Gospel Light Christian Church Thru-The-Bible Series (29.2)

The General Epistle of James

James Chapter 1:1-15 - Read this Bible passage once through before referring to the notes below.

Salutation

v1   James here introduces himself simply as a servant.  He was the half brother of our Lord and has been described as among the 3 pillars of the Jerusalem Church (Gal 2:9), yet he chose to call himself as a servant.  There is no boasting of his high position in the church, or of his kinship with the Lord.  Hence learn that those that hold high offices in the church are not masters, but servants. 

They are there to minister, not to be ministered to.  How different it is today, when some ministers are held in high esteem within the churches, and their every word is treated as a command. That’s the way cults work everywhere.  The leaders of the cults are treated as the supreme masters, even as gods.  We read of mass suicides by cults in the past.  Why did the members willingly commit suicide?  Because their supreme masters told them, or rather commanded them to do so.

Notice that James calls himself a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ. We cannot serve the Father without serving the Son also. That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him (Jn 5:23).  Yet today we have religious groups, particularly the cults, who claim to worship God the Father, but deny the deity of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

This epistle is written not to a specific church, but to the twelve tribes that are scattered abroad.   These were Jews who were persecuted and forced to disperse to various countries by the tormentors, the Assyrians, the Babylonians, and the non-believing Jews.  God used the dispersion to spread the Gospel message far and wide through the dispersed Jews.  Although dispersed, God promised not to leave them nor forsake them. Therefore say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Although I have cast them far off among the heathen, and although I have scattered them among the countries, yet will I be to them as a little sanctuary in the countries where they shall come (Ezek 11:16). 

To these dispersed Christians, James sends his greeting.  There is nothing like receiving a greeting from fellow believers when you are all alone in a strange place among unbelievers.  Hence learn the importance of the ministry of comforting and encouragement.

Enduring trials and temptations – growing in faith (v2-18)

Patience

v2-4  What is it that makes faith to grow?  Two things are required to accomplish this – trials and the word of God.  First on the subject of trials. What is a trial?  It is falling into divers temptations. Trials test our faith and produce other graces.

James goes on to describe how to take trials. Accept them, he says, as approved of God.  Therefore count it all joy when facing trials, knowing that the trying of your faith worketh patience.  Learn that in trials, we should exercise Christian patience, and not passions. 

Let patience have her perfect work.  Do not do anything to weaken it or to limit it, even if we face a string of trials one after another.  And when we go through trials with patience, our faith will be strengthened, and we will be ready for Christian warfare.  For then our faith will be entire, wanting nothing. 

Godly wisdom

v5-8  If you lack wisdom about your trials, ask God to explain to you what is going on. But you have to ask in faith; you have to expect him to do this. This shows the importance of prayer in times of trials.  Notice that we are not told to pray for the removal of the trials, but rather to have wisdom to deal with the trials. 

To be wise in times of trials is a special gift from God.  Ask God for it, for to those that ask of Him, He giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not. But there is a condition attached.  You have to ask without wavering. There must be no doubting, no unbelief in your asking, that God is able to do that which you ask.  To the wavering man, James says: Let not that man think that he shall receive anything of the Lord. So our duty under trials is not just to exercise patience, but also to have that focus in prayer, and the sincerity in believing that God will answer such prayer.

Proper treatment

v9-11 Those of low degree may rejoice, if they are exalted to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom of God; and the rich may rejoice in humbling providences, as they produce a lowly and humble disposition of mind, which is highly valuable in the sight of God. Notice that those of low degree are also our Christian brother; God does not discriminates because of our wealth.  A rich man’s wealth is like a flower of the grass. Both the flower and the rich man will perish one day.  Therefore he that is rich should rejoice that God has given him humility.

Understanding temptation

v12-15  And if you are poor, do no let that bother you---that is a trial, but it is a trial that can lead to blessing: Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him. Notice that there is a blessing in trials.  Therefore we should approach trials with a right attitude, as things allowed by God to perfect our faith that we may be blessed. 

The crown of life is our eternal reward. This is not to be confused with the gift of life, which is our eternal salvation, which we never lose.  Now where is the source of temptation?  One thing for sure, it is not from God. 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.

The carnal mind is quick to point the finger at God for trials, but James says the source of temptations is none other that our own lust. We should get this straight, that God who cannot be tempted by evil in turn does not tempt anyone. Temptation does not come from God, although he allows it to take place in order to perfect our faith. 

The real tempter is of course none other than Satan. Now notice how sins come about.  First there is a drawing away of a person’s own lust.  Over time, he becomes enticed with that lust. And when that lust is conceived, it brings forth sin, and sin brings death.   Sin starts with a desire of the heart, a cleaving to something worldly.  Then the mind takes over, and it becomes a reality.  The reality, if left unchecked, then becomes a sinful habit, separating us from fellowshipping with our thrice-holy God.