James

This was 19th Century Danish philosopher and theologian Soren Kierkegaard’s favorite book in the New Testament because it emphasizes practical, daily Christianity.

This was Martin Luther’s least favorite book in the New Testament because it seems to contradict Paul’s “justification by faith” emphasis in Romans and Galatians.

This was Soren Kierkegaard’s favorite book in the New Testament because it emphasizes practical, daily Christianity.

B. This was Martin Luther’s least favorite book in the New Testament because it seems to contradict Paul’s “justification by faith” emphasis in Romans and Galatians.

This is a very different genre from other NT books very much like a new covenant book of Proverbs (i.e. wisdom literature) spoken by a fiery prophet written early after Jesus’ death and still very Jewish and practical.

C. This is a very different genre from other NT books

1. very much like a new covenant book of Proverbs (i.e. wisdom literature) spoken by a fiery prophet

2. written early after Jesus’ death and still very Jewish and practical

Early church history records that James was hurled from the temple roof in 62 AD by Jewish rulers. This was just eight years before the temple itself was hurled from the mount in 70 AD by Roman soldiers.

Utley, R. J. D. (2000). Jesus’ Half-Brothers Speak: James and Jude (Vol. Volume 11, p. 1). Marshall, TX: Bible Lessons International.

Early church history records that James was hurled from the temple roof in 62 AD by Jewish rulers. This was just eight years before the temple itself was hurled from the mount in 70 AD by Roman soldiers.

James: Faith That Works

Early church history records that James was hurled from the temple roof in 62 AD by Jewish rulers.

Part 59 – June 12, 2011

This was just eight years before the temple itself was hurled from the mount in 70 AD by Roman soldiers.

📷📷Early church history records that James was hurled from the temple roof in 62AD by Jewish rulers. This was just eight years before the temple itself was hurled from the mount in 70AD by Roman soldiers.

James had refused to renounce his brother, technically his half-brother, and instead had boldly proclaimed Him as the Son of God!

📷James had refused to renounce his brother, technically his half-brother, and instead had boldly proclaimed Him as the Son of God! James’ journey to that rooftop is an intriguing story. Jesus had four brothers and at least two sisters.

James’ journey to that rooftop is an intriguing story.

Jesus had four brothers and at least two sisters.

Isn’t this the carpenter? Isn’t this Mary’s son and the brother of James, Joseph, Judasand Simon? Aren’t his sistershere with us? – NIV

Isn’t this the carpenter? Isn’t this Mary’s son and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas and Simon? Aren’t his sisters here with us? – NIV

Jesus’ family loved Him … but they thought He was nuts! And when He appoints twelve “equally delusional” followers as apostles, his mortified brothers stage an intervention. ()

Jesus’ family loved Him … but they thought He was nuts!

And when He appoints twelve “equally delusional” followers as apostles, his mortified brothers stage an intervention. ()

When his family heard about this, they went to take charge of him, for they said, “He is out of his mind.” – NIV

But Paul writes that after Jesus rose from the dead and appeared to His disciples, He staged a little intervention of His own.

Then he appeared to James … – NIV

📷What do you suppose He said? “Hey bro, missed ya at the cross. I had to ask one of my “delusional” friends to take care’a mom.” In the upper room in the days before Pentecost …

What do you suppose He said? “Hey bro, missed ya at the cross. I had to ask one of my “delusional” friends to take care’a mom.”

In the upper room in the days before Pentecost …

[The Apostles] joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and withhis brothers. – NIV

[The Apostles] joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers. – NIV

James devotes his life and death to the Gospel. And in , Paul refers to him as

James devotes his life and death to the Gospel.

Other writings of the early church refer to James as the bishop of Jerusalem church.

And in , Paul refers to him as a pillar of the church; but this brother of Jesus refers to himself only as a servant of Christ.

a pillar of the church; but this brother of Jesus refers to himself only as a servant of Christ.

James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes [i.e. Jews] scattered among the nations … – NIV

📷Damascus Gate, Jerusalem, c1900

He’s writing to converted Jews who fled persecution in Jerusalem from conventional Jews (like Paul, prior to his intervention on the road to Damascus), and are dispersed far from home.

So, as head of the church in Jerusalem, James exhorts and encourages his scattered flock to live the faith in the midst of their struggles.

“Consider it a great joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you experience various trials, because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance.”

How soft and spineless and sad we’d be without trials, like a confined lion with no room to run.

Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials … because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. – NIV

The jungle is dangerous and unpredictable; but there’s a joy in the jungle that you can’t acquire in a cage!

