Appendix 3: Walking The Romans Road

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How can a person be saved? From what is he saved? How can someone have eternal life? Scripture teaches that after death each person will spend eternity either in heaven or hell. How can a person go to heaven?

Paul said this to Timothy:

You, however, must continue in the things you have learned and are confident about. You know who taught you and how from infancy you have known the holy writings, which are able to give you wisdom for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.

2 Timothy 3:14-15

One of the reasons God gave us Scripture is to make us wise for salvation. This means that without it nobody can know how to be saved.

Well then, how can a people be saved and what are they being saved from? A common method of sharing the good news of salvation is through the Romans Road. One of the great themes, not only of the Bible, but specifically of the book of Romans is salvation. In Romans, the author, Paul, clearly details the steps we must take in order to be saved.

How can we be saved? What steps must we take?

Step One: We Must Accept that We Are Sinners

Romans 3:23 says, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” What does it mean to sin? The word sin means “to miss the mark.” The mark we missed is looking like God. When God created mankind in the Genesis narrative, he created man in the “image of God” (1:27). The “image of God” means many things, but probably, most importantly it means we were made to be holy just as he is holy. Man was made moral. We were meant to reflect God’s holiness in every way: the way we think, the way we talk, and the way we act. And any time we miss the mark in these areas, we commit sin.

Furthermore, we do not only sin when we commit a sinful act such as: lying, stealing, or cheating. Again, we sin anytime we have a wrong heart motive. The greatest commandments in Scripture are to “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and to love your neighbor as yourself” (Matt 22:36-40, paraphrase). Whenever we don’t love God supremely and love others as ourselves, we sin and fall short of the glory of God. For this reason, man is always in a state of sinning. Sadly, even if our actions are good, our heart is bad. I have never loved God with my whole heart, mind, and soul and neither has anybody else. Therefore, we have all sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Rom 3:23). We have all missed the mark of God’s holiness and we must accept this.

What’s the next step?

Step Two: We Must Understand We Are Under the Judgment of God

Why are we under the judgment of God? It is because of our sins. Scripture teaches God is not only a loving God, but he is a just God. And his justice requires judgment for each of our sins. Romans 6:23 says, “For the payoff of sin is death.”

A wage is something we earn. Every time we sin, we earn the wage of death. What is death? Death really means separation. In physical death, the body is separated from the spirit, but in spiritual death, man is separated from God. Man currently lives in a state of spiritual death (cf. Eph 2:1-3). We do not love God, obey him, or know him as we should. Therefore, man is in a state of death.

Moreover, one day at our physical death, if we have not been saved, we will spend eternity separated from God in a very real hell. In hell, we will pay the wage for each of our sins. Therefore, in hell people will experience various degrees of punishment (cf. Lk 12:47-48). This places man in a very dangerous predicament—unholy and therefore under the judgment of God.

How should we respond to this? This leads us to our third step.

Step Three: We Must Recognize God Has Invited All to Accept His Free Gift of Salvation

Romans 6:23 does not stop at the wages of sin being death. It says, “For the payoff of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Because God loved everybody on the earth, he offered the free gift of eternal life, which anyone can receive through Jesus Christ.

Because it is a gift, it cannot be earned. We cannot work for it. Ephesians 2:8-9 says, “For by grace you are saved through faith, and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God; it is not from works, so that no one can boast.”

Going to church, being baptized, giving to the poor, or doing any other righteous work does not save. Salvation is a gift that must be received from God. It is a gift that has been prepared by his effort alone.

How do we receive this free gift?

Step Four: We Must Believe Jesus Christ Died for Our Sins and Rose from the Dead

If we are going to receive this free gift, we must believe in God’s Son, Jesus Christ. Because God loved us, cared for us, and didn’t want us to be separated from him eternally, he sent his Son to die for our sins. Romans 5:8 says, “But God demonstrates his own love for us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Similarly, John 3:16 says, “For this is the way God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.” God so loved us that he gave his only Son for our sins.

Jesus Christ was a real, historical person who lived 2,000 years ago. He was born of a virgin. He lived a perfect life. He was put to death by the Romans and the Jews. And he rose again on the third day. In his death, he took our sins and God’s wrath for them and gave us his perfect righteousness so we could be accepted by God. Second Corinthians 5:21 says, “God made the one who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that in him we would become the righteousness of God.” God did all this so we could be saved from his wrath.

