aithful to the F End James Word inDeed living faith and living community week 2
Mar 25, 2016
aithfulto theF
E n d
JamesWord inDeed
living faith and living community
week 2
JamesWord inDeed
living faith and living community
faithful to the end • week 2
• Introducing James: Kicking off the GE• James in Composition: Putting it Together• James in Message: Theology• James in Detail: 2.1-13• James At Zion
• Introducing James: Kicking off the GE
faithful to the end • week 2
Introducing James
The Epistles (Letters)
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Introducing James
General EpistlesPauline Epistles
We are here!
James • 1-2 Peter • 1-3 John • JudeRom •!1-2Cor • Gal • Eph • Col • Phi •!1-2Thess •!1-2Tim • Tit • Phil • Heb
The Epistles (Letters)
13 (14?!?) letters written by Paul, the “star” of Acts 12-28
7 letters written by James, Peter, and John, the
“stars” of Acts 1-11
faithful to the end • week 2
Introducing James
General EpistlesJames • 1-2 Peter • 1-3 John • Jude
The General Epistles
faithful to the end • week 2
Introducing James
General EpistlesJames • 1-2 Peter • 1-3 John • Jude
The General Epistles
7 letters written by James, Peter, and John, the “stars” of Acts 1-11
faithful to the end • week 2
Introducing James
General EpistlesJames • 1-2 Peter • 1-3 John • Jude
The General Epistles
7 letters written by James, Peter, and John, the “stars” of Acts 1-11
But …what about this Jude guy?
faithful to the end • week 2
Introducing James
General EpistlesJames • 1-2 Peter • 1-3 John • Jude
The General Epistles
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Introducing James
General EpistlesJames • 1-2 Peter • 1-3 John • Jude
The General Epistles
brother of Jesus
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Introducing James
General EpistlesJames • 1-2 Peter • 1-3 John • Jude
The General Epistles
brother of Jesus brother of James
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Introducing James
General EpistlesJames • 1-2 Peter • 1-3 John • Jude
The General Epistles
The General Epistles are framed by letters from Jesus’ brothers.
brother of Jesus brother of James
faithful to the end • week 2
Introducing James
General EpistlesJames • 1-2 Peter • 1-3 John • Jude
The General Epistles
The General Epistles are framed by letters from Jesus’ brothers.James is the first book in a biblical collection/section.
brother of Jesus brother of James
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What are other “first books” in the Bible?
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What are other “first books” in the Bible?
GenesisJoshua[Isaiah][Hosea]Psalms
MatthewActs
[Romans][James]
Revelation
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Do “first books” serve any special purpose in collections/sections?
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Introducing James
As a “first book,” we may expect that some of the themes and theology that James introduces will not be limited to just this letter, but will in fact “set the tone” for the GE.
JamesWord inDeed
living faith and living community
faithful to the end • week 2
• Introducing James: Kicking off the GE• James in Composition: Putting it Together• James in Message: Theology• James in Detail: 2.1-13• James At Zion
• James in Composition: Putting it Together
James in Composition
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It seems to be a collection of miscellaneous unconnected sayings
James in Composition
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It seems to be a collection of miscellaneous unconnected sayings
It seems to have no traditional epistle introduction or conclusion
James in Composition
faithful to the end • week 2
It seems to be a collection of miscellaneous unconnected sayings
It seems to have no traditional epistle introduction or conclusion
But “seems” can be deceiving…
James in Composition
faithful to the end • week 2
Rather than saying that James isn’t structured, we might do better to say that James just isn’t Paul.
James in Composition
faithful to the end • week 2
Rather than saying that James isn’t structured, we might do better to say that James just isn’t Paul.
James’ structure more closely resembles OT Wisdom literature (think Proverbs).
James in Composition
faithful to the end • week 2
Rather than saying that James isn’t structured, we might do better to say that James just isn’t Paul.
James’ structure more closely resembles OT Wisdom literature (think Proverbs).
