The Resurrection and James

The Apostles’ Creed, one of the earliest statements of faith for the Church, clearly declares faith in the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. This absolutely key doctrine (cf. 1 Cor. 15:12–34) is the climax of Christ’s saving work. In fact, Christ is the very bridge between God and men, men having been separated from God because of our sins.

I believe in God, the Father almighty, Creator of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried; he descended into hell; on the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty; from there he will come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting.

Amen.

We can speak of this grand doctrine, this bedrock of our faith that separates Christianity from every other religion in the world in broad theological terms.

However, I want to zoom in on one individual who’s life was completely changed by the resurrection. We having been learning much from this step-brother of Jesus. My hope this morning is to show you how vitally attached the resurrection of Jesus is to the teachings in James’ epistle.

Each point will come after the phrase Because Jesus rose from the dead…and will be completed by each subsequent point.

At the end, I hope to leave you with a point to ponder this week in light of the resurrected Savior.

I. James went from a sinner who opposed God to a slave in His service- 1:1

Like many in the Scriptures and history, the resurrected Lord Jesus completely changed the life of James.

John 7:5 “For not even his brothers believed in him.”

Mark 3:21 “And when his family heard it, they went out to seize him, for they were saying, “He is out of his mind.””

1 Corinthians 15:7 “Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles.”

James life was completely changed.

II. Trials went from just punishments to purifying gifts for believers- 1:2–4

The resurrected Lord is at work in our lives to help us become holy. He uses trials to cultivate that holiness. The resurrected Lord completely changes trials.

For those who do not know the Lord Jesus, trials are more akin to punishments, the unfairness of life, or bad luck. But because Jesus rose from the dead, trials for the believer are transformed.

III. Believers know that foolishness reminds us of God’s gracious listening- 1:5–8

Whereas before we hated God (cf. Rom. 3:9–18), now we love Him because He first loved us. And because He loves us, we realize who undeserving of His mercy and grace we truly are!

“…just as we can hardly fathom the divine ferocity awaiting those out of Christ, it is equally true that we can hardly fathom the divine tenderness already resting now on those in Christ.” Dane Ortlund, 68

Our foolishness reminds us that God graciously listens to us…because Jesus rose from the dead.

IV. Believers know that riches or poverty are temporary but life with God is eternal- 1:9–11

Because Jesus rose from the dead of appraisal of the things of this life are completely changed. We no longer strive with every fiber of our beings simply for material gain. We realize, because Jesus rose from the dead, that the things of this life will pass away. Our relationship to the resurrected Savior will be the only thing that matters for eternity.

V. Believers know rewards will be given for perseverance through God’s grace- 1:12–15

Because Jesus rose from the grave, we no longer are bound by sin. We have been freed from the penalty of sin, are being freed from the power of sin, and will be delivered from the presence. And our gracious God gives us rewards for staying faithful to Him!

VI. Believers know that God the Father only gives good and perfect gifts- 1:16–18

Because Jesus rose from the grave, our statuses with God have changed. We are no longer enemies of God; now we are sons and daughters of the Father. And our Father only gives good and perfect gifts to His children.

VII. Believers are able to kill sin and grow in holiness- 1:19–27

Because Jesus rose from the grave, we are delivered from the power of sin. That is, sin no longer is our task master, forcing us to abide by its will. We are, because Jesus rose from the dead, able to kill sin and grow in holiness, two things impossible for those outside of Christ.

VIII. Believers can be free from partiality- 2:1–13

The resurrected Lord is shows no partiality or favoritism, and because He is the resurrected Lord, we no longer have to be bound by such sinful views of people.

The world is attempting to impose Diversity, Equity, and Inclusivity on people that cannot help by be partial. The resurrected Lord is the only way believers can be freed from this sin.

IX. Believers can demonstrate their faith through Spirit based living- 2:14–26

Because Jesus rose from the dead, the lives of His followers will look different. They will be obedient to Scripture, though certainly not without sin. Their lives are living testaments to the power of the resurrected Lord.

X. Believers can use their tongues to glorify God and build up others- 3:1–12

Where the speech of almost everyone is detrimental in one form or another, the followers of the resurrected Lord speak in such a way that their Creator and Savior is glorified and fellow human beings are built up.

XI. Believers can walk in peaceful wisdom 3:13–18

Because Jesus rose from the dead, believers walk in peaceful wisdom. They are characterized by patience, kindness, and mercy, precisely because they have been shown patience, kindness, and mercy from their resurrected Lord.

XII. Believers can live in peace both with God and men- 4:1–12

The divisions and desires of so many people in human history are a testament to the wicked heart of mankind. They demonstrate, over and over again, the wretchedness of humanity and the dire need for salvation and deliverance.

Because Jesus rose from the dead, believes can live in peace both with God and men. We offend God with our sin and it demands His just and righteous judgment.

We fight with others because they have things we want, their lives are better, or they view things differently than we do. But because Jesus rose from the dead, believers can also live in peace with other people as they stay close to the Lord in humble dependence on Him.

XIII. Believers can trustingly plan for the future- 4:13–17

Believers can trustingly plan for the future because Jesus rose from the dead. They do not plan in vain hope like so many do. They do not put all their stock into the ideals of retirement, nor do they assume they will enjoy great health for their time on earth.

They trustingly plan for the future, for the risen Lord is the guider of their lives. They still plan, but those plans fall under the sovereign reign of the risen Lord.

XIV. Believers can hold a biblical view of wealth- 5:1–6

Because Jesus rose from the dead, what holds the attention of untold numbers of people is treated properly. We use it to build one another up, enjoy the good gifts God has given, but we do not become slaves to wealth.

XV. Believers can be patient in suffering- 5:7–12

Because Jesus rose from the dead, believers can be patient in suffering. There are two reasons for this. First, believers know that they path they are treading has already been walked by the Lord Jesus. He is, after all, a man acquainted with griefs (cf. Isaiah 53:3). And because He has done so, He is able to comfort us (cf. Heb. 2:17).

Second, Jesus did not just suffer, He suffered and He will be glorified (cf. 1 Pet. 1:11). He will return, and through that knowledge of His return believers are able to suffer patiently, the Lord is, after all, “compassionate and merciful.”

XVI. Believers can be forgiven of their sins- 5:13–20

Perhaps the greatest blessing of all that believers enjoy from their resurrected Lord is that their sins can be forgiven. In fact, this is precisely where we started in the beginning of this book.

What a fitting end, then, to consider the privilege of salvation by grace through faith in the risen Lord Jesus.

Romans 10:9–10 “because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.”

You will be justified—declared righteous. All your sins are forgiven and replaced with the perfect righteousness of Jesus Christ.