Paul was single-minded. He made it his determined approach to speak as becomes a servant of Jesus Christ, to speak as becomes an ambassador of God in a foreign land, to speak as Christ’s mouthpiece, as Christ’s tongue on this earth.

Good works are the fruit of conversion, not the means. Abraham and Rahab acted as they did because they trusted the Lord. The Spirit of God within them motivated their works, their worship and their service.

The beauty of James’ practical emphasis again comes to the fore. True good works before God are works of faith, done for the glory of God, in love for the brethren and generally to care for those in need.

Has Jesus made you free?

Then you are free indeed;

Ye sons of liberty,

Ye chosen royal seed,

Walk worthy of your Lord, and view

Your glorious Head, in all you do.

William Gadsby

Those who have the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ the Lord of glory are rich beyond the wealth of this world and heirs of God. How we act, how we live and treat others is to be conditioned and regulated by our experience of God's love and Christ's salvation.

James teaches us about pure religion and distinguishes it from vain religion. Pure religion is the effect of the engrafted word, the gospel of Jesus Christ, in the heart of a sinner and the outworking of grace in a believer's life.

Here James teaches us the difference between those who look into the gospel and see themselves and those who look into it and see Christ.

James is teaching us that the Lord Jesus, and salvation and everlasting life by Him, is God's free gift, His good and perfect gift that comes down from the Father of lights. Preaching the gospel is the means by which the gift of grace is received and experienced by faith.

The old man and the new man in the nature of every believer battle for supremacy and cause us to trust the Lord more and more. The trials and temptations of life are our occasion to trust Christ more but they also supply the devil with an opportunity to stir up the old man to sin.

Our Lord Jesus Christ is the Wisdom of God revealed to sinners. Here James asks if any believer needs spiritual wisdom. He is pointing us to Christ to supply all our needs during times of trial, trouble and temptation.

The Epistle of James is a wonderful and practical presentation of gospel truth. James calls himself a servant of God and the Lord Jesus Christ and ministers to the Lord’s people who are tried and hard-pressed by the troubles of this world.

The Lord Jesus asked His disciples this question. Peter's answer was a wonderful testimony of faith. The question is still valid today. How do we answer this question?

The Lord Jesus Christ tells us that He is the Root and Offspring of David and the Bright and Morning Star. These wonderful names reveal more of the character of the Lord Jesus and point to our future glory in heaven.

The glory and divinity of the Lord Jesus Christ is beautifully expressed in this wonderful revelation of the Lord's true identity. He is the Creator of men and He shall be the Judge of men. He is the pre-eminent God and the humble Substitute. He is All in All, the Author and Finisher of our faith.

The Lord Jesus Christ spoke about a vine and its branches as a picture of the spiritual union that exists between Christ and His church. From the new birth to our growth in grace, from the fruit of faith to drinking the new wine in the kingdom of heaven the Lord Jesus Christ is the true and only source of all spiritual life in a believer.

The Lord Jesus Christ tells us He is the Great 'I Am', the eternal God. He is God who is the way to peace with God and everlasting life. He is God who is truth and speaks truth. He is God who is life and gives life to all who believe.

Our Lord Jesus Christ is the Resurrection and Life of our souls in conversion and salvation. We live because He died and we shall be raised again from our own graves because He is the Firstfruit from the dead and we His people.

Our Lord Jesus Christ tells us 'I Am The Good Shepherd'. He also tells us He came into the world as the Good Shepherd to lay down His life for the sheep. The Saviour we worship died a substitutionary death in our place to save us from our sins. He tells us He knows His sheep He tells us His sheep shall all know Him.

The Lord Jesus Christ is the door of access to God and into all the blessings of God, spiritual and temporal. He is the door of the sheep who are the people of God, chosen and called from the foundation of the world.

Our Lord Jesus Christ declared "I am the light of the world". He is light and everlasting life to all who trust Him and follow Him. We shall not walk in darkness but we shall have the light of life in Him.