Living Out Our Faith Skillfully - James 3:1
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Introduction
Introduction
Tonight, we are getting back to our study of James. We finished chapter 2. We will be starting chapter 3.
As a reminder, we are studying verse-by-verse, paragraph-by-paragraph through each chapter. Our goal is to rightly divide God’s Word through an intense Bible study seeking to apply its principles to our lives. A secondary goal is to help each of you learn a method of Bible study or to help you develop a method of Bible study.
So far, we have learned that this entire book deals with our faith in Christ. In particular, it is all about living our faith before Him and others. Thus, the theme of James is “Living Out Our Faith.”
In chapter 1, we discovered how to live out our faith victoriously. Some of the key verse being verses 2-4 which say.
2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;
3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.
4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
Chapter 2 taught us how to live out our faith openly before God and others. Here are a couple of key verses from this chapter.
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.
Now, as we move into chapter 3, we will learn how to live out our faith skilfully.
Now, before we go any further, let’s take a few minutes to examine this chapter as whole.
Chapter 3 contains 18 verses. There are 21 sentences or complete thoughts. This chapter is divided into two paragraphs. Verses 1-12 complete the first paragraph. Verses 13-18 complete the second.
Let’s read the first paragraph together.
1 My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation.
2 For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.
3 Behold, we put bits in the horses’ mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body.
4 Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth.
5 Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!
6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.
7 For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind:
8 But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.
9 Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God.
10 Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.
11 Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter?
12 Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh.
Tonight, we begin study of the first paragraph starting with verse 1 which reads.
1 My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation.
Grammatically, this verse breaks down like this.
There are two phrases. The first is “My brethren, be not many masters.” The second is “knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation.”
There are three nouns. They are...
Brethren - a male (believer) understood as one’s sibling in God’s family; sometimes used of any siblings (regardless of gender) in God’s family
Masters - in general, a person who teaches others; in church leadership, a person who teaches the doctrine and way of life of Christianity
Condemnation - judgment, decision, verdict; specifically connotes the result of a judgment or a manner of quickly passing condemnation
There are three verbs. They are...
Be - state of being
Knowing - to have seen, to know; refers to the past act of seeing with the present effect of knowing what was seen
We shall receive - to experience, conceived of as coming into the possession of an experience
There are two adjectives. They are...
The word “many” describing “masters.”
The word “greater” describing “condemnation.”
There is one adverb and it is the word “not.”
There is one conjunction which is the word “that.”
Let’s take a look at what this verse teaches us.
Be not many masters (v. 1a),
Be not many masters (v. 1a),
Master means teacher. The Greek word used here comes from the root word meaning to teach, and it is the same word used in John 1:38 which says...
38 Then Jesus turned, and saw them following, and saith unto them, What seek ye? They said unto him, Rabbi, (which is to say, being interpreted, Master,) where dwellest thou?
Thus, word “Rabbi” means “Master” which means “teacher.” Christ used this same word of Himself in Matthew 23:8.
8 But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren.
9 And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven.
10 Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ.
11 But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant.
12 And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.
This particular passage brings us to the heart of the issue here in James 3. The Holy Spirit reminds us that being a teacher comes with great responsibility. All of us must understand that there is only one Master, the Lord Jesus Christ. And, even though the Holy Spirit calls those who are to teach others also (2 Timothy 2:2), we must be careful. Teaching others is a huge responsibility. Therefore, we must always weigh the responsibility of teaching before engaging to teach others.
For this reason, Christ reminds us we are all to sit at His feet. He is the Master. Anyone who seeks to teach must first learn to humble himself by sitting at the feet of Jesus. Humility is a theme that runs throughout the book of James. Note with me James 4:10.
10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.
Here is my thought as I see it from Scripture. The person who learns to humble themselves before the Lord and seeks to have His grace in their lives is a person who allows God to lift them. Our desire should always start with pleasing God first. Then, as God sees fit, He will be the one Who leads us into positions such as teaching. However, it all starts with us realizing that He is everything and we are nothing.
There seems to be another element here as well. How many have heard the saying there are too many cooks in the kitchen. It would seem that many were desiring to be teachers or, as I may, Masters over others. The problem with too many cooks or too many teachers is that it leads to confusion. Yes, there are those whom God has gifted and called to teach, and there is no doubt about that. However, there is also an order that God has ordained within each local church. That order established by God begins with a pastor who God calls to be His under-shepherd. From there, all teachers within each respective local church must answer to the pastor as God’s ordained authority. In doing so, we avoid confusion. Additionally, the pastor becomes the one who is accountable to God for all teaching within a church.
