James: A Visible Faith

JamesA Visible Faith

2015 Cindy Brown. All Rights ReservedThis study was written using the ESV.

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Day 1: Background

Written by the half brother of Jesus, James is one of the most practical books, often called the "Proverbs of the New Testament." A skeptic during Jesus' ministry on earth, he became a believer after the resurrection and Jesus appeared to him. James became a pillar of the church, a leader of the council of Jerusalem and a friend to both Peter and Paul. Written around A.D. 50, James urges his readers to radically live out their faith in every area of life. His faith stood the ultimate test when he was martyred around A.D. 62.

Let's get to know James a little and look at what we know about him from Scripture.

Read John 7:1-5. What was his attitude toward Jesus during his earthly ministry? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

See 1 Corinthians 15:1-7. What important event did James witness? ____________________________________________________________

Read Acts 12:1-17. Note what event James was told about and what other apostles were present. ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Read Acts 15:1-31. What role did James play in this situation? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Galatians 1:15-19. What do we learn about James here? ____________________________________________________________

Galatians 2:9. How is James described? ____________________________________________________________

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From Acts 12:1-2, how do we know the James mentioned in these verses is not James, the brother of John who was one of Jesus' disciples? ____________________________________________________________

Knowing James' background helps us to understand his writing. After he became convinced that Jesus was the Christ, he was not content to sit on the sidelines or be a part-time Christian. He writes boldly and addresses many topics (21 in all!) and urges his readers to live out their faith in a visible, clear way for all the world to see.

Read the book of James today in one sitting to get an overall feel of the book.

Day 2: Overview

Read the book of James again, looking for the key words listed below. It might be easier to look for one key word at a time, reading the book through several times. Mark each word in a different way or different color so they are easy to pick out later. This will help you to pick out major themes or topics that are repeated more than once.

BrothersFaithWorksLawDoers (doing)

Day 3: Overview

Read the book of James again today. Continue marking the rest of the key words from the list below.

Judge (judgment)Show (shown)Tongue (mouth)Rich (riches)

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Day 4: James 1:1-4

Read chapter 1 again.

Even though he could claim to be a physical blood relative of Jesus, what humble way does James introduce himself? ____________________________________________________________

What group of people is James writing to? If you are not sure what the Dispersion is referring to, see Acts 8:1-4. ____________________________________________________________

James doesn't waste any time, but plunges right in. Read verses 2-4 again. What topic does he address first? ____________________________________________________________

You can write this on your Topics page at the end of this study to have as a handy reference, or I have simply written the different topics in the margin of my Bible.

It seems appropriate for him to begin here, since his readers have been scattered all over the Roman world because of persecution.

What instruction does he give? ____________________________________________________________

James reminds us that we will experience various trials. Some trials we find ourselves in are financial, some relational, some health related, but they all have the same purpose. The word trial is interesting in the Greek. It means "to try to learn the nature or character of someone or something by submitting such to thorough and extensive testingto put to the test, to examine."

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When we go through hard times, it reveals what we really believe, not what we say we believe! Trials reveal if our faith is genuine. Peter talks about this, too. Read 1 Peter 1:6-7. Carefully compare these verses with what James says. What points do both of them highlight? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

What does testing produce in us? ____________________________________________________________

Steadfastness is "the capacity to continue to bear up under difficult circumstances, to endure."

I think that is why so many of our trials seem to last so long. God means to build endurance in us, and endurance can only be gained through time! Is there something difficult you have been going through? Don't lose heart, my friend! God wants to use this in your life to produce a faith in you that will endure and remain steadfast!

As we endure and remain steadfast in the trials, what will be the result in us? ____________________________________________________________

Do you want to be a mature Christian? Then do not fight against and resist the very tools God is using to get you there!

Read 2 Peter 1:5-9. What character traits show a mature or complete Christian? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

If we are growing in these areas, what will be true about us? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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What is true about us if we lack these qualities? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

As Christians, we want to be productive and fruitful in our knowledge of the Lord Jesus. James tells us we get there by enduring the hard times!

This is why we can rejoice! We don't rejoice for the trial itself, but for what will be produced in us through it. A trial is a special opportunity for our faith to mature and for us to become more and more like Jesus. The end result is a beautiful image that reflects the face of our Savior to those around us. That is why we count it all joy!

In what way is God testing and examining you right now? Is he withholding his hand because he wants you to learn endurance? By faith, count it all joy because of what God wants to do in you through it. Write down your response to God below. ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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Day 5: James 1:5-8


In verses 5-8, what is the second topic James addresses? ____________________________________________________________

During trials or testing, what we thought we knew sometimes becomes unclear and many times we are not sure how to navigate through the difficulty. James encourages us to ask for wisdom.

What important instruction does James give us regarding our asking? ____________________________________________________________

What does James tell us about God? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Aren't you glad God will give us wisdom generously and he never gets tired of us asking? I'm so glad he doesn't say, "I can't believe she's asking again! Doesn't she have this figured out yet?" No, God never chides me for coming to him. Instead he welcomes me without reproach and is glad that I am seeking him for wisdom and instead of trying to handle it on my own.

As you read the book of James, you will see a pattern emerge. After he introduces a topic and gives instruction, he either gives an illustration or example or he explains it further.

What example does he use here to help us understand this topic? ____________________________________________________________

Think about a wave for a minute. Does it have any stability or anchor? This is the picture we get of one who doubts: blown and tossed in whatever direction the wind blows. James describes him as double-minded and unstable.

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Double minded is used only twice in the New Testament and both occurrences are found in the book of James. It is referred to again in chapter 4:8. It means "pertaining to being uncertain about the truth of something, a doubter." When we come to God asking for wisdom, he wants us to approach with confidence (Hebrews 4:16), not uncertainty.

Unstable means "unable to be controlled." It gives the picture of a person who is frantic and out of control in their actions, driven by whatever doubts blow into their mind. Have you ever been there? I have and it is no fun!

What does James say we can expect if we don't ask in faith? ____________________________________________________________

God is gracious, and there are times I have doubted and God has still answered, but we do see examples in Scripture where God withheld His hand because people did not believe him.

See Matthew 17:14-20 ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Contrast Matthew 9:22 and Mark 6:5-6 ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

What is lacking that causes a person to be unstable and double-minded? ____________________________________________________________

Instead of being a wave blown around in every direction, with faith we become anchored and stable. Look up the following verses to see what kind of word pictures we see for a person who has faith.

