May 8
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FAITH PERFECTED
19 You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder. 20 But are you willing to acknowledge, you foolish person, that faith without works is useless? 21 Was our father Abraham not justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? 22 You see that faith was working with his works, and as a result of the works, faith was perfected; 23 and the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “AND ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS CREDITED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS,” and he was called a friend of God. 24 You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. 25 In the same way, was Rahab the prostitute not justified by works also when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way? 26 For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead. – James 2:19-26
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In this verse James preaches about how faith is perfected. In verse 9, he explains to the those who have committed their lives to Jesus that faith is not just believing in Him. As he mentions in verse 9, even demons do that. So, what difference does that make between believers and demons?
In the next verses, he gives us examples of those who have perfected their faith. In verses 21-23, he shows the story of Abraham whose faith is coupled with works, which resulted in the perfection of his faith. His faith was proven by his willingness to give up his own son to obey God, that is why he was considered righteous and a friend of God. It was by this perfected faith that he became the father of all nations.
In verse 25, Rahab sampled the saving faith by helping the spies that Joshua sent to check the land of Jericho. Rahab took the risk of hiding these spies because she has heard of the stories of the God of the Israelites who have delivered them from all the Egyptians. By ensuring that the Israelites captured Jericho, she proved her faith with works of helping the Israelites fulfill God’s plan for his people.
In verse 26, James reiterates the importance of the presence of the Spirit in our lives because our bodies would be dead without the Spirit. He likens this to faith. Without works, faith will be dead. Sadly, the world has twisted the true meaning of faith. The world looks at faith on a different lens, where faith is working for their own salvation. The bible tells us that God chose us first, even the ability to accept Him comes from him alone.
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REFLECTION
• Why do some believers think that faith isn’t an action word?
Monthly Archives: May 2021
SAVING FAITH ILMA’S VLOG
May 7
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SAVING FAITH
14 What use is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone says he has faith, but he has no works? Can that faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and be filled,” yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that? 17 In the same way, faith also, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself.18 But someone may well say, “You have faith and I have works; show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works.” – James 2:14-18
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In this letter, James explains what saving faith is. True believers know what faith means. We are all familiar with the definition of faith in Hebrews 11:1 which says that is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. Hebrews 11:6 says that without faith it is impossible to please him God. Paul says in Romans 10:17 that faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.
James takes faith further in verses 15-16 by illustrating a clear example of what it means. How can one say they have faith, when they are not able to respond to someone in need when they have the opportunity to do it? We are all responsible for ourselves, but Jesus also said that we need to love one another. How can we say we love someone and not show it to others especially when they are in need? How can we not make sacrifices by letting go of our conveniences and comforts to help those who are in need? All the gifts given to us are supposed to be shared, not hoarded for our own purposes alone. How would you feel if someone claims they love you, and yet don’t have faith in you or show you that you are there to provide for their needs?
In verses 17-18, he proves the importance of saving faith. Faith has to be manifest in good works. True and saving faith is always manifest in the way we live. It has to bear fruits of kindness, love, generosity, hospitality and care to others. Dead faith is when a believer doesn’t show in his/her life the fruits of the Holy Spirit. James says that your faith is not just inside your heart. It is clearly demonstrated in your life and your relationships.
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REFLECTION
• Why do you think it is important to wear your faith, especially towards unbelievers?
• What happens when someone who don’t know God witnesses your saving faith?
THE ROYAL LAW ILMA’S VLOG
May 6
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THE ROYAL LAW
8 If, however, you are fulfilling the royal law according to the Scripture, “YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF,” you are doing well. 9 But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the Law as violators. 10 For whoever keeps the whole Law, yet stumbles in one point, has become guilty of all. 11 For He who said, “DO NOT COMMIT ADULTERY,” also said, “DO NOT MURDER.” Now if you do not commit adultery, but do murder, you have become a violator of the Law. 12 So speak, and so act, as those who are to be judged by the law of freedom. 13 For judgment will be merciless to one who has shown no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment. – James 2:8-13
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In this letter, James gives us the prescription for doing well in life: to fulfill the royal law according to Scripture which says “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” There are two other books in the bible that reiterates this royal law after James wrote about this. The book of James was written in AD 44-49 while the book of Mark followed in AD 50-60 Just as Matthew wrote his in the same year as Mark did. It was James the brother of Jesus who first referred to this royal law which was also in the Old Testament book in Leviticus 19:18. Luke also mentions it during AD 60-61 and Paul repeats this royal law in his letter to the Romans and the Galatians. Why did Jesus consider this as second to the greatest commandment to love the Lord your God. He summed up all the Mosaic law in these two laws of love. God created us in His image according to Genesis and God is love according to John, so, if we are made like him, we are also love. He wants us all to love him and to love one another because it is the fulfillment of his promise.
