01 | James | James 1:1 | James, A Servant

INTRODUCTION

Deuteronomy 32:4 ESV

The Rock, his work is perfect, for all his ways are justice. A God of faithfulness and without iniquity, just and upright is he.

What are his ways?

Is there a place in scripture where the ways of the Lord our Rock …

… in whom we have taken refuge

… have been collected so that we also may walk in his way?

With the coming of Jesus, our Messiah … he has found, formed and filled us ...

… so that, we also know the joy of faithfulness and justice in the many circumstances of life?

As we turn to the letter of James for 10 weeks this Fall …

… we will find the practical wisdom of our Lord Jesus Christ

… gathered into this one short and pithy letter

James holds out to us the way of life that is the fruit of faith.

This is faith that leads to life …

… and faith for all of life.

READ JAMES 1:1

PRAY

3:00

WHO IS JAMES?

James is the Brother of Jesus

Mark 6:2–3 ESV

And on the Sabbath he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were astonished, saying, “Where did this man get these things? What is the wisdom given to him? How are such mighty works done by his hands? Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon? And are not his sisters here with us?” And they took offense at him.

James is a first hand witness to the works and wisdom of Jesus.

He is either the biological, or half-brother of Jesus …

… or he is the son of Alphaeus, likely the brother of Joseph.

There is no hebraic word for cousin.

Rather, the word brother is used for all close family relations:

from brother to nephew to uncle to cousin.

This same hebraic convention is carried over even when written in Greek.

For this reason, among others, Thomas Manton, for whom I have great respect …

… would have James as the cousin of Jesus and the second apostle named James—that is, James the Lesser.

7:00

There is James the Greater …

… the James referred to often when the gospels speak of Peter, James and John

… and James the Lesser, who is often referred to as the son of Alphaeus.

I will admit that, though among the early church fathers to Augustine to most of the puritan preachers …

… hold to the view that James, the author of this letter is James the apostle, James the Lesser

… it is a minority view among evangelical authors today who generally go with the view of John Calvin …

… that the author of this letter is a third James, who is himself a biological brother of Jesus.

I find myself presently persuaded by Manton’s thorough argument …

… but, honestly, it does not have much effect on how we read the letter itself.

9:00

I would share just two more pieces of information about the author of the letter before turning to the letter itself.

James is witness to the resurrected Jesus.

1 Corinthians 15:7 ESV

Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles.

This is important because crucial to the witness of scripture is not merely that it witness to the gospel ministry of Jesus …

… but that it witnesses to the resurrection victory of Jesus.

10:00

One final note from the early church father, Eusebius about …

James the Just

Eusebius used to enter alone into the temple and be found kneeling and praying for forgiveness for the people, so that his knees grew hard like a camel’s because of his constant worship of God, kneeling and asking forgiveness for the people. So from his excessive righteousness he was called the Just.

James writes about a life whole-heartedly devoted to the Lord alone in faith.

He knows the joy of this life because he himself has walked in it.

May his prayers in the temple be answered among us.

May the prayer of this righteous man avail much in our midst.

12:00

The letter itself, apart from giving us the name of the author …

… gives us only this information about him.

A Servant of God

a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ

James the Just is a man of faith, for the righteous will live by faith.

And his faith was constantly at work in his life.

In this letter, he seeks that this same faith would work itself out in the life of this fledgling scattered church.

14:00

TO WHOM IS JAMES WRITTEN?

To the twelve tribes in the Dispersion.

Diaspora — Beginning with the Assyrian deportation of the ten northern tribes in 722 BC.

Later, in 586 BC, with the Babylonian captivity.

Now, following the ministry, death and resurrection of Jesus …

… a new scattering has taken place among the Jewish believers.

With the persecution of Christians led by Saul (or Paul), where did the believing Jews scatter for refuge?

They fled to this already scattered Jewish populous who had established themselves in cities and towns surrounding the Mediterranean, Northern Africa, Asia Minor and the rest of Europe.

These are the tribes of the dispersion.

Many among these believed in the risen Christ as news of the gospel made their way to these communities.

These communities formed so much of the seed of the church around the world.

