CRS 19: James… Practical Christian Living

LESSON #1

INTRODUCTION TO JAMES

James is one of the most practical and needed letters for Christians of every generation.
It rebukes worldliness and pretense in religion, which are urgent matters today.
It appeals from start to finish for Christians to make their lives consistent with their profession.
There is an amazing similarity between this epistle and the Sermon on the Mount.
Joy in midst of trials. Jas.1:2, “²My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials,” ‑ Matt.5:10‑12, “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. ¹¹“Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. ¹²Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”
Boldness in prayer. Jas.1:5, “⁵If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.” ‑ Matt.7:7‑12, “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. ⁸For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. ⁹Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? ¹⁰Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent? ¹¹If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him! ¹²Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.”
The danger of a bad temper. Jas.1:19‑20, “So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; ²⁰for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God.” ‑ Matt.5:22, “²²But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother ^£without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, ‘RacaRaca!’ shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, ‘You fool!’ shall be in danger of hell fire.”
Hearing and doing. Jas.1:22, “²²But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” ‑ Matt.7:24‑27, “Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: ²⁵and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. ²⁶“But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: ²⁷and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.” and many, many more.
The practical wisdom of this book impresses all who bother to study it closely.

BACKGROUND TO JAMES

Several people named James figure in the N.T. record. Matt.4:21, “²¹Going on from there, He saw two other brothers, James theson of Zebedee, and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets. He called them,” 10:3, “³Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and ^£Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus;”

Lk.6:13-16, “And when it was day, He called His disciples to Himself; and from them He chose twelve whom He also named apostles: ¹⁴Simon, whom He also named Peter, and Andrew his brother; James and John; Philip and Bartholomew; ¹⁵Matthew and Thomas; James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon called the Zealot; ¹⁶Judas the son of James, and Judas Iscariot who also became a traitor.”

Mk.6:3, “³Is this not the carpenter, the Son of Mary, and brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon? And are not His sisters here with us?” So they were offended at Him.”

By process of elimination, the most reasonable possibility for authorship of James is the brother of Jesus.
He is the only James who played a sufficiently prominent role in the early history of the church to qualify him for consideration as its author.
This would make him the brother of another N.T. writer. Jude 1, “¹Jude, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, To those who are called, sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ:” Matt.13:55, “⁵⁵Is this not the carpenter’s son? Is not His mother called Mary? And His brothers James, Joses, Simon, and Judas?”
Facts about James the brother of Jesus.
He was not sympathetic to Jesus’ claims during the latter’s personal ministry. Jn.7:3‑5, “His brothers therefore said to Him, “Depart from here and go into Judea, that Your disciples also may see the works that You are doing. ⁴For no one does anything in secret while he himself seeks to be known openly. If You do these things, show Yourself to the world.” ⁵For even His brothers did not believe in Him.’
Jesus appeared to James after his resurrection and thereby removed his doubts and reservations. 1 Cor.15:7, “⁷After that He was seen by James, then by all the apostles.” Acts 1:12-14, “Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey. ¹³And when they had entered, they went up into the upper room where they were staying: Peter, James, John, and Andrew; Philip and Thomas; Bartholomew and Matthew; James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot; and Judas the son of James. ¹⁴These all continued with one accord in prayer ^£and supplication, with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers.”
He became a leading figure of the Jerusalem church.
Peter sent news of his escape from prison to him. Acts 12:16-17, “Now Peter continued knocking; and when they opened the door and saw him, they were astonished. ¹⁷But motioning to them with his hand to keep silent, he declared to them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, “Go, tell these things to James and to the brethren.” And he departed and went to another place.”

He made the speech at the Jerusalem conference on Gentile conversion.

Acts 15:12-14, “Then all the multitude kept silent and listened to Barnabas and Paul declaring how many miracles and wonders God had worked through them among the Gentiles. ¹³And after they had become silent, James answered, saying, “Men and brethren, listen to me: ¹⁴Simon has declared how God at the first visited the Gentiles to take out of them a people for His name.”

Paul reported to James on his return from the third missionary tour,

Acts 21:18‑25, “And when we had come to Jerusalem, the brethren received us gladly. ¹⁸On the following day Paul went in with us to James, and all the elders were present. ¹⁹When he had greeted them, he told in detail those things which God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry. ²⁰And when they heard it, they glorified the Lord. And they said to him, “You see, brother, how many myriads of Jews there are who have believed, and they are all zealous for the law; ²¹but they have been informed about you that you teach all the Jews who are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, saying that they ought not to circumcise their children nor to walk according to the customs. ²²What then? The assembly must certainly meet, for they will hear that you have come. ²³Therefore do what we tell you: We have four men who have taken a vow. ²⁴Take them and be purified with them, and pay their expenses so that they may shave their heads, and that all may know that those things of which they were informed concerning you are nothing, but that you yourself also walk orderly and keep the law. ²⁵But concerning the Gentiles who believe, we have written and decided that they should observe no such thing, except that they should keep themselves from things offered to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from sexual immorality.”

Paul referred to him as one of the pillars of the church at Jerusalem, Gal.2:9, “⁹and when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that had been given to me, they gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised.”
Notice that he identifies himself here as “a servant of the Lord Jesus Christ. Jas.1:1.2
This is an evidence of his humility.
It testifies to the fact that one’s spiritual relationship to Christ rather than some fleshly relationship is the crucial matter, Mark 3:31‑35, “Then His brothers and His mother came, and standing outside they sent to Him, calling Him. ³²And a multitude was sitting around Him; and they said to Him, “Look, Your mother and Your brothers are outside seeking You.” ³³But He answered them, saying, “Who is My mother, or My brothers?”³⁴And He looked around in a circle at those who sat about Him, and said, “Here are My mother and My brothers!³⁵For whoever does the will of God is My brother and My sister and mother.”

THE MESSAGE OF JAMES

Addressed to Jewish Christians who had been scattered from Palestine by persecution. Jas.1:1, “¹James, a bondservant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad: Greetings.”
This dispersion had come about because of attacks from unbelieving Jews. Acts 8:1ff (A.D.33), 12:1ff (A.D.41)

These people had looked to James as their teacher and counselor when living in Palestine.
This is probably the first of all N.T. books to have been written A.D. 45.
It apparently comes after the persecutions of A.D. 33 & 41.
Yet the controversy over receiving Gentiles into the church (A.D.48) had not yet become an issue.
James knew of the severe trials these saints had to endure for their faith. Jas.1:2, “²My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials,”
He wrote to encourage them in their difficulties.
He warned them against spiritual laxity and neglect of their duties.
The theme of the epistle is the daily practice of true religion.
The key verse is Jas. 1:22, “²²But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.”

MAJOR THEMES AND ISSUES IN JAMES

Hearing and doing. Jas.1:22‑25, “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. ²³For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; ²⁴for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. ²⁵But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.”
The truth of the gospel must be translated into concrete deeds and actions of faith.
“Hearing” the Word of God is the right point of beginning; we must guard against the notion of contemplating the good is the same as being good! Rom.2:13, ¹³(for not the hearers of the law are just in the sight of God, but the doers of the law will be justified;”
One who is content to hear without doing is deceiving himself.
James compares such a person to one who sees his reflection in a mirror and does nothing about it.
Looking into the mirror of the Word of God, one sees himself as he is and as he ought to be.
The careless hearer makes no effort to bridge the gap between the two.
His hearing has been to no purpose.

The blessed man is the one who hears with patience and acts on what he learns, Matt.7:24‑27, “Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock:²⁵and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.

²⁶“But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: ²⁷and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.”

Living by the royal law. Jas.2:8‑13 READ:
Loving our neighbor as our self is a central commandment of true religion.
In the O.T. Lev.19:18, “¹⁸You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord.” Mark.12:29‑31, “Jesus answered him, “The first of all the commandments is:‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one.³⁰And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’^£ ^£This is the first commandment. ³¹And the second, like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’^£ There is no other commandment greater than these.”
In the N.T. Gal.5:14, “¹⁴For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Rom.13:8‑10, “Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law. ⁹For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,”^£“You shall not bear false witness,”“You shall not covet,”^£ and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”^£ ¹⁰Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.”
All the strong statements in this epistle about social justice are based on this law.
Love of one’s neighbors requires compassion of widows and orphans. Jas.1:27 READ.
It forbids partiality. Jas.2:1‑7 READ.
It prohibits slander Jas.4:11‑12 READ.
It rebukes exploitation of the poor. Jas.5:1‑6 READ .
This section closes with an appeal for Christians to remember that only those who show mercy to their fellow men will receive mercy from God.
The relationship of faith and works, Jas.2:14‑26.
Faith without works is dead, Jas.2:14‑17, “What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? ¹⁵If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, ¹⁶and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? ¹⁷Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.”

How does one validate a claim to faith? Matt.7:21, ²¹“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.”
Christianity must produce practical results in order to be counted genuine.
Next he challenges the naive assertion that some men may demonstrate their religion by faith and others by works. Jas.2:18‑20, “But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by ^£my works. ¹⁹You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe — and tremble! ²⁰But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?”
There is no proof that one has faith at all apart from the fruit that faith produces in his daily life.
James challenges anyone to show his faith apart from his deeds.
True faith exemplified. Jas.2:21‑26 READ.
Abraham demonstrated his faith in offering up his son Isaac, Gen.22:1‑19, Heb.11:17‑19, “By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises offered up his only begotten son,¹⁸of whom it was said, “In Isaac your seed shall be called,”^£¹⁹concluding that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead, from which he also received him in a figurative sense.”
Rahab proved her faith in the God of the Hebrews by hiding the spies in her house. Josh.2:1‑24, Heb.11:31, “³¹By faith the harlot Rahab did not perish with those who did not believe, when she had received the spies with peace.”
Our confusion over the relationship between faith and works may be traced to the fact that works can be taken to mean different things.
The works of the Law of Moses Rom.3:28, “²⁸Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law.”
Works of human merit Eph.2:8-9, “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, ⁹not of works, lest anyone should boast.”
Actions of response to the divine will Jn.6:29, “²⁹Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent.” Jas.2:14‑26 READ.
No man can be saved by works of the Law of Moses or works of human merit; no man can be saved without an obedient response to heaven’s commands.

PRATRICAL CHRISTIAN LIVING

QUESTIONS

BOOK OF JAMES

LESSON 1

James appeals from start to finish for Christians to make their lives __________ with their profession.

B. By process of elimination, the most reasonable possibility for authorship of James is the brother of ________.

James is addressed to Jewish Christians who had been scattered from Palestine by ___________.

The theme of the epistle is the daily practice of ________ religion.

The truth of the gospel must be translated into concrete ______ and _______ of faith.

The blessed man is the one who ______ with patience and ________ on what he learns, Matt.7:24‑27.

_________our neighbor as our self is a central commandment of true religion.

Christianity must produce ______ ______ in order to be counted genuine.

James challenges anyone to show his _________ apart from his deeds.

No man can be saved by works of the __________ or works of human merit; no man can be saved without an obedient response to heaven’s commands.

Write a few words about what you have learned about the book of James what ever is most important to you.

LESSONS 2

James 1:1‑18 FOLLOW GOD’S WORD EVEN IN TIMES OF TRIAL

READ Jas.1:22, “²²But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.”

INTRODUCTION:

Vrs.1 READ: “¹James, a bondservant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ,

To the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad: Greetings.”

