James: A Guide to Freedom

James Background

James 1:1 “1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes scattered among the nations: Greetings.”

Who were these tribes? It could be people who fled Israel over the last 600 years (since the Babylonian captivity) More likely it’s Christians from Jerusalem who were scattered during Herod’s persecution.

Who is James? James is the oldest brother of Christ. James had first rejected Jesus as messiah but later believed and became a key leader in the Jerusalem church. He was martyred AD 62.

At the point of him writing James had probably been an elder of the Jerusalem church for 15 years.

Why is that important? Because it’s unique compared to all the writing we have from Paul.

This is an elder who’s been shepherding these people for over a decade. They are driven away by persecution and he writes a letter to them ALL.

The verse I had backwards

Martin Luther, the man who we credit with bringing the church back to the bible, had doubts about the inclusion of the Book of James in the Bible. Luther referred to James as an "epistle of straw". Eventually he gave up on this point, but not without reservation. Why? I think it’s because he had this backwards as well.

James 1:19–27 (NIV)

19 My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, 20 because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. 21 Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you. 22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 23 Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror 24 and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25 But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.

“deceiver yourselves” - if you hear the word of God and don’t do it don’t think that you are a real christian. Don’t think that the word has been “planted in you”. v23 “looks at himself” and sees what? The filthy way they are living their life. The way they fall short. “A big ugly booger hanging out of their nose and unkempt hair”

Then instead of doing something about it they go away looking the same as they started.

But is that what it really says?

Imagine the person he’s talking to. Someone who has a tendency to become angry. He says don’t do that. You have the word inside of you and it can save you from that.

v23 “looks at himself” what does he see? A man redeemed by Christ implanted with the word, not some monster. v24 then he “forgets” forgets what? That he’s full of the word. v25 “the perfect law (guide) that gives freedom” The problem isn’t that this person saw a horrible monster in the mirror and did nothing about it, the problem is that a free man looked in a mirror saw a redeemed, beloved, child of God full of freedom and went out and acted like a slave!

Your free, but your acting like a slave. That doesn’t make any sense. It’s not that you are NOT free, it’s that you’ve FORGOTTEN that you are.

I’m a slave, 5 ways

I’m a slave to the suffering in my life - no you are not. Rejoice in suffering James 1:3–4 “3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”

I’’m a slave to my economic stature - no you are not. James 1:9–11 “9 Believers in humble circumstances ought to take pride in their high position. 10 But the rich should take pride in their humiliation—since they will pass away like a wild flower. 11 For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed. In the same way, the rich will fade away even while they go about their business.” James 2:5 “5 Listen, my dear brothers and sisters: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him?”

I’m a slave to my outbursts, sarcasm, and harshness - no you are not. James 3:9–12 “9 With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. 10 Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. 11 Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? 12 My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.”

I’m a slave to this addiction/ I’m a slave to this illness - not your are not. James 5:13–16 “13 Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise. 14 Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. 16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.”

The End

How does James end his letter to thousands of Christians all over the world?

James 5:17–20 “17 Elijah was a human being, even as we are. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. 18 Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops. 19 My brothers and sisters, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring that person back, 20 remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of their way will save them from death and cover over a multitude of sins.”

Application

If you are in Christ and you think that you can’t do something, something good for you and glorifying to God, you are wrong you’ve just forgotten that you can.

In Christ we are free. Period. Look in this book and tell me what holds down the man/woman who has been bought with the blood of Christ and in whom the Word of God has been planted.

Nothing formed against me shall stand, He holds the world in His hands, I’m holding on to His promises because HE IS FAITHFUL.

James is a guide to living out the freedom that already lives inside of you