The Epistle of James Faith in Action

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The Epistle of JamesFaith in Action
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James in the New Testament
Gospel (4) Matthew Mark Luke John History (1) Acts Epistle (21) Paul (13) Romans 1 and 2 Cor. Galatians Ephesians Philippians Colossians 1 and 2 Thess. 1 and 2 Tim. Titus Philemon Epistle (21) General (8) Hebrews James 1 Peter 2 Peter 1 John 2 John 3 John Jude Prophecy (1) Revelation
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Time Period in NT History

• Preparation for the Church / Life of Christ
• c. A.D. 1 30
• ( Matthew through John )
• Establishment of the Church
• c. A.D. 30 60
• ( Acts through Philemon )
• Latter Developments in the Church
• c. A.D 60 90
• ( Hebrews through Revelation )

Period 1
Period 2
Period 3
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Book Background

• Title James
• 1. The title James is taken from the Greek
  transliteration of the Hebrew Jacob (Iakobos),
  a common Jewish name in the first century.

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Book Background

• Author James
• 1. Which James is the author? There are four
  mentioned in the NT a) James, the son of Zebedee
  (Mt. 421 Mk. 119 537 92 1035 Lk. 510
  Acts 121-2) b) James, the son of Alphaeus
  (Mt. 103 Mk. 318 Mk. 1540) c)
  James, the father of Judas (Lk. 616) and d)
  James, the brother of Jesus (Mt. 1355 Mk. 63
  Jn. 212 72-10 Gal. 119 21,9,10,12 Acts
  113-14 1217 1513 2118 1 Cor.
  95 157 Jude 1).
• 2. James, the brother of Jesus is likely the
  author.

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Book Background

• Audience Jewish Christians
• 1. Like the book of Hebrews, the book of James
  was written to Jewish Christians

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Book Background

• Purpose
• 1.

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Book Background

• Date
• 1.

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Book Background

• Theme Faith in Action
• 1. The theme of the book of James is faith in
  action. James emphasizes hearing and doing Gods
  word

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Keys to the Book

• Key verses 122-25
• Key word faith (13, 6 21, 5, 14-26 515)

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Outline of the BookFaith in Action

• Greeting (11)
• The Tests of Faith (12-18)
• The Characteristics of Faith (119 417)
• The Responsibilities of Faith (51-20)

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Outline of the BookFaith in Action

• Greeting (11)
• The Tests of Faith (12-18)
• Faith tested by outward trials (12-12)
• Faith tested by inward temptations (113-18)

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Chapter 1 Themes

• Greeting (11)
• Joy in trials (12-4)
• Asking for wisdom (15-8)
• Poor and rich (19-11)
• Temptations (112-18)
• Hearing and doing (119-27)

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Trials and TemptationsJames 12-15
Trials (vv. 2, 12) Temptations (vv. 13-15)
Gr. peirosmos Gr. peirazo
Outward tests that lead to maturity Inward tests that lead to sin
Endurance needed Self-control needed
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Trials According to James and Paul
James (12, 12) Paul (Rom. 53-5)
1. Joy in trials 1. Joy in tribulation
2. Endurance 2. Steadfastness
3. Approved 3. Approvedness
4. Crown of life 4. Hope
5. Love him 5. Love of God
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From Desire to DeathJames 113-15
Action Result
1. Desire receives a suggestion Enticement
2. Desire meditates on the enticement Drawn toward the bait
3. Desire gives birth to sin Gods law is broken (1 Jn. 34 517)
4. Sin grows up and brings forth death Separated from God (Isa. 591-2 Eph. 21-4)
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The Wrath of ManJames 119-20
Wrath of Man Wrath of God
1. Flairs up, violent, outbursts 1. Settled
2. Leads to sin 2. Punishes sin (Rom. 118)
3. Impatient 3. Longsuffering (Rom. 922)
4. Does not work the righteousness of God 5. Display of Gods righteous character (Rom. 25)
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Hearers of the WordJames 121-22
Action Attitude
1. Put away Sin is removed first
2. Receive The Word is received
3. Doers of the word Application
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Hearers and DoersJames 123-27
Hearers Only Hearers and Doers
1. Looks by forgets 1. Looks and continues doing
2. Deluded / deceived 2. Honest
3. Not blessed 3. Blessed
4. Vain religion 5. Pure and undefiled religion
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Outline of the BookFaith in Action

• Greeting (11)
• The Tests of Faith (12-18)
• The Characteristics of Faith (119 417)
• Faith hears and does (119-27)
• Faith removes discrimination (21-13)
• Faith works (214-26)
• Faith controls the tongue (31-12)
• Faith follows heavenly wisdom (313-18)
• Faith draws near to God (41-10)
• Faith does not judge (411-12)
• Faith is dependent upon God (413-17)

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James 1Lessons for Today

• 1. Christians can have joy in trials because they
  know they will be perfected by them and be
  rewarded one day for their steadfastness (12
  Mt. 512 Rom. 53-4 1 Pet. 16-9 412-13).
• 2. Patience (endurance) has its perfect work
  salvation (14 510-11 Lk. 2119 Rom. 27).
• 3. God is liberal in his giving and good in his
  giving (15, 17 2 Cor. 98-15).

