Living Worthy of the Gospel

James 3:13–4:8 ESV

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. 1 What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? 2 You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. 3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. 4 You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. 5 Or do you suppose it is to no purpose that the Scripture says, “He yearns jealously over the spirit that he has made to dwell in us”? 6 But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” 7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

In Philippians 1:27, Paul urges the believers to conduct themselves in a manner worthy of the gospel. This call was pertinent in a divided and morally decaying society. Just as ancient Roman citizens were proud to represent their city in their dress and demeanor, so believers today must reflect the core values of Christ through love, integrity, and service. It’s a serious reminder that our lives are a testament to the gospel we claim to believe.

At the beginning of his epistle, James writes, “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.” This directive emphasizes our need for divine wisdom in our daily choices. Solomon’s wisdom, which was renowned throughout the ancient world, teaches us the importance of understanding and applying God’s truths in all circumstances.

1. A gospel-centered life seeks heavenly wisdom. (3:13-18)

James outlines two different kinds of wisdom—from above and from below. The difference is the fruits they produce. Heavenly wisdom produces meekness, peace, gentleness, mercy, impartiality, and sincerity. It only comes from God and is produced because of obedience. When one has heavenly wisdom, one has heavenly application through Godly understanding.

‌Return to James 1:21: “Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.” When the scriptures are implanted in our hearts, they become the source of wisdom. By walking in obedience to Christ, we gain wisdom contrary to the world, displayed by the fruit we produce. Out of the implantation of God’s word grows the wisdom of God. This wisdom has application in understanding. It is then demonstrated as we live gospel-centered lives. This will produce a harvest of righteousness.

‌Too many in the church display earthly wisdom that does not seek truth but is rooted in jealousy and selfish ambition. This is demonic. The reliance on philosophical or rational approaches that do not consider God's revealed will is contrary to God’s intended purpose for humanity. Not rooting all wisdom in scripture produces earthly wisdom that comes from the human heart rather than God. This wisdom produces jealousy, bitterness, selfish ambition, and envy. We can see the product of such earthly wisdom. It is a self-absorbed understanding of the gospel that is not life-giving. It is life-taking. It relies on personal experience to the detriment of God’s revealed wisdom in scripture. It is neglecting to walk in obedience because we know better than God. Our wisdom and understanding are better now because we live in the 21st century. We have science and technology that tell us that the wisdom found in scripture is old and past. James says this kind of wisdom produces “disorder and every vile practice.” We see this in those churches that have rejected God’s word to gain the world's approval. This approach is demonic and contrary to God’s way for our lives.

‌Paul says in 1 Corinthians 2:6, “Yet among the mature, we do impart wisdom, although it is not a wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are doomed to pass away.” A gospel-centered life seeks heavenly wisdom and rejects the wisdom of this age because it is doomed and will pass away.

2. A gospel-centered life refrains from worldliness. (4:1-6)

James calls out the churches he is writing to by telling them that they are divided because of their reliance on earthly wisdom. The fruit produced by the congregation is not the example the church should display. A gospel-centered life refrains from worldliness. It begins with each of us personally dedicating ourselves to submitting to Christ. As we come together as a body, our personal submission becomes a corporate submission. To be countercultural, we must be different from the world. Our actions toward one another must be rooted in heavenly wisdom, understanding, and demonstration.

‌Conflicts arise within the congregation when we are seeking personal desires. This is how the world operates. We want our way of doing things in the church. It is about control. Often, those who want the most control in the church do not have control over other parts of their lives. They are seeking personal desire over the will of God. Earthly wisdom produces this kind of heart. Seeking earthly passions shows this kind of fruit. But this is not how the gospel-centered life is to be. If we are to live a life worthy of the gospel, it must be a life of submission to God’s word. The selfish ambition that begins in our hearts can be unleashed with dire consequences on the body of Christ. Conflict within the body starts from within us. Hearts not fully submitted to Christ will bring internal conflict into the open. Paul writes in Titus 3:3, “For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another.” In other words, once we are Christ's followers, this malice is left behind.

‌But James helps us by saying we do not have to remain in that place. If we are not centered on the gospel, God’s grace is sufficient for us. We can turn to him in repentance and find solace in our hearts. We do not have to remain how we are. Even when we stumble (which we all do), God gives us a way to be changed and transformed so that we can be more like Christ, where we refrain from worldliness and are open to his bountiful grace. I want to remind you that the work of grace in the life of the Christian is not just about being forgiven of sin. It is about living in the power that grace provides for us. The Collect of Grace in the Book of Common Prayer was Wesley’s foundational understanding of grace:

‌O Lord, our heavenly Father, almighty and everlasting God, you have brought us safely to the beginning of this day: Defend us by your mighty power, that we may not fall into sin nor run into any danger; and that guided by your Spirit, we may do what is righteous in your sight; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

‌Only by God’s justifying and sanctifying grace can we live a gospel-centered life that is free from worldliness.

3. A gospel-centered life submits to God. (4:7-8)

Romans 8:6–7 ESV

6 For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. 7 For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot.

You could conclude by urging the congregation to submit to God, resist the devil, and draw near to God as practical steps towards embodying the wisdom and humility from above. Emphasize how this submission and nearness to God are central to living a life that reflects Christ's humility and wisdom.