All this brings us to the following phrase here, which is “knowing that.”
Knowing that
Knowing that
As we have already noted in the past, the word “knowing” here means to be cognizant or aware of a fact or specific piece of information. It is all about possessing the necessary knowledge or information about something to act upon it. Biblical knowledge comes by reading and studying God’s Word. If you spend enough time in God’s Word, you will realize that increased knowledge leads to greater responsibility.
Let me give you a simple illustration by using salvation as an example.
We know the passage in Romans 10 that says
14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?
15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!
16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?
17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
It is clear from this passage that people must hear the good news of the gospel before they believe. Thus, we must proclaim it so they can hear. Upon hearing the gospel, the responsibility of that information falls upon them. Thus, with knowledge comes responsibility.
That is the essence of what the Holy Spirit is saying to us in this verse. Be careful about seeking after something, especially a position such as teaching. Why? To answer that question, we must go to the following phrase.
We shall receive the greater condemnation(v. 1b).
We shall receive the greater condemnation(v. 1b).
Note the use of the pronoun “we.” We must remember that the Holy Spirit is using the apostle James to pen these words. James was one of Christ’s chosen disciples having walked and talked directly with Christ. More importantly, James sat at the foot of Jesus, learning from the Master. Now that Christ had returned to Heaven, James and the other remaining apostles had a commission to teach others. Remember Christ’s words in Matthew 28.
19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
Thus, James uses the pronoun “we,” referring to him and all Christ commissioned to teach. James knew the considerable responsibility that came with teaching others. Note two things mentioned here.
First, “shall receive” indicates a teacher’s responsibility, and whoever God calls and gifts to teach is personally chosen to an important task. Thus, each teacher is personally accountable to God for what and how they teach. For that reason, each believer who teaches God’s Word to others must do so with a sober attitude. None of us should ever take teaching God’s Word lightly. It matters not who you may be teaching, whether it be kids or adults. If you are teaching God’s Word, you will be accountable to God for how well you prepare, what you are teaching, and how committed you are to teaching the truth of God’s Word.
Second, note each teacher’s accountability. Each will receive “the greater condemnation.” The word “condemnation” is a legal term, and it refers to the punishment imposed following a verdict of guilty in a court case. Additionally, the Holy Spirit qualifies that with the word “greater.” It is “greater” because of its importance.
As I was studying this, I remembered the passage that Dr. Wirth just spoke on this past Sunday morning. I have already used it once this evening, but I want to go back to it for a moment. The passage is 2 Timothy 2. Note what it says in the opening verses.
1 Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.
2 And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.
From there, the Holy Spirit uses the illustrations of a soldier and a farmer driving home the importance of responsibility. If you drop down a little further to verse 14, we read.
14 Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them before the Lord that they strive not about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers.
15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
Now hold on just a second to see one more thing. Continue reading with me.
16 But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.
17 And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus;
18 Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some.
It would seem that Hymenaeus and Philetus were teachers. However, in their case, they “erred” from the truth. How did they fall in error? They did not “study” the Word of God, and they did not take their responsibility in teaching others seriously. Instead, they promoted “profane and vain babblings.” As a result, they led others into error.
I believe the overriding principle learned for this verse deals with the responsibility of teaching. We need to be careful about desiring such a vast responsibility. Instead, we must learn to humbly submit ourselves to the teaching of the Master, the Lord Jesus Christ. Each of us must determine to sit at His feet each day as we read and study His Word. However, as we do, we must realize that He may entrust the ministry of teaching others. When He does, we must recognize that with that ministry comes a “greater condemnation.” Thus, each teacher has a personal responsibility to study God’s Word and “rightly” divide God’s Word. For one day, each teacher will stand before God as they stand accountable to Him.
Conclusion
Conclusion
Let me conclude with a small warning. Be careful of those who set themselves up to be teachers of God’s Word outside the confines of the local church. If they are not working under the auspices of a good Bible preaching and teaching local church, they do not know the Word of God or they are blatantly ignoring the Word of God. Every teacher must be properly vetted by the local church under the direction of its leadership. The local church along with its pastor and deacons is God method for today. Anything outside of that is not ordained by God. There is a great danger in following men or women who have not gone through the proper checks and balances of a local church. We live in world full of Hymanauses and Philetuses. However, you can never go wrong doing things God’s way.