Simple Gospel

But on the judgment day, fire will reveal what kind of work each builder has done. The fire will show if a person’s work has any value. “Ye know that He is righteous, ye know that everyone that does righteousness is born of Him.”

if you do not know God today, you should be very glad that He did not return yesterday.

description of true godliness.

He is sending these warnings now for those who know about this truth and to get busy and warn those who are unaware that the door of opportunity will soon be closed. Time has been extended for a little while for those men and women who have not yet received the truth. Time is short.

Our position as God’s children doesn’t give us permission to remain immature in the faith. In fact, just the opposite is true. We are often challenged to grow in grace and develop strong spiritual muscles so that we might live for Him.

The point of trials is not to see whether we are guilty or innocent, pass or fail. The point is development and growth.

Dealing with Temptation God wants to give us strength to resist. ;

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. deep connection between daily life and spiritual growth. Specifically, God uses the difficulties and challenges of daily life and work to increase our faith. “

12 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us alsolay aside every weight, and wsin which clings so closely, and xlet us run ywithendurance the race that is zset before us, 2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter ofour faith, awho for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising btheshame, and cis seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

3 dConsider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that youmay not grow weary or efainthearted. 4 In your struggle against sin you have not yetresisted to the point of shedding your blood. 5 And have you forgotten the exhortation thataddresses you as sons?

f“My son, gdo not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord,

nor be weary when reproved by him.

6 For hthe Lord disciplines the one he loves,

and chastises every son whom he receives.”

7 It is for discipline that you have to endure. iGod is treating you as sons. For what son isthere whom his father does not discipline? 8 If you are left without discipline, jin whichall have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. 9 Besides this, wehave had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not muchmore be subject to kthe Father of spirits land live? 10 For they disciplined us for a shorttime as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, mthat we may share hisholiness. 11 nFor the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later ityields othe peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

12 Therefore plift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, 13 and qmakestraight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint rbut rather behealed. 14 sStrive for peace with everyone, and for the tholiness uwithout which no onewill see the Lord. 15 See to it that no one vfails to obtain the grace of God; that no w“root ofbitterness” springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled; 16 that no one isxsexually immoral or unholy like Esau, who sold his birthright for a single meal. 17 For youknow that yafterward, when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for hefound no chance to repent, though he sought it with tears.

A Kingdom That Cannot Be Shaken

18 For you have not come to zwhat may be touched, a blazing fire and darkness andgloom and a tempest 19 and athe sound of a trumpet and a voice whose words bmade thehearers beg that no further messages be spoken to them. 20 For they could not endure theorder that was given, c“If even a beast touches the mountain, it shall be stoned.” 21 Indeed,dso terrifying was the sight that Moses said, “I tremble with fear.” 22 But you have come toeMount Zion and to the city of the living God, fthe heavenly Jerusalem, and toginnumerable angels in festal gathering, 23 and to hthe assembly1 of the firstborn who areienrolled in heaven, and to jGod, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous madeperfect, 24 and to Jesus, kthe mediator of a new covenant, and to lthe sprinkled bloodmthat speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.

25 See that you do not refuse him who is speaking. For nif they did not escape whenthey refused him who warned them on earth, much less will we escape if we reject himwho warns from heaven. 26 At that time ohis voice shook the earth, but now he haspromised, p“Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.” 27 Thisphrase, “Yet once more,” indicates qthe removal of things that are shaken—that is, thingsthat have been made—in order that the things that cannot be shaken may remain.28 Therefore let us be grateful for receiving ra kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thusslet us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, 29 for our tGod is aconsuming fire.

13 Let ubrotherly love continue. 2 vDo not neglect to show hospitality to strangers,for thereby wsome have entertained angels unawares. 3 xRemember those whoare in prison, as though in prison with them, and those who are mistreated, since you alsoare in the body. 4 yLet marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed beundefiled, for God will judge zthe sexually immoral and adulterous. 5 Keep your life afreefrom love of money, and bbe content with what you have, for he has said, c“I will neverleave you nor forsake you.” 6 So we can confidently say,

d“The Lord is my helper;

eI will not fear;

what can man do to me?”

7 Remember fyour leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider theoutcome of their way of life, and gimitate their faith. 8 Jesus Christ is hthe sameyesterday and today and forever. 9 Do not be iled away by diverse and strange teachings,for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, jnot by foods, which have notbenefited those devoted to them. 10 We have an altar kfrom which those who serve thetent1 have no right to eat. 11 For lthe bodies of those animals whose blood is brought intothe holy places by the high priest as a sacrifice for sin are burned moutside the camp. 12 SoJesus also nsuffered ooutside the gate in order to sanctify the people pthrough his ownblood. 13 Therefore let us go to him outside the camp and bear qthe reproach he endured.14 For rhere we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come. 15 sThrough himthen let us continually offer up ta sacrifice of praise to God, that is, uthe fruit of lips thatacknowledge his name. 16 Do not neglect to do good and vto share what you have, for suchwsacrifices are pleasing to God.

17 Obey xyour leaders and submit to them, yfor they are keeping watch over your souls,as those who will have to zgive an account. aLet them do this with joy and not withgroaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.

18 bPray for us, for we are sure that we have a clear conscience, desiring to acthonorably in all things. 19 I urge you the more earnestly to do this in order cthat I may berestored to you the sooner.

