FULLVIEW BIBLE STUDY WEDNESDAY NIGHT 6 00 PM
FULLVIEW BIBLE STUDY WEDNESDAY NIGHT 6: 00 PM
• The Book of James is probably the oldest book of the New Testament, written perhaps as early as A. D. 45, before the first council of Jerusalem in A. D. 50. James was martyred in approximately A. D. 62, according to the historian Josephus. • James teaching regarding faith: While Pauline teachings concentrate on our justification with God, James’ teachings concentrate on the works that demonstrate that justification. • James was writing to Jews to encourage them to continue growing in this new Christian faith.
• The author identifies himself as James (1: 1); he was probably the brother of Jesus and leader of the Jerusalem council (Acts 15: 13). • The recipients are identified explicitly only in 1: 1: "the twelve tribes scattered among the nations. ” • Some hold that this expression refers to Christians in general, but the term "twelve tribes" would more naturally apply to Jewish Christians.
• The Book of James is filled with direct commands to pursue a life of holiness and the writer makes no excuses for those who do not measure up. • James places the spotlight on the necessity for believers to act in accordance with our faith. • For James, a faith that does not produce real life change is a faith that is worthless.
Book’s Distinctive Characteristics • Its unmistakably Jewish nature • its emphasis on vital Christianity, characterized by good deeds and a faith that works. • its familiarity with Jesus' teachings preserved in the Sermon on the Mount. • its similarity to Old Testament wisdom writings such as Proverbs and its excellent Greek.
Trials Lead to Perfection (James 1: 1 -4) • Consider it pure joy is a mindset that James encourages. (Count is to reckon) • Trials are good for us and are sent by God. They are meant to test our faith. • Trials come in all shapes and sizes to test our faith and develop perseverance. (Rom 5: 3 -5) • When we face trials we should always try to look at what lessons God wants to teach us in the middle of them. Because it is possible that as long as we don’t learn the lessons, then the trial will continue until we do learn them. (Ps 119: 71)
Trials Lead to Perfection (James 1: 1 -4) • Trails reveal what we really love. (Heb 11: 24 -26) üHow a person handles trouble will reveal whether his faith is living or dead, genuine or imitation, saving or none saving. üIt is during challenging times that many people turn away from God. üThe means to perseverance in trials is a submissive will. (Gal : 19)
Pray with Faith (James 1: 5 -8) • The first requirement for faith is godly understanding. • Strong sound faith is not built on feeling, but on the knowledge and understanding of God’s promises üPray for wisdom: The world offers the appearance of wisdom, but true wisdom comes from God and not from ourselves. (Rom 1: 21 -25) üWisdom will motivate us to turn to God in prayer. (Job 28: 23)
Pray with Faith (James 1: 5 -8) üGod will give wisdom generously and without blame us for our lack of knowledge. (Mat 7: 7 -11) • Ask without wavering: must be a request backed by genuine trust in God’s character, purpose, and promises. (Ps 81: 10; Jer 29: 11 -13; Jo 14: 13) üDo we really believe God can and will answer our prayers? üDo we really believe He is listening? üDo we really believe He is all powerful and all good?
When We Pray (James 1: 8) • Pray confidently, knowing that God hears every word we speak and will answer. üHis answer may not be exactly what we want or hope for, but His answer will be exactly what is good for us. üPraying in faith is not a magic formula for getting whatever we want in prayer. We cannot force God to do something against His will just by believing it. üA double minded person is an unbeliever. (Rev 3: 16)
Be Humble and Content (James 1: 9 -11) • James teaches that although a person’s economic position may be poor, his position in Christ is high (Gal 3: 28). He may be physically poor, but spiritually rich. (Rom 8: 16 -18) • Those who are poor in this world should not focus on their lack of material things. Rather they should focus on their abundant spiritual blessings. (Jer 9: 23 -24)
Be Humble and Content (James 1: 9 -11) • James warns of the danger of trusting in wealth: The rich person should realize that in the end he is just like the poor person. His riches will fade away. • As long as people pride themselves in their wealth they will perish. The lost of things is meant to drive the rich person to God. • If you have little, don’t focus on that, but set your mind on things above. If you have much, don’t focus on that either. Instead set your mind on things above and be thankful for your blessings in Christ. (Col 3: 1 -2)
Resist Temptation and Be Doers of the Word (James 1: 12 -27)
Temptation is not from God (James 1: 12 -15) • All people will face trials; it is not a question of if, but when. The person who perseveres under them is the one who never relinquishes his confident trust in God. (1 Tim 6: 12) • Faithful perseverance under trial is the surest evidence of our love for Christ. (1 Pet 1: 8) • The opposite of perseverance is giving up. (1 Cor 9: 24 -27)
Temptation is not from God (James 1: 12 -15) • Trials and temptations are different: • God is never responsible for tempting people. üGod never condones sin. üGod is not the author of evil. üAnd He never tempts anyone.