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James 1Lessons for Today

• 4. Both poverty and riches can test a person
  (19-10 Prov. 307-9 1 Tim. 69-10, 17-19).
• 5. The Christians reward is a crown of life
  (112 2 Tim. 48 1 Pet. 54
  Rev. 210).
• 6. We should not blame God for temptation
  (113 Gen. 312-13)?
• 7. Sin brings spiritual death (115 520 Rom.
  616, 23 75).

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James 1Lessons for Today

• 8. We are brought forth (begotten, born again) by
  Gods word when we obey it and are baptized
  (118 Jn. 35 Eph. 526 Tit. 35 1 Pet.
  122-23).
• 9. Guard your tongue and be slow to speak
  (119, 26 Prov. 1019 1727-28).
• 10. Gods word saves souls (121 Lk. 812 Ac.
  1114 Rom. 116 1 Cor. 118 152).

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James 1Lessons for Today

• 11. Hearing and doing Gods word, not just
  hearing, is what God wants (122-25 Mt. 724-26
  Lk. 646).
• 12. Christians are under the Law of Christ, the
  perfect law of liberty (125 1 Cor. 921 Gal.
  62).
• 13. Christians, individually, should take care of
  orphans and widows as they have opportunity
  (127 Gal. 29 610). Christians are to keep
  themselves unspotted from the world of sin as
  they go through life (127 1 Jn. 215-17).

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Outline of the BookFaith in Action

• Greeting (11)
• The Tests of Faith (12-18)
• The Characteristics of Faith (119 417)
• Faith hears and does (119-27)
• Faith removes discrimination (21-13)
• Faith works (214-26)
• Faith controls the tongue (31-12)
• Faith follows heavenly wisdom (313-18)
• Faith draws near to God (41-10)
• Faith does not judge (411-12)
• Faith is dependent upon God (413-17)

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Chapter 2 Themes

• No respect of persons (21-13)
• Faith without works is dead (214-26)

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Respect of PersonsJames 21-13
Favoritism / Discrimination James 21-13
1. It is inconsistent with the teaching of Christ Verse 1
2. It results from judging with evil thoughts Verse 2-4
3. It dishonors others Verses 5-7
4. It lacks love Verse 8
5. It is a sin Verses 9-11
6. It lacks mercy Verse 12-13
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Paul and James On Works
Paul Not Justified by Works (Rom. 319-28) James Justified by Works (Jas. 214-26)
Issue How will a sinner be saved? Issue How will a saint remain saved?
The basis of the sinners justification is not works of law-keeping, but faith The basis of the saints justification is a faith that works, not faith apart from works (not faith only)
Paul says No! to the legalist who trusts in his law-keeping works of merit James says Yes! to the intellectualist who abandons his obedient works of faith
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James 2Lessons for Today

• 1. Being a respecter of persons (prejudice,
  favoritism) is a sin (21, 9 Acts 1034).
• 2. We must not be judges with evil thoughts
  (24 Mt. 1224ff 1 Tim. 64).
• 3. Poor brethren are rich in faith (25 Mt. 53
  Rev. 29).
• 4. We must love our neighbor as our self (28
  Lev. 1918 Mt. 2239 Lk. 1027-28 Gal. 514).

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James 2Lessons for Today

• 5. Breaking Gods law with just one sin is a
  serious matter (29-11 1 Jn. 34 517).
• 6. The New Testament Law of Christ is the law of
  liberty (212 James 125 1 Cor. 921 Gal.
  51 62).
• 7. The person who shows no mercy to others will
  be shown no mercy from God (213 Mt. 57
  1832-35 Lk. 637ff).

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James 2Lessons for Today

• 8. Christians must say and do with regard to
  their benevolence or any activity of the
  Christian life (212, 14-16 Mt. 721-23 1 Jn.
  317-18).
• 9. Good works are a part of the Christians life
  (214-26 Eph. 210 Tit. 214 38). Faith and
  works are not mutually exclusive. Faith is made
  perfect (complete) when faith actively works to
  obey Gods word (222 Gal. 56 1 Thess. 13).

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James 2Lessons for Today

• 10. Salvation by faith only is a man-made
  doctrine that does not come from Gods word
  (224). Faith alone apart from obedient works is
  dead (217-20, 26 Rom. 15 1626).

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Outline of the BookFaith in Action

• Greeting (11)
• The Tests of Faith (12-18)
• The Characteristics of Faith (119 417)
• Faith hears and does (119-27)
• Faith removes discrimination (21-13)
• Faith works (214-26)
• Faith controls the tongue (31-12)
• Faith follows heavenly wisdom (313-18)
• Faith draws near to God (41-10)
• Faith does not judge (411-12)
• Faith is dependent upon God (413-17)

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Chapter 3 Themes

• Controlling the tongue (31-12)
• Earthly wisdom vs. heavenly wisdom (313-18)

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Wise Use of the Tongue
A Little Member Used for Good Used for Evil
Tongue
Mouth
Lips
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James 3Lessons for Today

• 1.

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Chapter 4 Themes
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James 4Lessons for Today

• 1.

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Outline of the BookFaith in Action

• Greeting (11)
• The Tests of Faith (12-18)
• The Characteristics of Faith (119 417)
• The Responsibilities of Faith (51-20)
• Faiths duty in riches (51-6)
• Faiths duty in waiting (57-11)
• Faiths duty in speech (512)
• Faiths duty in prayer (513-18)
• Faiths duty in conversion (519-20)

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Chapter 5 Themes
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James 5Lessons for Today

• 1.