Colossians 2:6-7 ____________________________________________________________

Hebrews 6:18-19 ____________________________________________________________

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In what area of your life do you most need wisdom right now? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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Day 6: James 1:9-12


What is the topic covered in this section? ____________________________________________________________

James first addresses the lowly brother, or the Christian with a low social standing. What is the admonition to him? ____________________________________________________________

To boast can mean to brag, but it also means to rejoice in or to glory in. Exaltation means "a position of high status, high rank or prominence."

Since they didn't have a high social standing on earth, their exaltation obviously refers to something else. So what does God say about our standing? Look up these verses to see what things the lowly brother could rejoice in.

Jeremiah 9:23-24 ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Ephesians 1:3-14 (pick out the ones that jump out to you personally) ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Ephesians 3:19-22 ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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Philippians 3:20-21 ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Colossians 3:1-4 ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

These are certainly things we can boast in. Earthly status and position will pass away and be forgotten, but our citizenship in heaven and all the spiritual blessings that go with it will last forever. It is important for our focus to be in the right place!

What inevitable humiliation awaits the rich? ____________________________________________________________

What example does he use to drive this point home? ____________________________________________________________

Look up these Scriptures to see what the Bible says about riches.

Psalm 49:16-17 ____________________________________________________________Psalm 62:10 ____________________________________________________________Proverbs 27:24 ____________________________________________________________1 Timothy 6:17 ____________________________________________________________

Once in a while I think we should all visit a junkyard. The piles of rusty vehicles were once polished, shiny cars lined up neatly on a car lot. People paid good money for them and were excited to own them. Now, their engines have quit working or their metal has corroded and except for their spare parts, they have no value. It is a good in-your-face reminder of how quickly riches pass away and how the things we own break down and lose their value. None of the things we buy brand new will even last our

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entire lives. Think of how many cars you have owned in your life. It is foolish to believe riches and possessions can make us happy when they fade away so quickly.

Not only will riches fade away, but what else does James say will fade? ____________________________________________________________

Read Luke 12:13-21. What does Jesus say about the rich in this parable? What important things does Jesus point out to us? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

In what ways can you apply the truths of this section to your own life? Does your attitude towards money and riches need to change at all? Record your thoughts below. ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

In verse 12, James revisits a topic he mentioned earlier and gives us some more insight into it. Write it below. ____________________________________________________________

What contrast do you see between verses 11 and 12? ____________________________________________________________

In verses 2-4, we saw the benefits of remaining steadfast in trials in regard to how God can use them to mature us. What blessing of remaining steadfast do we see in this verse? ____________________________________________________________

Unlike the rich that will fade away, the one who perseveres will receive the crown of life, eternal life! As Peter reminds us, this inheritance will never perish, spoil or fade (1 Peter 1:4).

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Who will God give this crown to? ____________________________________________________________

Our love for God will help us to endure the trials he allows into our lives. Harlan Popov endured captivity in a communist prison. At one point, he was brought before a firing squad and was told that at the count of ten he would die. It occurred to him that at the count of ten, he would be with Jesus! Harlan was filled with joy. The executioner demanded to know why he was smiling. Harlan explained the hope that he had, and in disgust, the executioner fired the gun at the corner instead. Years later, Harlan was asked what helped him to remain faithful and not deny Christ. He replied, "When you love someone, you will do anything for Him."

My love for God is directly related to how well I know Him. In His sovereignty, He alone has the final say of what He will allow me to go through, but trusting God's sovereignty is only a comfort if I know God's character. For those who don't know the Lord, God's sovereignty is a scary thing, but when I know God's heart, His control over my life is a comfort. Then I can rest in His love, knowing his intentions are to perfect me, not to destroy me. The deeper my love for God, the more I will be able to endure. Endurance is not something I muster up, it is an outflow of my relationship with God. And at the end of all time, I will have a crown to cast back at his feet because it has always, only, been all about Him.

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Day 7: James 1:13-18


What is the next topic that James introduces? ____________________________________________________________

What word picture does he use to help us understand it? ____________________________________________________________

The word tempt in this verse is a different word from test is verse 12. In verse 12, we see God testing us in order to reveal the genuineness of our faith. The purpose is to reveal and expose something worthy and good. In verse 13, the word tempt has the opposite motive. It means "to endeavor or attempt to cause someone to sinto tempt, to trap, to lead into temptation."

What does verse 13 tell us about God? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Where does temptation come from in verse 14? ____________________________________________________________

To lure literally means to pull out or to drag. It has the idea of "to cause a change of belief so as to correspond more with the beliefs of the person or factor causing the changeto draw away, to lead away."

To entice means to attract or lead one on by offering something appealing or exciting.

We are tempted when we try to fulfill our desires instead of trusting God to do that for us in His perfect way. It could be the desire for food, the desire for love and acceptance, the desire to be understood, or the desire for financial security. None of these desires are wrong in and of themselves, but when we try to meet these desires on our own, we end up being dragged away in the wrong direction. We give in to gluttony, we compromise in order to be accepted, or we may cheat on our taxes.

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Hebrews 11:25 refers to the "fleeting pleasures of sin." The immediate fulfillment of these desires may seem satisfying temporarily, but James warns us not to be deceived.

If these desires are not submitted to the Lord, what does verse 15 say happens? ____________________________________________________________

What is the result when sin fully matures? ____________________________________________________________

In verse 16, James says he does not want them to be deceived. Read verses 13-18 again. What exactly does he not want them to be deceived about? Look for something that he contrasts. ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

I believe he is referring to not being deceived about God. In verse 13, he tells us that God does not tempt us with evil and in verses 17-18, he is going to tell us what God is really like.

Instead of tempting us with evil, what does God give us? ____________________________________________________________

How is God described in verse 17? ____________________________________________________________

This description of God is used only here in the New Testament. This term refers to God as the creator of the sun, moon and stars. These heavenly lights mark seasons and the passage of time. They are associated with change. The word change in verse 17, means turning and in the Greek, this word is often used to describe the turning of the sun or the solar cycle. The word shadow points to an eclipse. James point is profound. Unlike the heavenly lights that change and and are visible only during certain seasons, God never turns or changes. He is always there.

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I never noticed it before, but I think perhaps Thomas Chisolm had this verse in mind we he penned the lyrics of the hymn, "Great is Thy Faithfulness". The first verse says, "Great is thy faithfulness, O God my Father, there is no shadow of turning with thee. Thou changest not, thy compassions they fail not, As Thou hast been, Thou forever wilt be."

In verse 15, we see that sin "brings forth death." How is God contrasted in verse 18 regarding what he brings forth? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

What caused God to bring us forth? ____________________________________________________________

Death is brought forth by our own will. God brought us forth by His will, and the result is life!

