1. JAMES FAITH AND WORKS
a) The audience of the book of James is clearly stated in James 1:1. This means that the book was likely written after Acts 8:1.
b) There is controversy over who and when the book was written, but most attribute it to “James, the brother of Jesus” – Acts 12:17, Gal 1:9, 2:9.
c) James has an emphasis on performing righteousness – 1:16, 19-20, 22,25. 2:8-13
2. JAMES 2
a) James 2:14 – James asks two questions here:
i. What is the profit of faith without works? - Matt 7:21-27
ii. Can faith save him? Noah, Moses, Israel, …..
iii. Paul says yes – Rom 3:22-26, 4:23-5:1, Gal 2:16, 3:11,
b) James 2:15-16 – James gives an example – just because you say something it doesn’t make it come to pass. You have to take action – Luke 3:10-11, 1John 3:17-18
c) James 2:17 – James answers his own question – faith alone is dead.
i. Paul says it is to him that works not – Rom 4:5, Eph 2:8-9, Titus 3:5.
d) James 2:18-19 - “Yea, a man may say, thou hast faith, and I have works” – This is why people say James was written later and that he is correcting Paul, or clearing up what Paul has said. I believe James is still ignorant of Paul’s message
i. James says to show your faith without works…. which is not possible if your faith is in a covenant – John 14:15-21, 15:8-14, Matt 28:18-20, 5:18-20, 23:1-3, Neh 8:4-8, Mal 2:7.
ii. James is writing to people who believe in one god “Deut 6:4” but there is more information that you have to believe to be saved – John 20:30-31, Rom 4:24-25.
e) James 2:20-24 – James says you are vain if you believe faith without works justifies you.
i. Verse 21 – Abraham justified by works? – Genesis 22:16-17, 26:5, John 8:39-40. What did Abraham believe – Gal 3:8, Heb 11:17-19.
ii. Verse 22-23 – Faith wrought with his works and fulfilled Gen 15:6. (Paul says it is just by faith (Gal 3:6, Rom 4:3,22)
iii. Verse 24 – James concludes that one is justified by works and faith.
f) James 2:25 – Even Rahab was justified by works (Joshua 2, Heb 11:31)
g) James 2:26 is James conclusion - Another comparison made, your faith without works is like your body without the spirit…. dead.
3. JAMES VS PAUL - RIGHTLY DIVIDED
a) James and Paul seem to contradict. This was Luther’s dilemma who said James was an “Epistle of straw” and struggled with it’s canonicity because of this contradiction.
b) The traditional view is that James is explaining that you didn’t really have faith if there are no works shown – Matt 7:16-21. But James says “justified” by works. I believe James wrote this epistle ignorant of Paul.
c) They both use Abraham as example, but point to two different times in his life – Paul = Gen 15. James = Gen 22.
d) This is resolved by rightly dividing and placing the books in their proper context – James is writing to the 12 tribes of Israel (James 1:1). Paul is writing to the Body of Christ (Rom 1:7, 12:5).
e) What is believed?
i. Abraham – Believed that he would have a seed and that many nations would come from him and be blessed – Gen 15, 17, but later God required something of him to test him – Gen 22:1
ii. James believed that Jesus was the Christ that fulfilled the prophecies – John 20:30-31, 28:18-20.
iii. Paul believed that Jesus was the Christ and that he died for your sins and resurrected that you may have eternal life – Rom 4:24-25, 1Cor 15:1-4.
f) Today, our faith is not in simply a promise or a covenant, but in the cross work of Christ who did all the work necessary for your justification – Rom 5:1.