R. Bauckham (James, 66-7): James’ lack of sequential development doesn’t mean he lacks vision.
James in Composition
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James has structure insomuch as its parts have been arranged intentionally, in a certain order and a certain way on purpose.
James in Composition
faithful to the end • week 2
James has structure insomuch as its parts have been arranged intentionally, in a certain order and a certain way on purpose.
James seems to be a series of “sayings” hooked together by words, phrases and theology.
James in Composition
faithful to the end • week 2
James has structure insomuch as its parts have been arranged intentionally, in a certain order and a certain way on purpose.
James seems to be a series of “sayings” hooked together by words, phrases and theology.
The “sayings” all relate to and advance the book’s theology.
James in Composition
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The discernment of how the parts relate and the intention of this structure is the task of the reader, as it is in other Wisdom literature.
James in Composition
faithful to the end • week 2
The discernment of how the parts relate and the intention of this structure is the task of the reader, as it is in other Wisdom literature.
For a proposal for overall book structure, see the outline in your handout.
JamesWord inDeed
living faith and living community
faithful to the end • week 2
• Introducing James: Kicking off the GE• James in Composition: Putting it Together• James in Message: Theology• James in Detail: 2.1-13• James At Zion
• James in Message: Theology
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What does the introduction to James
(chpt.1) tell us the book is about?
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perseverance through trials in faith to salvation
What does the introduction to James
(chpt.1) tell us the book is about?
James in Message
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Chpt. 1 introduces the idea of living out faith by persevering in trials or…that the path of salvation is DOING doctrine
James in Message
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Chpt. 1 introduces the idea of living out faith by persevering in trials or…that the path of salvation is DOING doctrine
The rest of the book seems to provide the trials that must be persevered through, living out faith, unto salvation
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What are the trials that James addresses?
James in Message
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Chpt.Two: Loving people the world says matter instead of those God chooses, the hopeless and helpless
James in Message
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Chpt.Two: Loving people the world says matter instead of those God chooses, the hopeless and helpless
Chpt. Three: Using speech/the tongue as a destructive instrument of Hell instead of for God’s new creation
James in Message
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Chpt.Two: Loving people the world says matter instead of those God chooses, the hopeless and helpless
Chpt. Three: Using speech/the tongue as a destructive instrument of Hell instead of for God’s new creation
Chpt. Four: Fighting with each other due to love of the world and self
James in Message
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Chpt.Two: Loving people the world says matter instead of those God chooses, the hopeless and helpless
Chpt. Three: Using speech/the tongue as a destructive instrument of Hell instead of for God’s new creation
Chpt. Four: Fighting with each other due to love of the world and self
Chpt. Four-Five: Pursuing stuff the world says matters instead of God’s kingdom
James in Message
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The conclusion (5.9-26) then gives the “how to” of persevering in these trials
James in Message
faithful to the end • week 2
The conclusion (5.9-26) then gives the “how to” of persevering in these trials
Long-term patience/endurance
James in Message
faithful to the end • week 2
The conclusion (5.9-26) then gives the “how to” of persevering in these trials
Long-term patience/endurance
Proper use of words
James in Message
faithful to the end • week 2
The conclusion (5.9-26) then gives the “how to” of persevering in these trials
Long-term patience/endurance
Proper use of words
Aid from the elders and community
James in Message
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In summary, James appears to orbit around the intersection of three things:
James in Message
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In summary, James appears to orbit around the intersection of three things:
FaithLife
Community
James in Message
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Faith, Life, and CommunityJames is an epistle about the work of the Word of God, incarnate and written, as expressed by the faith and in the lives of God’s people; in particular, the way God’s people wisely abide within and shape by their own words and deeds the community of faith as an incarnation of the Word, His Body on earth.
James in Message
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Kingdom of PriestsJames depends for its theology on the theology of Torah and its focus on God’s missional plan to redeem creation through the establishment of a people and a kingdom on earth through the seed of Abraham, a people whose own missional purpose thereby involves particular kinds of (priestly) activity and set-apart character, a people who are supposed to look like the Law and its Messiah.
