Discontinued Yachtsman220 Bible Study Blog: My Tuesday Night Mens Group Meeting assignment...

My Tuesday Night Mens Group Meeting assignment...

First session on James

1. Read all of the Book of James.....we'll try to get to the overview this week. What does the writing of James remind you of? The book of James is an instruction book with similarities to the Proverbs and the Sermon on the Mount (Matt. 5–7). It contains 54 clear commands.[1]

2. Are there other writings that are similar to James, if so, which writings? Same answer as the answer to number 1 above. Here is Jack Hayford on this issue: “Immature Christians want the “easy side” of God’s love which asks little of them and doesn’t test their faith. But James shows that it is the adversities of life which prove our faith. And it is our response to the enticements of the enemies of the soul which reveal the true foundation and integrity of our love for God.”[2]

3. What is different about the way James discuss faith and works? James finds fault with the doctrine of faith without works. In fact according to Kenneth Wuest, he says this, “James 2:18–20 But a person will say, As for you, you have faith, and I have works. Prove to me [your actual possession of] the faith you [profess to] possess apart from any accompanying works, and I will prove to you my [actual possession of] faith by my works. As for you, you give credence to [the doctrine] that God is one. You are doing well. The demons also give credence [to that fact] and shudder. But, do you desire to come to know, O senseless man! that the aforementioned faith [that exists] apart from works is unproductive? James 2:21–23 Was not our father Abraham vindicated by works [justified as to his claim to a living faith] in that he offered his son Isaac on the altar of sacrifice? You see that the aforementioned faith was co-operating and working with his works [and thereby was responsible for their production], and by his works was this faith brought to completion in a well-rounded whole. And the scripture was actually and fully realized [brought into operation] which said, And Abraham believed God, and it [his act of faith] was put to his account for righteousness. And a friend of God he was called. James 2:24–26 You see that by works a man is justified and not by faith alone. Now, similarly, was not Rahab the prostitute also vindicated [justified as to her possession of a living faith] in that she entertained as guests the messengers and thrust them forth by means of a different way [from that by which they entered the city]? For even as the body apart from breath is dead, so also the aforementioned faith apart from works is dead.”[3]
In conclusion this is the homework assignment for the meeting I attended a month ago.