What is and is not From Above

Introduction

Open your Bibles to James chapter 3

We are going to be in verse 13-18 this morning.

The title of the sermon is What is and is not from above. In chapter 1 verse 5 Jame admonished us to ask God for wisdom and he told us that God answers that prayer. By the end of our time together today, I think you will come to see how comforting those words in Chapter 1 are. God has called believers to a certain life style over and over in scripture. There is a character to the believer. Jesus said that we know who are of him and who are not by their fruit (Matthew 7:20). John tells us that if we don't keep God’s commandments and love each other we are not of God. (1 John 3:10) Paul tells us the believers walk in the Spirit and those lives produce fruits consistent with the Spirit. (Gal 5:22-24) Here in this text we are not going to find James talking us any different. Those that are of God have God’s wisdom in their actions.

James 3:13–18 ESV

Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom. But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

Lets Pray

Body

Main Body Division 1

Text

James 3:13–14 ESV

Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom. But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth.

Explanation

Calvin asked "Who is a wise man[?]” [1]

Leaving that question for later

jealousy and selfish ambition held on to is being be false to the truth.

What is the truth?

The word of God,

God himself

All things that are consistent with God’s revelation of himself

There is one arbiter of truth and he is God.

jealousy and selfish ambition held on to prevent us from being God’s children

1 John 3:10 ESV

By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother.

Illustration

On Facebook this week an a friend of mine named, Jonathan Edwards, wrote, “An angry person is like a tank of gasoline, and the smallest offense like a spark.” [2]

Interestingly on the same day I read Jonathan’s post, I saw a video of a irate police officer threatening a person with a ticket for honking their horn at him. The person had not done anything wrong and the office knew it. Anger and frustration, had take hold in the officer’s heart. Perhaps the officer had a bad day, perhaps he was under stress at home. What ever the reason his tank was filled with gasoline and that horn had been enough of a spark to set it ablaze.

Application

When we have “bitter jealousy and selfish ambition” (Jas 3:14, ESV) we do not have the fruit of the Sprint.

The fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5:22-23, ESV) are the opposites of “bitter jealousy and selfish ambition”

Love

Joy

Peace

Patience

kindness

goodness

faithfulness

gentleness

self-control

Transition

As we look to verse 15 and 16 we will see that this wisdom which produces “bitter jealousy and selfish ambition” in its wake leave “every vile practice” (Jas 3:16b, ESV)

Main Body Division 2

Text

James 3:15–16 ESV

This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice.

Explanation

Remember in chapter 1 verse 5 we were admonished to “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach.” (Jas 1:5, ESV)

Wisdom rooted in “bitter jealousy and selfish ambition” (Jas 3:14, ESV) is not the wisdom granted by God.

There are three words James uses,

earthly (Creature, coming from that which is not the creator)

unspiritual (Finite, physically, the opposite of Infinite)

demonic (Rebellious)

I enjoyed John Calvin’s summarization of verse 16. He said,

“It is an argument from what is contrary; for [jealousy], by which hypocrites are influenced, produces effects contrary to wisdom. For wisdom requires a state of mind that is calm and composed, but [jealousy] disturbs it, so that in itself it becomes in a manner tumultuous, and boils up immoderately against others.[3]

What Calvin said simply put is that when “jealousy and selfish ambition” (Jas 3:16, ESV) is at the heart of the matter it will manifest as immodest out bursts and frustration to others.

Jame says that “jealousy and selfish ambition” lead to “every vile practice.” (Jas:3:16, ESV)

Illustration

Remember the police officer I spoke of before. Threatening a person with a citation for using their horn. Immodest out bursts and frustration to others.

Application

Think for a moment about how this apply to us.

Jesus reminds us the we are commanded to “love your neighbor as yourself.” (Matthew 22:39, ESV)

Can we possibly love our neighbor and keep “bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in [our] hearts[?]” (Jas 3:14, ESV)

More over this “bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in [our] hearts[?]” will lead to all sorts of evil.

A couple of example of how they lead to all sorts of evil

What’s emotions causes unfaithfulness to our spouse?