From this verse and 1 Peter 1:23, how are we brought forth? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

What is God's purpose in bringing us forth by the word? ____________________________________________________________

In Scripture firstfruits refers to the first portion of something offered to God. The Christians to whom James was writing were among the first believers in the age of grace. James compared his readers to the first sheaves of grain in Christs harvest. They would be followed by many others like them in the ages to come.

So we can see from the description of God in this section how good He is! We are deceived when we think that He has anything except our good in mind or that he would ever tempt us with evil. He will never change and never leave us. Just as he was faithful to the first century Christians in bringing them forth as firstfruits by His Word, He will be faithful to us today through His Word of truth.

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Write down what most impacted you about God through this section. ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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What topic does James address in these verses? ____________________________________________________________

What three things does he want us to know in verse 19? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

This word for hear means to listen with understanding and comprehension. It speaks of an engaged, active listening. The Bible has a lot to say about listening. Read the following verses and note what is gained by listening.

Proverbs 12:15 ____________________________________________________________Proverbs 15:31-32 ____________________________________________________________Proverbs 19:20 ____________________________________________________________

We are to be quick to listen and slow to speak. Perhaps that is why God gave us two ears and only one mouth! Look up these verses and note what it says about being slow to speak.

Proverbs 15:28 ____________________________________________________________Proverbs 17:27 ____________________________________________________________Proverbs 18:13 ____________________________________________________________

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We are also to be slow to anger. Look up the verses below about being slow to anger.

Proverbs 14:29 ____________________________________________________________Proverbs 16:32 ____________________________________________________________Proverbs 19:11 ____________________________________________________________Ecclesiastes 7:9 ___________________________________________________________

What does verse 20 tell us about our anger? ____________________________________________________________

Often we get angry when we feel like we have been wronged. What was done to us was not right. But instead of being concerned with our own "rightness" we should be more concerned about God's righteousness. God's righteousness will not be evident in our lives when we are angry.

Notice it says the "anger of man." Man's anger is focused inward and is selfish. But sometimes we hear about "righteous anger." I am convinced the only time it is okay to be angry is when God has been wronged. Righteous anger is focused upward and is all about God's glory, not ours. Man's anger will never display or showcase God's righteousness.

In light of God's righteousness, how are we to live from verse 22? ____________________________________________________________

What must we replace these things with? ____________________________________________________________

How are we to receive the Word? ____________________________________________________________

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Meekness is putting ourselves under the authority of God and listening and obeying to what He has to say to us.

As we receive the implanted word, we are saved from living a life of sin and wickedness. When James speaks of saving in this verse, he is not referring to a saving faith for salvation, but saving us from the effects of sin in our everyday lives. This is going to be a key verse in the book of James, and we will come back to it later.

The Word must be implanted or sin will take root. Implanted here means being permanently established. Is the Word permanently established in your heart? Do the roots of the Word go deep in your soul? How much time do you spend studying, memorizing and meditating on it? The more time we give the Word to germinate, the more implanted it will become.

What has God spoken to you about in this section? ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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What topic does James address in this section? ____________________________________________________________

What example does he use to drive home the point? ____________________________________________________________

What are we told in verse 22? ____________________________________________________________

This word for doer means to be a keeper and an obeyer. When it talks about being a hearer of the Word, this is a different Greek word from the one we looked at yesterday in verse 19. It simply means to hear with the ear.

When we just hear the Word and don't obey it, what does James say we are doing? ____________________________________________________________

Jesus had a lot to say about putting his words into practice. Look up the following verses and note what you learn.

Matthew 7:24-27 ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Luke 8:21 ____________________________________________________________

John 14:24 ____________________________________________________________

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In light of these verses, how might we deceive ourselves by hearing and not doing? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

James gives us the picture of a man looking intently at himself in a mirror. Perhaps he notices some dirt smudges on his face, he needs a good shave and his hair is uncombed. But instead of doing anything about it, he turns and walks away, forgetting that he looks like a mess. The mirror has done him no practical good. That is how it is when we only hear the Word and don't obey it. It doesn't help us and it won't change us.

In verse 25, the Word is described as a perfect law, the law of liberty. Instead of beating us up with a list of do's and don'ts, it frees us and brings liberty. When we know the truth and obey it, it sets us free (John 8:32).

When we obey the Word, what are we set free from? Read Romans 6:16-22. ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

According to verse 25, what brings a blessing? See also Luke 11:28. ____________________________________________________________

What blessings can you think of that we receive by obeying the Word? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

What other important fact does James share in James 4:19? ____________________________________________________________

Obviously, we do not have God's favor and blessing when we sin. This is why the blessing is not in the knowing, but in the doing! In what area do you need to become more of a doer?

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Day 10: James 1:26-27

Read chapter 1 once more!

What topic does James speak on in these last two verses? ____________________________________________________________

Religion means "pertaining to being devoted to a proper expression of religious beliefs; devout, pious."

Religion gets a bad rap nowadays. Most Christians shun the word and would hate to be described as being merely religious. But God has quite a different idea here in James. What three things does God consider true religion in these verses? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Why does James say that our religion is worthless if we can't bridle our tongue? Compare Mark 7:18-23 and Luke 6:43-45. ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

This is the third time in this chapter James speaks of us being deceived (also 1:16,22). Our mouth reveals what is in our heart. Eventually it is going to come out. We may think we are devoted to God, but if we can't control our tongue, James says we are just fooling ourselves.

True religion is always expressed in action. There are none needier than orphans and widows. Perhaps God considers this pure religion because when we help orphans and widows, there is no way they can pay us back. We are helping them not because we expect something in return but because we care. When we help people in this way, it is pure and undefiled.

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How does God feel about orphans and widows?

Exodus 22:22-24 ____________________________________________________________Deuteronomy 10:17-18 ____________________________________________________________Psalm 68:5-6 ____________________________________________________________

If God cares and protects the fatherless and the widows in this way, we who bear His name should do the same. When we help those most in need, we are representing Jesus in a tangible, visible way.

Another mark of pure religion is not allowing the world to influence us. Unstained means "pertaining to being without that which might mar ones moral character." Too often we hear of Christians who give into sexual sin or who do not handle the money for their ministries with integrity. It is a spot or blemish on their record, so to speak. Their religion is called into question by the watching world.

What are some ways we can keep ourselves pure and unspotted according to these verses?

