MHF Bible Study - Matt-Hughes.com Official Forums

#1 04-13-2009, 08:24 PM

Ok everyone please avoid posting in this thread until we have completed our first book. I'd like to keep this thread as clean as possible and as on topic as possible

So here is the Line up so far

Week 1: James discussion to begin on April 19th so everyone has enough time to read and reflect.

Remember if you want to take notes so you remember what you wanted to adress!

Happy reading everyone and God bless! and War Hughes(had to throw some juju in there)!

#2 04-20-2009, 01:58 AM

What I took from James was that we cannot claim to be Christians in word only but that our deeds should also reflect a Christian walk. Some say James contradicts Paul idea of faith alone. But what i think James is really saying is that your faith will produce works. Which goes along with the idea that they will know us by our fruits. The fruits is our works produced by our faith. SO if we see a person in need and all we do is wish them well ans say God bless and not try to meet their need, there is no way we can call ourselves a Christian. Those are my thoughts for now. I do not want to hog it.

#3 04-20-2009, 07:05 PM

The Book of James is definitely the Proverbs of the NT. There are a lot of people that claim to be Christians(CHRIST-LIKE), yet they bear no fruit in their life. I believe the Book of James is a clear blue print of the conduct of a Christian. And again, salvation is not by works, it is by faith. But faith without works is dead. Christ said if you love me, keep my commandments. So if we truly are saved and love the LORD JESUS, the works will manifest in our lives.

NateR · #4 04-20-2009, 08:47 PM

I would agree with everyone here. We don't do good works to get saved, we do good works because we are saved.

For example, a husband has to constantly show his wife that he loves her. If he just marries her and then never speaks to her again and never shows her any acts of kindness, then no one would believe that he ever really loved her to begin with. If he truly loved her, then that love would compel him to action. It wouldn't be something that he would have to force himself to do.

It's the same way with Christians, our love for GOD compels us to love others and to show that love with our actions. By no means does that require Christians to always be nice and to never speak harshly or critically of others, however there should always be an underlying thread of love in whatever we do (tough love is still love, BTW).

Tyburn · #5 04-20-2009, 09:38 PM

I'd like to know who the letter is addressed to?

I mean, Saint Paul writes to churches, usually those he founded on missionary trips...and they always say who they are being sent to

but James...well....who would be the church who would read his work? who was he writing for...because its like he actually wrote specifically for scripture

#6 04-20-2009, 11:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tyburn

I'd like to know who the letter is addressed to?

I mean, Saint Paul writes to churches, usually those he founded on missionary trips...and they always say who they are being sent to

but James...well....who would be the church who would read his work? who was he writing for...because its like he actually wrote specifically for scripture

It was addressed to the Diaspora (Jews scattered due to persecution) This is what is known as a circular letter. It was addressed and then sent to various churches to be read by its leaders. James knew his time was short and like they other leaders he wrote down key teachings in case he was killed, which he was.