James is the 1/2 brother of Jesus.
12 Tribes = Spiritual Israel or the church.
All Christians READ: Rom.2:28‑29, “For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh; ²⁹but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, not in the letter; whose praise is not from men but from God.” & Gal.3:29, “²⁹And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.”
There are two purposes for this epistle.
To give encouragement in times of trials.
To rebuke the neglect of Christian duties.
Notice how James address Jesus:
Lord ‑ Master, owner, one having authority.
Jesus ‑ Savior.
Christ ‑ Anointed one, messiah, the one prophesied.
Greetings = be happy, rejoice.

DISCUSSION:

THE PRACTICE OF TRUE RELIGION EVEN IN THE TIME OF TRIALS. James 1:2‑18.
There are two types of trials outward and inward. Let’s look at the outward ones first. Vrs.2‑12. READ Vrs.2, “²My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various (DIVERS) trials,”
Divers = many and diversified.
Other scriptures READ: 1 Pet.1:6, “⁶In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials,” 2 Tim.3:6, “⁶For of this sort are those who creep into households and make captives of gullible women loaded down with sins, led away by various lusts,”
All come under three categories. Lust of eyes & flesh, The pride of life,

(1 Jn.2:16).

How to meet these trials. “Count it all joy.”

READ Acts 5:29, “²⁹But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: “We ought to obey God rather than men.” & 41‑42, “So they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for ^£His name. ⁴²And daily in the temple, and in every house, they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ.”
What Peter said: 1 Pet.4:13‑16, “but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy. ¹⁴If you are ^£reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified. ¹⁵But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or as a busybody in other people’s matters. ¹⁶Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this ^£matter.”
What Paul said: Phil.3:8‑9, “Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ ⁹and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith;”
Vrs.3 What these trials do for us. READ: “³knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.”

Proves or tries our faith.
Produces patience or steadfastness.
This produces hope. READ: Rom.5:1‑5, “Therefore, having been justified by faith, ^£we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, ²through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. ³And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; ⁴and perseverance, character; and character, hope. ⁵Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.”
Vrs.4 It makes us complete or mature in character. READ: “⁴But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.”
Complete = entire ‑ sound in every part.
Some examples of trials.
Vrs.9 The trial of poverty. READ: “⁹Let the lowly brother glory in his exaltation,”
Glory = rejoice.
Low degree = of humble position. Prov.30:7‑9, “Two things I request of You (Deprive me not before I die): Remove falsehood and lies far from me; Give me neither poverty nor riches—Feed me with the food allotted to me; Lest I be full and deny You,And say, “Who is the Lord?” Or lest I be poor and steal, And profane the name of my God.”
The trial of prosperity. Vrs.10‑11 READ: “but the rich in his humiliation, because as a flower of the field he will pass away. ¹¹For no sooner has the sun risen with a burning heat than it withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beautiful appearance perishes. So the rich man also will fade away in his pursuits.”
READ: Psa.37:1‑9, “Do not fret because of evildoers, Nor be envious of the workers of iniquity. For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, And wither as the green herb. Trust in the Lord, and do good; Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness. Delight yourself also in the Lord, And He shall give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord, Trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass. He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light, And your justice as the noonday. Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him; Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, Because of the man who brings wicked schemes to pass. Cease from anger, and forsake wrath; Do not fret—it only causes harm. For evildoers shall be cut off; But those who wait on the Lord, They shall inherit the earth.”
Eccl.12:13‑14, “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter:

Fear God and keep His commandments, For this is man’s all. For God will bring every work into judgment, Including every secret thing, Whether good or evil.”

God knows our needs and makes resources available as we face these trials and temptations.

OUR NEEDS:

Wisdom Vrs.5 READ: “⁵If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.”
King Solomon’s wish 1 Kings 3:9, “⁹Therefore give to Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people, that I may discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of Yours?”
Matt.7:7, & Lk.11:9 say the same thing. “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.”
How could the Christians realize that their trials were blessings?
This requires much greater wisdom than that of the world.
Do not despair God has an inexhaustible supply available and at hand.
This brings us to the second need Prayer, Vrs.5‑6 READ: “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. ⁶But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.”
We must simply ask God remembering:
God Gives to all who ask.
He gives liberally.

He gives unbraideth not. = God does not say, “What did you do with the things I have already given you? Make better use of them before you ask for more.”
READ James 5:16, “Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.”
The third thing we need is faith. Vrs.6 READ: “⁶But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.”
Mark 11:24, “²⁴Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.” &

1 Tim.2:8, “⁸I desire therefore that the men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting;” & Heb.11:6, “⁶But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.”

So we must pray in faith.
We must ask God.
We must ask in faith.
We must ask not doubting.
WHY? READ: Vrs.7‑8, “For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; ⁸he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.” & 4:8, “⁸Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.”
Vrs.12 Tells of the reward for faithful endurance of trials. READ: James 1:12, “¹²Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.”
Matt.5:11‑12, “Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake.¹²Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” 10:22, “²²And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved.” Job.5:17, “Behold, happy is the man whom God corrects; Therefore do not despise the chastening of the Almighty.”

1 Cor.9:24‑27, “Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. ²⁵And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. ²⁶Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. ²⁷But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.” 2 Tim.4:6‑8, “For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand. ⁷I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. ⁸Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.”

TRIALS THAT ARE INWARD, James 1:13‑18 READ:
God is not the author of trials or temptations.
In fact he will not allow us to be tempted above what we can stand.

I Cor.10:13, “¹³No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.”

2 Pet.2:9, “⁹then the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations and to reserve the unjust under punishment for the day of judgment,” Psa.125:1‑3, “Those who trust in the Lord Are like Mount Zion, Which cannot be moved, but abides forever. As the mountains surround Jerusalem, So the Lord surrounds His people From this time forth and forever. For the scepter of wickedness shall not rest On the land allotted to the righteous, Lest the righteous reach out their hands to iniquity.”

Instead God is the giver of all that is good in our lives. Vrs.17, “¹⁷Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.”
Jn.3:27, “²⁷John answered and said, “A man can receive nothing unless it has been given to him from heaven.”
The true orgin of sin is from within. Vrs.14‑15, “But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. ¹⁵Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.”
Psa.7:14‑15, “Behold, the wicked brings forth iniquity; Yes, he conceives trouble and brings forth falsehood. He made a pit and dug it out, And has fallen into the ditch which he made.” Prov.23:7, “For as he thinks in his heart, so is he. “Eat and drink!” he says to you, But his heart is not with you.” Mark 7:20‑23, And He said, “What comes out of a man, that defiles a man.²¹For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders,²²thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness. ²³All these evil things come from within and defile a man.”
Vrs.16 “Do not err, my beloved brethren.” Because of all these things and what Peter said in:
1 Pet.5:8, “⁸Be sober, be vigilant;

because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.”

CONCLUSION:

We are always in danger of falling 1 Cor.10:12, “¹²Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.”
One gift from above that is specifically mentioned is the new birth Vrs.18, “¹⁸Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures.” Jn.1:12‑13, “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: ¹³who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” 3:1‑6, “There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. ²This man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, “Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.” ³Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?”Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.⁶That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. John 14:15, “If you love Me, ^£keep My commandments.”

THIS IS HOW WE STAY FAITHFUL EVEN IN TIMES OF TRIAL.

PRATRICAL CHRISTIAN LIVING

QUESTIONS

BOOK OF JAMES

LESSON 2 James 1:1-18

There are two purposes for this epistle what are they?

A. There are two types of trials ________ and _______.

List three things these trials do for us from verse 3.

Name one other thing it does for us from verse 4.

God knows our needs and makes __________ _________ as we face these trials and temptations.

James lists 4 needs in verse 5-6 of chapter one what are they?

Vrs.12 Tells of the reward for faithful __________ of trials.

God is not the author of ________ ___________.

God is the giver of all that is _________ in our lives.

The true origin of sin is from_________.

Write a few sentences about what is most significant about this part of the Book of James.

LESSON 3

James 1:19‑27 THE PRACTICE OF TRUE RELIGION IN REGARD TO THE WORD.

READ James 1:22, “²²But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.”

INTRODUCTION: READ Vrs.18‑19, “Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures.¹⁹So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath;”

What is James trying to tell us?
“You are well aware of the fact that we were brought forth into spiritual life by the word of truth.”
“Therefore, let your life, in word and in deed, reflect the knowledge you have gained.”

DISCUSSION:

Vrs.19, “So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath;”
Hearing the word is an imperative command, not a request.
This means to hear eagerly, quick, speedy, urging a fast attentive mind ready to listen and learn.´
The degree to which we adhere to the precept, “Swift to hear, slow to speak, and slow to wrath”, will in a large measure reveal how stable one’s character is.

Slow to speak = Not so quick to talk back to God’s word.
Speech may be silver but silence is golden!
God gave us two ears and one tongue. WHY?
Prov.13:3, “He who guards his mouth preserves his life, But he who opens wide his lips shall have destruction.” 17:27, “He who has knowledge spares his words, And a man of understanding is of a calm spirit.” 29:20, “Do you see a man hasty in his words? There is more hope for a fool than for him.” Eccl.5:1‑2 Solomon’s advice, “Walk prudently when you go to the house of God; and draw near to hear rather than to give the sacrifice of fools, for they do not know that they do evil. Do not be rash with your mouth, And let not your heart utter anything hastily before God. For God is in heaven, and you on earth; Therefore let your words be few.”
Slow to wrath = Violent emotion resulting in uncontrolled anger makes us unable to receive the word properly.
Without receiving the word we cannot be saved.
We will not and cannot listen properly to the word of God when we have bitterness, malice, and hatred in our hearts toward our fellow men.
Prov.14:29 WHY?, “He who is slow to wrath has great understanding, But he who is^£impulsive exalts folly.
READ Vrs.20, “²⁰for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God.”
This is why we are to be swift to hear, slow to speak and slow to wrath.
Put this with Micah 6:8, “He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God?

III. READ. Vrs.21, “²¹Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.”

Hear with meekness! READ: Lk.8:15 Christ speaking, “¹⁵But the ones that fell on the good ground are those who, having heard the word with a noble and good heart, keep it and bear fruit with patience.”
Receiving the word will cause you to put away two things.
Filthiness = that which is dirty in God’s eyes.
Overflow of wickedness = overabundance of evil.
The implanted word = inborn word the only thing with the power to save.
READ: I Pet.1:22‑25, “Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth ^£through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart, ²³having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides ^£forever, ²⁴because “All fleshis as grass,And ^£all the glory of man as the flower of the grass. The grass withers, And its flower falls away, But the word of the Lord endures forever.” Now this is the word which by the gospel was preached to you.”

I Pet.2:1‑3, “Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking, ²as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow ^£thereby, ³if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious.”

I Cor.1:21, “²¹For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe.” 4:15, “¹⁵For though you might have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet you do not have many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel.”
Psa.119:105, “Your word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.”

