James 2:14-26
Context
- James was the brother of Jesus
- A “pillar” of the early church
- Speaking to Jewish Christians (from Jerusalem, most likely)
- People with “respectable” sin
Be sure and review Faith & Reason before proceeding.
How much do actions matter?
Answer this for yourself: “I am a really good _______________.” What makes you comfortable saying that? What qualifies you to say that? Now answer this: “I am not a very good ________________.” Why do you say that? What makes you uncomfortable claiming the title? No verse yet... How do you feel about what verse 14 says, when it says “Can such faith save him?” What do you think James is implying? What’s being described in verses 15-16? Does it feel a little like an SNL sketch to you, maybe if it weren’t so sad? Has there been a time in your life when you felt like the person being described in verses 15-16? How did you respond to that feeling? James says faith (a commitment to a belief) without works is dead. What do you think this means? No verse yet...NLT: Now someone may argue, 'Some people have faith; others have good deeds.' But I say, 'How can you show me your faith if you don't have good deeds? I will show you my faith by my good deeds.'
NIV: But someone will say, 'You have faith; I have deeds.' Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds.
The pronouns here can make this verse confusing. James is basically saying someone is going to challenge his assertion that faith without works is dead by saying: “Some people have faith, some people have works.” What do you think about this? How does James rebut that challenge? Do you think James is saying that if you don’t do good deeds, then you’re not saved? Why or why not? No verse yet... Abraham had faith: the commitment to a belief in God. What was credited to him for that belief? No verse yet... How did Abraham’s faith (commitment to a belief) drive his actions in life? Did he do anything that seemed ridiculous because of what he believed? No verse yet...Now let’s see what Paul says…
No verse yet... Do you think that James and Paul are taking opposite positions? Why or why not? Do you think a faith can be genuine if it’s never acted upon? So what’s the takeaway? No verse yet... Contextually, why do you think James is writing this (in a fairly heated tone)? How did Jewish Christians in that time feel about the law and its role in their salvation? Why bring up Rahab? How do Rahab’s “works” compare to the other works James is describing in chapter 2? Go back to James 2:15 if you need a reminder… So what does this say about our own faith today? If we have committed to our belief, how now shall we live? Do you feel like the “works” in your own life represent the abundance of your faith? If not, what gets in the way of that?