Ephesians 5:25-27 ____________________________________________________________Philippians 2:14-16 ____________________________________________________________

Words, actions and purity all have to go together. When we have all three, God considers that to be pure and undefiled religion.

What was most impactful for you in this section? Write your thoughts to the Lord below. ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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James 2

Day 11: James 2:1-7

Read chapter 2.

What topic does James cover in these verses? ____________________________________________________________

What example does he give to explain it? ____________________________________________________________

Partiality means "to make unjust distinctions between people by treating one person better than another; to show favoritism."

How is Jesus referred to in this verse? ____________________________________________________________

Glory refers to God's splendor, honor, greatness and amazing might. There is none like Him!

In light of the topic of favoritism, why do you think James refers to Jesus as the Lord of glory here? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Look up the following verses and see what they tell us about God in terms of favoritism.Romans 2:11 and Ephesians 6:5-9 ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Nationality (Jews or Gentiles) or social classes (masters or servants) have no bearing on how God treats us. He is not impressed by outward appearances, but what is in the heart. He is the Lord of glory, and we all fall short of his glory (Romans 3:23). So human distinctions don't matter to God because in comparison to Him, we are all exactly the same. We all fall short.

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In verse 4, what does James say we are doing when we show favoritism to one over another? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Look up the following verses. What do they say about judging?

Leviticus 19:15 ____________________________________________________________John 7:24 ____________________________________________________________

To judge means to form an opinion or come to a conclusion based on the circumstances presented.

Matthew 7:1 tells us not to judge, yet we see in Leviticus 19:15 and John 7:24 we are told to judge righteously. In order to reconcile these two, let's go back to James. What things were they basing their judgment on? ____________________________________________________________

So we see that we are not to make opinions or assumptions about people based on appearances. We are not to value one person over another or to think that we are better than certain people. This is what was occurring in the book of James. This is judging incorrectly, because as we have seen, we all have equal standing before the righteous Judge.

Often times we hear people say, "Don't judge me!" when an area of their life is called into question. But Paul did this very boldly in 1 Corinthians 5:1-3. In regard to sexual immorality in the church, Paul says he has already pronounced judgment on those who have behaved in this way.

It seems to me, that judging the heart of a person is wrong. We can't see their hearts, only God can do that. It is wrong for us to think that we are better than another person (Matthew 7:1-5) and that are hearts are less sinful than theirs.

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But we are called to judge righteously. The only way we can judge righteously is by holding things up against the righteous Word of God. This is why Paul could judge the sexually immoral because God's Word says it is a sin. We can evaluate our actions and the actions of others to see if they measure up to God's Word. I like to think of it in terms of discernment.

Look up Hebrews 5:12-14. What does this verse tell us about discerning? What is it that helps us to discern between good and evil? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

But back in James, they were not discerning or judging sinful actions, they were judging based on appearances and James says to think this way is "evil."

In verse 5, why does James say they should not discriminate against a poor believer? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Often it is the poor who are rich in faith. Since they have less, they may be more dependent upon God. They are also heirs to the kingdom of God himself! So to evaluate people based on earthly standards is inaccurate and evil.

Why does James say in verses 6-7 that they should not favor the rich? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

It is easy for us to look at the outside and treat people accordingly. James encourages us not to let social standing or riches be a factor in our acceptance of others. Is there anyone in your life you can think of that you need to treat in a more fair way?

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What topic does James address in this section? ____________________________________________________________

James uses his discussion on showing favoritism as a springboard to talk about being judged under the law.

What important point does James make in verses 8-11? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Read Matthew 22:35-40. Jesus says the whole law can be fulfilled by obeying what two commandments? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Perhaps these believers felt like they were doing pretty well and were showing love to each other, thus fulfilling the law. But what does James point out about the partiality he has just discussed? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

According to God's perfect standard, what does James say in verse 10? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Look up Galatians 3:10. What similar point does Paul make? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

We like to grade on a curve or compare ourselves to other people. This is not how God operates. His standard is absolute perfection. He says to obey the whole law, but fail in just one area is the same as breaking all of it! Ouch!

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You may be thinking, "But Christians aren't under the law anymore!" Certainly Romans 6:14 and 7:4-6 teach this. We are not under the law in the sense that there will be a penalty if we break it. God does not say, "If you commit adultery, you will be put to death," as was taught under the Mosaic law. But 9 of the 10 commandments, are repeated in the epistles, (the exception being the Sabbath). These 9 are not repeated as law, but as instructions for righteousness. Because of the mercy and grace poured out on us, we are to live lives that reflect God's righteousness.

Instead of being under the law of bondage of the Old Testament, what law does James say we are under now in verse 12? ____________________________________________________________

The Law of Moses required obedience, but didn't give us the power to carry it out. (Romans 7:18).

Read Romans 8:1-4. From these verses, why is it called the law of liberty? What are we set free from? ____________________________________________________________

Because of this freedom, what is the result in our life? (v.3-4). ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Because of Christ's work, the righteousness that the law required from us, but couldn't give us, is now fulfilled in our lives. Jesus has given us his righteousness for free! Now we have the power and freedom to obey! James calls this the law of liberty.

Because we are now judged by this law of liberty, what are James' instructions in verse 12? ____________________________________________________________

Righteousness should be evident in both our words and our actions. James letter is not about salvation, but how important it is that a believer show his faith through his words and actions. James says because you are going to be judged under the law of liberty, speak and act like it!

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Certainly we will be judged by God at the end of our lives, but in light of James' emphasis on living a visible faith, I think perhaps he may be referring to the fact that because we call ourselves Christians, living under the law of liberty, people will hold us to this standard and judge or evaluate our actions.

In verse 13, what does James say a natural result is for a person who has shown no mercy to others? ____________________________________________________________

James then makes the statement that mercy triumphs over judgment. Triumphs here has an interesting meaning. It means "to have greater power or potential thanto be more powerful than, to triumph over."

When we see people making choices that are not right, it is easy to judge them. And certainly it is not wrong to call sin what it is. But what is our attitude towards them? Are we judgmental or do we exhibit mercy? James tells us that mercy has more power and potential to change a person than judgment does. This does not mean that we ignore sin and choose not to confront it. But as we confront sin and reveal it for what it really is, mercy is able to really shine and be magnified when it is displayed against evil. When a person is shown mercy in the face of their sin, it can have a profound impact and has the power to triumph in that person's life.