Jealousy

his wife is prettier than mine.

her husband is more caring than mine

Selfish Ambition

I deserve this affair and I don't care how it hurts my spouse.

What’s the primary cause of neglecting our spiritual duties.

Jealousy

A few more hours at work and I can have a boat, a TV, a house, bigger then Rays.

A few less dollars in the plate and I can afford that new bike (speaking for myself)

Selfish Ambition

A few more hours at work and I have can by that new boat, TV, house, or bike (hey bikes are expensive)

Bible study can wait

Bible reading can wait

Prayer time can wait

Family devotions can wait

Transition

We have seen the what is not from above. But what does the wisdom look like that come from above. In verse 17 and 18 James contrasts the “earthly, unspiritual, demonic” with what is not “earthly, unspiritual, demonic.” Jas 3:15.

Main Body Division 3

Text

James 3:17–18 ESV

But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

Explanation

The qualities of the wisdom from above are, “peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.” (Jas 3:17, ESV)

Looks like the Fruits of the Spirit from Galatians 5 and the qualities of loving our brother from 1 John 3.

The scriptures are amazingly so cohesive.

I am going to read Galatians and James sections side by side

Galatians 5:22–23 ESV

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

James 3:17 ESV

But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.

Not having the time to take each one of these words “pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere” (Jas 3:17, ESV) individuality I think we should look at the statement “open to reason.”

Contracting and emotional response to a reasoned response

Emotional response

bitter jealousy and selfish ambition

Reasonable response

having the ability to be reasonable means not being controlled by emotion.

Quite simply Christian your response to everything should always be reasoned. This does not mean without emotion, but it does mean not controlled by it.

Example, abortion.

Illustration

Remember the office I have used an an illustration. He was yelling at the person, threatening them, holding up a bunch of traffic in the process. There was no reasonableness in the interaction.

Application

Can we disagree with reasonableness? I have found that the brothers and sisters here are ready to be reasonable and this is a good thing.

However, we need to be careful, we live in a world of hyper emotionalism. Videos now have trigger warnings, to warn people that the video might elitist a violent emotional response. Words like Hate Speech, and bigot are used so often they almost don't mean anything any more.

The quote from John Calvin earlier stated “wisdom requires a state of mind that is calm and composed” [4]

We need to ask ourselves, is our mind “calm and composed.” in the face of this world that tries to undo us? Do all the trails and stresses we face teach us to cling to the wisdom from above or we to run off in to, “earthly, unspiritual, demonic” thoughts?

Transition

It is important we hear and act on the wisdom from above, which I believe Pastor Gabe will expound on more next time.

Why is it important, look at verse 18

James 3:18 ESV

And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

Jesus said “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God" (Matt 5:9, ESV)

Being a peacemaker requires the wisdom from above.

Conclusion

As we conclude today, we now understand how comforting the statement “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, ...” (Jas 1:5, ESV) is for us.

Our natural sin nature runs to

“bitter jealousy and selfish ambition” (Jas 3:14, ESV)

It runs to “earthly, unspiritual, demonic” thinking (Jas 3:15, ESV)

But God will faithfully give us the wisdom that we need.

Paul reminds us to “work out your own salvation with fear and trembling” (Php 2:12, ESV)

Why does Paul give us this instruction? “it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.” “Php 2:13, ESV)

Do not go from here to day with the thought, “I will be more wise.” Rather, go with the prayer, God make me more like your son, believing he will grant that request. Because he will.

Let Us Pray

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.

Please Stand for the Final Hymn

References

[1] John Calvin and John Owen, Commentaries on the Catholic Epistles (Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software, 2010), 324.”

[2] https://www.facebook.com/jonathan.edward.39/posts/10226214607980420

[3] John Calvin and John Owen, Commentaries on the Catholic Epistles (Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software, 2010), 326.

[4] John Calvin and John Owen, Commentaries on the Catholic Epistles (Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software, 2010), 324.”

Bibliography

Calvin, John, and John Owen. Commentaries on the Catholic Epistles. Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software, 2010.