You must be born again! believe and be baptized. Follow Jesus. Seek first kingdom of God and his righteousness. James , the author of book of James, was most likely the brother of Jesus that only after the resurrection became a follower of Jesus.
Jesus mentions the new birth twice in the Gospels, and that is in the same conversation with Nicodemus in John 3. But Jesus says “follow me” 87 times in the Gospels, and the kingdom of God is mentioned 110 times.
Nicodemus came to Jesus by night but God wants us to live for him by the light, not ashamed or afraid. Jesus told Nicodemus, “ you must be born again” or born from above. Did Nicodemus walk away born again or not? It’s not enough to have the head knowledge but have the heart knowing and mouth declaring that Jesus Christ is Lord. Faith without works is dead. So how do you know that you are saved? The Bible says to work out your salvation with fear and trembling. By their fruits you shall know them. The fruits of the spirit are many good qualities.
I wanted to study James; however, to study John first makes more sense. How can you live like a Christian if you’re not even born again or a follower of Jesus or a Kingdom Seeker or Believer without being baptized or believe in your heart and declare with your mouth that Jesus is Lord?