Farce or Faith (James 1-2)

Table of Contents

.Introduction

.Fuel For Faith (James 1:1-18)

1)James Introduction

2)Joy In Trials (1:1-4)

Are you seeing improvement in the way you handle trials over time? If not, why not?

What do you need to start doing in order to better deal with your current trial(s)?

3)Wisdom In Trials (1:5-8)

4)Trials Or Temptation In Position (1:9-11)

What do you have that might be inhibiting spiritual growth? Are you willing to give that to God?

What are you striving to have that is inhibiting you spiritual growth? Are you willing to be content in the position God has placed you in?

5)Trials and the Nature of God (1:12-18)

What might you be blaming God for that is in fact due to your own sinful choice?

6)Principle

Trials are God's fuel to feed the flames of faith within the Christian.

.Reflection of Faith (James 1:19-2:13)

1)Speech Therapy (1:19-21)

How could you become a better communicator? Listen better? Speak less? Remain calm?

2)Not Just Knowledge, Action (1:22-27)

How are you responding to your reflection from the book of James?

Who could you bless by putting “legs” to your religion?

3)Favoritism and the Law of Love (2:1-12)

Favoritism

The Law and Love

4)Principle

Christian behavior is a reflection of God's character to the world.

.Faith or Faith (James 2:14-26)

1)An Evidence Of Faith (2:14-19)

Faith

Result In Works

2)An Example Of Faith (2:20-26)

Abraham

Rahab

3)Principle

Genuine faith results in godly actions.

Faith without action is belief without salvation.

4)Applications

What type of faith do you have? Is it merely intellectual? Or is it full reliance of Jesus work?

How has your faith move you to action lately?

.Conclusion

.Introduction

There are a lot of great informercials out there (just kidding). Many of them appeal to the American dream of gain without pain. The idea that the miracle grapefruit pill will give me a six pack while I sleep. Or the 3 minute per day route toward a body-builder's physique.

I have gone out to Colorado with a group of guys for the past couple years. And even though I am doing more an more to ensure that I minimize the challenges those 14ers put on the body, still, I need to do more. The strain of hiking in thin air, in a 50+ body, from the flatlands of KS, is daunting. I need to train hard so that my muscles are less of a factor when the real challenges arise.

You and I don't know what challenges lie ahead. But God certainly does. And He didn't leave us here to atrophy on the spiritual couch of life. Nor does he promise the grapefruit pill route to spiritual maturity. He knows the way we need to be trained for the work that lies ahead. And so He handcrafts the exact program each of us needs individually.

.Fuel For Faith (James 1:1-18)

1)James Introduction

He was the brother (half brother) of Jesus – both had Mary as their mother.

He was an early skeptic but believed later after Jesus' resurrection.

He was the head of the Jerusalem church and the James mentioned when the issue of circumcision was brought by Paul and Barnabas back to Jerusalem council.

He was eventually martyred in 62AD – thrown from the pinnacle of the temple and beaten with clubs.

This epistle may be one of the earliest books of the New Testament – written between 44AD and 62AD and most likely after 49AD – the Diaspora.

2)Joy In Trials (1:1-4)

James is not calling us to be twisted in the way we look at unpleasant circumstances.

Certainly those who were first recipients of this letter were anything but enjoying the lot they were given. That's partly why the letter was written.

Many had lost loved ones due to the persecution. Many had lost homes, jobs, their very land inheritance.

Many could no longer go to Temple or Synagogue. They lost friends.

All of these things weighing on them and then to be living in a foreign land as outsiders.

James calls them, and us, to look beyond the current difficult circumstances and instead see that the trials are in fact tools that God has ordained.

I don't know if you are like me, but I have (on many occasion) missed an opportunity in a trial because I was so dead set on avoiding or short-circuiting the trial. I wind up totally missing the good that comes through the trial.

I look back and sense disappointment in my attitude and actions within the trial.

