Topical Outline of James

Topical Outline

The Trying of Your Faith (Joy and Patience) James 1:1-27

There are five urgent requirements of faith: Joy, Patience, Wisdom, Unwavering Mind and Love.

Joy

Count it a joy to serve God even when your faith is being tried. We can have a Joy that will rejoice in the Promise rather than react to the problem. Where Christ is working there is Joy. James 1:2 "Count it all joy" 5:10; 4:9

Patience

Know that the trial is to work Patience so that we press in, press through and press on. Patience is a sign your faith is working. Patience has its place with Faith and Joy unto Perfection. Where Christ is working there is Patience.

James 1:3�The trying of your faith worketh patience.

James 1:4�Let patience have her perfect work.

Wisdom

Ask for Wisdom and it shall be given. We are given the Unction to speak and act wisely in the hour of trial. Where Christ is working there is wisdom.

James 1:5�If any of you lack wisdom let him ask of God…

Unwavering mind

We need a humble mind that will always depend on the Lord. A faith that refuses to respond to the surging billows of doubt in the hour of trial. Endurance has its place with Faith and Love through every trial. Where Christ is working there is endurance (1:12) with an unwavering mind.

James 1:6�…nothing wavering…

James 1:8�A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.

Love

Pure Love never fails to make faith work perfectly. Faith and love are content with God's dealings in the hour of trial. Where Christ is working there is Love.

James 1:12�Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.

James 1:2�My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; 3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.

There are diverse temptations and trials. 1:2

Faith tried by the Word. Ps. 105:19; Jer. 23:29; I Cor. 3:13; I Peter 1:7,22

Promises (1:12) /Father of lights (1:17) /Word of Truth (1:18) /engrafted Word (1:21,23) /The Perfect Law of liberty (1:25) /Gospel: pure & unspotted religion /Wisdom from Above (3:17)

God tests and never tempts (James1:12-13). God tests to prove our faith, correct our conduct and to perfect our character.

God allows temptation (James 1:2, 12-13; 2:5; 5:13; I Cor. 10:13).

• Psalm 119:67 Because we didn't listen directly to the Word of God.
• James 1:14 For the unbeliever to see his faults and weaknesses.
• I Cor.3:13 The fiery trial reveals to others who you really are.
• I Cor.15:57; II Cor. 2:14 God gives victory and causes Triumph.
• Matt. 4:1-4; Rev. 12:6; 13-16 The wilderness experience is a feeding time spiritually.

God rewards those that truly love Him. James 1:12

Faith Tried by Afflictions, Hardships, Tests, and Trials. Affliction is any condition that produces suffering or pain.

There are two types of affliction:

THE FIRST is designed to judge sin (Isaiah 53:4; Matthew 24:29; Romans 2:9)

THE SECOND is designed to purify and perfect the believer (James 1:2-4; 5:13; Rom. 5:3-5; 8:18 II Thess. 1:4-7; Isaiah 48:10; 63:9; Hosea 5:15; II Chron. 33:12; I Peter 5:9,10).

In both cases you that are spiritual must be a help to those that are afflicted (James 1:17; Gal. 6:1; I Cor. 2:15).

How to pray in affliction.

INSTRUCTION	REFERENCE
Learn to pray through alone. (learn to believe God for yourself, but there is strength and victory when everyone works together)	James 5:13; Isaiah 51:1,2; 40:31; Psalm 34:19; 40:1,2
You can't pray away the night of sorrow, but you can endure.	James 1:12; 5:11; Hebrews 12:7
Let God change you inside while you praise Him through the trial.	James 5:13b�sing
Pray that you enter not into temptation.	Luke 22:40,46;
Watch you therefore and pray always.	Luke 21:36
Three examples to follow when suffering affliction are given by James.	5:10 (The prophets); 5:11 (Job); 5:17 (Elijah)

Examples of those falling into temptation.

