Training For Holiness
Notes
Transcript
Reading:
2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds,
3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.
4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
Introduction:
James highlights for us the factual statement about the fight within.
The struggle between what we know is right and doing right!
This struggle really boils down to the choice of fulfilling the desire of our flesh or the desire of the Spirit.
Ultimately the subject of right and wrong
Today we will be in chapter 22; but to recap: Chapter 21 finished with the laws addressing proper restitution for actions.
When you think about restitution it really is just the expectation of doing what is right because it is the right thing to do.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar said: “I try to do the right thing at the right time. They may just be little things, but usually, they make the difference between winning and losing.”
Sometimes the little things don’t seem like it will make a difference we forget that all the little things add up.
There is a way to place these laws into perspective:
These laws lend themselves to ethics.
Chapter 21:1-15 taught us about laws concerning slaves, in 21:16-23:9 God is addressing ethical laws.
Ethics is defined as:
“The doctrines of morality or social manners; the science of moral philosophy, which teaches men their duty and the reasons of it. A system of moral principles; a system of rules for regulating the actions and manners of men in society.” -Noah Webster
Ethics could be the overarching principal for these laws.
These laws show that God is in the business of building lives that reflect His goodness and grace.
The right choice isn’t always easy to make, and other times we don’t know what is right.
God starts 22 with:
Thievery (1-4)
Thievery (1-4)
1 “If a man steals an ox or a sheep, and kills it or sells it, he shall repay five oxen for an ox, and four sheep for a sheep.
2 If a thief is found breaking in and is struck so that he dies, there shall be no bloodguilt for him,
3 but if the sun has risen on him, there shall be bloodguilt for him. He shall surely pay. If he has nothing, then he shall be sold for his theft.
4 If the stolen beast is found alive in his possession, whether it is an ox or a donkey or a sheep, he shall pay double.
The person steals just one!
We don’t have any background, we only have the scenario!
Maybe they were desperate and were really hungry so they just stole the 1 to eat?
That kind of statement introduces a “what if” to the scenario which suggests there is room to debate what is right and what is wrong.
That’s the slippery slope!
Illustration:
Let’s societize this: It’s a word I just made up!
It means to place it in our modern culture or society so we can better understand the perspective.
This tactic is to bring in semantics and create a platform for argumentation, which suggests that there is room for interpretation.
Overall in our time this fits into the “social justice” corner of politics.
Social Justice is defined as:
“In contemporary politics, social science, and political philosophy, the fair treatment and equitable status of all individuals and social groups within a state or society.” -Encyclopedia Britannica
Social Justice is the drum for “equality”.
In our day: Social justice is the voice of politics that states the really rich people should have their money stolen from them and given to those with less.
This really is a devise of Satan that creates division.
Our world isn’t fair, I hope everyone knows that.
That’s a hard lesson to learn and it is best learned at an early age!
Point:
There is an aspect to social justice that should highlight something about humans:
People desires equality and peace—Why?
Because God designed us all with that desire to treat each person equally and to live a life peacefully.
For no one to lack anything and have all their needs met.
This brings a question:
Why is life not fair?
Genesis 3:14-19 is the reason.
Disobedience to God brought sin into the world!
Sin is the reason life isn’t fair.
Have hope in what God said: He will be back and will remove sin from this world it will be fair and peaceful.
Our fallen society uses politics to re-arrange and muddy the waters between what is right wrong!
God in His wisdom knew the issues we would have, so I believe He keeps it simple and straight forward.
1 “If a man steals an ox or a sheep, and kills it or sells it, he shall repay five oxen for an ox, and four sheep for a sheep.
2 If a thief is found breaking in and is struck so that he dies, there shall be no bloodguilt for him,
3 but if the sun has risen on him, there shall be bloodguilt for him. He shall surely pay. If he has nothing, then he shall be sold for his theft.
4 If the stolen beast is found alive in his possession, whether it is an ox or a donkey or a sheep, he shall pay double.
The thief whether he is stealing food (even if it is out of desperation) or breaking into someone’s home it is wrong and there is debt incurred from the choice made.
Slavery, or giving of your finances to make it right.
The law’s guidelines for the thief is simple.
Does this mean the person is forever a thief, can they ever be more?
Illustration:
When I was little I broke my aunt’s praying hands playing hockey in the basement.
She never knew I glued them back together, until I told her at my cousins graduation.
I could never fix the hands, the only way to fix them was to buy new ones for her.
The principal: When something is broken can it be fixed or will it forever be broken?
I’m now speaking of our relationship with our Lord as sinful broken people.
I bring this up to highlight the necessity for:
Redemption:
“The liberation of an estate from a mortgage; or the purchase of the right to re-enter upon it by paying the principal sum for which it was mortgaged with interest and cost; also, the right of redeeming and re-entering.” -Noah Webster
7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace,
14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
In Jesus we find the money we couldn’t pay.
But there is in the process of redemption our decision to repent.