James is telling us that character is not built without turmoil. The beauty of a pearl doesn't just happen through the easy life of an oyster. I comes about through the discomfort of a foreign object in the life of that oyster.

Likewise, the beauty of Christ in a Christian shows through during and after the difficult circumstances that God uses to grow our dependence on Him.

Are you seeing improvement in the way you handle trials over time? If not, why not?

God doesn't ask us to like the trials, just the conditioning that comes from the trials.

ILLUSTRATION: I've found that sometimes I handle the big trials better than the small ones. Last year, about this time, my wife and I were going through a big one. She needed surgery and I lost my job. And there was nothing that we could do about either situation and we wondered what was going on. And God allowed me to early discover His reason for the job loss – so I could care for Mary.

I often do worse with the small things. When the car breaks down. This past week when the computer graphics card was going out. I think this is a problem in that I think I can handle certain trials and others are for the professionals (namely God). But in reality, I can't handle any of them if I want God to be glorified and I want my character changed and my faith grown!

What do you need to start doing in order to better deal with your current trial(s)?

But often the first question that comes to mind when another trial comes is, why. Why this? Why now? Why me?

But only God knows the whys, and He is not opposed to us asking for understanding and wisdom to endure.

3)Wisdom In Trials (1:5-8)

He wants us to come in prayer to Him, the only source during trials.

God doesn't scorn you and me when we come to Him and say, “I can't handle this Lord! I can't do it! I am overwhelmed!”

He knows that. And He delights in giving us what is needed to endure our circumstances – He is omniscient (all-wise). And He is generous with His wisdom.

The problem is, I too often think I can handle it. Or I will grit my teeth and endure it. But He wants me to go in with the attitude, “What do you want to teach me from this Lord? Give me wisdom to know how to live in a way that honors you in the midst of this storm”.

Even this type of dependence on God is a faith-building activity. The trial certainly is, but then to depend on God to sustain and enlighten – this too must be done in a non-wavering fashion.

4)Trials Or Temptation In Position (1:9-11)

What we have – our possessions – present us with a trial (or temptation) to depend on wealth rather than on God.

And a person without much wealth might say, “Please, give me some of that trial!”.

But what James is getting at is that we, as Christians, need to realize that we are in the position we are in for a reason and that there is much gain in contentment.

The poor in temporal things tend to find that their faith can really thrive since often the means to live is a daily trial. And those that accept that from God, become rich in their faith. They gain more riches by being poor than they would by striving after wealth.

In the same way, a rich person needs to consider the dangers of wealth. It can be a crutch that dwarfs faith if in fact the wealth is not used for God's intended purposes.

Either way, rich or poor, we all are like grass and the temporal things of this world will one day be stripped away and all that will be left are the treasures that really matter – those that we have stored in heaven.

NOTE: by the way, I have not yet mastered this one. I like knowing where my next meal is coming from and how I am going to pay the bills. I have a lot to learn and much area to grow!

What do you have that might be inhibiting spiritual growth? Are you willing to give that to God?

What are you striving to have that is inhibiting you spiritual growth? Are you willing to be content in the position God has placed you in?

5)Trials and the Nature of God (1:12-18)

James tells us that our endurance (our perseverance) results in blessing ultimately in God's presence. The crown of life is promised to those who love him.

He is not saying that we somehow earn a place in heaven by our endurance. But he is pointing out that this type of trial is from God for His people who endure by His power thus evidencing His presence in their lives.

He contrasts this blessed condition with that of temptation and doesn't want the readers to think of temptation as a trial from God. Temptations are part of the fallen human condition and they seek to cause us to do evil in the sight of God. God would never cause this type of thing (He does allow it however).

The blessedness of endurance in trials leading to life is contrasted with the cursedness of falling into temptation which leads to death.

As verse 17 points out, God is the source of every good and perfect gift – even the refining gift of trials. This is part of His unchanging nature. He is always constructive and creating.

