James: A Visible Faith

James
A Visible Faith
2015 Cindy Brown. All Rights Reserved

This study was written using the ESV.
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Day 1: Background
Written by the half brother of Jesus, James is one of the most practical
books, often called the "Proverbs of the New Testament." A skeptic during
Jesus' ministry on earth, he became a believer after the resurrection and
Jesus appeared to him. James became a pillar of the church, a leader of
the council of Jerusalem and a friend to both Peter and Paul. Written
around A.D. 50, James urges his readers to radically live out their faith in
every area of life. His faith stood the ultimate test when he was martyred
around A.D. 62.
Let's get to know James a little and look at what we know about him from
Scripture.
Read John 7:1-5. What was his attitude toward Jesus during his
earthly ministry?
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See 1 Corinthians 15:1-7. What important event did James witness?
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Read Acts 12:1-17. Note what event James was told about and what
other apostles were present.
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Read Acts 15:1-31. What role did James play in this situation?
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Galatians 1:15-19. What do we learn about James here?
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Galatians 2:9. How is James described?
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From Acts 12:1-2, how do we know the James mentioned in these

verses is not James, the brother of John who was one of Jesus'
disciples?
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Knowing James' background helps us to understand his writing. After he
became convinced that Jesus was the Christ, he was not content to sit on
the sidelines or be a part-time Christian. He writes boldly and addresses
many topics (21 in all!) and urges his readers to live out their faith in a
visible, clear way for all the world to see.
Read the book of James today in one sitting to get an overall feel of the
book.
Day 2: Overview
Read the book of James again, looking for the key words listed below. It
might be easier to look for one key word at a time, reading the book
through several times. Mark each word in a different way or different color
so they are easy to pick out later. This will help you to pick out major
themes or topics that are repeated more than once.
Brothers
Faith
Works
Law
Doers (doing)
Day 3: Overview
Read the book of James again today. Continue marking the rest of the key
words from the list below.
Judge (judgment)
Show (shown)
Tongue (mouth)
Rich (riches)
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Day 4: James 1:1-4

Read chapter 1 again.
Even though he could claim to be a physical blood relative of Jesus,
what humble way does James introduce himself?
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What group of people is James writing to? If you are not sure what
the Dispersion is referring to, see Acts 8:1-4.
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James doesn't waste any time, but plunges right in. Read verses 2-4
again. What topic does he address first?
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You can write this on your Topics page at the end of this study to have as a
handy reference, or I have simply written the different topics in the margin
of my Bible.
It seems appropriate for him to begin here, since his readers have been
scattered all over the Roman world because of persecution.
What instruction does he give?
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James reminds us that we will experience various trials. Some trials we
find ourselves in are financial, some relational, some health related, but
they all have the same purpose. The word trial is interesting in the Greek.
It means "to try to learn the nature or character of someone or something
by submitting such to thorough and extensive testingto put to the test, to
examine."
When we go through hard times, it reveals what we really believe, not

what we say we believe! Trials reveal if our faith is genuine. Peter
talks about this, too. Read 1 Peter 1:6-7. Carefully compare these
verses with what James says. What points do both of them highlight?
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What does testing produce in us?
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Steadfastness is "the capacity to continue to bear up under difficult
circumstances, to endure."
I think that is why so many of our trials seem to last so long. God means to
build endurance in us, and endurance can only be gained through time! Is
there something difficult you have been going through? Don't lose heart,
my friend! God wants to use this in your life to produce a faith in you that
will endure and remain steadfast!
As we endure and remain steadfast in the trials, what will be the result
in us?
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Do you want to be a mature Christian? Then do not fight against and resist
the very tools God is using to get you there!
Read 2 Peter 1:5-9. What character traits show a mature or complete
Christian?
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If we are growing in these areas, what will be true about us?
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What is true about us if we lack these qualities?

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As Christians, we want to be productive and fruitful in our knowledge of the
Lord Jesus. James tells us we get there by enduring the hard times!
This is why we can rejoice! We don't rejoice for the trial itself, but for what
will be produced in us through it. A trial is a special opportunity for our faith
to mature and for us to become more and more like Jesus. The end result
is a beautiful image that reflects the face of our Savior to those around us.
That is why we count it all joy!
In what way is God testing and examining you right now? Is he
withholding his hand because he wants you to learn endurance? By
faith, count it all joy because of what God wants to do in you through
it. Write down your response to God below.
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Day 5: James 1:5-8

In verses 5-8, what is the second topic James addresses?
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During trials or testing, what we thought we knew sometimes becomes
unclear and many times we are not sure how to navigate through the
difficulty. James encourages us to ask for wisdom.
What important instruction does James give us regarding our asking?
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What does James tell us about God?
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Aren't you glad God will give us wisdom generously and he never gets tired
of us asking? I'm so glad he doesn't say, "I can't believe she's asking
again! Doesn't she have this figured out yet?" No, God never chides me
for coming to him. Instead he welcomes me without reproach and is glad
that I am seeking him for wisdom and instead of trying to handle it on my
own.
As you read the book of James, you will see a pattern emerge. After he
introduces a topic and gives instruction, he either gives an illustration or
example or he explains it further.
What example does he use here to help us understand this topic?
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Think about a wave for a minute. Does it have any stability or anchor?
This is the picture we get of one who doubts: blown and tossed in whatever
direction the wind blows. James describes him as double-minded and
unstable.
Double minded is used only twice in the New Testament and both
occurrences are found in the book of James. It is referred to again in
chapter 4:8. It means "pertaining to being uncertain about the truth of
something, a doubter." When we come to God asking for wisdom, he
wants us to approach with confidence (Hebrews 4:16), not uncertainty.
Unstable means "unable to be controlled." It gives the picture of a person
who is frantic and out of control in their actions, driven by whatever doubts
blow into their mind. Have you ever been there? I have and it is no fun!
What does James say we can expect if we don't ask in faith?
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God is gracious, and there are times I have doubted and God has still
answered, but we do see examples in Scripture where God withheld His
hand because people did not believe him.
See Matthew 17:14-20
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Contrast Matthew 9:22 and Mark 6:5-6
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What is lacking that causes a person to be unstable and doubleminded?
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Instead of being a wave blown around in every direction, with faith we
become anchored and stable. Look up the following verses to see what
kind of word pictures we see for a person who has faith.
Colossians 2:6-7
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Hebrews 6:18-19
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In what area of your life do you most need wisdom right now?
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Day 6: James 1:9-12

What is the topic covered in this section?
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James first addresses the lowly brother, or the Christian with a low
social standing. What is the admonition to him?
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To boast can mean to brag, but it also means to rejoice in or to glory in.
Exaltation means "a position of high status, high rank or prominence."
Since they didn't have a high social standing on earth, their exaltation
obviously refers to something else. So what does God say about our
standing? Look up these verses to see what things the lowly brother could
rejoice in.
Jeremiah 9:23-24
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Ephesians 1:3-14 (pick out the ones that jump out to you personally)
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Ephesians 3:19-22
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Philippians 3:20-21
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Colossians 3:1-4
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These are certainly things we can boast in. Earthly status and position will
pass away and be forgotten, but our citizenship in heaven and all the
spiritual blessings that go with it will last forever. It is important for our
focus to be in the right place!
What inevitable humiliation awaits the rich?
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What example does he use to drive this point home?
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Look up these Scriptures to see what the Bible says about riches.
Psalm 49:16-17
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Psalm 62:10
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Proverbs 27:24
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1 Timothy 6:17
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Once in a while I think we should all visit a junkyard. The piles of rusty
vehicles were once polished, shiny cars lined up neatly on a car lot.
People paid good money for them and were excited to own them. Now,
their engines have quit working or their metal has corroded and except for
their spare parts, they have no value. It is a good in-your-face reminder of
how quickly riches pass away and how the things we own break down and
lose their value. None of the things we buy brand new will even last our
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entire lives. Think of how many cars you have owned in your life. It is
foolish to believe riches and possessions can make us happy when they
fade away so quickly.
Not only will riches fade away, but what else does James say will
fade?
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Read Luke 12:13-21. What does Jesus say about the rich in this
parable? What important things does Jesus point out to us?
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In what ways can you apply the truths of this section to your own life?
Does your attitude towards money and riches need to change at all?
Record your thoughts below.
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In verse 12, James revisits a topic he mentioned earlier and gives us
some more insight into it. Write it below.
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What contrast do you see between verses 11 and 12?
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In verses 2-4, we saw the benefits of remaining steadfast in trials in
regard to how God can use them to mature us. What blessing of
remaining steadfast do we see in this verse?
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Unlike the rich that will fade away, the one who perseveres will receive the
crown of life, eternal life! As Peter reminds us, this inheritance will never
perish, spoil or fade (1 Peter 1:4).
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Who will God give this crown to?

