James 2 - Introduction

JUSTIFIED BY WORKING FAITH

-- JAMES TWO --

James chapter two pictures the sin of respecting persons. Showing partiality in our treatment of others is sinful. God does not show partiality in dealing with man and neither should we. "Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him." (Acts 10:34-35) In the world favoritism is often show because of wealth, position, education or race. It cannot be so among God's people.

God's Royal Law requires that we should love our neighbors as we love ourselves. "If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well." (James 2:8) If you fulfil God's Royal Law you do well, but if you show partiality, then you practice sin.

James showed that saving faith is active faith. There can be no true religion when man does not obey the Law of God. He proved that if a man should obey every part of the law but one, because of that one he is guilty of violating the law as a whole. (James 2:10) God is the authority of every point of the Law. Those who disrespect even one point, disrespect God.

All will face God in judgment. We will be judged, impartially, by the principles of God's will. On the judgment day we will know for certain that faith cannot save a man unless there are also works. There is a kind of faith that even the devils have. This sort of faith cannot save a man.

Abraham and Rahab are cited as examples of those having saving faith. They were saved by the proper carrying out or fulfillment of their faith. A dead body without a soul cannot claim to be a living man, and neither can a dead faith, a faith without works, claim to be a saving faith.