How would your understanding of verses 8-11 affect how you treat other people? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

What has been most impactful for you in verses 8-13? Do you see any ways you need to alter how you view or treat other people from your study of these verses? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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Day 13: James 2:14-19


We now come to one of the most debated and misunderstood sections of Scripture. What topic does James address in this section? ____________________________________________________________

What question does James start out with in verse 14? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

What is the second question he asks in this verse? ____________________________________________________________

When we don't understand a passage, instead of running to a commentary or asking others what they think it means, the best thing we can do is to compare it with what the rest of the Bible has to say. In other words, we should use what is clear in Scripture to help us understand what is unclear, because Scripture will never contradict itself.

Initially, it seems James is saying we have to have faith and works in order to be saved. So let's see what Scripture has to say on this topic. Look up these verses and note what they say about faith, works and salvation.

John 3:16-18, 36 ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Romans 3:19-20 ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Romans 3:21-24 ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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Romans 3:27-28 ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Romans 4:1-5 ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Galatians 2:16 ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Galatians 3:7-14 ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Ephesians 2:8-9 ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

There are many, many more verses we could look up, but I think you get the point! The rest of Scripture teaches we are not saved by our works. So when James seems to imply that works can save us, we need to ask the important question: save us from what? From our sins or could it be something else?

The second thing we need to do when reading an unclear passage is to look at what else the same writer has to say about the subject. So in order to figure out what James is talking about when he says save, lets see if he refers to being saved in other places in the book. So look up the verses below that James speaks of being saved. What kind of salvation do you think he is referring to from the context?

James 1:19-21 ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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James 5:19-20 ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

In these two instances, James is not speaking about a saving faith for salvation. Instead he is referring to an active faith that saves us from a life of sin and its awful consequences. Nowhere in the book of James does James explain how to be saved. Instead his focus is on what effect being saved should have in our every day lives.

In light of this, it seems back in chapter 2, James is asking the question, If we only say that we have faith, but have no works, can our faith save us from a life of sin? The obvious answer is NO!

In verses 14 and 16, James asks the question, what good is it to say you have faith but have no works? That word good here means benefit or advantage.

What example does he use to make his point in verses 15-16? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

James point here is profound. To say you are a Christian, yet only wish a blessing on someone in need without helping them, does not do them any good or benefit them in anyway. It also does not help our testimony. God is not glorified in our words, but in our actions in this case.

In light of this example, what does James say in verse 17? ____________________________________________________________

Dead in this verse means ineffectual, sterile, or unproductive. Just as idle words cannot save a brother from physical death in light of their dire needs, so a non-working faith cannot save us from the death-dealing consequences of sin.

James understands that his readers might take issue with what he is saying so he throws in an objection that someone might bring up. Someone might

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say, You have faith and I have works. Whats the big deal? Why do we need both? James answers that in the second half of verse 18.

Show me your faith apart from your works. Is it possible to do this? Explain. ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

I will show you my faith by my works. Is it possible to do this? Explain. ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

The key word in this verse is show. You might want to mark every time the word show/shown occurs in chapter 2. Since we cannot see into the hearts of men, the only way we will know if they have faith is if they show it to us through their actions.

Talk is cheap! What example does James use in verse 19 to show us that just saying we have faith is not enough? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

James has already spoken about this earlier. Actions are important after we are saved! In chapter one, he exhorted us to be doers of the word (v.22). He told us that our religion is worthless if we cant bridle our tongue or visit the orphans and widows (v. 26-27). In chapter two, he admonishes us to speak and act properly since we are under the law of liberty. Tomorrow we will look at why James says we need to have both faith and works.

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Day 14: James 2:20-26


In verse 20, what does James say he is going to do? ____________________________________________________________

Again the question arises: useless to do what? To save us from our sin? No! We will answer that question after we have worked thorough this section.

James starts out using Abraham as an example. What does he say about Abraham? ____________________________________________________________

The big question is: who was Abraham justified by works before? Lets go back to Romans 4. Read verses 1-5 again.

According to these verses, how was Abraham justified? ____________________________________________________________

Who was he justified before? ____________________________________________________________

In this section, Paul is talking about salvation. Because Abraham believed God, he was justified by faith and granted salvation. He was declared righteous in Gods sight. Back in James, because Abraham believed God, he obeyed and was therefore justified before men. People could see through his actions that he had faith and he was therefore justified before them. Saving faith justifies us before God, faith after salvation that is lived out justifies us before men.

In verse 22, James tells us that Abrahams faith was completed by his works. That word completed speaks of development and maturity. Faith is nourished and strengthened through obedience.

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Read the following verses that speak about Abrahams faith and his works.

Romans 4:19-21He did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body, which was as good as dead (since he was about a hundred years old), or when he considered the barrenness of Sarahs womb. No unbelief made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised.

Hebrews 11:17-19By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was in the act of offering up his only son, of whom it was said, Through Isaac shall your offspring be named. He considered that God was able even to raise him from the dead, from which, figuratively speaking, he did receive him back.

In Romans 4, Abraham had faith that God could give him a son despite the deadness of Sarahs womb. He considered the circumstances, but then decided to trust God, being fully convinced that God would do what he had promised. In Hebrews we see Abrahams faith fully matured. Because he knew that God had said that the promise would come through Isaac, he believed that God had the power to even raise his son from the dead. In the process of obeying Gods orders to sacrifice his son, his faith reached new heights of confidence in God and it was evidenced by his actions. In this way, Abrahams faith was completed by his works.

So how was the Scripture fulfilled that Abraham believed God? Through his actions! His actions spoke loud and clear that he had faith in God. Because of that, he became known as a friend of God, not only by God, but that is how others referred to him as well. See 2 Chronicles 20:7.

I am not a Greek scholar, and have only read what others who have studied the Greek language have written about verse 24. The word alone or only comes at the end of this verse. In English is seems to modify the word faith. But in the Greek it modifies the word justified. Perhaps a more accurate translation would be: You see then that a man is justified by works, and not only (justified) by faith.

James presents two kinds of justification here: one by works and one by faith.

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When we are justified by faith, who sees it? ____________________________________________________________

When we are justified by works, who sees it? ____________________________________________________________

Paul speaks at great lengths of justification by faith for salvation. James speaks of justification by works after salvation. They are two sides of the same coin. One is visible before God and the other is visible before men.

What other example does James share in verse 25? ____________________________________________________________

If Abraham was revered as the father of the Jewish nation, there could hardly be a more stark example of a sinner being justified by works than Rahab.

What did Rahab do to be justified by works? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Given James emphasis of our works saving our lives from the consequences of sin, Rahab is the perfect example. Her physical life was saved through her works and her living faith triumphed over her life of sin!

