Called To Good Works: a study in James
By Doug Ball
()
About this ebook
This is a study in the Bible book of James. Some say James argued with Paul by declaring a different Gospel in this book. Read and make up your own mind,
Doug Ball
Born in California and raised in Arizona. Grew to love the west at a young age while growing up in a blue collar home. Never knew we were kinda poor until I was 21 and making more money than my dad. Dad and mom were still raising three of my siblings. It was a shocker. I joined the navy after high school to get out of school and promptly went to over 2 years of technical schools. Rode submarines for 20 years and retired. Went back to school and earned a D. Min. while I pastored a couple of small town churches full of great people. My big dream in life was to be a cowboy and own a ranch. Santa never brought me a horse. At 37 I bought a horse and a ranch and lived my dream. I started writing at 39 and sold a few pieces to Mother Earth News, Countryside, and Arizona Magazine, along with many others. Wrote my first book and quit mailing out that western after 47 rejections. Nobody ever read it. That western is BLOOD ON THE ZUNI which has all five star reviews to date. Got the itch and kept writing. I recommend GENTLE REBELLION. It is the story of the life I wished I could live for years. I wrote it in my head on many a mid-watch at sea. PS. Sea horses are no fun to ride.
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Called To Good Works - Doug Ball
Doug Ball
CALLED
TO
GOOD
WORKS
Rev. Douglas H. ball, D.Min.
Smashwords Edition
Copyright 2016 Douglas H. Ball
Discover other titles by Doug at Smashwords.com
Smashwords Edition, License Notes
This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you are reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of the author.
CALLED
TO
GOOD WORKS
A STUDY IN
JAMES
by
Rev. Douglas H. Ball, D.Min.
Copyright 2016 - Douglas H. Ball
Primary Bible References - KJV
Other References
English Standard Version ESV
New American Standard – NASB
New Century Version - NCV
Other studies by the author
Puzzling Theology
A theological analogy
The Fishy Prophet
Jonah
What Ought to Be
Exposing holes in Biblical Teaching
Watch for
We Don’t Need Revival
Late 2016
In Christ
A study in Ephesians
Mid 2017
Lord willing of course.
CALLED
TO
GOOD WORKS
A STUDY IN
JAMES
by
Rev. Douglas H. Ball, D.Min.
Copyright 2016 - Douglas H. Ball
CALLED
TO
GOOD WORKS
FOREWORD
Welcome to a study in the Book of James. It is my prayer that you will grow in Christ because of the time you spend in His Word through this study and the leading of the Holy Spirit.
You will need to set aside about 30 minutes a day to complete most day’s study. An additional 10 to 15 minutes will be needed to review and pray for guidance prior to getting into the day's new material.
First, begin each day's study in prayer. Pray that God would open His Word to you and make it clear. One aspect of prayer that most of us forget is the listening part. After you pray for clarity and guidance, listen. Pray also that He would use your new knowledge of Him to His Glory on that very day. Remember: Every great awakening began with the earnest prayer of one person.
Second, each week tends to be a block of ideas, review the week day by day as you go through it. In other words, go back and review the previous days' ideas before beginning today's. The lines indicate where answers to the questions should go, but obviously with ebooks that is at best difficult. Us a notebook and write out your answers. Memory is much better after something has been written.
Third, review and practice the memory verses. Writing them on 3 X 5 cards and carrying them with you for review and study might be helpful.
Fourth, at the end of each session, pray again. This time talk little, listen a lot. Hear what God is saying to you through the study and for your life in Him.
Fifth, look up and even write out each reference given for a better understanding of God’s Word. Use a notebook or even the margins or blank pages at the end of this book.
Most of the Scripture used in this study is from the King James Version. This is only because it is what I am most familiar with and, therefore, the one I find most comfortable to use. You may use whatever translation you wish. While there may be some significant changes between the rendering of one chapter or another, the WORD in total always says the same thing in all the major translations.
This study has been an exciting one for me personally. I pray daily that you will receive the same blessing I did as you study the inspired words of James from your Bible, with a little help from this study material.
WEEK One
What is all this stuff about works? Man is not saved by works, is he? Check out Ephesians 2:8 10. This is also the memory passage for this week.
Ephesians 2:8 10
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
Is man saved by works? ____________
What is it that saves man? Romans 10 ____________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
In this study three words become very important. Define them.
Grace_______________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Romans 5:12 21 will help in the definition of Grace.
Faith______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Hebrews 11:1 is a big help on the definition of Faith.
Works_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
What verses can you find to help with a definition of works? _______________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
So, what's the big deal? Why this seriousness about Grace, Faith, and Works?
Define Salvation ______________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Let's take a look at THE PLAN OF SALVATION
Read Romans 3:23 28
All are ______________. (vs 23)
The ____________ for sin is ______________.(Romans 6:23)
We cannot meet God (His glory) as we are. (vs 23)
Glory is an interesting word that will need a study of its own. But, the simple definition is all that God is, His attributes from Scripture. He designed us in His image and has great plans for us. We have fallen short.
We cannot be all He has planned for us on our own. (Romans 3:10) Remember, He planned for us to be totally in His image.
_______ has won, claimed, taken the victory over Sin and Death. (vs 24, I Corinthians 15:54 57, Luke 18:33)
He has made us sinless (justified) in the eyes of God. (vs 26) A cute way to remember this is that Christ has made it just as if I'd never sinned.
Salvation (Being saved from the spiritual death we have been condemned to as sinners) is by God's Grace (Unmerited favor)
God's
Redemption
At
Christ's
Expense
through Faith (belief, trust) in the Lord Jesus Christ alone. Plus or minus nothing. (Ephesians 2:8 9, Titus 3:5, Romans 10:9)
We cannot earn favor with God. (Romans 8:8) We have absolutely nothing that God needs. He has it all. He created all of what we call creation, including us, and has invited us back through the Cross of Calvary after we sold ourselves to Satan by sinning.
There are no preparatory works or prerequisite self improvement you can do. (Romans 10:13, I Timothy 1:12 16) You cannot get good enough to come to God. Come as you are, God will give you the power to make the changes.
Eternal Life is the gift of God. (Romans 6:23) Notice that this verse says that our eternal life is in Christ Jesus. All that we are is in Christ Jesus. All we have is in Christ Jesus. All that we will ever be is in Christ Jesus.
Those who are saved, are saved and fully justified before their faith/belief/trust ever produces one single righteous work. (Romans 3:10 12, Ephesians 2:10) James will work hard to get this point across to us.
Faith also brings about a necessary (Luke 13:3) and real (Romans 12:2) repentance (literally: a change of direction, mind, and action). This is an unconditional surrender to the Lordship of Jesus (John 14:15, 23).