An Overview of the Book of James

Faith is Demonstrated by:

Our Words and Deeds

• Our works demonstrate our faith (2:16-17,24)
• It is manifest in our speech (1:26; 3:,9-10)
• This is a reflection of our heart (3:11-12)

Our Approach to God’s Word

• God uses His word to call us and to save us (1:18)
• Receive it eagerly and humbly (1:19-21)
• Be more than hearers, put it into practice (1:22,25)
• Seek after the wisdom from above (3:17)

Our Handling of Temptation

• Trials from without — rejoice (1:2-4)
• Desires from within — overcome (1:13-15; 4:7-8)

The Use of Our Blessings

• God gives us all good things (1:17) — We must be good stewards
• Help those in need (1:27; 2:15-16)
• Planning for the future (4:13-15)
• Not to trust in riches (1:9-11; 5:1-3)

Our Trust in God

• Don’t be a friend of the world (4:4)
• Humble yourselves (4:6-10)
• Endure sufferings (1:12; 5:7-8,10-11)
• Singing/prayer (5:13-16) — in good & bad times, we direct our attention to God

Our Dealings with Brethren

• Not to judge unrighteously (2:1-5; 4:11-12; 5:9)
• Strive for peace (3:17)
• Not to seek after our own selfish desires (4:1-3)
• Turn others from sin (5:19-20)

Text: 2 Timothy 4:2-4

What is Sound Doctrine?

• The word we are to preach, the truth (2 Timothy 4:2-4)
• The gospel (1 Timothy 1:10-11)
• The words of Christ (1 Timothy 6:3) and the apostles (2 Timothy 1:13)
• All of God’s word (Acts 20:26-27), only God’s word (1 Peter 4:11), without changes (Galatians 1:6-7)

What is False Teaching?

• Opposite of truth (2 Thessalonians 2:10-12)
• A perverted form of the gospel (Galatians 1:6-9)
• Determined by message, not by a preacher’s motives

How Does the Progression Occur?

• Start with sound doctrine, backed up by book, chapter and verse (BCV)
• Right message, but BCV is replaced by stories, human wisdom, and misused Scripture
• Eventually false teaching is introduced — How? Through stories, human wisdom, and misused Scripture
• The “style” is the same as those who make the right points without properly using Scripture — Therefore it is hard for people to see the difference

How Is This Stopped?

• Use the style of preaching found in the New Testament (1 Peter 4:11; Acts 17:2-3)
• Do not be afraid to talk about all that God has revealed (Acts 20:26-27)
• This may not be popular (2 Timothy 4:2-4), but it is God’s way (2 Timothy 4:5)

Text: Galatians 2:20

Crucified with Christ — We must die with Christ (Romans 6:3-5, 10-11)

It Is No Longer I Who Live — We must sacrifice our life for Him (Romans 12:1)

Christ Lives in Me — He dwells in our hearts by faith (Ephesians 3:17)

Live by Faith in the Son of God — Faith is essential, and should naturally lead to obedience (Hebrews 11:6; James 2:16-17)

He Loved & Gave Himself Up for Me — We should love Him in return (1 John 4:19; John 14:15)

Read the article: Crucified with Christ

Text: 1 Kings 16:29-33

“Ahab… did evil in the sight of the Lord more than all who were before him” (v. 30) — What did Ahab do to earn this infamous recognition?

He Failed to Learn from His Father’s Sins (v. 30; Ezekiel 18:14-17)

Sin Was a Trivial Thing to Him (v. 31; Isaiah 59:2; Romans 6:23)

He Allowed Himself to be Influenced by Evil (v. 31; 2 Corinthians 6:14; 1 Corinthians 15:33)

He Engaged in Idolatry (v. 31-33; Deuteronomy 7:3-4; 1 John 5:21)

Read the article: Evil Ahab

Text: Galatians 1:6-10

Jeopardizes Our Salvation (v. 6; Romans 1:16)

Regardless of Preacher (v. 8; Matthew 7:15)

Condemnation for Preaching a Different Gospel (v. 8-9; 1 Peter 4:11)

What Other Gospels?

• Judaizers – failed to distinguish between the covenants (Colossians 2:14)
• Gnostics – taught a different Jesus (Colossians 2:9) and that sin was not a problem (Jude 4)
• Catholics – believe in a different head, the pope (Ephesians 1:22-23), therefore a different standard (Matthew 28:18-20)
• Protestants – most teach salvation by faith alone (James 1:22; 2:24) and that there are many legitimate churches (Matthew 16:18)
• Liberals – do not respect authority (Colossians 3:17) or bounds of fellowship (Ephesians 5:11)

Who Are We Trying to Please? (v. 10)

Text: Romans 14

What We Must Understand As We Begin:

• Controversy: Does Romans 14 allow ongoing fellowship with those in sin/error?
• We can understand this (Ephesians 3:4)
• Scripture does not contradict itself (John 10:35)

What Does This Chapter Teach & What Does It Not Teach?

• Don’t judge others’ opinions by your opinions. NOT: Don’t judge. (v. 1-6)
• God will judge all. NOT: God will accept all unconditionally. (v. 10-12)
• Nothing is unclean in itself. NOT: Anything goes, we can do as we please. (v. 14)
• Pursue the things which make for peace. NOT: Ignore sin & error in order to maintain fellowship & unity. (v. 19)

Passages Contradicted by the False View

• 2 Thessalonians 3:6,14-15 – withdraw from brethren living in sin who refuse to repent
• 1 Corinthians 5:9-10,13 – refrain from social contact with erring brother, except to teach (cf. 2 Thessalonians 3:15)
• Ephesians 5:11 – not to have fellowship with works of darkness; don’t ignore them, but expose them
• Romans 16:17 – mark & avoid false teachers
• 2 John 10-11 – receiving, even greeting, a false teacher amounts to participation in his evil deeds