DO THE WORD Vrs.22‑25 ‑ Vrs.22, “²²But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.”
Be not hearers only. Matt.7:21‑23, “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.²²Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ ²³And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’” Rom.2:13, “¹³(for not the hearers of the law are just in the sight of God, but the doers of the law will be justified;” Lk.11:28, “²⁸But He said, “More than that, blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it!””
Or we deceive ourselves = We are without hope or promise ‑ we cheat ourselves.
1 Jn.3:7, “⁷Little children, let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous.”
A description of one who only hears the word. READ Vrs.23‑24, “For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; ²⁴for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was.”
II Pet.2:21-22,“²¹For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them. ²²But it has happened to them according to the true proverb: “A dog returns to his own vomit,”^£ and, “a sow, having washed, to her wallowing in the mire.” I Jn.2:4, “⁴He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.”
Solution: Vrs.25, “²⁵But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.”
Looking into the perfect law of freedom. Jn.8:32, “³²And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” Rom.8:2, “²For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.” Rom.13:10, “¹⁰Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.”
This is one way we continue in the law by love for God, and our neighbor.
On this hangs all the law and the prophets.
Gal.6:2 “Bear ye one anothers burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ.”
And continue in it = remains in it’s teachings.
And is not a forgetful hearer ‑ but a doer of the word.
If we do not use it we loose it!
We will be blessed in what he does, Jn.13:17, “¹⁷If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.”
SOME EXAMPLES OF DOING, Vrs.26‑27, “²⁶If anyone ^£among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one’s religion is useless. ²⁷Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.”
We must bridle the tongue. Chapter three lesson.
Have compassion on the needy, and help them. Gal.6:10, “¹⁰Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.”

We are always to cultivate personal holiness. I Jn.2:15-17, “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. ¹⁶For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. ¹⁷And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.” Eph.5:11, “¹¹And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them.”

2 Cor.6:16‑7:1, “And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you^£ are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will dwell in them And walk among them. I will be their God, And they shall be My people. Therefore “Come out from among them And be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, And I will receive you.” I will be a Father to you, And you shall be My sons and daughters, Says the Lord Almighty. ¹Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.”

I Pet.1:15‑16, “but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, ¹⁶because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.” I Tim.5:22, “²²Do not lay hands on anyone hastily, nor share in other people’s sins; keep yourself pure.” Matt.5:8 “Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God.”

CONCLUSION:

We are to be ready always to hear the word. II Tim.2:15, “¹⁵Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”
We are to be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger.
We are to be doers of the word, not hearers only.
To do all of this we must:
Bridle our tongue.
Have compassion for the needy and help them.
Cultivate personal holiness in our lives.

WE MUST STUDY THE WORD, OBEY IT, LIVE IT , LOVE IT, TEACH IT, AS LONG AS WE LIVE.

PRATRICAL CHRISTIAN LIVING

QUESTIONS

BOOK OF JAMES

LESSON 3 James 1:19-27

What is James trying to tell us in verse 18-19?

Hearing the word is an______ _______, not a request.

This means to hear_____ _______ ______, urging a fast attentive mind ready to listen and learn.

We will not and cannot listen properly to the word of God when we have _______ ________ ____ __________ in our hearts toward our fellow men.

Vrs.20, “²⁰for the ________of man does not produce the righteousness of God.”

Receiving the word will cause you to put away two things.

Be not hearers only or we deceive ourselves = We are without ________ __ ______ ‑ we cheat ourselves.

We must _______ the tongue.

Have ___________ on the needy, and help them. Gal.6:10.

We are always to cultivate personal ________.

Write a few sentences about what is most significant about this part of the Book of James.

LESSON 4

James 2:1‑13 BE NOT PARTIAL

READ: Acts 10:34‑35, “Then Peter opened his mouth and said: “In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality. ³⁵But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him.”

James 2:1 READ: “¹My brethren, do not hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with partiality.”
Notice LORD = RULER, JESUS = SAVIOR, CHRIST = MESSIAH or ANOINTED ONE.
Lord of Glory = Deity = Jn.1:1‑4, “¹In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ²He was in the beginning with God. ³All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. ⁴In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.” & 14, “¹⁴And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.”

If you really believe in Jesus as Lord, Christ, Deity, & Messiah it would be inconsistent to show respect of persons, or partiality.
I Pet.2:17, “Honor all people. Love the brotherhood, Fear God, Honor the King.”
James is not teaching not to honor those who deserve honor. Look at Rom.13:7, “⁷Render therefore to all their due: taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to whom customs, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor.”
We are not to judge by outward appearance.
We are to accept people on His faith, only God can read their heart!
By making judgment by outward appearance is contrary to everything Jesus is and was, Jn.7:24, “²⁴Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment.”
Jesus did not judge by social standing. Matt.9:10‑13, “Now it happened, as Jesus sat at the table in the house, that behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and sat down with Him and His disciples. ¹¹And when the Pharisees saw it, they said to His disciples, “Why does your Teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” ¹²When Jesus heard that, He said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick.¹³But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice.’^£ For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, ^£to repentance.”
Jesus did not judge by race, Jn.4:6‑10, “Now Jacob’s well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied from His journey, sat thus by the well. It was about the sixth hour. ⁷A woman of Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, “Give Me a drink.”⁸For His disciples had gone away into the city to buy food. ⁹Then the woman of Samaria said to Him, “How is it that You, being a Jew, ask a drink from me, a Samaritan woman?” For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans. ¹⁰Jesus answered and said to her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, ‘Give Me a drink,’ you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.”

& Matt.8:5‑13, “Now when Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to Him, pleading with Him, ⁶saying, “Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, dreadfully tormented. And Jesus said to him, “I will come and heal him.” The centurion answered and said, “Lord, I am not worthy that You should come under my roof. But only speak a word, and my servant will be healed. ⁹For I also am a man under authority, having soldiers under me. And I say to this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” ¹⁰When Jesus heard it, He marveled, and said to those who followed, “Assuredly, I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel! ¹¹And I say to you that many will come from east and west, and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. ¹²But the sons of the kingdom will be cast out into outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” ¹³Then Jesus said to the centurion, “Go your way; and as you have believed, so let it be done for you.” And his servant was healed that same hour.”

Remember Jesus did not judge by outward appearance but he looked on their heart.
We can only treat each one equal and in time we shall know them by their fruits.
We should ask ourselves this question each day, “FOR WHOM DID CHRIST DIE? ALL! Lk.19:10, “¹⁰for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.”

James 2:2‑4: This is an example of a worship assembly in the first century, “For if there should come into your assembly a man with gold rings, in fine apparel, and there should also come in a poor man in filthy clothes, ³and you pay attention to the one wearing the fine clothes and say to him, “You sit here in a good place,” and say to the poor man, “You stand there,” or, “Sit here at my footstool,” ⁴have you not shown partiality among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts?”
Poor as used here = beggar.

III. WE CANNOT BE RESPECTORS OF PERSONS BECAUSE IT IS CONTRARY TO THE WILL OF GOD! James 2:5‑7, “Listen, my beloved brethren: Has God not chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him? ⁶But you have dishonored the poor man. Do not the rich oppress you and drag you into the courts? ⁷Do they not blaspheme that noble name by which you are called?”

God is not a respector of persons. Acts 10:34‑35, “Then Peter opened his mouth and said: “In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality. ³⁵But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him.” Eph.6:9, “⁹And you, masters, do the same things to them, giving up threatening, knowing that ^£your own Master also is in heaven, and there is no partiality with Him.”
God has chosen the poor vrs.5.
Poor = those who respond to God’s invitation.
Poor to world – rich in God. Mark 12:37b, “And the common people heard Him gladly.”
Christ had just finished a short lesson on his being the Lord of promise, then this statement..
But you dishonor the poor, Vrs.6.
They mistakenly thought riches meant God’s approval Job.
Vrs.6b – 7 Name = Christian.
Poor as used here = rich in faith & heirs of the kingdom.
The practice of preferring the rich over the poor made not sense to James.
Rich as used here = the worldly non Christians.
BEING PARTIAL IS CONTRARY TO THE WORD OF GOD. James 2:8‑9, “⁸If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,”^£ you do well; ⁹but if you show partiality, you commit sin, and are convicted by the law as transgressors.”
God practices NON – DISCRIMINATION and expects us to do the same.
Lev.19:18 We are told that thou shalt love thy neighbor as thy self.
In Matt. 22:37‑40, “Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’^£³⁸This is the first and great commandment.³⁹And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’^£ ⁴⁰On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.” Jesus said this. Mark repeated this Mk.12, Lk.10.
Peter talks about the royal law, 1 Pet.2:9, “⁹But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; THIS IS OUR WORK!

If you do not have love for all mankind but have a respect of persons you commit sin and are condemned by the word of God. (SERIOUS BUSINESS!)

TO DISOBEY IN ONE POINT OF LAW YOU AR GUILTY OF ALL. James 2:10‑11, “For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all. ¹¹For He who said, “Do not commit adultery,”^£ also said, “Do not murder.” Now if you do not commit adultery, but you do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law. “
No big sin and small sin!
We will only be forgiven of the sins that we truly repent of.
A chain is made of links if one breaks the whole chain can no longer do it’s work.
The man held by this chain will fall if one link breaks.
Showing respect of persons is a sin just as murder or adultery.

READ James 2:12‑13, “So speak and so do as those who will be judged by the law of liberty. ¹³For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.”
Mercy triumphs over judgment. Heb.9:27‑28, “And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment, ²⁸so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation.”
We will be judged by the perfect law of liberty or freedom. James 1:15, “Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. ¹⁴But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. ¹⁵Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.” Jn.12:48‑50, “He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him—the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day.⁴⁹For I have not spoken on My own authority; but the Father who sent Me gave Me a command, what I should say and what I should speak.⁵⁰And I know that His command is everlasting life. Therefore, whatever I speak, just as the Father has told Me, so I speak.”
We have no need to judge, we need to leave that to God like Paul, II Tim.4:8, “⁸Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.”
Mercy triumphs over judgment vrs.13.
We have all fallen at times but there is still hope, 1 Jn.1:7‑10, “But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. ⁸If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. ⁹If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. ¹⁰If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.”
Because of God’s mercy we need not fear the Judgment if we are doing the very best we can. After obeying the Gospel.
God’s mercy makes up the difference between my best and perfection. (God’s Grace).
But this is only true for those faithful children of God the saved, the church.

CONCLUSION:

We need to be merciful and not prejudice in diligently seeking Him.
This takes a lot of faith that will only come by diligent study of his word of love.
Look at Heb.11:6, “⁶But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

PRATRICAL CHRISTIAN LIVING

QUESTIONS

BOOK OF JAMES

LESSON 4 James 2:1-13

We are not to judge by_________ ____________.

Making judgment by outward appearance is _____________ to everything Jesus is and was, Jn.7:24.

Jesus did not judge by outward appearance but he looked on their heart. We can only treat each one equal and in time we shall know them by their ______.

WE CANNOT BE RESPECTORS OF PERSONS BECAUSE IT IS _________ TO THE WILL OF GOD!

The practice of preferring the ____ ____ ___ _____made no sense to James.

If you do not have love for all mankind but have a respect of persons you _____ __________ and are condemned by the word of God.

We will only be forgiven of the sins that we truly_______ ___.

We will be judged by the __________ law of liberty or freedom. James 1:15, Jn.12:48‑50.

We have no need to_______, we need to leave that to God like Paul, II Tim.4:8.

Mercy triumphs over _________ vrs.13.

Write a few sentences about what is most significant about this part of the Book of James.

LESSON 5

James 2:14‑26 FAITH + WORKS = LIFE!

READ: James 2:17‑18, “Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

¹⁸But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without ^£your works, and I will show you my faith by ^£my works.”

