA Living Faith Evidenced in Works of Obedience: Part 3 (James 2:14–26)
For part 1, click here. For part 2, click here. In the previous posts we’ve placed this passage in the larger context of James’ argument and in the larger context of the theology of both Paul and James. And we began unfolding James’ argument in the first part of the passage. In this post we’ll…
Read MoreA Living Faith Evidenced in Works of Obedience: Part 2 (James 2:14–26)
Click here to read part 1. The meaning of James 2:14–26 must be understood by a careful understanding of the words and phrases in context. The passage may be outlined as follows: An Inoperative Faith is Useless (James 2:14–19) The Key Question (James 2:14) The Illustration (James 2:15–16) The Answer (James 2:17) The Challenge (James…
Read MoreA Living Faith Evidenced in Works of Obedience: Part 1 (James 2:14–26)
James 2:14–26 is at the heart of James’ theological thrust. Yet, in the outline of the book, this passage is a clarification that continues to press home the main point found in James 1:19–27 (being a doer of the Word and not a hearer only) and the three prime examples which apply that main point…
Read MoreA Living Faith Evidenced in Refraining from Partiality (James 2:1–13, Part 2)
Out of all the examples that you could think of to pick out to prove the genuineness of a person’s faith, what would be at the top of your list? What sins would you identify to show someone to be a hypocrite rather than living out a genuine faith? How many of us would have…
Read MoreA Living Faith Evidenced in Refraining from Partiality (James 2:1–13, Part 1)
James 2:1-13 should be read in light of James’ main concern of his letter (James 1:19–27 with Matthew 7:21, 24). What is the main concern of James’ letter? Hiebert identifies it: “Such obeying of the Word constitutes the essence of living faith. These verses express James’ central concern.”1 James 2:1-13 summarizes one of James’ prime…
Read MoreA Living Faith Evidenced in One’s Response to Scripture (James 1:19-27)
In James 1:1-18, James the half-brother of Jesus and pastor of the Jerusalem church addressed the circumstances of suffering that his scattered flock was enduring. A living faith is evidenced in one’s response to trials (see the previous posts here). And it is in such circumstances of suffering that one’s faith will be challenged regarding…
Read MoreAn Overview of the Book of James
The Book of James may be one of the most needful encouragements and exhortations to believers in our day. Of course, every book of the Bible seems that way when you’re teaching through it verse by verse. That’s because every part of the Bible is supremely powerful to address us according to what’s most needed…
Read MoreKeys for Ministry Stability and Progress (Part 2)
In the previous post we introduced the following: Ministries need unity in vision, mission, philosophy, and doctrine for the work of the ministry to flourish without being impeded by the turmoil that comes from a mixed multitude of people who fundamentally disagree on any one of these four categories. In this post we’ll pick back…
Read MoreKeys for Ministry Stability and Progress (Part 1)
We seem to live in an age of turmoil and even crisis within large ministry organizations or institutions—whatever major denomination that you observe. And yet we want stability in our own ministries. We want to optimistically move forward successfully fulfilling the mission God has given to us. How can we do so? Ministry stability and…
Read More