James 1:1 "The Reason For Sharing Our Faith"

We have been bought with a price therefore we serve Him

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

Who was James?

Have you guys ever had a family member or a friend who did not believe something you said that was true?

The brother or half-brother of Jesus

Matthew 13:55 (ESV)

Is not this the carpenter’s son? Is not his mother called Mary? And are not his brothers James and Joseph and Simon and Judas?

Opposed Jesus

Mark 3:20–21 (ESV)

Then he went home, and the crowd gathered again, so that they could not even eat. And when his family heard it, they went out to seize him, for they were saying, “He is out of his mind.”

John 7:1–5 (ESV)

After this Jesus went about in Galilee. He would not go about in Judea, because the Jews were seeking to kill him. Now the Jews’ Feast of Booths was at hand. So his brothers said to him, “Leave here and go to Judea, that your disciples also may see the works you are doing. For no one works in secret if he seeks to be known openly. If you do these things, show yourself to the world.” For not even his brothers believed in him.

Eye witness of Jesus’ resurrection

1 Corinthians 15:7 (ESV)

Then he [the resurrected Jesus] appeared to James, then to all the apostles.

Jesus showed Himself to His brother and saved him

A gospel-infleunce in Jerusalem Acts 15:13-19

Acts 15:13–19 (ESV)

After they finished speaking, James replied, “Brothers, listen to me.

A servant or slave of Christ

James 1:1 (ESV)

James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ,

To the twelve tribes in the Dispersion:

Greetings.

δοῦλος (doulos) = slave or bond servant = a person devoted to another person to the disregard of one’s own interests

That is who we are in Christ. We are His slave.

κύριος (kyrios) = Master or Lord = someone who owns and has authority over a person.

Jesus is our loving, gracious and paitient Master, to whom we bow the knee and reject our own desires to follow His.

Matthew 16:24(ESV)

Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.

He was a martyr

No biblical record of His death but it is believed that he was martyred

James the brother of John was martyred in Acts 12:1-3 but not James the brother of Jesus

James put his faith into action by writing this letter, being a witness for Christ, and dying for the faith

Interpretation

We have been saved from serving ourselves

This is our PRIMARY motivation of obeying Jesus

He has called us to share the same message of the gospel that was given to us

No longer slaves to sin but now slaves of God

John 8:36 (ESV)

So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.

We know people who don’t believe in Jesus

Friends and family

People we don’t still need to hear about Jesus

Application: (Think about these questions)

How does the idea that we are slaves of God shape our understanding of our relationship with Him?

Why is it so important for us to tell others about Jesus?

Is there someone you know personally that doesn’t know Jesus? How can best show them the love of Jesus this week?

Seek opportunities to tell them about Jesus

Tell about Jesus because He has saved you from sin and you know He can do the same for them

What are some way you can show Jesus to people you don’t know?

The people we don’t know need the gospel just as much as we do