C. H. SPURGEON, At the Metropolitan Tabernacle, Newington. On Lord's-day Evening, February 21st, 1861. "Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone."-- James 2:17 WHATEVER the statement of James may be, it could never have been his intention to contradict the gospel.
Full Answer
What is the significance of James 1 2 2 4?
James 1:2-4 James calls the converted among the twelve tribes his brethren. Christianity has a great uniting power: it both discovers and creates relationships among the sons of men. It reminds us of the ties of nature, and binds us with the bonds of grace.
How honorably does James speak of Jesus Christ?
How honorably James speaks of Jesus Christ; he calls him the Lord of glory; for he is the brightness of his Father’s glory, and the express image of his person. 3. Christ’s being the Lord of glory should teach us not to respect Christians for any thing so much as their relation and conformity to Christ.
What does James 2 say about despising the poor?
James 2. In this chapter the apostle condemns a sinful regarding of the rich, and despising the poor, which he imputes to partiality and injustice, and shows it to be an acting contrary to God, who has chosen the poor, and whose interest is often persecuted, and his name blasphemed, by the rich (v. 1-7).
What is the significance of the Book of James?
This is especially significant because James is widely (and properly) regarded as one of the first letters of the New Testament written (perhaps somewhere between AD 44 and 48). This means that the earliest Christians considered Jesus to be God, and said so in strong, unmistakable words.
What can we learn from James Chapter 2?
James 2 continues the theme of maturity presented at the beginning of the book. When James opens his letter, he challenges his readers to view trials as opportunities to grow rather than obstacles to lament. He asserts that every trial we overcome helps us mature as Christians.
What does the Bible say about James 2?
Bible Gateway James 2 :: NIV. My brothers, as believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, don't show favoritism. Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in shabby clothes also comes in. have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?
Who is James talking to in the book of James?
James the Apostle, abbreviation James, New Testament writing addressed to the early Christian churches (“to the twelve tribes in the dispersion”) and attributed to James, a Christian Jew, whose identity is disputed.
What does the book of James teach us?
The main theme of the book of James is receiving wisdom from God's Word. Wisdom from God results in a life that bears fruit. Wisdom from God's Word that affects every area of life and results in a life the is fruitful and thrives even in the face of trials.
Can we be saved by faith alone?
God's Word says that we are saved by grace through faith in Christ Jesus and not by our own efforts or works (Ephesians 2:8-9). Grace Alone. Faith Alone. Grace alone means that God loves, forgives, and saves us not because of who we are or what we do, but because of the work of Christ.
What does Paul mean by justification by faith alone?
His righteousness becomes theirs, and his death becomes an offering to God in their place, to pay for all of their sins. According to Protestants this justification is by faith alone – not through good deeds – and is a gift from God through Christ.
What is the full meaning of James?
supplanterJames is a classic, traditional and Biblical name (Saint James, of course, was one of Jesus' 12 apostles) meaning "supplanter" or "replacer." It's derived from the Latin Jacomus which also means "may God protect."
What is the chapter of James about?
James spends little time on things like Christ's deity, baptism, or the nature of the church. Rather, this is a letter about putting faith into action. It speaks to what Christian living looks like in practice. It's about owning our faith and making it a part of who we are — not just a name we wear.
Is James Jesus's brother?
Jude, brother of JesusSimonJames, brother of Jesus/Brothers
What is the spiritual meaning of James?
In fact, the name James means the same exact thing as Jacob—“supplanter” or substitute—and comes from the original Hebrew word for Jacob. Because of its connection to Jacob, James is a Biblical name (two of Jesus' apostles were named James).
Why is the book of James relevant today?
The relevance of the book of James is found in its call for ethical living based on the Christian gos- pel. It is true that James emphasizes the ethical obligations rather than the theological basis of the Christian faith. He is not indifferent to theology; he assumes it.
What is faith according to the book of James?
True faith means our hearts have been changed, and a changed heart is demonstrated through action. Faith with no demonstrable action is no real faith at all. It's dead, James tells us, like a body without a spirit.
What is the significance of James in the New Testament?
This means that the earliest Christians considered Jesus to be God, and said so in strong, unmistakable words. b.
Why is James calling a synagogue a synagogue?
The fact that James calls a Christian meeting place a synagogue shows that he wrote before Gentiles were widely received into the church. At the time James wrote, most all Christians came from a Jewish heritage. This is the only place in the New Testament where an assembly of Christians is clearly called a synagogue.
What does James mean by the word "Jesus Christ"?
James used strong words to refer to Jesus Christ: The Lord of glory. Moffatt comments: “The Christian religion [is here called] more explicitly belief in the Lord Jesus Christ, who is the divine Glory – a striking term for Christ as the full manifestation of the divine presence and majesty.
Has God chosen the poor of this world?
a. Has God not chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom: Though it is easy for man to be partial to the rich, God isn’t partial to them. In fact, since riches are an obstacle to the kingdom of God ( Matthew 19:24 ), there is a sense in which God specially blesses the poor of this world.
What does the verb "comes" mean in James's "comes"?