Repentance is:
“In theology, the pain, regret or affliction which a person feels on account of his past conduct, because it exposes him to punishment. This sorrow proceeding merely from the fear of punishment, is called legal repentance as being excited by the terrors of legal penalties, and it may exist without an amendment of life. Real penitence; sorrow or deep contrition for sin, as an offense and dishonor to God, a violation of his holy law, and the basest ingratitude towards a Being of infinite benevolence. This is called evangelical repentance and is accompanied and followed by amendment of life.” -Noah Webster
9 As it is, I rejoice, not because you were grieved, but because you were grieved into repenting. For you felt a godly grief, so that you suffered no loss through us.
The beatitudes begin with this very principal for repentance.
3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
The response from the offended party is where we receive Forgiveness
Forgiveness:
“The act of forgiving; the pardon of an offender, by which he is considered and treated as not guilty.” -Noah Webster
Point:
This process outlines salvation.
Broken things can be mended and made right again.
Our relationship with the creator can be restored because of His forgiveness.
We must be broken over our wrongdoing, not justifying or using semantics.
It’s simple and straightforward.
These laws remind us of this truth: God desires to restore that relationship and what is broken can be fixed through the simple things shown in the law.
These simple things also serve as ways to restore relationships with anyone who has been wronged or who was the person doing wrong.
These are the personal choices of each of us.
He continues:
In verse :5 God presents the:
The lack of Oversight (5)
5 “If a man causes a field or vineyard to be grazed over, or lets his beast loose and it feeds in another man’s field, he shall make restitution from the best in his own field and in his own vineyard.
Your animal gets out and eats your neighbors field your held liable.
It’s up to you to care for your possessions and secure them.
Simple and straight forward! (after I planted the garden and put up the fence it’s my fault Maebelle dug under it)
Even if it was an accident it still costs your neighbor something.
Do what is right:
“Make Restitution”:
“The act of returning or restoring to a person some thing or right of which he has been unjustly deprived; The act of making good, or of giving an equivalent for any loss, damage or injury; indemnification.” -Noah Webster
Restore what was made wrong because of the lack of your oversight.
The restoration between you and your neighbor is echoed in the next verse.
6 “If fire breaks out and catches in thorns so that the stacked grain or the standing grain or the field is consumed, he who started the fire shall make full restitution.
Restore what was ruined as a result of your lack of actions.
We are also expected to care for the things placed in our possession.
7 “If a man gives to his neighbor money or goods to keep safe, and it is stolen from the man’s house, then, if the thief is found, he shall pay double.
8 If the thief is not found, the owner of the house shall come near to God to show whether or not he has put his hand to his neighbor’s property.
9 For every breach of trust, whether it is for an ox, for a donkey, for a sheep, for a cloak, or for any kind of lost thing, of which one says, ‘This is it,’ the case of both parties shall come before God. The one whom God condemns shall pay double to his neighbor.
This expectation also brings another aspect to clear up the gray area.
When the thief cannot be found the judge is to bring it to the ultimate judge!
The statement to come near to God is the statement which brings the matter before the Lord.
They are to make a covenant before the Lord and to accept what the Lord’s judgment on the matter is!
Has anyone ever been falsely accused of a crime?
This is the type of scenario that would be brought before the Lord.
So that would bring what is right for the money and goods; but what about:
The Livestock (10-15)
The Livestock (10-15)
10 “If a man gives to his neighbor a donkey or an ox or a sheep or any beast to keep safe, and it dies or is injured or is driven away, without anyone seeing it,
11 an oath by the Lord shall be between them both to see whether or not he has put his hand to his neighbor’s property. The owner shall accept the oath, and he shall not make restitution.
12 But if it is stolen from him, he shall make restitution to its owner.
13 If it is torn by beasts, let him bring it as evidence. He shall not make restitution for what has been torn.
14 “If a man borrows anything of his neighbor, and it is injured or dies, the owner not being with it, he shall make full restitution.
15 If the owner was with it, he shall not make restitution; if it was hired, it came for its hiring fee.
When someone asks if you would care for their animal, you take on the role of oversight.
That oversight brings with it an level of liability.
You are accepting the responsibility for that animal.
The animal’s debt, if something should happen, falls to the oath between the Lord and the people.
If something happens, and the animal dies the body needs to be brought to the owner as evidence of his innocence from being liable.
If there was any neglect on part of the caretaker, the caretaker paid; but if the caretaker hired the animal for work or breeding the fee he paid was restitution enough.
Connection:
The things that are placed in your care for safekeeping, brings a liability to the situation.
Where you could find yourself having to pay back the price of an item.
Man has lost many possessions in his care: But what about the God man?
Jesus talked about those given into His possession.
9 I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours.
10 All mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I am glorified in them.
11 And I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one.
12 While I was with them, I kept them in your name, which you have given me. I have guarded them, and not one of them has been lost except the son of destruction, that the Scripture might be fulfilled.