📷📷How soft and spineless and sad we’d be without trials, like a confined lion with no room to run.

The jungle is dangerous and unpredictable; but there’s a joy in the jungle that you can’t acquire in a cage!

Imagine your favorite movie; and right when the story conflict is introduced, someone steps in and fixes it: “Have some money!”

Imagine your favorite movie; and right when the story conflict is introduced, someone steps in and fixes it: “Have some money!” Would you say: “That was so awesome how fast things got fixed and how easy they had it!” or would you feel ripped off? Why? We want to feel the joy that comes from enduring and developing.

Would you say: “That was so awesome how fast things got fixed and how easy they had it!” or would you feel ripped off?

Why? We want to feel the joy that comes from enduring and developing.

· We’re called to be over-comers not under-getters.

We’re called to be over-comers not under-getters.

Our struggles will drive our faith to depths, possible no other way; but, only if we trust that God has our eternal best in mind and we turn to Him for the wisdom and enablement to persevere.

“Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God—who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly—and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith without doubting. For the doubter is like the surging sea, driven and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord, being double-minded and unstable in all his ways.”

If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God … But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does. – NIV

Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God—who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly—and it will be given to him. 6 But let him ask in faith without doubting. For the doubter is like the surging sea, driven and tossed by the wind. 7 That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord, 8 being double-minded and unstable in all his ways.

Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God … But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does. – NIV

When he asks for wisdom “he must believe and not doubt” what?

When he asks for wisdom “he must believe and not doubt” what? God’s promises and principles in the face of the storm. A “double-minded man” is an unstable believer, driven and tossed by emotions and circumstance into violating God’s revealed will.

God’s promises and principles in the face of the storm.

A “double-minded man” is an unstable believer, driven and tossed by emotions and circumstance into violating God’s revealed will.

“I’m going to drown in debt; I should rig my 1040!”

“My marriage is foundering; I should look for a new mate!”

If you’re obedient when it’s convenient, and you jump ship when it gets rough, the only thing you’ll receive is an emotional storm.

Faith isn’t blind trust; it’s a determination to trust what you know to be true, in spite of how you feel in the moment.

📷Faith isn’t blind trust; it’s a determination to trust what you know to be true, in spite of how you feel in the moment. A leap of faith is not like jumping off a cliff in the dark and hoping for the best. It’s like bungee jumping. After examining the apparatus and getting firmly strapped in, it still requires courage to trust what you know to be true, and to take that leap of faith.

A leap of faith is not like jumping off a cliff in the dark and hoping for the best.

It’s like bungee jumping.

After examining the apparatus and getting firmly strapped in, it still requires courage to trust what you know to be true, and to take that leap of faith.

📷And, it helps to have a friend for support.

And, it helps to have a friend for support.

James is saying, “You’ve examined and embraced God’s love and grace. Now live courageously according to what you know to be true. Don’t calibrate your convictions about God by your circumstances, but by the cross.

James is often compared to Proverbs, because he offers such a variety of practical teachings in these short-burst statements. But, it’s all one big challenge to examine our faith and confirm that it’s authentic, or confess that it’s artificial.

James is often compared to Proverbs, because he offers such a variety of practical teachings in these short-burst statements.

But, it’s all one big challenge to examine our faith and confirm that it’s authentic, or confess that it’s artificial.

What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? … faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. - James 14a, 17b NIV

“What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but does not have works? In the same way faith, if it doesn’t have works, is dead by itself.” ,

If you call yourself a bungee jumper, but you’ve never actually jumped … you can’t really call yourself a bungee jumper.

What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but does not have works? In the same way faith, if it doesn’t have works, is dead by itself.

Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.

Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? … faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. - James 14a, 17b NIV

If you call yourself a bungee jumper, but you’ve never actually jumped … you can’t really call yourself a bungee jumper.

Wasn’t Abraham our father justified by works in offering Isaac his son on the altar? –

Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up Isaac his son on the altar? – NAS

This sounds so contradictory to what Paul wrote in Galatians.

… a man is not justified by the works of the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus … – NAS

Paul’s point is that works can’t save us or add to what Jesus has done.

Paul’s point is that works can’t save us or add to what Jesus has done. James agrees, but points out that a genuine, faithful commitment to Christ will reveal itself in our words and actions. Even Jesus had said …

James agrees, but points out that a genuine, faithful commitment to Christ will reveal itself in our words and actions.

