James by Dennis McCallum (2019)

Spiritual growth under trial takes a believer from the point of having begun a relationship with God to the level of a mature, strong follower who God can use in advancing His plan in the world. A believer who lives out James' teaching will be able to actively practice gratitude in the midst of trials, gradually become incredibly stable, be shaped by brokenness so God can use him more, and become wise.

What is at stake for believers in resisting temptation:\r\nHabituation- the satisfaction of giving in to temptation does not last, always need more.\r\nRelational Alienation- results from secret habits, sexual exploitation.\r\nDiscrediting- believers hope our lives draw people toward God but sin discredits our witness.\r\nSpiritual Erosion- The shame we feel when giving in to temptation creates tension between us and God.\r\nWhen temptation to sin arises, we must avoid shifting blame, especially to God, but instead take personal responsibility. Temptation is deceiving. Look for the lie behind every temptation and confront it with Scriptural truth. The ultimate ability to refuse temptation comes from having an accurate view of the goodness of God.

A believer must be quick to listen and slow to speak and slow to anger. One must learn to come before God quietly in order to become a good listener. A good listener is not too full of himself to listen, nor is a wool-gatherer who is thinking of other things while supposedly listening, and is able to enter into the feelings of others as they share.

God calls us to not show personal favoritism. We are not to make distinctions between ourselves based on race or gender or wealth or any other factor. When we do not take our identity from God, we create an arbitrary identity focused on being important in some way and not on loving others. People are equal because they are created in the image of God.

Real faith is different from pseudo-faith. Mental assent is not enough. Even the demons believe there is one God. It is necessary to place your trust in God. That is biblical faith.\r\n\r\nJames uses the word 'justification' in a different context that Paul does. Justification before God is faith apart from works just as Paul taught. Justification before people as James taught, is different because people can't see into the heart as God can. Godly deeds justify believers to a watching world.