I've got this: Presumption or Providence?
Notes
Transcript
4 You adulterous people! Don’t you know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? So whoever wants to be the friend of the world becomes the enemy of God. 5 Or do you think it’s without reason that the Scripture says: The spirit he made to dwell in us envies intensely?
6 But he gives greater grace. Therefore he says:
God resists the proud
but gives grace to the humble.
7 Therefore, submit 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, sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Be miserable and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.
In verse 4 (James 4:4), James starts this section by calling the people adulterers.
4 You adulterous people! Don’t you know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? So whoever wants to be the friend of the world becomes the enemy of God.
What does he mean by that?
Jewish Christians understood this to be covenant language: God often referred to Israel as an unfaithful bride:
( Jeremiah 3: 6-9, Ezekiel 16: 15-17, Isaiah 54: 5-6, Jeremiah 3: 20, all of Hosea)
6 In the days of King Josiah the Lord asked me, “Have you seen what unfaithful Israel has done? She has ascended every high hill and gone under every green tree to prostitute herself there. 7 I thought, ‘After she has done all these things, she will return to me.’ But she didn’t return, and her treacherous sister Judah saw it. 8 I observed that it was because unfaithful Israel had committed adultery that I had sent her away and had given her a certificate of divorce. Nevertheless, her treacherous sister Judah was not afraid but also went and prostituted herself. 9 Indifferent to her prostitution, she defiled the land and committed adultery with stones and trees.
Paul bridges the gap to the New Covenant: 2 Corinthians 11:2-3
2 For I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy, because I have promised you in marriage to one husband—to present a pure virgin to Christ. 3 But I fear that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your minds may be seduced from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ.
Why would he say that?
This is James’ concern, as well. His focus is whole-hearted devotion
This letter is full of such concerns where they’ve shown half-heartdness:
Ch 2 –
o favoritism over loving like Christ loved
o settling for ineffective belief over transforming faith
Ch 3 –
o uncontrolled tongues the bless and curse
o earthly wisdom that prioritizes self-centeredness that leads to chaos.
Ch 4 –
o uncontrolled sinful passions leading to coveting, fighting, and unanswered prayers.
James takes the gloves off because he loves them and recognizes a cancer that is going on within them that they may not even be aware of.
They think that God is pleased with them because they have made a profession of faith, but are making a profession out of sin.
They have bought into the idea that God is ok with nominal faith; that it’s ok to call on the Lord but live like the devil.
Nobody’s perfect, right? How many times we use that as an excuse?
Only human. How many times a day does Satan whisper that in our ears?
Isaiah 29:13 – “People come near me with their mouth…”
13 The Lord said: These people approach me with their speeches to honor me with lip-service, yet their hearts are far from me, and human rules direct their worship of me.
James is emphasizing that sin is not just a harmless external action, but reflects the condition of the heart, rooted in the fallen nature – the sin nature that put Jesus on the cross and leads people into hell.
Is your life away from this place on Sunday (or maybe even while you’re here) dishonoring Christ, what is the condition of your heart really like?
If you’re not sure, examine the things that entertain you, the things you say, the things you think, the way you treat people, etc.
James hears about this and cares enough to wake them up with strong language before it’s too late.
Some of us need to hear this strong language from James today.
James goes on…
“Don’t you know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God?”
Same as making a declaration of war against God.
How many of you would say you’ve declared war on God?
Why does he ask, “don’t you know”? Because they should - these are the very words of Jesus:
24 “No one can serve two masters, since either he will hate one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.
So, hostility towards God by choosing the way of the world means enemies of God. That can’t end well.
Scripture is clear of result and James knows it: Nahum 1:2, Psalm 21:8-9, Isaiah 59:18
2 The Lord is a jealous and avenging God; the Lord takes vengeance and is fierce in wrath. The Lord takes vengeance against his foes; he is furious with his enemies.
God’s enemies are vanquished from Him forever. This is serious which is reason for (5). Preferred translation: “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’?”
Eg “He desires and requires whole-hearted devotion”
Illus: How many married people would be ok sharing your spouse with someone? Even if someone says they’d be ok, it is not a healthy loving marriage.
We need to stop and ask that question: Do we really think He’s not serious about sin?
“I confessed Jesus as Lord!”
Yes, but James already dealt with lifeless words (2:14-26, summary James 2:19-20)
19 You believe that God is one. Good! Even the demons believe—and they shudder. 20 Senseless person! Are you willing to learn that faith without works is useless?