Jesus proclaims in His speaking to the Father:
I have been given the liability over these disciples and I have lost none!
Judas wasn’t lost, He fulfilled the prophecy and will of the Father.
Without Judas’ betrayal Jesus’ sacrifice wouldn’t have happened there was no other way for them to arrest Jesus.
Jesus has never lost any person who repented of their sin and was restored in their relationship with Him.
He never will!
Once saved, always saved!
Jesus takes that responsibility seriously.
The care of those in His possession relates to this next section.
Social Rights (16-31)
Social Rights (16-31)
16 “If a man seduces a virgin who is not betrothed and lies with her, he shall give the bride-price for her and make her his wife.
17 If her father utterly refuses to give her to him, he shall pay money equal to the bride-price for virgins.
18 “You shall not permit a sorceress to live.
19 “Whoever lies with an animal shall be put to death.
20 “Whoever sacrifices to any god, other than the Lord alone, shall be devoted to destruction.
These echo of the first few: simple and straight forward.
The man who seduces a marrying age girl into sex has to pay. What is the price?
28 “If a man meets a virgin who is not betrothed, and seizes her and lies with her, and they are found,
29 then the man who lay with her shall give to the father of the young woman fifty shekels of silver, and she shall be his wife, because he has violated her. He may not divorce her all his days.
What would be the issue for payment if the father refuses to let her marry him who she had consentual sex with?
She could not be offered to another suitor as untainted so the man had to pay the bride price even though she wouldn’t be his wife.
She would be another man’s wife.
Sorceress’ would be put to death!
It was considered an abominable practice as mentioned in Deuteronomy.
Whoever uses an animal for sex should die!
Leviticus and Deuteronomy both teach this same law.
The person sacrificing or found worshipping any other god than Yahweh should die.
God is illustrating the need for cleanliness and purity among His people.
Their hearts and lives need to be wholly dedicated to Him and no longer following the polytheism they adhered to in Egypt.
They should have faith, just like Rahab:
17 And the city and all that is within it shall be devoted to the Lord for destruction. Only Rahab the prostitute and all who are with her in her house shall live, because she hid the messengers whom we sent.
The whole city was destroyed because of their impurity, yet Rahab the woman with a filthy job had faith and found favor in God’s eyes.
Her life was spared.
God is serious about purity!
Next God reflects on their recent history by teaching them, and us, how to treat strangers in their land or among them.
21 “You shall not wrong a sojourner or oppress him, for you were sojourners in the land of Egypt.
He also taught them how to care for those in hard situations.
22 You shall not mistreat any widow or fatherless child.
23 If you do mistreat them, and they cry out to me, I will surely hear their cry,
24 and my wrath will burn, and I will kill you with the sword, and your wives shall become widows and your children fatherless.
Similar to how the Lord heard the cries of Israel as they were being mistreated in Egypt.
God addresses the unfortunate opportunity to have “power” over another and to be careful not to abuse it.
25 “If you lend money to any of my people with you who is poor, you shall not be like a moneylender to him, and you shall not exact interest from him.
26 If ever you take your neighbor’s cloak in pledge, you shall return it to him before the sun goes down,
27 for that is his only covering, and it is his cloak for his body; in what else shall he sleep? And if he cries to me, I will hear, for I am compassionate.
God desires a proper perspective for those He places in authority over you.
28 “You shall not revile God, nor curse a ruler of your people.
Think through how many times the people of Israel hated Moses and Joshua.
According to this one was too many.
He finishes it up with an outward expression of internal faith:
29 “You shall not delay to offer from the fullness of your harvest and from the outflow of your presses. The firstborn of your sons you shall give to me.
30 You shall do the same with your oxen and with your sheep: seven days it shall be with its mother; on the eighth day you shall give it to me.
31 “You shall be consecrated to me. Therefore you shall not eat any flesh that is torn by beasts in the field; you shall throw it to the dogs.
In these passages we find dedication and consecration!
This is the inward reflection to keep God first and yourself last.
Gladly obeying what God’s instructions.
Similar to Matthew 6:33
33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
Conclusion:
These are the laws that teach much more than how to navigate the “grey areas” of life.
Stealing is always wrong, even if some try to justify it!
The things in our possession brings a liability.
Whether they are borrowed or placed in our care we make it right.
Kind of like children, they are placed in our care by the Lord to lead and teach to fear and love Him.
Which means we are to teach these laws as frontlets between their eyes and are written the walls of homes to reference and know!
The system God is instituting here brings the clarity to our purity and motivation.
Are you clean before the Lord?
Do you trust Him and believe He is working all things on your behalf?
Trust Him, know the laws for what is right and wrong.
Even when society gets it wrong you can get it right and be the one leading by example and revealing God’s wisdom.
God allows in our lives those moments when we want to dirty ourselves up; but we choose faith and purity.
He builds our spiritual strength because we can know, and do what is right in His eyes!
This week accept God’s training for you and do what is right!
-Pray!