James in Message
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Pay attention to these two statements.
James in Message
faithful to the end • week 2
Pay attention to these two statements.
As a “first book,” it’s likely that they contain ideas that will characterize more than just James.
James in Message
faithful to the end • week 2
Pay attention to these two statements.
As a “first book,” it’s likely that they contain ideas that will characterize more than just James.
Remember from last week, the GE talk about persevering in faith through…
James in Message
faithful to the end • week 2
Pay attention to these two statements.
As a “first book,” it’s likely that they contain ideas that will characterize more than just James.
Remember from last week, the GE talk about persevering in faith through…
sin, suffering, serpents
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What part of the NT does James have the
most affinity with?
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The Gospels
What part of the NT does James have the
most affinity with?
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What part of Torah does James rely heavily upon?
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Leviticus 19
What part of Torah does James rely heavily upon?
James in Message
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James’ treatment of faith, life, and community gather these two things together:
James in Message
faithful to the end • week 2
James’ treatment of faith, life, and community gather these two things together:
(1) Jesus’ interpretation of Torah:Love your Neighbor as Yourself
James in Message
faithful to the end • week 2
James’ treatment of faith, life, and community gather these two things together:
(1) Jesus’ interpretation of Torah:Love your Neighbor as Yourself
(2) The heart of priestly conduct:Be Holy as I Am Holy
JamesWord inDeed
living faith and living community
faithful to the end • week 2
• Introducing James: Kicking off the GE• James in Composition: Putting it Together• James in Message: Theology• James in Detail: 2.1-13• James At Zion• James in Detail: 2.1-13
James in Detail: 2.1-13
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Chapter two “hooks” into the end of chapter one, esp. vv. 26-27
James in Detail: 2.1-13
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Chapter two “hooks” into the end of chapter one, esp. vv. 26-27
Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this:
James in Detail: 2.1-13
faithful to the end • week 2
Chapter two “hooks” into the end of chapter one, esp. vv. 26-27
Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this:
to visit orphans and widows in their affliction,
James in Detail: 2.1-13
faithful to the end • week 2
Chapter two “hooks” into the end of chapter one, esp. vv. 26-27
Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this:
to visit orphans and widows in their affliction,
and to keep oneself unstained from the world.
James in Detail: 2.1-13
faithful to the end • week 2
Chapter two “hooks” into the end of chapter one, esp. vv. 26-27
Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this:
to visit orphans and widows in their affliction,
and to keep oneself unstained from the world.
Love Your Neighbor as Yourself
James in Detail: 2.1-13
faithful to the end • week 2
Chapter two “hooks” into the end of chapter one, esp. vv. 26-27
Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this:
to visit orphans and widows in their affliction,
and to keep oneself unstained from the world.
Love Your Neighbor as Yourself
Be Holy as I Am Holy
James in Detail: 2.1-13
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James in Detail: 2.1-13
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Chapter two is one section in two halves
B.The Deeds of Living Faith: Keeping the Law of Love, 2.1-26
James in Detail: 2.1-13
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Chapter two is one section in two halves
B.The Deeds of Living Faith: Keeping the Law of Love, 2.1-26 1. Partiality in Community and " the Law of Love, 2.1-13
James in Detail: 2.1-13
faithful to the end • week 2
Chapter two is one section in two halves
B.The Deeds of Living Faith: Keeping the Law of Love, 2.1-26 1. Partiality in Community and " the Law of Love, 2.1-13 2. Saving Faith, Saving Deeds: " The Law of Love in Practice, 2.14-26
James in Detail: 2.1-13
faithful to the end • week 2
My brothers,show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory. For if a man wearing a gold ring and fine clothing comes into your assembly, and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in, and if you pay attention to the one who wears the fine clothing and say, “You sit here in a good place,” while you say to the poor man, “You stand over there,” or, “Sit down at my feet,” have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? Listen, my beloved brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him? But you have dishonored the poor man. Are not the rich the ones who oppress you, and the ones who drag you into court? Are they not the ones who blaspheme the honorable name by which you were called?
