Explanation

(A) JAMES' ADVICE TO CHRISTIANS TO BE DOERS OF THE WORD. (JAMES 1: 2 — 27, JAMES 2: 14 — 26)

(i) James advised Christians to live according to the word of the Lord which they had heard.

(ii) He said it would be no use to hear the word and fail to put it into practice.

(iii) According to James, if anyone is a hearer of the word and not the doer he is like someone who sees himself in a mirror and turns away, and immediately forgets himself.

(iv) James said that he who looks into the perfect law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer forgets but a doer that acts, he shall be blessed in his doing.

(v) James was of the opinion that if one thinks he is religious but does not bridle his tongue, he deceives his heart and his religion is vain.

(vi) James held the view that pure and undefiled religion before God should entail the visitation of orphans and widows in their affliction.

(vii) Pure religion also involved keeping oneself unstained from the world.

(viii) James said it is of no use to say you have faith but have no work to demonstrate the faith you have.

(ix) According to James, if someone is poorly clothed and hungry and you asked him to go in peace and be filled without providing the clothing and food to them, you are not backing your faith with works.

(x) Hence faith without works is dead and useless.

(xi) Belief in the only true God is good, for even the devil also believe that, but does not do the will of God. Hence faith in God without works is unacceptable.

(xii) Abraham justified his faith by work when he was prepared to sacrifice his son Isaac

(xiii) According to James, faith is justified by works, hence Abraham believed God and it was counted as righteousness and he was called a friend of God.

(xiv) A person is therefore justified by works and not faith alone.

(xv) Similarly, Rahab the prostitute justified her faith by work when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way.

(xvi) James concluded by saying that as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.

(xvii) Faith should manifest itself in love of god and service to humankind and not mere expression of it by words. 

(B) TWO FACTORS HINDERING CHRISTIANS FROM DOING THE WILL OF GOD.

(i) Lack of faith/commitment.

ii. Unpleasant experience/sickness

iii. Worldliness/materialism.

iv. Poverty/financial constraints.

v. Fear.

vi. Persuasion/bad influence/public criticisms.

vii. Ignorance of the word of God.

viii. Laziness.

ix. Time constraints.

x. Lack of self-control/discipline. 

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