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Our love for God will help us to endure the trials he allows into our lives.
Harlan Popov endured captivity in a communist prison. At one point, he
was brought before a firing squad and was told that at the count of ten he
would die. It occurred to him that at the count of ten, he would be with
Jesus! Harlan was filled with joy. The executioner demanded to know why
he was smiling. Harlan explained the hope that he had, and in disgust, the
executioner fired the gun at the corner instead. Years later, Harlan was
asked what helped him to remain faithful and not deny Christ. He replied,
"When you love someone, you will do anything for Him."
My love for God is directly related to how well I know Him. In His
sovereignty, He alone has the final say of what He will allow me to go
through, but trusting God's sovereignty is only a comfort if I know God's
character. For those who don't know the Lord, God's sovereignty is a scary
thing, but when I know God's heart, His control over my life is a comfort.
Then I can rest in His love, knowing his intentions are to perfect me, not to
destroy me. The deeper my love for God, the more I will be able to endure.
Endurance is not something I muster up, it is an outflow of my relationship
with God. And at the end of all time, I will have a crown to cast back at his
feet because it has always, only, been all about Him.
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Day 7: James 1:13-18

What is the next topic that James introduces?
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What word picture does he use to help us understand it?
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The word tempt in this verse is a different word from test is verse 12. In
verse 12, we see God testing us in order to reveal the genuineness of our
faith. The purpose is to reveal and expose something worthy and good.
In verse 13, the word tempt has the opposite motive. It means "to
endeavor or attempt to cause someone to sinto tempt, to trap, to lead
into temptation."
What does verse 13 tell us about God?
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Where does temptation come from in verse 14?
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To lure literally means to pull out or to drag. It has the idea of "to cause a
change of belief so as to correspond more with the beliefs of the person or
factor causing the changeto draw away, to lead away."
To entice means to attract or lead one on by offering something appealing
or exciting.
We are tempted when we try to fulfill our desires instead of trusting God to
do that for us in His perfect way. It could be the desire for food, the desire
for love and acceptance, the desire to be understood, or the desire for
financial security. None of these desires are wrong in and of themselves,
but when we try to meet these desires on our own, we end up being
dragged away in the wrong direction. We give in to gluttony, we
compromise in order to be accepted, or we may cheat on our taxes.
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Hebrews 11:25 refers to the "fleeting pleasures of sin." The immediate

fulfillment of these desires may seem satisfying temporarily, but James
warns us not to be deceived.
If these desires are not submitted to the Lord, what does verse 15 say
happens?
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What is the result when sin fully matures?
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In verse 16, James says he does not want them to be deceived. Read
verses 13-18 again. What exactly does he not want them to be
deceived about? Look for something that he contrasts.
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I believe he is referring to not being deceived about God. In verse 13, he
tells us that God does not tempt us with evil and in verses 17-18, he is
going to tell us what God is really like.
Instead of tempting us with evil, what does God give us?
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How is God described in verse 17?
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This description of God is used only here in the New Testament. This term
refers to God as the creator of the sun, moon and stars. These heavenly
lights mark seasons and the passage of time. They are associated with
change. The word change in verse 17, means turning and in the Greek,
this word is often used to describe the turning of the sun or the solar cycle.
The word shadow points to an eclipse. James point is profound. Unlike
the heavenly lights that change and and are visible only during certain
seasons, God never turns or changes. He is always there.
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I never noticed it before, but I think perhaps Thomas Chisolm had this
verse in mind we he penned the lyrics of the hymn, "Great is Thy
Faithfulness". The first verse says, "Great is thy faithfulness, O God my
Father, there is no shadow of turning with thee. Thou changest not, thy
compassions they fail not, As Thou hast been, Thou forever wilt be."
In verse 15, we see that sin "brings forth death." How is God
contrasted in verse 18 regarding what he brings forth?
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What caused God to bring us forth?
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Death is brought forth by our own will. God brought us forth by His will, and
the result is life!
From this verse and 1 Peter 1:23, how are we brought forth?
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What is God's purpose in bringing us forth by the word?
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In Scripture firstfruits refers to the first portion of something offered to God.
The Christians to whom James was writing were among the first believers
in the age of grace. James compared his readers to the first sheaves of
grain in Christs harvest. They would be followed by many others like them
in the ages to come.
So we can see from the description of God in this section how good He is!
We are deceived when we think that He has anything except our good in
mind or that he would ever tempt us with evil. He will never change and
never leave us. Just as he was faithful to the first century Christians in
bringing them forth as firstfruits by His Word, He will be faithful to us today
through His Word of truth.
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Write down what most impacted you about God through this section.
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What topic does James address in these verses?
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What three things does he want us to know in verse 19?
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This word for hear means to listen with understanding and comprehension.
It speaks of an engaged, active listening. The Bible has a lot to say about
listening. Read the following verses and note what is gained by listening.
Proverbs 12:15
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Proverbs 15:31-32
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Proverbs 19:20
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We are to be quick to listen and slow to speak. Perhaps that is why God
gave us two ears and only one mouth! Look up these verses and note
what it says about being slow to speak.
Proverbs 15:28
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Proverbs 17:27
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Proverbs 18:13
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We are also to be slow to anger. Look up the verses below about

being slow to anger.
Proverbs 14:29
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Proverbs 16:32
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Proverbs 19:11
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Ecclesiastes 7:9
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What does verse 20 tell us about our anger?
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Often we get angry when we feel like we have been wronged. What was
done to us was not right. But instead of being concerned with our own
"rightness" we should be more concerned about God's righteousness.
God's righteousness will not be evident in our lives when we are angry.
Notice it says the "anger of man." Man's anger is focused inward and is
selfish. But sometimes we hear about "righteous anger." I am convinced
the only time it is okay to be angry is when God has been wronged.
Righteous anger is focused upward and is all about God's glory, not ours.
Man's anger will never display or showcase God's righteousness.
In light of God's righteousness, how are we to live from verse 22?
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What must we replace these things with?
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How are we to receive the Word?
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Meekness is putting ourselves under the authority of God and listening and
obeying to what He has to say to us.
As we receive the implanted word, we are saved from living a life of sin and
wickedness. When James speaks of saving in this verse, he is not
referring to a saving faith for salvation, but saving us from the effects of sin
in our everyday lives. This is going to be a key verse in the book of James,
and we will come back to it later.
The Word must be implanted or sin will take root. Implanted here means
being permanently established. Is the Word permanently established in
your heart? Do the roots of the Word go deep in your soul? How much
time do you spend studying, memorizing and meditating on it? The more
time we give the Word to germinate, the more implanted it will become.
What has God spoken to you about in this section?
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What topic does James address in this section?
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What example does he use to drive home the point?
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What are we told in verse 22?
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This word for doer means to be a keeper and an obeyer. When it talks
about being a hearer of the Word, this is a different Greek word from the
one we looked at yesterday in verse 19. It simply means to hear with the
ear.
When we just hear the Word and don't obey it, what does James say
we are doing?
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Jesus had a lot to say about putting his words into practice. Look up the
following verses and note what you learn.
Matthew 7:24-27
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Luke 8:21
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John 14:24
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In light of these verses, how might we deceive ourselves by hearing

and not doing?
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James gives us the picture of a man looking intently at himself in a mirror.
Perhaps he notices some dirt smudges on his face, he needs a good shave
and his hair is uncombed. But instead of doing anything about it, he turns
and walks away, forgetting that he looks like a mess. The mirror has done
him no practical good. That is how it is when we only hear the Word and
don't obey it. It doesn't help us and it won't change us.
In verse 25, the Word is described as a perfect law, the law of liberty.
Instead of beating us up with a list of do's and don'ts, it frees us and brings
liberty. When we know the truth and obey it, it sets us free (John 8:32).
When we obey the Word, what are we set free from? Read Romans
6:16-22.
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According to verse 25, what brings a blessing? See also Luke 11:28.
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What blessings can you think of that we receive by obeying the
Word?
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What other important fact does James share in James 4:19?
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Obviously, we do not have God's favor and blessing when we sin. This is
why the blessing is not in the knowing, but in the doing! In what area do
you need to become more of a doer?
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Day 10: James 1:26-27

Read chapter 1 once more!
What topic does James speak on in these last two verses?
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Religion means "pertaining to being devoted to a proper expression of
religious beliefs; devout, pious."
Religion gets a bad rap nowadays. Most Christians shun the word
and would hate to be described as being merely religious. But God
has quite a different idea here in James. What three things does God
consider true religion in these verses?
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Why does James say that our religion is worthless if we can't bridle
our tongue? Compare Mark 7:18-23 and Luke 6:43-45.
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This is the third time in this chapter James speaks of us being deceived
(also 1:16,22). Our mouth reveals what is in our heart. Eventually it is
going to come out. We may think we are devoted to God, but if we can't
control our tongue, James says we are just fooling ourselves.
True religion is always expressed in action. There are none needier than
orphans and widows. Perhaps God considers this pure religion because
when we help orphans and widows, there is no way they can pay us back.
We are helping them not because we expect something in return but
because we care. When we help people in this way, it is pure and
undefiled.
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How does God feel about orphans and widows?