Even Jesus had said … “Not everyone who says to me, “Lord, Lord,” will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.” – NIV

Not everyone who says to me, “Lord, Lord,” will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. – NIV

If faith was merely a matter of intellectual recognition and not gratitude-motivated obedience, the devil himself would be saved!

“… show me your faith without the works, and I will show you faith by my works. You believe that God is one. Good! Even demons believe, and they shudder.” –

… show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works. You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder. – NAS

The devil is many things, but he’s not an atheist!

When Paul wrote to the Ephesians, he cleared up any confusion.

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith … For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works …” – , NIV

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith … For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works … – , NIV

We’re saved “by grace”, “through faith”, “to do good works”.

📷We’re saved “by grace”, “through faith”, “to do good works”. Paul was describing the root; whereas James was describing the fruit. Salvation is like a tree that Jesus wants to plant in our heart. We can only accept it as a free gift because He simply won’t sell it. And once planted, it begins to grow the fruit of His Spirit. The fruit doesn’t produce the tree; but the tree produces the fruit.

Paul was describing the root; whereas James was describing the fruit.

Salvation is like a tree that Jesus wants to plant in our heart.

We can only accept it as a free gift because He simply won’t sell it.

And once planted, it begins to grow the fruit of His Spirit.

The fruit doesn’t produce the tree; but the tree produces the fruit.

A faith that embraces God’s gift of salvation produces grateful, fruitful obedience. And

A faith that embraces God’s gift of salvation produces grateful, fruitful obedience.

the book of James is a thorough checklist of what should be growing on each of our trees.

And the book of James is a thorough checklist of what should be growing on each of our trees.

In five short chapters, he covers: boasting, hoarding, swearing, grumbling, peacemaking, quarreling, coveting, confession, pride, ambition, purity, temptation, patience, benevolence, integrity, generosity, transparency, envy, slander, prayer, and more! At times, he can’t seem to pound the checklist out fast enough.

In five short chapters, he covers: boasting, hoarding, swearing, grumbling, peacemaking, quarreling, coveting, confession, pride, ambition, purity, temptation, patience, benevolence, integrity, generosity, transparency, envy, slander, prayer, and more!

At times, he can’t seem to pound the checklist out fast enough.

“But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peace-loving, gentle, compliant, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without pretense.”

Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.

But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. – NIV

And if you really want to see your faith for what it is, James says to look no further than the toxic fruit below your nose.

“It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With the tongue we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in God’s likeness. Blessing and cursing come out of the same mouth. My brothers and sisters, these things should not be this way. Does a spring pour out sweet and bitter water from the same opening? Can a fig tree produce olives, my brothers and sisters, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a saltwater spring yield fresh water.”

[The Tongue] is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. … Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. … My brothers, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? – , NIV

Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.[The Tongue] is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. … Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. … My brothers, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? – , NIV

Our tongues bear whatever fruit is hiding in our heart.

Our tongues bear whatever fruit is hiding in our heart. So, what does your tongue say about your faith? Is it vibrant and growing or vicious and dying?

So, what does your tongue say about your faith?

Is it vibrant and growing or vicious and dying?

James warns us not to use our tongue to slander.

“Don’t criticize one another, brothers and sisters. Anyone who defames or judges a fellow believer defames and judges the law. If you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge. There is one lawgiver and judge who is able to save and to destroy.”

James learned this lesson the hardest way possible. He “spoke against his [half-]brother” and “judged him”, and He turned out to be the one true, eternal, “Lawgiver and Judge”!

Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.

Anyone who speaks against his brother or judges him speaks against the law and judges it. … There is only one Lawgiver and Judge … – NIV

James learned this lesson the hardest way possible.

James learned this lesson the hardest way possible. He “spoke against his [half-]brother” and “judged him”, and He turned out to be the one true, eternal, “Lawgiver and Judge”!

He “spoke against his [half-]brother” and “judged him”, and He turned out to be the one true, eternal, “Lawgiver and Judge”!

According to James, talk is cheap (and usually destructive). But each choice we make to do what’s right in spite of emotion or circumstance, will demonstrate a deep love and trust in God. We can’t talk our way to Heaven; we’ll have to walk!

According to James, talk is cheap (and usually destructive).

But each choice we make to do what’s right in spite of emotion or circumstance, will demonstrate a deep love and trust in God.

We can’t talk our way to Heaven; we’ll have to walk!

Prayer for commitment to salvation and living life of fruit.

James

Who Is James?

Perseverance in Trials

Live Out Your Faith

Talk Is Cheap!