Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1897-05-25

one Of YOU say unto them, Depart in
peace. be sc warmed and lilled: notwith-
standing We give them not those things
which are necdfuI to the body: what doth
it profit? H. Even so faith. If IL hath
not works, is dead. being alone. Is. Yea.
u man may say, Thou hast faith. and
nave works: show me thy faith without
Thy works. and | will show thee my faith
by my works. ~. Thou believest that
there is one God: thou doest we'll: the
devils also believe, and tremble. 20. But
wilt thou know. o vain man, that faith
without works is dead? u. Was nos
Abraham our father justified by works.
when he had offered Isaac his son upon
the altar? -. Soest thou how faitn
wrought with his works and by works
was faith made perfect? -. And the
scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abra-
nam believed Cod and it was imputed
unto him for righteousness: and he wGS
called The Friend Of God.
Time. -Written (perhaps) in ~ ID. 10.
Place.-This epistle was written from
Jerusalem by James to the Jewish disci-
pies OF Christ throughout the Roman en-
pirs.
The Writer of The Epistle.-Among the
three pillars of the apostolic Church
Gal. ,. -. besides the ardent Peter and
the thoughtful John looms up the solemn
ana stately form Of James the Just. lie
was held in reverence as the son tproo-
ably) of Joseph and Mary, and therefore
the Lords brother as the leader OF
the church in Jerusalem. and above all
as the disciple of unbcnding rectitude and
faithful obedience to the law. We are told
That his knees were Calloused from bow
ing in prayer, that he ever wore the white
garments of priest, that he abode Jay
and night in the temple praying for his
people. and that he was honored for MS
purity and devotion by uneelieving as
well as believing Jews. Though the rec
of fI.a
early Christianity. he was broad enough
in his views to iudorse the work or Gaui
among the GentileS. TO the Jews through
out the world who had received Jesus as
The Christ. and whom he recognized as
the true twelve tribes. he wrote this
cpistle.
Faith Shown by Works--"This will
bring Us to the passage of our lesson
Tho unconverted Jews prided themselves
on their national position and privileges
and orthodoxy. We have Abraham 10
our father they said. first to the BaP-
fist and then to Christ. What did the
Baptist say TO them? Bring forth fruits
meet for repentance. What did Christ
say to them? If We We're Abra-
hams children, We would do the works OF
Abraham. In this epistle we see that
the converted Jews fell into the same
error They believed there was one Goa
G.. 10: that was good too OF this ortho-
one God. they looked down upon the Gen
tile idolaters: believing i'll Christ they
looked down upon the Jews who stu heid
aloof. But in word ana life they set Il
bad example to those they looked down
upon. Their treatment of the poor o.
l-C). their envyinG and strife g. H-l6; L.
y. their evil speaking 6. 1-S, their avar-
ice g. 10 and other sins, James sharply
rcbukeS: and In our passage he goes 10
the root Of the matter. You speak OF
your father Abraham; yes, he. too, be-
lieved God: but see what came or 1t
he was ready TO give up to God ms only
son, Your faith is a dead faith, Tor IL
brings forth no fruit Do the works OF
Abraham: then we shall see your faith
is living faith; then it will be TO you
as IL was to him, imputed for righteous
ness and so you will be justified in the
sight of God and man. Why, even 'hat
Door Gentle sinner. Rahab, teaches you
this. She believed in lsraers GOD: ala
she sit still? No: she had the chance OF
taking Gods side by befriendinS the
spies. and she did 1t at the risk or hsr
life Such, in other words. is James az
gument. We know from the Ialmno tha'
the expression in Gen. Is about Abrahan'S
faith being counted for righteousness
was a favorite theme Cor debate in the
rabbmicai schools; which makes the ar
gument all the more pointed.
Save us by grace. through faith alone.
A faith thou must myself impart;
A faith that would by works be shown,
4 faith that purihes the heart;
A faith that doth the mountains move,
A faith that shows our sins forgiven.
4 faith that sweetly works by love-
And ascertains our claim TO heaven.
This Is the faith We humbly seek.
The faith in thy all-c,eansing blood.
That blood which doth fer sinners SPEAK;
a. 10, IL .p,ak M God.