Bible Study Paul~~positional truth, James~~experiential/ongoing sanctification

[gr8grace3]

James knew full well of Abraham's salvation and security in his belief.(Abrahams position)

James 2~~23and the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “AND ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD,AND IT WAS RECKONED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS,” and he was called the friend of God.

For mankind to SEE Abraham's faith, Abraham produced divine Good works.

James 2~~22You see that faith was working with his works, and as a result of the works, faith was perfected; 23and the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “AND ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD,AND IT WAS RECKONED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS,” and he was called the friend of God. 24You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone.

James speaks of physical deliverance under extreme trials and persecution. They were Jews who believed in Christ and were dispersed as a nation........a double death sentence for these believers. They were living in fear. And fear is not the Christian way of life.......faith is.

Faith assumes God will come through, fear assumes God will not. And faith evidenced to others is an active faith.

James 1~~2Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, 3knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. 4And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

Our faith is useless if we are living in fear.

 

[iLOVE]

The scriptures tells us to add to our faith and examine / test our faith.

But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, 6 to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, 7 to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. 8 For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins.

10 Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble; 2 Peter 1:5-10 NKJV

Examine yourselves to see if your faith is genuine. Test yourselves. Surely you know that Jesus Christ is among you; if not, you have failed the test of genuine faith. 2 Corinthians 13:5 NLT