1. Whose father’s name was Zebedee

Matthew 4:21 “And going on from thence, he saw other two brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and he called them.”

Matthew 10:2 “Now the names of the twelve apostles are these; The first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother;”

Acts 12:1-2 “Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church.² And he killed James the brother of John with the sword."

Matthew 10:3 “Philip, and Bartholomew; Thomas, and Matthew the publican; James the son of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus;”

Mark 6:3 “Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us? And they were offended at him.”

Galatians 1:19 “But other of the apostles saw I none, save James the Lord's brother.”

Matthew 13:55 “Is not this the carpenter's son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas?”

 

II – THE POWER THAT CHANGED THE LIFE OF JAMES

1. James as unbeliever, before he believes on Christ.
   1. This James, the brother of the Lord and other brothers did not believe Christ during earthly ministry of Jesus

John 7:5 “For neither did his brethren believe in him.”

Acts 12:17 “But he, beckoning unto them with the hand to hold their peace, declared unto them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, Go shew these things unto James, and to the brethren. And he departed, and went into another place.”

Acts 15:13 “And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Men and brethren, hearken unto me:”

Acts 21:17-18 “And when we were come to Jerusalem, the brethren received us gladly. ¹⁸ And the day following Paul went in with us unto James; and all the elders were present.”

2. James as a believer, after the resurrection of Christ
   1. What James described himself from being an unbeliever to a _______of God and of Jesus Christ?

James 1:1 “James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting.”

     In James 1:1, James introduces himself not as a physical brother of Jesus, but as a "servant" (translated from the Greek word doulos, meaning slave or bond-servant) of God and Jesus Christ. This title “doulos” bond-servant did not suggest any degradation, but only their total surrender to their spiritual Master. It highlights his total submission, humility, and absolute devotion to his Master. James became convinced of Jesus true nature as the Messiah, the spiritual identity of the One Whom he had previously regarded as his physical brother became so important to him that the physical relations receded into the background. While others in the church might have referred to him as "the Lord's brother" (Gal 1:19), he preferred to speak of himself as a "servant" rather than the "brother" of the Lord Jesus Christ. 

      Notice the words “servant of God”, not that James was not an apostle, because James, was an apostle, and he was the Lord’s brother, yet he mentions not these greater things, but James in humility takes the lowly title, for he calls himself “servant of God”. No doubt, James felt the highest honour, and calls himself a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ. 

James claim to respect and deference was not primarily founded on any relationship which he sustained; any honor of birth or blood; or even any external office, but on the fact that he was a “servant of God.”

Happy is the man who serves the Lord, who is fully submissive to the divine command.

     Although, we find the word “apostle” in some epistles. But in the book of James, the same omission of the word “apostle” occurs in the book of Revelation of John, Jude in his general letter, in some epistle of Paul to the Philippians, Thessalonians, and to Philemon.

shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John”)

by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, and called:”)

Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons:”; I Thessalonians 3:2 “And sent Timotheus, our brother, and minister of God, and our fellowlabourer (servant) in the gospel of Christ, to establish you, and to comfort you concerning your faith:”; I Thessalonians 1:9 “For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God;”; Philemon 1:16 “Not now as a servant, but above a servant, a brother beloved, specially to me, but how much more unto thee, both in the flesh, and in the Lord?”

Acts 1:14 “These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.”

I Corinthians 15:7 “After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles.”

     James was transformed from an unbeliever into a devoted servant of Jesus Christ by witnessing the resurrected Jesus. As Paul notes in 1 Corinthians 15:7, the risen Christ specifically appeared to his half-brother, turning James from a lifelong skeptic into an unwavering leader of the early church. 

     Notice the words “seen of James” the brother of our Lord. The Gospel according to the Hebrews (Jerome – theologian, scholar, bible translator into Latin, creating vulgate, in his writing, 'Catalogus Scriptorium Ecclesiasticorum,' page 170 D.) records that 'James swore he would not eat any bread from the time that he drank the cup of the Lord until he should see Him rising again from the dead.' 

