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A Study Guide in The Book of James

James Chapter Two

Chapter 2 - Seven Marks Of A Working Faith. James 1:22 - 2:26

Introduction: A Working Faith Will:
1. Be A Controlled Faith
2. Be A Compassionate Faith
3. Be A Clean Faith
4. Respect People Equally
5. Obey God
6. Be A Giving Faith
7. Be A Committed Faith

II.  Seven Marks Of A Working Faith.

James 1:22-25 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed. Now that we have laid the foundation for our study in this great little book of James, we must travel faster through the book, or we won't be able to finish before the "Rapture." So we will try to cover our notes quickly and not to get "bogged down" in extra-peripheral thoughts.

Introduction

There is no doubt that if a person is really saved good works will follow. All of the writers of the New Testament concur on this principle. We are reminded over and over that Christians need to live righteous lives. James does not teach that a person must utilize good works to get saved, but he is adamant that if a person is saved good works will follow. It is the old principal of the horse and the cart. If the horse is in front, as it should be normally, then the cart will follow.

Jesus teaches this in,

• Matthew 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

Paul teaches us this in,

• Colossians 1:10 That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;

The writer of the book of Hebrews teaches us this in,

• Hebrews 10:24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:

Peter teaches us this in,

• 1 Peter 2:12 Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.

John teaches us this in,

• 1 John 2:6 He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.

If all you are is a hearer of the word, and it doesn't affect your life, then James tells us in verse 22 of chapter 1 that you are "deceiving your own selves." Don't be deceived; "…be a doer of the word."

• Philippians 2:12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.

In verses 23-25 James also tells us that if you are not a doer of the word you are depriving yourself of the blessings of God. In these verses James contrasts the two kinds of hearers in this world. There are those who hear the word but do not do it, and there are those who hear the word and cannot wait to apply it and do it in their lives.

Look at what God says about these people in other portions of His word. These are the people who hear the word, but they do not let it affect them. God's word tells us about them in,

• Jeremiah 7:23-24 But this thing commanded I them, saying, Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and ye shall be my people: and walk ye in all the ways that I have commanded you, that it may be well unto you. But they hearkened not, nor inclined their ear, but walked in the counsels and in the imagination of their evil heart, and went backward, and not forward.
   
• Ezekiel 33:32 And, lo, thou art unto them as a very lovely song of one that hath a pleasant voice, and can play well on an instrument: for they hear thy words, but they do them not.

We have a world full of people who call themselves "Christians" but the preaching and teaching of the word of God is as a "lovely song" but it does not affect their heart.

However, there are many Christians that James says will hear the word and let it guide their lives.

• James 1:25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.

Now is the time for all of us to examine our hearts. Are we allowing the word of God to affect our hearts and draw us closer to Jesus? If not we are depriving ourselves of the many blessings of God. After looking at these verses as an introduction to this particular subject let us address the idea of a true faith being a "Working Faith."

1. Working Faith is a Controlled Faith. James 1:26-27 If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain. Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.
   1. "If any man among you seem to be religious…" Note that word "seem." Not everyone who claims the name of the Lord is a true believer.

      Matthew 7:21-23 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? And in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. As the author of our study astutely points out, There are tares in the church, and God will sort them out someday.

   2. "…and bridleth not his tongue…" James will expound much more on this matter in the next chapter when he lets us know about the nasty problem of the uncontrolled tongue. Talebearers among God's people have been problems for thousands of years.

      Leviticus 19:16 Thou shalt not go up and down as a talebearer among thy people: neither shalt thou stand against the blood of thy neighbor: I am the LORD.

      Proverbs 20:19 He that goeth about as a talebearer revealeth secrets: therefore meddle not with him that flattereth with his lips.

   3. "…but deceiveth his own heart…" This kind of a person often does not see anything wrong with what they are doing. We have a very difficult time seeing our own sins. God warns us over and over in His word to look into our own heart.

      Deuteronomy 8:2 And thou shalt remember all the way which the LORD thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no.

      Jeremiah 17:9-10 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.

      2 Corinthians 13:5 Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?

      Hebrews 3:12 Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.

   4. "…this man's religion is vain." The meaning of the word "vain" according to Mr. Webster is,
      "VAIN, a. L. vanus; Eng. Wan, wane, want. Empty; worthless; having no substance, value or importance. 1Peter 1."
       
2. A Working Faith is a Compassionate Faith. Verse 27a
   1. "Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this…" In this verse the word religion is defined Biblically. Religion is defined as works. That is why no one can get to heaven by their religion. Religion is what comes after salvation as James has already shown us. Salvation and then good works or "religion." The Apostle Paul recognizes this also:
       
      • Titus 1:16 They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.
   2. "…To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction…" We have a responsibility to do good to others. Jesus, Others and then You. J.O.Y.
       
