JAMES
CHAPTER ONE Some illustrations and stories may
not be in place. I hope to get to them later and fill in. If you are
teaching a Bible study and using these notes, you should try to find stories and
illustrations which fit your setting. Don't tell my stories unless you can
think of nothing else :-) James
1:1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes
which are scattered abroad, greeting. 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. 6 But let him ask
in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven
with the wind and tossed. 7 For let not that man
think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. 8
A double minded man is unstable in all his ways. 9
Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted:
10 But the rich, in that he is made low: because as the flower of the grass
he shall pass away. 11 For the sun is no sooner
risen with a burning heat, but it withereth the grass, and the flower thereof
falleth, and the grace of the fashion of it perisheth: so also shall the rich
man fade away in his ways. 12 Blessed is the man
that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of
life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.
13 Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot
be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: 14
But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.
15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin:
and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. 16
Do not err, my beloved brethren. 17 Every good gift
and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights,
with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.
18 Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be
a kind of firstfruits of his creatures. 19 Wherefore,
my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:
20 For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of
God. 21 Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity
of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to
save your souls. 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. 26 If any man
among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his
own heart, this man's religion is vain. 27 Pure
religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless
and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.
INTRODUCTION:
Author: Cannot be sure, so God does not want us to speculate.
To: Vs 1- Twelve Tribes. Saved Jews scattered by the persecution
in Jerusalem. Note the Apostolic expectation- Rom. 11:23.
A. Why do we have Trials and Temptations?
Verse 2- Temptations bring us joy.
How? ILL Matt. 5:11-12 How do temptations come?
Answer: We "fall into" them. They are random. You cannot plan for
them. Who allows temptation? Answer: God the Holy
Spirit. CF Luke 4:1-2 God leads, Satan tempts. CF vs. 13.
ILL- Rondo Murphy manuscript. He accused God of creating confusion and temptation
to be lead astray. How can you be like Jesus without temptation?
Verse 3- Trying of your faith--
By whom? Answer: God. Why? So you will become
patient. Verse 4- "Let" Allow
God to lead you into the wilderness w / Satan?
Why? So you will be perfect and wanting nothing. What is the key
to this perfection or wholeness? Answer: I Cor. 10:13- Use the
escape God gives. Important: God PLANS your escape and perfection.
There is NO perfection without trial, temptation, and escape !!
How does this work? Rom. 5:3-5- Note the steps to
love being shed to others! Hebrews 12:1- This will not end until
death or rapture. It is a life process which keeps us winning.
II Thes. 1:3-4- Note the tribulations. When does
God even the score? Many evil people and Satan have tempted us.
They make traps and trials. Is God watching? Rev.
3:10- Tribulation is vindicated by God's wrath Rev. 14:11-12- The
wicked tormented for tempting YOU.
Conclusion: Psalm 95:8- Temptation is often
in the wilderness, during hard times Job 23:10-12- Job determines
to go through the Lord's testing. II Tim. 4:6-8- Fight, finish,
and keep the faith. Key to perfect man. Jude 1:3- Contend: With
tempters, ungodly men- vs. 4 Hebrews 6:1-15- Patiently endure and
obtain the promise. Do we count it all joy??
B. Do you lack wisdom?
Ask God for it. Vs. 5- "If any of you lack wisdom..." is a bit
of an understatement. We ALL lack wisdom, the
kind God gives. This wisdom is ONLY for saints. Proverbs
2:6-7 CF Prov 3:19-23- Note association between God's creative
power and our need. God gives wisdom "liberally."
Why? Answer:
Psalm 68:35- God loves to give what we need. Eccl. 2:26- God's
good things are for YOU. John 6:33 John 14:27
Ephesians 4:8 1 Corinthians 15:57 1 Timothy 6:17
1 Peter 5:5 Revelation 22:5
Now, in light of the above, how can we expect God to give wisdom?
