Let us clear the decks. We know that James is writing to believers – Jewish believers, yes (Jas. 1:1) – but, most definitely, believers (Jas. 1:3; 2:1). They had been regenerated (Jas. 1:18), they were brother and sisters; James addresses them as such no less than fifteen times in his relatively short book (Jas. 1:2,16,19; 2:1,5,14; 3:1,10,12; 4:11; 5:7,9,10,12,19), even using the term ‘beloved brothers’ on occasion. The were justified by faith (Jas. 2:24), indwelt by the Spirit (Jas. 4:5), 1 church members (Jas. 1:9; 2 2:1-2; 3 5:14), called or known by the name of Christ (Jas. :7), and were awaiting the Lord’s return (Jas. 5:7-9). Oh yes, they were believers. |