    As to where and on what occasion, we are not told, nor we truly know which James referred here. James the son of Zebedee, or James the son of Alpheus. But one thing is sufficiently evident, from what is here said, that this James, of whom the apostle speaks, was still alive; for Paul manner of speaking justifies this conclusion. This James, the author of the Epistle that bears his name, was stationed in Jerusalem. When Paul went there, after his return from Arabia, he had an interview with James (see Galatians 1:19, “But other of the apostles saw I none, save James the Lord's brother.”), and it is highly probable that Paul would share to him the vision which he had of the Lord Jesus on his way to Damascus, and that James also would told Paul the fact that he had seen him after he rose. This may be the reason why Paul here mentions the fact, because Paul had it from the lips of James himself.

III –THE PRE-EMINENT THAT CAUSED THE DEATH OF JAMES

     James realized that the Lord Jesus was more than his brother. Seeing his resurrected brother shattered his doubts, leading him to submit to Jesus not as a sibling, but as His Living Lord. James absolute conviction that Jesus was the Living Lord ultimately cost him his life, for James was willing to die for the Christ whom he loved. The first century Jewish historian Flavius Josephus records that James was condemned by the Sanhedrin and was martyred for his unwavering faith in Jerusalem in 62 or 63 A.D.

 

IV –THE PERIOD WHEN BOOK OF JAMES WAS WRITTEN

     Many scholars consider the Epistle of James probably to be the earliest writings in the New Testament or the first or the oldest book in the New Testament. Probably it was written with estimates placing its composition between 45 and 49 A.D., before the Jerusalem council, and that was less than 20 years after the Lord Jesus rose from the dead.

 

V –THE PEOPLE TO WHOM BOOK OF JAMES WAS WRITTEN

James 1:1 “James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting.”  

James did not send this letter to one church, like Paul often send to the church at Rome, Colossians, Thessalonians, Philippians or at Corinth, Neither James send this letter to the one man either, as Paul wrote to Timothy or to Titus. 

     To whom this epistle of James was sent? _________

     In James 1:1, James addresses his letter to "the twelve tribes scattered among the nations" (or "in the Dispersion"). This term, also known as the “diaspora”, referred to the early Jewish Christians who had fled their homeland due to persecution and were living in exile throughout the Greco-Roman world. Ten of the tribes were scattered ever since the reign of Hosea, and great part of the rest were now dispersed through the Roman empire as was foretold (Deuteronomy 28:25 “The Lord shall cause thee to be smitten before thine enemies: thou shalt go out one way against them, and flee seven ways before them: and shalt be removed into all the kingdoms of the earth.”; Deuteronomy 30:4 “If any of thine be driven out unto the outmost parts of heaven, from thence will the Lord thy God gather thee, and from thence will he fetch thee:”).

     This was clearly addressed to Jews and in context those who have received Jesus as their Messiah (John 1:11, 12, 13). The phrase the twelve tribes in context is clearly a Jewish expression denoting the Jewish people as a whole (Matthew 19:28 “And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.”; Acts 26:7 “Unto which promise our twelve tribes, instantly serving God day and night, hope to come. For which hope's sake, king Agrippa, I am accused of the Jews.”).

     James sent his letter to the twelve tribes (Jewish people) who were scattered everywhere. James was concerned about these Jewish believers (James 2:1 “brethren”) or them that believe who were living outside of Palestine or who were scattered abroad in various countries, scattered among the Gentiles. 

     The dispersion of the Israelites, and their connection with Jerusalem as a center of religion, was a divinely ordered means of propagating Christianity. The pilgrims of Israel of the law became opportunity of the salvation through Gospel of Christ reaching gentiles everywhere. 

 

 VI – PURPOSE OF THE BOOK OF JAMES

     At the time of this writing, Christianity was heavily centered in Jerusalem and predominantly composed of Jewish believers who followed Jesus as the Messiah. The focus of James was primarily inward, helping a largely Jewish community understand how to apply the teachings of Jesus to their daily lives. So, it is the epistle of James purpose.

    Later, as Christianity transitioned, Paul embarked on his Paul's missionary journeys. His extensive travels through the Mediterranean world (spanning places like Antioch, Corinth, and Ephesus) brought the Gospel to the Gentiles and more and more Gentiles would turn to Christ also.  But, in the earliest days of the Church, the vast majority of believers were Jewish. 