Exodus 22:22-24
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Deuteronomy 10:17-18
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Psalm 68:5-6
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If God cares and protects the fatherless and the widows in this way, we
who bear His name should do the same. When we help those most in
need, we are representing Jesus in a tangible, visible way.
Another mark of pure religion is not allowing the world to influence us.
Unstained means "pertaining to being without that which might mar ones
moral character." Too often we hear of Christians who give into sexual sin
or who do not handle the money for their ministries with integrity. It is a
spot or blemish on their record, so to speak. Their religion is called into
question by the watching world.
What are some ways we can keep ourselves pure and unspotted
according to these verses?
Ephesians 5:25-27
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Philippians 2:14-16
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Words, actions and purity all have to go together. When we have all three,
God considers that to be pure and undefiled religion.
What was most impactful for you in this section? Write your thoughts
to the Lord below.
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James 2
Day 11: James 2:1-7
Read chapter 2.
What topic does James cover in these verses?
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What example does he give to explain it?
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Partiality means "to make unjust distinctions between people by treating
one person better than another; to show favoritism."
How is Jesus referred to in this verse?
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Glory refers to God's splendor, honor, greatness and amazing might. There
is none like Him!
In light of the topic of favoritism, why do you think James refers to
Jesus as the Lord of glory here?
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Look up the following verses and see what they tell us about God in
terms of favoritism.
Romans 2:11 and Ephesians 6:5-9
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Nationality (Jews or Gentiles) or social classes (masters or servants) have
no bearing on how God treats us. He is not impressed by outward
appearances, but what is in the heart. He is the Lord of glory, and we all
fall short of his glory (Romans 3:23). So human distinctions don't matter to
God because in comparison to Him, we are all exactly the same. We all fall
short.
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In verse 4, what does James say we are doing when we show

favoritism to one over another?
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Look up the following verses. What do they say about judging?
Leviticus 19:15
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John 7:24
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To judge means to form an opinion or come to a conclusion based on the
circumstances presented.
Matthew 7:1 tells us not to judge, yet we see in Leviticus 19:15 and
John 7:24 we are told to judge righteously. In order to reconcile these
two, let's go back to James. What things were they basing their
judgment on?
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So we see that we are not to make opinions or assumptions about people
based on appearances. We are not to value one person over another or to
think that we are better than certain people. This is what was occurring in
the book of James. This is judging incorrectly, because as we have seen,
we all have equal standing before the righteous Judge.
Often times we hear people say, "Don't judge me!" when an area of their
life is called into question. But Paul did this very boldly in 1 Corinthians
5:1-3. In regard to sexual immorality in the church, Paul says he has
already pronounced judgment on those who have behaved in this way.
It seems to me, that judging the heart of a person is wrong. We can't see
their hearts, only God can do that. It is wrong for us to think that we are
better than another person (Matthew 7:1-5) and that are hearts are less
sinful than theirs.
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But we are called to judge righteously. The only way we can judge
righteously is by holding things up against the righteous Word of God.
This is why Paul could judge the sexually immoral because God's Word
says it is a sin. We can evaluate our actions and the actions of others to
see if they measure up to God's Word. I like to think of it in terms of
discernment.
Look up Hebrews 5:12-14. What does this verse tell us about
discerning? What is it that helps us to discern between good and
evil?
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But back in James, they were not discerning or judging sinful actions, they
were judging based on appearances and James says to think this way is
"evil."
In verse 5, why does James say they should not discriminate against
a poor believer?
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Often it is the poor who are rich in faith. Since they have less, they may be
more dependent upon God. They are also heirs to the kingdom of God
himself! So to evaluate people based on earthly standards is inaccurate
and evil.
Why does James say in verses 6-7 that they should not favor the
rich?
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It is easy for us to look at the outside and treat people accordingly. James
encourages us not to let social standing or riches be a factor in our
acceptance of others. Is there anyone in your life you can think of that you
need to treat in a more fair way?
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What topic does James address in this section?
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James uses his discussion on showing favoritism as a springboard to talk
about being judged under the law.
What important point does James make in verses 8-11?
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Read Matthew 22:35-40. Jesus says the whole law can be fulfilled by
obeying what two commandments?
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Perhaps these believers felt like they were doing pretty well and were
showing love to each other, thus fulfilling the law. But what does
James point out about the partiality he has just discussed?
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According to God's perfect standard, what does James say in verse
10?
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Look up Galatians 3:10. What similar point does Paul make?
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We like to grade on a curve or compare ourselves to other people. This is
not how God operates. His standard is absolute perfection. He says to
obey the whole law, but fail in just one area is the same as breaking all of it!
Ouch!
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You may be thinking, "But Christians aren't under the law anymore!"
Certainly Romans 6:14 and 7:4-6 teach this. We are not under the law in
the sense that there will be a penalty if we break it. God does not say, "If
you commit adultery, you will be put to death," as was taught under the
Mosaic law. But 9 of the 10 commandments, are repeated in the epistles,
(the exception being the Sabbath). These 9 are not repeated as law, but as
instructions for righteousness. Because of the mercy and grace poured out
on us, we are to live lives that reflect God's righteousness.
Instead of being under the law of bondage of the Old Testament, what
law does James say we are under now in verse 12?
____________________________________________________________
The Law of Moses required obedience, but didn't give us the power to carry
it out. (Romans 7:18).
Read Romans 8:1-4. From these verses, why is it called the law of
liberty? What are we set free from?
____________________________________________________________
Because of this freedom, what is the result in our life? (v.3-4).
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
Because of Christ's work, the righteousness that the law required from us,
but couldn't give us, is now fulfilled in our lives. Jesus has given us his
righteousness for free! Now we have the power and freedom to obey!
James calls this the law of liberty.
Because we are now judged by this law of liberty, what are James'
instructions in verse 12?
____________________________________________________________
Righteousness should be evident in both our words and our actions.
James letter is not about salvation, but how important it is that a believer
show his faith through his words and actions. James says because you
are going to be judged under the law of liberty, speak and act like it!
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Certainly we will be judged by God at the end of our lives, but in light of
James' emphasis on living a visible faith, I think perhaps he may be
referring to the fact that because we call ourselves Christians, living under
the law of liberty, people will hold us to this standard and judge or evaluate
our actions.
In verse 13, what does James say a natural result is for a person who
has shown no mercy to others?
____________________________________________________________
James then makes the statement that mercy triumphs over judgment.
Triumphs here has an interesting meaning. It means "to have greater
power or potential thanto be more powerful than, to triumph over."
When we see people making choices that are not right, it is easy to judge
them. And certainly it is not wrong to call sin what it is. But what is our
attitude towards them? Are we judgmental or do we exhibit mercy? James
tells us that mercy has more power and potential to change a person than
judgment does. This does not mean that we ignore sin and choose not to
confront it. But as we confront sin and reveal it for what it really is, mercy is
able to really shine and be magnified when it is displayed against evil.
When a person is shown mercy in the face of their sin, it can have a
profound impact and has the power to triumph in that person's life.
How would your understanding of verses 8-11 affect how you treat
other people?
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
What has been most impactful for you in verses 8-13? Do you see any
ways you need to alter how you view or treat other people from your
study of these verses?
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
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Day 13: James 2:14-19

We now come to one of the most debated and misunderstood
sections of Scripture. What topic does James address in this
section?
____________________________________________________________
What question does James start out with in verse 14?
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
What is the second question he asks in this verse?
____________________________________________________________
When we don't understand a passage, instead of running to a commentary
or asking others what they think it means, the best thing we can do is to
compare it with what the rest of the Bible has to say. In other words, we
should use what is clear in Scripture to help us understand what is unclear,
because Scripture will never contradict itself.
Initially, it seems James is saying we have to have faith and works in order
to be saved. So let's see what Scripture has to say on this topic. Look up
these verses and note what they say about faith, works and salvation.
John 3:16-18, 36
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
Romans 3:19-20
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
Romans 3:21-24
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
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Romans 3:27-28
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
Romans 4:1-5
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
Galatians 2:16
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
Galatians 3:7-14
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
Ephesians 2:8-9
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
There are many, many more verses we could look up, but I think you get
the point! The rest of Scripture teaches we are not saved by our works. So
when James seems to imply that works can save us, we need to ask the
important question: save us from what? From our sins or could it be
something else?
The second thing we need to do when reading an unclear passage is to
look at what else the same writer has to say about the subject. So in order
to figure out what James is talking about when he says save, lets see if
he refers to being saved in other places in the book. So look up the verses
below that James speaks of being saved. What kind of salvation do you
think he is referring to from the context?
James 1:19-21
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
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James 5:19-20
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
In these two instances, James is not speaking about a saving faith for
salvation. Instead he is referring to an active faith that saves us from a life
of sin and its awful consequences. Nowhere in the book of James does
James explain how to be saved. Instead his focus is on what effect being
saved should have in our every day lives.
In light of this, it seems back in chapter 2, James is asking the question, If
we only say that we have faith, but have no works, can our faith save us
from a life of sin? The obvious answer is NO!
In verses 14 and 16, James asks the question, what good is it to say you
have faith but have no works? That word good here means benefit or
advantage.
What example does he use to make his point in verses 15-16?
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
James point here is profound. To say you are a Christian, yet only wish a
blessing on someone in need without helping them, does not do them any
good or benefit them in anyway. It also does not help our testimony. God
is not glorified in our words, but in our actions in this case.
In light of this example, what does James say in verse 17?
____________________________________________________________
Dead in this verse means ineffectual, sterile, or unproductive. Just as idle
words cannot save a brother from physical death in light of their dire needs,
so a non-working faith cannot save us from the death-dealing
consequences of sin.
James understands that his readers might take issue with what he is saying
so he throws in an objection that someone might bring up. Someone might
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say, You have faith and I have works. Whats the big deal? Why do we
need both? James answers that in the second half of verse 18.
Show me your faith apart from your works. Is it possible to do this?
Explain.
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
I will show you my faith by my works. Is it possible to do this?
Explain.
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
The key word in this verse is show. You might want to mark every time
the word show/shown occurs in chapter 2. Since we cannot see into the
hearts of men, the only way we will know if they have faith is if they show it
to us through their actions.
Talk is cheap! What example does James use in verse 19 to show us
that just saying we have faith is not enough?
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
James has already spoken about this earlier. Actions are important after
we are saved! In chapter one, he exhorted us to be doers of the word (v.
22). He told us that our religion is worthless if we cant bridle our tongue or
visit the orphans and widows (v. 26-27). In chapter two, he admonishes us
to speak and act properly since we are under the law of liberty. Tomorrow
we will look at why James says we need to have both faith and works.
35
Day 14: James 2:20-26

