James 2: Good Works are Required (No, Really!)

Rev. Gem Gabriel, pastor of the Lutheran Church of Our Redeemer in New London, CT, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study James 2.

St. James covers two important topics in this part of his letter. Namely, the issue of showing favoritism and the necessity of living out one’s faith by doing good works. Evidently, both had been problems in the early church, as they are today. James teaches whether rich or poor, or any other division mankind can conjure, all people have equal access to salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. True faith, a gift of God, can be recognized by the fruit it produces: good works which serves one’s neighbor. Examine yourself: are you putting your faith into action?

Thy Strong Word dips back into the New Testament for a week only with a careful examination of the Epistle of Saint James. Once called an “epistle of straw” by Martin Luther, many think this meant he thought this letter was not fit for Scripture. Not so! In this brief series, each chapter will be explored to reveal not only how important the Apostle James’ inspired message was for the Christians of his day, but how much we need to learn its lessons today.