James further elaborates on the other laws that explains this royal law. If you love your neighbor as yourself, you will not show partiality, you will not commit adultery and not murder. In fact, if you all follow this royal law, all of the ten commandments given through Moses will be followed. No wonder, James, who wrote the first book in the New Testament according to historical records, emphasized this royal law focused on the nature of God which is love. It is only fitting that all his children do the same to each other as well.
In verse 12, he commands them to walk their talk so that they won’t be judged by the law of freedom because the result of hypocrisy which is not walking their talk would be merciless to those who have not shown mercy. Once again, he focuses on God’s mercy.
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REFLECTION
• Why is it difficult to love your neighbor as yourself?
LET GO OF PREJUDICE ILMA’S VLOG
May 5
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LET GO OF PREJUDICE
My brothers and sisters, do not hold your faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ with an attitude of personal favoritism. 2 For if a man comes into your assembly with a gold ring and is dressed in bright clothes, and a poor man in dirty clothes also comes in, 3 and you pay special attention to the one who is wearing the bright clothes, and say, “You sit here in a good place,” and you say to the poor man, “You stand over there, or sit down by my footstool,” 4 have you not made distinctions among yourselves, and become judges with evil motives? 5 Listen, my beloved brothers and sisters: did God not choose the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him? 6 But you have dishonored the poor man. Is it not the rich who oppress you and personally drag you into court? 7 Do they not blaspheme the good name by which you have been called? – James 2:1-7
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In this letter of James, he cautions all believers to watch that they do not have discrimination over people, whether rich or poor. In verse one, he warns them that they should not show any personal favoritism to anyone. The apostle Paul reiterates the warning that James says in verse one when he said in his letter to the Romans in chapter 2 verse 11. It states that God has no favoritism. Therefore, God expects his own people not to show any biases as well.
In verses 2-4, James gives an illustration to further prove his point about the importance of fair treatment to all. It is a picture of a rich man entering the assembly in contrast with a poor man in dirty clothes. The worldly person would automatically favor the one who dresses elegantly and exudes wealth against someone who looks filthy and poor. It is the world system that propagates these biases in our society. We are always aiming at power, control, wealth and anything that doesn’t exhibit such are looked down upon.
James reminded the believers in verse 5 that God didn’t choose the wealthy to be rich in faith. Instead, he left his kingdom’s legacy to the poor. Why did Jesus not come in this world rich? Why did He choose to come from a poor family? Is it not to mock the rich? In 2 Corinthians 8:9, Paul answers this question. He says that “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.”
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REFLECTION
• What do you think is the source of biases or unfair preferences over others?
UNDEFILED AND PURE RELIGION ILMA’S VLOG
May 4
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UNDEFILED AND PURE RELIGION
26 If anyone thinks himself to be religious, yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this person’s religion is worthless. 27 Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world. – James 1:26-27
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In this letter, James drives a point to the hearts of believers. He is cautioning them to be careful how they live their lives especially if they have already heard the gospel. He also warns them how religious leaders and teachers can be so focused on the law and their teachings and may have lost sight of truth. In verse 26, he tells them to be wary of how works of religion can lead them to deception in their own hearts and minds. James wanted them to know that honesty and adhering to the word of God will make them discern what is true and what is not. He stresses the importance of bridling their tongues. The Easton bible dictionary says Hebrews mahsom’ signifies a muzzle or halter or bridle, by which the rider governs his horse. I think that what James meant here is to control one’s tongue. Why is it so important to do so? Without restraint with words, one can sin. Even Solomon cautions us in Proverbs 21:23 that whoever keeps his mouth and his tongue keeps himself out of trouble. James explains that it leads to a deceived heart.
