SSL 9 - James 1:19-27; 6:1-4
LAST WEEK: In James 1:2-15, James not only talked about trials but explained God's purpose in allowing them (for our own good), and said that we should "count it all joy" when we go through them. His major points of application were: 1. Trials are the rule rather than the exception. And they will most likely occur when we don't expect them. 2. The hardships we endure will test the strength of our faith. When we face trials in a faithful manner, knowing that God has allowed them in our lives as part of His sanctifying process, it builds endurance-real spiritual stamina. 3. Trials are like a stress test, pushing us up and beyond our limits, so that we will understand and realize our dependence on God, and call on Him for help in our times of trouble. Trials are designed to build our endurance, and this endurance, over time, perfects our faith so that we will be complete and lack nothing-that's true spiritual wholeness and maturity. 4. Those who have overcome-by faith-the trials of life will experience real joy. As we grow in the Christian life, we move from innocent, untested faith to the inevitable trials of life in which our faith is tested and found to be true to the extant that we have such confidence in God that we can now laugh with joy at our trials. 5. In the midst of trials, we can be tempted to think or act in a sinful manner. God, who cannot sin and is inherently good, did not create the evil and never tempts anyone with evil. The source of temptation is ourselves; the fault lies in the desires-works of the flesh-and the weakness of our human nature. This is the inner battle in us between the Spirit and the flesh.
THIS WEEK: Throughout this epistle, James wants to show us what true faith looks like-especially how it is outwardly demonstrated in our lives. In today's lesson, 1:19-27:2:1-4, James will talk about his overall theme for the entire letter: practical Christianity is mandated by the Word of God and is characterized by truly "hearing" and purposefully obeying what it says. It's not enough to merely listen to God's Word and deceive ourselves (i.e., I've heard a lot of verses and read some of it, and that should make me right with God). He confronts with the hard questions: (1) What are the characteristics of a person who has real faith? (2) What is the evidence, the fruit?
Read James 1:19-20 - SWIFT TO HEAR, SLOW TO SPEAK, AND SLOW TO ANGER
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.
v. 19: " Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger" - While James alludes to Jewish wisdom in this verse (Prov. 10:19), being "quick to hear and slow to speak" is a great piece of advice. In fact, people hunger for someone to listen to them. The famous TV psychologist, the late Dr. Joyce Brothers, once said, "Listening, not imitation, may be the sincerest form of flattery." If we truly want to influence people, we should carefully listen to them, and when they are finished, ask any questions needed to clarify our understanding. Then you can tell them where you are in agreement with them and where you might not agree. In any case, they will appreciate the fact that you listened to them and believe you want to understand them. Anger is more complicated: James isn't saying that all human anger is sinful, but a lack of self-control that brings a quick-tempered, thoughtless response will result in damage to relationships and hurt to others that usually makes the problem worse. Even if our anger is morally righteous, our speech should still be measured and controlled. The famous humorist, Will Rogers, said, "People who fly into a rage always make a bad landing." Funny but true.
TRUTH 1: If we truly want to influence people-in either their faith or their Christian walk-we should carefully listen to them. So, we should carefully listen to them for starters, and when they are finished, ask any questions needed to clear up our understanding of what they said. Next, we can tell them the areas in which we agree with them, followed by the areas where we might not agree. Whatever your position is, they will still appreciate the fact that you "heard them out" and believe you are genuinely trying to understand them.
v. 20: "for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God" - Even when our anger is directed at some kind of wrongdoing, if we speak angry words that only serve to produce antagonism and resentment, it certainly doesn't reflect the righteousness of god. We aren't God, and human anger expressed to others is a manifestation of the flesh.
TRUTH 2: Even if our anger is morally and biblically righteous, our speech should still be measured and controlled. In our secular human society, we Christians have a lot to be angry about. But even when our anger is directed toward some kind of wrongdoing and we allow ourselves to respond with angry words that just produce more antagonism and resentment, it certainly doesn't reflect the righteousness of god. We need to remember that we aren't God, and our human anger expressed to others is a manifestation of our flesh.
Read James 1:21-22 - BE DOERS OF THE WORD
21 Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. 22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.
v. 21: "Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls" - "Therefore" connects vv. 19-20, making intem-perate speech and anger a form of filthiness and wickedness. The word "put away" (Gk. apotithemi) means to renounce or disown something, a reasoned decision as apposed to a knee-jerk reaction. After that, the next step is to fill the void left by anger by receiving the implanted word with a humble attitude. James main point is that God's Word is not only the agent of our salvation-"save your souls"-but also the instrument of our sanctification, the outward evidence and the spiritual fruit.
v. 22: "But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves" - A familiar and often quoted verse. Merely hearing God's Word is not enough. Even studying and comprehending large parts of the Bible-mere scholarship-is inadequate: it must be applied and practiced just as Jesus taught: "Blessed are those who hear the word of God, and keep it." Luke 11:28. Those who merely hear God's Word but fail to live it are deluding themselves. They imagine they have a solid relation-ship with God but their lifestyle doesn't show it. In the final judgment, they will have failed the test.
