Book of James Summary

Book of James 1-5

This week’s assignment is James 1. Each member of the group is to choose one verse that speaks to them and share what they’ve learned about that verse.

Book of James Summary

(https://www.gotquestions.org/Book-of-James.html)

“The author of this epistle (letter) is James, also called James the Just, who is thought to be the brother of Jesus (Mark 6:3). James was not a believer (John 7:3-5) until after the resurrection (Galatians 1:18,19). He became the head of the Jerusalem church and is mentioned first as a pillar of the church (Galatians 2:9). The book of James is probably the oldest book of the New Testament, written perhaps as early as AD 45, before the first council of Jerusalem in c. AD 50. James was martyred in approximately AD 62, according to the historian Josephus.

The Book of James is directed to Jewish Christians scattered among all the nations, James 1:1.

James was writing to Jews to encourage them to continue growing in this new Christian faith. James emphasizes that good actions will naturally flow from those who are filled with the Spirit and questions whether someone may or may not have a saving faith if the fruits of the Spirit cannot be seen.

The Book of James is the ultimate description of the relationship between faith and works. So ingrained in the Mosaic Law and its system of works were the Jewish Christians to whom James wrote that he spent considerable time explaining the difficult truth that no one is justified by the works of the law. He declares to them that even if they try their very best to keep all the various laws and rituals, doing so is impossible, and transgressing the tiniest part of the law made them guilty of all of it James 2:10 because the law is one entity and breaking one part of it is breaking all of it.

We see in the Book of James a challenge to faithful followers of Jesus to not just “talk the talk,” but to “walk the walk.” While our faith walk, to be certain, requires a growth of knowledge about the Word, James exhorts us to not stop there. Many Christians will find this epistle challenging as James presents 60 obligations in only 108 verses. He focuses on the truths of Jesus’ words in the Sermon on the Mount and motivates us to act upon what He taught.

The epistle also puts to rest the idea that one can become a Christian and yet continue living in sin, exhibiting no fruit of righteousness. Such a “faith,” James declares, is shared by the demons who “believe and tremble” (James 2:19). Yet such a “faith” cannot save because it is not verified by the works that always accompany true saving faith (Ephesians 2:10). Good works are not the cause of salvation, but they are the result of it.”

Chapter 1 Summary

· Trials produce patience, but only if we allow ourselves to be conformed by them, we must have endurance. It’s our positive response to trials is what will bring growth in our faith and in our character. We must learn to embrace our trials. v.2-4

· God will give us wisdom if we ask without doubts. Wisdom is essential in discernment of God’s Word and in our daily life, it will help us apply His Word. v.5, 6

· Blessed our we who resists temptation. We can never become sanctified in our faith if we are continually giving into temptation. For those that do will receive the crown of life. v.4

· Temptation is not sin; Christ was tempted like us but never sinned. However, it’s in our nature to be enticed by sin because we desire it, unlike Jesus. Remember, with sin comes death and separation from God. Every time we willfully sin it hinders our relationship with the Holy Spirit, it grieves Him deeply. We will never be victorious in our Christian faith if we continue in known sin. v.12-15

· With wisdom we learn to be quick to hear (listen intently) and be very slow to speak, this comes with abiding in Him and through maturity. v.19, 20

· We must be doers of the Word and those that do will be blessed. v.22-25 (personal verse)

· Bridling of the tongue is an indicator of our spiritual maturity and apparently is of such importance that our faith or religion is useless if we can’t control it. If we’re capable of guarding our tongues and are not prone to rash outburst, such as wrath which usually enlists the tongue to do its dirty work, we’ll be blessed. v.26

· To visit orphans and widows is essential, but I believe this verse encompasses much more than what is written and it’s unspoken meaning is to help all that our in need both physically and the spiritually needy. v.27

James 1:22, 23, 24, 25

(My personal verses to discuss and written in journaled form, to myself.)

“But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; 24 for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. 25 But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.”

Verses 22 and 25 are what stand out to me most and speak to me deeply, seems to be the theme lately. God is showing me the vital importance of being a doer and not merely a hearer (or in other words not just a learner of God’s word.) I’m learning that I can read God’s word until I know it backwards and forwards and never truly know God. Yes, I may come to under His character, His attributes, the way of salvation and the expectations He has of me, etc. BUT knowing is not believing and believing, and I mean transformational believing, only comes through the application of my knowing. Obedience to what I know must be of utmost importance, always striving to apply what I know in every given situation or in every relationship.

He desires an intimate relationship and so must I. The only way to attain it is by surrendering my life completely and this comes through obedience in the things I know to be true and this comes by knowing the Word. But that’s only the beginning, the lasting and powerful transformation occurs when I begin applying what I’ve learned. In many instances it takes faith to apply God’s Word, but when I decide to step out in faith I know, by knowing His promises from reading His Word, that He will bless me for it and that will instill more trust. Once I begin to trust God more, I will be less reluctant to take future steps of faith. This is how I will grow from a mere boy in Christ to an adult in the faith.

I must die to self and live for Christ. I must put my sinful nature on the cross every moment of every day so that my resurrected self can shine through and reflect the love, the boldness, and the power of God in all that I do. This is where I become a disciple that’s seen the risen Jesus and this is when I grow into full maturity as a child of God.

My heart’s desire is to no longer be a hearer or learner of God’s Word, but a doer of what He commands me to do. I’m learning that I will not have the security, peace, power, and the fruits of the spirit (Galatians 5:22, 23) manifested in my life until I apply what I know to be true.

I deeply believe being merely a hearer of God’s Word is what’s causing most believers today to be weak in their faith which limits them from growing into maturity. This has been myself for far too many years, but God is burdening me in this area to correct it in my own life and then to tell other believers the importance of applying what they know. Once I know what is right and not do it, it has become sin to me (James 4:17).

Imagine how many things I know to be true, yet I don’t act on them? Frightening for sure!

When I stand before Him one day my desire is to hear from Him these words,

“Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord,” Matthew 25:21.

Even here Jesus mentions joy is a result of faithfulness or obedience, I believe they’re inseparable. If joy is lacking in my life, could it be my faithfulness is lacking also?

I think He’s trying to reinforce how essential faithfulness is and to stop playing children’s games and get down to business with Him and to love Him with all my heart, soul, mind and strength, Mark 12:30.

As I grow into greater maturity God is revealing to me, what once were mysteries in His Word, and giving me understanding, but not only understanding He’s giving me the ability to do them and may be more importantly, the desire.

I think at this moment I’m living as much as I possibly can in obedience. Tomorrow, I expect to be even more obedient and will continue do so, but only for as long as I remain in Him and He in me. You see, the transformation isn’t dependent on me, but only through faithfulness, it truly depends on Him working in me for He’s the perfector of my faith, “looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith,” Hebrews 12:2.

1 John 2:5

“But if anyone obeys his word, love for God is truly made complete in them. This is how we know we are in him.”

Romans 12:12 (compliments James 1:3, 4)

“Rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer.”