The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1909-05-26

May 30. Believing and Doing.
James FLAPS.
We have this week most import
ant talk on practical christianity from
the pen of "James the brother of
Jesus Those who were impressed
in the lesson of last week with the
wisdom of the decision Of the council
at Jerusalem, will be prepared to
know that James was prominent in
it's delibertions. standing at the head.
The epistle of James is remarkable
one, and bible students should read it's
five forceful chapters. It was James
who wrote that comforting thought
found in the first chapter. "Blessed is
the man that endureth temptation.
for when he is tried, he shall receive
the crown of life, which the Lord has
promised to them that love him." 1t
is James in the same chapter who
says. "Be We doors of the word. not
hearers only" and further he adds,
eff any man among you bridleth not
his tongue, but deceiveth his own
heart. this mans religion is vain."
In the following chapter he warns US
not to pay special attention to a man
or woman because they are rich and
have much worldly display. He says
the honest poor are to be honored
equally, if not above the rich. With
this coming before. one is prepared
for the practical words Of the lesson
Of today.
Gath without works is dead."
This is the Golden Text of the lesson
and for writing this. James has been
made noteworthy as long as the bible
is read. In his argument on this
truth he calls to mind that the mere
telling of one hungry and naked to be
clothed and fed amount to nothing. if
no effort is made to relieve the needs
of the destitute one. It is not suffi-
Gent to simply say one has belief in
God and Jesus if that does not become
main spring to actions in accordance
with Gods will. He gives example
of Abraham who then told to offer ur
his son acted, and Of the woman
Rahab. told Of in Joshua 2:1 who had
faith in the God of the Israelites SC
that che was ready to risk her life
to protect two Jews who took refuge
in her home on the wall of the city
and who made their escape. Jesus
said to be doors and not hearers of the
WORD of God. In Matthew 81 :28. 81
Jesus in talking to the self righteous
Pharisees who insisted that they knew
what God said, took for example two
sons who were told to work in the
vineyard by their father. One sale
he would not. and then did. the other
promised to work. and then did no..
Jesus asked his listeners to say, "Wht
did the will of his father" The,
said the first. Jesus classed the self
righteous people with the second son,
and the Politicians and harlots with th.
first. And said the latter should &c,
to heaven before those v no knew am
would not act in accordance with theit
knowledge.
i The world judges christian peopl.
by what their belief in Christ cause.
them to do. aud christian is not liv
ing up to his best light who does pol
show his belief in Christ by a daily
walk in accordance with bible teach
ings. If one truly loves another b.
shows it by doing acts which will b.
pleasing to the one beloved, and the
same rule holds good in the matter Of
faith. The words of James on practi.
cal christian living are worthy of note
aud of being followed. and we recon.
mend reading of all be says.