In verse 27, James brings the message of what true and undefiled religion is according to how God sees it. Pure religion is to take care and love the orphans and widows. You may be wondering why widows. We live in a different generation now, but in the time of Jesus widows are the most weak and vulnerable people. The notion that widows needed someone to take care of them rests on ideas about the legal and social status of women. Perhaps most important is the idea that widows could not possess their own property. A wife was dependent on her husband, and when he died, she went to live with her father’s household if he was alive, or to an adult son if she had one. Having a father or son was fortunate, because otherwise widows were entirely without resources. We are to care for the helpless and weak. As believers, we are also cautioned not to meddle with the systems of the world in order to stay pure and uncorrupted. Religion is not a denomination or church organization. It is a way of life that follows God’s law of loving the weak and vulnerable and keeping oneself holy and blameless.
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REFLECTION
• How has this teaching of changed your notion of religion based on the world?
GOD’S LAW BRINGS FREEDOM AND BLESSINGS ILMA’S VLOG
May 3
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GOD’S LAW BRINGS FREEDOM AND BLESSINGS
22 But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not just hearers who deceive themselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror; 24 for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was. 25 But one who has looked intently at the perfect law, the law of freedom, and has continued in it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an active doer, this person will be blessed in what he does.
– James 1:22-25
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In this letter, James wants to emphasize the importance of living out the word of God instead of just reading or hearing it. His recommendation is to “prove yourselves doers of the word.” What does that mean? He didn’t say study and read the word, but prove to be doers of it. The word “prove” is defined as to demonstrate the truth or existence of (something) by evidence. In verse 23-24, he explains the consequence of those who just hear the word and not do it. What interesting picture James give us when likens those who do not follow the word of God to someone who quickly forgets how he looks right after he leaves his reflection from the mirror. Isn’t this very true? We fail to remember what we have just read or studied when we don’t do it. It doesn’t become part of us. This is why the bible tells us to meditate on the word day and night in Joshua 1:8 so that it doesn’t depart from us. When we meditate on it, it becomes ingrained in our whole being, then we automatically do it. The process of reading and studying doesn’t bear fruit unless we meditate and churn on it. In verse 25, he further shows the benefit of someone who intently look into the perfect law which he calls the law of freedom. He becomes an active doer of the word. He is therefore blessed and prosper in all that he does. David talks about this in Psalm 1:2-3 when he said “But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law, he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by the streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.” It seems like James paraphrased this psalm of David in this letter. But I like the way James described the law in verse 25 as the law of freedom. Many of us who look at law would wonder how it could make us live in freedom. That is because the word “freedom” vastly differs in meaning according to how the world looks at it and how God meant it to be. Following God’s law brings us peace and joy if it is done in love for Him.
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REFLECTION
• How can following God’s law free us from many things?
LISTEN MORE, SPEAK LESS & REACT SLOW ILMA’S VLOG
May 2
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LISTEN MORE, SPEAK LESS & REACT SLOW
19 You know this, my beloved brothers and sisters. Now everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger; 20 for a man’s anger does not bring about the righteousness of God. 21 Therefore, ridding yourselves of all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls.
– James 1:19-21
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In this letter, James addresses the importance of listening. This is a very timely issue even in our current world today. In a world that propagates the self, there is very little effort placed on listening and being quiet and not attract attention. I’d like to bring you to Solomon’s view about the importance of listening and being slow to speak and slow to get angry that James is emphasizing in this letter.
• Proverbs 17:28 -Even a fool who keeps silent is considered wise; when he closes his lips, he is deemed intelligent. – Don’t we respect people who are not noisy?
• Proverbs 12:15-The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to advice. -Don’t we loathe a “know-it-all” and who are stubborn and don’t listen?
• Proverbs 18:2 -A fool takes no pleasure in understanding, but only in expressing his opinion. – Don’t we want to run away from talkers who don’t even think what they say?
• Proverbs 15:1 -A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. -Doesn’t our anger deflect when someone is gentle and soft?
• Proverbs 10:19 – When words are many, transgression is not lacking, but whoever restrains his lips is prudent. -When we talk much, don’t we open our lips to error?