James in Detail: 2.1-13
faithful to the end • week 2
If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well. But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors. For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become accountable for all of it. For he who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not murder.” If you do not commit adultery but do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law. So speak and so act as those who are to be judged under the law of liberty. For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment. (ESV)
James in Detail: 2.1-13
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This section has four parts
B.The Deeds of Living Faith: Keeping the Law of Love, 2.1-26
1. Partiality in Community and " the Law of Love, 2.1-13 "
James in Detail: 2.1-13
faithful to the end • week 2
This section has four parts
B.The Deeds of Living Faith: Keeping the Law of Love, 2.1-26
1. Partiality in Community and " the Law of Love, 2.1-13 " a. Incompatible Loyalties: " Faith in Christ or Favoring the Rich, 2.1
James in Detail: 2.1-13
faithful to the end • week 2
This section has four parts
B.The Deeds of Living Faith: Keeping the Law of Love, 2.1-26
1. Partiality in Community and " the Law of Love, 2.1-13 " a. Incompatible Loyalties: " Faith in Christ or Favoring the Rich, 2.1
b. Painting the Picture: Divided Community Devotion, 2.2-7
James in Detail: 2.1-13
faithful to the end • week 2
This section has four parts
B.The Deeds of Living Faith: Keeping the Law of Love, 2.1-26
1. Partiality in Community and " the Law of Love, 2.1-13 " a. Incompatible Loyalties: " Faith in Christ or Favoring the Rich, 2.1
b. Painting the Picture: Divided Community Devotion, 2.2-7c. Crisis Point: A Faithful Community Completes the Law, 2.8-11
James in Detail: 2.1-13
faithful to the end • week 2
This section has four parts
B.The Deeds of Living Faith: Keeping the Law of Love, 2.1-26
1. Partiality in Community and " the Law of Love, 2.1-13 " a. Incompatible Loyalties: " Faith in Christ or Favoring the Rich, 2.1
b. Painting the Picture: Divided Community Devotion, 2.2-7c. Crisis Point: A Faithful Community Completes the Law, 2.8-11d. Resolution: Align Word and Deed with the Law’s Mercy, 2.12-13
Partiality in Community and the Law of Love, 2.1-13
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(Incompatible Loyalties, 2.1)
My brothers,show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory.
Sections in James tend to have a “head verse” that tells the reader what it will discuss.
Partiality in Community and the Law of Love, 2.1-13
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(Incompatible Loyalties, 2.1)
My brothers,show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory.
Sections in James tend to have a “head verse” that tells the reader what it will discuss.
2.1 is the “head verse” in that sense for chapter two.
Partiality in Community and the Law of Love, 2.1-13
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(Incompatible Loyalties, 2.1)
My brothers,show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory.
Sections in James tend to have a “head verse” that tells the reader what it will discuss.
2.1 is the “head verse” in that sense for chapter two.
The rest of chapter two will be fleshing out “no partiality and faith.”
Partiality in Community and the Law of Love, 2.1-13
faithful to the end • week 2
(Divided Community Devotion, 2.2-7)
For if a man wearing a gold ring and fine clothing comes into your assembly, and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in, and if you pay attention to the one who wears the fine clothing and say, “You sit here in a good place,” while you say to the poor man, “You stand over there,” or, “Sit down at my feet,” have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?
The community has a problem with:
Partiality in Community and the Law of Love, 2.1-13
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(Divided Community Devotion, 2.2-7)
For if a man wearing a gold ring and fine clothing comes into your assembly, and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in, and if you pay attention to the one who wears the fine clothing and say, “You sit here in a good place,” while you say to the poor man, “You stand over there,” or, “Sit down at my feet,” have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?
