Living Out Our Faith Skillfully - Chapter 3 Review
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Introduction
Introduction
Tonight we are wrapping up our study of James 3. I have prepared another handout for you. Essentially, it is an expansion of the handout that I have given to you after we finished each chapter of James. By way of review, you will see on your handout the expanded outline that I have developed for James. We are adding James 3 to it tonight.
Remember the overall theme is “Living Out Our Faith.”
We started with James 1 seeing how we are to Live Out Our Faith Victoriously.
James 1:2-5 teaches us we can do so by Understanding the True Purpose of Life’s Trials.
KEY VERSE(S)
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. 5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
James 1:6-12 encouraged us to Simply Follow God’s Plan for Our Lives.
KEY VERSE(S)
5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
James 1:13-18 continues to teach us that we can live victoriously as we Realize the Consequences of Sin.
KEY VERSE(S)
15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.
James 1:19-27 follows that up by helping us continue to live victoriously in our faith as we Faithfully Hear and Do God’s Word.
KEY VERSE(S)
22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. 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.
As we moved into James 2, we learned we are to Live Out Our Faith Openly.
James 2:1-13 shows us the importance of openly and Obediently Loving Our Brother as Ourselves.
KEY VERSE(S)
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.
James 2:14-26 encourages us to Outwardly Demonstrate Our Faith by Our Actions.
KEY VERSE(S)
18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.
And now, over the past weeks, we have learned from James 3 two things that will help us Live Out Our Faith Skillfully.
Let’s read the first paragraph.
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.
Living Out Our Faith Skillfully by...
Comprehending the Danger of an Uncontrolled Tongue
Comprehending the Danger of an Uncontrolled Tongue
We started with:
1 My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation.
In this verse, we learned about the responsibility of teaching others—the Holy Spirit warns us to be careful about seeking such a position. The word “master” literally means teacher. We also noted that those who teach would one day give an account to God for how and what they trained others. They will be the ones who will receive “the greater condemnation.”
PRINCIPLE: Teaching others is a serious responsibility resulting in Divine accountability.
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.
From this verse, we learned the universality of sin. There is not one person sitting here tonight or listening on our live stream that is not a sinner. The fact is we not only sin, but we sin in many different ways. Additionally, saying that we do not sin, especially in words, is ridiculous. Only a perfect (completely mature) person can make that claim. And, if they were perfect, they would be able to control every part of their body.
PRINCIPLE: We are all sinners and must admit we have no control over the flesh.
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.
The Holy Spirit follows verse 2 by giving us some practical illustrations. We have the horses’ bit and a ship’s helm or rudder. Both are very small devices. A horses bit is around 6 - 8 inches. Yet, this small bit controls an 1800 pound animal. The rudder of a ship is very small compared to the overall size of the vessel. Under the control of the helmsman, that small rudder controls the movement of the ship even under adverse circumstances such as fierce winds.
PRINCIPLE: Small things possess great power.
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.
The Holy Spirit takes those illustrations and applies them to our tongue. Just like the bit and the rudder, our tongues are small. Small things have great power. The tongue is very powerful. It is small. It is pride’s most valuable tool. An uncontrolled tongue is quite destructive.
PRINCIPLE: Our sinful tongue is small, full of itself, and tends to seed nothing but destruction.
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.
There are many things man has tamed - beasts, birds, creeping things (serpents), sea creatures. It is easier to tame things in nature than it is our tongue. No person can tame or control their tongue. The tongue controlled by the flesh is unruly (totally out of control), evil (full of wickedness and sin), and filled with deadly poison (ready to cause destruction).
PRINCIPLE: We are completely incapable of controlling our sinful, fleshly tongue.
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.
In these verses, we find that the tongue is a paradox. It spews both blessing and cursing. With it, we bless God, and, in the same minute, we curse men who made in God’s likeness. It is also a parrot—the word “proceedeth” has the idea of repeatedly doing the same thing over and over again. Thus, our tongue continually parrots blessing and cursing. Therefore, we must prohibit the tongue for the reasons listed in verses 7-10. The Holy Spirit clearly states that we need to stop using our tongues in the wrong way.
PRINCIPLE: Believers must stop using their tongues in a sinful manner.
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.
Again, the Holy Spirit uses some practical illustrations. His illustration uses three things. He uses a spring of water, a fig tree, and a grapevine. In using these illustrations, He points out our main issue. Our issue is our heart. Remember, the illustration is about how like-kind reproduces like kind. A fountain cannot produce two kinds of water at the same time. It either gives you sweet water or bitter. Fig trees only bear figs, not olives. Grapevines only bear grapes, not figs. Thus, the lesson is this. If you have a carnal-minded heart, your mouth will spew forth carnality. However, your mouth will spew forth spiritual things if you have a spiritually-minded heart.
PRINCIPLE: Your heart determines what comes out of your mouth.