And there also comes in a poor man in dirty clothes - James repeats the verb "comes" which would indicate he is presenting these as two separate events. This man is poor (see ptochos below) to the point of being a beggar.
What does Paul Apple say about the view of others?
Paul Apple makes an excellent point that a "Proper View of Christ Leads to a Proper View of Others. Once we truly see how " glorious " Christ is, there will be no room for distinctions on the human plane because we all pale in comparison to the glory of Christ. Look at how our Lord (in all of His Majesty) treated others and we will see that there is no room for "personal favoritism" on our part. Surely the disciples are not above the Master when it comes to showing compassion to all men without distinction." ( Commentary)
What does Paul say about wisdom?
Paul writes about "the wisdom which none of the rulers of this age has understood; for if they had understood it they would not have crucified the Lord of glory ." ( 1 Cor 2:8)
Who said love triumphs over prejudice, mercy triumphs over judgment?
Ronald Blue writes that "Just as love triumphs over prejudice, mercy triumphs over judgment." (BKC)
Who developed descriptions for Jesus that expressed the depth of their trust in him?
Bruce Barton - Early Christians developed descriptions for Jesus that expressed the depth of their trust in him. They could be called reflective names, since they resulted from reflections on Jesus. Paul gives us a number of his reflective names for Jesus:
Do not hold James?
Do not hold - James is issuing a present imperative with a negative which means "do not be holding" meaning stop practicing partiality, "don't make it a practice!" of showing favoritism. James is calling for a halt to a practice that was already in progress in some assemblies. What James is commanding is better seen by rephrasing and paraphrasing the passage "As believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, don't show favoritism." So if any of his readers are demonstrating favoritism, they must cease from this forthwith! Paul uses the related verb (prosopolempteo) in James 2:9 and clearly calls this favoritism a sin!
When did God say "Go to now"?
God’s Will about the Future. October 16, 1890. God’s Will about the Future “Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow.
Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness and receive with meek?
Before Sermon , At Sermon, and After Sermon “Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.” — James i. 21, 22. BRETHREN, it is a good thing to …
How honorably does James speak of Jesus Christ?
How honorably James speaks of Jesus Christ; he calls him the Lord of glory; for he is the brightness of his Father’s glory, and the express image of his person. 3. Christ’s being the Lord of glory should teach us not to respect Christians for any thing so much as their relation and conformity to Christ.
What will be passed upon impenitent sinners at last?
The doom which will be passed upon impenitent sinners at last will be judgment without mercy; there will be no mixtures or allays in the cup of wrath and of trembling, the dregs of which they must drink. (2.) Such as show no mercy now shall find no mercy in the great day. But we may note, on the other hand, (3.)
What does Mt 11:5 mean?
Mt. 11:5 , The poor are evangelized .’’. God designed to recommend his holy religion to men’s esteem and affection, not by the external advantages of gaiety and pomp, but by its intrinsic worth and excellency; and therefore chose the poor of this world.
What does Maimonides say about the poor?
Manton) "That is was expressly provided by the Jews’ constitutions that, when a poor man and a rich plead together, the rich shall not be bidden to sit down and the poor stand, or sit in a worse place, but both sit or both stand alike.’’.
What is the gospel called?
The gospel is called a law. It has all the requisites of a law: precepts with rewards and punishments annexed; it prescribes duty, as well as administers comfort; and Christ is a king to rule us as well as a prophet to teach us, and a priest to sacrifice and intercede for us. We are under the law to Christ. 2.
What chapter does Matthew Henry write in the Bible?
Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible (Complete) /. James /. James 2. James 1. James 3. Chapter 2 In this chapter the apostle condemns a sinful regarding of the rich, and despising the poor, which he imputes to partiality and injustice, and shows it to be an acting contrary to God, who has chosen the poor, ...
What does James say about the neighbor?
James says that the person who loves his/her neighbor does well . That is true in three ways: First, he keeps the law. Second, he makes life better for his neighbor. Third, he makes life better for himself––even into eternity.
What does James mean by "Don't show favoritism as you hold the faith of our glorious Lord Jesus?
A better translation would be “My brothers, don’t show favoritism as you hold the faith of our glorious Lord Jesus Christ.”. When James says “ the faith of our glorious Lord Jesus Christ,” is he speaking of the faith that Jesus possessed––or the faith that believers have in Jesus.
Why did Jesus rebuke the Pharisees?
Jesus rebuked powerful scribes and Pharisees, not because they were powerful, but because they used their power for self-serving purposes. “haven’t you shown partiality (Greek: diakrino) among yourselves” (v. 4a). The word diakrino combines two words, dia and krino.
What does James say about temptation?
In chapter one, James dealt with the issue of temptation, saying that “the testing of your faith produces endurance” (1:3) and that the person who endures temptation “will receive the crown of life” (1:12). However, he denied that temptation ever comes from God (1:13) and affirmed that “every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, ...
Who did Jesus rebuke for tithing?
Jesus rebuked the scribes and Pharisees for tithing even their garden vegetables (mint, dill, and cumin), but leaving “undone the weightier matters of the law: justice, mercy, and faith” (Matthew 23:23)––elevating mercy to a place among the big-three.