Christ’s death satisfied the just anger of God over our sins. When God saw Jesus on the cross, he saw us and our sins and therefore judged Jesus. And now, when God sees those who are saved, he sees his righteous Son and accepts us. In salvation, we have become the righteousness of God.

If we are going to be saved, if we are going to receive this free gift of salvation, we must believe in Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection for our sins (cf. 1 Cor 15:3-5, Rom 10:9-10). Do you believe?

Step Five: We Must Confess Christ as Lord of Our Lives

Romans 10:9-10 says,

Because if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and thus has righteousness and with the mouth one confesses and thus has salvation.

Not only must we believe, but we must confess Christ as Lord of our lives. It is one thing to believe in Christ but another to follow Christ. Simple belief does not save. Christ must be our Lord. James said this: “…Even the demons believe that – and tremble with fear” (James 2:19), but the demons are not saved—Christ is not their Lord.

Another aspect of making Christ Lord is repentance. Repentance really means a change of mind that leads to a change of direction. Before we met Christ, we were living our own life and following our own sinful desires. But when we get saved, our mind and direction change. We start to follow Christ as Lord.

How do we make this commitment to the lordship of Christ so we can be saved? Paul said we must confess with our mouth “Jesus is Lord” as we believe in him. Romans 10:13 says, “For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

If you admit that you are a sinner and understand you are under God’s wrath because of them; if you believe Jesus Christ is the Son of God, that he died on the cross for your sins, and rose from the dead for your salvation; if you are ready to turn from your sin and cling to Christ as Lord, you can be saved.

If this is your heart, then you can pray this prayer and commit to following Christ as your Lord.

Dear heavenly Father, I confess I am a sinner and have fallen short of your glory, what you made me for. I believe Jesus Christ died on the cross to pay the penalty for my sins and rose from the dead so I can have eternal life. I am turning away from my sin and accepting you as my Lord and Savior. Come into my life and change me. Thank you for your gift of salvation.

Scripture teaches that if you truly accepted Christ as your Lord, then you are a new creation. Second Corinthians 5:17 says, “So then, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; what is old has passed away – look, what is new has come!” God has forgiven your sins (1 John 1:9), he has given you his Holy Spirit (Rom 8:15), and he is going to disciple you and make you into the image of his Son (cf. Rom 8:29). He will never leave you nor forsake you (Heb 13:5), and he will complete the work he has begun in your life (Phil 1:6). In heaven, angels and saints are rejoicing because of your commitment to Christ (Lk 15:7).

Praise God for his great salvation! May God keep you in his hand, empower you through the Holy Spirit, train you through mature believers, and use you to build his kingdom! “He who calls you is trustworthy, and he will in fact do this” (1 Thess 5:24). God bless you!

Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, Copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked (NASB) are taken from the New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, and 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.

Scripture quotations marked (KJV) are from the King James Version of the Bible.

All emphases in Scripture quotations have been added.

The Bible Teacher’s Guide, Elijah: Becoming A Person God Can Use Greatly

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And entrust what you heard me say in the presence of many others as witnesses to faithful people who will be competent to teach others as well.

2 Timothy 2:2 (NET)

Paul’s words to Timothy still apply to us today. The church needs teachers who clearly and fearlessly teach the Word of God. With this in mind, The Bible Teacher’s Guide (BTG) series was created. This series includes both expositional and topical studies, with resources to help teachers lead small groups, pastors prepare sermons, and individuals increase their knowledge of God’s Word.

Elijah: Becoming a Person God Can Use Greatly can be used for personal study or as a fourteen-session small group curriculum. For small groups, the members will read a chapter within their gathering and discuss the reflection questions and anything else that stood out in the reading. Or, the chapter can be read before the gathering, with the meeting focusing only on discussion.

This book is also available for purchase here on Amazon.

Scripture quotations marked (KJV) are from the King James Version of the Bible.

All emphases in Scripture quotations have been added.

Related Topics: Character Study, Christian Life

Preface

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And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others.

2 Timothy 2:2

Each lesson is based around the hermeneutical principle that the original authors wrote in a similar manner as we do today—with the intention of being understood. Each paragraph and chapter of Scripture centers around one main thought, often called the Big Idea. After finding the Big Idea for each passage studied, students will discuss the Big Question, which will lead the small group (if applicable) through the entire text. Alongside the Big Question, note the added Observation, Interpretation, and Application Questions. The Observation Questions point out pivotal aspects of the text. The Interpretation Questions facilitate understanding through use of the context and other Scripture. The Application Questions lead to life principles coming out of the text. Not all questions will be used, but they have been given to help guide the teacher in preparing the lesson.

