There was initially some debate as to whether it should be included in the Canon of Scripture
Salvation by faith alone
James talks about justification by works – this caused great confusion
If you are justified by faith – your works are the proof
"Faith without works is dead"
Examples
Looking at trials today
Also how to treat the poor
The matter of listening
To interpret James against the great backdrop of Scripture
James
An elder/key leader of the Jewish Church
A pastoral burden for the Jewish Christians
He addresses some of the issues they are facing – examples
Dealing with some key Christian issues
How might this apply to us?
Overview:
The Man
The Message
The Man
James the brother of Jesus Christ
A half-brother (since Joseph was not Jesus’ father)
Mentioned in:
Gal 2:9 – James, Peter and John – pillars of the Church
Acts 15 – one of the key people was James
Acts
He is humble
In the introduction to the book of James, he mentions none of the above
He is content to be a bondservant of Jesus Christ
He has great humility
He was once a unbeliever – John 7:5
1 Cor 15:7 – a witness of the resurrected Christ
A sign of his conversion
He was not an apostle
He encourages humility
James 4:6 – God resists the proud
James 4:10 – but lifts up the humble
The Message
There is only one way to face trials – an attitude of welcome and trust rather than fear and discipline
When, not if
To understand that God will do something in you and through you
Trials are painful, but you can be joyful that God will work in you
Trials help polish our faith
2 Cor 12:7-10 – Example of the Apostle Paul
Do we believe that all things work together for good that love God
Rom 5
Do we value comfort more than character?
Do we value the material more than the spiritual?
Do we value the present more than the future?
Ps 40:1 – the Psalmist had to wait on the Lord
Examples – the Christian man and Job
What rules your heart: power & control, affirmation, the sovereign God?
James 5:11
God is very compassionate
How do you respond to trials?
We need Wisdom
We all need wisdom in our trials
v5-8
Example of Solomon, the Apostles, Moses
Ask God for wisdom
God will guide us
Do not be ruled by feelings or the opinions of others
Ask God
God’s wisdom is "is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy" – James 3:17