Vs. 6- There is a problem-- We are prone to waver.
Define: Wavering- In our faith. Matt
21:31-32- Who believes? NOT scholars and high muckity mucks Jude
vs. 5- Unbelief destroys people. It is dangerous. Wavering is deadly.
ILL- Steeple chase- Ever seen a horse hesitate? Bad news. Pole
vaulter same. Can end up hanging in the air like a fool. Javelin
toss- Get a nasty bang on the back of the head.
Vs. 7- What do we get from wavering and doubt?
Nothing from the Lord. BUT, we open the door to
Satan 1 Thes 2:18- Nothing hinders a saint like that saint doubting.
II Tim 2:25-26- Oppose themselves. Start out and then quit.
They need encouragement to "recover" ILL Like a skid in the winter.
Recover and keep going. Vs.
8- Double minded man- Carlton Helgerson's statement:
"If you start buttoning your shirt wrong at the bottom, you will be wrong
all the way up." CF James 4:7-8- Saints can become very double
minded. ILL Pentecostalism- 1900- started with tongues. NEVER been
right since then. 1 Kings 18:21- Halt-- Double minded people come
to a stop in their Christian walk
C. Rich man beggar man...
Vs. 9-- First, This is only for "brothers"- saints.
It often works the opposite for unsaved. How is the low man exalted?
Cf: Job 31:19-22- A rich man in Christ feels obligation to exalt
the poor. Cf: Eccl. 2:26- God makes this happen.
Note how it goes opposite according to the man's relationship to God.
ILL. John Bates-- Being a "brother," God handed John the heap of the rich tax
payer. Vs. 10-11-- Note that the
rich man is also a saint. Unsaved rich men do
NOT allow anyone to make them low. Cf: Luke 19:1-10-- Zacch. by
his new nature, divested himself to the poor and downtrodden. ILL.
Story of Richard Simonian-- As usher, and ranch. Note why the rich
saint easily loosens his purse strings: He knows he will soon fade
in this life. Cf. 1 Samuel 2:7-- Saints know who adds the riches.
Horde it and He can take it all. ILL. Story of LaTourneau
and tithing. How God made sure he obeyed 7700 ILLs- No 1850, p.
475 Vs. 12-- Why put this here?
Low man's temptation-- To refuse help. Pride.
ILL- Grandma Klaber- Did not have chance to learn this.
Story of visiting Pellerins. They would have been hurt to think that we were hungry.
Rich man tempted to hold back generosity. ILL- Custom
of Arabs- Generosity. Where did this come from?
Cf- Gen. 18:1-8- Do angels need to eat? No. So, if angels, who
lack nothing, received Abraham's generosity, how much more we who need so many
things? Abraham's blessing came from knowing later that he had
served God's messengers. Cf- Heb. 13:1-3- This seems to still be
happening. Cf- Phil. 4:11-12- Can we learn both and rejoice in
them? God uses saints to balance His books. Psalm 34:10-19
D. Temptation
Temptation is a challenge. Leads to defeat or to maturity. Vs.
12- Here is a crown of life. Only way to get it is to endure temptation or trial
without sin. CF- Revelation 2:10 Fear none of
those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you
into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be
thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.
Note- It is for any dispensation. It sounds like not all in heaven
will have one. Vs. 13- Tempting God.
Luke 4:1-13- Read all Note: Satan did NOT make
any reference to former lusts in Christ. Does he do that with us?
So, Christ could not remember sin. Satan had to
invent a new thing for Christ. Discuss ancient Jewish teaching-
We need to sin so God can show His holiness. Mohammed picked this
up-- Said Allah invented sin. Mormons claim Adam did us a favor
in sinning. Also, if God cannot find sin in Himself, how could
He tempt a man? Sin has to originate OUTSIDE of God
CF 1 Kings 22:7-9; 22:14-23- Note the almost curious way God questions
the evil angel. What a blessing to have an innocent God.