     While the scriptural mandate in Deuteronomy 16:16 required attendance at all three feasts (the feast of unleavened Bread – commemorating the Exodus from Egypt; the feast of weeks (Pentecost) – celebrating the wheat harvest; and the feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot) – making the ingathering of the harvest and God’s provision.  Historical records suggest that during the Second Temple period (such as in the time of Jesus), many observant Jews outside of Judea—like those in Galilee—made the pilgrimage to Jerusalem at least once a year, most commonly for Passover, for the great feasts.  For instance, the feast of weeks (during the great day of Pentecost, we learn that the Jews had come to Jerusalem from every nation out of heaven in Acts 2:1,5 “And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. ⁵ And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven.”. Since James was the leader of the Jerusalem council and Jerusalem church, that is why it was expected that Christian Jews asking for spiritual and instruction of James to settle if there were some contention and argument among the Apostles and churches. In spite that the Jewish Christians were scattered throughout the Roman Empire, James has a great opportunity and was able to reach these scattered believers by sending them the New Testament Epistle of James because of so much concern for these Jewish persecuted brethren. 

     James was originally writing to a persecuted church dealing with some truths found in this five chapters letters, such as poverty, favoritism, and bitter arguments. Despite being separated by millennia, believers today’s generation face the exact same struggles as they were to those Jewish Christians who lived in the first century A.D.

     James wanted these Jewish Brethren readers to know that a genuine saving faith is not a dead faith (James 2:17, 20, 26), but a living faith and a working faith in Jesus must show itself through actions. 

• A living faith gives you the strength to trust God and keep going when hard times happen. Just like fire tests gold, your daily struggles prove that your faith is real and strong (chapter 1)
• A living faith comes alive when you put God’s instructions into daily practice. The Bible teaches that simply listening to God's Word without obeying it fools no one but yourself (James 1:22). 
• A living faith cares for those in need, by actively loving and helping the most vulnerable, such as orphans, widows, and those in distress, by meeting physical needs by providing food, clothes, or support to those who are struggling, by visiting and spending time with people who are lonely, sick or grieving and by defending the defenseless such as standing up for people who are pushed aside or cannot stand up for themselves (James 1:27). 
• A living faith expresses in loving our neighbors and treating everyone equally, and refusing to show favoritism to the rich or discriminate against the poor (chapter 2). The danger of favoritism is showing special treatment to wealthy people while ignoring the poor is a sin (James 2:9). It means we are using money to judge a person’s worth. God values everyone equally (James 2:5). We must honor people for who they are, not what they wear or how much money they have.
• A living faith expresses in controlling our tongue (chapter 3). Though small, your words guide your life. A controlled tongue shows spiritual maturity, while careless words cause deep damage. 
• A living faith shows itself by actively choosing God's ways over the temptations of the world. The Bible says, “love not the world” this means turning away from selfish desires, pride, and values that oppose God. The Bible warns that "friendship with the world is enmity with God". A person with a living faith values spiritual growth over worldly success or shallow pleasures (James 4:4).
• A living faith expresses in including God in your plans rather than relying solely on yourself (James 4:13-17). Bible warns against making presumptuous, self-sufficient goals. Because human life is brief and the future is uncertain, faithful believers submit their ambitions to God's will. A living faith expresses itself through humility and a willingness to adapt your schedule, finances, and future based on what honors God.
• A living faith expresses in including God in your daily prayer life (James 5). When you truly trust God, you naturally talk to Him about everything. It turns belief into action and shows that you rely on His power every single day. To include God, you talk to God quietly while doing chores or driving, you ask for wisdom before you make big decisions, you lift up friends, family and people in need as you pray for others. Prayer brings peace as you shares your worries with God helps you let go of stress. 

     James wrote to these Jewish Christians with a purpose to let them know that their faith in Christ is not dead faith but must show itself through daily actions. That is the purpose of the writer.

VII – PRACTICAL LIVING EMPHASIZED IN THE BOOK OF JAMES

James 1:22-25 “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. ²³ For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: ²⁴ For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. ²⁵ But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.”   