Benediction

James 1:22 But be ndoers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23 For ifanyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at hisnatural face in a mirror. 24 For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets whathe was like. deep connection between daily life and spiritual growth. Specifically, God uses the difficulties and challenges of daily life and work to increase our faith. “

20 Now dmay the God of peace ewho brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, fthegreat shepherd of the sheep, by gthe blood of the eternal covenant, 21 hequip you witheverything good that you may do his will, iworking in us2 that which is pleasing in hissight, through Jesus Christ, jto whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.

Final Greetings

22 I appeal to you, brothers,3 bear with my word of exhortation, for kI have written toyou briefly. 23 You should know that lour brother Timothy has been released, with whom Ishall see you if he comes soon. 24 Greet all myour leaders and all the saints. Those whocome from Italy send you greetings. 25 nGrace be with all of you.

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22 But be ndoers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23 For ifanyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at hisnatural face in a mirror. 24 For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets whathe was like. deep connection between daily life and spiritual growth. Specifically, God uses the difficulties and challenges of daily life and work to increase our faith. “

Greeting

1 aJames, a servant1 of God and bof the Lord Jesus Christ,

To cthe twelve tribes in dthe Dispersion:

Greetings.

Testing of Your Faith

2 eCount it all joy, my brothers,2 when you meet trials fof various kinds, 3 for you knowthat gthe testing of your faith hproduces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have itsfull effect, that you may be iperfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

5 jIf any of you lacks wisdom, klet him ask God, lwho gives generously to all withoutreproach, and it will be given him. 6 But mlet him ask in faith, nwith no doubting, for theone who doubts is like oa wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For thatperson must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 phe is a double-minded man, qunstable in all his ways.

9 Let the lowly brother boast in his exaltation, 10 and rthe rich in his humiliation,because slike a flower of the grass3 he will pass away. 11 For the sun rises with itsscorching heat and twithers the grass; its flower falls, and its beauty perishes. So also willthe rich man fade away in the midst of his pursuits.

12 uBlessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the testhe will receive vthe crown of life, wwhich God has promised to those who love him. 13 Letno one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be temptedwith evil, and he himself tempts no one. 14 But each person is tempted when he is luredand enticed by his own desire. 15 Then desire xwhen it has conceived gives birth to sin,and ysin when it is fully grown brings forth death.

16 Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. 17 zEvery good gift and every perfect gift isfrom above, coming down from athe Father of lights, bwith whom there is no variation orshadow due to change.4 18 cOf his own will he dbrought us forth by the word of truth,ethat we should be a kind of ffirstfruits of his creatures.

Hearing and Doing the Word

19 gKnow this, my beloved brothers: let every person hbe quick to hear, islow to speak,jslow to anger; 20 for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.21 Therefore kput away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with lmeeknessthe implanted word, mwhich is able to save your souls.

22 But be ndoers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23 For ifanyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at hisnatural face in a mirror. 24 For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets whathe was like. deep connection between daily life and spiritual growth. Specifically, God uses the difficulties and challenges of daily life and work to increase our faith. “

Testing the metal of our faith, ini the daily.

What kinds of challenges do we face at work that might test our faith in—or faithfulness to—Christ?

This brings us to the second principle of faithful work—working for the benefit of others in need. “Be doers of the word, and not merely hearers who deceive themselves” ().

James is describing any kind of work, from works of kindness, such as giving food to someone who is hungry, to on-the-job work, such as increasing the sustainable yield of rice paddies. His use of the plural shows that he expects Christians’ work to be continual.

works, in the context of James is not at odds with faith.

There can be no “justification by works” because there can be no good works unless there is already faith (trust) in God. James doesn’t mean that faith can exist without works yet be insufficient for salvation. He means that any “faith” that doesn’t lead to works is dead; in other words, it is no faith at all. “

The insight that Christian faith always leads to practical action is in itself a lesson for the workplace.

believers in Jesus should not just hear the word and believe it, but they should also do what it says!

Freed from Sin’s penalty AND freed from sin’s power.

Jesus, Founder and Perfecter of Our Faith

12 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

ABIDE

This word abide means to remain, to dwell somewhere; and here we are told to “abide in him”—our Saviour and Lord.

APPEAR

What soul-comforting truth this is: “when he shall appear.” There is coming a day when Jesus will come again! That is His promise in : “I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.”

The Lord is coming again—Paul wrote to Titus and encouraged him that we can be on the “lookout” for the Lord in , “Looking for that blessed hope and glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ.”

“And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.”

ASHAMED

Whoa, what is this? It is simply that when the Lord comes, we want to be ready for Him. How would a child of God possibly be “ashamed before him at his coming?” A moment or two of personal reflection brings any number of sobering thoughts to mind. What sort of things would bring a sense of “oh no” at the trumpet instead of a sense of “yes!”

I don’t want Jesus to return and find me on a golf course.

“Ye know that He is righteous, ye know that everyone that does righteousness is born of Him.”

if you do not know God today, you should be very glad that He did not return yesterday.

“Abiding in Christ means a constant receiving of His Spirit.” It is described in hebrew and in greek as “constant communion.” It is such a close communion that in our modern day language we would say a 24/7 communion with Jesus.

waiting to see their Lord, the One Who has been their constant companion through all of their stormy trials.

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