Worldwide Outreach Teaching School

www.WorldwideOTS.org

Title:  Faith to be Accompanied withAction (信出虔誠的行動)         

Scriptures:  James 1:26- 2:17

Key: 1. keep a tight rein on my tongue. (James 1.26)

         2. Faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead (2:17)

Preface:

1.  “If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep atight rein on his  tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless. “若有人自以為虔誠，卻不勒住他的舌頭，反欺哄自己的心，這人的虔誠是虛的。”

            James 雅各2:13, “because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who   has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment! “因為那不憐憫人的，也要受無憐憫的審判，憐憫原是向審判誇勝。” James (雅各) 1:26; 2:17

2.  “As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.[1] (James 2:16)

Scriptures:  James 1:26- 2:17

‘Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and tokeep oneself from being polluted by the world (James 1:27)’.  ‘My brothers, as believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, don’t show favouritism (James2:1). Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in shabby clothes also comes in (Ja. 2:2).  3 If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, “Here’s a good seat for you,” but say to the poor man, “You stand there” or “Sit on the floor by my feet,” 4, have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? 5, Listen, my dear brothers: Has not God chosen those who arepoor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inheritthe kingdom he promised those who love him? 6, But you have insulted the poor. Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court? 7, Are they not the ones who are slandering the noble name of him to whom you belong? 8, If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbour as yourself,” [Lev. 19:18] you are doing right. 9, But if you show favouritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as law- breakers.10, For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.11, For he who said, “Do not commit dultery,” [Exodus 20:14; Deut. 5:18] also said, “Do not murder.” [Exodus 20:13;Deut. 5:17] If you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a law -breaker. 12, Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law  that gives freedom, because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyonewho has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment! 雅各2:13　因為那不憐憫人的，也要受無憐憫的審判，憐憫原是向審判誇勝。

“Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. 16, If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? 17, In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. (James 2:15-17)”

Commentary:

1. Tongue (舌頭): I must not keep a tight rein on my tongue. The true love has to live as the Agape love instead of the world’s love.  Why James used this example to explained about it, if we really believe Jesus Christ, then we will have the true love.  And this love we can offer to others.  There are so many people need love.  Do your love is the world’s love or the Agape love?  Your natural love is not true completely love, agape love is the Godly love, depend on your attitude and the words that you speak from your tongue. 

2. Do you want each of your family members to live a healthy life?  Always remember that “Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones. (Proverbs 16:24) ‘Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing (Proverbs 12:18). After you pay attention to your tongue, you will find out that Psalmist said was right, “How sweet are your words to my taste, Psalms 103

3. I have the responsibility to lead my family to love each other that is the true love.  For example, if I am the first person to experience the love of God, then I have to become the spiritual mother to love each one of my family members. 

4. God is compassionate, He guides you and me to be merciful.  And His grace provided me to have passed all kinds of tests. 

5. “Love your neighbor as yourself,” [Lev. 19:18] James 2:8.  For example, there is a lady she took her child to see a doctor because of the foot injury.  She saw a beautiful plant in the doctor’s garden.  She was told that plant is a Chinese herb which can heal people.  That doctor saw that she likes it so much, so he let her take it home.  Later, this doctor passed away, the lady went to visit this doctor’s wife.  Then, she found out that herb is not the medicine.  But the doctor showed his love to give her what she wanted.  So one day I will live with “judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment! (Ja.2:13)” 雅各2:13　因為那不憐憫人的，也要受無憐憫的審判，憐憫原是向審判誇勝。
6.  Don’t  show favouritism (James 2:1).  God does not show favoritism nor should we show favoritism. God does not favor individuals because of their station in life, their nationality or their material possessions (Romans 2:11; Jas 2:1; Dt. 10:17-19; 2 Co. 19:17; Job 34:19; Eph. 6:9; Col 3:25; 1 Pe. 1:17).  God accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right (Acts 10:35).

James gives three arguments against showing favoritism to the rich:

1). The rich persecute the poor – the believers (vv.5-7).

2). Favoritism violates the royal law of love which result in sin (vv.8-11). 

3). Favoritism will be judged (vv.12-13). 

7. Has not God chosen those who are poor?

Yes. Poor means those who are aware of their need of God’s grace and provisions.  It mentioned in Matthew 25:34-40.

Conclusions from the Proverbs:

1.  He who guards his lips guards his life, but he who speaks rashly will come to ruin (Pr. 13:3). ‘The tongue has the power of life and death (18:21).’ So our ability to control the tongue is one of the clearest marks of wisdom.

2.  ‘When words are many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise (1019).

3. ‘A man of understanding holds his tongue (11:12b).

Point:

1. ‘With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who  have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be (James 3: 9-10.)’
2. Therefore, you need to pray for taming your tongue, it is so important.  I’m fasting for it, because I like to control my tongue, since the tongue is so difficult to control, those who control it perfectly gain control of themselves in all other areas of life as well.

Song:

1. Control Your Words by Dr. Meiman Lai Saidi

2. Sweet Words Like Honey  by Dr. Meiman Lai Saidi

Questions:

1. What’s the point of the mirror image? How is this point reflected in both worthless and pure religion (James 1:26-27)?

2. Read James 2:15-17 and write your own words about how ‘faith without works’ differs from ‘faith with works.’  What is the underline problem here? The solution?