As the purpose of this guide is to make preparation easier for the teacher and study easier for the individual, many commentaries and sermons have been accessed in the development of each lesson. After meditating on the Scripture text and the lesson, the small group leader may wish to follow the suggested teaching outline:

Introduce the text and present the Big Question.
Allow several minutes for the members to discuss the question, search for the answers within the text, and listen to God speak to them through His Word.
Discuss the initial findings, then lead the group through the Observation, Interpretation, and Application Questions.

On the other hand, the leader may prefer to teach the lesson in part or in whole, and then give the Application Questions. He may also choose to use a “study group” method, where each member prepares beforehand and shares teaching responsibility (see Appendices 1 and 2). Some leaders may find it most effective to first read the main section of the lesson corporately, then to follow with a brief discussion of the topic and an Application Question.

Again, The Bible Teacher’s Guide can be used as a manual to follow in teaching, a resource to use in preparation for teaching or preaching, or simply as an expositional devotional to enrich your own study. I pray that the Lord may bless your study, preparation, and teaching, and that in all of it you will find the fruit of the Holy Spirit abounding in your own life and in the lives of those you instruct.

Introduction

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Authorship

Who is the author of the book of James? Like other general epistles, except Hebrews, it is named after its author. It begins with ^“From James, a slave of God and the Lord Jesus Christ” (1:1). Since James was a very common name, it is clear that this person must have been very well-known. There are four different people named James in the New Testament: (1) James the father of Judas the apostle (not Iscariot, Lk 6:16), (2) James the son of Alphaeus, who is one of the twelve apostles (Mk 3:18), (3) James the brother of John, another apostle (Mk 1:19), and (4) James the half-brother of Jesus (Gal 1:19). Since the first two are rather obscure, only James the brother of John and James the half-brother of Jesus have really been considered. However, James the brother of John was martyred around AD 44, which probably happened before the writing of the epistle.¹ Therefore, the general consensus is that James, the brother of Jesus, wrote the letter.

James, the brother of Jesus, being the author of the epistle is further confirmed by external and internal evidence. Externally, James’ authorship is confirmed by Origen (AD 185-253), Eusebius (AD 265-340), and Jerome (AD 340-420).² It is also confirmed internally by the Jewish flavor of the epistle. There are over forty allusions to the Old Testament in the book ³, such as the “first fruits” (1:18), repeated references to the “law” (2:8-12, 4:11), the “synagogue” (2:2), a reference to “Abraham,” “Rahab,” and “Job” (2:21, 25, 5:11), and the “early and latter rains” (5:4-7). Since James oversaw the Jerusalem church, which was primarily Jewish, Jewish allusions are to be expected. Further internal evidence is the fact that James continually alludes to the Sermon on the Mount, his brother’s most famous sermon. There are twenty-one parallel statements to the Lord’s sermon.^⁴ Others have also pointed to the similarities between the vocabulary in the epistle and James’ address at the Jerusalem council in Acts 15:13-29.⁵

James originally doubted his brother’s claim of being the messiah, but after Jesus resurrected and appeared to James (1 Cor 15:7), James soon became the leader of the Jerusalem church and an apostle (Acts 12:17, 15:13, 21:18, 1 Cor 15:7)—an official witness of the resurrection. Paul called James a pillar of the church along with the original apostles, Peter, James, and John (Gal 2:9). Because of his righteous character and ascetic practices, James became known as James the Just. Reportedly his knees became hard like a camel’s knees because of his constant worship and time in prayer.^⁶ James was stoned to death by Jewish religious leaders because of his faith in AD 62.⁷ Because of the date of his death and since the Jerusalem church council (AD 48 or 49) that James presided over is never mentioned within the epistle, which one would expect if the book was written after it, the book of James is estimated to have been written around AD 44-49.⁸ This would make it the earliest book written in the NT canon.⁹ Further support for this early dating is the fact that James referred to the Jewish Christians meeting in an “assembly,” which can also be translated “synagogue” (ASV), in James 2:2. Gathering in Jewish places of worship was normal in the early years of the church, which was primarily Jewish, as they saw themselves as a continuation, or fulfillment, of Judaism (Acts 2:46).