INTRODUCTION:

Faith without works is useless. 2:14‑17, “What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? ¹⁵If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, ¹⁶and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? ¹⁷Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.”

Faith without works cannot be demonstrated. 2:18, “But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without ^£your works, and I will show you my faith by ^£my works.”
Faith without works (obedience) cannot change a person. 2:19‑20, “You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble! ²⁰But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is ^£dead?”
Faith without works is not perfected (justified). 2:21‑25, “Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? ²²Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect? ²³And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it wasaccounted to him for righteousness.”^£ And he was called the friend of God. ²⁴You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only. ²⁵Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way?”
Faith without works is death. 2:26, “For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.”
Some say all kind of works has nothing to do with salvation.

But this does not mean works of God! READ: Jn.5:28‑29, “Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice²⁹and come forth—those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation.”
Works of God are: Believing on Him, Baptism, Steps of Salvation, Evangelism, Edification, Benevolence, WORKS OF OBEDIENCE TO GOD!
These are not works of ourselves or the Law of Moses, but commandments of Jesus!
SO, When Paul says we are not saved by works, WHAT DOES HE MEAN?
READ: Rom.4:1‑4, “What then shall we say that Abraham our father^£ has found according to the flesh? ²For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. ³For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it wasaccounted to him for righteousness.”^£⁴Now to him who works, the wages are not counted as grace but as debt. This deals with not being saved by our works.”
We cannot do enough good works to earn our salvation.
But being obedient to faith is a work of God, that is what we are to do. Rom.1:5 “Through Him we have received grace and apostle ship for obedience to the faith among all nations for His name.”
A faith that obeys is a faith that saves. Rom.16:26, “Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery kept secret since the world began ²⁶but now made manifest, and by the prophetic Scriptures made known to all nations, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, for obedience to the faith.”
James also says, FAITH + OBEDIENCE or Faith that obeys is a faith that saves!

DISCUSSION:

READ: James 2:14, “¹⁴What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him?” CAN FAITH ALONE SAVE HIM?
FAITH WITHOUT WORKS IS OF NO USE!
What value is faith if I have no obedience or works?
The answer is none, it is useless.
Faith that does not express it’s self is of no use.
One problem is some have faith but the faith is expressed only by talking and not doing.
Many talk faith but do not use faith.
Many also are long on profession but short of practice.
James said this is useless.
Jesus said, “You are my friend if you do what I command you.” Jn.15:14.
Abraham was called a friend of God because he did what God said, James 2:21‑23, “Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? ²²Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect?”
Isaiah 41:8 & 2 Chron.20:7 also say Abraham is a friend of God.

Starting in James 2:15 James gives some illustrations.
READ: James 2:15‑16, “¹⁵If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, ¹⁶and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit?”

In the recent happenings people from all over the world sent money food clothing etc.
The church here in Glenpool sent to this cause and many others as they arose.

Several individuals in this congregation help on their own several good causes and many individual people.

Many times there is so much help that they have no way to deliver all the good things that are given.
Our food store is a good example, it helps people all year around.
We must take care of each others needs!
READ James 2:24, “You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.”
These are works of obedience.
Paul in Rom.was talking about works of the Law of Moses or Works of merit. Rom.4:1‑4 & 1:5, Read earlier.
Christ had already taken care of this problem READ: Matt.7:21‑23, “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.²²Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’²³And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!”
To conclude this thought. Simply read Gal.5:6, “⁶For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love.” & 1 Cor.13:1‑3, “Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. ²And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. ³And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body ^£to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.” Simply spoken “faith working through love.” (agape).

III. Some people say, James is not talking about becoming a child of God because Abraham was already a child of God.

But look at James 2:25, “²⁵Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way?”
Was this not the same kind of faith that made Abraham obey?
Look at the contrast, One is a harlot ‑ one a child of God.
But they both had something in common = both when they believed, both obeyed God!
Both are listed in the heroes of faith in Heb.11. vrs.17 Abraham, Vrs.31 Rahab.
Also both are in the lineage of Christ. Matt.1:1‑2 & 5‑6.
She was the Great grandmother of David.
We can read about Rahab in Joshua ch.2 & ch.6.

CONCLUSION:

The alien sinner must let his faith work on his heart to guide him to obey the Lord.
There is only one accepted way!
Hear, believe, repent, confess, be baptized, and be faithful!
The child of God must let the faith they have by, studying his word, guide them in His work.
God has laid down certain things for all of his children to do.
The work of the church is to Evangelize, edify, be benevolent.

CLOSE:

JAMES GIVES US THE PERFECT CLOSING THOUGHTS FOR THIS LESSON. READ: James 2:26, “²⁶For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.” DEAD = Separation from God! Isa.59:1‑2

PRATRICAL CHRISTIAN LIVING

QUESTIONS

BOOK OF JAMES

LESSON 5 James 2:14-26 FAITH + WORKS = LIFE!

Faith without works is ________, James 2:14‑17.

Faith without works cannot be___________, James 2:18.

Faith without works (obedience) _________ ________a person, James 2:19‑20.

Faith without works is not ________ (justified), James 2:21‑25.

Faith without works is________, James 2:26.

Abraham was called a ______of God because he did what God said.

The alien sinner must let his ________ work on his heart to guide him to obey the Lord.

There is only one accepted way that has several steps, can you name them?

The child of God must let the faith they have by, studying his word, guide them in His______.

James 2:26, “²⁶For as _____ ____without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.”

Write a few sentences about what is most significant about this part of the Book of James.

LESSONS 6

James 3:1‑12 WHY BRIDLE THE TONGUE?

READ James 3:5‑6, “Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things.

See how great a forest a little fire kindles! ⁶And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell.”

INTRODUCTION:

READ James 3:1, “¹My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment.” Teachers have a great responsibility.
READ: Heb.5:12, “¹²For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food.” Eph.4:11‑12, “And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, ¹²for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ,” Acts 8:4, “⁴Therefore those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the word.”
Do not teach from the wrong motive.
Not for your own honor only.
Always be prepared. 1 Pet.3:15, “¹⁵But sanctify ^£the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear;” 1 Pet. 4:11, “¹¹If anyone speaks, let himspeak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.”
Know God’s word and how to teach it.
Live what you teach, 1Tim.2:2‑3, “¹¹If anyone speaks, let himspeak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.” (The Jews knew the law, but did they live it?) Rom.2:17‑23, “Indeed you are called a Jew, and rest on the law, and make your boast in God, ¹⁸and know His will, and approve the things that are excellent, being instructed out of the law, ¹⁹and are confident that you yourself are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness, ²⁰an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, having the form of knowledge and truth in the law. ²¹You, therefore, who teach another, do you not teach yourself? You who preach that a man should not steal, do you steal? ²²You who say, “Do not commit adultery,” do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? ²³You who make your boast in the law, do you dishonor God through breaking the law?
There will be stricter judgment for false teachers or those teaching for the wrong motive. Vrs.1.
And great blessings for those who work according to his word, Phil.4:1, “¹Therefore, my beloved and longed-for brethren, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, beloved.” 3 Jn.4, “⁴I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in ^£truth.”
Teaching is a great responsibility.
False teaching will cause both student and teacher to be lost.
READ James 3:2, “²For we all stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body.” If any offend not in word he is a full‑grown hristian. READ Matt.12:34‑37, “Brood of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. ³⁵A good man out of the good treasure ^£of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things. ³⁶But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. ³⁷For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”

DISCUSSION:

James 3:5 READ, “⁵Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things. See how great a forest a little fire kindles.”
We must control our tongue because of the power it has.
Look at the power of little things James 3: 3,4,5b, “Indeed, we put bits in horses’ mouths that they may obey us, and we turn their whole body. ⁴Look also at ships: although they are so large and are driven by fierce winds, they are turned by a very small rudder wherever the pilot desires. ⁵Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things. See how great a forest a little fire kindles!
Prov.18:21, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit.” Matt.12:37, “For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.”
Examples of evil = Hittler, Hosaine, Good = Churchill, Rosevelt, Bush.

READ James 3:6, “⁶And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell.”
We must control our tongue because of the possibility of great evil.
A fire controlled can be a good thing.
Cooking, heating home, burning grass to kill weeds, burning trash, gasoline in an engine a good example of controlled burning, etc.
A fire uncontrolled can be very bad.
House fire, forest fire, car on fire, hell’s fire, anything burning uncontrolled.
One spark can burn a whole forest.
One uncontrolled tongue can destroy the work of many, or many years.
Rom.3:13‑14, ““Theirthroatis an open tomb; With their tongues they have practiced deceit”;^£ “The poison of asps is under their lips”;^£ “Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness.”^£ Prov.19:5, “A false witness will not go unpunished, And he who speaks lies will not escape.

Warns about our tongue. Prov.12:13, “The wicked is ensnared by the transgression of his lips, But the righteous will come through trouble.”

Prov.15:1‑2, “A soft answer turns away wrath, But a harsh word stirs up anger. The tongue of the wise uses knowledge rightly, But the mouth of fools pours forth foolishness.” Prov.16:27‑28, “An ungodly man digs up evil, And it is on his lips like a burning fire. A perverse man sows strife, And a whisperer separates the best of friends.” Prov.10:19, “In the multitude of words sin is not lacking, But he who restrains his lips is wise.” Eph,4:29, “²⁹Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.”

The tongue can destroy our whole life untamed it can destroy like fire out of control. Eccl.12:6, “Remember your Creator before the silver cord is ^£loosed,

Or the golden bowl is broken, Or the pitcher shattered at the fountain, Or the wheel broken at the well.”

Our tongue can lead us to hell because of its untamed nature.

III. READ James 3:7‑8, “For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and creature of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by mankind. ⁸But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.”

We can tame all animals and birds and things of the sea but what of the tongue?
It is full of evil and deadly poison if not controlled.

We must ask two things before we speak.
Is it true?
Will it do any good to tell it?
We can and must control our tongue but we will not tame it, James 1:26, “²⁶If anyone ^£among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one’s religion is useless.”
READ James 3:10‑11, “Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so. ¹¹Does a spring send forth fresh water and bitter from the same opening?”
How do we control – work on it our whole life! Matt.12:34, “Brood of vipers! How can you, being evil speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.”
Prov.23:7, “As a man thinks in his heart so is he.”
Prov.31:26, “She opens her mouth with wisdom, And on her tongue is the law of kindness.” We must use wisdom.
Some times it is better just to keep our mouth closed, 1 Thess.4:11, “¹¹that you also aspire to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you,” 1 Pet.3:10, “For “He who would love life And see good days, Let him refrain his tongue from evil, And his lips from speaking deceit.” Eccl.3:7, “A time to keep silent and a time to speak.”

We must remember while trying to control our tongue, Matt.19:26, “With men this is impossible but with God all things are possible.”

Listen to this prayer. Psa.141:3, “Set a guard, O Lord over my mouth, Keep watch over the door of my lips.” Also remember Phil.4:13, “I can do all things through Christ Jesus who gives me strength.”

READ James 3:9‑12 , “With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God. ¹⁰Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so. ¹¹Does a spring send forth fresh water and bitter from the same opening? ¹²Can a fig tree, my brethren, bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? ^£Thus no spring yields both salt water and fresh.”
The tongue is inconsistent. Praise and curse at same time.
These things ought not to be.
Unscriptural
Unnatural

CLOSE: READ: Eph.5:8‑16, “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light ⁹(for the fruit of the ^£Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), ¹⁰finding out what is acceptable to the Lord. ¹¹And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them. ¹²For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret. ¹³But all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light. ¹⁴Therefore He says: “Awake, you who sleep, Arise from the dead, And Christ will give you light.” ¹⁵See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, ¹⁶redeeming the time, because the days are evil.”

