Teaching

"So Live and So Act..."

Up to this point, James has built an extensive view of what it is all about and how it was to answer some questionable activites whithin the Body of Believers. He started with the true character of Joy and Perseverance. Wisdom was to be given for the asking, and strong growth was the way of faith for the believers. For those who persevered, the blessing was promised twice in chapter one verses twelve and twenty-five. It is the one who:

25But ...

"The Royal Law of Love"


If you step back at look at the structure of chapter two, it seems to fall into five parts, all inter-related. We must keep in mind that the over riding theme is the perseverance of faith under fire that was developed in the first chapter. In chapter two, it is the them of love and following the Royal law of Love that is developed here.
The first part of chapter two is contains the first four verses. It sets forth the practice, and outlines ...

As we know, salvation is not complete for the believer until the redemption of our body occurs:

Rom. 8
22 We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time.
23 Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.
24 For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at

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"The Power of Love, Impartially"

In Ephesians 5 verse one we are commanded to 'Be imitators of God'. It is God who loves all men and wishes them to be saved. This being true, it is dishonoring God to show overweaning impartiality to anyone group of people at the expense of another. This was being practiced in the church among the people that James was instructing in his letter. At that time, there was no 'middle class', just poor of well off. The vast majority muddled along in ...

"The Pattern of Obedience"
"Continued form part 3.2"

In the last part we established a few things:
1. God worked with Moses fears and objections, but in the end He wanted Moses to obey Him, and follow what He told Moses to do.
2. This pattern of obedience is seen all throughout Scripture, with Saul's Kingship being a good example.
3. The book of Judges is the background that leads up to Saul becoming King of Israel.
4. If you read the third chapter, ...