James Class Schedule

1. James Class Schedule

2. Temptations in the book of James (part 1) * • Temptation to be quick/swift with a negative response and quick to be irritable and angry (hair trigger) - Jas 1:19-20 • 2. Temptation to be only hearers of the word and • not doers of the word - Jas 1:22-25 • Temptation to criticize others - Jas 1:26,27 • 4. Temptation to show partiality and favoritism - Jas 2:1-13 • Temptation to boast of our faith without works - Jas 2:14-26 • Temptation to misuse & not restrain the tongue - Jas 3:1-12 • 7. Temptation to walk in human vs divine wisdom - Jas 3:13-18 * HAL MOLLOY 21 MAR 2004

3. Condemnation of favoritism 1 My brethren, do not hold your faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ with an attitude of personal favoritism. 2 For if a man comes into your assembly with a gold ring and dressed in fine clothes, and there also comes in a poor man in dirty clothes, 3 and you pay special attention to the one who is wearing the fine clothes, and say, "You sit here in a good place," and you say to the poor man, "You stand over there, or sit down by my footstool," 4 have you not made distinctions among yourselves, and become judges with evil motives? • Why is faith in the Lord at odds with personal favoritism? • What does it mean to pay special attention in v:3 ? • What is the contrast between sitting in a good place and by my footstool? • Why are we not to become judges ?

4. Results of favoritism 5 Listen, my beloved brethren: did not God choose the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him? 6 But you have dishonored the poor man. Is it not the rich who oppress you and personally drag you into court? 7 Do they not blaspheme the fair name by which you have been called? • Why has God chosen the poor ? • Is to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom only for the poor believer ? • How have you (Jewish believers) dishonored the poor man? • Who are “the rich” that James is talking about ? • What three things have “the rich” done to you (Jewish believers)

5. Favoritism, royal law, and law of liberty part 1 8 If, however, you are fulfilling the royal law according to the Scripture, "YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF," you are doing well. 9 But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors. 10 For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all • Why is loving your neighbor as yourself called the royal law ? • What are some reasons why partiality was an issue for the Jewish believer ? • 3. What does v:10 tell us about the law vs. grace ?

6. Favoritism, royal law, and law of liberty part 2 11 For He who said, "DO NOT COMMIT ADULTERY," also said, "DO NOT COMMIT MURDER." Now if you do not commit adultery, but do commit murder, you have become a transgressor of the law. 12 So speak and so act as those who are to be judged by the law of liberty. 13 For judgment will be merciless to one who has shown no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment. • What is the law of liberty ? • 2. Why does mercy triumph over judgment ?

7. Faith and works - Introduction 14 What use is it, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but he has no works? Can that faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, "Go in peace, be warmed and be filled," and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that? 17 Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself. • What kind of faith is being talked about in v:14 ? • Can merely saying you have faith save you ? • Why is the example in v:15-16 a good example of “lip” faith ? • Why is it important to realize that v:17a should read “even so the faith” ? • What is a good synonym for “death” in v:17 ?

8. Faith and works - Expanded 18 But someone may well say, "You have faith and I have works; show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works." 19 You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder. 20 But are you willing to recognize, you foolish fellow, that faith without works is useless? • Who is the “you/your” and “I” in v:18 ? • What is meant by “my faith by my works” ? • Why is believing that God is one not sufficient for salvation ? • Is the statement “ that faith without works is useless” contrary to Paul’s teaching ?

9. Faith and works - Abraham Illustration 21  Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up Isaac his son on the altar? 22  You see that faith was working with his works, and as a result of the works, faith was perfected; 23  and the Scripture was fulfilled which says, "AND ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS RECKONED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS," and he was called the friend of God. • What is the difference between v:21 and v:23? • 2. What is the contrast in Abraham’s life between Gen.15:6 and Gen 22 ? • 3. What does it mean to say that faith was perfected ? • 4. What does Paul say in Rom 4:3 ?

10. Faith and works – Rahab Illustration 24 You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone. 25 In the same way, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way? 26 For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead. • Is the justification spoken of in v:24 positional or conditional ? • Is this justification before God or men ? • What is the contrast between Rahab’s justification by works and Abraham’s ? • 4. What happens if “the body” has no spirit ? • 5. What happens if “faith” has no works ?