TRUTH 3: Merely hearing God's Word is not enough. Even studying and comprehending large parts of the Bible-mere scholarship-is inadequate: it must be applied and practiced just as Jesus taught. Those who merely hear God's Word but fail to live it are fooling themselves. They imagine they have a solid relationship with God but their lifestyle doesn't show it.
Read James 1:23-27 - BLESSINGS FOR DOERS OF THE WORD
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. 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.
vv. 23-24: "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. " - The term "natural face" (Gk. to prosopon tes geneseos autou) literally means his birth face, in this context, his reborn face as a follower of Jesus. This person starts his day looking at his face, depicting his identity as a child of God but then proceeds into the turmoil of daily life, gets caught up in the concerns of the world, and forgets his godly identity. In doing this, he is failing to live according to his new spiritual character-he isn't a doer of the Word because he isn't living it.
v. 25a: "But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres" - This verse shows the other side of the coin: the person who (1) hears the Word, (2) remembers it, and (3) lives it out in his life. Although James wrote this letter to a largely Jewish audience, the "perfect law, the law of liberty," doesn't refer to Mosaic Law-keeping but OT Law as it has been interpreted and fulfilled in Christ. Keeping the Law was an impossible situation, but Christ set us free by subjecting us to the rule of grace rather than the rule of law. "Perseveres" (Gk. parameno) lit. means stays with it. v. 25b: "being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing" - The word for "acts" (Gk. poietes) is the same for "works," and pictures the outward life of a person who acts in obedience to God's Word by performing good works-deeds that benefit others.
TRUTH 4: As doers of the Word, our obedience to God will evidenced by good works. A "doer" of the Word can be defined as: a person who (1) hears the Word, (2) remembers it, and (3) lives it out in his life. Good works may be defined as unselfish deeds that benefit others, and when we do this, we assured of God's blessings.
v. 26: If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person's religion is worthless" - The word for "religious" (Gk. thréskos) also mean devout. A bridle places a bit in a horse's mouth that guides the animal's entire body. So, a person who tries to appear as a devout Christian but can't keep his mouth under control is worthless, a fake. This isn't just the intemperate speech covered in vv. 19-20 but extends to gossip and slander. James doesn't use the word hypocrite, but it comes to mind. A hypocrite is a pretender, a person who appears to be someone other than he or she really is.
TRUTH 5: A person who claims to be a devout Christian but can't keep his mouth under control is a fake. This isn't just the hot-tempered speech discussed in vv. 19-20 but extends to gossip and slander. I like the old saying: If you can't say anything nice, don't say anything. Prov. 20:19 [NIV] says, "A gossip betrays a confidence; so avoid anyone who talks too much."
v. 27a: "Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction" - We Baptists usually avoid the term "religion," which is simply defined as a belief system. James is saying that our devotion and loyalty to God is evidenced by good works for people who are unable to provide for themselves. Widows and orphans are good examples, but many others today are also in need. This is what Christ expects from us-compassion for others.
v. 27b: "and to keep oneself unstained from the world" - The word for "unstained" (Gk. aspilos) means without blemish or spot, which pertains to our moral conduct. Since Christ was without blemish or spot, we are called to walk in His moral footsteps. But at the same time, we live in a world that's opposed to God and often under demonic influences-a world that tempts us to think thoughts and performs acts that threaten to undo us and separate us from God. While God loves this world and sent his Son to save it (Jn. 3:16), the world won't be fully redeemed until Christ comes again. Meanwhile, we need to resist the pull of the world toward those things that would dishonor us and compromise out witness for Jesus Christ.
Read James 2:1-4 - THE SIN OF PARTIALITY
1 My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory. 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?
v. 1: "My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory" - The word for "partiality" (Gk. prosópolémpsia) literally means to show favoritism-preferring one person over another. To paraphrase, James is saying not to show any favoritism-based on anything-when we represent the faith of Christ to others. There is no place for prejudice in the life of faith-remember that we are all equal at the foot of the cross.
vv. 2-3: " 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," - James' outlines a scenario that opens the door for favoritism that could occur in either of two ways: (1) showing favoritism towards a wealthy or powerful person out of admiration or the hope to gaining some personal advantage while, at the same time, the ordinary person is virtually ignored or (2) showing hostility toward a wealthy person out of envy and resent-ment. Truth: From the standpoint of the Christian faith, either of these approaches demonstrate a prejudiced and judgmental attitude that's based on wealth or power rather than the person.
v. 4: "have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?" - The word for "distinctions" (Gk. diakrino) mean making judgments that categorize people according to their social status or class. This goes back to vv. 2-3, above: a person shows favoritism because he covets wealth and power and may even be motivated to seek personal gain from the relationship, or on the flipside, he automatically dislikes this person because of it. When we are tempted to like or dislike certain people based on purely human distinctions, we are projecting our own personal prejudices-evil thoughts-onto Christ Jesus and robbing Him of the glory He deserves. We aren't representing the faith of Jesus but violating the law of love.
TRUTH 6: When we are tempted to like or dislike certain people based on purely human distinctions, we are projecting our own personal prejudices onto Christ Jesus. This can work either of two ways: (1) We favor a person because they are wealthy or occupy a powerful position or (2) we automatically dislike them because they're rich and famous. Either way, we're acting from the flesh. When we act this way, we aren't representing the faith of Jesus but violating the law of love.
