James, the Servant of Christ
The Book of James • Sermon • Submitted
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· 6 viewsAn introductory sermon on the Book of James
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INTRODUCTION
INTRODUCTION
For the rest of the year on Wednesday night we will be studying the Book of James. It’s a very unique book in the NT and has high amounts of personal application.
Our series them for this is “Faith on the Outside.” There are probably countless themes that could be used for the book, but for our focus this year, it’s important to see that the faith that we walk by out to be visible in our Christian lives. So let’s look at some ways in the book of James that this should happen.
1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting.
1. James, the Man
1. James, the Man
Let’s take some time to look at the writer and the very first word of the Epistle, James.
A. Identifying James
A. Identifying James
James wastes no time in introducing who he is. However, there are several James in the Bible (4 to be exact).
13 And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room, where abode both Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon Zelotes, and Judas the brother of James.
Here we see three James’ in one verse!
James the brother of Judas is only here and in Luke 6:16 and is used to distinguish him from Judas Isacariot.
James the son of Alphaeus is pretty obscure. Probably not well known enough to have written an authoritative letter to Christians in his own name.
Then we have James the son of Zebedee, an apostle. One of the inner circle, the three. But James the apostle was put to death by Herod Agrippa I
2 And he killed James the brother of John with the sword.
This would have been around AD 44.
The only James left is the brother of Jesus. So let’s talk about him a bit. During Jesus earthly ministry James, his brother, was not a believer.
5 For neither did his brethren believe in him.
But he was saved sometime after the resurrection.
7 After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles.
He had leadership in the church later.
17 But he, beckoning unto them with the hand to hold their peace, declared unto them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, Go shew these things unto James, and to the brethren. And he departed, and went into another place.
And was the pastor at the church of Jerusalem
13 And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Men and brethren, hearken unto me:
No other James in the Bible lived long enough to have written this letter. While we can’t be 100% sure that this is James the brother of Jesus, all the evidence points that way.
B. James the Servant
B. James the Servant
Here James simply identifies himself as a servant of the Lord. One the surface that may seem insignificant, but in reality it reveals the spiritual state of James. The word servant in the text comes from the Greek word doulos and literally means “a bond slave.” It reveals that James recognized Jesus as his master.
So we know that James was the brother of Jesus, but even that physical relationship didn’t really mean much.
Servant is an important title in the Bible.
5 So Moses the servant of the LORD died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of the LORD.
21 Then may also my covenant be broken with David my servant, that he should not have a son to reign upon his throne; and with the Levites the priests, my ministers.
1 Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God,
But James has a bit longer of a title here, “servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ.” This is the only place in the NT where this is used. His point is that he serves both God and the Lord Jesus Christ. Lord is used reflecting that Jesus is King of kings, and Christ showing that He is the promiseed Messiah. James’ view of his half-brother had changed drastically over time.
2. James, the Messenger
2. James, the Messenger
A. The Readers of His Letter
A. The Readers of His Letter
First lets note that this is a letter - not some short story or theology lesson. This means that James is writing to a specific audience about some specific things.
Also, it isn’t addressed to a single church but to the twelve tribes that are scattered. However, it probably was to a specific group of churches going through some difficult circumstances.
It didn’t take long for persecution to come to the church. Many of the early believers faced intense persecution for their faith. They were in an oppressed condition and under severe poverty.
4 Behold, the hire of the labourers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth: and the cries of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of sabaoth.
5 Ye have lived in pleasure on the earth, and been wanton; ye have nourished your hearts, as in a day of slaughter.
6 Ye have condemned and killed the just; and he doth not resist you.
6 But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats?
7 Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are called?
At this point most of the believers were Jewish converts and they were greatly persecuted for abandoning the synagogues and the law. This persecution caused many of them to flee Jerusalem into other areas.
James was concerned for the well being of the church as a whole, not just those who remained in Jerusalem. He sought to challenge and encourage all who had received Christ as Lord. He wanted to exhort them to remain steadfast in the faith, resisting the temptation to embrace the doctrines of the legalists.
Do we have a compassion for our fellow believers? Do we care about those struggling around the world?
B. The Desire in His Letter
B. The Desire in His Letter
James offers a greeting to all who will read this epistle. That is not unusual. The word translated greeting has the same idea as “Hello!”
It is translated over 70 times in the New Testament as simply a greeting of hello. It is also translated over 60 times as rejoice. Apparently it was a word that held both meanings. It appears that early on in his greeting, James sought to encourage the church and challenge them to ponder the abundant blessings of God.
James’ desire in this letter is to be a help to these believers and that’s probably why it’s still a popular book of the Bible today
It’s super practical - it’s really helpful for believers looking for specific guidance.
22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
It’s brief and to the point. It’s often called the Proverbs of the New Testament.
There are a lot of metaphors and illustrations: the sea, the withered flower, the face in a mirror, a bit in a horse’s mouth, the rudder of a ship, a destructive fire, the arrogant businessman, etc - all have universal application
James’ desire is to give highly applicable teaching to a hurting people.
3. The Importance of James
3. The Importance of James
A. The Purpose
A. The Purpose
As we’ve kind of already touched on, his desire was to confront any corruption to their faith that was gaining ground in the church. Some had buckled under the pressure of persecution and were using their faith as a license to sin.
Also, he wanted to show them what genuine faith looked lie - Faith on the Outside. A faith that the world could see.
B. The Focus
B. The Focus
Well in some ways, it seems that James lacks clear focus and even ogranization. James moves from topic to topic rather quickly and sometimes there’s very little relationship between topics.
There no obvious structure or even clearly defined theme.
But if we were to classify its focus - we would say that it is wisdom literature. In a sense here, he has put his preaching into written form and covered the main points of what he wanted to say within a letter.
James, in covering the royal law, does address all believers of all ages and emphasizes the necessity ot love our neighbors.
8 If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well:
9 But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors.
10 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.
James is a practical epistle - focusing also on the need for maturity and spiritual growth, along with Christian ethics.
C. The Emphasis on Christ
C. The Emphasis on Christ
James depend more on the teachings of Jesus than any other NT author. James does quote Jesus’s teaching from Matthew
12 But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath: but let your yea be yea; and your nay, nay; lest ye fall into condemnation.
He also weaves Jesus’ teachings throughout the letter. There is very close wording to Matthew quite often.
The author of the letter seems to have been so soaked in the atmosphere and specifics of Jesus’ teaching that he can reflet them almost unconsciously.
— Douglas Moo
Look at some examples
1 My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons.
7 Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain.
8 Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.
He constantly has a Christ-ward focus
CONCLUSION
How to get the most out of James
Examine your life in the light of God’s Word.
23 For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:
24 For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.
25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.
Be honest about what God shows you in His mirror.
Obey what God teaaches you.
22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
3. Prepare for trials and testing. Whenever we get seriously about growing, we are to expect attacks as well.