     God's Word really works when you act on it with faith. Putting scripture into practice daily transforms its promises into real-life results, moving you from simply hearing the message to experiencing its power. (Example: A hammer really works, but only if the hammer is used. A scissor really works, but only when you use it). God's Word is powerful. It brings peace, wisdom, and strength. However, just like a tool in a toolbox, it only works when you use it. Active engagement unlocks its ability to transform your daily life, thoughts, and actions. 

     Like I and II Peter, the book of James is a practical book, 

The Book of James is often called the "Proverbs of the New Testament." In some ways book of James is like the book of Proverbs in the Old Testament. Both books focus on practical wisdom and everyday holy living rather than deep theological arguments. 

VIII – PICTURES ILLUSTRATION OF TRUTH IN THE BOOK OF JAMES

     Both Jesus and the half-brother James grew up in the agrarian society of 1st-century Judea and Galilee. Both were deeply connected to the outdoors and used their everyday surroundings to illustrate spiritual lessons. James, the brother of Jesus, frequently using vivid nature metaphors to teach practical faith because he was a keen observer of nature (just as Jesus was). 

     Here are a few ways James observed nature and used it to teach and illustrate spiritual lessons: 

     The Bible describes a "double-minded" person (someone torn between trusting God and doubting Him) as being like a wave. Just as ocean waves are blown in random directions by the changing winds, a doubtful person lacks a firm direction and is easily swayed by outside influences. James illustrates the instability of a double-minded person. James uses this to explain that asking God for wisdom requires full, confident trust, rather than a hesitant, back-and-forth mindset. 

     This illustrates how temporary earthly wealth will quickly fade away and lose its value, just as the rich person will wither away in the midst of their busy pursuits. Just like a bright wildflower that looks beautiful but dies quickly in the hot desert sun, material riches are only temporary. Financial success can disappear rapidly leaving you with nothing. Since the earthly wealth will not last, believers are encouraged to build their security on God’s eternal promises rather than on money. 

     The word “engrafted” or “implanted” comes from the Greek word “emphutos”, which means God’s word is like a seed sown directly in your heart, taking root to transform your life and bring about salvation. This is a metaphor that your heart is a soil and God’s Word is the seed. James advises believers to “lay apart all filthiness” and receive the Word with meekness. This means pulling the weeds of sin and pride so the seed has room to grow. When the implanted word is welcomed into a humble and teachable heart, it takes root and produces the fruit of a transformed life. 

     This is the metaphor of a bit in the mouth of a horse. A bit is a small piece of metal placed inside a horse's mouth. This tiny object controls a massive, strong animal. It directs the horse exactly where the rider wants it to go. The meaning of this simple illustration is, that as we control a horse by the bit - though the bit is a small thing - so the body is controlled by the tongue. He who has a proper control over his tongue can govern his whole body, as he who holds a bridle governs and turns about the horse. If you can learn to control your small, powerful tongue, you can guide your entire life in a good or bad direction. 

     James compares the human tongue (our speech) to an uncontrollable fire. Just as a tiny spark can burn down a whole forest, careless words can cause massive, lasting damage to lives and relationships. The tongue is as dangerous as any fire. James equates the tongue directly with a fire. James has just portrayed how destructive a fire can be, spreading rapidly, destroying everything it its path. And while James does not say anything about smoke, obviously fire is always accompanied by smoke and if you have every had a house fire that you were able to put out, you were still left with the ruinous effects of the smoke, so that everything smelled like smoke. That is the power of our unbridled tongue, unless it is continually surrendered to the guarding, guiding power of the Holy Spirit.  

     James compares the human tongue to untamable wild animals. If people train wild beasts, birds, and fish, but man still fail to control our own words. The tongue slips easily. Even the greatest and most gifted and gracious of men have said things that they later regretted. They could have bitten their tongue the moment they said them. No apology can undo the damage.  According to James the tongue a "restless evil" and full of "deadly poison" because our speech spreads hurt and quickly destroy relationships, institutions, and many lives. Example: Think of the tongue like a leaking bottle of strong glue. Once it spills out, you cannot take it back. Words act just like this.

