As today is the 500th anniversary of the beginning of the Protestant Reformation, I decided yesterday to re-read the Letter of James in an Evangelical translation of the Bible as it contains a lot of “un-Protestant” passages. The following texts, some of theological importance and debate, others not so, are taken from the ESV:
Count it all joy my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. (Jas 1:2-4)
If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. (Jas 1:5)
Let no one way when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death. (Jas 1:13-15)
But he doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. (Jas 1:22)
If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless. Religious 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. (Jas 1:26-27)
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 o the law. So speak and act as those who are to be judged under the law of liberty. For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown o mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment. (Jas 1:8-13)
Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works, and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God and it was counted to him as righteousness”—and he was called a friend of God. You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. And in the same way was not also Rahab the prostitute justified by works when he received the messengers and sent them out by another way? For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead. (Jas 2:21-26)
Review of Can Our Works Save Us? Refuting Sola Fide
Jeff Durbin on Luke 7:35, James 2, and Justification
Jeff Durbin on Luke 7:35, James 2, and Justification
Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise. Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. (Jas 5:13-16)