New Testament

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JAMES: PAUL’S THEOLOGY WITH A TWIST

Paul’s theology

Justification by faith

“Works” seems to be a bad word

James’ theology

Justification leads to holy living

“Works” are a good thing

James 2:14 What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him?

James 2:19 You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that –and shudder.

James 2:22 You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did.James 2:24,26 You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone. … 26 As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.

“The faith that saves is faith, alone.

But the faith that saves is never alone.”

“I will not work, my soul to save.

That work, my Lord has done.

But I will work like any slave,

For love of God’s dear Son.”

James 1:26 If anyone considers himself religious

and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he

deceives himself and his religion is worthless.

James 3:1-121 Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. 2 We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check.

James 3:1-123 When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. 4 Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go.

James 3:1-125 Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. 6 The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.

James 3:1-127 All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man, 8 but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.

James 3:1-129 With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God’s likeness. 10 Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be. 11 Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? 12 My brothers, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.

HOW CAN THE TONGUE BE SO POWERFUL?

James 1:26 If anyone considers himself religious

and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he

deceives himself and his religion is worthless.

WAYS WE RATIONALIZE OUR WORDS

Our Words

It is true

He/she hurt me

Feigned piety

Religious language

Our Words

It is true

He/she hurt me

Feigned piety

Religious language

Our Words

It is true

He/she hurt me

Feigned piety

Religious language

Our Words

It is true

He/she hurt me

Feigned piety

Religious language

SO WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO ABOUT IT?

Start with our heart

Take every thought captive to Christ

A time to confront and a time to comfort

Start with our heart

Take every thought captive to Christ

A time to confront and a time to comfort

Start with our heart

Take every thought captive to Christ

A time to confront and a time to comfort

ONE GIANT STRUGGLE OF THE CHRISTIAN WALK

Faith without works is

dead

Come near to God and

he will come near

to you

Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift

you up

Faith without works is

dead

Come near to God and

he will come near

to you

Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift

you up

Faith without works is

dead

Come near to God and

he will come near

to you

Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift

you up