Is your life characterized by sin and no conviction? You’re not saved.
Is your life characterized by conviction but no change? You’re not faithful to your Savior.
You may be saved, but you’re not in good relationship with God.
God’s attitude (a serious warning but with hope): Revelation 3:15-20 –
15 I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish that you were cold or hot. 16 So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I am going to vomit you out of my mouth. 17 For you say, ‘I’m rich; I have become wealthy and need nothing,’ and you don’t realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked. 18 I advise you to buy from me gold refined in the fire so that you may be rich, white clothes so that you may be dressed and your shameful nakedness not be exposed, and ointment to spread on your eyes so that you may see. 19 As many as I love, I rebuke and discipline. So be zealous and repent. 20 See! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.
James provides the same hope (6a) But he gives greater grace.
Similar to Romans 5:20 – where sin abounded, grace abounded more!
20 The law came along to multiply the trespass. But where sin multiplied, grace multiplied even more
There is a better way!
(6b) “Therefore” – this signifies something important is coming. In this case the bottom line, quoted directly from the Word of God: Proverbs 3:34.
Real simple: Pride (god of self) = enemy of God. Humble (proper view of self) = grace
The missing ingredient causing all the trouble - Humility before the Lord
Moo gives us a definition: “To humble ourselves before the Lord means to recognize our own spiritual poverty, to acknowledge consequently our desperate need of God's help, and to submit to his commanding will for our lives.”
You’ve got to want this. You’ve got to get sick of half-heartedness and the frustration that mediocrity provides. You need to taste and see that the Lord is good; that there is nothing the world can provide that compares with the peace and satisfaction that only Jesus gives. Do you want this? You need to set your sails while-hearted devotion and burn the hips when you get there.
As long as you remain proud, you are worshiping the god of self and you will remain defeated because God is working against the god that is your Self, pretender to the throne.
7 Therefore, submit 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, sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Be miserable and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.
(7a) “Therefore” – Here comes the rest…
“Submit to God” (7) and “humble yourself before the Lord” (10) say essentially the same thing and form what is caused an inclusio(essentially brackets around a text that often makes up the content of the inclusio itself)
What we need to do:
· (7b) Resist the Devil (he willflee)
Submitting to God means we refuse to bow to Satan’s authority. You oppose him whose sole aim is to separate you from God.
As you submit to God, You have authority over Satan.
The devil must submit to the power of the Holy Spirit that dwells within all Believers. You have more power at your disposal than you realize.
4 You are from God, little children, and you have conquered them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.
ILLUS: Luke Skywalker and “The Force”
· (8a) Draw near to God and He will draw near to you – distance from God leaves room for sin.
Galatians 5:16 – Walk in the Spirit (an every day thing)
Submission to God throughout the Day; stay connected through prayer. The promise is he will not turn you away, but come close.
ILLUS: a loving parent can’t draw in a rebellious child, but is always ready to “draw near” when they return.
· (8b) Cleanse your hands, sinnersand purify your hearts you “double-minded” (or “double-souled”)
This involves the entire person, body and soul
James is calling them to repent of both the external behavior (wash your hands) and the internal attitude that leads to the behavior (purify your hearts)
o guard what you “touch” (ie allow yourself to do/handle)
o Guard how you think (not double-minded)
“double-minded” – trying to give allegiance to God and the world
What are your priorities? What is your thought-life like?
Remedy: 2 Timothy 2:20-22
20 Now in a large house there are not only gold and silver vessels, but also those of wood and clay; some for honorable use and some for dishonorable. 21 So if anyone purifies himself from anything dishonorable, he will be a special instrument, set apart, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work.
22 Flee from youthful passions, and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.
· (9) Mourn over your sin in light of what Christ did to cleanse it. Adopt an ongoing attitude of repentance
Douglas moo: “a person will inevitably mourn for their spiritual state. They can wait to mourn until it's too late, when God has brought his judgment on the earth. Or they can mourn now, turning sorrowfully from their sin so that they will have no occasion to mourn with the Lord returns.”
Result: (10) Exaltation from God!
He is ready to lift you up and bless you as a loving Father. It brings Him glory!
What’s the state of your soul today? Are you at war with God?
o Are you still in rebellion to God, not acknowledging His lordship? The call is for you to repent.
o Others might say, “I believe Romans 5:1 – “…since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
You very well have trusted in Christ in your life, but your bucking against His Lordship. Until you submit to God, don’t expect peace. He loves you too much to give it.
