5 Dollar Nachos

James 3
7 For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and creature of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by mankind. 8 But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. 9 With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God.

This is an aggressive statement. I can only believe that this is because of the seriousness of problem. Double speak, slander, negative words, lies and sarcasm are just some of the words Christians use.
Are words should be faith spoken. If we would control our mouth, we could add power and influence through Christ.

James 3
See how great a forest a little fire kindles! 6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell.

In the two former illustrations, animals and ships are controlled by small objects; in this last illustration, a huge forest is destroyed by a tiny spark. The tongue likewise can either control or destroy.” (Burdick)

The damage your mouth can do is equal to the creative power it has through faith.  So if need be, keep your mouth shut.

James 3
My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment. 2 For we all stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a [a]perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body.

We all stumble in words. When James says a “perfect man” is able to bridle the tongue, he does not mean the unattainable perfection. James is referencing maturity.

James then goes on to say that as a teacher you have more opportunity to struggle because you are constantly talking and instructing.

James 2
25 Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way?

26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

The lesson from Abraham is clear: if we believe in God, we will do what He tells us to do. The lesson from Rahab is also clear: if we believe in God, we will help His people, even when it costs us something.

Man is not justified by faith alone, that is, by a bare and empty knowledge of God; he is justified by works, that is, his righteousness is known and proved by its fruits.” (Calvin)

James 2
20 But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead? 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? 22 Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect? 23 And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” And he was called the friend of God. 24 You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.

“It is faith that justifieth the man; but they are works that justify faith to be right and real, saving and justifying.” (Trapp)

You stop the power of God in your life without an active faith life. God wants our obedience so that He can put us in position to receive the abundance He has for us. This is how we can enlarge our ministries and dominate for Christ.

James 2
19 You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble!

Having faith, and believing in Christ our Lord are not the same thing. This is where the separation occurs. We are to believe in the Lord and that belief must change our heart so that our actions reflect a true relationship.

The demons have no doubt that God exists. They do not sit around wondering if the bible is true. They know it is. They still hate God, and everything He is. Believing is not what saves us.

Romans 10:9
9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.

You must believe and confess He is Lord over your life. When He is Lord over your life, there WILL be changes as you mature in the Word of God.

James 2
18 But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without [f]your works, and I will show you my faith by [g]my works.

The appeal of James is clear and logical. We can’t “see” someone’s faith, but we can see their works.

A true relationship with Christ will produce physical attributes that can be seen.

Now the flip side of this is that we do not get to judge people based on the physical. We don’t get to say they aren’t Christian because they don’t act right. We want to show mercy, and not be judging.

James 2
14 What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? 17 Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

First off this is referencing Christians professing their faith. This is not a death bed confession. A death bed confession never has an opportunity to create works.
Second, if you are not helping people, it is probably because you lack love for your fellow man. This is in direct conflict with one of the greatest commandments, love your neighbor as yourself.
Digging deeper James is referencing a Christian in need. How can we say that we love and are doing things for Christ, when we won’t feed His family?

“The apostle had just before declared, that they who are unmerciful to men shall find God severe to themselves, and have judgment without mercy: but hypocritical professors boasted of their faith as sufficient to secure them against that judgment, though they neglected the practice of holiness and righteousness.” (Poole)

James did not contradict the Apostle Paul, who insisted that we are saved not of works (Ephesians 2:9). James merely 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. As a saying goes: faith alone saves, but the faith that saves is not alone; it has good works with it.