In our study of The Book of James this Sunday, we'll look at one of the most controversial (and most misunderstood) passages in the New Testament. 

In fact, the great Reformer Martin Luther read what James said and described the whole thing as a "letter of straw." 

What did James say that was so incendiary? 

James said, "You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone" (James 2:24). 

To Luther's mind, James contradicted the great liberating truth of the Gospel spoken by the Apostle Paul, "For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law" (Romans 3:28). And so Luther relegated The Book of James to the end of the list of New Testament books and labeled it a letter of straw having nothing of the nature of the gospel in it.  

Was Luther right? 

On the surface it does seem like James and Paul are contradicting each other. But is this actually the case? What were they talking about? And were they talking about the same thing? 

Join us this Sunday as we examine what James both is saying and not saying, and seek to apply this essential truth to our lives as followers of Jesus. 

• Sermon Audio
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