Background

James 1:1 says the audience of this letter is “the twelve tribes dispersed abroad.” Most likely, this refers to Jewish Christians who were scattered from Jerusalem because of persecution. In Acts 8, the church began to scatter after Stephen was martyred. Acts 8:1 says, “Now on that day a great persecution began against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were forced to scatter throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria.” Acts 11:19 describes this further, “Now those who had been scattered because of the persecution that took place over Stephen went as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, speaking the message to no one but Jews.” No doubt, more Christians scattered when King Herod began to persecute the church including killing James the brother of John and imprisoning Peter (Acts 12). James probably knew many of the Jewish believers he wrote to, as they were perhaps members of his church in Jerusalem. Therefore, he writes with great pastoral care, as demonstrated in the use of the familial term “brothers” fifteen times.^¹⁰ This term not only confirms that these Jews were believers, but it also demonstrates his great love and concern for the audience—many probably being his former congregants. In addition, since James refers to “teachers” and “elders” in the epistle (Jam 3:1, 5:14), his audience was probably scattered Jewish believers who had formed local congregations.

Purpose

What was James’ purpose in writing the epistle? Unlike other epistles, which commonly have a large section on doctrine and then a section on application, James’ epistle is largely practical in nature. This is demonstrated in the fact that over half the verses are commands (59 out of 108). James is clearly concerned with the Jewish believers living righteously despite the trials and temptations they were encountering (Jam 1:1-18). Because of its practical nature and short, pithy statements, the book is often compared to Proverbs.^¹¹ It is also commonly called a practical commentary on the Sermon on the Mount because of its similarities.^¹²

In the epistle, James writes both to encourage suffering believers and to correct their behavior. While doing so, several themes emerge: (1) One theme is being faithful in trials (Jam 1:1-18). This would have been extremely important since believers throughout the ancient world were experiencing persecution. Most likely, Jewish Christians experienced this more than Gentile believers since Jews treated them as a sect or cult. Also, it is clear from James 5:1-6, that many Christian workers were being oppressed by their wealthy bosses. Therefore, James calls them to faithfully and patiently endure as they wait for Christ’s return (Jam 5:7-12).

(2) Another theme is the need for believers to grow in spiritual maturity. James uses the word “perfect” several times (cf. Jam 1:4, 17, 25; 2:22; 3:2). James 1:4 says, “And let endurance have its perfect effect, so that you will be perfect and complete, not deficient in anything.” “Perfect” can also be translated as “mature” or “complete.”^¹³ God desires for his people to grow in spiritual maturity, especially through their trials, so James challenges them to do so throughout the book.

(3) Furthermore, James writes to address conflict happening in these scattered congregations. Trials often reveal sinful desires in our hearts (cf. Dt 8:2), and it is clear that the suffering was causing them to fight with one another. In James 3:15-16, he talks about a worldly, demonic wisdom that leads to ^“disorder and every evil practice.” In James 4:1-2, he says,

Where do the conflicts and where do the quarrels among you come from? Is it not from this, from your passions that battle inside you? You desire and you do not have; you murder and envy and you cannot obtain; you quarrel and fight…

As part of these conflicts, they were speaking evil of each other, as James focuses on the misuse of the tongue throughout the letter. He calls them to be “quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger” (1:19). In James 1:26, he says, “If someone thinks he is religious yet does not bridle his tongue, and so deceives his heart, his religion is futile.” In James 3:1-12, he warns them about the power of the tongue to destroy. In James 4:11, he warns them to “not speak against one another.” In James 5:9, James calls for them to “not grumble against one another.” For them to have peace instead of conflict, they needed to learn how to control their tongues.

(4) Throughout the book, James also challenges these believers to treat the poor fairly and care for them. In James 1:27, he says, “Pure and undefiled religion before God the Father is this: to care for orphans and widows in their misfortune and to keep oneself unstained by the world.” In James 2:1-13, he warns them against showing partiality to the rich and prejudice to the poor. They are to love their neighbor as themselves (2:8) and to act as people who will be judged by God’s law (2:9-13). Then, in the final chapter, he rebukes the rich for mistreating their poor workers and declares that God will judge them (5:1-6). As believers, they were commanded to treat the poor fairly and, in fulfillment of God’s law, to love their neighbor by caring for them.

