The Sunday School by Editor

Pacific Press Publishing Company · OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA · May 13, 1897

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 23, No. 19.

The Sunday School

By Editor

International Series.

LESSON IX.—SUNDAY, MAY 30, 1897.

CHRISTIAN FAITH LEADS TO GOOD WORKS.

NOTE.—James, the author of this epistle, was the brother or half-brother of our Lord, not James the brother of John and son of Zebedee, nor James the son of Alpheus. He was also known as James the Just. According to Josephus he was stoned to death in the year 62 A.D., at the age of sixty-three or sixty-four. Another historian places his martyrdom in the year 69 A.D., and states that he was thrown from the pinnacle of a temple by the Pharisees, and was then killed with a club while praying for his enemies. The object of the epistle seems to be to set forth the perfection of Christian character, and a rising above the petty jealousies, envying, display of wealth, idolatry of riches, hollow profession of religion, empty show, and the sins of evil speaking, which were prevalent at that time. Commit verses 14-17.

Lesson Scripture, James 2:14-23, R. V.

14 “What doth it profit, my brethren, if a man say he hath faith, but have not works? can that faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister be naked, and in lack of daily food, 16 and one of you say unto them, Go in peace, be ye warmed and filled; and yet ye give them not the things needful to the body; what doth it profit? 17 Even so faith, if it have not works, is dead in itself. 18 Yea, a man will say, Thou hast faith, and I have works; show me thy faith apart from thy works, and I by my works will show thee my faith. 19 Thou believest that God is one; thou doest well; the devils also believe, and shudder. 20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith apart from works is barren? 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, in that he offered up Isaac his son upon the altar? 22 Thou seest that faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect; 23 and the scripture was fulfilled which saith, And Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned unto him for righteousness; and he was called the friend of God.”

Golden Text.—“I will show thee my faith by my works.” James 2:18.

SUGGESTIVE QUESTIONS.

(1) What question does James ask in regard to faith and works? Verse 14. Note . (2) What instance does he show where faith may prove its genuineness? Verse 15. (3) What message would the faith without works dictate in this instance? (4) What would it withhold? Verse 16. (5) Of what practical benefit were the good wishes to the destitute? (6) What is the condition of faith which shows no fruit? Verse 17. Note . (7) What assertion will some make? (8) What comparison does James invite? Verse 18. Note . (9) In what belief do they do well? (10) Who also believe the same thing? (11) What effect only does it have upon them? Verse 19. Note . (12) What truth does he especially desire that men should know? Verse 20. (13) By what act of faith on the part of Abraham did he receive justification? Verse 21. Note . (14) What wrought with his works? (15) What effect had the works on the faith in this instance? Verse 22. (16) What scripture was thus fulfilled? (17) What title did Abraham's course win for him? Verse 23.

NOTES.

1. What doth it profit?—Of what use is it in salvation from sin? He who has faith in the Messiah will leave nothing undone which the law of God requires. To trust supinely in faith while refusing to bear or attempt to bear the fruit of the Spirit, shows that faith to be a counterfeit and not the genuine. The answer to the apostle's question is obvious. Such faith is not saving faith, and he who trusts in it is building his hopes on a foundation of sand. The faith which saves is the “faith that worketh by love.”

2. Faith, if it hath not works, is dead.—The branch might say to the tree, “I am secure; I belong to the tree, it is not necessary that I should bear fruit.” Such a branch would soon be severed from the living tree. Likewise the fruitless Christian will not always be suffered to “cumber the ground,” and his faith will not be “counted unto him for righteousness.” And yet it is not the works which justify. Faith justifies, but not the faith which is without works. Robertson puts it aptly: “Faith alone justifies, but not the faith which is alone.”

3. Show me thy faith.—This is an impossibility with him who discards works in his faith. He may say he has faith, but he can not prove it. “By their fruits ye shall know them.” On the other hand, he who has genuine faith does not need to tell you so. It is seen in the works he does. James is willing that his claim to the possession of faith should be judged by the life he lived; and yet he does not place his hope of salvation in the works which he did.

4. The devils also believe.—The introduction of this comparison seems to be to show the hollowness of mere belief, either in the absence of works, or when accompanied by works which are not in accord with God's holy law, the Ten Commandments.

5. Justified by works.—This verse should be taken in connection with the two following, lest a wrong meaning be given it. It was a work of faith through and through. The faith alone would not suffice. It required the works to make it perfect. “Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness.”