In verse 20, what does James say he is going to do?
____________________________________________________________
Again the question arises: useless to do what? To save us from our sin?
No! We will answer that question after we have worked thorough this
section.
James starts out using Abraham as an example. What does he say
about Abraham?
____________________________________________________________
The big question is: who was Abraham justified by works before? Lets go
back to Romans 4. Read verses 1-5 again.
According to these verses, how was Abraham justified?
____________________________________________________________
Who was he justified before?
____________________________________________________________
In this section, Paul is talking about salvation. Because Abraham believed
God, he was justified by faith and granted salvation. He was declared
righteous in Gods sight. Back in James, because Abraham believed God,
he obeyed and was therefore justified before men. People could see
through his actions that he had faith and he was therefore justified before
them. Saving faith justifies us before God, faith after salvation that is lived
out justifies us before men.
In verse 22, James tells us that Abrahams faith was completed by his
works. That word completed speaks of development and maturity. Faith is
nourished and strengthened through obedience.
36
Read the following verses that speak about Abrahams faith and his works.
Romans 4:19-21
He did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body, which was as good as
dead (since he was about a hundred years old), or when he considered the barrenness
of Sarahs womb. No unbelief made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he
grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, fully convinced that God was able to
do what he had promised.
Hebrews 11:17-19
By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the
promises was in the act of offering up his only son, of whom it was said, Through Isaac
shall your offspring be named. He considered that God was able even to raise him
from the dead, from which, figuratively speaking, he did receive him back.
In Romans 4, Abraham had faith that God could give him a son despite the
deadness of Sarahs womb. He considered the circumstances, but then
decided to trust God, being fully convinced that God would do what he had
promised. In Hebrews we see Abrahams faith fully matured. Because he
knew that God had said that the promise would come through Isaac, he
believed that God had the power to even raise his son from the dead. In
the process of obeying Gods orders to sacrifice his son, his faith reached
new heights of confidence in God and it was evidenced by his actions. In
this way, Abrahams faith was completed by his works.
So how was the Scripture fulfilled that Abraham believed God? Through
his actions! His actions spoke loud and clear that he had faith in God.
Because of that, he became known as a friend of God, not only by God, but
that is how others referred to him as well. See 2 Chronicles 20:7.
I am not a Greek scholar, and have only read what others who have
studied the Greek language have written about verse 24. The word alone
or only comes at the end of this verse. In English is seems to modify the
word faith. But in the Greek it modifies the word justified. Perhaps a more
accurate translation would be: You see then that a man is justified by
works, and not only (justified) by faith.
James presents two kinds of justification here: one by works and one by
faith.
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When we are justified by faith, who sees it?

____________________________________________________________
When we are justified by works, who sees it?
____________________________________________________________
Paul speaks at great lengths of justification by faith for salvation. James
speaks of justification by works after salvation. They are two sides of the
same coin. One is visible before God and the other is visible before men.
What other example does James share in verse 25?
____________________________________________________________
If Abraham was revered as the father of the Jewish nation, there could
hardly be a more stark example of a sinner being justified by works than
Rahab.
What did Rahab do to be justified by works?
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
Given James emphasis of our works saving our lives from the
consequences of sin, Rahab is the perfect example. Her physical life was
saved through her works and her living faith triumphed over her life of sin!
Just receiving the spies would not have been enough. Rahab also sent
them out another way. At the last minute, she could have sent the soldiers
after the two spies, instead she sent them out another way and was
justified through her works. While all the other inhabitants of Jericho
perished, Rahab lived because her faith lived through her actions.
What other example does James give us to help us understand the
important relationship between faith and works?
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
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Without the spirit, our body lies dead and lifeless, unable to do anything. In
the same way, before other people, our faith lies dead if not accompanied
by works. Faith remains vital and alive as long as it is evidenced by works
of obedience.
We started out this section by asking the question, faith without
works is useless to do what? After studying this section, how would
you answer that question?
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
James uses many examples in this section to drive home his point,
perhaps because he knows we might have trouble understanding it. He
uses the hypothetical example of a person coming to the door in need. He
uses the example of demons believing in the existence of God and
trembling. Neither of these are accompanied by works so they are useless.
They bring no benefit. He then uses Abraham and Rahab as positive
examples to show how their works made a difference and completed their
faith. He then closes with the example of the body and spirit. Without
works, faith is dead and useless. Our faith is brought to life before other
people only when it can be seen.
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Day 15
Read through chapter 2 one more time.
Prayerfully ask yourself these questions. Can others see my faith
through my actions? Are there any areas in my life where my faith
and actions are not in agreement? If I were ever accused of being a
Christian, would there be enough evidence to prove it? Write down
your thoughts to the Lord below.
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
James has already given us many examples of how we can show our faith
to others. Here is what we have covered so far:
Counting it all joy and persevering through various trials
Asking for faith without doubting
Having a proper understanding about riches
Being quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to become angry
Putting away filthiness and wickedness
Being a doer of the word
Bridling the tongue
Visiting orphans and widows
Keeping ourselves unspotted from the world
Not showing partiality
In which of these areas does your faith need to become more visible? Ask
God for opportunities today for you to show your faith in clear, tangible
ways!
What do you think is the theme of chapter 2?
____________________________________________________________
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James 3
Day 16: James 3:1-8
Read chapter 3.
What topic does James focus on next in this section?
____________________________________________________________
In verse 1, James recommends that not many in the church should become
teachers. In the early church, the structure was perhaps less formal than it
is today based on 1 Corinthians 11-14. During a service, if one had
something he wanted to share, he was permitted to do so. Perhaps many
desired this position of being recognized as a teacher, but James warns
against this because teachers would be judged with greater strictness.
Based on what you have read in the book of James so far and the
surrounding context, when he says not many should become
teachers because they are judged with greater strictness, who do you
think might be doing the judging? God or man? Explain.
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
The word judged in verse 1, means to judge a person to be guilty and
liable to punishmentto condemn. This is not how God views us as his
children. We see in Romans 8:1 that he does not condemn us because He
views us in His Son. But people might hold teachers to a stricter standard
and view them in this way. Given that James has spoken at length about
how our faith should be lived out before others, it seems logical that this
would be what he is referring to.
James puts himself in the category of those who are judged more
strictly because he says "we who teach." But in verse 2, he
acknowledges that he is not perfect. How does he acknowledge this?
____________________________________________________________
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To stumble here means to err or to sin. What does James say in

