Live What You Believe
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Live What You Believe
Live What You Believe
Today we will be doing a simple introduction to the book of James. I want to touch on a couple key themes before we get started so that we can all be on the same page.
James was written, most likely, by James the brother of Jesus. Or James the Just because of his devotion to righteousness, he was martyred ca. AD 62, according to the first-century Jewish historian Josephus.
MacArthur, John F.. James (MacArthur Bible Studies) (p. 1). HarperChristian Resources. Kindle Edition.
A comparison of James’s vocabulary in his letter recorded in Acts 15 with that in the epistle of James further corroborates his authorship.
MacArthur, John F.. James (MacArthur Bible Studies) (p. 1). HarperChristian Resources. Kindle Edition.
James was written in or around AD 45
This date is arrived at mainly because the Jerusalem council, which happened in AD 49ish, is not mentioned.
James contains more than forty allusions to the Old Testament (and more than twenty to the Sermon on the Mount, Matt. 5–7).
MacArthur, John F.. James (MacArthur Bible Studies) (p. 2). HarperChristian Resources. Kindle Edition.
Many feel that the letter is written as almost a direct address of much of the sermon on the mount.
James was the leader of the church in Jerusalem.
James is sometimes referred to as the Proverbs of the New testament
James, with its devotion to direct, pungent statements on wise living, is reminiscent of the book of Proverbs. It has a practical emphasis, stressing not theoretical knowledge but godly behavior.
MacArthur, John F.. James (MacArthur Bible Studies) (p. 2). HarperChristian Resources. Kindle Edition.
He seems to be more preacher than anything else. He addresses his readers like I would address any of you. He writes in a way that conveys his heart for the hearer. Over and over again he uses words that convey the warmth of relationship between preacher and congregation with the words ‘My brothers and sisters’, ‘my beloved’ and ‘my beloved brothers and sisters’ “bretheren”
illustrations abound – horses, rudders, fires (3:3–6), springs of water, gardening (3:11–12) and farming (5:7) – and startling statements jolt the congregation awake: ‘whenever you face trials of any kind, consider it nothing but joy’ (1:2); ‘you do well. Even the demons believe’ (2:19).
Motyer, J. Alec. The Message of James (The Bible Speaks Today Series) (p. 1). InterVarsity Press. Kindle Edition.
Wisdom is associated with its teaching. Also though, we see an authority that is not often given to the proverbs.
Proverbs are probabilities
Proverbs are probabilities
Meaning - if this, than most likely this.
Meaning - if this, than most likely this.
6 Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.
If you raise your child the right way, he or she will most likely either stay with it or return to it. However, this is not a guarantee.
James has some passages that are much like this but He also writes things that are guarantees.
Proverbs gives us wisdom to live by, James gives us guidance for living out the faith we state we have.
Proverbs has wisdom which which will produce right living as its hopeful outcome.
Proverbs has wisdom which which will produce right living as its hopeful outcome.
James has faith which will produce right living as its hopeful outcome.
James has faith which will produce right living as its hopeful outcome.
James wrote with an unapologetic passion for believers to live lives obedient to the Word of God.
Many have written and spoke of the contradictions between Paul and James.
I disagree
He complements Paul’s emphasis on justification by faith with his own emphasis on spiritual fruitfulness demonstrating true faith.
MacArthur, John F.. James (MacArthur Bible Studies) (p. 2). HarperChristian Resources. Kindle Edition.
Both are concerned with genuine faith and it product. For example
20 I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
9 What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.
8 for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light
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.
5 Bondservants, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling, with a sincere heart, as you would Christ,
Both want us to
Live What You Believe
Live What You Believe
Let’s talk about three ways this phrase applies to us as we begin this journey into the book of James.
First, I believe it is as a Question
Live What You Believe?
Live What You Believe?
Do you do what you say you believe?
He starts right off speaking of trials and trouble.
He is acknowledging the difficulties we face.
James’s major emphasis in this section of his epistle is this: If a person’s faith is genuine, it will prove itself during times of trouble, whatever the nature or source of the trouble may be.
MacArthur, John F.. James (MacArthur Bible Studies) (p. 3). HarperChristian Resources. Kindle Edition.
Two funerals
Cancer treatment
Live What You Believe!
Live What You Believe!
A command
Do what the Word says!
22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.
LIVE WHAT YOU BELIVE
LIVE WHAT YOU BELIVE
An Exhortation
You can do this!
You can do this!
You have the Spirit of God in you. You have the Word of God in your hands. You have the people of God around you!
You have the Spirit of God in you. You have the Word of God in your hands. You have the people of God around you!
You have everything you need. If you are a genuine believer, there is no reason you cannot live what you believe.
Work won’t be the reason.
Worry won’t be the reason.
Weakness won’t be the reason.
4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
not a reference to sinless perfection (see 3:2), but rather to spiritual maturity; the testing of faith drives believers to deeper communion and greater trust in Christ—qualities that in turn produce a stable, godly, and righteous character
MacArthur, John F.. James (MacArthur Bible Studies) (p. 5). HarperChristian Resources. Kindle Edition.
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.
If we will learn from this book, and any book, we will need the way this one opens and closes
We will need Patience (1:2-4, 5:7-12)
We will need Patience (1:2-4, 5:7-12)
2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds,
3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.
4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
7 Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains.
8 You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.
9 Do not grumble against one another, brothers, so that you may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing at the door.
10 As an example of suffering and patience, brothers, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.
11 Behold, we consider those blessed who remained steadfast. You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful.
12 But above all, my brothers, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or by any other oath, but let your “yes” be yes and your “no” be no, so that you may not fall under condemnation.
We will need Prayer (1:5-8, 5:13-18)
We will need Prayer (1:5-8, 5:13-18)
5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.
6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind.
7 For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord;
8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.
13 Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise.
14 Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord.
15 And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.
16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.
17 Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth.
18 Then he prayed again, and heaven gave rain, and the earth bore its fruit.
Let us commit to learn from this book how to
Live What You Believe
Live What You Believe
Patience and Prayer
Patience and Prayer