James - Drew Boswell

Seeking Wisdom in Difficult Days A Study of James The Powerful Little Troublemaker James 3:1-12

****Click here of another video I made regarding our words and why they are so important.

Seeking Wisdom in Difficult Days

A Study of James

The Powerful Little Troublemaker

James 3:1-12[1]

Introduction

In today’s society there is a lot of attention that is getting oriented toward speech. University professors, medical professionals, social workers, and many other professions, are having to be incredibly cautious in their identifying people according to their preferred gender orientation. (see graphic) There are micro aggressions, hate speech, and safe spaces where students feel the need to not be offended by conflicting ideas and opinions. So, what we as Christians say, and how we say it, is as important now as it has ever been.

James is writing to the church that has experienced persecution and has been forced to scatter into different cities away from Jerusalem. In earlier sections of James, he deals with things that were being corrosive to the local church and keeping it from being what God intends for it to be (not understanding trials and tribulations, worthless religion, partiality, a dead faith). Now James turns his attention to yet another topic that if not dealt with can cause much damage – our words.

In the previous verses, James gives “three examples of misused speech: (a) words that honor the rich and dishonor the poor, (2:3) (b) greeting a poor brother or sister without providing assistance (2:16), (c) claiming to have faith without works to show for it (2:18).[2] Those examples dealt with “empty words.”

In the first chapters of James he discusses that talk is cheap if that is all you have with regard to one’s faith – words or worthless is they are not backed by action. In chapter 3, he doesn’t want us think that we can then just say anything, our words actually do have a great impact on others.[3]

James gave us six pictures of the tongue: the bit, the rudder, fire, a poisonous animal, a fountain, and a fig tree. You can the put these six into three helpful categories.[4]

Prayer

Power to Direct: The Bit and Rudder (vv. 1-4)[5]

Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. 2 For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body. 3 If we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we guide their whole bodies as well. 4 Look at the ships also: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs.

James mentions the tongue in every chapter of James[6], and in chapter three he expands the idea of word and their impact. Both the bit for the horse and the rudder for the ship are small things that control much larger things.

James has dealt with several issues that were cropping up in the diaspera church, and it now seems that it these teachers and their false teachings that were at the root of the problem. When we looked at James 2:1-12 and how Christians should not show partiality in the church, we looked at how in Roman society social movement was just about impossible.

So people would give toward building projects, public baths, art works, etc. But if you couldn’t do those things, then you could gain prestige and power by teaching in the church. So there were individuals who would assume to upon themselves to be teachers and would teach heretical and false teachings in an effort to have influence.

There was also a build in high respect in Judaism for their rabbinical teachers. So, there “seems to be some Christians who were seizing the opportunity to be called teacher (rabbi) and rushing into the office without a solemn consideration of the responsibilities.”[7] The Christian should not be so eager to teach that they overlook the responsibility.

1-4 begins with a rebuke of a teacher “Not many of you should become teachers” who should not be teaching, either because he is not qualified, or is saying things (teaching things) that are false. Such teachers do irreparable harm to those that trust them and hold to their teachings. And there will be a judgment of their teaching, “for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness.”

If you believe that God has called you to teach others you must read Ezekiel 3:17-19 “Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel. Whenever you hear a word from my mouth, you shall give them warning from me. 18 If I say to the wicked, ‘You shall surely die,’ and you give him no warning, nor speak to warn the wicked from his wicked way, in order to save his life, that wicked person shall die for4 his iniquity, but his blood I will require at your hand. 19 But if you warn the wicked, and he does not turn from his wickedness, or from his wicked way, he shall die for his iniquity, but you will have delivered your soul.”

There is a constant temptation on the part of the preacher/teacher to not teach all that the Bible says, or leave out certain parts because of the potential hurt feelings, or conflict that it may cause – but the watchman must keep watch and call out sin when he sees it.

In his farewell speech to the Ephesian church, Paul says, “Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all, 27 for I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God.” Declaring the whole counsel of God is what made Paul “innocent” of anyone’s choice to turn away from the truth. Paul had fulfilled his ministry among the Ephesians.

There is also the potential for those with opportunities to speak and influence others to be wrong (they mean well, but they are simply wrong in what they are teaching). James says, “For we all stumble in many ways.” Moses lost his temper and struck the rock (Numbers 20), Peter boasted that he would never leave Jesus’ side “Peter answered him [Jesus], “Though they all fall away because of you, I will never fall away.” (Matthew 26:33). “James is saying that the most difficult task a Christian faces is the mastery of his own speech.”[8]

James gives the example of a rudder (being small) directs the ship – so too a teacher can lead a large group in a good or bad direction.[9]

Matthew 18:6 “but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.”

Also, a false teacher has the potential to wreck years and years of good teaching with just a small amount of false teaching. Therefore, the reason for James to write this letter to the churches. “James’ point is that we should not underestimate the powerful potential of leadership positions nor undervalue the damage that can be done through careless or mean-spirited speech.”[10]

On the other side of this issue are those that hear and should not just accept everything told to them, even by those they trust and love – we must keep a discerning spirit about us. Acts 17:11 “Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.” The Bereans were eager to receive the Word of God, but they also examined it against Scripture.

When James says “And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man” The use of the word “perfect” is not used the same way we use the word perfect as in without error or mistake – James means “mature” “or full grown.”[11] So the spiritual barometer of a Christian (how are you doing in your walk with the Lord) is your ability to control what you say, and understand its’ impact upon other people.

“If we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we guide their whole bodies as well” The purpose of a bit in the horse’s mouth is so that you can control the animal. Imagine a 1,500 lb. wild horse running through the church on a Sunday morning, or a church meeting, or Sunday School class – kicking, jumping, running wild – it would be disastrous. The same is true for the person who can’t control their tongue, everywhere they go there will be destruction.

“Look at the ships also: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs” The rudder determines where the ship goes. If the pilot of the ship doesn’t know what he’s doing, he can steer that ship into other ships, rocks, sandbars, underwater reefs, or just take a boat load of people completely off course and in the wrong direction.

Power to Destroy: The Fire and The Animal (vv. 5-8)

5 So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things. How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! 6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell. 7 For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind, 8 but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.

Both fire and the poisonous animal are small things (like the tongue) that can bring destruction to the things it touches and spread to continue to destroy things much larger than itself.

Smokey the Bear warms campers to fully put out your campfires because just a small spark or ember can ignite an entire forest and destroy vast amounts of property. In the ancient world (before the days of home fire extinguishers and fire departments) fire was something everyone feared.

***wild fires in CA causing millions of dollars worth of damage and loss of life, due to a gender reveal explosive.

Strauss says, “The deadly drug does not need to be taken in large doses – a drop or two will suffice; and the tongue does not need to distill long speeches, it has but to drop a word, and the mischief is afoot. Thus has a peace been ruined, thus has a reputation been blackened, thus has a friendship been bittered, thus has a mind been poisoned, thus has a life been blasted.”[12]

In the example for the rudder, the pilot was in control. In the example of the bit, the rider was in control. In the example of the tongue of fire – “set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell” “A spark can ignite a forest, but the tongue is so powerful it can set all humanity ablaze.”[13] Words move people to action.

When a person speaks (not just verbal, e-mails, texts, letters, cards, social-media posts, etc.) in a destructive way, it hurts the members and affects the entire church, and ultimately is guided by hell itself.[14]

“For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature” In verse 7 James gives the four major categories of animals during creation in Genesis (Genesis 1:20-23). God created man to have dominion over, control over, creation, and every kind of animal has been “tamed.” “The image James uses here is a of a barely and inadequately caged beast, which breaks forth with irrational destructive power.”[15]

A poisonous viper that breaks loose from its’ cage and is going around striking people with poison. You then catch it, put it in its’ cage, but it keeps escaping again and again. You can keep the mighty elephant caged, but not the tongue.

Power to Delight: The Fountain and the Tree (vv. 9-12)

9 With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. 10 From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so. 11 Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water?[16] 12 Can a fig tree, my brothers, bear olives, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a salt pond yield fresh water.

Both the water fountain and the fruitful tree can bring delight, happiness, a blessing to those that encounter them.

Earlier in James he discusses “the double-minded” person (James 1:7) “For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything [asking God for wisdom] from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.” It is the man’s trying to live in the world with its’ values, and live a life that honors God leads you to instability.

When in one part of the day you are worshipping and blessing God then later in the day we are cursing someone (who is made in the image of God) then we are being double-minded, which leads us to be unstable. He uses a spring that produces one kind of water, tree producing fruit of its’ kind, and a salt lake – all produce according to their nature.

So if we are the Lord’s then that love for Him in our core is what gets spilt out when life bumps us. If you are a worshipper of God and sing praises, then cursing and evil words should not come out of your mouth, “it should not be.”

The use of the word curse is not to cuss at someone as in profanity – it “refers to the Jewish custom in the first century of expressing the hope that evil and tragedy would come to a person.” A common Jewish curse was “May your children become idolators and your wife be unfaithful.”[17]

So you praise God in the morning, saying you want to follow His plan for your life – then in the afternoon you are desiring your neighbor’s house to burn to the ground and his family to be destroyed – which is ignoring the plan of God for His creation, especially mankind.

Conclusion

There is a common children’s phrase, “sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.” This is just not biblically true.

The affects of verbal abuse to the adolescent brain.[18]

****click here of another video I made regarding our words and why they are so important.

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[1] Beth Day, 1855 “Three Gates of Gold.” “. . . Make it pass, Before you speak, three gates of gold: These narrow gates. First, “Is it true?” Then, “Is it needful?” In your mind Give truthful answer. And the next Is last and narrowest, “Is it kind?” And if to reach your lips at last It passes through these gateways three, Then you may tell the tale, nor fear What the result of speech may be. (Buttrick, 49).

[2] Pheme Perkins, Interpretation, First and Second Peter, James, and Jude (Louisville, Kentucky; John Knox Press, 1995) 115.

[3] Lehman Strauss, James, Your Brother (Neptune, New Jersey; Loizeaux Brothers, 1980) 120.

[4] Warren Wiersbe, Be Mature, Growing Up In Christ (Colorado Springs, Colorado; David C. Cook Publishing, 1978) 99.

[5] The outline is from Warren Wiersbe, Be Mature.

[6] James 1:19, 26; 2:12; 4:11. 5:12 – Strauss, 120.

[7] Clifton J. Allen, The Broadman Bible Commentary, Volume 12 (Nashville, Tennessee; Broadman Press, 1972) 121.

[8] Allen, 121.

[9] David P. Nystrom, The NIV Application Commentary, James (Grand Rapids, Michigan; Zondervan Publishing House, 1997) 176.

[10] Nystrom, 177.

[11] Strauss, 125.

[12] Ibid, 136.

[13] Allen, 123.

[14] “I lost a very little word, only the other day; It was a very naughty word I had not meant to say. But, then, it was not really lost – when from my lips it flew, My little brother picked it up, and now he says it too!” (Strauss, 136.)

[15] Nystrom, 180.

[16] Mediterranean wisdom, a fonte puro pura defluit aqua (“from a pure spring flows pure water.”) Nystron, 182.

[17] Allen, 124.

[18] https://www.dana.org/article/the-abused-brain/

Seeking Wisdom in Difficult Days A Study of James A Faith that Works James 2:14-26

Seeking Wisdom in Difficult Days
A Study of James
A Faith that Works
James 2:14-26

Introduction

The churches that James is writing to have been scattered from Jerusalem and are all over the Roman empire. As the church scattered they would be living in communities where there would be constant pressure just to blend in, and to not cause any trouble. Christians, no matter what the generation, are commanded to “go and make disciples.” We are to share our faith, and lead others to Christ.

For this early church, as is true today, there would be a constant pressure to make Christianity as easy as possible for people to follow and to water down any doctrine that may be offensive to a lost world. So, it appears that among the churches, James is dealing with how do we define faith in Christ and what does the Christian life look like? If the person just says they are a Christian – shouldn’t that be enough. Just state a creed, a belief statement, and you are in. You can’t see their heart, who are you to judge?[1]

Prayer

What Good is A Dead Faith? (vv. 14-17)

14 What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? 17 So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

James mentions in 2:1-13 that there should be no partiality in the church, and now he moves to another issue facing the dispersed church. In vv. 14-26 he “attacks the notion that a confession of faith guarantees salvation regardless of the conduct by the believer; in other words, that the recital of a creed makes a man acceptable to God despite his behavior toward others.”[2] Christians are not to show partiality in the church, but at the same time there are fellow Christian brothers and sisters who need help.

James is using the word “faith” and it is indicating different people depending on the context of how he is using the word. There are some who are expressing their “faith” in Christ but their lives have no deeds that are associated with being a Christian.

Then there are those that express a “faith” in Christ and also have the associated deeds of being a Christian. People who say they are believers do or do not have deeds that go along with being a Christian.[3] Strauss says, “The appeal is to be what you say you believe.”[4]

James begins by asking the question, “What good is it?” to say you are a Christian but not live the life of a Christian?[5] James says such a faith is dead. What good is it to have a dead faith? It doesn’t save you at the time of judgment, and it doesn’t make the world a better place – this person has ignored the needs of those around them and is giving out useless tropes “Go in peace, be warmed and filled.” Which also makes Christianity look back as a whole (hypocrites).

This is the same as giving a “thumbs up” on Facebook to some social issue your friend posts. They say, “we must stop sex trafficking . . .” So you give him a thumbs up, and scroll on your way. Have you actually done anything to stop sex trafficking? No. Have you done something to appease your guilt that someone should do something? Yes.

So, is praying for someone useless? It is the same as saying may God take care of your need to a fellow Christian. God has brought them to you, you have the means to help them, you know they need they are “poorly clothed and lacking in daily food.” But take no action to help them. Compassion and action is a characteristic of a believer. One could also say, “are we supposed to feed and clothe everyone?” This is an exaggeration and leads to doing nothing. You help those you can with the resources you have.

There is an important distinction to make with regard to faith and deeds. We place our faith in Jesus Christ which then, out of a thankful and obedient heart, leads to actions.

Faith Is Shown By Works; Three Examples (vv. 18-26)

18 But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.

James insists that you cannot separate faith and works and then goes on to give three examples to make his point (demons, Abraham, and Rahab).

1) Demons Have Faith But No Deeds (v. 19)

19 You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder!

The Jewish people would say the Shema twice-a-day; so the dispersed church would still hold to Deuteronomy 6:4 where it says, “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one.”[6] Reciting this truth, as all the Jewish people would have done, does not constitute true faith. Simply, stating beliefs is not a living faith. The demons have a monotheistic faith.

Demons are not atheists, they believe that there is one God, but their understanding, faith, doctrinal statement, can not save them. They believe the right things but their faith is not expressed in action. “Religion that is worth something involves action that grows from the heart.”[7]

Intellectual assent – is the belief that something exists, but not doing anything with that belief. The demons are acknowledging facts – but they are not placing any faith on those facts. There is no righteous action in their lives based on their understanding that God is real, Jesus is the Son of God, etc. “A genuine belief in the truth will produce a genuine behavior of the truth.”[8]

Simon the sorcerer is an example of a person who mentally believes but is not saved. Acts 8:13 “Even Simon himself believed, and after being baptized he continued with Philip. And seeing signs and great miracles performed, he was amazed.”

Acts 8:20-22 “But Peter said to him, “May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money! 21 You have neither part nor lot in this matter, for your heart is not right before God. 22 Repent, therefore, of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord that, if possible, the intent of your heart may be forgiven you.” “Here is a man who believed all that the demons believe, was baptized, but was without real repentance for his sin.” [9]

“A dead faith that does not move you to place all your trust in Christ is no better than the faith of demons and will send you ultimately to hell with the demons.”[10]

2) Abraham Had Faith and Deeds (vv. 20-23)

20 Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless?[11] 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? 22 You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works; 23 and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”—and he was called a friend of God.

James calls the person who believes they can be saved by words or confession of a creed alone a “fool.”[12] Which at first sounds harsh, but he is addressing the fool from a moral perspective.

It is a heart issue because even though evidence has been given, the immoral person wants even more evidence. They are happy to just say or expose being a Christian, but they do not actually want to do anything Christian.

We see the word “justified” in verse 21 and verses 24, 25, and it means “An instantaneous legal act of God in which he (1) thinks of our sins as forgiven and Christ’s righteousness as belonging to us, and (2) declares us to be righteous in his sight.”[13]

We are all guilty of committing the crime of sin, but because God is judge, we are found “not guilty.” This is not to say a person did or did not do the crime – it is a legal finding of “not guilty.” Or that you don’t have to face the penalty of a crime (someone else has taken the full extent of the justice given for your crime).

James is emphasizing that this justification will take place at the judgment. Faith is always revealed in deeds, and these deeds are taken into consideration at the judgement. When James uses “justification” he is meaning the actions as proof of the person’s salvation, not that the actions lead to justification.[14]

“Faith is a personal response in genuine attitude to the grace of God which Jesus proclaimed and manifested in his life, death, and resurrection. It is a relationship or trust, loyalty, gratitude, and affection.”[16] So faith is taking action based on one’s belief in the promises of God.

The Jewish people believed that because they were direct relatives of Abraham, then they would gain entrance to heaven based on that relationship. The Jews came to rely so much on the “merit” of Abraham’s faith that they felt that all they had to say “We have Abraham to our father (Matt. 3:9).[17] James shows that Abraham was a man of faith and that his faith led him to take action.

“A man is justified only by the kind of faith which does the things God commands. That faith which refuses to obey God is not the faith that saves. Real faith that saves is a faith that works.”[18]

There are two types of justification, the justification before men, and the justification before God. Romans 4:2 says, “For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God.”

“Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? – When faith is genuine, it will follow in obedience no matter how great the cost. In obedience to the command to sacrifice his son, Abraham began with faith (Heb. 11:8), left his home and moved his family by faith (Heb. 11:9) and sacrificed by faith (Heb. 11:17). Abraham lived a life of faith that was full of obedient action. Abraham’s faith in God was real because it governed Abraham’s life.

“You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works;” The idea here is that faith is brought into maturity through action. Faith directs and motivates action; action matures faith. James is saying that the two are inseparable.[19] We learn and grow in our relationship with God as we act and move and do what He commands and directs us to do.

Abraham moved his family, believed God when he pointed to the stars of the sky and eventually gave him a son in his old age. Abraham had faith and action as he laid Isaac on the alter – He grew as a believer as he acted in obedience.

3) Rahab Had Faith and Deeds (vv. 24-26)

24 You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. 25 And in the same way was not also Rahab the prostitute justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way?[20] 26 For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead.[21]

Rahab is listed in the lineage of Jesus in Matthew 1:5, and as one of the “Heroes of the Faith” in Hebrews 11:31 “By faith Rahab the prostitute did not perish with those who were disobedient, because she had given a friendly welcome to the spies.” She is also in Joshua chapter 2 and 6. Abraham and Rahab are polar opposites – the patriarch and the prostitute – both are given as examples of faith with deeds.

***review the story of Rahab.

When did Rahab place her faith in God? She had already heard of God before the spies arrived, she told them, “And as soon as we heard it, hour hearts melted, and there was no spirit left in any man because of you, for the LORD your God, he is God in the heavens above and on the earth beneath. 12 Now then, please swear to me by the LORD that, as I have dealt kindly with you . . .” (Joshua 2:11-12)

We don’t know exactly when she placed her faith in God, but she was justified before the Lord when she hid the spies, and when she tied the scarlet rope to her window, and when she waited with her family during the battle – she trusted the Lord to do what He said He would do.[22]

It is amazing that Rahab is given as an example of a person who had faith and works, while at the same time did not have a foundation of doctrine (she didn’t grow up in the church), she was a prostitute, and she lied. “Rahab was justified by her faith because she performed works of mercy and showed hospitality to God’s people. (Bede)”[23]

She is also an example of a person whose life wasn’t perfect, it was messy – yet she placed her faith in God and took Him at His word. Her actions of hiding the spies and risking her own life to save God’s people was a first step of continued deeds that would strengthen her faith and make her more like the woman God intended for her to be.

