James Ch2
A letter from James
Continuation of long chapter.
The whole and the part.
James 2 -ASV
1. My brethren, hold not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons.
This letter is primarily addressed to the sons of God, those who are in the union of God.
An admonition.
Having perfect knowledge is not the same as knowing every single thing. But christians should keep on thinking of and meditating things concerning the Lord.
Judgement by principles of righteousness and not by sight.
2. For if there come into your synagogue a man with a gold ring, in fine clothing, and there come in also a poor man in vile clothing;
Synagogues are not banned for christians. Christians assemblies do still congregate in congregation houses. People of contrasty status may enter therein.
A sign of richness comparing with a sign of poverty.
3. and ye have regard to him that weareth the fine clothing, and say, Sit thou here in a good place; and ye say to the poor man, Stand thou there, or sit under my footstool;
A differentiation.
A demonstration of principle by story/narrative.
4. Do ye not make distinctions among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts?
The concern here is judgement that is with evil thoughts.
The message does not condemn making judgement.
5. Hearken, my beloved brethren; did not God choose them that are poor as to the world to be rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he promised to them that love him?
God made choices. The redeemed also make choices.
Intelligent people make choices.
6. But ye have dishonored the poor man. Do not the rich oppress you, and themselves drag you before the judgment-seats?
Evil thoughts do not breed happiness.
Wrong judgement cause sadness and embarrassment.
7. Do not they blaspheme the honorable name by which ye are called?
Worldly riches are an afront to pure religion.
8. Howbeit if ye fulfil the royal law, according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself, ye do well:
Your neighbors are those who do good to you. Not those who work against you, even blaspheming the honorable name by which you are called, such as the Atheists, non-believers, Satan worshippers, murderers, and liars.
9. but if ye have respect of persons, ye commit sin, being convicted by the law as transgressors.
You could choose to commit sin.
The law is the reference of judgement. The law is inlaid in the word of God. This indirectly speak of the perfection of the word of God as the code for living.
Not believing in the whole of the bible is not believing in the whole of the law. There is therefore a lack of conviction. There is a lack of agreement of sin.
Righteousness is not seen as righteousness, when sin is not seen as sin.
10. For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is become guilty of all.
Pure religion does not have any stumbling block.
When one point of scripture is missed out or ignored, the whole is ignored and condemned.
11. For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou dost not commit adultery, but killest, thou art become a transgressor of the law.
Be holy, set apart, for the Lord Almighty is holy, set apart.
There is not partiality. No compromise. No "but".
God is not divided into facades. There is one God, whose name is "I AM".
12. So speak ye, and so do, as men that are to be judged by a law of liberty.
Be in unity, in thoughts, principles, action, deeds and name.
Be coherent.
Be complete in the law, the word of God.
13. For judgment is without mercy to him that hath showed no mercy: mercy glorieth against judgment.
Have mercy. Be nice. Be kind.
What you give could well be what you get. Fair?
14. What doth it profit, my brethren, if a man say he hath faith, but have not works? can that faith save him?
We are to live profitable. Christians are not to make loses in life. there is a lot to gain in life living as sons of God as well. Christians are not dull and wet.
Faith/belief that is absolutely without works is just a thought. Faith is more than just something in the mind. Faith can lead to actions.
Faith is not something intangible. It is the conviction, the belief that leads to action and a change of attitude. A faithful person is not a dead/immobile person.
15. If a brother or sister be naked and in lack of daily food,
Where is the love and care?
God does not ask you to love all kinds of enemies. He certainly asks you to love your brothers and sisters, those who are in Christ. Nothing extreme about this. Nothing unreasonable.
16. and one of you say unto them, Go in peace, be ye warmed and filled; and yet ye give them not the things needful to the body; what doth it profit?
You can do more than that.
17. Even so faith, if it have not works, is dead in itself.
Dead in Christ, and ressurected in Him.
Christians did not start off living. They were dead in tresspasses, in sin; not knowing God.
Belief should lead to action; even that it is not action itself.
Action is not, in the contrary, belief.
18. Yea, a man will say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: show me thy faith apart from thy works, and I by my works will show thee my faith.
Works show the quality of faith.
Non-believers only demonstrate a form of godliness. they even deny many aspects of the gospel.
Breaking one law is breaking all. Doing something is not doing everything required.
Christians must demonstrate Christ, and complete Godward approach. In unity. In love. In righteousness.
19. Thou believest that God is one; thou doest well: the demons also believe, and shudder.
Everybody believes in something.
The totality is not just something. Your brothers and sisters are not just something. They are more precious than that.
20. But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith apart from works is barren?
Men of words alone end up as nothing. Love is more than words (1 Cor 13).
This is not a discussion of redemption, the initial step into the union of God. This is concerning ongoing christian growth, about witness and evangelism.
Roman Catholics hardly evangelise the world with the law of God.
21. Was not Abraham our father justified by works, in that he offered up Isaac his son upon the altar?
Not saved/redeemed by works. Only justified by works. Do not read things into any pre-text.
his faith was tested. He had faith even before he was tested. Jehovah who formed men knew even before his conception.
The works of Abraham is for the benefit of mankind. Example to follow. Pattern of righteousness.
22. Thou seest that faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect;
The starting point, the source of action, is faith.
Faith is not just works. Faith is not works. His works were not faith. His faith worked with his works.
23. and the scripture was fulfilled which saith, And Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned unto him for righteousness; and he was called the friend of God.
Proof is in works.
Proving faith is not the same as having faith.
Working life out according to faith is proving righteousness does work. Living in righteousness rather than just thinking of it.
Help others to get there.
24. Ye see that by works a man is justified, and not only by faith.
Ye did not see that by works a man is redeemed. It is by the works of the Holy Spirit.
The initiation is of God. he is the source of life. Works of men are not.
God does not need the works of men to be God. He is God alright.
25. And in like manner was not also Rahab the harlot justified by works, in that she received the messengers, and sent them out another way?
She was redeemed by faith.
She was not redeemed by receiving themessengers.
She would have been destroyed, she and her family, if they did not heed the promise/covenant with the Israelites.
Heed God and not organisation that preach a different law/good news.
26. For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, even so faith apart from works is dead.
Works as compared with the spirit. The works of the Spirit rather than the works of men.
Live out your faith through works in the Spirit.
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