Control the tongue by controlling your life the tongue talks what your mind absorbs, good or bad.

PRATRICAL CHRISTIAN LIVING

QUESTIONS

BOOK OF JAMES

LESSON 6 James 3:1‑12 WHY BRIDLE THE TONGUE?

Do not teach from the wrong motive list two things James tells us.

There will be ________ ________for false teachers or those teaching for the wrong motive. verse.1.

We must _______ our tongue because of the power it has.

We must control our tongue because of the possibility of ______ ________.

The tongue can destroy our whole life _________it can destroy like fire out of control. Eccl.12:6.

We can _________ all animals and birds and things of the sea but what of the tongue?

We must ask two things before we speak.

We can and must control our tongue but we will not _______it, James 1:26.

How do we control? ‑ we work on it our ______ ______!

The tongue is inconsistent is can ______ ___ ______at same time.

Write a few sentences about what is most significant about this part of the Book of James.

LESSON 7

James 3:13‑18 WISDOM OF TEACHERS

READ: James 3:1, “¹My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment.”

INTRODUCTION:

James 3:1 was addressed primarily to teachers.
It was designed to emphasize the great responsibility which is theirs in influencing others in this wise manner.
From the discussion on the teacher’s responsibility and work involving the tongue.
James extended his treatment to include all disciples.
James 3:2‑12 deals directly with the abuses of the tongue and the evil effects which follow.
It is remarkable how much James is devoted to words and works.
Shown clearly is the worthlessness of being a hearer of words and not a doer of the work. (1:19‑27).
Next is revealed the glaring inconsistency of loving one’s neighbor as one’s self if the neighbor is a rich man and neglecting another who happens to be poor. (2:1‑13).
Then the emptiness of faith apart from works (2:14‑26).7
And the abuses of the tongue in (3:2‑12).
James makes clear that the dispositions to avoid are these:
Duties of the Christian life are talked about and not done.
Our faith is a token of wickedness and sin, and not a manifestation of our Christian character.
Without such practical devotion, evidenced in deeds, such profession is worthless and vain.
Lk.6:46, “And why call me Lord, Lord and do not the things which I say.”
My translation of Jas.3:1 “Be not many of you teachers, my brethren, knowing that we shall receive heavier judgment.”
But suppose some teacher says, “I do not need it for I am a wise and understanding man.”
James raises that question in vrs.13.

DISCUSSION:

READ James 3:13,¹³Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom.”
The word wise = a teacher.
and understanding one = one skilled.
Thus, Who is really a skilled teacher?
All teachers are to be wise and understanding.
One may be exceedingly wise and yet unlearned.

It is also possible to be highly learned yet, exceedingly unwise.

We become learned through study, 2 Tim.2:15, “¹⁵Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”
Wisdom comes only from God. Jas.1:5.
James gives 2 tokens which evidence wisdom and understanding.
Good deeds,
meekness of wisdom.
One’s wisdom is evidenced, by a godly life with good deeds.

A wise teacher must be wise in the ways of God not the world, 1 Cor.1:20, “²⁰Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?
Teachers must be practical.
Teach and live the same thing ‑ the truth ‑ Prov.4:7, “Wisdom is the principal thing; Therefore get wisdom. And in all your getting, get understanding.”
Do this in meekness of wisdom.
Meekness = gentle, mild = an in wrought grace of the soul. The exercise of meekness are first and chiefly towards God. That temper of spirit in which we accept His dealings with us as good.
Humility ‑ the head that really counts is the wise head.
How do we show this = by our life.
Meekness = having nothing to prove to the world.

III. READ: James 3:14‑16, “But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. ¹⁵This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. ¹⁶For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there.” CONTRASTING TRUE WISDOM TO THE WISDOM OF THE WORLD!

Origin of worldly wisdom not from above or God.
Sensual = of the flesh.
Demonic = of the devil “devilish” K.J.
Earthly = worldly = in contrast with that which is “Heavenly”.
These are described in Phil.3:18‑19, “For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: ¹⁹whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame—who set their mind on earthly things.”
The problem with this wisdom is it is Philosophy, sophisticated, and worldly = A WARNING, 2 Cor.11:3, “³But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the ^£simplicity that is in Christ.”
The results of worldly wisdom.
Confusion.
Every evil work or thing.
READ James 3:17‑18, “But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. ¹⁸Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.” Wisdom that is from above.
PURE = unmixed = Matt.6:33, “³³But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” Matt. 5:8, “Blessed are the pure in heart, For they shall see God.” Matt.22:37‑40, “Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’^£³⁸This is the first and great commandment.³⁹And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’^£ ⁴⁰On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”
PEACEABLE = Matt.5:9, “Blessed are the peacemakers, For they shall be called sons of God.” Phil.4:8, “⁸Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.” Jas.3:18, “¹⁸Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.”
GENTLE = meek = courteous, considerate, compassionate.
Willing to yield = open minded Prov.9:8, “Do not correct a scoffer, lest he hate you; Rebuke a wise man, and he will love you.”
Full of mercy = Able to be moved by the needs of others.
This will bring good fruits. Matt.5:7, “Blessed are the merciful, For they shall obtain mercy.” Psa.139:7‑8, “Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? If I ascend into heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there.”
Without partiality = or consistent (opposite of Vrs.16), Eph.4:14‑15, “that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, ¹⁵but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ—
Without Hypocrisy = sincere = not play‑acting.

CLOSE:

Prov.11:17‑20, “The merciful man does good for his own soul, But, he who is cruel troubles his own flesh. The wicked man does deceptive work, But, he who sows righteousness will have a sure reward. As righteousness leads to life, So he who pursues evil pursues it to his own death. Those who are of a perverse heart are an abomination to the Lord, But the blameless in their ways are His delight.

WE MUST STUDY AND LEARN GOD’S WORD, OBEY IT, LIVE IT, TEACH IT TO OTHERS, WITH HUMILITY, LOVE AND PATIENCE.

PRATRICAL CHRISTIAN LIVING

QUESTIONS

BOOK OF JAMES

LESSON 7 James 3:13‑18 WISDOM OF TEACHERS

James 3:1 was addressed primarily to teachers, it was designed to emphasize the great responsibility which is theirs in __________ others in this wise manner.

Shown clearly is the ___________ of being a hearer of words and not a doer of the work. (1:19‑27).

Next is revealed the glaring ____________ of loving one’s neighbor as one’s self if the neighbor is a rich man and neglecting another who happens to be poor. (2:1‑13).

Then the ______________ of faith apart from works (2:14‑26).7

And the abuses of the ________ in (3:2‑12).

All teachers are to be ________ and understanding.

James gives 2 tokens which evidence wisdom and understanding.

Teachers must ______ __ ______the same thing ‑ the truth ‑ Prov.4:7.

The results of worldly wisdom.

“But the wisdom that is from _______ is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy.

Write a few sentences about what is most significant about this part of the Book of James.

LESSON 8

James 4:1‑10 WHY DO PEOPLE FIGHT?

READ: James 4:10, “¹⁰Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.”

INTRODUCTION: WHY DO PEOPLE FIGHT?

The world would say, LAND – WEALTH – POWER – GREED – LUST.
James says, PRIDE – JUDGING – PRESUMPTION.
Let’s talk about worldliness – THE CURSE – THE CAUSE – THE CURE.

DISCUSSION:

The Curse of Worldliness. 4:1, “Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members?”
My translation, “Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members?”
Or: Do not wars come from your worldliness?
It causes you to war with God. READ James 4.3, “³You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures.”
It causes war with others. See vrs.1 above.
Notice wars and fights even among the brethren.
These were caused by their selfish desires, and come from within us.
Worldliness causes wars within ourselves.
We war within our own selves.
And also among our brethren.
This comes from within us and is caused by our selfishness.
All sin begins from within. READ Mark 7:20‑23, “And He said, “What comes out of a man, that defiles a man.²¹For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders,²²thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness. ²³All these evil things come from within and defile a man.”
Worldliness hurts many things:
It hurts the church.‑
It hurts ourselves and others.
Worldliness = People or things of the world.‑ Or exhaling things of the world above things of God.
We can be worldly and still not immoral!
T.V. = time fillers and time killers.
We must keep every thing in perspective. – God first – the world second. Matt.6:33.

THE CAUSE OF WORLDLINESS James 4:2‑5, “You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. ^£Yet you do not have because you do not ask. ³You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures. ⁴^£Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. ⁵Or do you think that the Scripture says in vain, “The Spirit who dwells in us yearns jealously”?
Notice you or ye are used 14 times.
So many of us just want everything for ourselves.
Vrs. 1 says, worldliness comes from our living for our pleasures or our desires for our own pleasures.

Some even let this desire for pleasure drive them to other unlawful acts.
Murder, covet, fight, and war.
This is the way those wrapped up in worldliness fulfill their desires for pleasure and worldliness.
But notice what James says. vrs.2‑3, “You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. ^£Yet you do not have because you do not ask. ³You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures. “
Prayer is more important and more powerful than anything man can do.
But we need not ask with the wrong motive.
PRAYER IS TO GET GOD’S WILL DONE ON EARTH NOT OUR WILL IN HEAVEN.
Adultery James 4:4, “Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.” 1Cor.6:9‑18, “Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor ^£homosexuals, nor sodomites, ¹⁰nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. ¹¹And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.

¹²All things are lawful for me, but all things are not helpful. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any. ¹³Foods for the stomach and the stomach for foods, but God will destroy both it and them. Now the body is not for sexual immorality but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. ¹⁴And God both raised up the Lord and will also raise us up by His power.

¹⁵Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a harlot? Certainly not! ¹⁶Or do you not know that he who is joined to a harlot is one body with her? For “the two,” He says, “shall become one flesh.”^£ ¹⁷But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him.

¹⁸Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body.”

Notice: God made everything perfect but man in his weakness misused some of the things for his own lust and pleasure. ¹
Here is spiritual adultery, Rom.7:1, “Or do you not know, brethren (for I speak to those who know the law) that the law has dominion over a man as long as he lives?”
Man is bound to his wife and vice versa as long as he or she lives.
The church is the bride of Christ. (Eph.5:31‑32).
When in Christ or the Body of Christ we are married to the Lord

(1 Cor.12:13).

How were those James were writing to committing adultery?
Friendship with the world = worldliness.
The first step toward adultery is an uncommon friendship.
CAN WE BE MARRIED TO CHRIST AND FLIRT WITH WORLDLINESS? NO!
We should stay as far from sin as possible.
We must take a stand for God. READ 1 Thess.5:21‑22, “Test all things: hold fast what is good, Abstain from every form of evil.”
Also vrs 4 is an exercise of will, “Whosoever wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.”
As Paul says in Phil.4:8 think on these things, TRUE – NOBLE ‑ JUST – PURE – LOVELY – OF GOOD REPORT – VIRTUE- PRAISEWORTHY THINGS.

III. CURE FOR WORLDLINESS, James 4:5‑10, “Or do you think that the Scripture says in vain, “The Spirit who dwells in us yearns jealously”? ⁶But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.” Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. ⁸Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. ⁹Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. ¹⁰Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.”