verse 2 about the man who never sins in what he says?
____________________________________________________________
Perfect means being perfect in the sense of not lacking any moral
quality. What does James say about a perfect person who doesn't
sin with his words?
____________________________________________________________
Bridle means to exercise self-control. James makes the amazing
statement that if a person could control his tongue, he would also be able
to control the rest of his body. James has just said that we all stumble and
sin so there are not many of us out there who would fit this description!
In verses 3-5, what three examples does James give us to help us
understand?
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
What point do you think James is trying to emphasize by using a bit
in horses mouths as an example?
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
What do you think James is trying to help us understand by talking
about the rudder of a ship?
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
What does James want us to understand about our tongue by using
fire as an example?
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
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Read verses 5-10 and note everything James tells us about our
tongue in these verses.
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
Lets look at each of these things a little more closely.
In verse 5, the tongue is described as a small member. Even though a bit
or a rudder are small, they have the ability to completely change the
direction a horse or ship is going. So it is with our tongue. Has a day ever
started out well, and then through your words you changed the mood of
your entire household? Maybe it is a sharp word to our spouse or a
frustrated tone with our kids. Our tongue can change the day for the better
or the worse.
James mentions the fact that with our tongues we boast of great things. In
James 4:16, James calls their boasting evil. Indeed, anywhere we see
boasting mentioned in Scripture, it is condemned. The only thing we are
given permission to boast about is that we know God (Jeremiah 9:23-24,
1 Corinthians 1:31) and we are to boast in the cross (Galatians 6:14).
Read Psalm 12:3-4. After reading these verses, why do you think God
hates our boasting?
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
In verse 6, James tells us that our tongue is a fire. Proverbs 16:27 says
that our speech can be a scorching fire. We have certainly all felt the pain
that hurtful words can bring. They can sear and burn us, leaving blisters on
our soul that are slow to heal. Careless words spoken in a fleeting moment
can cause pain and damage that can last for years.
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Next, James calls our tongue a world of unrighteousness. This word for
world means a great sum of something, implying an almost incredible
totalitya world of, a tremendous amount of. It truly is incredible how
devastating our words can be. The tongue shows the unrighteousness that
is in the heart of man. People open their mouths and out comes gossip,
lying, boasting, slander, cursing, complaining, (and the list goes on).
Romans 3 describes the unrighteousness that comes out of our mouths as
an open grave. A tongue not submitted to the Lord is a very ugly thing
indeed!
James continues in verse 6 and says that our tongue stains the whole
body. Read Jesus words in Matthew 15:18. In what ways do our
words stain or defile us? Is your view of people affected by what they
say?
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
James goes on to say that our tongue can set on fire the entire course of
our life! That is pretty powerful! Do you remember the lovable Paula
Deen? Her life and career at the Food Network were ended after some
things she said came to light regarding the color of a persons skin. Words
have incredible power. Relationships can be changed forever, jobs are
lost, marriages fall apart, and lives can take an entirely different course just
because of spoken words.
Finally, James tells us that our tongue is set on fire by hell. This refers to
where the tongue gets its power and influence from. When not submitted
to the Lord, the tongue is fueled by the enemy and the destruction that
results is certainly hellish.
In verse 8, the tongue is described as a restless evil. The word for restless
means not able to be controlled or not subject to. In verses 7-8, what
comparison does he make to underscore this truth?
____________________________________________________________
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Lastly, James says that our tongue is full of deadly poison. What
picture does this give you about the tongue? Compare the power of
words with deadly poison. Write your thoughts below.
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
What does God want you to understand about the tongue from these
verses?
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
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Read chapter 3 again today.
Yesterday we looked at the incredible power the tongue has. Today James
is going to explain the different ways we can use our tongue.
In verses 9, what is the best way we can use our words?
____________________________________________________________
To bless means to praise or to speak well of.
Psalm 34:1 says, I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise will continually
be in my mouth.
If we practiced this, there would be much less gossip, lying and
complaining, for when we are praising the Lord, we will not be speaking evil
of our brother. Unfortunately, as James points out, this is not the case.
What reason does James give for why it is wrong to curse other
people?
____________________________________________________________
To curse means to cause injury or harm by means of a statement regarded
as having some supernatural power, often because a deity or supernatural
force has been evoked.
If people are created in the image and likeness of God, we should not be
cursing them through the name of the God who made them.
James points out the obvious inconsistencies of using our tongue for
blessing God and cursing men. What examples does James use to
emphasize this?
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
It is against nature for a spring to pour out both fresh and salt water. We
also don't see a fig tree bearing olives. In the same way, as believers, it
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should be against our nature to use our tongue for such good and such
evil.
In verse 11, the Greek word for salty here means bitter or pungent. The
contrast in this verse refers to the taste of the water. One either enjoyed
the water from the spring, or they did not. Though not preferred, one might
drink from a bitter well in an emergency. But the word for salty in verse 12
is a different Greek word and here it does mean salty. Here the quality of
the water is completely different. One cannot drink salty water and live.
Not only does the tongue produce both unpleasant words (bitter water)
and pleasant words (fresh water), it also produces words that can destroy
(salty water) or bring life (fresh water).
Look up Proverbs 18:21. What does this verse say about our tongue?
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
Based on everything we have learned about the tongue, it is easy to
understand why James says we should be slow to speak!
Have your words caused hurt to other people? Are you inconsistent
with how you use your tongue? Is there someone you need to go to
to make things right with after how you have spoken to them? Have
your words brought death to a relationship? Is there an area you
need to improve in how you use your tongue? Are you prone to
complaining, gossip or slander? Write your response to the Lord
below in a prayer.
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
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Day 18: James 3:13-18

Read chapter 3 once more.
What topic does James speak about in this section?
____________________________________________________________
According to verse 13, what is the best way for people to see that we
have wisdom?
____________________________________________________________
I find it very interesting after the discussion on the tongue, that our speech
is not the preferred avenue for wisdom to be seen in our lives. It is through
our actions! And certainly, wisdom is just knowledge put into practice, so it
is in what we do that clearly shows what we know and understand and
believe to be true.
What character trait should be seen in our actions for wisdom to be
evident?
____________________________________________________________
Meekness is gentleness of attitude and behavior, in contrast with
harshness in ones dealings with othersgentleness, meekness,
mildness.
Meekness is strength under control. A meek person is not weak. They are
strong because instead of reacting to situations or people, they respond
gently, in a mild and self-controlled way. A meek person shows his wisdom
by acting rather than reacting. A meek person understands that God is in
control and instead of fighting back in anger, they leave the results up to
God and trust Him with the outcome.
Why do you think when we respond in meekness, wisdom is more
evident?
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
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What is the opposite of meekness and wisdom from verse 14?

____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
What does James say about this type of response from verse 15?
____________________________________________________________
What is the result of this from verse 16?
____________________________________________________________
Based on James admonition in verse 1 about not many becoming
teachers, it is easy to see how the desire to be recognized as a teacher in
the church could lead to jealousy and selfish ambition. If different ones
were clamoring for the same position, it is easy to see how disorder and
disunity would ensue.
Look at the chart below and compare the two types of wisdom and the fruit
seen from both.
Wisdom from Above
Worldly Wisdom
Shown by our works
Bitter jealousy
Meekness
Selfish ambition
Pure
Boasting
Peaceable
Is false to the truth
Gentle
Earthly, unspiritual and demonic
Open to reason
Full of mercy
Full of good fruit
Impartial
Sincere
Results in a harvest of
righteousness
Results in disorder and every vile

practice
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The world tells us that you have to look out for yourself first. Ambition is
valued regardless of how damaging it is to other people. We see people
jealous of what others have and will go to any lengths to get that for
themselves. People boast and brag about their accomplishments, often
being dishonest in their portrayal of themselves. In this description of
worldly wisdom, the focus in always on ourselves. Its all about me! But
James warns that when we behave in this way, disorder and every vile
practice will abound. It is not a very pretty picture. Earthly wisdom focuses
on us and never gives us the rewards that we are after. This is especially
damaging in a church if believers have this attitude.
On the other hand, the wisdom from above is focused on God and others.
Verse 17 is a good biblical description of what meekness looks like.
First of all, it is pure. It is free from the moral contamination of bitter
jealousy and selfish ambition. It is peaceable. It is concerned with
harmony among the brothers. It is gentle (gracious and bears with the
weaknesses of others). Gods wisdom is open to reason and is willing to
listen. How many arguments could be avoided if we were willing to listen to
the other person and be willing to yield to them. It is also full of mercy. The
merciful are quick to help those in need and slow to hold a grudge when
they have been wronged. Wisdom from above is full of good fruits (the fruit
of the Spirit). It is impartial and free of prejudice and is sincere and
genuine.
This type of conduct that James describes will promote peace and harmony
in a church rather than disorder and evil.
What does verse 18 say must be sown for this harvest to take place?
____________________________________________________________
Compare Isaiah 32:17. What are the results of righteousness from
this verse?
____________________________________________________________
So a peacemaker who demonstrates this heavenly wisdom is like a sower
in a field. His behavior results in righteousness since righteousness
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amongst believers flourish when they dwell together in peace. Psalm 133:1
says Behold how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity.
God has put a law into place in nature and in our spiritual lives. What
does Galatians 6:7-9 say about sowing and reaping?
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
What kind of a sower are you? Are you planting the seeds of heavenly
wisdom that will result in a harvest of righteousness or are you planting
seeds that will result in disorder and every evil practice? Are you a
peacemaker or are you filled with selfish ambition? God is not mocked and
we will reap whatever we sow!
Write your response to the Lord below about what you learned from
this section.
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
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James 4
Day 19: James 4:1-5