Thus, as we have learned, we must face the realities of the uncontrolled tongue. It is dangerous. Additionally, it matters not if you are teacher, all believers must understand the dangers of the uncontrolled tongue as they live out their faith daily. Ultimately, we must also understand we cannot control it. The only Person Who can control the uncontrolled tongue is God. Our responsibility then is to live a life of complete obedience to Him. All of which falls right in line with the entire book of James as well all of Scripture.
13 Keep thy tongue from evil, And thy lips from speaking guile.
3 He that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life: But he that openeth wide his lips shall have destruction.
23 Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue Keepeth his soul from troubles.
10 For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile:
18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; 19 Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; 20 Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; 21 Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.
In the next paragraph, the Holy Spirit continue to teach us about Living Out Our Faith. Again, we are:
Living Out Our Faith Skillfully by...
Committing to God’s Wisdom and Not Our Own
Committing to God’s Wisdom and Not Our Own
13 Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom. 14 But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. 15 This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. 16 For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. 17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. 18 And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.
13 Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.
The wise believer is a believer who not only teaches God’s Word, but also lives God’s Word. That is the principle learned in this verse. Remember they are to “show out of a good conversation” their works. “Conversation” goes deeper than just speaking words. The Greek word here indicates conduct. In other words, actions speak louder than words. If you are going to teach God’s Word, then you better be committed to living out God’s Word. In fact, I will go even further. If you say that you are believer, then live like a believer. We are also instructed on how to “shew” our “good conversation.” We are to do it with “meekness of wisdom.” You might say, “wisdom’s meekness.” The word “meekness” implies three things. It implies humility, strength, and self-control. We must humbly be obedient to God and His Word. As we do, God’s strength will prevail in our lives enabling us to control certain urges to promote self instead of Him. However, note that it begins with humble obedience to His Word which is the source of all wisdom.
PRINCIPLE: The wise believer demonstrates wisdom by their outward and humble obedience to God’s Word.
14 But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth.
Here is a warning from God. It begins with a reality check. We are not capable of righteousness. Every time we rely upon our own wisdom it leads to selfish desires and indulgence. Our sin nature will always seek sinful activities. Thus, the believer who is not humbly obeying God’s Word is the believer who is in danger of sinful actions. They are danger of things like bitter envying and strife. A true gut check reveals that we are inherently sinful. Praise God that we are saved from the bondage of sin. However, if we stray away from following the wisdom of God’s word, we open the door for our sinful heart to rule and reign again. It is better that we admit our error and return back to Him. The false wisdom of a sinful heart arouses envy, strife, self glory, and lies against the truth.
PRINCIPLE: The unwise believer caught in the trap of self wisdom leads them to envy, strife, self-glory, and lies against the truth.
15 This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.
We find the Holy Spirit begins a contrast between our wisdom and God’s wisdom with this verse. This verse continues the thought of verse 13. A believer who relies upon their own wisdom will find themselves caught in sinful actions both within and without. Now, we see some additional characteristics of mans’ wisdom. First, it is not from above. In other words, it does come from God thus we cannot say that is God’s wisdom. Second, it is completely earthly. Again, it comes from the heart of sinful men. Third, is it sensual. This word strikes right at the heart of original sin. We are sinners because we are born sinners. We are a product of Adam. For that reason, men inherently seek their own wisdom which is born in enmity with God. Thus, men are not born with a desire to things God’s way. Instead, men believe they are always right and everyone, including God, is wrong. Then, last, the Holy Spirit describes our wisdom as devilish. The word “devilish” literally means “demonic.” In the end, every unbeliever lives according to the father of this world, Satan. They are under his bondage carrying out his plans against God. Thus, man’s wisdom always stands in complete opposition to everything related to God.
PRINCIPLE: Man’s wisdom is not God’s wisdom; in contrast, it proceeds from a human, sinful, and demonic heart that opposes God at every turn.
16 For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.
What then is the end result of man’s wisdom? It is confusion and every kind of evil work. The description of envying and strife brings us back to the original thought in verse 14. Any believer who harbors envy and strife is a believer following his own human, sinful, and demonic heart. In turn, it leads to confusion. The word “confusion” denotes a state of violent group disturbance and disorder. It speaks of open chaos and anarchy. It also leads to every evil work you can possibly imagine. Each time I read this I am reminded of Scripture’s description of humanity before the great Flood.
5 And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.
If you couple that with God’s command to Noah after they exited the ark in Genesis 9:6 which says,
6 Whoso sheddeth man’s blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man.
we can safely assume that men were so evil that the earth was filled with nothing but complete anarchy and wickedness. The wickedness was so great that murder was common place. There was no sanctity of life. On a side note, we just about there again. History indeed repeats itself. The first time, God judged humanity with Flood. The second time, God Himself will judge each man individually. I say all that to say that men left to themselves will alway gravitate to wickedness and evil. In verse 16, the Holy Spirit relates this to the fact any believer who stands upon their own wisdom will be people who cause confusion and will do evil works.
PRINCIPLE: Leaning on man’s wisdom always leads to confusion and evil works.
17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.
