Though every wild animal on earth has been tamed by mankind, the tongue still defies subjugation — that is, unless we submit our whole lives (including our words/speech) to the empowering presence and lordship of Jesus!

James 2:14-26 contrasts a faith that is false with a faith that actually does justify—a living faith that by its very nature reflects the One on whom our faith rests, delighting to love others in concrete ways.

There is a fundamental incompatibility of holding faith in Christ and showing partiality among people — especially based off social status. Favoritism and discrimination are violations of the Kingdom law of love.

If the content of our local churches don’t move us to do something — and if there aren’t people to do those things with and hold us accountable to do them — then we’re simply deceiving ourselves!

When James says, “count it all joy… when you face various trials,” he definitely has economic distress as one of those “various trials.” So what does it mean to be “lowly” and “boast in [our] exaltation?”

“To ask for “wisdom” is almost to ask for an ability to “endure” with the ethic of Jesus (justice (1:20), love (2:8–11), and peace (3:18)) when pressure is put on people to live otherwise.” — Scot McKnight

We can ‘count it all joy when we meet trials of various kinds’ because we know that suffering proves our faith (cf. Rom 5:2-5, 1 Pet 1:6-7) and, as James will continue to build on, suffering produces Christlikeness.

Union with Christ depicts the reality of all the ways that the Bible pictures our human connectedness to Christ, in which he is indispensable for every good that we enjoy.

Not only are we guilty… Not only are we spiritually dead… We’re under the just/right wrath of God! But Christ came to redeem!!!