Just receiving the spies would not have been enough. Rahab also sent them out another way. At the last minute, she could have sent the soldiers after the two spies, instead she sent them out another way and was justified through her works. While all the other inhabitants of Jericho perished, Rahab lived because her faith lived through her actions.

What other example does James give us to help us understand the important relationship between faith and works? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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Without the spirit, our body lies dead and lifeless, unable to do anything. In the same way, before other people, our faith lies dead if not accompanied by works. Faith remains vital and alive as long as it is evidenced by works of obedience.

We started out this section by asking the question, faith without works is useless to do what? After studying this section, how would you answer that question? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

James uses many examples in this section to drive home his point, perhaps because he knows we might have trouble understanding it. He uses the hypothetical example of a person coming to the door in need. He uses the example of demons believing in the existence of God and trembling. Neither of these are accompanied by works so they are useless. They bring no benefit. He then uses Abraham and Rahab as positive examples to show how their works made a difference and completed their faith. He then closes with the example of the body and spirit. Without works, faith is dead and useless. Our faith is brought to life before other people only when it can be seen.

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Day 15

Read through chapter 2 one more time.

Prayerfully ask yourself these questions. Can others see my faith through my actions? Are there any areas in my life where my faith and actions are not in agreement? If I were ever accused of being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to prove it? Write down your thoughts to the Lord below. ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

James has already given us many examples of how we can show our faith to others. Here is what we have covered so far:

Counting it all joy and persevering through various trialsAsking for faith without doubtingHaving a proper understanding about richesBeing quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to become angryPutting away filthiness and wickednessBeing a doer of the wordBridling the tongueVisiting orphans and widowsKeeping ourselves unspotted from the worldNot showing partiality

In which of these areas does your faith need to become more visible? Ask God for opportunities today for you to show your faith in clear, tangible ways!

What do you think is the theme of chapter 2? ____________________________________________________________

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James 3

Day 16: James 3:1-8

Read chapter 3.

What topic does James focus on next in this section? ____________________________________________________________

In verse 1, James recommends that not many in the church should become teachers. In the early church, the structure was perhaps less formal than it is today based on 1 Corinthians 11-14. During a service, if one had something he wanted to share, he was permitted to do so. Perhaps many desired this position of being recognized as a teacher, but James warns against this because teachers would be judged with greater strictness.

Based on what you have read in the book of James so far and the surrounding context, when he says not many should become teachers because they are judged with greater strictness, who do you think might be doing the judging? God or man? Explain. ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

The word judged in verse 1, means to judge a person to be guilty and liable to punishmentto condemn. This is not how God views us as his children. We see in Romans 8:1 that he does not condemn us because He views us in His Son. But people might hold teachers to a stricter standard and view them in this way. Given that James has spoken at length about how our faith should be lived out before others, it seems logical that this would be what he is referring to.

James puts himself in the category of those who are judged more strictly because he says "we who teach." But in verse 2, he acknowledges that he is not perfect. How does he acknowledge this? ____________________________________________________________

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To stumble here means to err or to sin. What does James say in verse 2 about the man who never sins in what he says? ____________________________________________________________

Perfect means being perfect in the sense of not lacking any moral quality. What does James say about a perfect person who doesn't sin with his words? ____________________________________________________________

Bridle means to exercise self-control. James makes the amazing statement that if a person could control his tongue, he would also be able to control the rest of his body. James has just said that we all stumble and sin so there are not many of us out there who would fit this description!

In verses 3-5, what three examples does James give us to help us understand? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

What point do you think James is trying to emphasize by using a bit in horses mouths as an example? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

What do you think James is trying to help us understand by talking about the rudder of a ship? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

What does James want us to understand about our tongue by using fire as an example? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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Read verses 5-10 and note everything James tells us about our tongue in these verses. ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Lets look at each of these things a little more closely.

In verse 5, the tongue is described as a small member. Even though a bit or a rudder are small, they have the ability to completely change the direction a horse or ship is going. So it is with our tongue. Has a day ever started out well, and then through your words you changed the mood of your entire household? Maybe it is a sharp word to our spouse or a frustrated tone with our kids. Our tongue can change the day for the better or the worse.

James mentions the fact that with our tongues we boast of great things. In James 4:16, James calls their boasting evil. Indeed, anywhere we see boasting mentioned in Scripture, it is condemned. The only thing we are given permission to boast about is that we know God (Jeremiah 9:23-24, 1 Corinthians 1:31) and we are to boast in the cross (Galatians 6:14).

Read Psalm 12:3-4. After reading these verses, why do you think God hates our boasting? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

In verse 6, James tells us that our tongue is a fire. Proverbs 16:27 says that our speech can be a scorching fire. We have certainly all felt the pain that hurtful words can bring. They can sear and burn us, leaving blisters on our soul that are slow to heal. Careless words spoken in a fleeting moment can cause pain and damage that can last for years.

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Next, James calls our tongue a world of unrighteousness. This word for world means a great sum of something, implying an almost incredible totalitya world of, a tremendous amount of. It truly is incredible how devastating our words can be. The tongue shows the unrighteousness that is in the heart of man. People open their mouths and out comes gossip, lying, boasting, slander, cursing, complaining, (and the list goes on). Romans 3 describes the unrighteousness that comes out of our mouths as an open grave. A tongue not submitted to the Lord is a very ugly thing indeed!

James continues in verse 6 and says that our tongue stains the whole body. Read Jesus words in Matthew 15:18. In what ways do our words stain or defile us? Is your view of people affected by what they say? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

James goes on to say that our tongue can set on fire the entire course of our life! That is pretty powerful! Do you remember the lovable Paula Deen? Her life and career at the Food Network were ended after some things she said came to light regarding the color of a persons skin. Words have incredible power. Relationships can be changed forever, jobs are lost, marriages fall apart, and lives can take an entirely different course just because of spoken words.

Finally, James tells us that our tongue is set on fire by hell. This refers to where the tongue gets its power and influence from. When not submitted to the Lord, the tongue is fueled by the enemy and the destruction that results is certainly hellish.

In verse 8, the tongue is described as a restless evil. The word for restless means not able to be controlled or not subject to. In verses 7-8, what comparison does he make to underscore this truth? ____________________________________________________________

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Lastly, James says that our tongue is full of deadly poison. What picture does this give you about the tongue? Compare the power of words with deadly poison. Write your thoughts below. ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

What does God want you to understand about the tongue from these verses? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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Read chapter 3 again today.

Yesterday we looked at the incredible power the tongue has. Today James is going to explain the different ways we can use our tongue.

