James 2
(Scripture version - New Living translation)
It’s a short study here for James chapter 2, but also a powerful one. James hits on two major topics of our Christian life: relationships with all people and the good works that must accompany our faith in Christ. James reminds his readers that we all must stay true to the love Christ calls us to in every aspect of our lives. When we do, love changes us and impacts how we treat people and how our lives are lived out. In that, conceited selfishness dissipates and humble selflessness increases.
“Be Christ-like in Your Relationships.”
James 2:1-13
Key verses - “My dear brothers and sisters, how can you claim to have faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ if you favor some people over others? For example, suppose someone comes into your meeting dressed in fancy clothes and expensive jewelry, and another comes in who is poor and dressed in dirty clothes. If you give special attention and a good seat to the rich person, but you say to the poor one, “You can stand over there, or else sit on the floor”—well, doesn’t this discrimination show that your judgments are guided by evil motives?”
Meditation - How do we practice the deity of Christ in our human relationships? People are different, plain and simple and one hard truth is that we just do not “click” with everyone. Yet with God, favoritism has no place in his family. Love for all people must prevail. It’s really quite simple: look at everyone through the eyes of Christ. It is Christ who is the link between us and others, and He is the link of love. The basis for relationship with others is the person and work of Jesus Christ. Any other basis is not going to work.
Grace, love, and mercy in everything we do and with everyone we encounter. We should seek to be like Christ in all relationships and everywhere we go. If nothing else, let verse 13 motivate you as you remember that if you desire mercy be given to you, than you must also give mercy freely to others.
“Faith Without Good Deeds is Meaningless.”
James 2: 14 - 26
Key verses… 14“What good is it, dear brothers, and sisters, if you say you have faith but don’t show it by your actions? Can that kind of faith save anyone?”
17“So you see, faith by itself isn’t enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless.”
26“Just as the body is dead without breath, so also faith is dead without good works.”
Meditation – James reminds his readers that our faith in Christ MUST be accompanied by our deeds, our good works. You see, faith without deeds reveals an un-changed heart or spiritually dead heart. Faith must be accompanied by a changed life, a repentant life, and lived out in our daily actions. This is a consistent message in the New Testament letters, especially of Paul’s writings. Faith is the key to salvation and lordship is key to living the life Christ calls us to. Just as you cannot have faith without deeds, you cannot have salvation without lordship.
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