The twin themes of this brilliant little letter are "sound doctrine"-- meaning wholesome teaching, healthy instruction-- and "good deeds" ...the inevitable result of a life {heart, soul, mind and strength} which are feeding on teaching that is truly healthy.

At the close of ch. 2, Paul speaks of Jesus redeeming and purifying for Himself "a people of His very own eager to do what is good." It seems our Mission then is not just to speak good, but to "do good." Otherwise, as James communicates quite clearly, our faith is dead. Twice in ch. 3, Paul speaks of us as those who should "learn to devote themselves," to give relentless care and attention, "to doing good." What a profound statement of the Life of Faith: believing God has saved me from the darkness of sin and death "for good works which He prepared in the Ages of Eternity," then trusting Him to provide everything we need to accomplish them. That's faith!