Introduction to James

Trent Cornwell

Vision Baptist Church

Book of James • Sermon • Submitted a month ago • Presented a month ago

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Bible Reading Introduction

On Sunny days I can never imagine it raining

When going through difficult times often times we are not considering how we continue to grow as a Christian. We are just focused on surviving. Often times those around us have nothing to say? By inspiration of God. James has something to say.

Faith that works when life doesn't

The letter of James addresses this need, providing a faith that is both practical and relevant.

James is offering clear and practical instructions for navigating life's challenges.

While often loved for its practicality, it is also frequently avoided due to its directness.

James presents a series of truths, one after another, aligning them with the real-life situations of his readers.

As James lines up these he exposes some commonly held myths / or false teachings.

Scripture Reading

James 1:1 “1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting.”

Author: Traditional belief is James is the brother of Jesus.

Certainly named James.

Only two (2) NT people could fulfill this title of James and the half-brother of the Lord Jesus is the more reasonable choice:

James, the son of Zebedee, of the Twelve Apostles--but he is most probably ruled out since he was martyred in AD 44 by Herod, and the epistle seems to have been written after that

There is internal evidence of this. However, I want to show you why we when not spend time on that matter. Look at v.1 Author wants to be identified by this and the truth He teaches is not authenticated by who he is.

Audience: Jewish Christians that were scattered. Possibly around Act 8. Timeline of stoning of Stephen.

a. Reference to meeting in an assembly as common in the synagogue (2:2)

b. The Hebrew title “Lord Sabaoth” ( κυρίου Σαβαὼθ ) is Jewish (5:4)

c. The author identifies his readers as Christians (2:1; 5:7,8)

Read 3 verses to relate to the 3 areas of false teaching we will address. Give you practive flipping pages or page in this book.

Myth #1: Trials are bad. James 1:2–3 “2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; 3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.”

Myth #2: Faith is what I think James 2:17–18 “17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. 18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.”

Myth #3: Religion is a private matter. James 4:11 “11 Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge.”

Sermon Introduction

While in Florida I enjoyed getting to spend sometime with the pastor and his young kids. They liked to have their dad “build a story.” Being 5 and 3 they thought I should join him. They would give some characters and we would make the story. You know as I look out on Sunday morning I know that in many ways that has been the case for you. I thank God for the diverse or as it would say in James “divers” backgrounds that are found among us.

This book will be wonderful for us all. It will help make sure we are on the same page, and that page is found in the Bible. I want to give you an overview of the book today and ask you to not only join me on Sunday mornings but to find time to read the book of James over the next 13 weeks.

Myth: Trials are bad.

James 1:2–3“2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; 3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.”

We have an instinct in us for self-preservation, for survival. We avoid pain and suffering.

We assume if things are not “good” they are “bad.”

In Ecuador the dentist said “do you have any pain” I thought she said “do you want pain.” I responded with “no thank you.”

Trials are a way to maturity

James 1:4 “4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.”

Testing develops a product, doesn't it?

Working out can develop your muscles. None of the men who ran in yesterdays race, ran 10 miles for the first yesterday.

We know from marriage helps us in the sanctification process.

Trials make us more knowingly depend on God.

James 1:5–8 “5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. 6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. 7 For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. 8 A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.”

If all we do, we do in our own strength, how will we ever learn to rely on God?

It's been that way throughout the Bible.

When God is leading the children of Israel out from Egypt, he promises he's going to take them out of Egypt, but what does he do? He leads them right to a sea. Pharaoh's armies are behind them, pursuing them.

Jesus is asking hard things of the disciples and Peter responds. What is our other option? You have the words of life.

Things God is calling you to in your life, putting you in hard situations in which you can't on your own find a way out or find a solution.

Ch. 1:12-18 tells us God often in his love puts us in hard situations in order that we may learn to trust him.

God is not the author of sin, but he is certainly the redeemer of suffering. You trials are not being wasted.

Trials are a part of God’s good purposes

Temptations to evil are not from God. James 1:13 “13 Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:”

Trials strengthen our faith because they cause us to practice putting our trust in God for things that we cannot see.

As we grow and persevere, they prove God’s faithfulness and we have joy.

Our emotional reaction may be negative to them, but sometimes we should ignore those indications that our emotions give us.

Not that our emotions are bad.

Our emotions are kind of like the jet stream for a jet pilot. You know, if it's behind you going in the right direction, it's great..

Transitional Statement: Trials bring us to a place of decesion. Our emotional reaction forces us to answer a question: Do I trust God as I say I do?

Myth: Faith is solely based on what we think.

James 2:17–18“17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. 18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.”

Reality: Faith is what you think and what you do.

Faith, belief, must involve the cognitive /thinking aspect of our lives.

I mean, a rock may sit, a plant may grow, an animal may have instincts, but people, we believe. We think.

Ill; Luke Littlefield jumping off an elevator as a young teen because he said “he is always thinkin”

Much of our faith has to do with thinking thoughts.

Faith, he says in chapter two, is what you think and what you do.

Three types of faith described

Seemingly religious faith / purely intellectual

Religion or faith, which is believed but not lived, is worthless. James 1:26 “26 If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain.”

Unacceptable to God, he says in James 1:27 “27 Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.”

Hearing without doing is also dangerous because it is deceiving ourselves. James 1:22 “22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.”

Faith of demons / intellectual + emotional response

Belief that is one God. In the Apostles Creed and agreed upon by demons. James 2:19 “19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.”

There is an emotonal response. James 2:19 “19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.”

Dynamic (genuine) faith – involves the intellect, emotion and the will to act!

Best seen through stories. Love stories. We are starting a new Sunday Night series called Long Story Short.