In verses 9, what is the best way we can use our words? ____________________________________________________________

To bless means to praise or to speak well of.

Psalm 34:1 says, I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise will continually be in my mouth.

If we practiced this, there would be much less gossip, lying and complaining, for when we are praising the Lord, we will not be speaking evil of our brother. Unfortunately, as James points out, this is not the case.

What reason does James give for why it is wrong to curse other people? ____________________________________________________________

To curse means to cause injury or harm by means of a statement regarded as having some supernatural power, often because a deity or supernatural force has been evoked.

If people are created in the image and likeness of God, we should not be cursing them through the name of the God who made them.

James points out the obvious inconsistencies of using our tongue for blessing God and cursing men. What examples does James use to emphasize this? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

It is against nature for a spring to pour out both fresh and salt water. We also don't see a fig tree bearing olives. In the same way, as believers, it

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should be against our nature to use our tongue for such good and such evil.

In verse 11, the Greek word for salty here means bitter or pungent. The contrast in this verse refers to the taste of the water. One either enjoyed the water from the spring, or they did not. Though not preferred, one might drink from a bitter well in an emergency. But the word for salty in verse 12 is a different Greek word and here it does mean salty. Here the quality of the water is completely different. One cannot drink salty water and live.

Not only does the tongue produce both unpleasant words (bitter water) and pleasant words (fresh water), it also produces words that can destroy (salty water) or bring life (fresh water).

Look up Proverbs 18:21. What does this verse say about our tongue? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Based on everything we have learned about the tongue, it is easy to understand why James says we should be slow to speak!

Have your words caused hurt to other people? Are you inconsistent with how you use your tongue? Is there someone you need to go to to make things right with after how you have spoken to them? Have your words brought death to a relationship? Is there an area you need to improve in how you use your tongue? Are you prone to complaining, gossip or slander? Write your response to the Lord below in a prayer. ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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Day 18: James 3:13-18

Read chapter 3 once more.

What topic does James speak about in this section? ____________________________________________________________

According to verse 13, what is the best way for people to see that we have wisdom? ____________________________________________________________

I find it very interesting after the discussion on the tongue, that our speech is not the preferred avenue for wisdom to be seen in our lives. It is through our actions! And certainly, wisdom is just knowledge put into practice, so it is in what we do that clearly shows what we know and understand and believe to be true.

What character trait should be seen in our actions for wisdom to be evident? ____________________________________________________________

Meekness is gentleness of attitude and behavior, in contrast with harshness in ones dealings with othersgentleness, meekness, mildness.

Meekness is strength under control. A meek person is not weak. They are strong because instead of reacting to situations or people, they respond gently, in a mild and self-controlled way. A meek person shows his wisdom by acting rather than reacting. A meek person understands that God is in control and instead of fighting back in anger, they leave the results up to God and trust Him with the outcome.

Why do you think when we respond in meekness, wisdom is more evident? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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What is the opposite of meekness and wisdom from verse 14? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

What does James say about this type of response from verse 15? ____________________________________________________________

What is the result of this from verse 16? ____________________________________________________________

Based on James admonition in verse 1 about not many becoming teachers, it is easy to see how the desire to be recognized as a teacher in the church could lead to jealousy and selfish ambition. If different ones were clamoring for the same position, it is easy to see how disorder and disunity would ensue.

Look at the chart below and compare the two types of wisdom and the fruit seen from both.

Wisdom from Above Worldly WisdomShown by our works Bitter jealousy

Meekness Selfish ambitionPure Boasting

Peaceable Is false to the truthGentle Earthly, unspiritual and demonic

Open to reasonFull of mercy

Full of good fruitImpartialSincere

Results in a harvest of righteousness

Results in disorder and every vile practice

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The world tells us that you have to look out for yourself first. Ambition is valued regardless of how damaging it is to other people. We see people jealous of what others have and will go to any lengths to get that for themselves. People boast and brag about their accomplishments, often being dishonest in their portrayal of themselves. In this description of worldly wisdom, the focus in always on ourselves. Its all about me! But James warns that when we behave in this way, disorder and every vile practice will abound. It is not a very pretty picture. Earthly wisdom focuses on us and never gives us the rewards that we are after. This is especially damaging in a church if believers have this attitude.

On the other hand, the wisdom from above is focused on God and others. Verse 17 is a good biblical description of what meekness looks like.

First of all, it is pure. It is free from the moral contamination of bitter jealousy and selfish ambition. It is peaceable. It is concerned with harmony among the brothers. It is gentle (gracious and bears with the weaknesses of others). Gods wisdom is open to reason and is willing to listen. How many arguments could be avoided if we were willing to listen to the other person and be willing to yield to them. It is also full of mercy. The merciful are quick to help those in need and slow to hold a grudge when they have been wronged. Wisdom from above is full of good fruits (the fruit of the Spirit). It is impartial and free of prejudice and is sincere and genuine.

This type of conduct that James describes will promote peace and harmony in a church rather than disorder and evil.

What does verse 18 say must be sown for this harvest to take place? ____________________________________________________________

Compare Isaiah 32:17. What are the results of righteousness from this verse? ____________________________________________________________

So a peacemaker who demonstrates this heavenly wisdom is like a sower in a field. His behavior results in righteousness since righteousness

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amongst believers flourish when they dwell together in peace. Psalm 133:1 says Behold how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity.

God has put a law into place in nature and in our spiritual lives. What does Galatians 6:7-9 say about sowing and reaping? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

What kind of a sower are you? Are you planting the seeds of heavenly wisdom that will result in a harvest of righteousness or are you planting seeds that will result in disorder and every evil practice? Are you a peacemaker or are you filled with selfish ambition? God is not mocked and we will reap whatever we sow!

Write your response to the Lord below about what you learned from this section. ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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James 4

Day 19: James 4:1-5

Read chapter 4.

Chapter 3 gave us a snapshot into what some of the churches looked like that James was writing to. Some were in turmoil because members of the church were filled with envy and self-seeking (3:14) because of the desire to be recognized as a wise teacher (3:1,13). As is expected, this led to confusion and evil practice (3:16). So it is not surprising that there were wars and fights going on in the churches.

In verse 1, what does James say causes wars and fights among us?____________________________________________________________

Why were they at war with one another? Because first they were experiencing a war within themselves! The word for passions means desire for pleasure. Paul speaks about this in Romans 7:23. He says, but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members.