In verse 20, James further explains that anger doesn’t manifest God’s righteousness. James agrees with Paul in Ephesians 4:26 when he said that we can be angry but not do it sinfully. God gave us anger so we can use it for bringing people into righteousness, not to call attention to ourselves.
In verse 21, James gives us an antidote to all unrighteousness and evil deeds: by humbly receiving the word of truth that will always lead us to the narrow path to the Kingdom of God.
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REFLECTION
• Why do you think people nowadays have a deficit in listening and have an abundance in talking and getting attention for themselves and being angry?
BEGINNINGS OF SIN ILMA’S VLOG
May 1
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BEGINNINGS OF SIN
12 Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. 13 No one is to say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone. 14 But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust. 15 Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it has run its course, brings forth death. 16 Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers and sisters. 17 Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow. 18 In the exercise of His will He gave us birth by the word of truth, so that we would be a kind of first fruits among His creatures.
– James 1:12-18
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In this letter of James, he commends those who persists under tests or temptations. He calls them blessed. How are they approved as mentioned in verse 12. Once they have endured such temptations, they become strong in the faith and that’s when they will receive the crown of life that God promised to those who love Him.
In verse 13, he cautions the believers to make sure that they do not blame God for the temptations that come their way, for God never tempts them. God allows it, but it doesn’t come from Him. Do you remember the story of Job? God allowed Satan to tempt Job to test he will continue to be righteous and faithful to the Lord. The temptation didn’t come directly from God. He allowed Satan to test Job.
In verses 14-15, James gives us an explanation of the beginnings and process of sin. It starts with a desire or lust. When he entertains to give in to these cravings, the process of being tempted is conceived. After the conception of the craving has been satisfied, it is now considered sin. When one continues to feed this desire and cravings, the spirit begins to die. The flesh comes to life because it is being fed so much.
In verse 16, James stresses God’s nature. He is very generous and unchanging. He is never fickle. And every good thing comes from him. In verse 18, he gives us an escape from temptation through his word. It is only in the word, that we will have life. With that life, fruits become visible and we become born again in the new life He gave us in Christ.
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REFLECTION
• Why do some people think that temptation is something they cannot overcome?
WARNING TO THE RICH AND POWERFUL ILMA’S VLOG
April 30
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WARNING TO THE RICH AND POWERFUL
9 Now the brother or sister of humble circumstances is to glory in his high position; 10 but the rich person is to glory in his humiliation, because like flowering grass he will pass away. 11 For the sun rises with its scorching heat and withers the grass; and its flower falls off and the beauty of its appearance is destroyed; so also, the rich person, in the midst of his pursuits, will die out. – James 1:9-11:
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In this letter, James brings a very important message about poverty and wealth. His message is focused on encouraging the poor (those who are either deprived of material riches or suffering in their circumstances) and warning the rich persons or those who are mighty in their positions.
In verse 9, he addresses all those who are at a low point in their lives. He says that they ought to be joyful because they will have a chance at being glorified in Christ. In the Sermon in the Mount, Jesus gives a promise to those who are poor in spirit in Matthew 5:3 because theirs is the kingdom of heaven. What a wonderful promise to those who are undergoing trials, suffering and all kinds of adversities! They are candidates to have an inheritance in God’s kingdom.
In verse 10, James warns the rich and the powerful by saying that they will pass away. He likens them to a flowering grass that dies from the scorching heat and withers in verse 11. He further says that even though a flower is beautiful as they blossom and rise to the height of its magnificence, it will soon fade off and be destroyed. Just like a rich person or a powerful man, may die even in the midst of all his worldly quests.
James reiterates this warning to the rich in Jesus’ parable of the rich young man in Matthew 19:16-22. This focuses on a rich young man who approached Jesus and asked him how he can have salvation. And when Jesus said to give up all his riches and give it to the poor so he can have treasures in heaven, the young rich man couldn’t give it up and so he left. Jesus closes this parable with this: “Truly, I say to you, only with difficulty will a rich person enter the kingdom of heaven. it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.”
From this letter of James, I don’t know how anyone wants to choose to be rich or to be powerful. It would be very difficult for them to enter God’s kingdom as Jesus said.
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REFLECTION
• Why would it be difficult to enter God’s kingdom when you are rich & powerful?