James 4:5: Prov.3:34‑35, “Surly he scorneth the scorners; but he giveth grace unto the lowly. The wise shall inherit glory; but shame shall be the promotion of fools.”
James 4:6 “God gives grace to the humble.”
The need for grace does not cease when baptized.
We must accept his grace for it to save us.
We must be humble and recognize our need for God and his word.

READ Eph.2:8‑9, “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, ⁹not of works, lest anyone should boast.”

Heb.4:16, “¹⁶Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” Rom.8:26, “²⁶Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.”

James 4:7, “⁷Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”
Submit = stay in place where you belong and fit.

Resist = an active opposition.
Satan can be resisted.
James 4:8, “⁸Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.” HOW?
Cleanse your life or hands.’
Purify your hearts.
We can be close to God if we will only draw near to Him, He will draw near to us.
Psa.34:18, “The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves such as have a contrite spirit.”
Contrite = crushed, humble in spirit by a feeling of remorse or guilt.
So we must humble yourselves and repent, Heb.7:19, “¹⁹For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God.”

HOW DO WE ACCOMPLISH THIS?
Prayer Heb.4:16, “¹⁶Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.”
Set your mind on heaven. Col.3:2, “²Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.”
Purify your souls by obeying the truth. 1 Pet.1:22‑23, “Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth ^£through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart, ²³having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides ^£forever,”
Obey the Gospel from the heart. Rom.6:17, “¹⁷But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered.”
Remembering the Gospel is what will save us. Rom.1:16. (Good news), “¹⁶For I am not ashamed of the gospel ^£of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.”

H.B.R.C.B. Be Faithful – Rom.6:3‑5, “Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? ⁴Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. ⁵For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection,” 1 Cor.15:1‑4, “Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, ²by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.

³For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, ⁴and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, Rev.2:10, “¹⁰Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.”

Use prayer to strengthen you and confess your sins. Jas.5:16, “¹⁶^£Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.”
READ James 4:9‑10, “Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. ¹⁰Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.”
Eccl.3:4 says that, “There is a time for everything.”
When should we morn?
When there is sin: OURS – OTHERS – CHRISTIANS – ETC.
This is no laughing matter!!

ALWAYS REMEMBER THE ONLY THING THAT WILL CHANGE THIS IS THE BLOOD OF JESUS CHRIST APPLIED TO OUR LIFE!

READ: 1 Pet.5:6‑9, “Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, ⁷casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.

⁸Be sober, be vigilant; ^£because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. ⁹Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.”

PRATRICAL CHRISTIAN LIVING

QUESTIONS

BOOK OF JAMES

LESSON 8 James 4:1‑10 WHY DO PEOPLE FIGHT?

“Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for _________that war in your members?”

Wars and fights even among the brethren were caused by their selfish desires, and come from ________ us.

. Worldliness hurts many things three of which are?

We must keep every thing in perspective. ‑ _____ first ‑ the ________ second. Matt.6:33.

Prayer is more important and more _________ than anything man can do.

. PRAYER IS TO GET GOD’S WILL DONE ON EARTH NOT _______ WILL IN HEAVEN.

God made everything ________ but man in his weakness misused some of the things for his own lust and pleasure.

CAN WE BE __________ TO CHRIST AND FLIRT WITH WORLDLINESS?

We must be __________ and recognize our need for God and his word.

ALWAYS REMEMBER THE ONLY THING THAT WILL _________US IS THE BLOOD OF JESUS CHRIST APPLIED TO OUR LIFE!

Write a few sentences about what is most significant about this part of the Book of James.

LESSON 9

James 4:11‑17 “LEAVING GOD OUT OF OUR LIVES”

READ: James 4:13‑14, “Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow ^£we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit”; ¹⁴whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.”

INTRODUCTION:

We leave God out of our lives in three ways.
Our speech vrs.11‑12.
By leaving Him out of our plans. vrs.13‑16.
By leaving Him out of out activities. vrs.17, “¹⁷Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.”

DISCUSSION:

LEAVING HIM OUT OF OUR SPEECH READ: vrs.11‑12, “Do not speak evil of one another, brethren. He who speaks evil of a brother and judges his brother, speaks evil of the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge. ¹²There is one ^£Lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy. Who^£ are you to judge ^£another?”
The problem of the tongue is so great!
James warns us, do not slander, do not judge!
What is the judging James condemns. Matt.7:1‑5, “Judge not, that you be not judged.²For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.³And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? ⁴Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye’; and look, a plank is in your own eye? ⁵Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.”
Judging from wrong motive.
Hasty judgment.
Partial or incorrect information.
Putting worst judgment on facts.
Being overly harsh.
Matt.7:1‑5 is often misused.
We are not to judge according to appearance, but to judge righteous judgment. (Jn.7:24).
Matt.7:15‑20 Tells us how to recognize false prophets ‑ by their fruits.
By what they teach.

Acts 17:11, “¹¹These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so.” even Paul was checked!
In 1 Cor.5:3, We find a man involved with his fathers wife.
We are told to deliver such a one to Satan.
But not for hate but for love. (Agape).
1 Cor.6:2, “Do you not know that the saints will judge the world?”
Let the wise in the church judge righteous judgment.
If we teach what the Bible teaches we are not judging, Matt.7:15‑23, “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.¹⁶You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles?¹⁷Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. ¹⁸A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. ¹⁹Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. ²⁰Therefore by their fruits you will know them.

²¹“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. ²²Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ ²³And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!”

We are told what to do with those who teach or live contrary to the doctrine of Christ, Rom.16:17, “¹⁷Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them.”
We need to be doers of the law not judges.
Leave the judging to God the righteous judge, 2 Tim.4:7-8, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. ⁸Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.”
Righteous judgment is not judging.

It is comparing what you know to the word of God.
Remember there is one law giver, God, who is able to save and destroy verse12.
READ Matt.10:28, “²⁸And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.”

WE SOMETIMES LEAVE GOD OUT OF OUR LIVES BY LEAVING HIM OUT OF OUR PLANS. READ: James 4:13‑16, “Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow ^£we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit”; ¹⁴whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. ¹⁵Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.” ¹⁶But now you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil.”

The Jews were very good at what they were planning, going and buying and selling and making a profit:
Notice their plan!
When ‑ today or tomorrow.
How long ‑ spend a year then.
Reason ‑ to make a profit.
So, what is the problem?
Doing business is not wrong. Prov.22:29, “ Do you see a man who excels in his work? He will stand before kings; He will not stand before unknown men. Parable of tallents. etc.
To plan ahead is not wrong. Eph.5:15-16, “See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, ¹⁶redeeming the time, because the days are evil.”
Leaving God out of our plans that is the problem.
They did not account for the uncertainty of life, James 4:14, “¹⁴whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.”
Prov.27:1, “Do not boast about tomorrow, For you do not know what a day may bring forth.”
Today or tomorrow are not certain ‑ What is you life? ‑ VERY SHORT A VAPOR! 1 Pet.1:24, “All fleshis as grass, And ^£allthe glory of man as the flower of the grass. The grass withers, And its flower falls away,

Job 7:6 & 9, “My days are swifter than a weaver’s shuttle, And are spent without hope. 9, “⁹As the cloud disappears and vanishes away, So he who goes down to the grave does not come up.”

We cannot count of getting old!
We must be ready every day for our eternity. Lk.12:16‑20, “Then He spoke a parable to them, saying: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded plentifully.¹⁷And he thought within himself, saying, ‘What shall I do, since I have no room to store my crops?’¹⁸So he said, ‘I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build greater, and there I will store all my crops and my goods. ¹⁹And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry.”’ ²⁰But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?”
Do not leave God out of your plans.
Always take into account the will of God, James 4:15, “¹⁵Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.”
People who believe in God believe He is in control, and that his life needs God,

1 Cor.6:19‑20, “Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? ²⁰For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your ^£body and in your spirit, which are God’s.”

Dan.4:17b “The most high ruleth in the kingdom of men and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and settith up over it the basest of men.”
Many decisions must be made, but always include God in each one.
Notice James 4:16, “¹⁶But now you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil.” They were proud of themselves and boasted instead of giving God credit. Jas.4:10, “¹⁰Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.” Prov.16:18‑19, “Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before a fall.

Better to be of a humble spirit with the lowly, Than to divide the spoil with the proud.

III. WE SOMETIMES LEAVE GOD OUT OF OUR ACTIVITIES! James 4:17, “¹⁷Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.”

Example, Soloman knowing but not doing. Eccl.12:13, “¹³Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, For this is man’s all.
Ignorance is not a good excuse. 1 Tim.1:12‑14, “And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who has enabled me, because He counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry, ¹³although I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an insolent man; but I obtained mercy because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. ¹⁴And the grace of our Lord was exceedingly abundant, with faith and love which are in Christ Jesus.” But now! Acts 17:30, “³⁰Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent,”
Why? Rom.3:23, “²³for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,”
Sin pays wages, separation form God. Rom.6:23, “²³For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Gal.6:10, “¹⁰Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.”
Heb.10:26‑31, “For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, ²⁷but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries. ²⁸Anyone who has rejected Moses’ law dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. ²⁹Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace? ³⁰For we know Him who said, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,”^£^£says the Lord. And again, “The Lord will judge His people.”^£³¹It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.”

CLOSING:

2 Thess.1:7‑9, “and to give you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, ⁸in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. ⁹These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power,”

1 Jn.4:8, “⁸He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. ‑ Jn.14:15, “If you love Me, ^£keep My commandments.” H.B.R.C.B. Be Faithful.

PRATRICAL CHRISTIAN LIVING

QUESTIONS

BOOK OF JAMES

LESSON 9 James 4:11‑17 “LEAVING GOD OUT OF OUR LIVES”

We leave God out of our lives in three ways.

James warns us, do not ______ do not______!

We are not to judge according to, __________ but to judge righteous judgment. (Jn.7:24).

Matt.7:15‑20 Tells us how to recognize false prophets ‑ by their _______.

If we ________ what the Bible teaches we are not judging, Matt.7:15‑23.

Remember there is one ________ ______, God, who is able to save and destroy verse12.

They did not account for the ___________of life, James 4:14, “¹⁴whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.”

People who ______ __ ____believe He is in control, and that their life needs God,

1 Cor.6:19‑20.

James 4:17, “Therefore, to him who knows to do _____ and does not do it, to him it is sin.”

Sin pays wages, ________from God. Rom.6:23.

Write a few sentences about what is most significant about this part of the Book of James.

LESSON 10

James 5:1-6 STEWARDSHIP

READ: James 5:1-6, “Come now, you rich, weep and howl for your miseries that are coming upon you! ²Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are moth-eaten. ³Your gold and silver are corroded, and their corrosion will be a witness against you and will eat your flesh like fire. You have heaped up treasure in the last days. ⁴Indeed the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, cry out; and the cries of the reapers have reached the ears of the Lord of ^£Sabaoth. ⁵You have lived on the earth in pleasure and luxury; you have fattened your hearts ^£as in a day of slaughter. ⁶You have condemned, you have murdered the just; he does not resist you.”

Matt.16:24-28, “Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. ²⁵For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. ²⁶For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? ²⁷For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works.

²⁸Assuredly, I say to you, there are some standing here who shall not taste death till they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom.”

