#BibleStudy Thoughts on Study Questions from James Ch 2 on 06/21/2020
For as many Sundays as needed, my Sunday school class will explore the context and content of the practical content of the Letter from James.
This is Wednesday. What follows are bits and pieces of the discussion in class on the questions posted two days ago.
If you miss getting the questions on Mondays, I invite you to go back. Copy, and paste the questions from those posts into a word.docx and fill in blanks or answer questions on your own. You can compare your thoughts to those of my class members each Wednesday. If your answers don’t match my class’s answers, that doesn’t make your answers wrong. If you like more information about what was said in class, email me at the address at the end of this post.
I hope you enjoy exploring this practical book along with us. Each Sunday's discussion ends at the last question in black print. Photos included are of the "whiteboard" list I generated during the discussion and are nothing but time savers for me.
Questions in this print were answered in previous weeks.
I invite you to check this blog site on Friday when my Expressions of Faith posts are from James. Here's last week's link's URL.
I also invite you back to these "Questions" blogs next week!
Chapter 2
V14-26
Compare James, John, Paul, and Jesus sayings about faith.
James
- Faith is first, works come after
You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. (James 2:22)
- His is a narrow focus that’s not doctrine. It’s behavior.
Paul
- You are justified by faith (Law) and God’s grace saves us by faith.
You see that [his] faith was cooperating with his works, and [his] faith was completed and reached its supreme expression [when he implemented it] by [good] works. (Ephesians 2:8-9)
John
- The word “Faith” appears only once in the book of John. (John 12:42)
Jesus
“… Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” (Matthew 17:20b-c)
Does Paul disagree with James in Romans 13:8-10, Gal 5:22-25, and Phil 2:12-13?
We agreed this wasn’t a good question. This is what we gleaned.
- Obedience leads to acts, strength, and direction.
What two examples of “worthless faith” does James give in this passage?
- Show your faith by your works.
- Faith will produce something in you.
15 Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. 16 If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? (James 2:15-16)
How does the story of Abraham support James’ position—how were his faith and actions working together?
- It’s a close fit.
- Abraham is a testament that faith is what God wants.
- Genesis 22 shows faith as action without recognizing the act it as faith.
“Don’t lay a hand on that boy! Don’t touch him! Now I know how fearlessly you fear God; [because of your faith,] you didn’t hesitate to place your son, your dear son, on the altar for me.” (Genesis 22:12)
Where else is Abraham used as an example of faith? What can we learn about his faith from these passages?
- Abraham left his homeland.
8 By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed [i]by going out to a place which he was to receive for an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing where he was going. 9 By faith he lived as an alien in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, fellow heirs of the same promise; 10 for he was looking for the city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God. 11 By faith even Sarah herself received [j]ability to conceive, even beyond the proper time of life, since she considered Him faithful who had promised. 12 Therefore there was born even of one man, and him as good as dead [k]at that, as many descendants as the stars of heaven in number, and innumerable as the sand which is by the seashore. (Hebrews 11:8-12)
WE GOT THIS FAR THIS WEEK.
Why is Rahab included here? How did her actions support James’ position?
Are all good deeds motivated by faith in Jesus?
Do good deeds not motivated by faith in Jesus have any merit in God’s eyes?
Is it possible to show true faith in Jesus without deeds of obedience to God?
Is it reasonable to judge people’s salvation by their works?
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