Abraham takes is son to the altar demonstrating belief in God’s promise. James 2:21 “21 Was not Abraham our father justified (considered righteous) by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?”

Rahab hides messengers in her home. James 2:25 “25 Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?”

We lost our dog once time. Stephanie kept telling us she saw him. I should have asked if she saw his shadow. Because imaginary animal casts no shadow.

Nor does an imaginary faith.

Genuine faith casts a shadow in our relationships.

James 1:19 “19 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:”

Listen carefully.

Speak thoughtfully.

Respond slowly – especially under pressure.

We will treat others without favoritism. James 2:1 “1 My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons.”

How do you obey a command to love without action? What difference does it make if you've heard it, if you don't do it? James 2:8 “8 If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well:”

Genuine faith casts a shadow in the responses of our heart.

James 1:21 “21 Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.”

Put away all moral impurity.

Take in the implanted Word

Be ‘doers’ in addition to being ‘thinkers.’

Genuine faith casts a shadow in the action of our lives.

James 1:27 “27 Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.”

Caring for the vulnerable

Comforting those in difficulty

Contrasting actions from our culture

Belief is not an empty word.

The word “belief” is often empty. As in “I believe the world is round.”

More than thinking plus emotion it is trusting and acting upon this faith. Being willing to sail around the world. Or Better yet John 3:16 “16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

Belief changes status: He that believes is saved is not longer condemned. 3:17-18

Belief changes affections: They do not love darkness or evil. 3:19-20

Deeds (actions) make manifest (clear) that we are wrought (reborn) of God. John 3:21 “21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.”

Transitonal Statement: So, who is the person according to James who has faith? It's not the person whose faith is unemployed. It's the one who lives out God's Word, saved by the faith that is never alone but always accompanied by visible acts and evidences.

Myth: Religion is often seen only as a private matter.

Reality: “Christianity is a very public matter!”

Overview: (jab, jab, punch)

Ch. 1-2: James warned them that trials are not bad — they’re good. And they are certainly nothing to be avoided.

Ch. 2-3: James instructed them that true faith will always be accompanied by actions. Genuine in Christ shows itself in deeds.

Ch. 5: The challenge they were facing as Christians was how they were treating each other.

It’s popular in some small groups to ask the question, “How are you doing?” That’s a perfectly reasonable question to ask. But the kind of discipleship that God desires doesn’t end with the disciples’ own lives. It extends into how they are living for others. So we should be asking, “How are you doing loving the people God has put in your life?” - Bill Hull

Faith is personal but not private, because both God and his people are involved.

It is certainly personal but that does not equate to private

If it is only public and not personal it is that of a hypocrite.

But it is not private in that you can do whatever you would want.

Any religion which isn't just thoughts and opinions, (23:52) but which includes deeds and actions, can't be completely private.

Story of Tennessee Williams telling why he no longer went to see his psychiatrist. "He was meddling too much in my private life.”

Main issue in the book of James; division.

What is the cause of division? Simple: Selfishness. James 3:14 “14 But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth.”

Selfishness seen in expressions of pride.

Selfishness seen in wrong pursuits of pleasure.

Selfishness seen in our associations with things of this world.

Selfishness seen in the words that they used.

Examples abound.

You see boasting addressed in Ch. 4

Brothers are hurting each other with their words. Ch. 3

You even read they're cursing or slandering each other. 4:1-12

They're grumbling or complaining against each other. 5:9

The poor being oppressed in Ch.5

Strong warning about careless teaching. James 3:1 “1 My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation.” / maybe it was teaching that justified selfishness

Words are more than self expression, they belong to God.

Words demonstrate what we believe and to whom we belong.

It's very interesting how many of the things that James singled out as problems are about words.

God is claiming ownership of every word that any believer today would speak.

Wise speech is from God and it brings about unity. James 3:17 “17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.”

Friendship with the world causes a division between believers.

James 4:4 “4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.”

He doesn't mean they're adulterous people in the sense that they're all out committing adultery.

He means they're adulterous in that they're cheating on God by being influenced so much by the world.

Positively, what does James tell them to do?

Love peace. James 3:17–18 “17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. 18 And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.”

Encourages tender concern for one another.

Praying for sick

Confessing sins

Valuing prayer of the righteous

Bringing back the wrong doer

If we are to live wisely in this world we must submit ourself to God. James 4:7 “7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”

What is your life? Ch4 You are a mist that appears for a little while and vanishes.

Time isn't yours, it's God's.

Even pleasure is God's to give and not yours to take.

First few vs in Ch5 tell us the world and our wealth will pass away.

We show so much of our relationship with God by our relationship with others people.

Our selfishness hurts others.

What does it mean to say we are followers of Christ, who came to give his life for others.

Religions is personal but it is also public and very much about how we live together.

Conclusion

It was well known that Martin Luther did not care for the book of James. “St. James’s epistle is really a right strawy epistle, compared to these others [Romans, Galatians, Ephesians, 1 Peter, and 1 John], for it has nothing of the nature of the gospel about it.” This is one of many things that he got incorrect.

Though the word “Gospel” is not found in this book, the concept and teaching most certainly is.

James 1:18–23 (KJV)

18 Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.

We are born again by the truth of God’s Word.

19 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:

20 For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.

21 Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.

This message is not just any message but it is the Good News of Jesus. Receive it with meekness today!

22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.

The Word we are to live out is not the law, but this message of the the Gospel!

23 For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:

I pray you do not minimize the importance of this book in your life. Trials will be certain. Our faith needs to be lived out. Our life is telling a story to others.. — we need the book of James.

Consider trials joy.

Look out how your life makes your beliefs visible. Especially watch your words. Do not sow diviseness.