The community has a problem with:
HOW they are choosing
Partiality in Community and the Law of Love, 2.1-13
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(Divided Community Devotion, 2.2-7)
For if a man wearing a gold ring and fine clothing comes into your assembly, and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in, and if you pay attention to the one who wears the fine clothing and say, “You sit here in a good place,” while you say to the poor man, “You stand over there,” or, “Sit down at my feet,” have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?
The community has a problem with:
HOW they are choosing
WHAT they are choosing
Partiality in Community and the Law of Love, 2.1-13
faithful to the end • week 2
(Divided Community Devotion, 2.2-7)
For if a man wearing a gold ring and fine clothing comes into your assembly, and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in, and if you pay attention to the one who wears the fine clothing and say, “You sit here in a good place,” while you say to the poor man, “You stand over there,” or, “Sit down at my feet,” have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?
How is the choice shown?
Partiality in Community and the Law of Love, 2.1-13
faithful to the end • week 2
(Divided Community Devotion, 2.2-7)
For if a man wearing a gold ring and fine clothing comes into your assembly, and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in, and if you pay attention to the one who wears the fine clothing and say, “You sit here in a good place,” while you say to the poor man, “You stand over there,” or, “Sit down at my feet,” have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?
How is the choice shown?
“You sit here“You stand over there,” or, “Sit down
at my feet,”
Partiality in Community and the Law of Love, 2.1-13
faithful to the end • week 2
(Divided Community Devotion, 2.2-7)
For if a man wearing a gold ring and fine clothing comes into your assembly, and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in, and if you pay attention to the one who wears the fine clothing and say, “You sit here in a good place,” while you say to the poor man, “You stand over there,” or, “Sit down at my feet,” have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?
How is the choice shown?
How is the choice implemented?
“You sit here“You stand over there,” or, “Sit down
at my feet,”
Partiality in Community and the Law of Love, 2.1-13
faithful to the end • week 2
(Divided Community Devotion, 2.2-7)
For if a man wearing a gold ring and fine clothing comes into your assembly, and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in, and if you pay attention to the one who wears the fine clothing and say, “You sit here in a good place,” while you say to the poor man, “You stand over there,” or, “Sit down at my feet,” have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?
How is the choice shown?
How is the choice implemented?
“You sit here“You stand over there,” or, “Sit down
at my feet,”
saysay
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A community that holds to faith in Christ but practices partiality, choosing their relationships
based on appearance and worldly value instead of divine instruction is not a community that receives
wisdom for perseverance, but one that receives nothing and is unstable in their way.
faithful to the end • week 2
A community that holds to faith in Christ but practices partiality, choosing their relationships
based on appearance and worldly value instead of divine instruction is not a community that receives
wisdom for perseverance, but one that receives nothing and is unstable in their way.
Love Your Neighbor as Yourself
Partiality in Community and the Law of Love, 2.1-13
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(Divided Community Devotion, 2.2-7)
Listen, my beloved brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him? But you have dishonored the poor man. Are not the rich the ones who oppress you, and the ones who drag you into court? Are they not the ones who blaspheme the honorable name by which you were called?
has not God chosen those who are poor
Partiality in Community and the Law of Love, 2.1-13
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(Divided Community Devotion, 2.2-7)
Listen, my beloved brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him? But you have dishonored the poor man. Are not the rich the ones who oppress you, and the ones who drag you into court? Are they not the ones who blaspheme the honorable name by which you were called?
has not God chosen those who are poor
But you have dishonored the poor man.
Partiality in Community and the Law of Love, 2.1-13
faithful to the end • week 2
(Divided Community Devotion, 2.2-7)
Listen, my beloved brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him? But you have dishonored the poor man. Are not the rich the ones who oppress you, and the ones who drag you into court? Are they not the ones who blaspheme the honorable name by which you were called?
The reason this community is wandering is that their devotion is divided and they’re choosing the opposite of what God chooses.
has not God chosen those who are poor
But you have dishonored the poor man.
faithful to the end • week 2
The community is not aligning itselfwith the hopeless and the helpless;
it is aligning itself with the very systemand people that want to destroy it.
faithful to the end • week 2
The community is not aligning itselfwith the hopeless and the helpless;
it is aligning itself with the very systemand people that want to destroy it.