James goes on to explain in verse 2 what this looked like. How is this played out in their lives? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

First James brings up murder. These believers probably were not actually committing murder, but how does 1 John 3:15 describe murder? ____________________________________________________________

In their jealousy against their fellow brothers, they were guilty of murder by wishing their brother was dead and then coveting what they might obtain if he actually were dead! But to actually murder someone would be too blatant, so they were left with this inner turmoil of wanting and not

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obtaining. Because of this, the church was being turned into a battlefield, first within themselves and it was eventually played about between them, fed by their jealousy and selfish ambition.

In getting their desires met, what were they failing to do from verse 2? ____________________________________________________________

If they did ask, why did James say they did not receive their request? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Going back to the desire for many of them to be teachers, it is easy to see why they were stuck in this frustrating dilemma of desiring to be recognized as a wise teacher, but not receiving it. Through their actions they were not viewed as being wise. Remember our actions, not our words, reveal the wisdom from above. If they did ask God to grant them a position of teacher and leader in the church, it was not granted because they were asking with wrong motives. They were seeking their own glory instead of the glory of God. Instead of asking for peace and harmony in the church they were asking for their own self-promotion.

James seems a bit exasperated with how they are behaving. How does he address them in verse 4? ____________________________________________________________

What does he want them to understand in verse 4? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

There is absolutely no middle ground here! We are either a friend of the world and and enemy of God, or we are a friend of God and an enemy of the world. We have to choose which side we are on.

In desiring wealth and standing, these believers were committing spiritual adultery and had renounced their friendship with Christ. Wealth in and of itself is not the issue, but as 1 Timothy 6:10 tells us, it is the love of money that is a root of all kinds of evil.

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What did Jesus say about this in Matthew 6:24? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Look up 1 John 2:15. What does John tell us about loving the world? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

When James speaks about the world, he is referring to the world system that is hostile to God. Materialism and immorality are characteristics of the world system and they are in direct opposition to God and his interests.Materialism and riches were surely an issue in this church and it is a theme that James keeps coming back to.

Look up these verses in James and note how these believers were exhibiting worldly attitudes.

James 2:1-6 ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________James 4:13-16 ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________James 5:1-6 ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

God does not view our infidelity to Him with indifference. In verse 5, what is God described as doing? ____________________________________________________________

Look up the following verses and note how God is described.Exodus 20:5; Exodus 34:14; Zechariah 8:2 ____________________________________________________________

God is jealous for our affection and attention! As a woman, it makes us feel loved and wanted when a man desires us like this (in a good way, not a controlling way). God wants you! He wants you to know him and enjoy his

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presence. God is grieved when we callously push him aside for the temporary thrills this world can offer. He is offering us the treasure chest of himself (Colossians 2:3) and we chase after cheap imitations that will not last.

God has gone to great lengths to relentlessly pursue us and we so flippantly cast him aside. As I write this, I am so grieved at how God must feel about how we treat him. As crushing as the betrayal of adultery is, I believe it pales in comparison with how God yearns for us when we become a friend of the world.

But no matter how far away we have drifted away in our love for the world, as we will see tomorrow, God is always ready to welcome us back with open arms.

Examine your heart before the Lord and ask God if you are his friend or a friend of the world. There is no middle ground. Write your thoughts to the Lord below. ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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Despite the strong rebuke that we read yesterday, what does James tell his readers in verse 6? ____________________________________________________________

God is always there offering us his grace when we sin. There is always more than enough grace to cover us. Despite it always being available, what do we have to do to receive it? ____________________________________________________________

God opposes the proud. To oppose means to range oneself against. It gives the picture of soldiers lined up for battle. That is the attitude God takes against our pride. He will fight against us and oppose us. The reason he does this is not out of anger, but out of love. He means to show us the futility of our pride so we will come back to Him. There is a warning here, but James emphasizes again that God offers grace to the humble. The moment we come back to him in humility, he offers us his grace and favor.

Because God is always offering us his grace, what are we encouraged to do in verse 7? ____________________________________________________________

To submit means to place ourselves under Gods authority and obey Him. God will reward this attitude and give us grace.

How should we treat the devil from verse 7? ____________________________________________________________

To resist means to resist by actively opposing pressure or power.

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According to Ephesians 6:10-18, what weapons are we given to resist the devil? How are we to stand against the enemy? ____________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

What are we told will happen when we resist the devil? ____________________________________________________________

In verse 8, we see the other side of the coin. We resist the devil and he will flee. What happens when we draw near to God? ____________________________________________________________

I have often heard people say that God feels so far away. I like to ask the question: Who moved? God has promised to never leave or forsake us, so if he feels far away it is because we have moved away from Him. But as soon as we draw near, he is right there!

When we draw near to God, what should our response be from verse 8? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

We cannot draw near to God and continue to hold on to our sin. James exhorts his readers to put away any evil their hands were doing and purify their hearts from their divided loyalties.

Verse 9 gives us a picture of a person who sees their sin for how awful it really is. What should our response be when confronted with our sin? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

James again repeats the exhortation to humble ourselves before the Lord. True repentance is sandwiched between humility (v. 6,10).

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Who are we to humble ourselves before? ____________________________________________________________

What does James say will be the result of this humility? ____________________________________________________________

To exalt means to elevate, to lift up. I have always read this verse and thought of it in terms of position or recognition. But I think more importantly, it means that God will lift us up out of the muck and mire of our sin and elevate us so that we can see him more clearly. The higher we are lifted up, the closer we will be to the Lord!

Look up Isaiah 57:15. This verse says that God dwells in the high and holy place but also with the humble. As we humble ourselves before the Lord, he lifts us up to where He is!

Instead of clamoring for recognition and a position in the church, we should be more desperate to be near to God. It is only when we are close to the Lord that we are truly exalted.

What has God spoken to you about pride and humility in this section? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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Day 21: James: 4:11-17

Read chapter 4 one more time.

What subject does James address in verses 11-12? ____________________________________________________________

What instruction does he give in verse 11? ____________________________________________________________

To speak evil against refers to any kind of speech that is damaging or destructive to our fellow brother. Given what he has already addressed at the beginning of this chapter, it is easy to see why they might be doing this and defaming one another.

What three things does James say we are doing if we speak evil of another Christian? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

First James equates speaking evil against someone the same as judging them. This is the same word for judge that we looked at earlier. It means to judge as guilty or condemn. This happens when we look down on others, think that we are above them, and make a judgment about their spirituality. Again, it is okay to discern actions as good or evil, but to be the judge of someones heart is wrong. Only God has the authority to do that.

When we do this, James says we are speaking evil against the law and judging the law itself. Basically, by not

James: A Visible Faith

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