JAMES 3:13-18 It is significant that the characteristics James first listed for godly wisdom are purity and peaceableness. These two have an important relationship. An individual is made pure through faith in Jesus Christ, and this establishes peace between God and himself. Romans 5:1 says, “Therefore being justified by...
JAMES 3:7-12 Is it not strange that the tongue can be praising God one moment and be slandering some person the next moment often right in the church where the tongue had been used to praise God? We may even hear the preacher talk about not slandering others, but...
JAMES 3:1-6 Consider four parallels that a fire has with words spoken by the tongue: It hurts, it spreads, it consumes, but it can have a good use under control. It only takes one false or bitter word to hurt deeply. In fact, the hurt may be so deep...
JAMES 2:14-26 A cold, austere, intellectual faith that does not manifest itself by action is nothing more than a mental assent to the existence of God. James taught that this kind of faith is really no faith at all—it is a dead faith. It is not enough just to...
JAMES 2:1-13 James summed up man’s responsibility to his neighbor by urging him to fulfill the “royal law” (James 2:8). He who fulfills this law of Christ will love all men alike and will look with contempt on none. Because he will be concerned about the value of a...
JAMES 1:26-27 When Jesus Christ is really indwelling a person, it will result in true religion. The word “religion” as used in James 1:26-27 is not synonymous with the word “salvation.” James used it in the sense of an outward expression of that which is inward. The inner faith...
JAMES 1:22-25 Whereas James 1:22-24 view the person who does not act upon the basis of the Word, verse 25 looks at the person who does act on the basis of the Word of God. He is like one who does something about what he sees in the mirror....
JAMES 1:19-21 James wanted all believers to be alert to comprehend the Word of God. This is very important since “faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Rom. 10:17). The Word of God gives us faith to believe, and when we believe, God creates new life...
JAMES 1:16-18 James left no doubt about the fact that God is the giver of all that is good. James cautioned, “Do not err” (James 1:16). The Greek word translated “err” means “to go astray” or “to go off course.” It was used to describe a ship that had been...
JAMES 1:12-15 When temptations to do evil come into our lives, let us never think that they have come from God; instead, God is doing what He can to prevent us from falling into sin. However, our flesh is so weak that we disregard Him occasionally and follow evil. James...