(5) Finally, James challenges these believers to produce godly works that correspond with their faith in Christ. The word “faith” is used fourteen times within the book, which shows James’ emphasis on it.¹⁴ For James, a faith that doesn’t produce good works is a dead, demonic faith (2:15, 19)—as even demons believe in God but don’t obey him. Therefore, throughout the letter, he provides a series of tests of genuine faith.^¹⁵ For instance, James 1:22 says, “But be sure you live out the message and do not merely listen to it and so deceive yourselves.” To be deceived means for one to be deceived about the reality of his faith. Christ said the same thing, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter into the kingdom of heaven—only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven” (Matt 7:21, cf. 24-27). Also, James 1:26 says, “If someone thinks he is religious yet does not bridle his tongue, and so deceives his heart, his religion is futile.” Since our tongues reveal what is in our hearts (Lk 6:45), a consistently ungodly tongue proves that one’s heart has never been changed.

Martin Luther struggled with James’ theme of the necessity of works so much that he called it a “book of straw” and claimed the apostle did not write it.¹⁶ Of course, Martin Luther misunderstood how James focused on works as a proof of salvation, not the root of salvation, as in the Catholic church. Because of James’ strong emphasis on faith producing godly works, many have called this the epistle’s primary theme, which all the other themes fall under. James is challenging these believers to develop a faith that works. Lord, help our faith produce godly works as well!

Scripture quotations marked (KJV) are from the King James Version of the Bible.

All emphases in Scripture quotations have been added.

¹ Weaver, Paul. Introducing the New Testament Books: A Thorough but Concise Introduction for Proper Interpretation (Biblical Studies Book 3) (Kindle Locations 1672-1679). Kindle Edition.

² Weaver, Paul. Introducing the New Testament Books: A Thorough but Concise Introduction for Proper Interpretation (Biblical Studies Book 3) (Kindle Locations 1679-1680). Kindle Edition.

³ MacArthur, John. The MacArthur Bible Handbook . Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition.

^⁴ MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (1998). James (p. 2). Chicago: Moody Press.

⁵ Weaver, Paul. Introducing the New Testament Books: A Thorough but Concise Introduction for Proper Interpretation (Biblical Studies Book 3) (Kindle Locations 1681-1682). Kindle Edition.

^⁶ Hughes, R. K. (1991). James: faith that works (p. 254). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books.

⁷ Weaver, Paul. Introducing the New Testament Books: A Thorough but Concise Introduction for Proper Interpretation (Biblical Studies Book 3) (Kindle Locations 1684-1686). Kindle Edition

⁸ MacArthur, John. The MacArthur Bible Handbook. Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition.

⁹ MacArthur, John. The MacArthur Bible Handbook . Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition.

^¹⁰ MacDonald, W. (1995). Believer’s Bible Commentary: Old and New Testaments. (A. Farstad, Ed.) (pp. 2216–2217). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

^¹¹ MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (1998). James (p. 2). Chicago: Moody Press.

^¹² MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (1998). James (p. 2). Chicago: Moody Press.

^¹³ Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 2, p. 336). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.

¹⁴ Platt, David. Exalting Jesus In James (Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary) (Kindle Locations 90-97). B&H Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.

^¹⁵ MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (1998). James (p. 13). Chicago: Moody Press.

¹⁶ Weaver, Paul. Introducing the New Testament Books: A Thorough but Concise Introduction for Proper Interpretation (Biblical Studies Book 3) (Kindle Locations 1713-1719). Kindle Edition.

Appendix 1: Study Group Tips

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Leading a small group using the Bible Teacher’s Guide can be done in various ways. One format is the “study group” model, where each member prepares and shares in the teaching. This appendix will cover tips for facilitating a weekly study group.

Each week the members of the study group read through a selected chapter of the guide, answer the reflection questions (see Appendix 2), and come prepared to share in the group.
Prior to each meeting, a different member is selected to lead the group and share his answer to Question 1 of the reflection questions, which is a short summary of the chapter read. This section of the gathering could last from five to fifteen minutes. This way, each member can develop his ability to teach and will be motivated to study harder during the week. Or, each week the same person could share the summary.
After the summary has been given, the leader for that week facilitates discussion of the remaining reflection questions and selected questions from the chapter.
After discussion, the group shares prayer requests and members pray for one another.

