“The Church is People” is a five-part series based on the letter of James.

The first concept we come across in the letter of James is that the Church is People who act on God’s Word.

The concept comes out of chapter one.

In the next lines, we’re looking at chapter two to discover what Church means according to this piece of Scripture.

Let’s focus on verses 1 through 10, and 14 through 17. Please, read it from your personal Bible.  

The theme that comes out of the above verses is that Church is People of faith and works.

Begin with verse 17,

So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. ESV. 

Using only this verse, one thing that comes to mind is faith, which should always be the foundation for everything we do in life.

Faith means living by the law of freedom

James talks about the law of liberty in verse 12,

So speak and so act as those who are to be judged under the law of liberty.  ESV.

This term, “law of liberty,” is not a new concept in the New Testament. Paul also talks about a similar concept in his letters. We’ll not discuss it in this article, but probably in future ones.

The law of liberty implies three things:

• All humans are sinners. Read Romans 3: 23 and Romans 6: 23.
• Jesus Christ is the only One Who can set us free from sin. Read John 8:36 and Galatians 3: 10-14.
• It’s through faith Christ sets us free. Read Acts 13: 39 and Romans 3: 27.

The freedom we experience through faith empowers us to love God and people.

Faith means we show mercy and triumph over judgment

Read verse 13,

For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

Clearly, James wants the Church to keep three things in mind:

• We will all face judgment someday.
• And, there will be no mercy for those who don’t show mercy.
• Mercy triumphs over judgment.

Remember that James, as traditionally believed to be the author of the letter of James we’re studying, was with Jesus during his entire time of public ministry.

So, he might have heard of Matthew records in Matthew 25: 31-46. I wrote an article a while ago on that talking about how you use everything you have matters.

The question we all have to ask ourselves comes out of verse 37 in Matthew 25,

Lord, when did we see you hungry, thirsty, a stranger, or needing clothes?

This question comes down to one thing, the ability to see Jesus Christ in all people and all circumstances!

In conclusion

Faith goes hand in hand with works. And, we are able to do works that please God only when we walk by faith, and not only by sight. In other words, we become able to see Jesus Christ in everyone around us and all the situations we face in life.