Now, in this verse, the Holy Spirit shows us His wisdom. Man’s wisdom is horrible. It is earthly, sensual, devilish and always leads to confusion and evil works. However, God’s wisdom is far superior to man’s. Note the characteristics given.
It IS from ABOVE. - James 1:5 “5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.”
It is PURE. - Pure in that it is completely free from any defilement or contamination. God’s wisdom, like God, is moral purity. In other words, it completely separated from impurity or wrong-doing. There is absolutely no amount of bad or defilement contained in God’s wisdom. There is not such as half good or half bad. It is totally pure and clean.
It is PEACEABLE. - Peace is achieved through harmonious relationships. When a relationship is clicking, there is joy, happiness, and peace. Essentially, such relationships come when hearts are joined together. God’s wisdom is peaceable and produces peace within those who have a personal relationship with Him. A relationship, by the way, that only comes by accepting Christ.
It is GENTLE. - It has the idea of forbearance, patience, and softness, but it goes deeper than that. It has the idea of someone or something that is equitable, fair, moderate, forbearing, not insisting on the letter of the law. I really like the description that I gave earlier. Gentle expresses that considerateness that looks humanely and reasonably at the facts of a case. In fact, as you think about it, does not this word describe God’s view of us and our sin? He is gentle in that He looked upon us humanely and reasonably. Had God not done so none of us would be here this evening! Our sin deserved a much harsher sentence. It was well within God’s right to completely wipe out sinful humanity and start again. However, instead, with love and a gentle heart, God had mercy on us providing the perfect plan for our redemption and salvation.
It is EASY to be INTREATED. - It means well obeyed. Another way to understand this is this. God’s wisdom is ready to obey.
It is FULL of MERCY. - Remember that “full” means to the full measure, extent, or degree of what is stated. The word “mercy” deals with thoughts of pity, compassion, affection, and kindness. If you recall, our definition further said that mercy assumes there is a need on the part of him who receives it, and, on the part of him who shows it, there are adequate resources to meet that need.
It is FULL of GOOD FRUITS. - We understand the word “good” means not bad. Fruits are the product or consequence of actions taken. The correlation is that of mercy. Mercy sees the need desiring to meet that need. The end result is good fruit, product, or consequence. If you think back to Ephesians 2 and the text we read earlier, God saw our need, He met our need, and the end result was our salvation. It was an excellent consequence. What was the fruit or product? It was eternal life versus eternal torment.
It is WITHOUT PARTIALITY. - God’s wisdom is impartial. Sinners are sinners. God’s wisdom is certain. There is no uncertainty and no indecision.
It is WITHOUT HYPOCRISY. - God’s wisdom does not play around. It does not fake people out. Everything that God has said is absolute truth. God does not teach one thing and does another. God is holy; thus, all He does is holy. God is love, and thus all He does is in love. I could go on listing all His attributes, but I believe you catch my understanding.
PRINCIPLE: God’s wisdom, which is based completely upon His purity (holiness), always produces peace, gentleness, obedience, mercy, good fruits, impartiality, and truthfulness.
18 And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.
This verse wraps up this paragraph in neat and tidy package. The Holy Spirit brings us back to our salvation. Note the phrase “is sown in peace of them that make peace.” A person can only know true peace when they accept the Lord of peace. You see all that Christ did on the cross of Calvary provided an avenue where men can be at peace with God.
19 For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell; 20 And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. 21 And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled
At the time a person reconciles with God by accepting all Christ did with His death, burial, and resurrection, God makes them a new creature. They are born again and made spiritually alive. Thus, He places within them the desire and the ability to produce “fruit of righteousness.” It is the same fruit mentioned in Galatians 5:22-23
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
Note that one of those fruits is peace. There are others. There is love, joy, longsuffering, gentleness, and the list goes on. Here then is the principle.
PRINCIPLE: A true believer can live according God’s wisdom and is capable of producing righteous fruit instead of sinful actions.
Living Out Our Faith Skillfully means a sincere commitment to God and His Wisdom which is only found in His Word. Again, this fits with the entire context of James as well as the rest of Scripture. As believers, we are never to live according our wisdom, opinions, or feelings. Instead, each day is commitment to hearing and doing God’s Word. Our wisdom and the wisdom of this world always leads to trouble and wickedness. Our only hope to live life skillfully is found in God’s Word. Therefore, we must make it the foundation of all that we say and do.
18 Where there is no vision, the people perish: But he that keepeth the law, happy is he.
24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: 25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. 26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: 27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.
Conclusion
Conclusion
True believers navigate life by Living Out Their Faith SKILLFULLY! In James 3, the Holy Spirit informs us that involves two things. First, we must full COMPREHEND the dangers of an uncontrolled tongue. Second, we must COMMIT to making God’s Wisdom the foundation of our lives. As we do, we, through obedience to God and the great power of His Spirit, can control what we say and what we do conforming to His image living a life that glorifies Him and witnesses His grace, mercy, and power to others.