The Book of James Author: James, 1/2 brother of Jesus. Gal. 1:19; 2:9; Matt. 13:55-56; I Cor. 15:7.
Date: 49 A.D. (LAB)
Theme: Living faith.I. TESTING OF FAITH (1:1-12)
Immediate audience, "scattered" Jews (1:1)
A. Trying of Faith Produces Patience (1:2-4)
"temptation" means 'testing'.
Satan is known as "the tempter" Matt. 4:3.
God does not tempt people with evil (1:13)
God allows trials for various reasons.
"trial of your faith" I Peter 1:5-7.-- Example of tested faith:
Paul & Silas in prison. Acts 16:23.What is faith? Hebrews 11:1; 11:6.
-- Example of endurance:
Jesus endured the cross. Hebrews 12:2-3."perfect" (1:4) = complete, mature; not flawless or sinless when refering to man.
"entire" (1:4) = well- rounded, complete, fully developed, whole in every part.B. Wisdom by Faith (1:5-8)
-- Source of wisdom is the Lord. Proverbs 2:2-6.
We need to ask God for wisdom (1:5)
"wisdom" is the proper use of facts.
Ask, seek, knock. Matt. 7:7.
Ask in faith (1:7)
Ask according to God's will. John 5:14-15.-- Example of wavering: Peter walking on water. Matt. 14:28. "little faith" & "doubt" Matt. 14:31. -- Example of confidence in God: The patience of Job. Job 13:15; 23:10. -- "double minded man" is never sure of anything (1:8) TWO opinions. I Kings 18:21. TWO masters. Matt. 6:24.C. "the brother of low degree" & "the rich" (1:9-11)
Christ humbled himself & served. Php. 2:5-11.
Trust should be in God not in uncertain riches. I Tim. 6:17.D. Endurance of Temptation (1:12)
Those persecuted & reviled. Matt. 5:10-12.
-- "the crown of life" (1:12) "a crown of life" Rev. 2:10. Spiritual rewards are based on faithfulness. The nobleman & his servants. Luke 19:13.II. SOLICITATION TO EVIL (1:1-12)
A. Not of God (1:13)
Evil is entirely foreign to the nature of God. It is inconsistent with His nature to tempt anyone to do evil. God leads us only in the paths of righteousness. Psa. 23:3.B. Our Own Lust (1:14-15)
Every mere man has a corrupt nature that will respond to a temptation to evil unless it is checked immediately. Matt. 26:41. "lust" comes from the enemy within (1:14) "entice[ment]" comes from the enemy without--the Devil (1:14) The indwelling Christ in the believer is greater than the Devil. I John 4:4.C. Process of Sin (1:15)
'Lust is the bud, sin is the blossom, & death is the fruit.' We need to nip temptation in the 'bud' stage. One must submit to God & resist the Devil before he can expect the Devil to flee from him (4:7) "the wages of sin is death" Rom. 6:23. "the soul that sinneth, it shall die" Eze. 18:4.-- Eve: She saw that the fruit was pleasant. She desired, she took, she ate. Gen. 2:16-17.
-- Achan: He saw, coveted, took & hid. Joshua 7:21.
D. God, the Giver of All Good (1:16-17)
-- Gifts of God's Grace.
God gave His Son. John 3:16. Salvation is a gift. Rom. 6:23; Eph. 2:8-9. A person who is the recipient of the gift has nothing to boast about because he did not earn it. I Cor. 4:7. God never changes (1:17) 'Jesus Christ is the same' Hebrews 13:8.E. Begotten by the Word (1:18)
A person cannot be saved apart from the Word of God. I Pet. 1:23. One must hear the Word of God. Rom. 10:17. God wills to save people. II Pet. 3:9; I Tim. 2:3-4. The Word of God is quick & powerful. Heb. 4:12.F. How to Apply the Life Received (1:19)
1. "swift to hear"; I Thess. 2:13.
2. "slow to speak"; Pro. 29:20.
