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雅各书［第二章］
Book of James 2

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雅各书 第二章|Book of James 2

【生命树的待人和行事】

主讲：丘均发传道

27/02/2024


一、生命树的待人之方（V1-13）

1.不可按外貌偏心待人（V1-7）

雅各指出早期教会中一个普遍存在的问题：按外貌偏待人。‘以貌待人’是分别善恶树的果子！这不是属神的眼光！雅各提醒教会的信徒，以社会地位的高低、财富的多少来待人，乃是与耶稣的心意和教导背道而驰！人是看外貌，耶和华是看内心。（撒上16:7）

作为现代信徒，我们也可能掉进偏袒的陷阱，根据财富、地位、外表或种族等外在因素而过分偏爱他人。雅各的劝诫让我们审视自己的心态，确保我们的信仰不受这些偏见的污染。

2.守至尊律法爱人如己（V8-13）

爱人如己（利19:18）被称为是至尊的律法。全心全意爱神，又要爱人如己，这是一切律法和先知道理的总纲。因为‘爱是不加害与人的，所以爱就完全了律法。’（罗13:10）偏心待人犯了爱人如己的至尊律法，就违背律法的任何部分，就成为完全违背律法的人。

让我们下定决心：尊守至尊律法-爱人如己！显明生命树的仁爱和怜悯！

二、生命树的行事之道（V14-26）

1. 行事须有信心和行为（V14-20）

雅各在V14提出了一个反问：我的弟兄们，若有人说，自己有信心，却没有行为，有什么益处呢？这信心能救他吗？雅各用这一个反问表明：没有行为的信心是无益的，是不能拯救人的。他的论点并不是说信心不重要。相反的，他是强调真正信心的本质就是有行为！例如：没有相应行为的怜悯言语，对于需要减轻痛苦的人，毫无益处。完全不能满足人在饥寒交迫中的需要。

基督徒的行事之道，是要将信仰转化为实实在在的爱的行动！通过怜悯的行动和对他人的爱，来活出我们的信心。

2.信心伟人的行事榜样（V21-26）

雅各引用了圣经中两个信心伟人的例子：亚伯拉罕和喇合，来强调属神子民在行事中，信心与行为要结合并行。

对我们来说，这些榜样提醒我们，在做任何事情，我们的信心应该带来勇敢的行动。正如亚伯拉罕和喇合的信心，引导他们勇敢地做出顺服的行为一样；我们的信心也应该激励我们，做出彰显我们对基督信仰的行为！

总结：

生命树的生命，是充满着活力和积极的信心！它影响着我们的行事，影响着我们的人际关系，渗透到我们生活的各个层面。通过我们结合信心的行为，成为有影响力的生命见证！向周围的世人传递基督的爱！


James 2 The Tree of Life’s Way of Treating People and Doing Things
GK611 Morning Devotion
27 Feb 2024
The Morning Devotion Speaker: Ps Daniel Kew

1. The Tree of Life’s Way of Treating People (V1-13)

(1) Don’t treat people favourably based on their appearance (V1-7)

James points to a common problem in the early church: partiality based on appearance. ‘Treating people by their appearance’ is the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil! This is not God’s perspective! James reminds the believers in the church that treating people based on their social status and wealth is contrary to the thoughts and teachings of Jesus! Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart. (1 Samuel 16:7)

As modern believers, we can also fall into the trap of favouritism, favouring others unduly based on external factors such as wealth, status, appearance, or race. James’ admonition invites us to examine our mindsets and ensure that our faith is not tainted by these prejudices.

(2) Observe the royal law and love your neighbour as yourself (V8-13)

Love your neighbour as yourself (Leviticus 19:18) is called the royal law. Love God with all your heart and soul and love your neighbour as yourself. This is the summary of all the laws and prophets. Because “Love does no harm to a neighbour; therefore love is the fulfilment of the law”(Romans 13:10). Being partial to others violates the royal law of loving your neighbour as yourself. If you violate any part of the law, you will become a complete violator of the law.

Let us make up our minds: to obey the royal law - to love our neighbour as ourselves! Reveal the love and mercy of the Tree of Life!

2. The Tree of Life’s Way of Doing Things (V14-26)

(1) Walk by combining faith and works (V14-20)

James asked a rhetorical question in V14: What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? James used this rhetorical question to show that faith without works is useless and cannot save people. His argument is not that faith is unimportant. On the contrary, he emphasised that the essence of true faith is behaviour! For example: Words of mercy without corresponding actions do nothing to help those who need relief from their suffering. It is completely unable to meet the needs of people who are hungry and cold.

The Christian's way of doing things is to transform faith into real actions of love! Live out our faith through acts of mercy and love for others.

(2) Examples of great men of faith (V21-26)

James cited two examples of great men of faith in the Bible: Abraham and Rahab, to emphasise that faith and behaviour should go hand in hand with the actions of God's people.

For us, these examples remind us that in everything we do, our faith should lead to courageous action. Just as the faith of Abraham and Rahab led them to courageous acts of obedience, our faith should inspire us to act in ways that demonstrate our faith in Christ!

Conclusion：

The life of the Tree of Life is full of vitality and positive confidence! It affects our actions, and our relationships, and permeates every aspect of our lives. Become an impactful life witness through our actions combined with faith! Spread the love of Christ to the people around you!