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JAMES I. BACKGROUND
1. Author
- It is thought to be James, the brother of Jesus, who did not believe in
Jesus as the Son of God until He had risen from the dead (John 7:3-5, Acts 1:14; 1 Corinthians 15:7). James became one of the leaders of the
Jerusalem church (Acts 15:13; Galatians 2:9). 2. Date
- It appears to have been written about A.D.45, since it does not mentions
the Jerusalem council of Acts 15. 3. Setting
- The book was written to Jewish Christians who had been scattered from
Palestine by persecution or other situations: 1:1; Acts 8:1-4; 12:14-17 II. PURPOSE OF
THE BOOK
1. Key
verses: 1:2-4; 2:14-17 2. Purpose: To show the progress of faith in a
Christian's life. Hence, it gave
instruction concerning matters that involve faith in the Christian life. 3. How
faith responds to trials: 1:2-18 1) Recognize the good fruit of testing: 1:2-4 2) Ask God for help: 1:5-7 3) Look to the promised reward:
1:12; Philippians 3:10-14 4) Recognize God as the source of blessings: 1:13-18 4. How
faith works: 1:19-2:26 1) Faith obeys God's word: 1:22 2) Faith practices love: 1:27 3) Love removes discrimination:
2:1-9 4) Faith produces mercy toward others: 2:12-12 5) There is no faith without works:
2:14-20 5. Faith
brings us into submission to God:
3:1-4:17 1) Faith controls our tongue:
3:1-12 2) True wisdom is at peace with God and man: 3:17-18 (1:5) 3) God gives grace to the humble:
4:6-12, 15 6. Faith
produces victory: chap. 5 1) Victory is not based on earthly riches: 5:1-6 2) Faith produces endurance:
5:7-12 3) Faith causes us to pray for each other: 5:13-16 4) Faith confronts sin and helps the erring brother: 5:19-20 III. APPLICATIONS - LESSONS
1. Compare
JAMES with the Sermon on the Mount: 1) Blesses are the persecuted:
1:2; Matthew 5:10-12 2) The need for perfection: 1:4;
Matthew 5:43-48 3) The need for mercy:
2:13; Matthew 6:14-15 4) Avoid harsh judgment of others:
4:11; Matthew 7:1-2 5) Do not trust in earthly riches:
5:2; Matthew 6:19 2. Practice
Pure Religion: 1) Help the helpless: 1:27; 2:15-16 2) Live pure lives:
1:27; 3:13-4:7; Ephesians 4:23-29 3. Love
is evidence of faith: 2:8 1) Love shares joy and sorrow:
5:13-15 2) Love brings us to God:
1:17-18; John 3:16; John 14:15 3) Love demonstrates our faith in practical ways: a. By helping the widows and orphans: 1:27 b. By equally fellowshipping with all: 2:1-9 c. By providing the needs of those without: 2:15-16 d. By not judging our brethren: 4:11-12 e. By praying for those who have needs: 5:16 f. By confronting the
erring brother: 5:19-20 JAMES
QUESTIONS
1. Multiple Choice: Trials and suffering cause faithful Christians to: 1) become
discouraged 2) become
bitter and angry 3) ask
why God has done this to me 4) become
more patient 2. ________________________ makes our faith
alive and fruitful. 3. God has chosen the _____________ of this
world to be rich in faith. 4. How can we practice pure religion? 5. "Be ye ________________ of the word and
not ___________ only." 6. What would you do if someone of a lower caste
who was dressed in shabby clothes came into your assembly of the church? 7. "Confess your _____________ to one
another, and ____________ for one another, that you may be _______________." 8. What causes wars and fighting among us? (as the church) 9. True or False: _____ 1)
Faith without works is dead. _____ 2)
God resists the humble, but gives grace to the proud. _____ 3)
It is good to hold bitterness and malice in your hearts. _____ 4)
Our physical life only lasts for a short time like a vapor. _____ 5)
If we know to do good and do not do it, then we are sinning. 10. How are we tempted to sin? |