JAMES—Week 2
James 1:21-27
We are in week 2 of our journey through the Book of James. While some have accused James’ letter of being contradictory to Paul’s letters, which emphasize salvation by grace alone, such is not the case. James is primarily concerned with how this salvation by grace should impact the daily lives of believers, and this emphasis is on full display in this week’s passage. As we shall see, while works are not the source of our salvation, God does intend for them to be evidence of our salvation. Even Paul alludes to this in Eph. 2:10 when he states that we have been created for good works.
Maintaining a proper balance between works and grace has always been struggle for individuals and the Church at large. One of the key motivators behind the Protestant Reformation was that the Church had wandered into a works-based religiosity that left little room for the power of God’s grace in the life of believers. In contrast, one of the challenges the modern Church has faced has been the belief that as long as we recite some magic prayer, our ticket to heaven has been punched, and we can live however we want on earth. Not only has this approach over-simplified the cost of following Jesus, giving assurance of eternal salvation to those who have no relationship with Christ, it also has been a potential source of doubt and insecurity for others who may fear they didn’t say the prayer right or can’t remember the exact day or moment they committed their life to Jesus.James’s solution to these issues is found in this week’s passage, which focuses on both the transformative power of God’s Word (grace) and our personal responsibility to obey (works). For James, true transformation is a cooperative process that begins privately but necessarily manifests itself publicly. Transformation begins privately as we look at God’s Word and let it reveal what we are on the inside. Like a spiritual mirror, the Bible shows us how we appear to God and the areas of our lives that need addressing. Yet, this studying of the Bible and personal reflection does no good if we do not act on what we learn. Just as it would be silly for me to look in a physical mirror, see issues needing to be addressed, take no action, and assume everything will be fine, so, too, it is ridiculous for me to read God’s Word, fail to obey it, and assume that I have somehow bettered myself spiritually. For true spiritual transformation to take place, it is not enough to receive and know God’s directives—I must act on those directives. God promises that His grace is sufficient, but the sufficiency of that grace is evidenced in our action.
James goes on to assert that while personal transformation is a vital starting place, it is not the end of the story. True spiritual transformation should also be manifested publicly. Great spiritual insight and personal transformation must impact how I relate to others. In particular, James emphasizes self-control, love for others illustrated through sacrificial service, and personal holiness (separation from the world) as the hallmarks of a transformed heart that should be on display in our daily interactions with others. While such actions don’t save us, they are evidence of a transformed heart.
Questions:
- Read John 14:15, 21; John 15:10; and 1 John 2:3-4. What do these verses say about the importance of obedience? What does obedience reveal about our hearts?
- How can an emphasis on obedience and personal holiness go wrong? How can an over-emphasis on grace go wrong? Do you find it hard to maintain a balance?
- How might personal transformation that is not manifested publicly be dangerous? What are some ways that we might compartmentalize our private, spiritual lives and our public lives?
- James gives specific examples of how transformative faith could be put on public display in his day. Which of those still apply today? Which of those might not be as important in today’s society? What others might be on the list if James were writing his letter to the Church today?
