Over the next three weeks, we’ll be diving into the appointed readings from the letter of St. James, the brother of Jesus. Now, some have had issues with how James and St. Paul write, as they seem to be at odds. Paul often focuses on conversion, creating faith in believers, and emphasizing justification—how we are made right with God—through Jesus alone. James, on the other hand, takes this salvation as a given and really digs into what faithful, abundant life looks like for Christians who already know they’re right with God, especially those who live in community with others. But James and Paul aren’t in conflict. They agree completely. Both understand that we’re made right with God, not by our own efforts, but by God’s free grace in Jesus. And both, even Paul, offer guidance on how to reflect this grace in our lives, especially in our relationships. So with that said, let’s get to it. I invite you to listen closely as we explore more deeply what James has to say about living out our faith.
Let us pray. May the words of my mouth and the meditations of our hearts be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, our Rock and our Redeemer. Amen.
True discipleship doesn’t just stir the heart—it demands movement. Discipleship isn’t content with mere whispers in the soul; it requires footsteps, action, a visible mark on the world. Discipleship isn’t simply about reciting some creed of doctrine, but about putting those truths held dear into action. It’s in how we treat those around us, how we see the faces of the sidelined and recognize in them the image of God—the same image that is stamped upon us. Our relationship with God isn’t some secret to be kept hidden; it’s a force that pushes us forward, a force that compels us to live out what we believe. If our faith—our relationship with God—doesn’t take shape in the way we engage with others, especially those who need it most, then it’s like a ship becalmed in still waters, destined to go nowhere. True discipleship is a call to action, a relentless drive to live out the love we’ve been given. It’s where what we say meets up with what we do, where what we believe and confess becomes real in how we live.
Jesus’ brother James knew a thing or two about being a disciple of Jesus. Unfortunately sometimes he’s cast in a poor light as one who undervalues God’s complete, total, undeserved, and gracious love for us in Jesus. Nothing could be further from the truth. People will point to Paul’s writings as more faithful to the gospel of grace, but that’s simply not true. James and Paul are in rigorous agreement. James takes for granted that we are saved by grace through faith—he simply challenges us to live like that actually matters to us. Paul does the same, just with a lot more words, in typical Pauline fashion.
James was someone who knew what it meant to care deeply for others. He was the first bishop of Jerusalem, a leader in the early church, and he helped shape the way Christians understand what it means to live out their faith. He was fundamental in setting forth what we believe, what we hold dear as unshakable truth as disciples of Jesus. James had a special role in the early days of the church, especially when it came to talking about how our relationship with God connects with the things we do. He understood how to put what he believed into action, his creed into deed, if you will.
There’s a story from the Bible, in the Acts of the Apostles, that tells us about a time when James, along with Paul and Peter, came together to discuss something very important. The early Christians were debating if Gentiles—people who weren’t Jewish—needed to follow all the old Jewish customs, like circumcision, in order to be Christians. Paul believed that faith in Jesus was enough, that everyone could be a part of the church without those extra requirements. Peter wasn’t quite sure, and he was trying to figure out what was right. But then James, with wisdom and kindness, made a decision that showed how much he understood the love of God. He agreed with Paul, saying that faith in Jesus was enough for everyone, no matter where they came from. Because of this, the church opened its arms wide to all people, showing that God’s love is for everyone, not just a select few.
Like Paul, James wrote letters to the early Christians. We have one of them in our scripture, we heard from it today, and in that letter, he talks about something very important—how we treat each other. The earliest creed, or confession of faith, among early Christians, recorded in the Bible even, is “Jesus is Lord.” James took that confession utterly seriously, and he knew that meant living a life that aligned with that confession, with that creed. It meant living a life that aligns with the will of Jesus, whose own will aligned with his Father’s will. It meant living a life that mirrors Jesus in our own lives—especially how we treat other people.
And so James goes right to the heart of the matter. He tells us not to show favoritism. Imagine if two people came some Sunday morning, one who in dressed in a snappy navy suit with a vibrant silk tie and pocket square to match, and then struggling person in old, dirty clothes, who clearly doesn’t smell very good to boot. If we pay attention to the guy wearing the nice clothes and chat him up, and make sure he’s got a bulletin, has a place to sit not too close to the front but not in the back corner, but then barely talk to the needy and struggling person and let him to basically sit wherever it in the back row, we’re not showing the kind of love that Jesus taught us. Jesus loves everyone the same, and he wants us to do the same. James reminds us that our actions should match our relationship with God, which means treating everyone with kindness and respect.
Sometimes, even in our own communities, maybe even here in our very own Emanuel, we might find ourselves giving special treatment to people who’ve been here for a long time, or we think are important, or who we might perceive as the movers and shakers, while overlooking those who are more easily pacified, or who only come to worship and don’t stay for coffee hour or volunteer, or only joined our church family a few months or years ago. James challenges us to look at our own hearts and to treat everyone with the same love and care. Maybe that means inviting someone to sit with us, talking to someone who clearly looks ill at ease, or simply showing kindness to everyone, no matter who they are. When we do this, we’re living out the love that God has shown us.
James also talks about the royal law, which is the command to love your neighbor as yourself. He says that this command is the most important one and that we should follow it in everything we do. Loving our neighbors means seeing the best in them, treating them with kindness, and helping them when they need it. It’s about making sure that our actions reflect the love that God has given us. When we love others as ourselves, we’re following the path that Jesus set for us. When we love others as ourselves, what we hold dear, our creed, aligns with how we live our lives.
Finally, James tells us that faith without action is dead. What he means is that our faith—our relationship with God—should show in the things we do. Our creed should be evident just by looking at how we live. If we say we have faith but don’t help others, our faith really isn’t alive. It’s important to look for ways to help those who are in need, to show kindness, and to stand up for what’s right. When we do these things, we’re showing the world that our faith is real and that it makes a difference in our lives and the lives of others. People should be able to tell just by how we live, how we treat others, that we know and confess “Jesus is Lord.”
James challenges us to live our lives in a way that mirrors the love Jesus shows us. Jesus didn’t just tell us about love; he embodied it in every interaction, especially with those whom society overlooked or despised. He reached out to the sidelined, healed the broken, and shared meals with sinners. His love wasn’t selective or based on status—it was a love that saw beyond barriers and embraced everyone with equal compassion. James tells us to reflect this same love in our lives, to treat others with the same dignity and care that Jesus showed. Our relationship with God should be visible in our actions, in the way we extend grace and kindness to those around us, particularly to those who need it most.
This call to embody love finds its deepest expression in communion, where we encounter the profound reality of God’s love made tangible. In communion, we meet God, and God meets us. Communion breaks down every barrier that might divide us. The altar is a place where all distinctions—of wealth, status, or background—are removed, and we are united in the love of Jesus. As we receive the bread and the wine, we participate in the love that has no boundaries, the love that binds us together as one body in Christ. How can we, who share in this holy meal, fail to honor the royal law that James speaks of? How can we neglect the law of liberty that frees us to love without partiality? Communion calls us to live out this love in our daily lives, to let our actions reflect the unity and grace we receive at the table. In doing so, we fulfill the law of love, living as true disciples who embody the heart of God in all that we do.
So today, let us confront the stark truth: faith without works is dead—a lifeless corpse without breath, cold and still. But we, are not corpses. We are the living, breathing body of Christ, animated by the grace and love of God. This love does not puff us up or bloat us; it surges through our veins and compels us to action, compels us to live. Our relationship with God is not a delicate, breakable showpiece. Our relationship with God is a vibrant, indestructible tool that we wield to prove God’s love is alive by how we live. Just as a body without breath is dead, so too is faith without works dead. But we are not dead—we are alive, alive with the very life of Christ within us, by the power of God’s grace. And this life demands that we live out the love we have received, to show the world that Christ is not only alive but alive in us, through every deed of mercy, every act of kindness, every step we take in service to others. This is our charge: to see our creed confessed in word fulfilled in deed.
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
The Rev'd Daniel W. Spigelmyer, Jr. 