JAMES 1:25

JAMES 1:25

Sunday, April 26, 2015

James 1 [MKJV today] … become doers of the Word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if anyone is a hearer of the Word and not a doer, he is like a man studying his natural face in a mirror. For he studied himself and went his way, and immediately he forgot what he was like. But whoever looks into the perfect Law of liberty and continues in it, he is not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work. This one shall be blessed in his doing.

  Does James teach that salvation, eternal redemption, comes thru doing good works? Or a “Yes, trust Jesus but keep working or you’ll lose eternal life!”? Is he in disagreement with Paul’s statement to the Ephesians (2:8-9) that men are redeemed only by reliance in God’s grace and not by good works? Is James presenting something in opposition to the teachings of Jesus?!

  James is not presenting another gospel. (Gal.1:8-9) He is explaining that the gospel includes benefits and responsible actions because of and due to God’s grace therein; production that is natural outflow of loving Jesus. 

  A few related verses to think about (Suggest printed out and reading several times this day.):

Psalm 19:7-11 The Law of Jehovah is perfect, converting the soul; the testimony of Jehovah is sure, making the simple wise. The Precepts of Jehovah are right, rejoicing the heart; the Commandments of Jehovah are pure, giving light to the eyes. The fear of Jehovah is clean, enduring forever; the judgments of Jehovah are true and righteous altogether, more to be desired than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. And Your servant is warned by them; in keeping them there is great reward

Psalm 103:15-18 As for man, his days are as grass; as a flower of the field, so he flourishes. For the wind passes over it, and it is gone; and its place shall know it no more. But the mercy of Jehovah is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear Him, and His righteousness is to sons of sons; to those who keep His covenant, and to those who remember to do His Commandments.

John 14:21 [Jesus explained] He who has My commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves Me. And he who loves Me shall be loved by My Father, and I will love him and will reveal Myself to him.

Romans 6:13-18 [Paul exhorted] Do not yield your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but yield yourselves to God, as one alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under Law, but under grace. What then? Shall we sin because we are not under Law, but under grace? Let it not be! Do you not know that to whom you yield yourselves as slaves for obedience, you are slaves to him whom you obey; whether it is of sin to death, or of obedience to righteousness. But thanks be to our God that you were the slaves of sin, but you have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered. Then being made free from sin, you became the slaves of righteousness.

Galatians 1:1-9  Paul, an apostle (not from men, nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised Him from the dead), and all the brothers with me, to the churches of Galatia. Grace be to you, and peace from God the Father and from our Lord Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil world according to the will of God and our Father, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen. I marvel that you so soon are being moved away from Him who called you into the grace of Christ, to another gospel, which is not another, but some are troubling you, and desiring to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from Heaven preach a gospel to you beside what we preached to you, let him be accursed. As we said before, and now I say again, If anyone preaches a gospel to you beside what you have received, let him be accursed.

Ephesians 2:8-10 [Paul explaining]For by grace you are saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to good works, which God has before ordained that we should walk in them.

EBB4