3. "slow to wrath"; Pro. 14:29; 16:23.
-- "lay apart all filthiness" (1:21) "put off" the things concerning the old life. Eph. 4:22.III. TESTS OF OBEDIENCE & TRUE RELIGION (1:22-27)
Faith in the Word calls for fulfillment of the Word (1:22-25)
A. "doers of the word" (1:22)
One who hears the Word but does not put it to practice has deceived himself (1:22)
Be not deceived. Gal. 6:7-8.
Obedience results from the faith. John 2:3- 6.-- The spiritual mirror reflects the real you (1:23-24)
We have a "deceitful" & "desperately wicked" heart. Jer. 17:9.
Our supposed "righteousnesses are as filthy rags" Isa. 64:6.
Rom. 3:10-19,23; 6:23.-- Responding to the Word.
We must exercise faith in the Written Word. Heb. 11:6. To look into the mirror of God's Word involves an obligation to do something about what one sees.-- The Obedient Christian (1:25)
David wanted God to search his heart. Psa. 139:23-24; 26:2. "Examine yourselves" II Cor. 13:5.-- "the perfect law of liberty" (1:25)
When we get saved God changes our 'wanter'. Don't use your liberty for ... a cloke of maliciousness I Pet. 2:16 an occasion of the flesh Gal. 5:13.-- The Power of the Gospel.
Rom. 1:16.
B. "Pure religion" (1:26-27)
"religion" = an outward expression of that which is inward.
-- Biblical love (1:27) I John 4:7-12. If one is really a doer of the Word, he will show his concern for others. Christ's constraining love. II Cor. 5:14. -- Controlling the tongue. The tongue is somewhat an index of the heart. -- Living a separated life. We need to keep ourselves "unspotted from the world" (1:27) Psa. 1:1. Walk as children of light. Eph. 5:8. II Cor. 6:17. "be not conformed to this world" Rom. 12:2.IV. THE FAITH THAT IS EXPRESSED (2:1-26)
A. The Christian's Relationship to Other Believers (2:1-13)
There should be no place of prejudice or partiality.
Faithful stewards. I Cor. 4:2.B. Judgment of Man and God (2:2-3)
Partiality to the rich reveals a lack of faith in Christ. Php. 4:19. II Cor. 8:9. not many wise men after the flesh not many mighty not many noble. I Cor. 1:26-29.Rich young ruler. Luke 18:18-25.
C. The Royal Law of True Judgment (2:8)
"Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself" Matt. 22:37-39. Judgment Seat of Christ. Rom. 14:10; II Cor. 5:10.D. The Relationship of Works & Faith (2:14-26)
True Christianity is a faith which is manifested by works.
-- Dead faith & Saving Faith.
1. Faith.
'Can the KIND of faith that is ONLY WORDS with NO ACTION save him?' Mental assent to the existence of a historical Jesus does not save. (2:19); Matt. 8:29. Saving faith requires belief in your heart. Rom. 10:9-10. Men cannot really see faith except as manifested thru works. 2. Works. Paul wrote of the MEANS of salvation. Eph 2:8-9,10. James wrote of the RESULTS of salvation. 3. Justify. Paul wrote of being justified before GOD. Rom. 3:24-26; 5:1; 8:33. James wrote of being justified before MEN.E. Only Demonstrated Faith is Genuine (2:14)
Suppose I have faith . . . How can I prove it to you? -- Salvation. 'By their fruits ye shall know them' Matt. 7:16-20. Born again people are BOTHERED by their sin. They DESIRE not to sin.F. 2 Illustrations (2:21-26)
1. Abraham (2:21-24) Gen. 15:6; Rom. 4:2-3,22; Gal. 3:6; Heb. 11:17. Phil. 2:12-13. 2. Rahab (2:25-26) Heb. 11:31; Joshua 6. Eph. 2:8-10.V. A FAITH THAT CONTROLS & ENERGIZES (3:1-18)
A. Evidence of Faith--A Controlled Tongue.
-- Judgment of Teachers (3:1) Teachers are to be judged by a higher standard & w/ greater severity than others. Great influence = Great accountability. All must study God's Word diligently. Acts 17:11.B. Bridling the Tongue (3:2)
Peter had problems with his tongue.
C. Significance of the Tongue (3:3-4)
1. The bit--controls an entire horse. Psa. 32:8-9. 2. The rudder--determines the direction of a ship. Let God be your 'tug boat'.D. 4 Characteristics of the Tongue (3:5-9)
1. Destructive (3:5-6); Prov. 18:21; 16:27-28. A fire hurts, spreads, consumes but it also can be used for good purposes. 2. Deceptive (3:7-8); Rom. 3:13. 3. Dangerous (3:8) 4. Hypocritical (3:9-10) The Pharisees. Matt. 12:34.E. A Tongue That Lacks Control (3:7-8)
Yield your tongue to God. Rom. 6:11-13.
F. Energy to Control the Tongue.
God can tame the tongue. Heb. 13:20-21; II Cor. 10:4-5.G. 2 Types of Wisdom (3:13-18)
1. Earthly Wisdom from Below (3:14-16) earthly, sensual & devilish. 2. Godly Wisdom from Above (3:17-18)H. 7 Characteristics of Godly Wisdom (3:17)
1. "pure"--no uncleaness. Psa. 19:8; 119:9-11.
2. "peaceable"
3. "gentle" II Tim. 2:24; Tit. 3:2.
4. "easy to be intreated"
5. "full of mercy and good fruits" Gal. 5:22-23; Phil. 1:11.
6. "without partiality"
7. "without hypocrisy"VI. FAITH PRODUCES SUBMISSION (4:1-17)
A. The Believer's Conflicts (4:1)
Warring -- Rom. 7:15-20,23-24.
Eph. 4:22-24.
War -- I Peter 2:11.B. Worldliness (4:4)
Amos 3:3.C. The Old Nature vs. the New Nature (4:5)
Gal. 5:16-17.D. The Cure for Worldliness (4:6-10)
-- Humility. Psa. 103:13-14.
E. Submission to God (4:7)
I Pet. 5:6.F. 'resist the devil' (4:7)
G. 'draw nigh to God' (4:8)
-- Prayer. Heb. 10:19-22.
H. Sorrow for Sin (4:9)
I. 'humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord' (4:10)
J. 'speak not evil' (4:11)
K. Lack of Faith in Self-Planning (4:13-15)
-- Wise planning w/ your total dependence on God.
L. The Sin of Self-Sufficiency (4:16)
II Cor. 3:5.VII. EXPECTANT FAITH PRODUCES PATIENCE (5:1-13)
A. The Peril of Unsanctified Riches.
I Tim. 6:9-10; Pro. 11:28; Matt. 6:19-21.B. Faith in the Soon Return of the Lord (5:7)
I John 3:2-3; I Pet. 1:6-7.C. Warning Against Complaining (5:9)
Php. 4:11-13.D. Faith Excludes Oaths (5:12)
Matt. 5:34-37.E. Prayer & Singing (5:13)
Eph. 5:19-20.VIII. HEALING & THE PRAYER OF FAITH (5:14-20)
A. The Elders & the Sick (5:14)
-- Anoint w/ oil. Mark 6:13; Luke 7:46.
B. The Prayer of Faith & Sin (5:15)
C. Confession, Prayer & Healing (5:16)
I John 1:9.D. 'the effectual fervent prayer' (5:16)
E. 'a righteous man' (5:16)
Psa. 66:18; John 9:21.F. 'availeth much'
-- Elijah prayed earnestly (5:17-18); I Kings 17-18.
G. Erring From The Truth (5:19-20)
'convert' = 'to turn about' or 'to turn round'.
H. Converting Sinners (5:20)
Gal. 6:1.