Posts Tagged ‘James’
A 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 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 MoreA Living Faith that Overcomes the Temptation of Doubting God
This part 5 of a 5-part series. For previous posts, click the following: part 1; part 2; part 3; part 4. I’ve often heard it said that the most common reason people give for turning away from God is not due to some intellectual hangup but due to some horrible experience of suffering. If that’s…
Read MoreA Living Faith that Overcomes the Temptation of Discouragement
This part 4 of a 5-part series. For previous posts, click the following: part 1; part 2; part 3. I find myself being one of the few middle-aged persons I know who looks back with fondness on his junior high years. Most people say that they would never want to repeat junior high again. But it’s…
Read MoreA Living Faith That Overcomes the Temptation of Disgust
This part 3 of a 5-part series. For previous posts, click the following: part 1; part 2. I went almost ten years without a correct diagnosis regarding what exact muscle disease I had. Honestly, the muscle disease itself wasn’t the hardest trial. The hardest trials were the effects of the muscle disease: not being wanted…
Read MoreRightly Responding to Suffering: Be Joyful in Your Trials
How do we rightly respond to suffering? This is the first post in a fivefold series to teach us a powerful truth from James 1:2–18: As you face overwhelming trials, responding with an attitude of joy will only be possible by a correct perspective of your faith in God. Quickly summarizing James 1:2–18, James teaches…
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