On the other hand, the sin nature and Satan himself are always seeking to tear down and destroy. He desires to take us out. He wants us to follow that path that just feels right and natural. He wants to tempt us to take the easy way out – to avoid the trials that God has placed in our lives for our good.

What might you be blaming God for that is in fact due to your own sinful choice?

6)Principle

Trials are God's fuel to feed the flames of faith within the Christian.

.Reflection of Faith (James 1:19-2:13)

1)Speech Therapy (1:19-21)

We put a lot of stock in the ability to speak eloquently and to sway people's opinion and to win an argument. But James calls us to try and avoid the type of anger that stems from misunderstanding which comes from miscommunication.

If my thoughts during a conversation are merely a rebuttal to your statements, then perhaps I am missing your point. I need to become a good listener in order to be a good communicator. I need to consider what you have to say as more important than what I have to say.

I think this type of dialog would lead to a lot of unnecessary angst and anger.

Interesting how James places anger right alongside moral filth. Often we consider a good argument, and the sub-tending anger, an acceptable sin, but not moral filth.

In reality, they are both unacceptable. Neither of them contribute to the righteous life that God desires his people to live. And both are a sad commentary on Christ to a lost world.

How could you become a better communicator? Listen better? Speak less? Remain calm?

2)Not Just Knowledge, Action (1:22-27)

It's hard to read these two chapters in James without being convicted, isn't it? I kept seeing myself in much of this study this past week.

But it will do you and me absolutely no good if we just become experts in James 1 and 2. Even if we memorized them and could quote them to the edification of others, that would not be enough.

You know, this hits me hard. I like strong doctrine and learning and acquiring knowledge. And there's nothing wrong with that, unless... Unless that becomes and end in and of itself.

It must never be the case for the true Christian. We cannot do without sound doctrine, but our doctrine must always drive us back to the life that God wants us to live.

The mirror has more of a purpose than just to validate our understanding of what we look like. The mirror is for us to see that nose hair so that other don't have to. To remove the spinach between the teeth so that others can concentrate when they're talking to us.

And to James point, so that we are conformed to the word. So that we see where we fall short, confess our sin to God, leave that sin at the cross, and move out in a life that is blessed by God.

This is how we experience to blessedness of our salvation when we reflect what we say we believe. When our actions actually mirror what our mouths and minds say is true.

And so he points out an example, widows and orphans. In contrast to pleasing God by amassing knowledge and understanding, he tells us to take that knowledge and understanding out into the field. Apply it to the world in which you live.

Look at the despised of your society, as our Lord did, and go to them. Find out what they need, and meet those needs with the resources God has blessed you with. And don't neglect to share the gospel as well.

(Refugees, Orphans in Africa/Haiti, the fatherless children, the exploited, etc.)

How are you responding to your reflection from the book of James?

Who could you bless by putting “legs” to your religion?

3)Favoritism and the Law of Love (2:1-12)

Favoritism

The practice of giving preferential treatment to a person or persons.

Why would anyone do this? Because we somehow perceive one person to be of greater value than another.

We judge the value of a person based upon some worldly classification. And this is really what James gets at in 5-7. He points out that this is a wrong way of classifying people since the reality of God's kingdom proves different.

It is the poor who are rich in faith. And it's some of the rich who are persecuting them. So why base someones value on such worldly terms?

Notice how he calls them “bothers, as believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ...”. He prefaces the way we treat others with our faith in Jesus Christ.

Jesus came to the despised sinners. He came to seek and save the lost, not the sinless. He came as a servant, humble and lowly, even though He is mighty and glorious. So how can we take any other attitude if we desire to live for him? We can't!

ILLUSTRATION: I have been guilty of thinking, “Wow, if so and so got saved, what an impact they would have for the Lord. What a platform because of their status.” This is a wrong way of viewing things. God doesn't need high-profile believers to impact this world. He needs humble fishermen (and others) to carry out a ministry in the power of the Holy Spirit and not in the power that comes from an arm of flesh.