So also with Christ. Story: Reformed man who worried about our
kids- "Street wise" Vs. 14-
Satan has something to start with in us. CF-
Ephesians 4:20-24 We have to choose to put off and put on. Romans
7:18-23- Satan enters here to encourage the old. Our dog- I say
"get'em" at night to encourage him to guard us. Satan says get'em to the old nature.
Discuss heresy of irradication of old nature. Story
of Hildagard L_____. John MacArthur
Vs. 15- Lust is sin. Temptation is NOT. Lust
is private, sin seldom is. Death is definitely not private. Point:
Lust will go public sooner or later. Story: Mike Kravitch and story
of the preacher. Las Vegas won in the end. Lust conceived. Dead
preacher spiritually. CF- Rom. 5:12- Sin brings death. That is
why we die. Vs. 16- Do not err, my beloved
brethren. Why so simple? Answer:
Because we are so dull. Let us consider how dull we are:
1. Gluttony- Fat preachers. 2. Divorce and remarriage-
Excused everywhere. Yet, drunkenness is not excused. Discuss 3.
Exaggeration for a "good story." 4. Bend the laws that are not
enforced. Are these sins? So, we do
need to be told real simply, "Do not err..."
Vs. 17- God does not take from us without giving a better thing.
CF- Psalm 40:11-3- We are not without good things.
So why do we need to sin? 1 Corinthians 15:34 Awake to righteousness,
and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame.
Where is the knowledge of God? Answer: In the Word.
2 Thessalonians 1:7-9 Obey the Gospel comes from read the Gospel.
1 John 5:18-21- Here is the victory. In Christ we find victory
over sin. Conclude: What kind of
gift has God given us? Romans 6:23 For the wages
of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our
Lord. 1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just
to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
E. Do the Word What
is the basis of our works? Vs. 17-18- He begat us by the Word
and His works. The word "Variableness" is said
to be a scientific word from James day for the movement of the
heavenly bodies. God then is seen as unable to change like the moving heavenly
bodies. Vs. 18- God was not willing that any should perish. (II
Peter 3:9) Vs. 18 is NOT the basis of selective salvation.
CF- John 1:12-14- Note the will of man and the will of God working together.
Vs. 19- Wherefore.... Based
on your birthing by the Word and the will of God.... Listen more
Speak reluctantly Control your wrath
All three are needed: But, beware of man's wrath.
Prov. 12:16; 16:14; 19:19; 29:8; 30:33 Anger is different: Eph.
4:26; Titus 1:7 Wrath is meant to hurt and take revenge.
Rom. 12:19; Deut. 32:41 Vs. 20--
Man is the wrong one to work wrath verbally.
What goes with wrath? Answer: Fast to talk. To control wrath, keep
your mouth shut. Eccl. 5:2; Prov. 15:1-2&4. Who judges this
tongue: Psalm 5:1; 19:14 Vs. 21-25--
Hearing the Word and doing it is the work of the saint.
What hinders this way of life? Answer: vs. 21- filthiness and naughtiness.
Devil not needed!! What advances the Word and the doing of the
work? Answer: vs. 21- Meekness CF- I Cor. 3:18-21
This is not wimpy religion. Here are mature saints not forcing their will on others.
Rebuke and reproof are to HELP others, not put them in their place.
II Tim. 4:2 Longsuffering and wrath don't mix. CF- Col. 3:12-14
Vs. 23-25-- The mirror test vs pitchfork
religion CF- Acts 20:28- You first Is this how
we read. Ever think of how good a text is for another saint? Note
end of vs. 25- "Doer of the work" This is works. Works begin IN
me, not in being busy. Ps. 26:2; I Cor. 11:28; II Cor. 13:5 Vs.
25-- Beware of "Forgetful" Read story of follower of Arnold Murray:
E-Mail book VolII-- He did the "work" These two verses will be
used in Chapter two and three. So, not discussed here.
GE |