James 2
v.10
For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.
v.13
because judgement without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgement!
Moffatt translates this, “The merciful life will triumph in the face of judgment.” “That is, the merciful man glorieth, as one that hath received mercy, and shall not come into condemnation; for God’s mercy rejoiceth against such a man’s sins, as against an adversary which he hath subdued and trampled on.” (Trapp)
v.16
If any one of you says to him, “Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it?
Pastor Ed’s story of him taking two girls who lost their mother despite being a poor youth pastor with two young children.
v.17
In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
v.19
You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that - and shudder.
And in order to this sense of our own meanness and unworthiness that is implied in humility, it is not only necessary that we should know God, and have a sense of his greatness, without which we cannot know ourselves, but we must have a right sense also of his excellence and loveliness. The devils and damned spirits see a great deal of God’s greatness, of his wisdom, omnipotence, etc. God makes them sensible of it by what they see in his dealings, and feel in their own sufferings. However unwilling they are to know it, God makes them know how much he is above them now, and they shall know and feel it still more, at and after the judgment. 🔥But they have no humility, nor will they ever have, because, though they see and feel God’s greatness, yet they see and feel nothing of his loveliness. And without this there can be no true humility, for that cannot exist unless the creature feels his distance from God, not only with respect to his greatness, but also his loveliness. The angels amid ransomed spirits in heaven see both these things: not only how much greater God is than they are, but how much more lovely he is also.
v.26
As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.
The man without a spirit is dead since they can’t accept anything or understand anything that is spiritual - that which gives life. This nature is expounded in 1 Corinthians 2:14.
Believing that we can live the Christian life without the Holy Spirit dwelling inside us is just as false as claiming to have a faith that is without deeds.
v.23
And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,” and he was called God’s friend.
He will save you, brother, despite a thousand imperfections, but He will not call you His friend unless you are exceedingly careful to please Him in all things. Shall we draw back from the honor because of the responsibility? No, we delight in the responsibility; we thirst to be well-pleasing to God. Though our God is a consuming fire, we aspire to dwell in Him. To our new nature this fire is its element. Even now we pray that it may refine us, and consume all our dross and tin. We would gladly be baptized with the fire baptism. We wish nothing to be spared which ought to be consumed, or which can be consumed. We accept friendship with God on His own terms. I tremble while I speak. We are willing to bear anything which will make us one with God. The Spirit of God is the Spirit of judgment and the Spirit of burning; do you know what you ask when you pray to be filled with Him? I trust you will reply, “Be it what it may, I desire to feel that heavenly influence which can make me forever the friend of God.”
v.24
You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone.