Bible Background with Meredith
The Book of James
The book of James is written by the brother of Jesus around 49 A.D, which means it would have
been penned before the four Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. James was not only
Jesus’ brother, he was also a leader of the church.
Peter motioned with his hand for them to be quiet and described how the Lord had
brought him out of prison. “Tell James and the other brothers and sisters about this,”
he said, and then he left for another place. Acts 12:17 (NIV)
When they finished, James spoke up. “Brothers,” he said, “listen to me. Acts 15:13 (NIV)
James wrote his letter as a concerned leader to encourage the Jewish Christians who
had been scattered throughout the Mediterranean world because of persecution. He was
finding that many were being tempted to let intellectual agreement pass for true faith.
We also have to remember that the early believers did not have the support of
established Christian Churches.
James is only five short chapters but full of instruction for living a life of faith as Jesus
intended but also remember this was first written as a letter. As the Bible has been
written and translated, we have added chapters and verses.
I see James as a take the bull by the horns kind of guy. He has an urgency to tell the
Chirstans to keep the faith. Remembering this was written less than two decades after
Christ ascended into heaven, I see how much more we as Christ followers should spend
many weeks pouring ourselves into this letter and asking God for wisdom, which James
states God gives generously.
Chapter 1
James starts out telling us to consider it pure joy when we face trials of many kinds.
(1:2) I am not sure about you but when I am in the middle of a trial, joy is not my first
emotion that I live out. I also love that this one single verse rebukes any teaching that
says, “give your life to Christ and it will be a walk in the park.”
This verse doesn’t say if you face, it says when we face.
The King James version says to count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations.
Divers mean diverse and we know what a temptation is. But have we ever thought that a
diverse temptation could be one of living out a life worthy of the calling we have on our
lives as Christ followers and not doing it?
James actually addresses that in his letter.
If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them.
James 4:17
In 2 Timothy it says that a time will come when people will not put up with sound
doctrine and careful instruction.
What about the fact that new studies have come out stating that 62% of pastors don’t
believe in a Christian Worldview. These are pastors who are leading our churches today
and if we don’t read God’s Word for ourselves and ask for knowledge then we can fall
into temptation to believe that everyone is a Christian because they say they are.
In chapter 1 alone James tell us this:
● To persevere so that you may be mature and complete.
● If you lack wisdom, ask God, but you must believe and don’t doubt.
● Believers in humble circumstances ought to take pride in their high position.
● The rich will fade away, even while they go about their business.
● Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial, they will receive the crown of life.
● Don’t blame God for being tempted. You are dragged away by your own evil
desire and are enticed.
● We are to be a kind of firstfruits of all He created.
The end of chapter one talks about how we need to be doers of the Word, not just
listeners. James ends with this statement.
Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans
and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.
James 1:27 (NIV)
James was quoting the prophet Isaiah words,
Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed. Take up the cause of the
fatherless; plead the case of the widow. Isaiah 1:17
We are to keep ourselves from being polluted by the world. How do we do that? By being
doers of God’s Word. By reading God’s Word. By living our life to glorify God in
everything we do.
Chapter 2
We have to understand that James is writing about these topics because these things
were already happening, so he wants to talk on the subject and head it all off at the pass.
The poor were being dishonored and James talks about keeping the royal law in
Scripture. Love your neighbor as yourself and how showing favoritism to the rich is a sin
and therefore breaking the royal law.
James breaks it down into real life events when talking about showing favoritism
especially to someone who is dressed nice versus someone who is dirty. He talks about
the rich are the ones who are exploiting and dragging them into court. The rich were
also blaspheming the name of the Lord, to whom they belonged.
And just that quickly James wants to talk about those who are claiming to have faith but
no deeds. Faith and action are needed. James even brings up the fact that Abraham,
through his faith, offered Issac up as God asked. His faith and actions were working
together. He also used Rahab, the prostitute as an example of faith and deeds.
James writes Faith by itself if not accompanied by action is dead.
Romans 3:31 says
Do we, then, nullify the law by this faith? Not at all! Rather, we uphold the law.
As my husband says, it is not out of a legalistic requirement that we do deeds, but out of
an irresistible response for what God has done for us.
Now James is going to hit the reader of this letter with a one-two punch,
Not many should be teachers. We will be judged more strictly. There is no one that is
perfect and we need to tame the tongue. James says that the tongue is a restless evil full
of deadly poison.
Here is the challenge with the tongue, a very small body part in comparison. You need it
to be able to speak. It makes the greatest boasts. James also tells us the tongue is a fire
and it is a world of evil among the body. It corrupts the whole body. Sets the whole body
on course of one’s life on fire and is itself set on fire by hell.
James also tells us that with the tongue, we praise God and yet curse another human
being who had been created in God’s likeness.
No human can tame the tongue, but it is not to be used as an excuse. If you remember
earlier, James told us to ask for wisdom. Now he is going to talk about two kinds of
wisdom.
The first type of wisdom is earthly, unspiritual and demonic. This wisdom harbors bitter
envy and selfish ambition. This is where you find disorder and every evil practice. James
is talking about this because many were starting to lean on intellect instead of faith.
Wisdom that comes from Heaven though, is:
Pure
Peace-loving
Considerate
Submissive
Full of Mercy
Good fruit
Impartial
Sincere
We need to choose what wisdom is more important.
James continues on in Chapter 4 and tells the early believers we need to submit to God.
He doesn’t leave it to your own desires or thoughts. He pens exactly what it means to
and how to submit to God.
First he writes that fights and quarrels come from the desires that battle within us.
Friendship with the world means we are enemies against God.
Submit yourselves to God in order to resist the devil.
Humble yourselves before the Lord and he will lift you up.
James also warns us to be diligent about doing the Lord’s work today because our lives
are but a mist. Here for a while and gone -vanished.
James also gives us language to use, “if it is the Lord’s will we will live and do this or
that.” He ends chapter 4 with
If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them.
Ouch! Has God laid something on your heart to do for the Kingdom? What is your
response?
Well maybe tomorrow we will go…
Or
If it is the Lord’s will we will live and do this or that.
Now James is about to end his letter. Chapter 5, starts with James talking about those
who are rich and storing up for the last days for themselves. He gives warning as to what
will happen to the wealth.
As we wait for the Lord’s coming, we need to be patient and stand firm. As we are being
patient during the suffering we need to persevere remembering that the Lord is full of
compassion and mercy.
As his letter ends he gives even more instruction. In trouble, pray. Be happy and sing
songs of praise. When you are sick, call on the elders to pray and anoint them with oil in
the Name of the Lord. We also need to confess our sins and pray for each other because
the prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. He also emphasizes faith in
action and right living is evidence and the result of faith.
But if we have learned anything from James, he isn’t going to end his letter on a fluffy
note. He continues all the way to the end.
As I stated James is a book of instruction and we can summarize it with this statement.
If we truly believe God’s Word we will live it day by day. God’s word is not merely
something we read or think about, but something we do.