Read chapter 4.
Chapter 3 gave us a snapshot into what some of the churches looked like
that James was writing to. Some were in turmoil because members of the
church were filled with envy and self-seeking (3:14) because of the desire
to be recognized as a wise teacher (3:1,13). As is expected, this led to
confusion and evil practice (3:16). So it is not surprising that there were
wars and fights going on in the churches.
In verse 1, what does James say causes wars and fights among us?
____________________________________________________________
Why were they at war with one another? Because first they were
experiencing a war within themselves! The word for passions means
desire for pleasure. Paul speaks about this in Romans 7:23. He says,
but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my
mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members.
James goes on to explain in verse 2 what this looked like. How is this
played out in their lives?
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
First James brings up murder. These believers probably were not
actually committing murder, but how does 1 John 3:15 describe
murder?
____________________________________________________________
In their jealousy against their fellow brothers, they were guilty of murder by
wishing their brother was dead and then coveting what they might obtain if
he actually were dead! But to actually murder someone would be too
blatant, so they were left with this inner turmoil of wanting and not
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obtaining. Because of this, the church was being turned into a battlefield,
first within themselves and it was eventually played about between them,
fed by their jealousy and selfish ambition.
In getting their desires met, what were they failing to do from verse 2?
____________________________________________________________
If they did ask, why did James say they did not receive their request?
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
Going back to the desire for many of them to be teachers, it is easy to see
why they were stuck in this frustrating dilemma of desiring to be recognized
as a wise teacher, but not receiving it. Through their actions they were not
viewed as being wise. Remember our actions, not our words, reveal the
wisdom from above. If they did ask God to grant them a position of teacher
and leader in the church, it was not granted because they were asking with
wrong motives. They were seeking their own glory instead of the glory of
God. Instead of asking for peace and harmony in the church they were
asking for their own self-promotion.
James seems a bit exasperated with how they are behaving. How
does he address them in verse 4?
____________________________________________________________
What does he want them to understand in verse 4?
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
There is absolutely no middle ground here! We are either a friend of the
world and and enemy of God, or we are a friend of God and an enemy of
the world. We have to choose which side we are on.
In desiring wealth and standing, these believers were committing spiritual
adultery and had renounced their friendship with Christ. Wealth in and of
itself is not the issue, but as 1 Timothy 6:10 tells us, it is the love of money
that is a root of all kinds of evil.
53
What did Jesus say about this in Matthew 6:24?

____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
Look up 1 John 2:15. What does John tell us about loving the world?
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
When James speaks about the world, he is referring to the world system
that is hostile to God. Materialism and immorality are characteristics of the
world system and they are in direct opposition to God and his interests.
Materialism and riches were surely an issue in this church and it is a theme
that James keeps coming back to.
Look up these verses in James and note how these believers were
exhibiting worldly attitudes.
James 2:1-6
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
James 4:13-16
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
James 5:1-6
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
God does not view our infidelity to Him with indifference. In verse 5,
what is God described as doing?
____________________________________________________________
Look up the following verses and note how God is described.
Exodus 20:5; Exodus 34:14; Zechariah 8:2
____________________________________________________________
God is jealous for our affection and attention! As a woman, it makes us feel
loved and wanted when a man desires us like this (in a good way, not a
controlling way). God wants you! He wants you to know him and enjoy his
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presence. God is grieved when we callously push him aside for the
temporary thrills this world can offer. He is offering us the treasure chest of
himself (Colossians 2:3) and we chase after cheap imitations that will not
last.
God has gone to great lengths to relentlessly pursue us and we so
flippantly cast him aside. As I write this, I am so grieved at how God must
feel about how we treat him. As crushing as the betrayal of adultery is, I
believe it pales in comparison with how God yearns for us when we
become a friend of the world.
But no matter how far away we have drifted away in our love for the world,
as we will see tomorrow, God is always ready to welcome us back with
open arms.
Examine your heart before the Lord and ask God if you are his friend
or a friend of the world. There is no middle ground. Write your
thoughts to the Lord below.
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
55

Despite the strong rebuke that we read yesterday, what does James
tell his readers in verse 6?
____________________________________________________________
God is always there offering us his grace when we sin. There is
always more than enough grace to cover us. Despite it always being
available, what do we have to do to receive it?
____________________________________________________________
God opposes the proud. To oppose means to range oneself against. It
gives the picture of soldiers lined up for battle. That is the attitude God
takes against our pride. He will fight against us and oppose us. The
reason he does this is not out of anger, but out of love. He means to show
us the futility of our pride so we will come back to Him. There is a warning
here, but James emphasizes again that God offers grace to the humble.
The moment we come back to him in humility, he offers us his grace and
favor.
Because God is always offering us his grace, what are we encouraged
to do in verse 7?
____________________________________________________________
To submit means to place ourselves under Gods authority and obey Him.
God will reward this attitude and give us grace.
How should we treat the devil from verse 7?
____________________________________________________________
To resist means to resist by actively opposing pressure or power.
56
According to Ephesians 6:10-18, what weapons are we given to resist

the devil? How are we to stand against the enemy?
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
What are we told will happen when we resist the devil?
____________________________________________________________
In verse 8, we see the other side of the coin. We resist the devil and
he will flee. What happens when we draw near to God?
____________________________________________________________
I have often heard people say that God feels so far away. I like to ask the
question: Who moved? God has promised to never leave or forsake us, so
if he feels far away it is because we have moved away from Him. But as
soon as we draw near, he is right there!
When we draw near to God, what should our response be from verse
8?
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
We cannot draw near to God and continue to hold on to our sin. James
exhorts his readers to put away any evil their hands were doing and purify
their hearts from their divided loyalties.
Verse 9 gives us a picture of a person who sees their sin for how
awful it really is. What should our response be when confronted with
our sin?
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
James again repeats the exhortation to humble ourselves before the Lord.
True repentance is sandwiched between humility (v. 6,10).
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Who are we to humble ourselves before?

____________________________________________________________
What does James say will be the result of this humility?
____________________________________________________________
To exalt means to elevate, to lift up. I have always read this verse and
thought of it in terms of position or recognition. But I think more
importantly, it means that God will lift us up out of the muck and mire of our
sin and elevate us so that we can see him more clearly. The higher we are
lifted up, the closer we will be to the Lord!
Look up Isaiah 57:15. This verse says that God dwells in the high and holy
place but also with the humble. As we humble ourselves before the Lord,
he lifts us up to where He is!
Instead of clamoring for recognition and a position in the church, we should
be more desperate to be near to God. It is only when we are close to the
Lord that we are truly exalted.
What has God spoken to you about pride and humility in this section?
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
58
Day 21: James: 4:11-17

Read chapter 4 one more time.
What subject does James address in verses 11-12?
____________________________________________________________
What instruction does he give in verse 11?
____________________________________________________________
To speak evil against refers to any kind of speech that is damaging or
destructive to our fellow brother. Given what he has already addressed at
the beginning of this chapter, it is easy to see why they might be doing this
and defaming one another.
What three things does James say we are doing if we speak evil of
another Christian?
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
First James equates speaking evil against someone the same as judging
them. This is the same word for judge that we looked at earlier. It means
to judge as guilty or condemn. This happens when we look down on
others, think that we are above them, and make a judgment about their
spirituality. Again, it is okay to discern actions as good or evil, but to be the
judge of someones heart is wrong. Only God has the authority to do that.
When we do this, James says we are speaking evil against the law and
judging the law itself. Basically, by not obeying the law to love our brother,
we are putting ourselves above the law and saying this doesnt apply to
me. In that way, we become a judge of the law itself. This is certainly not
the humble response that James called for in the previous verse!
What does James say is the outcome when we do this according to
verse 11?
____________________________________________________________
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Instead of placing ourselves under the authority of the royal law of liberty,
and doing what it says, we place ourselves above it and become a judge.
The arrogance of this is obvious!
According to verse 12, who is allowed to judge in this way?
____________________________________________________________
What is Gods role as judge from this verse?
____________________________________________________________
Since James repeatedly calls his readers brothers, we know he is not
speaking about eternal salvation here as that has already been settled.
Instead, it seems James is referring to the fact that God has the power and
authority to save them from sins penalty of death. (See James 1:15 and
5:20).
God also has the power to destroy a Christian in the sense of chastening
them for their sin.
Read the following verses to see how God destroyed believers.
Acts 5:1-22
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
1 Corinthians 11:27-32
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
James asks the obvious question then, Who are you to judge your
neighbor?
Is there someone in your life who you are tempted to look down on
and condemn? Are you tempted to speak evil against them and their
character? In your pride, have you exalted yourself above them and
made yourself a judge? Write your thoughts to the Lord below.
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
60
What subject is addressed in verses 13-17?

