Romans is often referred to as one of the most remarkable letters in the Bible and one of the most Theological ones. The Apostle Paul wrote this book while on his third missionary journey. By that time the church in Rome was famous throughout the Roman Empire for its faith.  The opening address has many insights into the truth of the Gospel and, as we will see, beginning in v.17 there is a concise definition of the Gospel, which serves as Paul's thesis for the entire letter along with three essential parts, each of which Paul will examine in greater detail in later chapters.

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James finishes his letter first with a warning to the unbelieving Jews and the soon to come judgment that would occur in AD 70.  The remaining part is further encouragement to the believer to grow in patience in response to injustice and recalls the prophets, Job, and Elijah for our example and calls us to a life of prayer.

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Chapter 4 of James starts with questions about fighting in the body and the causes.  James is quick to point out that the source is the flesh and desires for worldly pleasures.  Like much of the letter we will find that seeking God and His wisdom is a must for a life of submission and obedience.  It is a humble character that translates differently than that of the world.  This, again, is observed through speech and James spends much time in this section of his letter teaching how to fulfill the Royal Law that he mentioned in chapter 2.

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We look at 2 Corinthians 5:14-21 this Easter to be reminded of what it means for us living today to be in Christ. The Apostle Paul summarizes the work of Christ on the cross and what it means for those of us who have believed.  Paul calls us all ambassadors for Christ and gives a rallying cry to the entire Church.  We beg we plead to be reconciled to God for this is now our ministry.

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James chapter 3 is focused on speech and its relationship to spiritual maturity. James just finished with a reminder that our life goal must be to declare our faith publicly by doing the works that faith produces. Works are anything that displays our faith, whether an action or a word or even a thought.  James first mentions teachers and will then broaden the scope.  This is a popular text that many are familiar with.  That those who teach will be judged with greater strictness or a higher standard.  Why and how so?  The context is speech and spiritual maturity and deals with how one handles or mishandles the Word of God.

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James now discusses the relationship between faith and that of works by establishing a principle that true faith will be accompanied by a change and action.  James clarifies for us the kind of faith that saves. We are saved by grace through faith, not by works; but saving faith will have works that accompany it.

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Chapter 2 of James describes two additional difficulties of the Christian life opening with an examination of responses to people from varying social backgrounds.  James is setting out to guard us against selective obedience.

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What we are going to see are action and reaction.  Hear and do.  We have all heard the sayings think before you speak, listen more, speak less, be slow to anger.  We hear these things and we say them and for good reason. I just don't know how often we actually practice it.

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James has been focused on how a Christian should address trials and that they are a way to expose our degree of spiritual maturity.  But at this point in the letter, James needs to make an important distinction between these external tests and inward tests or temptations that are not the result of God’s design (and spoiler alert, it's not the devil after you either).  They are natural products of our sinful nature.  And like external tests, we face them best when we understand them with Godly wisdom and respond to them according to that wisdom.

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We ask some questions when starting a new book of the bible.  Questions such as, who is the author, who was the original audience, what was and is the purpose of the letter or the theme or message.  Once answered we are faced with the first summarized theme in verses 2 through 4, Christian's attitude and persistence while experiencing trials.

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