James finishes his argument with an analogy, “For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead.” Ultimately James is not contrasting faith and deeds, but a dead faith and a living faith. Faith alone without works is as dead as a body without breath.

__________________________

[1] Pheme Perkins, Interpretation A Bible Commentary for Teaching and Preaching, First and Second Peter, James, and Jude (Louisville, Kentucky; John Knox Press; 1995) 113.

[2] George Arthur Buttrick, Gen. Ed., The Interpreter’s Bible, Volume 12 (Nashville, Tennessee; Abingdon Press, 1957) 40.

[3] “Can authentic faith find expression in a confession of right doctrine? Can authentic faith be expressed merely as sentiment that never reaches the point of action?” David P. Nystrom, The NIV Application Commentary, James (Grand Rapids, Michigan; Zondervan Publishing, 1997) 148. We Baptists, who are “people of the book,” must be careful that our focus on correct doctrine and biblical teaching does not crowd out our works of compassion and meeting the needs of those in our world. One is worthless without the other.

[4] Lehman Strauss, James Your Brother (Neptune, New Jersey; Loizeaux Brothers, 1980) 104.

[5] Clifton J. Allen, Gen. Ed., The Broadman Bible Commentary, Volume 12 (Nashville, Tennessee; Broadman Press; 1972) 117.

[6] Allen, 119.

[7] David P. Nystrom, The NIV Application Commentary, James (Grand Rapids, Michigan; Zondervan Publishing, 1997) 152.

[8] Strauss, 105.

[9] Ibid, 107.

[10] Ibid, 109.

[11] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antinomianism

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antinomian_Controversy

[12] The crook is the one who harms another person but not themselves; the fool is the person who harms both others and themselves; and the wise is the person who does no harm neither to themselves nor another.

[13] Wayne Grudem, Bible Doctrine (Grand Rapids, Michigan; Zondervan Publishing, 1999) 488.

[14] A.T. Robertson, Studies in the Epistle of James (Nashville, Tennessee; Broadman Press, 1959) 92.

[15] Buttrick, 44.

[16] Ibid.

[17] Robertson, 99.

[18] Strauss, 113.

[19] Peter H. Davids, New International Biblical Commentary, James (Peabody, Massachusetts; Hendrickson Publishing, 1983) 69.

[20] Joshua 2.

[21] Helen Wodehouse, “We think we must climb to a certain height of goodness before we can reach God. But he says not “At the end of the way you will find me”; He says, “I am the Way; I am the road under your feet, the road that begins just as low as you happen to be.” If we are in a hole the Way begins in the hole. The moment we set our face in the same direction as His, we are walking with God.”

[22] So what do we do with the fact that she lied as to the direction the spies went, and is in the same sentence described as “justified?”

[23] Thomas Oden, Gen. Ed., Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture, Volume 11 (Downers Grove, Illinois; Intervarsity Press, 2000) 28.

Seeking Wisdom in Difficult Days A Study of James Pride and Prejudice James 2:1-12

Seeking Wisdom in Difficult Days

A Study of James

Pride and Prejudice

James 2:1-12

Introduction

***Famous People 2021 – Who are our heros?

Show No Partiality (vv. 1-7)

My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory.[1] 2 For if a man wearing a gold ring and fine clothing comes into your assembly, and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in, 3 and if you pay attention to the one who wears the fine clothing and say, “You sit here in a good place,” while you say to the poor man, “You stand over there,” or, “Sit down at my feet,” 4 have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? 5 Listen, my beloved brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him? 6 But you have dishonored the poor man. Are not the rich the ones who oppress you, and the ones who drag you into court? 7 Are they not the ones who blaspheme the honorable name by which you were called?

Partiality is literally “to accept the face,” it means inappropriate favoritism, or prejudice. It is to ignore the content of their character, and base your judgement entirely on the outward appearance. James is saying that it has no place in the local church. It is these prejudices that lead to distinctions among the gathered church.

James describes a rich man who is clearly understood to be rich by his “man wearing a gold ring and fine clothing” “Dress constituted a badge of status and vocation in the first century, and the contrast between the rich and poor was quite conspicuous in one’s clothing.”[2] In the parable of the prodigal son, the gold ring and coat is a symbol of wealth and status.[3] Luke 15:22 “But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet.”

The poor typically only had one set of clothes that they would work in which would be stained and worn. The rich had multiple outfits, so it would be obvious. The distinctions also carried over into where people sat down – the rich had choice seating and the poor had to sit on the floor.

Why are distinctions wrong or evil? James is indicating that when you place one person above another person in the church – that this is wrong? But why is it wrong?

1) James says that when you make distinctions between people in the gathered church, then you are departing from “the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory.” When you do this, then you are moving away from the teachings of Christ.

2) You are acting as a judge over people, you have become “judges with evil thoughts.”

3) When you show partiality and make distinctions you are acting like the world. James says, “Are not the rich the ones who oppress you” They are acting like the world that looks at them and says “Christian” and then persecutes them.

In the Roman world there was a complex hierarchy of status – It ranged from old money to new money, from slaves to freedmen, business people to laborers, military service, Roman born and those that became citizens, those elected to public office and the fees and expectations for those offices.[4]

All of this is going on behind the scenes – and amongst all the Roman culture a person becomes a follower of Jesus Christ – One doesn’t just stop thinking the Roman way, it has to be rooted out. The things that bring glory to a person in the world – should not bring glory to the person in the local church.

“In the closing words of Chapter One we are exhorted, ‘to keep oneself unstained from the world.’ Here is a form of worldliness if ever there was one. Who is worshipped by the world today? Those who are wealthy, successful; those who have achieved fame in sports, show business, and such.”[5]

There was also little chance of moving upward between the Roman class structures. Instead of moving up, people would try to make their level look like it is the best level to be on – people would go into debt spending money on things that were superfluous things at the expense of the needed items for their households just to appear a certain way and to receive glory and honor. (stolen valor videos on YouTube)

One these ways of spending was to sponsor (for road projects, artwork, public construction projects, etc.) – then there was a cultural expectation that the lower classes would regularly and repeatedly thank them for their donations. So, outside the church if you were poor you were expected to vocally and be over-the-top thankful toward the rich for their giving to the community which in some way benefited you.[6]

So, the expectations and culture of the world was finding its way into the church. For James it is a tragedy for a person to be abused, neglected, and not receive justice in the world, but then go to church and receive the same treatment by their fellow Christians.[7]

When the church gathers together, because of our walk with the Lord and having daily wrestled with His Word there should be a distinct difference in our relationships than with the world and how they treat each other.

There is one place (there should be two) when a poor person is not expected to recognize a benefactor – it’s at home amongst his family. If his family has helped him in some way (sister, brother, cousin) he was not expected to thank them again and again, and again – it was done and forgotten. James calls the church, “My brothers.”[8] When we gather together we are family.

1 Timothy 5:1 “Do not rebuke an older man but encourage him as you would a father, younger men as brothers, 2 older women as mothers, younger women as sisters, in all purity.”

Seek to Fulfill the Royal Law (vv. 8-12)

8 If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well. 9 But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors. 10 For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it. 11 For he who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not murder.” If you do not commit adultery but do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law. 12 So speak and so act as those who are to be judged under the law of liberty. 13 For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

James summarizes all of the law “according the Scripture,” with “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,”[9] and if you keep this, you are doing well, and you are not keeping the Scriptures if you show partiality. The root of the royal law is love for another person.

“It is immaterial what the particular offense against the person may be – adultery, murder, theft, slander – if the basic principle of loving the other person is violated.”[10] The same is true in that we don’t need more and more laws and rules – just “love your neighbor as yourself.”

To sin is to “miss the mark” or “to fall short” – To transgress is “to step over a line” or to “disobey a specific directive.”

James references the sixth and seventh commandments from the 10 commandments, “Do not kill,” and “do not commit adultery.” If you murder, it’s the same as adultery, it’s the same as showing partiality to another person. “Obedience to one precept in the law is no excuse for disobedience to another precept; the breach of any commandment of the law is rebellion against God, who gave the law.”[11] Because love should be the root of all actions toward another person.

The command to not murder and to not commit adultery are important to understanding the point James is making – both deal with the honor and love that we give to other people. Murder is where a person dishonors his victim – you think so little of them that you take their life.

Adultery is where a person puts personal self-gratification above a spouse or children or family. This is where a person removes the honor that should be given to a spouse and family and exchanges it for self-gratification.[12] When a person commits adultery they are not showing love toward the neighbor nor the spouse.

The issue is treating all people equitably with love and kindness – whether they have a gold ring on their finger or no shoes on their feet. What’s interesting is that James is placing murder, adultery, and partiality side by side.

The issue of partiality was crippling the early churches. Not just in the area of membership and leadership (service selection separated from authentic spiritual disciple), but in the very activities the church participates in – if we choose to minister to a group of people that the world counts as acceptable but refuse to help another that are more rejected by society then we are showing favoritism based on worldly cultural norms – then the world was guiding the ministry of the church.

It was also crippling because of what the church is supposed to be for church members. It is not a place of flexing power muscles, or exhibiting one’s wealth – It is a gathering of believer’s who need each other. The local church is where we go to find like-minded people, who share the same vision for reaching the lost, and are fighting against the world – so when we gather together, we encourage one another, love one another, support one another.

We lose this if we divide the church into groups. The world divides us up and then turn those groups against each other. This is the danger of identity politics finding its’ way into the church. For example: The world would say, “You are a 47-year-old white male, therefore you cannot minister to a 30-year-old black woman.” Or “You are a 70-year-old white woman therefore you cannot minister to a 8-year-old Hispanic boy.” These are categorically false statements – and they divide the church in ways Christ never intended and James here fights against.

We all need a place where are known, loved, and are able to serve according to how we are gifted by the Holy Spirit. Galatians 3:28 “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”

James reminds the church to, “speak and so act as those who are to be judged under the law of liberty.” Jesus referenced the time of judgement several times, as He taught his own followers:

Matthew 18:32-35 “Then his master summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. 33 And should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?’ 34 And in anger his master delivered him to the jailers, until he should pay all his debt. 35 So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart.”

James is talking to the church, specifically when it is time for our judgement, “judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy.” Christians are to show mercy, not judgement.

Malcom Gladwell “Blink” quote [13]. This passage deals with the fatal shooting of Amadou Dialloin in front of his apartment by four police officers. The police officers and Amadou both made false assumptions about the other which led to the tragic death of Amadou.

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[1] James uses the literary form of a diatribe to make his point. “In the diatribe a fictional sparring partner is created by the use of question and response. . .As in this case, examples are sharpened and exaggerated.” Pheme Perkins, Interpretation A Bible Commentary for Teaching and Preaching, First and Second Peter, James, and Jude (Louisville, Kentucky; John Knox Press, 1995) 108.

[2] Clifton Allen, General Editor, The Broadman Bible Commentary, Volume 12 (Nashville, Tennessee; Broadman Press, 1972) 114. See also, Luke 15:22; 16:19

[3] David Nystrom, The NIV Application Commentary, James (Grand Rapids, Michigan; Zondervan Publishing, 1997) 115.

[4] Nystrom 127.

[5] Lehman Strauss, James, Your Brother (Neptune, New Jersey; Loizeaux Brothers, 1980) 91.

[6] Nystrom 130. See “collegia.”

[7] Ibid, 118.

[8] Pheme Perkins, Interpretation A Bible Commentary for Teaching and Preaching, First and Second Peter, James, and Jude (Louisville, Kentucky; John Knox Press, 1995) 109.

[9] Leviticus 19:18 “. . . you shall love your neighbor as yourself. . .”

[10] George Arthur Buttrick, General Editor, The Interpreter’s Bible, Volume 12 (Nashville, Tennessee; Abingdon Press, 1957) 39.

[11]Buttrick, 38.

[12] Nystrom, 122.

[13] Malcom Gladwell, Blink The Power of Thinking Without Thinking (New York, New York; Little, Brown & CO., 2005) 189-194.

Seeking Wisdom in Difficult Days A Study of James Worthless Religion Is A Waste of Time James 1:19-27

Seeking Wisdom in Difficult Days

A Study of James

Worthless Religion Is A Waste of Time

James 1:19-27

Introduction

More than half of the world’s oil paintings come from Da Fen in southern China. Located in China’s manufacturing hub, Shenzhen, Da Fen thrives on the mass production of art. It exports millions of replicas of Van Goghs, Monets, and Picassos to the world, generating billions in revenue for painters who were once farmers or migrant workers. The founder of Da Fen, the 69-year-old artist Huang Jiang, spoke to BBC News about his miracle business model and the challenges his team faces now. Video journalist: Xinyan Yu[1]

Painter after painter lined up in warehouses, each looking at the original and creating and exact replica. The original is worth millions if not priceless, these copies are worth a few hundred in China, or maybe 1,000 if exported to the US. But if compared to the original, the fakes are essentially worthless.

If we look at the outside of many religious people, there is little difference in the actions they take in their religion. But today we will see that there are some people who will go through the motions of religion that are the genuine real deal – and there are those that have deluded themselves into believing they are being authentic. I want to make sure I am the real deal, and have not fooled while being a forgery of the authentic.

The book of James was not written to a specific church, but to those that were scattered because of persecution. In these diaspora churches there were issues that they were working through. “The church was divided over many issues. Some sought to use the church as a means to display wealth and to exercise power. Others had shown favoritism toward to the wealthy.”[2] James specifically discusses today those that have an authentic faith and what it looks like.

Not Listening and Getting Angry Is Worthless (vv. 19-21)

19 Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; 20 for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. 21 Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.

The word of God is described as already being implanted in the believer’s heart and now it must grow and flourish. But there are things that will keep it from producing “the righteousness of God” in the person’s life. You have heard the gospel, but something is keeping you from growing in your walk with the Lord. It is the word of God that is on the inside, and moves to actions on the outside.

James first addresses a general way of living where the person is not meek. They are not listening to others, they are talking all the time, and acting out in anger. All of this is rooted in pride, which is the opposite of meekness. “Pride is a reliance upon the self, and the root of sin.”[3] Meekness is “the proper attitude of complete dependence upon God, and secondary the attitude shown toward others. . .”[4]

“I know what’s right so I really don’t need to listen to what you have to say”, “what I have to say is way more important than what you have to say – I’m better than you,” and “I have my rights, I am entitled to certain things which I am not getting – so I feel justified in being angry.”

To be meek, is not weak, it is allowing yourself to be led. Titus 3:2 uses the same Greek work and it translated there as “perfect courtesy.” “Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work, 2 to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people.” When you are courteous you are deferring yourself to others. They get the seat to sit down, they are not interrupted when they are talking, they are spoken of with respect and honor. The apostle Paul wrote regarding “love” – “does not insist on its way” (1 Cor. 13:5).

In 1 Peter 3:4 it is used with “quiet” to describe what the attitude of a Christian woman, a “gentle and quiet spirit” in contrast to “outward adorning.” “but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God’s sight is very precious.”[5]

Typically, we take these verses “let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger;”[6] in discussing how we relate to each other – but what if James is meaning how we react to the Word of God.

Quick to hear the Word of God, Slow to quickly explain or even explain away the Word of God, or we get truly rocked by it and we get angry as a response to the Word of God.[7] We are to receive the implanted word of God with meekness, not anger or excuse.

“As the Word of God roots itself more deeply in us, the new life develops and the old life dies.”[8] James says, “Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness” The Christian must recognize sin for what it is, stop justifying it, and decisively reject it – if they don’t then any spiritual growth is not likely.[9] When we remove filthiness and wickedness it’s like removing a soiled garment.

Several times in Scripture when we are told to take off (put away) the soiled garment of filthiness and wickedness we are to replace it with something else to ‘put on.”

“receive with meekness the implanted word” a better word for implanted is engrafted. When you engraft a plant to take one variety of a tree, cut off a branch, carefully cut a slit in it’s bark and then take another branch from another variety of tree and put the stump and the branch together. You can have lemons growing from an orange tree, or pears growing on the same tree as apples.

So in James’ passage our heart’s are described as the tree, and the Word of God is carefully engrafted into it, so that it will grow. God carefully places the Word of God in our lives, we must receive it with meekness. Sometimes grafts fail on trees, the tree has to receive the foreign branches and it has to grow.

“which is able to save your souls.” Is not a reference to salvation, but “refers to the redeeming of the Christian from sins to his life as he grows and matures (cf. 1 Cor. 1:18).”[10] When we have a relationship with God is one of constantly removing sin from our lives, or being saved from

Listening But Not Doing Anything Is Worthless (vv. 22-25)

22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. 24 For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. 25 But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.

James describes two groups of people to explain his previous points; there are the “doers of the word,” and the “hearers only.” The doers look into the perfect law (the Bible) and persevere (do something).

The hearers only group are people who go through religious actions but there is no action with regard to rooting out sin in their lives. They are content with an outward appearance or being religious (they are the fake Van Goghs). James wants to warm them of the danger.[11]

All of these things have to do with the church gathering together. “The practical value of church attendance, according to James, is realized only when the word heard becomes the word in action.”[12] If you go to church and hear the message, but God’s Word doesn’t carry over into everyday living and life then it’s useless.[13]

“he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. 24 For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like.” The natural face is uncovered, no make-up, as-it-is blemishes and all. Take long hard real good look at yourself.

One commentator (Hort) emphasizes that the word genesis is in the original language in verse 23. The Greek literally reads “the face of his genesis.” And genesis carries the idea of ‘birth’ or ‘creation’ “Verses 23-25 would then contrast the man who sees what God intended him to be, but does nothing about it, with the man who sees what God wants him to be and strives to attain it.”[14] In the mirror of God’s Word you get a glimpse of the man you could be.

In worship and the gathered church, the Holy Spirit reveals things to us as we encounter the Word and compare our lives to it – like looking into a mirror, the Word of God shows us where things are out of place. There will be will be things the Lord will show us – but if we immediately talk about where we are going for lunch, or the things we need at Wal-Mart and don’t remember the things God showed us (they are immediately forgotten) – what’s the point?

“the one who looks into the perfect law”— to look into literally means to stop and bend over in order to see better or to inspect.[15] The same word is used when Mary inspected the tomb of Jesus. So, in reference to the Word of God, a believer really makes and effort to intently grapple with it and seek its’ meaning and how to apply it to their lives.

God shows us how we fall short in His Word. We must continue to look into God’s Word, and do what it says and then, “he will be blessed in his doing.” It is the doing, not just the hearing, that brings the blessing. It’s not enough to show up to the game dressed in the uniform – You have to go out onto the field and play the game.

In the parable of the sower, only one of the four classes of hearers brought forth fruit. That is the test. “By their fruits you will know them.”

A Self-Deceptive Religion Is Worthless (vv. 26-27)

26 If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless. 27 Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.

James is not addressing the hypocritical person who pretends to be religious – or wears a mask at church and then takes it off in the community. He is talking to people who actually think they are religious, but are deceived. There is a possibility that we deceive ourselves.

Matthew 7:21-23 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ 23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’” This passage should move all of us to evaluate our relationship with God.

In the culture of James’ day, to be religious referred to the exterior or visible aspects of religious behavior.”[16] James is not giving the totality of this is what it means to be a Christian, but he giving practical examples for a person to evaluate their relationship with the Lord, specifically self-deception. We are to act and do – outward behavior, but those actions have to come from an inner right relationship with God.

For the Jewish people “The regular attendance at the hours of prayer, faithful observances of the rules of ritual purification, payment of the tithes – these things constituted worship. Finally, these alone constituted worship. Religion came to consist in the ceremony alone, the letter and not the spirit, the hull and not the kernel”[17]

Christianity does not require the follower to do anything, no ceremonies, no prescribed rites, no memorized protocol, no court etiquette. “Our relationship with God is simply dependent upon a simple and sincere devotion to God.”[18]

It is an outflow of our love and devotion to God that we love our neighbor as yourself, Micah 6:8 “He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?”

The Christian religion that God accepts is described in three activities. 1) care of speech, 2) concern for the helpless in our society or our concern for other people 3) avoidance of worldly attitudes and values.[19] “to visit orphans and widows in their affliction.” and “to keep oneself unstained from the world.”

“It is just as revolting to God for a person to have personal holiness but not have a redemptive involvement with others as having social action without concern for personal holiness.”[20]

“Religious practices are fine (church attendance, giving, serving, etc.) but if they are not coupled to an ethical lifestyle they are worse than useless, for they become self-deceptions.” James wants his readers to be able to see that these religious actions and recognize their true condition before it is too late.[21]

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[1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qZVJTW4jpck

[2] David P. Nystrom, The NIV Application Commentary, James (Grand Rapids, Michigan; Zondervan Publishing, 1997) 92.

[3] George Arthur Buttrick, Dictionary Ed., The Interpreter’s Dictionary of the Bible, K-Q (Nashville, Tennessee; Abingdon Press, 1980) 335.

[4] Ibid, 334.

[5] Buttrick, Dictionary, 335.

[6] Zeno of Citium is attributed to the idea, “we have two ears and one mouth, therefore we should listen twice as much as we talk.”

[7] Clifton J. Allen, Gen. Ed. The Broadman Bible Commentary, Volume 12 (Nashville, Tennessee; Broadman Press, 1972) 112.

[8] Lehman Strauss, James Your Brother (Neptune, New Jersey; Loizeaux Brothers, 1956) 59.

[9] Strauss, 40.

[10] Allen, 112.

[11] Doulas Moo, Tyndale New Testament Commentaries, James (Grand Rapids, Michigan; William B. Eerdmans Publishing, 1990) 82.

[12]George Arthur Buttrick, The Interpreter’s Bible, Volume 12 (Nashville, Tennessee; Abingdon Press,1957) 31.

[13] Pious genuflection.

[14] Moo, 85.

[15] Allen, 112.

[16] Allen 113.

[17] A. T. Robertson, Studies in the Epistle of James (Nashville, Tennessee; Broadman Publishing, 1959) 71.

[18] Buttrick, 34.

[19] Clinton Arnold, Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary, Volume 4 (Grand Rapids, Michigan; Zondervan Publishing, 2002) 97.

[20] Allen, 113.

[21] Peter H. Davids, New International Biblical Commentary, James (Peabody, Massachusetts; Hendrickson Publishing, 1989) 43.

Seeking Wisdom in Difficult Days A Study of James The Origin of Temptation James 1:13-18

Seeking Wisdom in Difficult Days

A Study of James

The Origin of Temptation

James 1:13-18

Introduction

Fishing flies are bait designed to imitate insects, invertebrates, baitfish, crustaceans, small animals, and other fish fodder.

Traditionally, flies were “tied” with natural materials like feathers, thread, and animal fur or hair. Now, a range of synthetic and natural materials are used, sometimes on the same fly. Flies fall into roughly five categories: dry flies, wet flies, streamers, poppers, and saltwater flies.

A good lure is designed to catch a particular type of fish and what that fish likes. Sin can mask itself, and the lure may appear harmless but once its’ hook is set it can cost you your life. It will appear to be something that you would enjoy. Lures are not effective if they appear obvious. If you see the hook behind the feather, you will never bite.

Prayer

Where Does Evil Come From? (vv. 13-15)

Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. 14 But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. 15 Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.

Temptation is the word that we saw in verse 2, “trials” – but here it means an enticement to commit an evil act. James is saying that the desire to commit a sin comes from within our own hearts, it is not sent from God.

The words “lured” and “enticed” are angler and hunting terms where fish are tempted to come out of their safe hiding place, or birds are suddenly caught in a net.[1] Our desires are morally neutral, what makes it evil or good is the context (how we choose to act on those desires).

The desires that we have, were created within us, but are corrupted by our sin nature. For example, a man may desire his wife, this is a desire God made win us to keep a couple close. The corruption of that desire is where the man looks to other women to satisfy the same desire, then it becomes a sin.

But the real question is, “if God made me this way, with my desires, how can He then hold me responsible when I act on those desires?” There are some conditions of life that are beyond our control – You didn’t choose who your parents would be, we can’t choose gender or skin color, the country with whatever freedoms it may or may not have – you didn’t choose your socio-economic level that you were born into.

So are one’s desires the same? I was born with this desire, so why is it wrong if I act on that desire? James is being very clear here to believers in Christ, not to use excuses for bad behavior. Don’t blame God for your wicked behavior. It goes against God’s character to want for you to have anything to do with sin, so He will not lure you to sin. God is righteous, therefore He leads only in paths of righteousness (Psalm 23:3).[2]

We have a set of desires that are normal for all human beings (intimacy, love, belonging, fulfillment, etc); but these desires become corrupted by sin. So, if our desired behavior goes against God’s Word, then you know that your desire is corrupted by sin.

We have a tendency to want to blame someone for our own sinful behavior. We want to blame God, Satan, other people – but the lure discussed by James is our own sinful desire. Adam and Eve do this the Garden of Eden after God comes to them in Genesis 3. The man blames God for giving him the woman, the woman blames the serpent (Genesis 3:12-13).[3]

Immediately after the fall, mankind has to learn how to deal with this sin nature, and how it can control us. Genesis 4:3-7 “In the course of time Cain brought to the LORD an offering of the fruit of the ground, 4 and Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat portions. And the LORD had regard for Abel and his offering, 5 but for Cain and his offering he had no regard. So Cain was very angry, and his face fell. 6 The LORD said to Cain, “Why are you angry, and why has your face fallen? 7 If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is contrary to you, but you must rule over it.”

Cain is an example of the person who wants God to accept him, regardless of his sinful behavior. God was clear on the offerings of what He would accept or not accept – Cain was demanding that God accept his way of doing things, and God says, “no.”

A person may say, I did not choose to be born this way. It may be true that a person does not choose to have a sinful slant in a certain direction, but it is the person’s choice to rule over it or not. If the sin in your life is described as a wolf, you choose to feed the wolf or to let it starve. If it is crouching at the door ready to devour you, you have the choice to open the door or keep it closed.

Matthew 5:27-30 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ 28 But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29 If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell. 30 And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into hell.” Jesus says to take whatever actions you need to take in order that “The sin that crouches at the door. . .” does not take you to a place you do not wish to go.

When we voluntarily open the door to sin in your lives, “We may wrongly seek to blame others, Satan, or even God, but ultimately we are morally responsible.”[4] You have the ability to make decisions that will get you more in line with God’s standard of behavior, and cross back over the line toward righteous actions.

“This is a call for us to take responsibility for our own lives and to deal with our sinful motives.”[5] When we continue to blame others for our own decisions, we are far less likely to own the sin and make the difficult necessary changes.

“Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death” James uses the image of a baby in the mother’s womb. The child grows and grows until eventually it emerges in birth. When the child is born it causes the death of the mother.

Sin grows and grows until it reaches a point when it has matured and the consequences is death. Believers in Christ can never be separated from God in spiritual death (a losing of salvation), but their sin can result in a physical death.[6] Paul states the same truth like this, “the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23), God told Adam and Eve “when you eat of it you will surely die” (Genesis 2:17).

This is the opposite of James 1:4 “And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” God is working in the life of the believer for their good – patient endurance leads them toward spiritual maturity. When a person gives over to sinful desire, and it grows and grows until eventually it matures in spiritual death.[7]

Spiritual maturity has an ultimate goal, so that the believer “may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing”; Sinful desire also has an ultimate goal, it’s the dark mirror reflection, “sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.” It’s a fixed habit that we cannot escape from even though we know it is destroying us.

Since the Garden of Eden, Satan has tried to convince humanity that God is keeping something from them. Genesis 3:4-5 “But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. 5 For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” Satan tells humanity that they can make their own decisions, and they know what’s right and what’s wrong – they are their own god.

Where Does Good Come From? (vv. 16-18)

16 Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. 17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. 18 Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.

“every perfect gift is from above” For James the best gift that is given to the believer is wisdom, it is mentioned again in 3:15, and this perfect gift comes “from above.” Wisdom helps us deal with temptation. “Therefore . . . , God does not send the test; he gives wisdom that enables us to stand in the test. He gives the antidote, not the poison.”[8]

The earth revolves and so at times it is light (daytime) and as it continues to rotate there is darkness (night). With God he does not change – if it is a sin, there is no changing it to not being a sin – He does not turn. Cain’s frustration and anger came with God’s unwillingness to just accept the offering (or his sin) – God would not change toward the offering.[9]

“Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth” – sin has a birth in a person that leads to their death, it was their will or choice that did this. God’s will is to bring people forth (a rebirth), through the word of truth (the gospel). God spoke and humanity came into existence, and The Word (logos) took on flesh and was born into the world. John 1:14 “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.”

Sin is the means that gives birth to death, and the “word of truth” is the means that brought us forth because God willed it. We choose to follow sin, God chooses to reveal to us the truth through wisdom.

“that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures” – We are like the first of the harvest – the rest of creation will follow us in redemption. The firstfruit of a tree both indicated the quality and was dedicated to the Lord (Duet. 18:4).

Romans 8:18-25 “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. 19 For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. 23 And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. 24 For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we await for it with patience.”

Beyond our salvation through Christ, it is by the study and consuming of God’s Word that we are set free from sin and error. John 8:31-32 “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

Conclusion

Toad baked some cookies. “These cookies smell very good,” said Toad. He ate one. “And they taste even better,” he said. Toad ran to Frog’s house. “Frog, Frog,” cried Toad, “taste these cookies that I have made.”

Frog ate one of the cookies, “These are the best cookies I have ever eaten!” said Frog.

Frog and Toad ate many cookies, one after another. “You know, Toad,” said Frog, with his mouth full, “I think we should stop eating. We will soon be sick.”

“You are right,” said Toad. “Let us eat one last cookie, and then we will stop.” Frog and Toad ate one last cookie. There were many cookies left in the bowl.

“Frog,” said Toad, “let us eat one very last cookie, and then we will stop.” Frog and Toad ate one very last cookie.

“We must stop eating!” cried Toad as he ate another.

“Yes,” said Frog, reaching for a cookie, “we need willpower.”

“What is willpower?” asked Toad.

“Willpower is trying hard not to do something you really want to do,” said Frog.

“You mean like trying hard not to eat all these cookies?” asked Toad.

“Right,” said Frog.

Frog put the cookies in a box. “There,” he said. “Now we will not eat any more cookies.”

“But we can open the box,” said Toad.

“That is true,” said Frog.

Frog tied some string around the box. “There,” he said. “Now we will not eat any more cookies.”

“But we can cut the string and open the box.” said Toad.

“That is true,” said Frog. Frog got a ladder. He put the box up on a high shelf.

“There,” said Frog. “Now we will not eat any more cookies.”

“But we can climb the ladder and take the box down from the shelf and cut the string and open the box,” said Toad.

“That is true,” said Frog.

Frog climbed the ladder and took the box down from the shelf. He cut the string and opened the box. Frog took the box outside. He shouted in a loud voice. “Hey, birds, here are cookies!” Birds came from everywhere. They picked up all the cookies in their beaks and flew away.

“Now we have no more cookies to eat,” said Toad sadly.

“Not even one.”

“Yes,” said Frog, “but we have lots and lots of willpower.”

“You may keep it all, Frog,” said Toad. “I am going home now to bake a cake.”[10]

“To accept Christ is to accept him as Savior from sin, and so to turn from sin and follow him as Lord.”[11] We must take the holiness of God very seriously and continuously turn from sin, realizing its’ dangers. It’s bigger than just not eating one more cookie – we need wisdom to see its’ destructive power and ultimate consequence upon our lives.

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[1] George Arthur Buttrick, Gen. Ed., The Interpreter’s Bible, Vol. 12 (Nashville, Tennessee; Abingdon Press, 1957) 27.

[2] Lehman Strauss, James Your Brother (Neptune, New Jersey; Loizeaux Brothers, 1980) 35.

[3] A.T. Robertson, Studies in the Epistle of James (Nashville, Tennessee; Broadman Press, 1959) 50.

[4] David P. Nystrom, The NIV Application Commentary, James (Grand Rapids, Michigan; Zondervan Publishing, 1997) 73.

[5] George Stulac, The IVP New Testament Commentary Series, James (Downers Grove, Illinois; Intervarsity Press, 1993) 56.

[6] Examples: Nadab and Abihu when they offered strange fire (Lev. 10:1,2), Ananias and Sapphira when they lied (Acts 5:10), Christians partaking of the Lord’s Supper in an inappropriate way (1 Cor. 11:30); Strauss, 41.

[7] Ibid, 74.

[8] Peter H. Davids, New International Biblical Commentary, James (Peabody, Massachusetts; Hendrickson, Publishers, 1983) 37.

[9] Did Galileo Galilei read James 1:16-18? Scriptural evidence that the earth rotates around the sun? The light does not rotate. If God is described as the Father of Lights that doesn’t move or change, then it has to be the earth that moves and turns, otherwise the analogy doesn’t work.

[10] Ray & Anne Ortlund, Renewal, Navpress, 1989, p. 73-74. http://www.sermonillustrations.com/a-z/t/temptation.htm

[11] Stulac, 57.

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