Live Torahlike the Messiah
Partiality in Community and the Law of Love, 2.1-13
faithful to the end • week 2
(A Faithful Community Completes the Law, 2.8-11)
If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well. But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors. For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become accountable for all of it. For he who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not murder.” If you do not commit adultery but do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law.
The community is at a crisis point; it can go one of two ways.
Partiality in Community and the Law of Love, 2.1-13
faithful to the end • week 2
(A Faithful Community Completes the Law, 2.8-11)
If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well. But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors. For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become accountable for all of it. For he who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not murder.” If you do not commit adultery but do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law.
The community is at a crisis point; it can go one of two ways.
(1) Fulfilling the Law of Love (and thereby all the Law)
“You shall loveyour neighbor as yourself,”
Partiality in Community and the Law of Love, 2.1-13
faithful to the end • week 2
(A Faithful Community Completes the Law, 2.8-11)
If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well. But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors. For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become accountable for all of it. For he who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not murder.” If you do not commit adultery but do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law.
The community is at a crisis point; it can go one of two ways.
(1) Fulfilling the Law of Love (and thereby all the Law)
Partiality in Community and the Law of Love, 2.1-13
faithful to the end • week 2
(A Faithful Community Completes the Law, 2.8-11)
If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well. But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors. For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become accountable for all of it. For he who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not murder.” If you do not commit adultery but do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law.
The community is at a crisis point; it can go one of two ways.
Partiality in Community and the Law of Love, 2.1-13
faithful to the end • week 2
(A Faithful Community Completes the Law, 2.8-11)
If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well. But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors. For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become accountable for all of it. For he who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not murder.” If you do not commit adultery but do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law.
The community is at a crisis point; it can go one of two ways.
(2) Befriending the World (and thereby breaking all the Law)
But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors.
faithful to the end • week 2
A community that is quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to become angry about Scripture is one
that aligns itself with the interests, needs, and very lives of those that God and His Messiah specially
choose to care for.
Partiality in Community and the Law of Love, 2.1-13
faithful to the end • week 2
(Align Word and Deed with the Law’s Mercy, 2.12-13)
So speak and so act as those who are to be judged under the law of liberty. For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.
So speak so act
Partiality in Community and the Law of Love, 2.1-13
faithful to the end • week 2
(Align Word and Deed with the Law’s Mercy, 2.12-13)
So speak and so act as those who are to be judged under the law of liberty. For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.
The judgment in view here appears to relate directly whether the community’s actions match its profession.
So speak so act
Partiality in Community and the Law of Love, 2.1-13
faithful to the end • week 2
(Align Word and Deed with the Law’s Mercy, 2.12-13)
So speak and so act as those who are to be judged under the law of liberty. For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.
The judgment in view here appears to relate directly whether the community’s actions match its profession.
This is the antidote against this temptation:Speech and Deed must align with the Law.
So speak so act
faithful to the end • week 2
Let’s Review
JamesWord inDeed
living faith and living community
faithful to the end • week 2
• Introducing James: Kicking off the GE• James in Composition: Putting it Together• James in Message: Theology• James in Detail: 2.1-13• James At Zion• James At Zion
faithful to the end • week 2
What so special about the hopeless and helpless
that God and His people care for them?
James At Zion
faithful to the end • week 2
You shall treat the stranger who sojourns with you as the native among
you, and you shall love him as yourself, for you were strangers in the
land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God.
Leviticus 19.34
James At Zion
faithful to the end • week 2
We are the hopeless and helpless,the people of whom God takes special care.
We are the community whose job is incarnating the Word on earth.
We are supposed to be about looking like the Law
and its Messiah.
aithfulto theF
E n d
1 & 2 PeterLiving Stones
being the people of God in the world
week 3