James 2 - Let's Do It! Series

Series: James – Let’s do it!

Thesis of Book: The message of the book is “Let’s do it – live the faith – put it into action! The half-brother of Jesus is speaking to the scattered Jewish Christians across the nations – they were scattered right after Stephen was killed. James tells these Christians and us today you have to do more than just talk about your faith you have to put your faith to work for the glory of the Kingdom of Heaven. In other words, what you do with your faith matters in the here and now and in eternity so put it into action!

Key verse of book: James 1:22 “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.”

Summary of lessons from Chapter 1- we put faith into action when:

We persevere through the trials and grief of life and in the midst of it get His inner joy and peace.

We control the pressure moments of life with faith and not anger and in the process find freedom in the Spirit.

We listen and do to be what God has called us to be and do.

Today we will progress forward in the book of James and look at Chapter 2.

Sermon: Let’s Do it! Chapter 2

Thesis of Sermon: The church needs to put faith in action by ruthlessly rooting out the disease of pride and prejudice, favoritism in its body. Why? Because it is infecting others and causing death not life. We need to use the vaccine that will stop the spread of this deadly plague. The vaccine was created by the Lord Jesus and all we need to do is use the vaccine of love, acceptance and forgiveness. This chapter is clear separate faith and works and you get a dead corpse.

Scripture: James 2

Favoritism Forbidden

1My brothers, as believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, don’t show favoritism.

2Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in shabby clothes also comes in.

3If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, “Here’s a good seat for you,” but say to the poor man, “You stand there” or “Sit on the floor by my feet,”

4have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?

5Listen, my dear brothers: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him?

6But you have insulted the poor. Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court?

7Are they not the ones who are slandering the noble name of him to whom you belong?

8If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing right.

9But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers.

10For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.

11For he who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not murder.” If you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker.

12Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom,

13because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment!

Faith and Deeds

14What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him?

15Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food.

16If one of you says to him, “Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it?

17In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.

18But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do.

19You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.

20You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless?

21Was not our ancestor Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar?

22You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did.

23And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,” and he was called God’s friend.

24You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone.