The Book of James

Introduction

Background

The book of James has experienced a great deal of controversy over the centuries. Even though it was one of the first NT books written, it was one of the last to be adopted. This is in part due to the nature of the book. It’s very fast-paced in its delivery and power packed in its application. One commentator noted that it has the highest concentration of imperatives or commands for any book of the NT. Its practical and action-oriented focus has caused some to question whether this book contradicts others - especially on the balance of faith and works.

In addition to its content, one of the reasons people have had challenges with the book is its author - who is James? or rather, which James is it? James could be more accurately translated Jacob. This was a common name in the first century. There are several known James’ (or Jacob’s) in the NT.

James the Son of Zebedee (the Apostle John’s brother) is one. He was part of the inner circle of Jesus’ disciples. Unfortunately, he was also one of the first to be martyred - making him an unlikely author.

James the son of Alpheus - was also one of Jesus’ disciples. Most scholars don’t think this is the correct author because he does not identify himself as an apostle. Instead the author simply notes that he is a “servant” of God.

James - the half brother of Jesus - is the traditional and most likely author. He is referenced in the book of Acts (ch. 12, 15) and as “the Lord’s brother” in Galatians 1-2.

One of the other challenging elements to the book is its audience. Where most of the epistles are sent to a specific church or region, this one is simply sent to the “the twelve tribes in the Dispersion.” Presumably these are Jewish background believers who have undergone some persecution and trials.

As you read through the book, there are elements that are reminiscent of Jesus’ teaching, especially in the sermon on the mount, and of the book of Proverbs as James seems to fill this book with what the Bible Project guys call “Short wisdom speeches full of metaphors and one-liners.”

One of the challenges of preaching this book is not so much the content - there is plenty of good preach-able material. In fact we could easily meditate on each little section of the book for a while - which is what the Middle School students are doing each Thursday in our class. What makes this book challenging to preach is it’s structure - at face value, there doesn’t seem to be a clear outline or organization as James jumps from one topic to the next.

In some ways, it’s almost as though he writes something - some word in what he wrote reminds him of something else so he jumps to that topic, which then leads him to another line of thinking - and so he goes to that topic. Occasionally all of this jumping around causes some repeated themes. It does seem like he at least mentions some element of each topic in the first chapter and then circles back to that topic later on. Today, as we look at the book, we’ll focus on the topics of the first chapter and look briefly at how he address those in the later chapters.

You can also see this a bit in the printed sheet that is available for the kids to color. It looks a bit like this...

(insert picture of the Bible Project handout)

In your outline, you’ll notice that we will reference each place where this theme seems to be mentioned throughout the book. Let me encourage you to go back this afternoon or some other time later this week to reflect on these themes.

As we begin, the very first topic is the issue of trials. In it, James seems to be communicating that...

Maturing comes through trials which are gifts from God (James 1:2-4; 12-18; 5:7-12)

Right at the beginning, James encourages us to...

James 1:2–4 ESV

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

and then later in the chapter he continues

James 1:12–18 ESV

Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him. Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death. Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.

Trials are not things that we look forward to. They are difficult and sometimes painful and yet James urges us here to “count” them as “ALL joy” because of the work that they accomplish in us.

James doesn’t really mention what form these trials might take. For many of these believers, it would have likely involved some sort of persecution as they were part of a faith that may have been outlawed and was definitely misunderstood.

But for us, we might see these trials as...

physical - dealing with health issues or injury

emotional - being challenged by mental health or emotional responses to other situations Or simply stress from a variety of sources

occupational - this may be a new boss who is unethical or just downright mean, being laid off, or overlooked for advancement. Some folks experienced this quite a bit over the last year as the pandemic wreaked havoc on our economy.

relational - dealing with conflict with a neighbor or family member, or rebellion of a child, or even persecution from someone who is maligning you.

spiritual - trials can be blatantly spiritual - as we work to be transformed - to change our thinking and our living - God may allow the enemy to attack in some specific ways - like we saw with Job.

We get to count these trials as joy because they are working to bring us to maturity or really completion or wholeness.

In our Middle School class, we’ve been walking through James on Right Now Media with Francis Chan. As he was talking about this issue of trials, he referenced the perfecting work of trials by helping us see a picture of gold, silver or another metal being refined. As the metal is heated up, the impurity or dross comes to the top where the metallurgist scrapes or pulls away as much dross as possible. The heating continues until his or her reflection can be seen in the molten metal.

Think about it like this, as God turns up the heat in some area of our lives, he is allowing those things to rise to the top that do not honor him - those attitudes, reactions, judgments, words - he then pulls those away, revealing more and more of his reflection in us.

That’s why we get to count it joy. God is perfecting us through this process.

In fact, in James 5:7-12 - James is urging a long view of suffering and encourages us to be patient - like a farmer would be patient for the harvest. Suffering, persecution, trials - must finish their work - so that we will be “mature and complete, not lacking anything.”

Which leads us to the next topic that James brings up, that is wisdom. He is reminding us that...

God is the giver of wisdom, if we will just ask (James 1:5-8; 3:13-18; 4:13-17; 5:13-20)

So, as we encounter difficult times or trials, what is our first response? Do we fight it, run from it, or do we take it to the Lord? James seems to be urging us to turn to God for discernment, for wisdom...

James 1:5–8 ESV

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

Have you ever experienced paralysis of analysis? That inability to make a decision because you keep weighing the options? That is a bit of the double-mindedness that James speaks of hear. Asking God for insight, and then trying to work it out on our own or going back and forth on whether or not God is good enough to provide the wisdom you desire.

Sometimes it can be difficult to hear from the Lord. Sometimes it can be challenging to wait for His perfect timing. We get to take great comfort in knowing that we are not alone in this process. In chapter 5, James gives us some more advice...

James 5:13–20 ESV

Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise. Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth. Then he prayed again, and heaven gave rain, and the earth bore its fruit. My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back, let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.

This passage doesn’t specifically mention wisdom, but is does communicate the communal element to our walks with God. We are not alone. We get to pray and praise, we get to ask for others to pray. We get to deal with the dross with one another.

You see, sometimes we can’t see what needs to be removed in our lives, what needs to be confessed. Sometimes we need one another to help, to refine, to restore us.

I believe that is part of the wisdom that God provides. Wisdom found in His Word, through His Spirit, and in this community of faith.

Another topic that James spends a great deal of time with is the topic of words. If we could lump what he is saying in one phrase or sentence, it might read...

Listen quickly, speak carefully, act consistently (James 1:19-26; 2:14-26; 3:1-13)

James 1:19–26 ESV

Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing. If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless.

So, there are the words that we hear. Sometimes those words are sharp and poorly spoken. Sometimes those words are sweet and gentle. Sometimes those words are convicting. Rather than hearing those words and reacting, we get to take a step back and process them.

I think this is one of the challenges we face in our Social Media and 24 hour news cycle crazed world. Everything has to be instantaneous. We may be easily offended or infuriated, but James seems to be urging us to hear the word, process it before replying and make changes where it’s appropriate - sort of like looking in a mirror.

But more than just hearing words, we have to be careful with the words that we say.

James dedicates most of chapter three to discuss the power of the tongue and the encouragement to be careful with what we say and to be thoughtful if we are to become teacher - because of the influence that our words have.

But the words that we hear, especially from God, and the words that we say should be exemplified in how we live - in what we say we believe.

James 2:14–17 ESV

What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

There should be a consistency among what we believe, what we say, and what we do.

Which brings us to the final topic that we get to see in the book of James, that is...

True religion is compassionate and impartial (James 1:27; 2:1-13; 4:1-12)

The other day in our Ice Cream zoom time, the kids and I were talking about last week’s catechism question and answer which said:

Question 34 Since we are redeemed by grace alone, through Christ alone, must we still do good works and obey God’s Word?

Yes, so that our lives may show love and gratitude to God; and so that by our godly behavior others may be won to Christ.

So I asked them, what kinds of actions should Christians do?

They gave some great answers like sharing the gospel, going to church, worshiping, praying and more. A lot of their answers centered around what we do together in church.

I wonder if that’s what a lot of us practically think? Is it enough to have faith and go to church? Is there more?

I believe James would answer with a resounding yes - there is more!

James 1:27 ESV

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.

James is specifically talking about how we treat people who are disadvantaged - who are left without a real aid in this world - specifically orphans and widows.

Beyond being compassionate toward the disadvantaged, James also urges us to be impartial - not to view the wealthy or the powerful as more important than the poor or those who have no influence.

James 2:1 ESV

My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory.

He then gives an example of a wealthy person coming to the assembly and being showed extra honor over a poor person.

He then wraps up this idea of partiality by stating...

James 2:8–9 ESV

If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well. But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors.

The whole point is that we need to love others - regardless of their station in life. If President Biden or Vice-President Harris came in to join us for worship, they might have some special security considerations, but I hope that the person who joins us from a rented basement apartment in town would be just as welcomed - if not more!

(how do we treat people from another ethnic background?)

(faith and works)

So, the true religion that James is urging us to live out impact how we treat others…but he is also talking about our own holiness.

James 1:27 ESV

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.

Partiality to certain people can stain us - we can begin to take on their attitudes, perspectives, speech, and more.

But we can also be stained by the things that we read, watch, listen to. All of those things make an impact in our lives - they leave some mark on us. Are there shows that we are watching, books that we’re reading, sites that we’re scanning that are staining us?

Conclusion

I love the book of James. There is so much that is practical and worthy of consideration. It’s not always easy, but it is livable.

But there is one final thing that I want us to consider.

When Jesus walked on earth, he embodied the message that James presents before us here.

He endured suffering, not because he needed to be perfected or matured, but to take on himself the refining work that that we needed to keep us from being eternally separated from God.

He sought wisdom from God as he regularly made time to pray - and then even in the garden of Gethsemane, the night before he was to be crucified, Jesus laid his concerns before the Lord and then willingly laid down his life for us - trusting in the plan of God, the wisdom of God - even through the pain that it would bring.

Jesus listened to the Father and carefully communicated that to his followers and then embodied that in the way that he lived.

Finally, he demonstrated true compassionate religion and impartiality by welcoming the sick and the sinful, by caring for the needy, by calling the weak.

Jesus is our perfect example. He is more than that, he is our perfect savior. If you have not yet trusted in his finished work on the cross, then maybe today is the day that you do that. Turn from your sin, trust that Jesus has permanently paid the price for that, and then live a life that is gradually being transformed by his sanctifying and finishing work.

Let’s pray.

(let’s not display the memory verse)

Memory Verse: James 1:22

James 1:22 ESV

But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.

The Lord’s Supper

Benediction

Jude 24–25 ESV

Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.

References:

https://bibleproject.com/explore/video/james/

Crossway Bibles. The ESV Study Bible. Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2008.

Dever, Mark the Message of the New Testament: Promises Kept, Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books, 2005

Gromacki, Robert G. New Testament Survey. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 1974.

Moo, Douglas J. The Letter of James. The Pillar New Testament Commentary. Grand Rapids, MI; Leicester, England: Eerdmans; Apollos, 2000.