The strength of the study group is that the members are required to prepare their responses before the meeting, allowing for easier discussion. Another is that each member has the opportunity to further develop his ministry skills through teaching. These are distinct advantages.

Appendix 2: Reflection Questions

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Writing is one of the best ways to learn. In class, we take notes and write papers, and all these methods are used to help us learn and retain the material. The same is true with the Word of God. Obviously, all of the authors of Scripture were writers. This helped them better learn the Scriptures and also enabled them to more effectively teach it. In studying God’s Word with the Bible Teacher’s Guide, take time to write so you can similarly grow both in your learning and teaching.

How would you summarize the main points of the text/chapter? Write a brief summary.
What stood out to you most in the reading? Did any of the contents trigger any memories or experiences? If so, please share them.
What follow–up questions do you have about the reading? Are there parts you do not fully agree with?
What applications did you take from the reading, and how do you plan to implement them in your life?
Write several goals: As a result of my time studying God’s Word, I aspire to . . .
What are some practical ways to pray as a result of studying the text? Spend some time in prayer.

Appendix 3: Walking the Romans Road

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Paul said this to Timothy:

2 Timothy 3:14-15

One of the reasons God gave us Scripture is to make us wise for salvation. This means that without it nobody can know how to be saved.

How can we be saved? What steps must we take?

Step One: We Must Accept that We Are Sinners

What’s the next step?

Step Two: We Must Understand We Are Under the Judgment of God

How should we respond to this? This leads us to our third step.

Step Three: We Must Recognize God Has Invited All to Accept His Free Gift of Salvation

How do we receive this free gift?

Step Four: We Must Believe Jesus Christ Died for Our Sins and Rose from the Dead

Step Five: We Must Confess Christ as Lord of Our Lives

Romans 10:9-10 says,

If this is your heart, then you can pray this prayer and commit to following Christ as your Lord.

Scripture quotations marked (KJV) are from the King James Version of the Bible.

All emphases in Scripture quotations have been added.

The Bible Teacher’s Guide, James: Developing A Faith That Works

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And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others.

2 Timothy 2:2

Unlike other epistles, James is not so much concerned with doctrine but living out doctrine. Over half the words in this epistle are commands. James believed that true faith produces the corresponding works, and if it does not, it is not true faith (Jam 2:14-26). Even the demons believe in God but are not saved (2:15, 19). True faith not only hears God’s Word, but obeys it (1:22). It not only sympathizes with the poor but also cares for them (1:27, 2:1-13). It affects one’s tongue (1:26, 3:2-12) and how one responds to conflict (4:1-3, 11-12), trials (1:2-4), money (5:1-6), planning (4:13-17), the world (1:27, 4:4) and much more. James wanted the scattered and persecuted Jewish believers he wrote to develop a faith that works. Let’s study this epistle together with The Bible Teacher’s Guide.

This book is also available for purchase here on Amazon.

Scripture quotations marked (KJV) are from the King James Version of the Bible.

All emphases in Scripture quotations have been added.

Donating To Bible.org Through Your Will

Many people don’t know it, but you can donate to a non-profit organization like Bible.org by naming them as a beneficiary in your will. These bequests are often called planned or legacy gifts. And they’re a meaningful, effective way to create a legacy, both for yourself and for causes close to your heart.

What can you donate to Bible.org in your will?

Many people choose to leave money to Bible.org in their will, but you can give any of your assets to a nonprofit. This includes:

Financial assets, like cash, stocks, and bonds. (You could set a specific amount or a percentage of the estate)
Real estate (you could even donate your house to Bible.org!)
Personal property, like your vehicle, jewelry, or artwork
You can also name Bible.org as the beneficiary of a non-probate asset, like your life insurance policy, retirement account, or IRA

How do you donate to Bible.org in your will?

1. Make sure you have the following information in your will:

Our Full name (Biblical Studies Foundation) (our 501C3/IRS non-profit legal name is Biblical Studies Foundation – not bible.org)
Our Address (PO Box 831119, Richardson, TX 75083-1119)
Our Employer Identification Number (EIN). [ **-********(Contact us for the actual number)] This is a unique number issued by the IRS to a business entity. Including the EIN makes it clear exactly which charity you’re donating to. This is helpful in case multiple charities exist with the same name.

