James chapter 2: Part two
Verse 14:
“14 What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him?”

• Faith goes further than just believing something to be true.
• Faith is so powerful that it causes us to act out our faith in a physical way (we live it out for the world to see)

Verse 15-16:
“15 If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good[b] is that? 17 So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.”

• Verse 15-16 tells the story of a believer who sees a hungry and cold person and explains that it is useless to bless that person unless you also bless them with something that they need.
• As people of faith we should show compassion for all people because all people are loved by God.
• We live in a society that focuses on ourselves instead of focusing on the needs of others.
• We seem to be okay with believing in God, but too often we refuse to live a life that reflects our personal relationship with God.
• That is not the kind of believing Jesus refers to when he reminds us that those, “Who believe in the son will be saved.”
• Our belief in God is meant to propel us into action. An action that will change the world for Jesus’ glory.

James chapter 2
Verse 1:
“My brothers,[a] show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory.”

• We should not show favoritism to anyone.
• We should love and show love to all people in the same ways.

Verse 2-5:
“2 For if a man wearing a gold ring and fine clothing comes into your assembly, and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in, 3 and if you pay attention to the one who wears the fine clothing and say, “You sit here in a good place,” while you say to the poor man, “You stand over there,” or, “Sit down at my feet,” 4 have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? 5 Listen, my beloved brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him?”

• James reminds us that if we treat the two men differently due to the way they look, then we are judging wickedly.

Verse 5:
“5 Listen, my beloved brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him?”

• God shows love to both the poor and the rich.
• Don’t mistake your economic advantages, or deficiencies, as the ultimate sign of God’s love.
• Just because a person is financially poor doesn’t mean that God isn’t using the situation to be glorified in a specific community.

Verse 9:”
“9 But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors.”

• The way you treat people is the way you are expressing your faith.
• You are representing a Holy and perfect creator; why would you want to represent Him with such bias and unfair actions and thoughts?

James chapter 1: Part two
Verse 22-24:
“But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror.  For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like.”

• A doer of the word would remember what God says and would be obedient.
  
• This story illustrates a man who sees what’s in front of him, yet does not pay attention to the small, yet significant, details that make the image so great.  
  

Verse25:
“But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.”

• God does not just ask for our belief in him, he is looking for our obedience in his perfect word.
  
• By being obedient to the word, we have opened ourselves up to God’s blessings in our life.
  

Questions:

• How can you be a doer of the word?
  
• How is God asking you to be obedient?
  
• What is your first step to obedience?