A Word from James: Turning Trials into Triumph!
The church (and me specifically) has spent so much time on the subject of grace and the importance of faith to our salvation that we need to focus our attention equally to the evidence of faith and the spiritual work required of us in this natural world. The issue of faith and works has been such an issue over the centuries that it has created division in theological circles and a false sense of security in the church. What I mean by this is the perception that as long as we believe, we can live life as we want and there are no consequences. I want to bring balance to us by understanding James. I believe James was trying to bring balance to a misunderstanding of faith and grace. The same misunderstanding that exists today! James wrote to encourage and teach Christians to live VICTORIOUS in the midst of being dispersed to live throughout the world in a different way. They were being exposed to intense trials (James 1:1; I Peter 1:6), they were falling into sin through weakness