James the Just

Pastor Jacob Aranza

June 2, 2024

Main Idea

The main idea of today's message was that true justification in the eyes of God does not come from family relationships, religious practices, or adherence to the law, but through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. We were reminded that being related to Jesus or following religious rituals does not grant us salvation. Instead, salvation is a gift that comes through faith in Christ's finished work on the cross, leading to a spiritual resurrection and personal revelation of who Jesus is.

Scripture References

Matthew 12:46-47, Matthew 13:54-56, John 2:11-12, John 7:2-5, Matthew 13:57, 1 Corinthians 15:3-8, Acts 1:14, Galatians 1:19, John 3:3, Mark 16:16, John 17:3, Galatians 5:4, Romans 3:27-28, Romans 8:11

How does understanding James' transformation impact our view of faith and family?

What does it mean to be justified by faith rather than by the law or religious practices?

Discussion Questions:

How can we develop a personal relationship with Jesus like James did?

What are the dangers of relying on family ties or religious background for salvation?

How can we live out the truth that Christianity is about resurrection and not just a belief system?

Summary

In 'James the Just', Pastor Jacob introduced us to James, the brother of Jesus, who was known as 'James the Just.' Pastor Jacob explained that James was a Nazarite and a Pharisee, but these aspects did not define his key role in the early church. Instead, it was his relationship with Jesus that set him apart. Despite being Jesus' brother, James did not believe in Jesus as the Messiah until after the resurrection. We learned about James' transformation and his significant contributions to the church, including the authorship of the Book of James.