where the letter of James
may have been sent
where the letter of James
may have been sent
where the letter of James
may have been sent
The Gospel in James
James’ letter to call all believers to live out their faith
As believers in Jesus Christ, it is crucial that our behavior aligns with our faith. We are called to live holy lives that reflect the holiness of the God who saved us. However, history has shown that many believers grapple with living a double life, attempting to straddle a godless culture and God’s truth, often with disastrous consequences. James, in his practical way, reminds us to guard against the spiritual pollution of the world. His teachings cover a range of topics, including prejudice, improper speech, judgment, exclusion of God from our plans, and harboring bitterness.
For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and departs and immediately forgets what he looks like. But the one who looks carefully at the perfect law of liberty, and continues there, and does not become a forgetful hearer but a doer who acts—he will be blessed in what he does.
James 1:23–25
James calls us to live out our faith without any excuses. He teaches us that practicing our beliefs results from believing in Christ. For many of us, James glues works to faith in an uncomfortable way. He shows us that genuine faith is inseparable from the works of faith. We cannot divorce how we live from what we believe without raising questions about our true belief. To separate faith from works creates suspicions of being an imposter. Perhaps some are uncomfortable with the book of James because we are comfortable with our double life, even if we will not call it that. And we are bothered when we are challenged to reach a higher standard of behavior.
This Bible study in James will help any Sunday school class, small group, or individual respond to the call that those who believe in Christ must live like Christ. He is our example to follow in holiness.