2. You should also decide what kind of beneficiary you want the Biblical Studies Foundation to be:

Primary beneficiary: The Biblical Studies Foundation will receive whatever assets you assign to them — for example, a cash gift.
Secondary beneficiary: If your primary beneficiary passes away before you, your estate would go to the next beneficiary in line — in this case, your preferred Biblical Studies Foundation.
Residuary beneficiary: The Biblical Studies Foundation will receive any assets that you didn’t specifically name a beneficiary for in your will.

3. Let Bible.org know about your gift. Email us at [email protected]

Bible.org is most grateful that you are considering including us in your will. If you have any questions, email us at [email protected].

God Bless

The Staff at Bible.org

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Question: Has the gift of speaking in tongues ceased in the 21st Century church?

This is a subject that requires the consideration of several biblical texts. Thus, you may wish to look at what I have said elsewhere on the gift of tongues:

I should also say that I am not a strict cessationist -- one who believes that the gifts of tongues (among others) ceased with the apostolic age, and that they do not and cannot exist today. The Scriptures teach that "tongues will cease" (1 Corinthians 13:8) but that is not the same thing as saying that tongues have ceased. In context, it appears to me that Paul is saying that both tongues and knowledge will cease when our Lord returns (not just when the canon of Scripture is complete). Further, we dare not ignore or deny Paul's instruction, ". . . do not forbid anyone from speaking in tongues" (1 Corinthians 14:39).

I do think that the gift of tongues did have a confirmatory function. It certainly seems to have set the apostles apart in Acts chapter 2 (see also 2 Corinthians 12:11-12, where other miraculous signs set the apostles apart as God's spokesmen). The gift of tongues also served to confirm that Gentiles believers were equal heirs of the grace of God (see Acts 10:44-48, 11:15-18).

But 1 Corinthians 12 and 14 seem to indicate that the gift of tongues also benefits the individual believer, as well as the church, when they are interpreted (14:1-33).

I suspect that many claims to have experienced this gift may be questionable, but I dare not insist that all such experiences are false.
From the teaching of the New Testament (as I understand it) I expect that genuine tongues will be a human language, unknown to the speaker, and not mere babbling (such as the mere repetition of certain syllables). I also expect that this gift should be exercised as Paul has prescribed in 1 Corinthians chapter 14. From 1 Corinthians 12 and 14 I would also have to grant that just because the gift of tongues is misused, this does not prove that the gift is false. After all, every spiritual gift can be abused for personal gain.

With regard to Acts 2:2-4 and 8:37-39 note that the text never specifically says that these Samaritan saints experienced the gift of tongues. We are only told that they were "receiving the Holy Spirit"(8:17). My assumption is that they were speaking in tongues, and that this was an evidence of their being baptized by the Spirit.

Note also that Simon did not ask to receive the Spirit (to speak in tongues?); he only asked to be granted the power to bestow the Spirit, as Peter and John had done (verse 19). He wanted to have this power by paying for it, (and likely so that he could bestow the Spirit on others for personal profit).

Paul seems to have received the Spirit at the time of his baptism, as we can discern from Acts 9:17-18. We do know that Paul claims to have spoken in tongues more than others (1 Corinthians 14:18-19), though he considered intelligible speech much more valuable.

It does appear that the Spirit came upon men when the apostles laid hands on them. But we must also note that Paul is very clear in saying that the gift of tongues is not given to every saint (1 Corinthians 12:30). Thus, the gift of tongues did seem to confirm the baptism of the Spirit when bestowed by the apostles. But after this the gift of tongues served the function of edifying the saints, if properly exercised.

In 1 Corinthians 12:11 Paul tells us that God's Spirit sovereignly bestows spiritual gifts on each believer as He wills. I would take this to indicate at least two things:

(1) We should not tell God what gifts He can or cannot give.
(2) We should leave the bestowing of gifts to God, and not seek those gifts which He has indicated to be inferior (this inferiority I discern from 1 Corinthians 12:22-25, 31; and 14:1-19).

In 1 Corinthians 12:31 Paul exhorts the Corinthians to seek the greater gifts, and it is clear to me that tongues is not one of those greater gifts.
Thus, if we are to seek a spiritual gift, let us seek that gift which best serves to edify others.

One final word. It is my firm conviction that there is no direct correlation between one's spiritual gift(s) and one's spirituality. The possession of a certain gift does not make (or prove) one to be more spiritual than others. Spiritual gifts are a matter of enablement for service; spirituality is a matter of character.

