BellaOnline Forums Family Christian Living Bible Study -- James Chapter 2

James 2:1-9 What verse sums up all the teaching in these verses?

James 2:10-12 - Why might these verses be hard to 'swallow?'

James 2:13-26 Can you explain these verses in 2 or 3 sentences?- or give an example?

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For me right now my parents are going through a financial struggle because my mom is a nurse and for the past 10 years she has taken care of a boy and he is in the hospital and near death. She has been out of work for 5 weeks.

The verse that sticks out to me is 5. Listen to me, dear brothers and sisters. Hasn't God chosen the poor in this world to be rich in faith?

I am seeing the faith in practice with my family and it is great to see.

verses 10-12 may be hard to swallow is because we can't pick and chose the laws we want to follow but the Bible says we have to follow them exactly. We can't judge people for the laws they have broken because we are all guilty.

verses 13-26 To me it means it is not enough for God to just have faith. You have to be an example of God to people by your actions and your good deeds.

Our actions are the best way to witness to people. Who would want to accept Christ if we acted self�sh and self centered.

James 2:1-9 What verse sums up all the teaching in these verses?
I think that vs. 8 - Love your neighbor as yourself explains much of the previous verses. James talks about favoritism - favoring the rich (or powerful or beautiful) over the poor of course insults the poor but it doesn't even show love to the one favored. When you show favoritism it is usually to gain something for yourself.
I think if we would even come close to having the love that Jesus has, it would be impossible to show favoritism.

James 2:10-12 As Cindy said, you can't pick and chose which laws to obey. So many people (me too) sort of "take pride" in being good and not committing the obvious sins but then we conveniently overlook the little sins. But the Bible says that even those little sins are unacceptable to a Holy God. Thats why we have a Savior, to take on our sin and give us His righteousness.

James 2:13-26 I agree with Cindy here too. Also, I think that when we really put our faith in Christ, the Holy Spirit begins to change us. The change is apparent in works.
According to Ephesians 2:10 we were created to do good works that God prepared in advance for us to do.

James 2:1-9

The verse that I think sums it all up is verse 1. "As believers...don't show favoritism..." Pretty straight forward. Someone once said that it won't matter when we're with Jesus in the end, all wings are created the same...

James 2:10-12

I see these verses as reminders to the church that we are all guilty and to not point fingers of judgement to one another.... I have had this happen to me...ahd my faith shoved in my face and told that I wasn't a Christian because look at how I acted... We all break the law in some way and once we do one thing, in God's eyes we might as well have done them all...

James 2:13-26

I see something a little different here... I see the message that our faith will be evident in the mercy we show to one another. That our "works" that James is talking about is the way in which we forgive one another as far as the east is from the west... The way God forgives us.
I mean what good is it to stand in the church and sing and tithe and put on a good front when inside we are comparing ourselves and holding grudges and being hateful towards those God has chosen? Do we think we know better than God anothers character? We are no better than the non Christians. So therefore, our difference is in the forgiveness and the way we freely give mercy to those who have done us wrong EVER. One of the hardest things to do is to put away wrath and continue to love unconditionally without fear of being hurt again... how many of us can say we REALLY do this?