And yet, these Jewish believers in Messiah were far from a majority among the dispersion.

They were caught between the Jews who rejected Messiah Jesus, who maintained control of the synagogues …

… and the Gentiles who increasingly persecuted these early believers.

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This letter is written before the Council of Jerusalem (AD 49 — see PtW).

And it is likely written after the death of James the Greater in about 44 AD.

This makes it the oldest NT scripture, with the possible exception of 1 Peter.

By this time, Jewish believers had already become religious, social and economic pariahs.

Probably the most important introductory thing we can say about this letter is that …

… it is the earliest collection and application of Jesus’ teachings we have.

Thomas outlines the teaching of James, saying …

Thomas Manton how to bear afflictions, to hear the word, to mortify vile affections, to bridle the tongue, to conceive rightly of the nature of God, to adorn our profession with a good conversation, with meekness, and peace, and charity; finally, how to behave ourselves in the time of approaching misery

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APPLY

In other words, this letter is written to the church.

Yes, in its infancy, just over a decade after the resurrection of Jesus …

… and before the missionary journeys of Paul that saw the increasing spread of the gospel among the Gentiles.

But, the teachings of Jesus gathered into this letter …

… are for the whole of the body of Christ.

And we would do well to listen to this word, inspired by the Spirit of Christ …

… as one hearing the wisdom of our Lord himself.

21:00

WHAT IS FAITH IN JAMES?

Central to the teaching of James is:

James 2:14 ESV

What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him?

We will wrestle with this question throughout our time in James

Let me say this at the outset, about faith in this letter.

Faith in James is faith for life.

22:00

Faith has two sides to it.

It is the objective faith by which we take hold of the grace secured for all who believe in the atoning work of Christ.

James 2:23 ESV

and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”—and he was called a friend of God.

Objective faith is faith in that sure object …

… who is our God

… and which is the promise of his covenant

… and finality of his covenant fulfilled in teh gospel work of Jesus Christ

It is the subjective faith, by which we walk in this grace with wisdom day by day.

In the prayer of confession we do not confess that we do not believe that the Lord alone saves.

But that we have wavered by failing to walk at all times in the confidence of that faith.

So, subjective faith takes its stand daily in life in the objective faith that the Lord alone is good and so walks in his way.

One who walks by faith in life is called faithful—literally, full of faith.

Subjective faith might be called practical faith, that is faith in practice.

Where much of the New Testament letters focus on objective faith (at least as they unpack the first half of the theology of each letter) …

… the focus of James is on this subjective faith—faith in life.

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Why does James do this?

I am convinced that it is because James’ intention is to write to the church that has been scattered in persecution and trials of various kinds.

He is writing to the church that has believed in the ground of the gospel, person and work of Jesus, his life, death and resurrection.

Writing to this church, James reminds them of the way of the kingdom as described by Jesus himself in his earthly ministry.

That faith that the believers has taken hold of is both objective and subjective …

… but it is not abstract or merely spiritual.

It is not a faith that believes in an idea, but has nothing to do with how the believer lives in this world.

If it was, then these scattered believers have to reason to suffer the trials of persection.

They could believe in an abstract faith, but essentially hide themselves by blending into the ways of the world.

29:00

Thomas Manton explains how faith works.

Faith does not obligate the mercies of God.

Rather, the mercies of God are given, particularly in James through the wisdom of the teachings of Jesus …

… and faith takes hold of that mercy as if it were true and solid ground upon which to found one’s life.

Surely, this will mark the believers as a distinct people as they are scattered among the nations.

James is doing business with those who would try to have all the benefits of the fulfilled religion of the Jewish Messiah, yet would simultaneously live the foolish and vain life of the worldly Gentile.

Brothers and sisters, we are to this day in danger of such vanity—to profess a dead faith.

As Manton calls it, a sapless twig in which there is no life.

30:30

Romans on faith without works

Let me take us to that other letter which so clearly teaches …

Romans 3:28 ESV

one is justified by faith apart from works of the law.

Yet even in Romans ...

Romans 2:9–10 ESV

There will be tribulation and distress for every human being who does evil, the Jew first and also the Greek, but glory and honor and peace for everyone who does good, the Jew first and also the Greek.

