DBRP_033 EXO.5 EXO.6 JOB.33 JAS.2

Let’s read EXODUS 5-6.

Moses has responded to God's call, returned to Egypt with Aaron, and has had a successful meeting with the leaders of the Israelite people.

We turn to JOB 33.

This is Elihu's second chapter of six in his speech.

Opening to JAMES 2:

Yesterday James told us to consider it a great joy when troubles come our way. Don't miss James’ reasoning for this seeming contradiction. Then he spoke very strongly about not just being people who merely listen to God's Word. We must do it.

Translation notes:
14 My brothers and sisters, what good is it for people to say that they [believe in Christ//have faith] if their actions do not prove it? Can that [kind of believing//faith] save them?
17 So it is with [belief//faith]: if it is alone and includes no actions, then it is dead.
18 But someone will say, “One person has [strong belief//faith], another has actions.” My answer is, “Show me how anyone can [believe in Christ//have faith] without [displaying any] actions. I will show you [that I believe//my faith] by my actions.” 19 Do you believe that there is only one God? Good! The demons also believe [that] — and tremble with fear. 20 You fool! Do you want to be shown that [believing//faith] without actions is useless? 21 How was our ancestor Abraham put right with God? It was through his actions, when he offered his son Isaac on the altar. 22 Can't you see? His [belief//faith] and his actions worked together; his [belief//faith] was made perfect through his actions. 23 And the scripture came true that said, “Abraham believed God, and because of his [believing//faith] God accepted him as righteous.” And so Abraham was called God's friend. 24 You see, then, that it is by people's actions that they are put right with God, and not by their [belief//faith] alone.
26 So then, as the body without the spirit is dead, so also [believing//faith] without actions is dead.

I hope you remember why I use ‘believe’ instead of ‘faith’. In most of our English Bibles, ‘faith’ and ‘believe’ translate the same Greek root word (pistis/pisteuw). 1. Faith is fuzzy because the word has taken on all sorts of new meanings in English-speaking culture. 2. If you tell someone to have faith, they will likely ask, “But how?” Faith is not a volitional action. But ‘believing’ is! 3. And finally, I make the changes above for maintaining cohesion. In a verse like 23, it is important that the two phrases use the same word: ‘Abraham believed God’, and … ‘because of his believing’ he was counted as righteous. Such believing is not some fuzzy thing that Hollywood and our culture calls ‘faith’.

 

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