James 2 - A Study Guide by Mark A. Copeland

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                         "THE EPISTLE OF JAMES"

                              Chapter Two

OBJECTIVES IN STUDYING THE CHAPTER

1) To consider the sin and danger of showing personal favoritism

2) To note the folly of faith without works, how that faith without
   works is a dead faith

SUMMARY

In this chapter we first find a call to hold the faith of Jesus Christ
without partiality.  Evidently some were displaying favoritism toward
the rich in their assemblies, while despising the poor. Showing respect
of persons made one a judge with evil thoughts, and James provides
several reasons why such prejudice was unbecoming of those who believe
in Jesus and worthy of condemnation (1-13).

James then addresses the relationship between faith and works,
especially the folly of professing faith when unaccompanied by works.
Using several examples to make his point, including those of Abraham
the friend of God and Rahab the harlot, James declares three times that
faith without works is dead (14-26).
 
OUTLINE

I. TRUE RELIGION DOES NOT SHOW PARTIALITY (1-13)

   A. SUCH AS SHOWING PREFERENCE TO THE RICH (1-3)
      1. The faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, is not
         to be held with partiality
      2. A case in point:  showing preference with seating arrangements
         in the assembly
 
   B. REASONS NOT TO SHOW PARTIALITY TOWARD THE RICH (4-13)
      1. It makes one a judge with evil thoughts
      2. Has not God chosen the poor to be rich in faith and heirs of
         the kingdom?
      3. Have not the rich oppressed and blasphemed you?
      4. Does not the royal law call upon us to love our neighbor?
      5. Partiality will convict us as transgressors, even if we 
         stumble in only one point
      6. We shall be judged by the law of liberty, in which judgment
         without mercy is given to those who show no mercy

II. TRUE RELIGION SHOWS FAITH THROUGH WORKS (14-26)

   A. FAITH WITHOUT WORKS CANNOT SAVE ONE (14-19)
      1. What profit is there in faith without works?
         a. Can such faith save one?
         b. Is there any profit to tell a naked and destitute person to
            be warm and filled, and not give them what they need?
         c. Thus faith by itself, without works, is dead
      2. Faith is shown by one's works
         a. It is not enough to claim to have faith
         b. The devils believe in God, and tremble

   B. FAITH WITHOUT WORKS IS DEAD (20-26)
      1. As exemplified by Abraham, the friend of God
         a. Who was justified by works when he offered his son Isaac on
            the altar
         b. His faith was working with his works, and by them perfected
            his faith
         c. By his works the Scripture was fulfilled that declared him
            faithful and righteous
      2. As exemplified by Rahab, the harlot
         a. Who was justified by works when she hid the spies
         b. Thus faith without works is dead, just as the body without
            the spirit is dead

REVIEW QUESTIONS FOR THE CHAPTER

1) What are the main points of this chapter?
   - True religion does not show partiality (1-13)
   - True religion shows faith through works (14-26)

2) With what is one not to hold the faith of our Lord Jesus? (1)
   - Partiality, or respect of persons (i.e., prejudice)

3) What example does James use to illustrate his point? (2-3)
   - Showing preference to a rich man over a poor man in the assembly

4) Of what is one guilty when they show partiality? (4)
   - Becoming a judge with evil thoughts

5) Why should one not show prejudice against the poor? (5)
   - God has chosen them to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom
     which He has promised to those who love Him

6) What had the rich been doing against those to whom James wrote this
   epistle? (6-7)
   - Oppressing them and dragging them into the courts
   - Blaspheming the noble name by which they were called

7) What would be well for them to do? (8)
   - To fulfill the royal law:  "You shall love your neighbor as 
     yourself"

8) What is the consequence of showing partiality? (9)
   - Committing sin and being convicted by the law as transgressors

9) Of what is one guilty if they stumble in just one point of the law?
   (10-11)
   - Guilty of all; a transgressor of the law

10) How then should they speak and act? Why? (12-13)
   - As those who will judged by the law of liberty
   - Judgment is without mercy to one who shows no mercy, and mercy
     triumphs over judgment

11) What question does James address next? (14)
   - What does it profit if one says he has faith, but does not have
     works?

12) What example is given to illustrate the futility of faith without
    works? (15-16)
   - Telling a naked and hungry person to be warmed and filled, but
     then do nothing to help

13) What is the condition of faith by itself, without works? (17)
   - It is dead

14) How does James challenge the person who only has faith? (18)
   - Show me your faith without works, and I will show you my faith by
     works

15) What example does James use next to show the futility of faith 
    only? (19)
   - That of demons, who believe in God

16) How was Abraham justified? When? (21)
   - By works
   - When he offered Isaac his son on the altar

17) What was the relation between Abraham's faith and works? (22)
   - Faith was working together with his works
   - By works his faith was made perfect

18) What two things were the result of Abraham's works? (23)
   - The Scriptures were fulfilled which said he believed God and it
     was accounted to him for righteousness
   - He was called the friend of God

19) What point did the example of Abraham illustrate? (24)
   - A man is justified by works, and not by faith only

20) What final example does James appeal to? (25)
   - Rahab the harlot, who was justified when she hid the two spies

21) What is James' conclusion regarding faith and works? (26)
   - As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is
     dead also
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