James presents the picture of the possibility of taming wild animals of all sorts in preparation (v.8) to accentuate the impossibility of taming the tongue.

     James compares a person's mouth to a water spring and a tree. James asks two sets of rhetorical questions (James 3:11-12) as a means of explaining and illustrating how unnatural it is for cursing and blessing to come out of the same mouth of a born-again believer (James 3:9-10). This metaphor show that your words match your heart. The importance of a spring of water would be assumed by all the readers familiar with conditions in dry Palestine. The existence of many of its villages depended on the availability of such a source for its water. It was important that the water from it continued to be fresh and usable. Just as a spring cannot produce both fresh and salty water, you cannot truly produce both blessings and curses. James asks, does a fountain send out from the same opening both fresh and bitter water? - The rhetorical question expects a strong negative reply. Fresh and bitter water cannot come from a fountain at the same time. The impossibility of this occurring should cause believers to realize how vital it is to learn to submit our tongue to the control of the Spirit. A water spring's source determines its water. If there is a sweet, fresh water, it means the underground water is clean. A spring cannot hide what it is. The same is true with our mouth shows what is inside our heart. If your words are bitter and mean, it means your heart needs to be changed.

     James asks can a fig tree, my brethren, produce olives, or a vine produce figs? - The rhetorical question calls for a reply of "Absolutely not!" Fig trees do not yield olives or vines figs. The point is that the type of fruit produced is determined by the species of tree. The type of "fruit" from one's mouth is determined by the condition of one's heart, good fruit of blessing from a redeemed, regenerate heart but rotten fruit of cursing from an unregenerate evil heart. The metaphor is teaching us a lesson that if a tree can only grow the fruit that matches its kind. An avocado tree will always grow avocado. A mango tree will always grow mango. There is no confusion. 

     James uses a series of metaphors to show that selfishly hoarding wealth is a waste. He compares hoarded food to rotting garbage, fine clothes to moth-eaten rags, and gold to rusting metal. These items are decaying. James compares this decay to fire. Just as fire burns and destroys, the love of money will spiritually destroy the person who hoards it. 

This passage serves as a warning against the misuse of wealth and the oppression of the poor. The rust will "testify" against the rich on the day of judgment. Hoarded wealth is proof that the person was selfish, unloving, and ignored people in need. 

     James compares believers waiting for Jesus to return to a farmer waiting for a harvest. Just as farmers waiting patiently for the early and latter rains, depend on seasonal rains, Christians must patiently trust God's timing through hard times, knowing their reward is certain. James urges his readers to be patient as they wait for the coming of the Lord, using the metaphor of a farmer who patiently waits for the fruit of the earth to ripen. He exhorts them to be patient "unto the coming of the Lord," meaning that they should maintain steadfast faith as they await the return of Jesus Christ. This call for patience echoes other New Testament passages that emphasize the importance of enduring trials and suffering in the face of the promised return of Christ (2 Thessalonians 3:5).

IX – POINT OF TEACHING MISUNDERSTOOD IN THE BOOK OF JAMES

     Complete the missing word of what James teaches in James 2:4 “Ye see then how that by ________ a man is justified, and not by faith only.” Then compare on what Paul said in Romans 3:28 “Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by ________ without the deeds of the law.” Paul is saying that a man is justified by faith apart from any works. Some assume that the James teaching and Paul teaching about justification or declared righteous contradicts from each other. 

     However, if we have to study carefully, we will find out that Paul teaching about justification and salvation, is that a man is saved by faith and not by works.

     James and Paul never teach any contradiction from each other because both of them taught the very same doctrine about justification and salvation. These two apostles of Christ knew each other very well and had a united stand in Christ.

Galatians 1:19 “But other of the apostles saw I none, save James the Lord's brother.”

Galatians 2:9 “And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision.”

Acts 15:2,4,13 “When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question. ⁴ And when they were come to Jerusalem, they were received of the church, and of the apostles and elders, and they declared all things that God had done with them. ¹³ And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Men and brethren, hearken unto me:”

Acts 21:18-20 “And the day following Paul went in with us unto James; and all the elders were present. ¹⁹ And when he had saluted them, he declared particularly what things God had wrought among the Gentiles by his ministry. ²⁰ And when they heard it, they glorified the Lord, and said unto him, Thou seest, brother, how many thousands of Jews there are which believe; and they are all zealous of the law:”

 

     Paul was completely agreed with what James is teaching in the epistle of James and James was completely agreed with what Paul is teaching in the epistle to the Romans.

