CHAPTER ONE

Contents: Testing of faith. Solicitation to evil not of God. Obedience as a test of true faith.

Characters: God, Christ, James.

Conclusion: Such as have a true title in Jesus Christ through faith may expect to be called upon to endure many tests of faith, but the -genuineness of their calling will be manifest by their stability in trial, their fidelity to God and the principles of Christianity, their activity in good works and the control of the carnal nature at all times. God is the source of wisdom and power continually.

Key Word: Tests of faith, vv. 3, 8, 12, 22, 26.

Strong Verses: 2, 3, 5, 6, 12, 17, 22, 25, 27.

CHAPTER TWO

Contents: The tests of brotherly love and good words. Justification before men by our works.

Characters: Christ, James, Abraham, Isaac, Rahab.

Conclusion: Those who are possessors of Christ's salvation, which the poorest Christian may partake of equally with the rich, and to which all earthly glory is but vanity, should not make men's outward advantages the measure of their respect, but should love all, rich or poor, as themselves.

The certain evidence of faith is good works. While it is faith that justifies, the faith that justifies can never be alone.

Key Word: Brotherly love, v. 8. Works, v. 14.

Strong Verses: 5, 8, 10, 14, 20.

Striking Facts: There is perfect harmony between James and Paul on justification. Paul is considering man in relation to God, in which he is "justified by faith apart from works." James is considering man in relation to his fellowman, in which case works are the visible evidence of faith. We have a right to believe that a profession of faith which bears no fruit, is an empty profession.

CHAPTER THREE

Contents: Control of the tongue.

Characters: God, James.

Conclusion: The Christian who is not affected by the sins of the tongue but takes care to avoid them, has an undoubted sign of true grace. The wisdom and grace of God which enables one to control the tongue, will enable him also to control all other actions.

Key Word: Tongue, v. 5.

Strong Verses: 5, 6, 10, 17.

CHAPTER FOUR

Contents: Rebuke of worldliness and exhortation to humility before God.

Characters: God, Satan.

Conclusion: Worldly and fleshly lusts are the distemper which will not allow contentment or satisfaction in the mind, and rise up to the exclusion of prayer and the working of our affections toward God. Let the Christian be free from the friendship of the world, and be submitted to God, thus shutting and bolting the door against the devil.

Key Word: Lusts, v. 1.

Strong Verses: 2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 10, 13, 14, 15, 17.

CHAPTER FIVE

Contents: Warning to the rich. Exhortations in view of Christ's second coming.

Characters: God, Christ, Job, Elias, James.

Conclusion: Great amassing of wealth will be a sign of the last days, but woe to those who then heap together treasure for themselves, for when Christ comes that in which they have placed their hopes will bring them eternal misery. Regardless of the prosperity of the wicked, or the affliction of the righteous, the blessed hope of Christ's return will keep the believer steady and patient. Let this therefore incite him to all the duties of the Gospel, and especially to patience and prayer.

Key Word: Last days, v. 3.

Strong Verses: 7, 8, 10, 16, 20.

Striking Facts: vv. 7, 8. Here we see Christ's waiting for the precious fruit of the earth, the gathering in of the elect. In 2 Thess. 3:5 we have the saint's waiting for Him. The hope of His coming is the only solution of the complicated problems that will arise in the last days between capital and labor, (vv. 1-6.)