The Book of James: Chapter 1

Background

This letter was written by James, the brother of Jesus and leader of the Jerusalem church. It was probably written about A.D. 40-45 to Jewish Christians living outside Palestine.

Theme

Christians must live out the faith. They should be doers

James should be seen as an example of Jewish wisdom literature.

Practical matters of every day life to live wisely and act with humble integrity

James challenges the believers to seek God’s wisdom to work out these problems.

The Message

“The message of James is that those who have been truly saved through the gospel must manifest that salvation in practical ways in their lives. A transformed life of love for others should be the result of experiencing God’s love.”

Words For Living:

God’s Wisdom

God’s Goodness

God’s Word

God’s Wisdom

James 1:2–4 ESV

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.

The trials signifies affliction, persecution

Because is produces patience, which is described by the philosopher Philo as “the queen of virtues”. This type of patience

Faith is tested not produced

“Count it all joy” - doesn’t mean you’ll feel joyful in the moment

If we approach trials in unbelief and grumbling it leads to bitterness and discouragement.

I have looked back to times of trial with a kind of longing, not to have them return, but to feel the strength of God as I have felt it then, to feel the power of faith, as I have felt it then, to hang upon God’s powerful arm as I hung upon it then, and to see God at work as I saw him then—Charles Spurgeon

God’s Goodness

English Standard Version (Chapter 1)

12 Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.

This sounds like one of Jesus’ beatitude - blessed is the man

When we say no to the gift of temptation there is a promise of blessedness

Amazing Grace (For Times of Trial, April 16)

God in His great love is seeking to develop in us the precious graces of His Spirit. He permits us to encounter obstacles, persecution, and hardships, not as a curse, but as the greatest blessing of our lives. Every temptation resisted, every trial bravely borne, gives us a new experience and advances us in the work of character building. The soul that through divine power resists temptation reveals to the world and to the heavenly universe the efficiency of the grace of Christ

Will the trials and difficulties be worth it? As far as James is concerned YES

God’s Word

English Standard Version (Chapter 1)

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.

In ancient days people who heard the word of a teacher and tried to live up to the teachings of that teacher, they would be called a disciple.

God is not looking for theologians, orators or even those who go to church every Sabbath. He is looking for disciples.

Even Jesus at the end of his sermon on the mount said this:

English Standard Version (Chapter 7)

“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. 26 And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. 27 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.”

I fear we have many such in all congregations; admiring hearers, affectionate hearers, attached hearers, but all the while unblest hearers, because they are not doers of the work—Charles Spurgeon

Fundamentals of Christian Education (Chapter 59—Correct School Discipline)

...When the test and trial comes to every soul, there will be apostasies. Traitors, heady, highminded and self-sufficient men will turn away from the truth, making shipwreck of their faith. Why?—Because they did not dig deep, and make their foundation sure. They were not riveted to the eternal Rock. When the words of the Lord, through His chosen messengers, are brought to them, they murmur and think the way is made too strait. Like those who were thought to be the disciples of Christ, but who were displeased by His words, and walked no more with Him, they will turn away from Christ.

Conclusion

Trust:

In God’s wisdom to lead us good times and bad.

In God’s goodness that when we endure temptation, His reward is sure.

God’s word that as doers of his word we, in the words of Jesus, have built our house on a foundation that is immovable.