Pure Wisdom (James 3:13-18)
Notes
Transcript
Intro …
13 Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom. 14 But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. 15 This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. 16 For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. 17 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. 18 And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.
The Letter of James B. True Wisdom Brings Peace (3:13–4:3)
For James assesses these people’s claim to wisdom not in theological terms—how much doctrine do they know, how many Greek verbs can they parse—but in practical terms: Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.
Worldly Wisdom vs Godly Wisdom
Bitter Jealousy – Roots of Worldly Wisdom // Meekness- Humility - Root of Godly Wisdom
Selfish Ambition – Root // Pure
Earthly // Peaceable – sow peace reap righteousness
Carnal – Fallen Human Nature // Gentle
Demonic // Open to Reason – submissive, open minded
Disorder // Full of Mercy
Vile Actions // Good Fruits
Boasts – Vile Speech // Impartial – not prejudiced
Attacks and Contradicts Truth (Knowingly) // Sincere – without hypocrisy
Bitterness is the dam that stops the flow of wisdom
I love how James is setting up what Godly wisdom is .... it is first “pure.”
Purity, that is blamelessness, is the highest virtue of a believer
The Letter of James B. True Wisdom Brings Peace (3:13–4:3)
James is clearly trying to say two things here: true wisdom produces good works and true wisdom produces humility.
18 And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.
True wisdom will bring peace
What is true wisdom? Godly wisdom. Worldly wisdom is not true wisdom. It is man-made and it is false
The Letter of James B. True Wisdom Brings Peace (3:13–4:3)
This Christian meekness, or humility, comes from understanding our position as sinful creatures in relationship to the glorious and majestic God