3. A Working Faith is a Clean Faith. Verse 27b
   1. "…and to keep himself unspotted from the world." This is a very interesting section of Scripture. The word "unspotted" carries the connotation of being "unblemished." The root word that it comes from is only used four times in the New Testament. The other three times that it is used it is translated "without spot." Personal holiness should be the goal and desire of every truly born-again person. Reminds us of what Peter said in his second epistle,

      2 Peter 1:5-9 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.

      1. Our author lists three very important traits that should characterize our lives.
         1. We should be Holy in our Attitudes—Philippians 1:28
         2. We should be Holy in Actions—I Thessalonians 4:1
         3. We should be Holy in our Affections—Colossians 3:1-3

      I wholeheartedly agree with his suggestions. We must be Christ-like in all of our affairs.

   2. When people look at us, do they see something different? Do they see a clean life? Do they see a "Christian?"
   
    
4. A Working Faith is a Faith that Respects All People Equally. In one of our resources that we are using for our study in the book of James the author uses the word, "Courteous." I will use the Bible's word, "Respect." "Respect" is the better word considering what James says in this chapter. The chapter breaks down into three distinct parts. Verses 1-9 are the first part:

   James 2:1-9 My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons. For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment; And ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool: Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts? Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him? But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats? Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are called? If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself, ye do well: But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors.

   In this section James is very clear—Treat all people equally in the church. Some are wealthy, some are not. Don't make a big deal out of the wealthy person and ignore the ones who are not well off. He calls this "the royal law." James describes "the royal law" using our Lord's words here. Jesus quoted Moses from the book of, Leviticus 19:18 Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself: I am the LORD, when he used the expression three different times in the book of Matthew - Matthew 5:43, 19:19, and 22:39. Luke uses it in a little different form in Luke 10:27. Paul used the expression in, Romans 13:9, and Galatians 5:14. Then James uses it here and gives it this name, "The Royal Law." Mark records Jesus' use of the term and adds something to the description, note— Mark 12:31 And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these. It is obvious from the many scriptural references that this is a very important part of the message of the Bible, and James makes it very clear that "the faith of our Lord Jesus" when imparted to a person will cause them to treat everyone equally whether rich or poor. Be careful and don't sin against "the royal law" and bring down condemnation upon your head.

5. A Working Faith Recognizes the Importance of Obedience James 2:10-14 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law. So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty. For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment. What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? Can faith save him?
   1. Here we see this classic illustration about breaking just one point of the law causes us to be a "lawbreaker" and makes us "guilty" of breaking them all. Only One Man who ever lived kept the whole law — Jesus. Imagine in your minds a chain with ten links. You are holding onto the bottom link. God is holding the top link. Underneath you is a yawning pit of fire. Which link has to break to send you plunging into the pit of fire? If any one of the links breaks: you are on your way into the pit. You cry out in fear and trembling and Jesus reaches out His great hand and plucks you out of mid-air and sets you upon a Rock that will not move. Allelujah! You have been saved.
   2. Now in Christ Jesus we are safe. We are set free. Don't let that freedom cause you to think that just because you are upon the Rock, you may do as you see fit. You and I are free "in Christ." We will be judged by that "law of liberty" spoken of earlier in James. We have a responsibility to get into that "law of liberty" and find out what God wishes us to "do."
   3. Faith that does not produce good works is a faith in the wrong object. Faith like that will not save.
6. A Working Faith will be a Giving Faith. James 2:15-17 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. One of the great characteristics or attributes of God is His attribute of "giving."

   John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

   I cannot imagine how a person can be really saved and not be a "giver." Giving is such an integral part of God's character. How can a person have the Spirit of God Himself living within his soul and that person not want to be a "giver."

   2 Corinthians 9:7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.

   2 Corinthians 9:15 Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.

   1 Timothy 6:17 Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy;

   But being a giver goes well beyond the financial; it extends to every aspect of a Christian's life. It is a faith that gives sacrificially of oneself, one's material blessings and one's spiritual life. Real Bible love is exemplified by the word that is always changed by the perversions of Scripture — the word is "Charity." My definition of the word charity is as follows; "God's love characterized by sacrificial giving."

7. A Working Faith is a Committed Faith James 2:18-26 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way? For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
   1. Verse 18 - The good works that we do for the Lord demonstrate our real Bible faith imparted when we trusted the Lord as our Saviour. If you examine your life and you don't see anything done for the Lord, re-examine your faith in Him. Are you really saved? There is a real, saving faith. There is a spurious faith that God tells us about
   2. Verses 19-25 - Two illustrations from the Old Testament; Abraham and Rahab. It is natural that God would inspire James to use Abraham (Genesis 22) as a great illustration, but to use Rahab? Every Jew knew about Abraham and respected him, but to use a harlot, a gentile woman as an illustration? That was something that was bold and unexpected. See Joshua 2
   3. Verse 26 - James sums up his thoughts on this subject by this classic statement. As we have said several times already, real Bible faith will always produce good works.

   Ephesians 2:8-10 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

Table of Contents   or go on to   Chapter 3 - A Biblical Faith Is A Controlled Faith - James 3:1-18