     Let us answer some questions that we may prove that James and Paul don’t contradict each other in their teaching.

Titus 3:8 “This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men.”

     Paul and James are in complete harmony regarding the relationship between faith and works. While Paul firmly emphasizes that we are saved purely by God's grace and not by our own righteous deeds, Paul, like James insists that true saving faith will inevitably produce good works

James 2:14 “What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?”

Titus 1:16 “They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.”

     Paul and James completely agreed that a person can claim to have faith but actually have no real faith [James 2:14, Titus 1:16]. Both apostles taught that a genuine relationship with God will be proven by a person's actions, and that mere words are meaningless if they are contradicted by how a person lives.

      James agreed with Paul that Abraham was justified by faith, as both writers quote the exact same Old Testament verse (Genesis 15:6) to establish that Abraham's faith was counted to him as righteousness. 

Romans 4:3 “For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.”

James 2:13 “And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.”

Paul's Focus: In Romans 4:3, Paul emphasizes how an individual is justified before God by faith alone, completely apart from the works of the law.

James's Focus: In James 2:23, James focuses on the evidence of faith. He argues that a genuine faith is proven through righteous deeds or active obedience, famously concluding that "faith without works is dead". 

      Both Paul and James taught truths that perfectly complement each other when understood in their proper context.

     In the book of Romans, Paul answered the question:

      The question “How can I be declared right before God?” is answered by Paul in the book of Romans that it is by faith and not by works. Paul teaches that that justification is a free gift of God’s grace, received entirely through faith in Jesus Christ, completely apart from following the old Mosaic law or apart from human effort. 

     Paul explains the root of our salvation (faith in Christ), while James explains the fruit of our salvation (good works). In the book of Romans, the writer Paul concentrated on the root, while in the book of James, the writer James concentrates on the fruit. True faith is not enough to say that I have faith, it is not merely something we speak about; I must show that I have faith. Just as a healthy tree naturally produces good fruit, genuine faith naturally produces a transformed life of obedience and service. Example: If you are really a mango tree, then people should see mangoes. 

      While only God can look into your heart and know your salvation, the people around you cannot see your faith, people cannot look into your heart to see if you are really saved and justified. But Since people cannot see what is inside your heart, they see your faith by the way you live, talk, act, behave and treat others (James 2:18). James is saying that if a person really believes, then that person will really behave. Behavior is the "fruit" or evidence of the root of your faith. The argument is not that good deeds earn salvation, but that they are the natural and necessary byproduct of truly believing in God through Christ the Savior.

     In chapter 2, James is not talking about how a person is saved but explains how a person proves he is saved or demonstrates their saving faith, rather than how they earn their salvation. In this context, good works are the visible fruit and evidence of genuine faith, not the means by which a person is saved.

         The question “How can I show people my faith?” or “How can I show others that I am a believer and that I am right before God?” is answered by James in the book of James, that faith is shown by good works. James emphasizes that genuine saving faith is never invisible for it will always be demonstrated and validated through outward actions and good works.  (James 2:18 “Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.”).   Notice a man says he “hath faith” and James says “I have works”, then James challenge that man by saying “shew me thy faith without thy works” then James said “I will shew thee my faith by my works”. A man is shewing to a man, not shewing to God because God already sees and knows our heart, if it is genuine faith. God justification is by faith. But a man justification is by works. No contradiction!

      When Paul writes that we are justified by faith in Romans (Romans 5:1 “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:”), he is talking about how a sinner is declared righteous before God. When James writes that a person is justified by works (James 2:18 “Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.”), James is talking about how a believer's faith is declared or proven righteous before men; James 2:24 “Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.”). Paul said justification in the sight of God is by faith. James said justification in the sight of man is by works. No contradiction? They both said that salvation is by faith alone and both of them said the evidence of salvation is works. There is no point of teaching to be misunderstood. 

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