• Those scattered abroad. 1:1
• Falling into temptations without joy. 1:2
• Impatient. 1:3,4
• Unwise. 1:5
• Wavering. 1:6
• Double-minded. 1:8
• Low degree. 1:9
• Rich man fading away in his ways.1:10-11
• Drawn away and enticed. 1:14
• Those in error. 1:16
• Those with wrath. 1:20
• Hearers only. 1:22-25
• Those with unbridled tongue. 1:26
• Defiled and spotted by the world. 1:27
• Professors of faith without good works. 2:18

The Showing of Your Faith. (Wisdom and Meekness) James 1:22-3:18

Jas. 2:18�I will shew you my faith by my works.

Because the kingdom of God is not a natural kingdom (Luke 17:20) our faith is justified in the eyes of those that behold our good works. Matt. 5:16; Eph. 2:10

I Pt. 2:12�…by your good works which they shall behold , glorify God…

Gal. 5:6; I Thess. 1:3; 2:13; Phil. 2:12-13 ; I Jn. 3:18, 23-24; Titus 3:8; 1:13-14; 2:11-14

Your faith without good works…

• will not profit James 2:14-16
• will not live James 2:17,20,26
• will face the judgment Revelation 2:12

Your Faith receives the engrafted Word of God with meekness unto perfection. James 1:17,18,21; 2:18-22; I Peter 1:9-11,13-17,22,23

Abraham (2:21,22) was justified by works and his Faith was made perfect by works. I Peter 1:9; Colossians 2:10; 4:12

Rahab (2:25)was justified by works.

Elijah (5:17-20) saw the need of the nation and did what God told him to do. I Kings 18:1 "Go shew thyself…" 18:15 "today"

Your faith with wisdom.

James 1:5�If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

James 3:1�My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation. (finding fault harshly and unwisely)

Proverbs 2:6�In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.;

Ecclesiastes 2:26�For God giveth to a man that is good in his sight wisdom, and knowledge, and joy: but to the sinner he giveth travail, to gather and to heap up, that he may give to him that is good before God. This also is vanity and vexation of spirit.

Psalm 105:22 (Teach wisdom). James 3:17�But the wisdom that is from above is first…

• Pure 1:21, 27
• Peaceable 1:26; 3:1,2 (3:10,16)
• Gentle 2:8, 25
• Easy to be entreated 2:21-23
• Full of mercy 2:13,15,16; 5:19-20
• Good fruits 3:18

Must constantly be produced. Psalm 92:13,14; James 5:7; Phil. 1:11

Must be grown only in good ground. Matt. 13:8,23; Luke 8:8,15; Gal. 5:22,23;Eph.5:9-11

Without partiality 2:1,4 9; 4:11-12

Without hypocrisy 1;8,16,26;3:9-12;4:1-10,17

The Fruit of Your Faith (Righteousness and Peace)

1:5, 17, 18; 2:5, 23; 3:13-18; 5:16

The trying of your faith worketh patience 1:3

Patience shows itself through faith and good works unto perfection. 1:4

The righteousness of God is revealed to us from faith to faith 2:23; 3:17 Rom.1:17; II Cor, 5:21; I Cor. 1:30

Producing a perfect man James 1:4; I Peter 5:10; Eph. 4:13; James 3:2

Producing a blessed man. 1:12, 25

Producing a patient man. 1:3,4; 5:10, 11

Producing a wise man. 1:5; 3:13, 17

Producing a saved soul. 1:21

Producing beloved brethren. 1:2, 16, 19

Producing a man of love 1:12, 27; 2:8

Sacrificial love for people and Unspotted love for God.

Producing a righteous man 1:20; 2:21-23; 5:16

Producing the first fruits of His creatures 1:18; Phil. 3:14

Chief among his creatures; The first-fruits were the best of every kind to be offered to God, and were given as God's peculiar right and portion; thus the new creature is God's peculiar portion taken out of mankind, which being consecrated to God by a new birth, they ought to serve him with a new spirit, new heart and new thankfulness, as living under the highest obligations unto new obedience.

The fruit of righteousness unto holiness (reproduces after its kind)

James 3:18�And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.

Romans 6:16�… to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are…

Rom. 6:19�I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness.

Rom. 6:22�But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.

From faith to righteousness unto holiness. Obedience to the word to good conduct unto good character. Perfect faith to perfect conduct unto perfect character

Right character should always produce right conduct. The proof of a man's faith is a manifestation of Christ's life.