Key Verse: James 2
1-7 Favoritism/discrimination
8-11 Law of love
• Love your neighbor as yourself -- means requiring identifying with your neighbor as though they were yourself -- favoritism implies that not everyone will receive such treatment
12-13 Law of reciprocity
• Do unto others, freely you've received, freely give
• We will be judged by the law that sets us free
13 Mercy (eleos) - kindness for someone in need; legal clemency
13 Luke 6:38 "Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full—pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back."
• As we show others mercy and grace, so shall we receive it.
14 Faith (pistis) - Confidence that something is real , implying that action will arise from belief
• Hebrews 11 is the consummate definition of faith, especially as identified with corresponding actions
• Where does our faith come from? Romans 10:17 - By hearing the Good News about Jesus.
14 Implication that faith in action is instrumental in salvation
• Confessing Jesus as Lord is an action resulting from our faith
14-16 Refer to the Good Samaritan/neighbor
• In Social Psychology, the "just world fallacy" is "the tendency for people to want to believe that the world is fundamentally just. As a result, when they witness an otherwise inexplicable injustice, they will rationalize it by searching for things that the victim might have done to deserve it. This deflects their anxiety, and lets them continue to believe the world is a just place, but often at the expense of blaming victims for things that were not, objectively, their fault." (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Just_world_fallacy)
• In Comparative Religions, the Hindu religion emphasizes the caste system, a social stratification that considers some to be "untouchables," people of lowest class currently living out the consequences of their past states (according to the concepts of karma and reincarnation). Such a mindset truly believes that each person ultimately gets what they deserve, that what goes around, comes around, akin to the just world fallacy.
18 Faith and deeds are inseparable, distinct from unique spiritual giftings. Works/good deeds show our faith
21 Story of Abraham and Isaac as an example of faith in action - Gen 22, Heb 11:17
22 Be careful to always remember that works arise from faith, yet don't determine or influence our relationship with God. We manifest His love to others through our works.
25 Story of Rahab as another example of faith in action - Josh 2, Heb 11:31
26 Body + Breath = Life in flesh, Faith + Good Works = Life in spirit
• God is love - John 4:12: "Noone has ever seen God. If we love each other God lives in us, and His love is brought to full expression in us."
• Faith + Action + Love = Full expression of God's love (We receive His love, and extend it to others)
• Love is an essential part of the equation -- Jesus will tell some who did works in His name, "Depart from me, I never knew you…" Also consider 1 Corinthians 13, "If I (do any number of works), but don't have love, I have nothing."
• As we see the fruits of some of our works (realizing that God has used us to impact others), our faith is built up.
Verses Referenced:
• Luke 6:38 – “Give, and you will receive…”
• Hebrews 11 – “Faith is the confidence…”
• Romans 10:17 – “So, faith comes from hearing…”
• Genesis 22:1-18 – Abraham & Isaac
• Joshua 2 – Rahab
• 1 John 4:12 – “Noone has ever seen God…”
• Matthew 7:21-23 – “Not everyone who calls out to me…”
• 1 Corinthians 13:1-3 – “If I could speak all…”
Definitions (from NLT Study Bible)
Eleos (mercy). This noun means gracious compassion or kindness for someone in need. Mercy is differentiated from kindness; while kindness can be to anyone, mercy is for those in need. It can also mean legal clemency. It can refer to God’s mercy to human beings.
Pistis (faith). As a noun, refers to confidence that something is real, with a strong implication that action will ensue from this belief. While faith can be rather mundane (e.g., believing a report), in the NT it almost always refers to faith in God or Christ. Such faith entails active belief, entrusting oneself completely to God.
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