“If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food…”
If a brother or sister
James takes up the argument of the Christian who claims to have faith without works.
The hypothesis here is about Christians who are destitute of the necessary elements of life, such as clothing and food. Obviously, the person in the hypothesis of claiming faith without works is also a Christian because of the words “brother or sister.” The terms “brother” and “sister” remind us of our relationship to one another spiritually.
is naked and destitute of daily food
The person naked and destitute is a person without adequate clothing and food.
PRINCIPLE:
A Christian idealism that talks about faith but does not act faith is not real faith.
APPLICATION:
Our faith is useless if it does not express itself in meeting the needs of Christians in physical need. The Christian cannot live true Christianity in isolation. True Christianity is an interdependent relationship among Christians.
Ga 6:10, “Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.”
1 Jn 3:17-19, “But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him? 18 My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth. 19 And by this we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before Him.”
A Christian idealism that talks about faith but does not act faith is not real faith. Talk without action is futile. We fulfill the royal law of love by giving to those in need and fulfilling our duty toward one another.
Can a person be saved apart from faith?
Is the faith of Eph 2:8-9 different from the faith of James 2 and Hebrews 11?
Kenneth, no one can be saved apart from faith. Faith is the only qualification for salvation. The word “faith” in James 2 and Hebrews 11 is not different from the kind of faith expressed in Ep 2:8-9 but the context of Eph 2 is eternal life but the faith of James and Hebrews is faith for our lives in time.
In James chapter 2, verse 15; is this speaking only of Christians or does it include all saved and unsaved?
Larry, “brother or sister” here is spiritual brothers and sisters. God directed this passage to Christians.