____________________________________________________________
It is not wrong to make plans, but James addresses the way they were
going about it. What does he say in verse 16 that they are doing?
____________________________________________________________
They were arrogantly making plans without consulting the Lord and
boasting about what a big profit they were going to make. James calls this
evil.
What does James remind us of in verse 14?
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
How quickly a mist passes away! Psalm 102:3 says that our days pass
away like smoke. James reminds us how short our life is. Smoke and
mist are blown away by the wind and burned away by the sun. We never
know what a day will bring and lives can be changed in an instant through
tragedy. So it is truly arrogant to make plans apart from the Lord, when he
is the one in control of our days.
Instead what should our attitude be as we make plans?
____________________________________________________________
We should hold our plans loosely, acknowledging the Lords sovereign
control over our lives. Read the following verses. Why is it foolish not to
involve the Lord in our plans? Note what these verses tell us.
Psalm 33:10-11
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
Proverbs 16:9
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
Proverbs 19:21
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
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Isaiah 14:24
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
James has spoken to us about many different issues; what important
principle does he share with us in verse 17?
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
Sometimes obedience interferes with our plans! No matter what plans we
have made, if we know the Lord wants us to do something, we need to be
quick to obey. The right thing to do is not always convenient and
sometimes even messes up our schedule. Thats why it is so important to
hold our plans before the Lord and allow him to direct our day.
Several months ago, I was getting ready to can some homemade salsa. I
had just blanched the tomatoes and was starting to peel and seed them.
We received a phone call from a lady in our church saying her husband
was in the hospital and was in critical condition. My husband (a pastor)
immediately started making plans to go see him in the hospital. I continued
on with the tomatoes and was praying for this dear couple, when I felt an
ever so gentle nudge from the Lord that maybe I should go with Clayton. At
the time, I wasn't even sure that it was the Lord speaking, so I ran it by
Clayton to see what he thought about me coming along. Being that she
was a woman, I felt maybe it would be nice for her to have another lady to
talk to while she was in the waiting room. So I quickly put the tomatoes
back in the fridge and got ready to go to the hospital. As it turned out, it
was absolutely the right thing to do and she was so appreciative that I had
come. That incident taught me to listen closely to the Lord. Anytime I have
a thought to do something good, it probably is coming from the Lord,
because in my flesh, dwells no good thing! God's voice is often so quiet
and the clamor of our plans often drowns out his gentle voice
communicating his will for us. Sometimes we hesitate to obey when his will
for us is different from the plans that we have made. Once we sense he is
speaking, we need to be quick to act and obey.
62
Is there an area in your life that God has spoken to you about but you are
not being a doer? Ask God to give you a willing heart to obey him and the
courage to carry it out.
What is the theme of chapter 4?
____________________________________________________________
63
James 5
Day 22: James 5:1-6
Read chapter 5 today.
What topic does James revisit in this section?
____________________________________________________________
This section seems to tie in with the previous one where they were
boasting about their business ventures. What phrase does James
use to introduce both of these sections?
____________________________________________________________
According to this section, what miseries will come upon the rich?
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
In verse 1 James mentions the miseries that will come upon the rich, but in
verses 2 and 3, he makes the statement that their riches have already
rotted and their gold and silver have corroded. He speaks in the future
tense as if it has already happened. Indeed, anytime the Lord speaks, it is
as good as done, but James is making a point about the guaranteed
demise of earthly wealth.
Some commentators believe that James is speaking prophetically in this
section. His admonition to weep and howl is certainly reminiscent of some
of the Old Testament prophets. (See Joel 1:5,13; Isaiah 13:6; 14:31 to note
just a few). And in verse 3, he mentions the last days.
What prophecy might James be referring to specifically? Look up
Zechariah 14:12-14. This chapter references the battle of
Armageddon. What similarities do you see in these verses with what
James says in verse 3?
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
64
I certainly wouldn't want to be dogmatic, but considering the description

that Zechariah gives of the battle of Armageddon, it could be possible that
the description of flesh rotting away could be due to intense nuclear
radiation. The word James uses for corrosion can mean rust or poison.
The verses in Zechariah are certainly striking and James point is clear.
Treasures and riches will be of no use in that day, but will instead serve as
evidence against them.
By dramatically denouncing human wealth, James hopes his readers will
take a lower view of the value of material things.
In verse 4, what injustice does James address?
____________________________________________________________
How is God referred to in this verse?
____________________________________________________________
This could also be another subtle reference to the Second Coming. The
Lord of Hosts means The Lord of Armies and Christ is portrayed in
Revelation 19:14 as riding in front of the heavenly armies.
What point do you think James means to make by saying that the
defrauded harvesters are crying out to the Lord of the Hosts?
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
In verse 5, how have the rich lived?
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
In ancient times it was customary for a rich man to hold a feast when
he was shearing his sheep. (See 1 Samuel 25:4-8). But instead of
only slaughtering sheep, who does James say in verse 6 has been
slaughtered by the rich?
____________________________________________________________
65
How has the righteous man responded to the rich man in verse 6?
____________________________________________________________
Although the righteous has not resisted the rich, God will. (James 4:4-6).
James concludes his final condemnation of the rich and their behavior.
Again riches themselves are not the problem, but the way they are used.
What does God want you to understand about riches from this
section?
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
66

Given James prophetic tone in the last section, what admonition
does James have for his readers in these verses?
____________________________________________________________
What example does he use to help us understand?
____________________________________________________________
Just as a farmer can do nothing to make his crop grow faster and he has to
wait patiently for the Lord to send the rains, we must wait patiently for the
Lords coming.
Certainly if his readers were experiencing some persecution or
testing, they might be feeling impatient for the Lord to return. What
does Peter tell us about why the Lord tarries in 2 Peter 3:3-9?
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
What instruction does James give us in verse 8?
____________________________________________________________
To be patient literally means to be long-spirited. It speaks of enduring
suffering for a long time. To establish means to strengthen or make firm.
What will help our hearts to be strengthened during times of difficulty
according to verse 8?
____________________________________________________________
The coming of the Lord is at hand means it is near or quickly approaching.
In light of the Lords imminent return, what are his instructions to us
in verse 9?
____________________________________________________________
67
To grumble here means to sigh or groan. Given his strong rebuke in

chapter 4 against their fights and wars, this seems relatively mild. But
because the Lords coming is soon, James cautions against even the
mildest complaints against one another.
What picture does James portray in this verse that should help us
keep silent against our fellow brother?
____________________________________________________________
James paints a picture of a courtroom. Total silence is expected out of
reverence for a judge about to take his seat at the bench. Like a bailiff in a
courtroom, James cries, Quiet! We are to silence our complaints against
one another based on the realization that our Judge could appear at any
moment and we will all be called to give an account.
James returns to his admonition for us to be patient for the Lords
coming in verse 10. Who does he use as an example of patience
here?
____________________________________________________________
Certainly the prophets suffered greatly and had to be patient. Look up the
following verses and note what these prophets endured.
1 Kings 19:1-18
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
Jeremiah 7:27; 38:1-6
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
Daniel 6: 7-16
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
In verse 11, what does James say our attitude is toward those who
have endured?
____________________________________________________________
68
Sometimes we may look at other people and wish for their easy life. If
only I had a marriage like theirs, if only my children were walking with the
Lord, if only we didnt always have to struggle financially But it is those
who have been through the fire and have endured who have our deepest
respect. Today we look back on the prophets and the Old Testament saints
and we admire their courage and endurance.
What other well-known example does James remind us of regarding
endurance?
____________________________________________________________
After losing all his possessions, his children and his health, what was Jobs
attitude during his suffering? Note what these verses say about his
response.
Job 1:21-22
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
Job 2:10
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
Job 6:8-10
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
In Jobs life, we can see that God was compassionate and merciful to Job.
In chapter 42, verse 12 it says, And the Lord blessed the latter days of Job
more than his beginning. His wealth and health were restored and he had
other children. More importantly, Job was blessed because he had a closer
walk with the Lord. Job states, I had heard of you by the hearing of the
ear, but now my eye sees you. (Job 42:5). Suffering clarified Jobs vision
of God.
We too will be blessed if we endure and the implication is that, like Job and
the prophets, God will kindly and compassionately reward us for the
suffering that we have endured. It may not always be monetarily like it was
69
for Job, but God rewards faithfulness and remembering that should help us
to continue on.
What does Jesus say about rewards in these verses?
Luke 6:22-23,35
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
Revelation 22:12-14
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
What rewards will be given for those who remain steadfast?
James 1:12
____________________________________________________________
2 Timothy 4:6-8
____________________________________________________________
Endurance under trial will be rewarded by our compassionate and merciful
judge!
What is the Lord calling you to endure right now? Keep your eye on the
prize, my friend! Remember the prophets and others who went before you.
And as in Hebrews 11:38, may it be said about you, too: of whom the
world was not worthy, simply because you endured!
What has the Lord spoken to you about endurance and waiting
patiently for his return?
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
70
Day 24: James 5:12-18