The Law and Love

Instead of favoritism, we need to obey the law of God and love our neighbor as ourselves. This love of neighbor takes the focus off of me and my own needs and focuses on my neighbor's needs.

Rather than insulting those who are not part of my favoritism group, I should show the same consideration for all by looking at them as Christ looks at them.

It's pretty interesting here since James is talking about someone coming into their fellowship. The point is, just because you think you are having fellowship with God, your very attitude in regard to love of others may be impeding that fellowship.

God is not pleased when we trivialize one part of His law and only keep the other. Sin is sin any way you slice it. And sin is an infraction of the law God will judge by.

So never think you can compensate for a lack in one area by keeping another. One broken part – all broken. Confession to God and repentance are needed.

4)Principle

Christian behavior is a reflection of God's character to the world.

.Faith or Faith (James 2:14-26)

1)An Evidence Of Faith (2:14-19)

Believing, as the demons do, that there is one God is a good thing. It is a start.

But what does that belief really entail? If mere intellectual assent is all that faith is, then the demons are just fine.

But true saving faith goes far beyond just believing and even fearing – it requires the acknowledgement that God alone is Sovereign over His creation and what He says goes.

Even to the point of acknowledging that I am a sinner, worthy of death and eternal wrath due to my sin.

But if in fact I truly believe these things, then I will submit myself to His authority in my life since by definition He has that authority.

I will bend the knee to His desires. This is not to say that there won't be times when I assert my own will, but over the course of a life, a believer should show evidence of faith in the way that life is lived.

Ephesians 2:8-10 makes that clear. We are not saved by what we do, but we do what we do because we are saved and God has predestined us to good works.

Faith

James tells us that just nodding that God is God is not faith at all. It is believing a reality, but not living a reality.

There must be knowledge in order for there to be faith. We must understand that there is a God, that He created us, that we are sinners before a holy God, and that He alone has provided the means of forgiveness through Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

So faith is not blind. But beyond believing those facts, there must be an acknowledgment that I need a savior. That in fact Jesus died for me and because of my sin he suffered. That my hope of fellowship with God rests in Jesus alone.

And more than just acknowledging those facts, I need to trust him. I need to rest my life in him as my sole hope and soul hope. An actual trust in him leads me to put the weight of my life in his hands. To live for him.

Result In Works

This is what James is indicating here. If there is nothing to show for what you call faith, then your definition is messed up.

2)An Example Of Faith (2:20-26)

Abraham

Abraham was called by God to give up the very son that God gave him at the age of 100. This was the son of the promise.

But Abraham didn't hesitate or waver. He got up early the next day, headed on a long journey to Mount Moriah, and there he laid his son on an alter as a sacrifice.

This action was extreme. It was an action that stemmed from a life that knew God and was completely resting in God's character and trusting Him for the outcome.

James tells us in verse 24, You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone. James is not contradicting the rest of Scripture, but is showing that a weak definition of faith (as used for the demons) is not in fact an effective faith when it comes to justification. It requires a faith that moves one to action.

And it is not the action that saves. It is God that justifies those whose faith is in him. And the justified are always moved by the faith that justifies.

Rahab

Rahab was a heathen that was shaking in her boots along with all the rest of her countrymen. But the difference was that she saw God of Israel, believed that He is the true God, and her faith (limited as it was) prompted her to protect God's messengers.

3)Principle

Genuine faith results in godly actions.

Faith without action is belief without salvation.

4)Applications

What type of faith do you have? Is it merely intellectual? Or is it full reliance of Jesus work?

How has your faith move you to action lately?

.Conclusion

Without resistance, the muscles will shrink and fade. They need regular exercise to develop, to become mature, to endure the road ahead.

God provides the training you and I need in order to exercise the spiritual muscle of faith. To train us to depend more fully on Him so that our lives give more and more glory to the One who deserves all the glory.