James

James 2: God gives faith that acts

Begin in prayer

Before reading James 2, consider the Lord Jesus Christ of glory, who gives living faith that acts in mercy. Ask God to uncover the ways we judge people by their clothes, and to teach us to trust His Son.

For Yahweh your God, he is God of gods, and Lord of lords, the great God, the mighty, and the awesome, who doesn’t respect persons, nor takes reward.

Deuteronomy 10:17

Father in heaven, please open our eyes as we read Your Word. Show us Jesus, and teach us that living faith shows itself in works. Make us more like Jesus. And please bless our family as we worship You together. In Jesus' name, Amen.

See where we're going

The word James told his readers to obey now tests how they welcome people into their gathering. A gold ring wins a good seat, while a poor visitor is told to stand or sit by the footstool. Such favoritism dishonors people God has chosen to be rich in faith and breaks His command to love a neighbor. The same empty religion appears when someone offers kind words to a hungry fellow believer and gives no food. James calls faith without works dead, even when it says true things about God. Abraham's offering of Isaac and Rahab's care for the messengers show the actions of faith that is alive.

As you read James 2, look for the answers:

Reflect together

Key truth

God gives living faith in Jesus that shows itself in works of mercy.

Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ of glory leaves no room to measure people by fine clothes. God has chosen the poor to inherit His Kingdom, so the assembly's treatment of them contradicts His mercy. Breaking His command to love a neighbor makes a person a transgressor of the law. A hungry believer then exposes how hollow religious words can be, for a blessing alone leaves the body hungry. James challenges a claim to faith that never acts, and says such faith cannot save. Abraham's obedience showed the faith God had already counted as righteousness, years before Isaac was offered (Genesis 15 verse 6). Rahab also acted because she believed, receiving the messengers and sending them another way. Both direct the hearer to living trust in Christ, whose mercy bears fruit in the person He saves.

How does James 2 show us that God gives living faith in Jesus that shows itself in works of mercy?

God chose the poor to be rich in faith.

The rich visitor receives a good seat because of his ring and clothes. The poor man is dishonored, though God chose the poor to be rich in faith. James calls favoritism sin, for the Kingdom is promised to those who love God. Faith in the glorious Lord Jesus cannot make a person's wealth the measure of his worth. The rich also oppress believers, drag them into court and blaspheme the name by which they are called.

Breaking one of God's commands makes a person guilty before Him.

God spoke every command, so breaking one makes a person guilty as a transgressor of His whole law. The commands against adultery and murder have the same Giver. James warns that judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment, and sinners must come to Jesus, who alone kept the law.

Faith with no works is dead.

James pictures a brother or sister who is naked and has no daily food (verse 15). Someone tells them “Go in peace” but does not give them what the body needs (verse 16). Faith with no works is dead in itself (verse 17). Even the demons believe that God is one, and they shudder (verse 19). Faith that is alive trusts Christ, and then it shows love.

Abraham and Rahab show faith that is alive.

James says Abraham was justified by works when he offered Isaac, and his faith worked with his works. God had counted Abraham's faith as righteousness before Isaac was born (Genesis 15 verse 6). James then says, “by works, a man is justified, and not only by faith” (verse 24). Rahab's receiving and sending the messengers showed living faith too. The faith he rejects is faith left alone, and the faith that rests on Christ always acts.

Memorise

Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead in itself.

James 2:17

Looking to Jesus in my life

Ask yourself in your heart, have I trusted Jesus myself, and does my faith show itself in love?

A man with a gold ring comes in and is given a good place. A poor man comes in and is told to stand. James calls that sin, and he reminds them of the Lord Jesus Christ of glory. Before the Lord Jesus Christ of glory, no one has anything to boast of, not the rich and not the poor.

James says that whoever stumbles in one point of the law has become guilty of all. Who can stand? Only Jesus kept every command. On the cross He stood where His people should have stood, and He died for them, taking their guilt on Himself. His payment is enough. No work and no gold can be added to it. God raised Him to life on the third day. God counts a sinner righteous by faith in Him alone, just as Abraham “believed God.”

And that faith is alive. James says a body without the spirit is dead, and so is faith without works. A living faith trusts Christ, and then it shows mercy. So come to Him. Turn from your sin and put your trust in Jesus. Jesus forgives the rich and the poor who turn to Him, and their living faith learns to show mercy.

Parent's note

Tell your children that living faith trusts Jesus, who gave Himself for His people. Call each child to turn from sin and trust Jesus, and pray that God would give them a new heart. Please do not tell them they are saved just because they grew up in a Christian home. Please show your children living faith by how you treat the poor.

Pray together

Now please close your time together in prayer. Ask God for living faith that shows itself in love, and bring the heart question to Him. Every child can pray, so let each one say a short prayer if they want to.

My little children, let’s not love in word only, or with the tongue only, but in deed and truth.

1 John 3:18

Lord Jesus, thank You for dying on the cross for Your people. Thank You for choosing poor people to be rich in faith. Please help us turn from sin, give us living faith in You, and let it show in love. Amen.