God is concerned about our wealth, how we got it and how we use it.
He wants us always to remember that we are stewards of all that we possesses.
Remember the parable of the talents. Matt.25:14-30.
Tell story up to 1 talent man he hid his talent in the ground because he thought his master to be a hard man read vrs. 26-30 “But his lord answered and said to him You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed. So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest. Therefore take the talent from him, and give to him who has ten talents. For to everyone who has more will be given and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have even what he has will be taken away. And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

DISCUSSION:

Consider the dangers in trusting in riches.
Only a few years after James wrote this letter Jerusalem was destroyed, A.D 70. 1. The rich lost everything riches, homes, records, power, etc.
Listen how James warned them and us today, James 5:1, “Come now you rich, weep and howl, for your miseries that are coming upon you!”
Who are the rich? Most in America!
Many trust in money today just as then.
“In God we trust” on our coins.
But on our hearts “ME FIRST”
Money is no assurance of happiness. [Give examples] Elvis, J Paul Getty, Soloman.
Those who trust in riches instead of God will howl and scream through eternity.
WE NEED TO SEE THE DANGER OF HOARDING RICHES, James 5:2-3, “Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are moth-eaten. Your gold and silver are corroded, and their corrosion will be a witness against you and will eat your flesh like fire. You have heaped up treasure in the last days.”
What were riches in those days?
Grain, Gold, Silver, Precious metals, Jewels, Cloths, Matt.6:19-21, “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up your treasures in heaven where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal, For where your treasure is there your heart will be also.”
Riches are not permanent!
Riches are to be used for the good of God’s work, James 5:3, “Your gold and silver are corroded and their corrosion will be a witness against you and will eat your flesh like fire. You have heaped up treasure in the last days.”
James 5:3 Is a court room scene-Read James 2:6, 5:5-6 “But you have dishonored the poor man. Do not the rich oppress you and drag you into the courts.” 5:5-6, “You have lived on the earth in pleasure and luxury; you have fattened your hearts as in a day of slaughter. You have condemned, you have murdered the just: he does not resist you.”
The first witness against them rust on their treasures their unused treasures need to be used for the Lord’s work.
There are many lessons we can learn from this for today:
How many hoard wealth? NOT MANY!
Most of us spend it as fast as we make it.
But we do have treasures we are not using to glorify God.
Our homes-hospitality & fellowship, Heb.13:1-2, “Let brotherly love continue. Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angles.”
Our automobiles- To bring others to church or take them other places when the need arises.
We throw away enough food to feed others in harder places.
Our unused clothes will cloth the world.
Possessions we do not use we could sell and give to the church to pay missionaries.
In America we are the most blessed people on this earth.

III. James 5:4 DANGER OF GAINING WEALTH IN THE WRONG WAY. “Indeed the wages of the labors who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, cry out; and the cries lf the reapers have reached the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth.”

Notice they did not help the poor.
They did not even pay their help as agreed.
They paid a substandard wage.
Paid none or only a part of agreed amount.
They put off paying & kept it back.
The O.T. teaches Deut.24:14-15, “You shall not oppress a hired servant who is poor and needy, whether one of your brethren or one of the aliens who is in your land within your gates. Each day you shall give him his wages, and not let the sun go down on it. For he is poor and has set his heart on it; lest he cry out against you to the Lord, and it be sin to you.” b. The N.T. teaches Lk.10:7, “And remain in the same house, eating and drinking such things as they give, for the labor is worthy of his wages. Do not go from house to house.”

1 Tim.5:17-18 “Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and doctrine. For the scripture says” You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain, and a laborer is worthy of his wages.”

What we fail to pay here we will pay at the judgment.
Remember this is a court room scene 2 witnesses against us if we hoard. a. Labors will cry out.
The Lord of Sabaoth will be against us. SABAOTH= host= or Lord of host of all the world.
God is concerned about how we get our money.
Things not right = Liquor, pornographic, Some T.V., Homosexual, Sue a big corp. or cheat insurance==they have all the money more than they need. Cheat on income tax.
We need to make sure we make ours the honest way!

MAKE SURE WHAT WE HAVE IS USED FOR THE GLORY OF GOD, NOT FOR SELFISH USE, James 5:5, “You have lived on earth in pleasure and luxury; you have fattened your hearts as in a day of slaughter.”
James said they lived in luxury & self indulgence.
They did nothing for the good of mankind.
They lived in luxury and useless lives. They were fattened for the slaughter at the judgment.!
Does this apply to us?
Most of us are self-indulgent, we need to develop this attitude Matt.20:28, “Just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”

THE DANGER OF MISUSING RICHES James 5:6, “You condemned, you have murdered the just, he does not resist you.”
Condemned= sentenced.
Unjust sentence even to murdering the just by lack of funds.
Acts 3:14, “But you denied the Holy One and the just and asked for a murderer to be granted to you.”

Isaiah 53:7, “He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He opened not His mouth. He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, And as a sheep before its shears is silent. So He opened not His mouth.”

Matt.25:4 “But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.” a. They prepared for heaven.

THE RICH THAT ARE UNFAIR WILL PAY AT THE FINAL JUDGMENT READ: Mark 8:34-38, “When He had called the people to Himself, with His disciples also, He said to them, “Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. ³⁵For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it. ³⁶For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? ³⁷Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? ³⁸For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him the Son of Man also will be ashamed when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.”

PRATRICAL CHRISTIAN LIVING

QUESTIONS

BOOK OF JAMES

LESSON 10 James 5:1-6 STEWARDSHIP

God is concerned about our_______, how we got it and how we use it.

God wants us always to remember that we are _________ of all that we possesses.

Only a few years after James wrote this letter _______ was destroyed, A.D 70.

Those who trust in riches instead of God will ________ ______through eternity.

What we fail to pay here we will pay at the ____________ .

God is concerned about how we _____ our money.

MAKE SURE WHAT WE HAVE IS USED FOR THE GLORY OF GOD, NOT FOR _________USE, James 5:5,

Most of us are_____________, we need to develop this attitude Matt.20:28, “Just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”

THE DANGER OF __________ RICHES James 5:6, “You condemned, you have murdered the just, he does not resist you.”

THE RICH THAT ARE _________ WILL PAY AT THE FINAL JUDGMENT READ: Mark 8:34-38.

Write a few sentences about what is most significant about this part of the Book of James.

LESSON 11

JAMES 5:7-12 PATIENCE

READ: James 5:7-8, “Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain. ⁸You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.”

INTRODUCTION:

We as a whole are very impatient.
We want everything right now. Microwave=Freeways=Quick trip.
Give me patience but do it right now!
What is patience?= The ability to idle your motor when you would like to strip the gears.
Patience used is when we keep on going with a good attitude, even when things are not going as we would like or as fast as we would like.

DISCUSSION: James teaches us to be patient in 4 things in these verses.

In our work. 2. With each other. 3. In face of trouble. In our speech.
WE MUST LEARN TO BE PATIENT IN OUR WORK! vrs.7-8, “Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer weights for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and the latter rain,. You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.”
James says be patient like a farmer weighting for the crops to grow.
We need to be patient like this farmer in vrs 7-8 our harvest time is near. 1. It will be when the Lord returns.
No one knows when He will come!
But we must be prepared at all times.
For he is coming! 1Thess.5:2, ” For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. When they say peace and safety! then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape.”

2 Peter 3:10 “But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up.”

Just as the farmer while he waited he also continued to work.
We need to take a lesson from this.
Trust in the Lord and all will be OK.
Rom.12:19 -21 Sums up how we should treat people and leave things to the Lord,

“Beloved do not avenge yourselves but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine I will repay says the Lord.” Therefore “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; If he is thirsty, give him to drink; For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”

THIS BRINGS US TO OUR DEALINGS WITH EACH OTHER. James 5:9, “Do not grumble against one another, brethren, lest you be condemned. Behold the judge is standing at the door.”
Do not fuss with each other God will judge. We do not have this responsibility, I for one am thankful.
The sin of GRUMBLING= groaner-grumbler- complainer. 1 Cor.10:10, a”Nor complain, as some of them also complained, and were destroyed by the destroyer.”
1. Talking about Moses and the Israelites wondering in the wilderness for 40 years.
2. The sin of murmuring against a brother or sister. 1 Cor.8:11-13, “And because of your knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died? But when you thus sin against the brethren and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ.”
3. When we murmur and complain against a brother it is the same as if we were doing it against Christ and His church!
4. The same is true with the wife and children.
5. It is a sin to complain about our brothers and sisters before others. 1. This will condemn a lot of people.
6. We need to take a close look at ourselves.
7. Do I complain about others?
8. Suggestion: PRAY FOR THEM!
9. Go talk to them, Matt.5:22-24, “But I say to you that whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother RACA! shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says you fool shall be in danger of hell fire. Therefore if you bring your gift to the alter, and there remember that your brother has something against you . Leave your gift there before the alter, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother , and then come and offer your gift.”
10. Keep your mouth shut or say good. Matt.18:15-17, “Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother. But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more that by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. And if he refuses to hear them tell it to the church. But if he refuses to hear the church, let him be to you as a heathen and a tax collector.
11. We need to learn to love one another, Jn.13:34-35, “A new commandment I give unto you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

1 Peter 4:8, “And above all things have fervent love for one another, for love will cover a multitude of sins.”

WE DO NOT CONDONE THE SIN’S OF OUR BRETHREN BUT WE NEED TO LEARN TO BE MORE UNDERSTANDING AND LOVING!

III. BE PATIENT EVEN IN THE FACE OF TROUBLE OR SUFFERINGS. James 5:10-11, “My brethren take the prophets, who spoke in the name of the Lord, as an example of suffering and patience. Indeed we count them blessed who endure, You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord-that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful.”

Why do the good sometimes suffer? – because:
They do right no matter what others think.
Look at the suffering of the prophets. Heb.11:35-38, “Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection. Still others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yes, and of chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted, were slain with the sword. They wondered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented- of whom the world is not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, in dens and caves of the earth.”
We are given this wonderful promise if we will try to do right, 2 Tim.3:12, “If we endure, We shall also reign with Him. If we deny Him, He also will deny us.”
We need to be an example of patience as Job and the other prophets in verses 10-11.
We must maintain a good positive attitude. Rev.2:10, “Be thou faithful unto death and I will give you a crown of life.”
Remember we can endure- Remember Job. A classic on suffering, Job. 1:8, “And the Lord said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and upright man, one that feareth God, and encheweth evil?” Job.1:21-22, “And said “Naked came I out of my mothers womb, and naked shall I return thither; The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord. In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.” Job.13:15, “Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him; but I will maintain mine own ways before him.”
Because Job stayed with the Lord he was happy and blessed in the end. ch.1-3 Job’s distress – ch. 4-31 His defense – ch.38-42 His deliverance.

Job 42:12-17, Now the Lord blessed the latter days of Job, more than his beginning; for he had 14,000 sheep, 6,000 camels, 1,000 yoke of oxen, and 1,000 female donkies .He also had 7 sons and 3 daughters, vrs.14 he names his sons. vrs.15 In all the land were found no women so beautiful as the daughters of Job; and their father gave them an inheritance among their brothers. After this Job lived 140 years and saw his children and grandchildren for 4 generations. So Job died, old and full of days.”

We need to be more like Job when we suffer.

