James, known as the brother of the Lord, was the leader of the early Christian community in Jerusalem. This group remained deeply rooted within Jewish tradition. They believed that Jesus was the promised Messiah, and they expected that he would return to fully establish God’s kingdom.
However, their faith was not centered on complex theological definitions or philosophical explanations about Jesus. Their main emphasis was on the teachings of Jesus.
Life Before Doctrine
For James and the Jerusalem community, what mattered most was:
Caring for the poor
Living justly
Remaining faithful to God
Demonstrating faith through actions
As reflected in the Letter of James, “faith without works is dead.” In other words, simply believing that Jesus is the Messiah was not enough. True faith had to be expressed in a transformed way of living.
Living Like Jesus
To follow Jesus meant:
Loving even one’s enemies
Living with humility rather than pride
Avoiding attachment to wealth
Practicing both justice and mercy
The focus was not on making grand claims about who Jesus was, but on becoming the kind of people Jesus formed. For them, discipleship meant imitation—living as Jesus lived.
The Place of Belief
They certainly believed Jesus was the Messiah. But that belief was meant to lead to a particular way of life. Beliefs about Jesus were important, yet they were secondary to living out his teachings.
Confession came after practice. Life came before doctrine.
A Distinct Expression of Christianity
This early Jerusalem Christianity may appear different from later theological developments. In later centuries, Christianity often placed stronger emphasis on believing certain things about Jesus. But in the community led by James, the heart of faith was ethical transformation—living the way of Jesus.
Conclusion
The Jerusalem community reminds us that calling Jesus “Messiah” is not the end of faith—it is the beginning.
Faith becomes real when it is lived.
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