James 1:1

Announcements

We have our small group on Wednesday nights after a meal at the church! I’m not entirely sure about other announcements.

Review

What is one way that you knew God was with you this week?

let a few people go.

Introduction

Tonight we’re going to start James

An interesting fact about James is that in the Greek, it is the word Iakobos.

What does that sound like?

Jacob

Yes! Over latin and eventually english translations, the name Iakobos came to be rendered as James in english.

The ancient historian Eusebius reported that James was martyred by anti-Christian Jews in 62 A.D. It is likely written in the mid 40s which means that James may have been written before any other book in the New Testament.

This is a funky book. It’s a letter, but really different than the one’s from Paul. It’s more like little mini-lessons or homilies. For us today, it’s like little blogs. We’re going to treat James like little mini discourses.

If you read this in the greek, there are a lot of words that rhyme together which help show that this book really does fit together.

James is a convicting letter. There are some very practical truths in this book. We should experience conviction of our sin in this book, a desire to repent, and a sense of sufficiency that Jesus has covered all of our sin.

James 1:1 ESV

1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes in the Dispersion: Greetings.

James doesn’t start by saying, “I’m the 1/2 brother of Jesus. You should listen to me.” He begins by calling himself a servant of Jesus. He is submissive to Jesus.

He places the father and Son side-by-side.

This exile/diaspora language is reminscient of the Old Testament. If this letter was written in the 40s, it could be before the Jerusalem Council in Acts 15. This was when we acknowledge that Gentiles are brought in to God’s kingdom just as revealed in Amos 9:11-12

Amos 9:11–12 ESV

11 “In that day I will raise up the booth of David that is fallen and repair its breaches, and raise up its ruins and rebuild it as in the days of old, 12 that they may possess the remnant of Edom and all the nations who are called by my name,” declares the Lord who does this.

James is using metaphorical language to show that the twelve tribes are the true people of God. Those who believe in Christ. In the OT exile, they not only waited for the immediate restoration of Israel, but the restoration of the new creation.

The Divine Purpose in Trials (2-4)

We were made for endurance. The endurance we have is an endurance and steadfastness in God. I was preaching on John 15 this morning. Let’s look at steadfastness there for a moment.

John 15:1–11 ESV

1 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 3 Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. 4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. 5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. 7 If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. 9 As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. 10 If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. 11 These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.

When we encounter various trials, our faith is proved. How we respond, just as Christ proved who he was by laying his life down on the cross when the trial arose, will prove our faith. We lack nothing when we are dependent on God.

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 Wisdom necessary to view trials rightly (5-8)

This seems like a hard shift, but it makes sense. It actually made Martin Luther nuts. He thought James was Haphazard.

James is showing us that we need to pray when we lack wisdom to walk through these trials.

Just like in Mark 9:23, we are called to believe

Mark 9:23 ESV

23 And Jesus said to him, “ ‘If you can’! All things are possible for one who believes.”

Belief can’t exist without faith though. They are the same thing. We need wisdom to draw near to God in our trials.

Hebrews 11:6 ESV

6 And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.

James 1:5–8 ESV

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.

The Trials of Poverty and Wealth (9-11) Rags and Riches

James is reflecting on one of the big trials he was working through. These are commonly experienced trials from people.

He…has a lot to say about the wealthy in this book. For the record, I think that includes you and me. We are one of the wealthiest nations on earth.

James 1:9–11 ESV

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

Application

If you aren’t going through a trial right now, you will be. When you lose your phone, start driving, hurt someone, get hurt by someone, they are all trials. Suffering is a trial. We are called to respond to those trials in faith and love rather than in resignation, despair, anger, vindictiveness, or other varieties of sinful responses.

We can’t do this on our own. This is why we need the Spirit of God within us. We should ask for wisdom to view trials in a way so we can respond to them in enduring faith.

There isn’t a faith-o-meter. We can’t “feel” prayer being answered in an overly specific way. We should approach God trustingly. With belief. Knowing he isa good and powerful God. If we don’t, then we believe that he doesn’t really care, isn’t good, or doesn’t keep his promises in Christ.

Sometimes as Christians we fret about whether we have “enough faith” or not. I don’t believe James is speaking to that person. Rather, he is speaking to the presumptious and independent person who believes that they can turn to God when there’s an emergency, but no other time. That person shouldn’t expect to be comforted by this passage. Our faith is acknowledging that we need God at all times.