Bible Survey: James

The epistle of James was written by the Lord's own brother. It was not James the brother of John, whom Herod had put to death years earlier, but the James who grew up in the same house as Jesus. And yet, For neither did his brethren believe in him (John 7:5). James did not believe until after the Lord rose from the dead. If you have a relative who has heard the gospel for years and still is not saved, do not give up.

James became a leader of the church at Jerusalem, one of the men counted as pillars. But he does not open his letter by calling himself the Lord's brother. He calls himself a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ (James 1:1).

This is one of the most practical books in the Bible, and it has often been compared to Proverbs. It begins with trials: My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations (James 1:2). If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally (James 1:5). And its great charge is be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves (James 1:22).

Martin Luther called James an epistle of straw, and some still say it teaches salvation by works. It does not. Paul writes about how we are justified before God, which is by faith, and James about how true faith shows itself before men. Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness (James 2:23), and his willingness to offer up Isaac was the proof of it. Faith is the root of salvation and good works are the fruit. Where there is no fruit at all, you have to wonder whether there is any root.

J. Sidlow Baxter saw the book as a series of proofs of true faith: enduring temptation, treating others without partiality, controlling the tongue, and living godly in all things.

Next in the series: 1 Peter.

Taught by Brother James Barker in Sunday School at Naples Independent Baptist Church, June 6, 2021. Watch the lesson.