It can easily be argued that the links between the ethic of James and the teaching of Jesus are as strong, if not stronger than those between any other.

It can easily be argued that the links It can easily be argued that the links between the ethic of James and the between the ethic of James and the

teaching of Jesus are as strong, if not teaching of Jesus are as strong, if not stronger than those between any stronger than those between any

other document in the New Testament other document in the New Testament and the traditions of Jesus.and the traditions of Jesus.

Achtemeier, Green and ThompsonAchtemeier, Green and Thompson

But ask in faith, But ask in faith, never in doubt.never in doubt.

James 1:6James 1:6

If you have faith If you have faith and do not and do not doubt…doubt…

Matthew Matthew 21:2121:21

What good is it, What good is it, my brothers and my brothers and sisters, if you say sisters, if you say you have faith but you have faith but do not have do not have works? Can Faith works? Can Faith save you? save you?

James 2:14James 2:14

Not everyone who Not everyone who says to me, “Lord, says to me, “Lord, Lord,” will enter Lord,” will enter the kingdom of the kingdom of heaven, but only heaven, but only the one who does the one who does the will of my the will of my Father in heaven.Father in heaven.

Matthew 7:21Matthew 7:21

But be doers of the But be doers of the word, and not word, and not merely hearers merely hearers who deceive who deceive themselves.themselves.

James 1:22James 1:22

But he said, But he said, “Blessed rather “Blessed rather are those who hear are those who hear the word of God the word of God and obey it!”and obey it!”

Luke 11:28Luke 11:28

From the same mouth From the same mouth come blessing and come blessing and cursing. My brothers cursing. My brothers and sisters, that and sisters, that ought not to be so.. ought not to be so.. Can a fig tree… yield Can a fig tree… yield olives, or a grapevine olives, or a grapevine figs?figs?

James 2:14James 2:14

You will know You will know them by their them by their fruits. Are grapes fruits. Are grapes gathered from gathered from thorns, or figs thorns, or figs from thistles?from thistles?

Matthew 7:16Matthew 7:16

And a harvest of And a harvest of righteousness is righteousness is sown in peace for sown in peace for those who make those who make peace. peace.

James 3:18James 3:18

Blessed are the Blessed are the peacemakers, for peacemakers, for they will be called they will be called children of God.children of God.

Matthew 5:8Matthew 5:8

Your riches have Your riches have rotted, and your rotted, and your clothes are moth-clothes are moth-eaten. Your gold and eaten. Your gold and silver have rusted, and silver have rusted, and their rust will be their rust will be evidence against you, evidence against you, and it will eat your and it will eat your flesh like fire. You have flesh like fire. You have laid up treasures for laid up treasures for the last days. the last days.

James 5:2 - 3James 5:2 - 3

Do not store up for Do not store up for yourselves treasures yourselves treasures on earth, where moth on earth, where moth and rust consume and and rust consume and where thieves break in where thieves break in and steal; but store up and steal; but store up for yourselves for yourselves treasures in heaven, treasures in heaven, where neither moss where neither moss nor rust consumes … nor rust consumes … For where your For where your treasure is, there your treasure is, there your heart will be also.heart will be also.

Matthew 6:19 - 21Matthew 6:19 - 21

Above all, my Above all, my beloved, do not beloved, do not swear, wither by swear, wither by heaven or by earth, or heaven or by earth, or by any other oath, but by any other oath, but let your ‘Yes’ be yes let your ‘Yes’ be yes and your ‘No’ be no, and your ‘No’ be no, so that you may not so that you may not fall under fall under condemnation.condemnation.

James 5:12James 5:12

But I say to you, do But I say to you, do not swear at all, either not swear at all, either by heaven, for it is the by heaven, for it is the throne of God, or by throne of God, or by the earth, for it is his the earth, for it is his footstool… Let your footstool… Let your word be ‘Yes, Yes’ or word be ‘Yes, Yes’ or ‘No, No’; anything ‘No, No’; anything more than this comes more than this comes from the devil.from the devil.

Matthew 5:34- 37Matthew 5:34- 37

The ScriptThe Script

Act 1:Act 1: CreationCreation

Act 2:Act 2: The FallThe Fall

Act 3: Act 3: The Story of IsraelThe Story of Israel

Act 4:Act 4: The Life of ChristThe Life of Christ

Act 5:Act 5: The Early Church……… “A The Early Church……… “A new new heaven and a new heaven and a new earth”earth”

James: Pastor and Prophet

James and Jesus….James and Jesus….

You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the great and foremost commandment. The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets.

NASBNASB

In Whom Shall we Boast?In Whom Shall we Boast?But as it is, you boast in your arrogance; all such But as it is, you boast in your arrogance; all such boasting is evil. boasting is evil.

James 4:16James 4:16

You who boast in the Law, through your You who boast in the Law, through your breaking the Law, do you dishonor God? breaking the Law, do you dishonor God?

Romans 2:23Romans 2:23

But may it never be that I would boast, except in But may it never be that I would boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. to the world.

Galatians 6:13Galatians 6:13

In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has seen God at any time; if we love one another, God abides in us, and His love is perfected in us.

1 John 4: 10 – 12 (NASB)1 John 4: 10 – 12 (NASB)

Our Script? God’s Script?

“Purify your hearts, you double-minded” (dipsucos) James 4:8

GOD

God’s Script…….. Us

GOD

Our current reality……..

Us

Jesus

Effect of Sin

Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous person can accomplish much.

James 5:16 (NASB)James 5:16 (NASB)

Repentance (metanoia) means to change your mind.

Learning (manthano) means to change your direction

Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father, comes to Me.

John 6:46 (NASB)