Read James 5 again today.
What topic is addressed in verse 12?
____________________________________________________________
James echoes Jesus words in Matthew 5:33-37. It is in times of stress or
trials that we are often prone to use our words inappropriately by swearing
an oath. Peter was an example of this when he denied the Lord. Read
Matthew 26:69-74. The ironic thing about oaths, is that often people swear
by an oath in order to deceive. They use an oath to try to convince others
they are being truthful, when in reality, they are being dishonest. This was
certainly the case with Peter when he denied that he knew the Lord.
Instead of swearing to show that we really mean it, we should be people
of our word and always mean what we say. For this reason, Jesus and
James say that a simple yes" or "no is sufficient.
Are you a person that others can count on when you tell them something?
Is your speech filled with integrity so people know you will follow through?
Ask the Lord to help you always be sincere in what you say so that you will
not fall into condemnation.
What does James address next in verses 13-18?
____________________________________________________________
What are James instructions if we or others are suffering?
____________________________________________________________
How simple, yet how important are these words. Let him pray! When we
are suffering, we are to talk to the God of the universe. He is the only one
who can change our situation and more importantly, He can change our
hearts as we walk through the trial. I love the words of the familiar hymn,
What a Friend we Have in Jesus,
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Oh what peace we often forfeit,

Oh what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry,
Everything to God in prayer.
Instead of taking an oath in times of stress to try to change our
circumstances, James encourages us to take it to the Lord and pray about
it.
What should we do when we are happy and cheerful?
____________________________________________________________
We should give praise to the One who is the giver of every good and
perfect gift.
According to Colossians 3:16, why are we able to sing songs with
praise and thankfulness? What has to fill us first so that praise can
flow out?
____________________________________________________________
What does James instruct the sick person to do?
____________________________________________________________
What two things were the elders to do?
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
What does James say the result will be?
____________________________________________________________
What is the one prerequisite for this to happen?
____________________________________________________________
When there is a prayer of faith, James says the person will be raised up.
But obviously, the Lord does not always heal. Does that mean it is
because of our lack of faith? Not necessarily. Sometimes the elders might
not be sure if healing is Gods will for that person. Sometimes they might
pray, Your will be done, Lord.
72
What is faith according to Scripture? Read the following verses and note
how faith is defined.
Romans 4:19-21 (especially note verse 21)
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
Hebrews 11:1
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
The Bible describes faith as the assurance and conviction of things that we
do not see and being fully convinced of what God has said.
If the spiritually perceptive elder feels assured that it is the Lords will for
that person to be healed and prays in faith, James says they will be healed.
Sickness is not always the result of sin, but this verse indicates that
sometimes it can be. In calling for the elders, it indicates that the sick
person might also be aware of some spiritual issues they need to take care
of as well.
What does verse 16 instruct the sick person to do?
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
If a sickness is the result of sin, James says confession and prayer
can bring healing. Once their heart is right (they are righteous) what
does James say about their prayers?
____________________________________________________________
What example does he give to underscore his point?
____________________________________________________________
What encouraging fact does he remind us about Elijah?
____________________________________________________________
73
Elijah was not a spiritual giant who enjoyed special privileges with God. He
was just like us! In fact, a few chapters later, Elijah was so discouraged he
asked God to take his life because he felt he was the only one left who was
worshipping the true God of Israel. (1 Kings 19). That doesnt sound like a
spiritual giant to me. It wasnt because Elijah was special that he had his
prayers answered. It was because he trusted in a faithful God when he
prayed for rain. The same is true for us. God will honor our faith just like
he did for Elijah. The encouragement for us is to pray with faith.
What two things are mentioned in this section that will result in
prayers being answered? See verses 15-16.
____________________________________________________________
It is a powerful thing when a righteous person prays in faith. What
things are you praying for right now?
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
74
Day 25: James 5:19-20

Read chapter 5 once more.
What does James speak about in these two verses?
____________________________________________________________
What gentle warning does James give in verse 19? Who can wander
from the truth?
____________________________________________________________
To wander means to be deceived and stop believing the truth. Any of us
can end up there when we do not have our nose in the Book.
What instruction does Galatians 6:1 give us in regard to bringing a
brother back?
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
Wandering from the truth does not have to be one of the big sins.
Anytime we stray away from the truth of the Word and develop wrong
thinking, it is a serious thing. Often times it is difficult for us to see it in
ourselves, which is why it is such a beautiful thing when a brother comes
alongside us in love and points us back in the right direction.
What two things result when a brother is brought back from his
wandering?
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
What do you think it means to save his soul from death in light of the
fact that this person is a believer?
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
Anytime we sin, we feel the effects of death. Death in the Bible just means
separation. We feel the effects of a broken intimacy with God and we feel it
in the various degrees of separation we feel with others when our
75
relationship with them has been broken because of sin. Certainly, a life of
continual sin can also result in physical death, too. All of this can be
avoided when someone brings a brother back. What a beautiful thing!
Restoration covers a multitude of sins! To cover means to hide or make
something not visible. When we turn someone back to the truth, many sins
they might have committed will be hidden or covered because they have
been avoided by repentance.
See 1 Peter 4:8 and Proverbs 10:12. What also covers a multitude of
sins?
____________________________________________________________
One of the most loving things we can do is to gently confront with the goal
of restoring a brother to the truth. Often it is uncomfortable and something
we like to avoid, but when we do this, we can cover many different kinds of
sin.
Read Hebrews 3:12-13. What do these verses say about how we can
turn someone back to the living God?
____________________________________________________________
To exhort means to urge or to earnestly appeal to. We are to do this daily
so that none of us will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.
Is there anyone in your life you might need to lovingly confront and bring
back to the truth? Ask God for wisdom, love and gentleness and that He
would give you the right words. Ask Him to work in that persons heart so
that the heartache of sin can be avoided.
What do you think is the theme of chapter 5?
____________________________________________________________
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Closing thoughts:
James is such a practical book and gets down to the nitty gritty issues of
life. James addresses situations that all of us deal with everyday. How we
use our tongue, our attitude about riches, if we show favoritism or display
anger, all reveal what kind of faith we have. The only kind of faith that will
be a benefit in our everyday lives is a visible faith. Faith that is lived out in
all these areas will save us from the ugly consequences of sin and will
reveal to others the faith that lives in our hearts. Since people cannot see
inside our hearts, we have to live it out in our actions. This type of faith is
made complete by our works. It will bring glory to God and be a benefit to
others. Ask God to help you be the type of Christian that lives out their faith
in a real, tangible way, visible for all the world to see.
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Topics Covered in James

Chapter 1
1:2-4 _______________________________________________________
1:5-8 _______________________________________________________
1:9-11 ______________________________________________________
1:12 _______________________________________________________
1:13-18 _____________________________________________________
1:19-21 _____________________________________________________
1:22-25 _____________________________________________________
1:26-27 _____________________________________________________
Chapter 2
2:1-7 _______________________________________________________
2:8-13 ______________________________________________________
2:14-26 _____________________________________________________
Chapter 3
3:1-12 ______________________________________________________
3:13-18 _____________________________________________________
Chapter 4
4:1-5 _______________________________________________________
4:6-10 ______________________________________________________
4:11-12 _____________________________________________________
4:13-17 _____________________________________________________
Chapter 5
5:1-6 _______________________________________________________
5:7-11 ______________________________________________________
5:12 ________________________________________________________
5:13-18 _____________________________________________________
5:19-20 _____________________________________________________
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After looking at the topics covered in the book of James, which ones
do you see repeated?
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
With so many different issues addressed, it might be hard to
determine a theme for the book. But what do you think is the overall
point that James is trying to get across?
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
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James: A Visible Faith

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James: A Visible Faith

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James

2015 Cindy Brown. All Rights Reserved

From Acts 12:1-2, how do we know the James mentioned in these

Day 4: James 1:1-4

When we go through hard times, it reveals what we really believe, not

What is true about us if we lack these qualities?

Day 5: James 1:5-8

Day 6: James 1:9-12

Who will God give this crown to?

Day 7: James 1:13-18

Hebrews 11:25 refers to the "fleeting pleasures of sin." The immediate

Day 8: James 1:19-21

We are also to be slow to anger. Look up the verses below about

Day 9: James 1:22-25

In light of these verses, how might we deceive ourselves by hearing

Day 10: James 1:26-27

How does God feel about orphans and widows?

In verse 4, what does James say we are doing when we show

Day 12: James 2:8-13

Day 13: James 2:14-19

Day 14: James 2:20-26

When we are justified by faith, who sees it?

To stumble here means to err or to sin. What does James say in

Day 17: James 3:9-12

Day 18: James 3:13-18

What is the opposite of meekness and wisdom from verse 14?

Shown by our works

Is false to the truth

Earthly, unspiritual and demonic

Results in disorder and every vile

Day 19: James 4:1-5

What did Jesus say about this in Matthew 6:24?

Day 20: James 4:6-10

According to Ephesians 6:10-18, what weapons are we given to resist

Who are we to humble ourselves before?

Day 21: James: 4:11-17

What subject is addressed in verses 13-17?

I certainly wouldn't want to be dogmatic, but considering the description

Day 23: James 5:7-11

To grumble here means to sigh or groan. Given his strong rebuke in

Day 24: James 5:12-18

Oh what peace we often forfeit,

Day 25: James 5:19-20

Topics Covered in James

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