November 27, 2005 · James 2:17

2 Peter 1-3-11

“Luther, for example, really didn't have much taste for the book of James. Call it a straw epistle. He put it at the end. I think if he could, if he would have erased it, because he didn't like what he had to say. Now, what was it that James is saying that's the problem? Well, I think what James is trying to get at is that we have to show evidence of our faith. You can't say you have faith, say you have faith, say you have faith, but never actually show evidence of this. James 214 starts off, what good is it, my brothers? If a man claims to have faith that has no deeds, can such faith save him? Skip the 17. In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action is dead. But someone will say, you have faith, I have deeds. Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do. In verse 26 he says, as the body without the Spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead. James here is making a point that if anyone claims to have wisdom of God, it will most definitely be reflected in his or her life. The wisdom of God is all about skillful living. It's not abstract knowledge, it's not how many verses you have memorized or how well the Greek. It's about how well you apply the words that God is giving you a scripture to your life. It is down to earth understanding about how to best go about living your life. It's about how we relate to God and how we treat other people.”