Temptation is not from God (James 1: 12 -15) • Temptation comes from evil. üSatan may use a situation in our life to try to tempt us to give up. (1 Pet 5: 8) üTemptation comes from our own flesh and is only effective because it interacts with our lustful flesh. üSome things might be a temptation for one person but not another because their desires are different.
Temptation and the nature of mankind • No person is immune to temptation. • Lust refers to a deep, strong desire or longing of any kind, good or bad. • Sin always looks attractive an pleasurable; for a while. • The problem is not a tempter from outside, but ht traitor within.
The Nature of Lust (James 1: 15 -16) • Lust is described as a mother conceiving and bearing a child, which is sin and whose ultimate destiny is death. • Sin is not an isolated act, but the result of a specific process that involves at least four steps. 1. Desire (lust): right or wrong is determined by the object that is desired and for what purpose it is desired. 2. Deception: when we think about a desired object we begin to rationalize a justification for getting it.
The Nature of Lust (James 1: 15 -16) 3. Design: plans start to be made to fulfill the emotional desire that has been rationalized and justified in the mind. What is longed for is now pursued as a matter of choice. (Gen 3: 6) 4. Disobedience: that which is desired, rationalized, and willed is actually done, which is sin. • The battle must be fought in the mind where sin is conceived. (Rom 12: 2; Phil 4: 8; Col 3: 2)
Steps we can take to protect ourselves: • Fellowship. Surround yourselves with other believers who can keep you accountable. • Get an accountability partner. If you know you are tempted in one area, then ask a friend to check up on you from time to time and ask the tough questions. • Avoid places or things we know will tempt us. One famous definition of insanity is repeating the same thing over and hoping for a different result. Break the cycle. Try something different.
Steps we can take to protect ourselves: • Set standards for ourselves of things we will or won’t do to make clear lines. For example decide ahead of time that you will not be together with your girlfriend late at night in a private place so as to reduce temptation. (Dan 1: 8) • Pray immediately when we face a temptation. Make a habit to just say a simple “help me” to God at the moment of temptation. (Mat 6: 13) • Fill our minds with God’s Word. If we memorize Scripture it will come to mind to protect and convict us. (Ps 119: 11)
God Gives Good Gifts (James 1: 17) • God is good: He is completely responsible for every good thing. • When God gives us commands and rules they are to help us, not harm us. • Knowing God’s goodness is also a protection against sin. • God is trustworthy: Trusting in God and His goodness is a protection against the baits of temptation.
Set Apart Through the Word (James 1: 18 -27) • Because man’s sin problem is internal the work of regeneration must be internal (born again). (Rom 8: 9) • We can see God’s goodness in our salvation, as He initiated our salvation of His own will. (Ezk 36: 25 -26) • A proper reception of God’s Word is reflected in an obedient life. • It one has been born again there is a hunger for God’s Word. (Jo 15: 7)
Slow to Anger (James 1: 19 -21) • There must be a willingness to receive the Word with submission. • We must be careful listeners to the Word of God. • We must be slow to anger: There are two kinds of anger, righteous anger and selfish anger. (Eph 5: 26) • A person who has righteous anger is upset when God’s moral code is violated. • Selfish anger is always sin because the person is focused on themselves, their own rights and feelings.
How to Receive the Word of God (James 1: 22 -25) • In light of the nature of temptation and the goodness of God, we are to lay aside all impurity, putting them far from us. • In contrast to an impure manner of living, we should receive the implanted Word of God. • The purity of God’s Word can preserve us even in an impure age.
How to Receive the Word of God (James 1: 22 -25) • But be doers of the Word, and not hearers only: üWhen we do not obey the truth of God’s Word it becomes judgment against us. (Jas 4: 17) üTo consistently disobey God’s Word give evidence that people are without His life within them. üIf you followed the teacher and try to live what they say, you were called a disciple of that teacher.
How to receive the word of God (James 1: 22 -25) • Not hearers only: used for those who sit in an audience and listen to a singer or speaker. • Merely hearers: take advantage of the privilege of hearing God’s Word but have no desire for obeying it. • God’s Word gives the reflection of truth. It shows us our life, our thoughts, our heart, our inmost self. • An obedient Christian looks into God’s Word to do something about it, not just to store up facts that he will not put to use by being a doer of the Word.
What it means to be a doer of the Word of God (James 1: 26 -27) • The proper reaction to the Word of God is the willingness to apply it to our lives: üReligious is used of someone who is not really right with God, and this is evident because he does not bridle his tongue. üReal religion is not shown by hearing the Word, but by doing it.
What it means to be a doer of the Word of God (James 1: 26 -27) • Pure religion is looking after orphans and widows: üLove is the mark of believers. True love is love shown with no thought of return. üLove shown to orphans and widows normally cannot be repaid. (Mat 25: 34 -40) • Remain unspotted from the world: üHoly living means an inward holiness that will be expressed outwardly in our actions. üWhat life may become when it is yielded to the grace of Christ.
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