There is a practical wisdom for those who walk in faith for life.

Particularly in the face of trials of many kinds.

32:00

Let us go back to our text this morning: James 1:1

JAMES, THE SERVANT

the very slave of the one benevolent Master, who is our God.

a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ

That is, James is the servant by creation and providence and by redemption.

James, the very relation of the Lord according to the flesh is nothing more than, and of greater worth as, the servant of the Lord.

Matthew 12:48–49 ESV

But he replied to the man who told him, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?” And stretching out his hand toward his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers!

It is the brother of our Lord, who is also his servant …

… who is truly and eternally his kindred.

34:00

How is James a servant of Christ in this letter?

Matthew 23:10 ESV

Neither be called instructors, for you have one instructor, the Christ.

And yet, James presumes to teach.

What does he teach, but the way and teaching of Christ?

What words does he use, but the words of Christ?

What wisdom does he share, but the wisdom of Christ?

What warning does he give, but the warning of Christ?

APPLY

In this letter, Jesus is our teacher.

And this way, James is his servant.

36:00

JESUS IN JAMES

One of the things that I love about James is that these are the well digested teachings of Jesus out of the mouth his servant.

The letter of James is a letter about Jesus.

Jesus is the way, the truth and the life.

It is a letter about the way and truth of Jesus …

… is the way of life.

James is a compendium of the teachings of Jesus.

James the Lesser has seen the other apostle, James, tossed from the height of the temple.

He has seen so many of his brothers and sisters scattered in persecution.

He has seen first hand trials of various kinds.

Here he fulfills the great commission of his Lord.

Matthew 28:20 ESV

… teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.

Consider these 9 themes of the letter of James that we will explore in the weeks to come.

It is striking to me that every single one of these themes is thoroughly explored by the explicit teaching of Jesus himself as recorded in the gospels.

James was there when Jesus taught these things.

And in this letter, he is reminding the church of the way, the truth and the life that they have received by faith.

38:00

Trials and Perseverance

Mark 13:13 ESV

And you will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.

Hearing and Doing

Matthew 7:24 ESV

Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock.

This teaching of Jesus is central to the book of James.

Partiality and Judgement

Luke 14:12–14 ESV

He said also to the man who had invited him, “When you give a dinner or a banquet, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors, lest they also invite you in return and you be repaid. But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you. For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the just.”

Faith that is Alive

Matthew 7:16–17 ESV

You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit.

Or even simpler

John 14:15 ESV

“If you love me, you will keep my commandments.

Speech and Integrity

Matthew 12:34–35 ESV

How can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. The good person out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure brings forth evil.

Pure Wisdom

Matthew 11:19 ESV

The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look at him! A glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ Yet wisdom is justified by her deeds.”

Humility and Dependance

Matthew 6:33–34 ESV

But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

Riches and Poverty

Matthew 6:19–24 ESV

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Prayer & Restoration

Luke 11:9–10 ESV

And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.

41:00

APPLY

Jesus describes the way of the kingdom.

And we will benefit this Fall so greatly by our attention to James’ compendium of this way of faith.

But let us hear Jesus on this!

There is one way of entrance into this kingdom way.

John 14:6 ESV

I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

John 10:9 ESV

I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture.

Listen to the Apostles

Acts 4:12 ESV

And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.

Ephesians 2:18 ESV

For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father.

Romans 5:1–2 ESV

Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

Do you have peace with God?

Have you been justified by faith in the person and work of Jesus Christ.

Have you been reconciled to God through the atoning sacrifice of Jesus on the cross?

Is your life secure by faith in his resurrection?

If so, walk in the way of the kingdom into which you have been rescued.

But if not, I call you this morning to believe.

There is no way to walk in a faith that you have not believed.

43:00

APPLY

ILL: I read James every day for the summer.

I read James like law.

I read it like, this is what I ought to do.

I have learned to read it not as law, but as wisdom.

It is teaching about truth and goodness.

It is the revelation of the good way of Christ’s kingdom.

It is not a law to which I am bound, but the perfect law, the law of liberty (James 1:25) to which I have been delivered.

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