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Appendix 3: Walking The Romans Road

Step One: We Must Accept that We Are Sinners

Step Two: We Must Understand We Are Under the Judgment of God

Step Three: We Must Recognize God Has Invited All to Accept His Free Gift of Salvation

Step Four: We Must Believe Jesus Christ Died for Our Sins and Rose from the Dead

Step Five: We Must Confess Christ as Lord of Our Lives

From the series: The Bible Teacher’s Guide, Elijah: Becoming A Person God Can Use Greatly PREVIOUS PAGE

The Bible Teacher’s Guide, Elijah: Becoming A Person God Can Use Greatly

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Preface

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From the series: The Bible Teacher’s Guide, James: Developing A Faith That Works PREVIOUS PAGE | NEXT PAGE

Introduction

Authorship

Background

Purpose

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Appendix 1: Study Group Tips

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Appendix 2: Reflection Questions

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From the series: The Bible Teacher’s Guide, James: Developing A Faith That Works PREVIOUS PAGE

Appendix 3: Walking the Romans Road

Step One: We Must Accept that We Are Sinners

Step Two: We Must Understand We Are Under the Judgment of God

Step Three: We Must Recognize God Has Invited All to Accept His Free Gift of Salvation

Step Four: We Must Believe Jesus Christ Died for Our Sins and Rose from the Dead

Step Five: We Must Confess Christ as Lord of Our Lives

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The Bible Teacher’s Guide, James: Developing A Faith That Works

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Question: Has the gift of speaking in tongues ceased in the 21st Century church?

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From the series: The Bible Teacher’s Guide, Elijah: Becoming A Person God Can Use Greatly PREVIOUS PAGE

Appendix 3: Walking The Romans Road

Step One: We Must Accept that We Are Sinners

Step Two: We Must Understand We Are Under the Judgment of God

Step Three: We Must Recognize God Has Invited All to Accept His Free Gift of Salvation

Step Four: We Must Believe Jesus Christ Died for Our Sins and Rose from the Dead

Step Five: We Must Confess Christ as Lord of Our Lives

From the series: The Bible Teacher’s Guide, Elijah: Becoming A Person God Can Use Greatly PREVIOUS PAGE

The Bible Teacher’s Guide, Elijah: Becoming A Person God Can Use Greatly

From the series: The Bible Teacher’s Guide, James: Developing A Faith That Works PREVIOUS PAGE | NEXT PAGE

Preface

From the series: The Bible Teacher’s Guide, James: Developing A Faith That Works PREVIOUS PAGE | NEXT PAGE

From the series: The Bible Teacher’s Guide, James: Developing A Faith That Works PREVIOUS PAGE | NEXT PAGE

Introduction

Authorship

Background

Purpose

From the series: The Bible Teacher’s Guide, James: Developing A Faith That Works PREVIOUS PAGE | NEXT PAGE

From the series: The Bible Teacher’s Guide, James: Developing A Faith That Works PREVIOUS PAGE | NEXT PAGE

Appendix 1: Study Group Tips

From the series: The Bible Teacher’s Guide, James: Developing A Faith That Works PREVIOUS PAGE | NEXT PAGE

From the series: The Bible Teacher’s Guide, James: Developing A Faith That Works PREVIOUS PAGE | NEXT PAGE

Appendix 2: Reflection Questions

From the series: The Bible Teacher’s Guide, James: Developing A Faith That Works PREVIOUS PAGE | NEXT PAGE

From the series: The Bible Teacher’s Guide, James: Developing A Faith That Works PREVIOUS PAGE

Appendix 3: Walking the Romans Road

Step One: We Must Accept that We Are Sinners

Step Two: We Must Understand We Are Under the Judgment of God

Step Three: We Must Recognize God Has Invited All to Accept His Free Gift of Salvation

Step Four: We Must Believe Jesus Christ Died for Our Sins and Rose from the Dead

Step Five: We Must Confess Christ as Lord of Our Lives

From the series: The Bible Teacher’s Guide, James: Developing A Faith That Works PREVIOUS PAGE

The Bible Teacher’s Guide, James: Developing A Faith That Works

Donating To Bible.org Through Your Will

What can you donate to Bible.org in your will?

How do you donate to Bible.org in your will?

Question: Has the gift of speaking in tongues ceased in the 21st Century church?

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