Guardians of the Word
Notes
Transcript
A. Rapport for the time
B. Reading of the text
1 Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness.
2 For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body.
C. Review of the text
We have not been in James in a few weeks but as we jump back in let’s be reminded of what he has taught us in the first two chapters.
• Trials
• Wisdom from God
• Humility
• Unchanging God
• Don’t deceive yourself
• Goodness of God
• Embracing God’s word because of his Goodness to us
• Living our Faith out —Being a doer of the word-True faith
· Show no partiality
• Real faith is only lived out dead faith produces no change in our life
(this is the transformative power of Christ’s grace, urging us to forgive and show mercy. It’s a call to live grace-filled lives that reflect the mercy we’ve received through Jesus.
As we embark on chapter 3 this morning together we find ourselves needing to be reminded of.
19 Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger;
20 for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.
26 If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless.
27 Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.
“this point to encourage reflection on personal speech habits and challenge your audience to align their words with the love and truth of Christ. By doing so, their faith becomes a living testimony to others.”
D. Relevance of the text
James will go from talking about the works that come out of our hearts as the redeemed to the specific work of the tongue. For the work in the Kingdom of God very often uses our speech. That speech can be glorifying to God and at other times not bring Glory to God. We will spend the next two week talking about our speech.
T.S. As we look at James 3:1 together we will begin with the weight of words.
1. The Weight of Words
1. The Weight of Words
1 Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness.
In the context of this passage I think it is important for us to realize that our tongues are the center of the conversation and he just begins with teachers. That is why we are only taking on the first 2 verses of the passage this week. The passage is not trying to discourage people from teaching but instead make sure that they understand the responsibility that comes with the Word of God.
For 12 years I have gotten up in this pulpit and each week I pray that I don’t say something that comes from “Thus says John.” Can you imagine the early church that does not have in their hand the completed works of scripture. They don’t even have a bunch of scrolls that they can share amongst themselves that have God’s word. The word of God was read at the synagogue in the early church and then John Mark, Paul, James started writing and sending letters to the churches to help and direct and guide them. Being a teacher in a local house church would have been difficult at times.
The passage says that those who teach will be judged with a greater strictness.
Why is that? Well its the tongue and words. This is not a news story is it? Jesus warned those that are false teachers of what was to come.
15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.
16 You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?
17 So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit.
18 A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit.
19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
20 Thus you will recognize them by their fruits.
Their is a greater strictness to those who teach God’s word because we holy life and death in our speech. The truth of the text is the mouth is a scary thing. When we are saying what the Lord says in his word their should be a weight behind it because of the fear of the Lord.
Make sure you know why you are teaching God’s word. Is it something someone wants you to do? Are you trying look a certain way? What is the motivation behind what you are doing. The truth is those who are called to profess the name of Christ and deliver his message can do nothing else. There are no other options and it is can’t be for status or personal gain. The truth is that not everyone is going to like you when you preach the word of God. If you become the center of it all then your tongue is not doing the correct thing.
Listen to Jeremiah
9 If I say, “I will not mention him, or speak any more in his name,” there is in my heart as it were a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I am weary with holding it in, and I cannot.
Jon Courson’s Application Commentary Chapter 3
When the people of Israel didn’t like what Jeremiah was saying, they threw him into a prison—at which time Jeremiah decided he would speak no more. But there’s a problem with those who are called to teach. As Jeremiah discovered, the Word of God burned in his heart, and he could not keep quiet
Judgement for believers will come in the form of what we have done with what God has blessed us with.
10 Why do you pass judgment on your brother? Or you, why do you despise your brother? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God;
11 for it is written, “As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.”
12 So then each of us will give an account of himself to God.
10 According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building upon it. Let each one take care how he builds upon it.
11 For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
12 Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw—
13 each one’s work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done.
14 If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward.
15 If anyone’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire.
10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.
Our sins will not be on trial because they have all been paid for by the body and blood of Christ. Our lives and works will be evaluated. And for those that heavenly rewards will be to those that are faithful with all that God has done for us by his grace.
T.S. The teacher of the word of God must understand the weight of words and the challenge of imperfection.
2. The Challenge of Imperfection
2. The Challenge of Imperfection
2 For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body.
Let’s stop for a moment and make a list of all the people that are worthy of teaching God’s word. Are you ready? Ok. That should have not taken long at all because in ourselves no one is worthy because none of us is perfect. When scripture says that we all partake of the same Grace.
7 But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift.
7 It is right for me to feel this way about you all, because I hold you in my heart, for you are all partakers with me of grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel.
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,
9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
16 For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.
Then who can teach is no one is worthy and no one is perfect? Great question. Well it would have to be that James is telling us that we better be people who are driven by God’s word and his spirit first if we are going to be speakers of God’s word. The teacher should be warned to live according to the Spirit knowing of their lack of ability. WORDS and GOD’S words are really important.
9 With his mouth the godless man would destroy his neighbor, but by knowledge the righteous are delivered.
18 There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.
21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits.
19 When words are many, transgression is not lacking, but whoever restrains his lips is prudent.
11 Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content.
able also to bridle his whole body
This understanding that the mouth is the gateway to our expressions is extremely important. Believers must understand the bridle(guide) that is in our life that directs our whole body to living for the Lord and into righteous living.
James (1) Analogies of Size (3:2–5)
Self-deception and double-mindedness in the life of the believer at times obscures this truth, so James moved on to the concrete problem of controlling one’s life for the service of God. Undoubtedly this self-control is one of the fruits of the wisdom promised to those who ask for it in faith (cf. 1:5–6). Wisdom, the knowledge and skill to do the will of God when activated by faith, brings the believer further down the road to perfection or completeness of faith.