BE PATIENT IN SPEECH. James 5:12, “But above all, my brethren do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath, But let your yes be yes and your no be no lest you fall into judgment.”
Do not swear= taking an oath.
Here = giving an oath or curse on something.
James says swear not or fall into condemnation.
We are not to curse or use the Lords name in vain.
Any type of foul language is a sin.
These following things are not what James is talking about in this place. 1. Deut.6:13, “Thou shalt fear the Lord thy God, and serve him, and shalt swear

by his name.”

Heb.6:13-14, “For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could sware by no greater, he sware by himself, Saying ” Surley blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee.”
Rom.1:9, “For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers.”
BUT THESE.
Lev.19:12, “And ye shall not swear by my name falsely, neither shalt thou profane the name of thy God; I am the Lord.”
Matt.5:34, “But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven for it is God’s throne.”
Where do our words come from. Matt.12:34, “Brood of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.”

CLOSING: HOW DO WE CORRECT THESE THINGS IF THEY ARE IN OUR LIVES?

Rom.12:2 “And do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”
If you think you are not strong enough listen to these next 2 vrs. Matt.19:26, “But Jesus looked at them and said to them, With men it is impossible, but with God all things are possible” Phil.4:13 “I CAN DO ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST WHO STRENGTHENETH ME.”

PRATRICAL CHRISTIAN LIVING

QUESTIONS

BOOK OF JAMES

LESSON 11 JAMES 5:7-12 PATIENCE

We as a whole are very _________ .

Patience used is when we keep on going with a __________ _______, even when

things are not going as we would like or as fast as we would like.

James teaches us to be patient in 4 things in these verses.

James says be patient like a __________ weighting for the crops to grow.

Do not _______ with each other God will judge. We do not have this responsibility, I for one am thankful.

It is a sin to complain about our ________ ___ ______before others.

WE DO NOT CONDONE THE SIN’S OF OUR BRETHREN BUT WE NEED TO LEARN TO BE MORE ______________ AND LOVING!

BE PATIENT EVEN IN THE FACE OF _________ __ ________. James 5:10-11

BE PATIENT IN __________. James 5:12,

Remember we can endure- Remember ______.

Write a few sentences about what is most significant about this part of the Book of James.

LESSON 12

James 5:13-18 PATIENCE EVEN IN SICKNESS

READ: James 5:16, ¹⁶^£Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.”

INTRODUCTION:

Prayer or power of prayers used 7 times in these verses.
Prayer is always appropriate, James 5:13, “Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray! Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms.”
Prayer is powerful.
When we have problems James says pray!
Heb.4:15-16, “For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weakness, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”
Psa.46:1, “God is our refuge and strength, A very pleasant help in trouble.”
Pray when things go right.
Is anyone cheerful, “sing psalms”.
Singing is a natural way of expressing our emotions.
Sing to each other and to God.

DISCUSSION: James 5:14-16, “¹⁴Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. ¹⁵And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. ¹⁶^£Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.”

Pray when sick or afflicted! Why call elders? Why oil?
Because of the miracles of that time, 1 Cor.12:7-10 Lists them.
But today miracles have ceased . 1Cor.13:9-10, “For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.” James 1:25, “But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work , this one will be blessed in what he does.”
Notice- Prayer saved him.
This is not the last rights.
Called elders not priest.
Purpose to make well not to prepare for death.
Holy Ghost rally not necessary.
In 2 Kings 20 Hesakida was sick he prayed to God on his own and God added 15 yrs. to his life.
Phil.2:27, Epaphroditus was sick unto death but God had mercy on him.”
All healing is divine, But not miraculous.
Medicine is from the providence of God.
All healing is from God Doctors only bind up the wound.
How we should pray for the sick.
Not my will but thine be done.
Remember God still heals through his providence, 2 Cor.8:9, “For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his proverty might be rich.”
Pray for the sick and use medicine. Do all we can get a doctor. Luke was a doctor- Doctors come from the providence of God.
Lk.10:34 Parable of god Samaritan Medicine was used.
1 Tim.5:23 “Use a little wine for your stomach.”

III. Pray when there is sin James 5:15, “¹⁵And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.”

Be concerned both about physical and spiritual well being.
Pauls statement in 2 Cor.12:7-10, “And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. ⁸Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. ⁹And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. ¹⁰Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”
When sin or sickness is in your life pray!
James 5:16, says confess and pray for one another, “¹⁶^£Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.”
David was in agony until he acknowledged sin in his life. Psa.32:5, “I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid, I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin.”
Then he received relief, Prov.28:13, “He that covereth his sins shall not prosper; but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.”
1 Jn.1:9 Is for today, “If we confess our sins. He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
We need to confess I have sinned not if I have sinned!
Gal.6:2, “Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.”
We all need close Christian friends.
Pray because prayer is powerful.
A righteous man’s fervent prayer is powerful.
Life without prayer is like a car without gas.
Or a bible scholar with out love 1 Cor.13:1-3, “Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. ²And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. ³And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body ^£to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.”
Remember Rom.8:28, “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.”
God does not work miracles today he works through providence, Matt.7:11, “If you then being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask?”

III. James 5:17-18, “Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain; and it did not rain on the land for 3 years and 6 months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced it’s fruit.”

1 Kings 17 Elijah raised the widow’s dead son.
Prayers are answered.
1 Kings 18:45, Great rain came .
God’s answer the prayers of.
Righteous man; 2. Prayed earnestly; 3. Prayed 7 times before rain.

THIS SHOWS HOW GOD PROVIDENTUALLY ANSWERS PRAYER.

LESSON 13

James 5:19-20, THE NEED FOR SOUL CONSERVATION

READ: James 5:19-20, “Brethren, if anyone among you wanders from the truth, and someone turns him back, ²⁰let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save ^£a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins.”

INTRODUCTION:

Matt.28:19-20, “Go ye therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, Teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
Also we are to restore the earing child of God. James 5:19-20.

DISCUSSION:

It is possible to fall from grace.
1 Cor.10:12 “Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.”
Paul used the example of the Israelites wondering in the desert 40 yrs. because they went against God.
He says vrs.6 now these things became our examples, to the intent that we should not lust after evil things as they also lusted.
Also he warned in vrs.9, “Nor let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed by serpents.”
We must be careful when we think we stand or we will fall just as surly as those in Moses’ day.
These things were written for our examples.
If we try to depend on our own strength we will fall the only way we can stand in by the power of God and His word.
Gal.5:4 Old K.J., “Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law ye are fallen from grace.”
In vrs 1 Paul tells us to “Stand fast in the liberty (freedom) wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be ye not entangled again with the yoke bondage.”
Paul even worried about his falling from grace. 1 Cor.9:27, “But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.”
Paul’s fear was that after he had been the herald of eternal salvation to others, he himself would be rejected.
Was his fear vain?
Or was it possible for him to fail to reach the goal and thus lose the crown?
1 Cor.9:24-27 Show that to win the prize one must cross the finish line, and to do this he must run faithfully to the end..

2 Peter 1:5-11, “But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, ⁶to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, ⁷to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. ⁸For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. ⁹For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins.

¹⁰Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble; ¹¹for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”

Look at what Heb.10:26-27 teaches, “For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries.”
This is the strongest statement in the N.T. against the doctrine of “:once in grace always in grace” or “once saved always saved.”
This does not mean an isolated sin but a sinful way of life, like forsaking the assembly etc.
When this becomes a habit it is very hard not to let your other Christian graces die.

THESE ALONG WITH James 5:19 PROVE THAT WE CAN FALL FROM GOD’S GRACE IF WE ARE NOT CAREFUL.

What is the destiny of those that fall if they are not restored?
Death or separation from God.
Ezekiel 18:19-23, “Yet you say, ‘Why should the son not bear the guilt of the father?’ Because the son has done what is lawful and right, and has kept all My statutes and observed them, he shall surely live. ²⁰The soul who sins shall die. The son shall not bear the guilt of the father, nor the father bear the guilt of the son. The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself.

²¹“But if a wicked man turns from all his sins which he has committed, keeps all My statutes, and does what is lawful and right, he shall surely live; he shall not die. ²²None of the transgressions which he has committed shall be remembered against him; because of the righteousness which he has done, he shall live. ²³Do I have any pleasure at all that the wicked should die?” says the Lord GOD, “and not that he should turn from his ways and live?”

1 Tim.5:6, Hugo McCord’s translation, “But the widow who lives in self-indulgence, although living is dead.” separated from God!
Isaiah 59:1-2, “Behold the Lord’s hand is not shortened that it cannot save, nor his ear heavy that it cannot hear, But your iniquities have separated you from your God, and your sins have hidden His face from you so that he cannot hear.”

III. It is possible to restore the fallen! Rom.11:20-24, “²⁰Well said. Because of unbelief they were broken off, and you stand by faith. Do not be haughty, but fear. ²¹For if God did not spare the natural branches, He may not spare you either. ²²Therefore consider the goodness and severity of God: on those who fell, severity; but toward you, ^£goodness, if you continue in His goodness. Otherwise you also will be cut off. ²³And they also, if they do not continue in unbelief, will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again. ²⁴For if you were cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and were grafted contrary to nature into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these, who are natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree?”

There is hope death can be avoided. convert=turn.
But some are beyond hope or rescue, Heb. 6:4-6, “For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, ⁵and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, ⁶^£if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame.”
How should we treat those who fall away?
Ignore them?-Give up on them? -Treat them harshly?
NO! Love them and try to bring them back into the fold.
Gal.6:1-2, “Brothers if a man is overtaken in a fault, you who are spiritual restore such a one in the spirit of gentleness, watching yourselves, lest you also be tempted. Bear one anothers burdens and so you will fulfill Christ’s law.”
Prov.10:12, “Hatred stirs up strife. But love covers all sins.”
How do we help?
Show the ones that strayed that you still care! Heb.10:23-24, “Let us hold fast the profession of our hope without wavering, for he who has promised is faithful. Let us consider one another, encouraging in love and good works.”

Talk about spiritual needs. Heb.12:5-14, “And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons: “My son, do not despise thechastening of the Lord, Nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; For whom the Lord loves He chastens,And scourges every son whom He receives.” If^£ you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten? ⁸But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons. ⁹Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live? ¹⁰For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness. ¹¹Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

¹²Therefore strengthen the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees, ¹³and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be dislocated, but rather be healed.

¹⁴Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord:”

THIS IS TELLING THEM WHAT THEY NEED TO HEAR.

III. It is our responsibility to teach the lost brother in hopes of bringing him back!

If we do not who will?
Each Christian must work at this like we are to work at evangelism.
This is not a request from the Lord but a commandment!
You may be asking why me ?
Because he is your brother!
Because it could be us. 1 Cor. 10:12, “Let the one who thinks he stands be on guard so that he does not fall.”
Ask yourself, “If I were the one would I want some one to try to bring me back in a spirit of love and patience? Matt.7:12.
We must restore because of what God has done for us.
Because of the joy of bringing them home, 1 Jn.1:5-10, “This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. ⁶If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. ⁷But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.

⁸If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. ⁹If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. ¹⁰If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.”

Luke 15:4-10, ““What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost until he finds it?⁵And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing.⁶And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!’ ⁷I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance.

⁸“Or what woman, having ten silver ^£coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it? ⁹And when she has found it, she calls her friends and neighbors together, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the piece which I lost!’ ¹⁰Likewise, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

CRS 19: James… Practical Christian Living

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