Wisdom For Life

Introduction:

· James is practical: Plan for the future? Misusing words? Ethic violations you can get away with?

VS. 1 IS A FRAMEWORK, SHOWING US THAT WE NEED TO DO 3 THINGS: KNOW OUR CONTEXT, UNDERSTAND OUR IDENTITY, AND BE ROOTED IN THE RESURRECTION.

I) We Need to Know Our Context

A. The New 12 Tribes

i. The 12 tribes of the NT

1. James borrows Jewish imagery because he’s speaking to Jewish converts

2. In the OT 12 tribes were spiritual (God’s covenant people) and political

ii. The Church is the new Israel

1. God’s Chosen people – is no longer defined by political, or ethnic identity,

2. Rather, “Israel” is a spiritual identity, defined by relationship to Christ

B. Yet the Church is a Dispersed People

i. Old & New: The elect of God were a dispersed people

1. Just as Israel was dispersed among Babylon, the church was among Rome

2. How do Christians navigate culture that doesn’t think, live, act as they do

3. EXAMPLE: Talking with my hair stylist; Oregonians;

ii. …but dispersed in this world

1. Some withdraw; some go to war, some accommodate…

2. APPLICATION: Faithful presence in the world: Daniel, Jeremiah, Esther

BUT HOW DO WE DO THAT? WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE? TO ANSSWER THAT, WE NEED TO KNOW MORE ABOUT JAMES.

II) We Need to Understand Our Identity

A. Introducing James (the Man)

i. Identifying James

1. It’s assumed everyone knows James since he doesn’t distinguish himself

2. Three possible options:

a. James the son of Zebedee (no; well-known, but martyred too early)

b. James the son of Alphaeus (no; not well-known)

c. James brother of Jesus (not apostle, but an early church leader

ii. James the Slave:

1. James knew Jesus intimately, and now professes him Lord (title, theology)

2. And he sees himself as a slave of Christ

3. APPLICATION: To become a Christian = slavery to Christ

B. Introducing James (the book)

i. James is the wisdom for living as slaves of Crist

1. The book of James is intensely practical: 54-65 “commands” (bossy?)

2. James is wisdom literature: “the knowledge of God’s world and a knack of fitting oneself into it.”

3. ILLUSTRATION Wisdom for…anger? Hardship? Speak? Silent?

ii. BUT: is James a “gospel” book?

1. Martin Luther: Not canonical because no mention of the cross.

WHWAT DO YOU THINK? THIS BRINGS US TO THE LAST  AND MOST IMPORTANT POINT.

III) We Need to be Rooted in the Gospel

A. The Untold Story: From Skeptic to Martyr

i. The story of James

1. Family dissension & doubt (Mark 3:31-35)

Mark 3:31–35 ESV

And his mother and his brothers came, and standing outside they sent to him and called him. And a crowd was sitting around him, and they said to him, “Your mother and your brothers are outside, seeking you.” And he answered them, “Who are my mother and my brothers?” And looking about at those who sat around him, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! For whoever does the will of God, he is my brother and sister and mother.”

2. James wasn’t just a skeptic, but a cynic! (John 7:5)

John 7:5 ESV

For not even his brothers believed in him.

ii. The martyrdom of James

1. James dies a martyr’s Death, praying for the people who were killing him

2. What happened?

B. The Resurrection Is the Power For Change

i. James was an eyewitness to the resurrection

1. Jesus singles out James for a post-resurrection visit (1 Cor. 15:7)

1 Corinthians 15:7 ESV

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

2. James came to see that the risen Lord had done everything for salvation

ii. The resurrection of Jesus is the power for change

1. For us the power for change rests in meeting resurrected Jesus!

2. NOT 54 more commands, but 54 ways to live faithfully to the one who gave himself for me!

Transition:

Conclusion

“The only true freedom is when I am not free to be free from Jesus.”