JAMESJAMES

Live with integrity.

Show resilience in trials.Resist temptation.Resist temptation.

JAMES 1:19–27JAMES 1:19–27LESSON 4

I. Accepting the Word of God (1:19–21)I. Accepting the Word of God (1:19–21)

A. A sensitivity to its teaching (1:19, 20)

A. A sensitivity to its teaching (1:19, 20)

B. A submission to its teaching (1:21)B. A submission to its teaching (1:21)

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Response to God’s Goodness (1:19)

quick to hear (akouo)- to comprehend, to understand

slow to speak (laleo)- to use words in order to declare one's mind and disclose one's thoughts (emphasis on the individual speaking ) (Prov. 17:27)

slow to anger (orge)- anger exhibited in punishment, hence used for punishment itself (Prov. 16:32)

“He who restrains his words has knowledge, And he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding.” (Pr 17:27 NAS)“He who restrains his words has knowledge, And he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding.” (Pr 17:27 NAS)

“He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, And he who rules his spirit, than he who captures a city.” (Pr 16:32 NAS)“He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, And he who rules his spirit, than he who captures a city.” (Pr 16:32 NAS)

Man’s Wrath ≠ God’s Righteousness (1:20)• “for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of

God” (Eph. 4:31-32; II Tim. 2:24-26)– anger- (orge)- the deliberate, persistent attitude of hostility over a long

range, vs, anger which is a turbulent, passionate outburst which is usually short lived

Man’s wrath is poured out in vengeance because someone has disagreed or hurt his ego, hoping to in some way to destroy or tear down

Man’s nature is selfish, sensual, and unrighteous (James 1:19)

Man’s core: Sinfulness

Because the nature of God and the nature of man are diametrically opposed, there can be no compromise between each; one works independently of the other

God’s wrath is poured out as a judgment on sin in order to bring about repentance and righteousness

God’s nature is Holy, Just, and Righteous (Rom. 1:18)

God’s core: Holiness

Preparation for the Word (1:21)

Putting Aside…Putting Aside…Putting Aside…Putting Aside…

filthinessfilthinessfilthinessfilthiness wickednesswickednesswickednesswickednesshumilityhumilityhumilityhumility receivereceivereceivereceive

The WordThe WordThe WordThe Word

Salvation of Salvation of your soulyour soulSalvation of Salvation of your soulyour soul

PastPast (saved)- from the (saved)- from the penaltypenalty of sin [Justification] of sin [Justification] (Acts 16:31)(Acts 16:31)

PresentPresent (being saved)- from the (being saved)- from the powerpower of sin [Sanctification] of sin [Sanctification] (Rom 6:11-14)(Rom 6:11-14)

FutureFuture (will be saved)- (will be saved)- from the from the presencepresence of sin of sin [Glorification] (I Cor [Glorification] (I Cor 15:51-58)15:51-58)

A. Persistent in study (1:22–24)A. Persistent in study (1:22–24)

II. Assimilating the Word of God (1:22–25)II. Assimilating the Word of God (1:22–25)

A. Persistent in study (1:22–24)A. Persistent in study (1:22–24)

B. Consistent in practice (1:25)B. Consistent in practice (1:25)

II. Assimilating the Word of God (1:22–25)II. Assimilating the Word of God (1:22–25)

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Hearers Only are Deceived (1:22)

one who obeys or one who obeys or fulfils the lawfulfils the law

doersdoers- (poietes)- (poietes)hearers- (listener)hearers- (listener)

hearing is not the end in itselfhearing is not the end in itself

deceiving deceiving – – (defraud, delude) to cheat (defraud, delude) to cheat by false reckoningby false reckoningthemselvesthemselves- - we may deceive others we may deceive others with false piety, but in so doing we are with false piety, but in so doing we are only cheating ourselvesonly cheating ourselves

NoteNote: We deceive ourselves : We deceive ourselves by not being what we think by not being what we think we are; we cheat ourselves we are; we cheat ourselves by not allowing the Word to by not allowing the Word to bring us to maturity (Matt bring us to maturity (Matt 7:21-23)7:21-23)

The Word

The Word

The wrong use of the Word (1:23-24)

• he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror– a man- means man, not

mankind– natural face- face he was born

with, before anything was done to it

• For he looks at himself- He looks at himself to decide what action he must take

• and goes away- he decides that no action is necessary

• and at once forgets– forgets-(epilanthanomai)

implies that the energies were put into forgetting, not changing

– what he was like (hopoios)- continues on his way, leaving that image in the past; using others as the standard, not the Word.

For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doerFor if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer……

• In pairs of small groups, answer the following questions:– What is the difference between

“devotions” and Bible Study? (Q #15)– How do you mark out time for and

engage in your own diligent study of Scripture? (Q #16)

The right use of the Word (1:25)• one who looks into the perfect

law, the law of liberty– perfect- (teleios)- brought to

its end, finished– law of liberty- the liberating

power of the Gospel in comparison to the bondage of the law (Rom 8:15; Gal 5:1)

• and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts,

– forgetful hearer- as he is prone to be if he does not continue; being conscious of the weakness of his memory

– an effectual doer- he continues in the Word, he becomes aware of the Work it demands; he performs this work with diligence, keeping in view the glory of Jesus Christ (Matt 7:21)

• he will be blessed in his doing- not that he is blessed for what he does, but "in" what he does. We should seek no other blessing than that of being involved with all that pertains to God

III. Applying the Word of God (1:26, 27)III. Applying the Word of God (1:26, 27)

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True Religion Defined (1:26-27)• Worthless Religion (1:26)

– If anyone thinks he is religious- To be of continual opinion of himself that he is religious because of his external observances of public worship, such as church attendance, almsgiving, prayer, fasting; the Pharisaic element in Christian worship

– does not bridle his tongue- but boasts of his works, and speaks ill of his brethren; backbites them, and hurts their names and characters, by private insinuations, and public charges without any foundation; who takes no care of what he says, but gives his tongue a liberty of speaking anything, to the injury of others, and the dishonour of God, and his ways (Ps 39:1; Eph 4:29; 5:4; Col 4:6; 1 Pet 3:10)

– but deceives his heart- This form of false, external piety has brought about self-deception. The verb deceive is used in the present tense signifying that he is unaware of his problem and continues therein (Gal 6:3)

– This person’s religion is worthless- the result is an empty, worthless religion. (Matt 7:22-23)

• Priceless Religion (1:27)– Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this:

That which is sincere and genuine, and free from adulteration and hypocrisy

• to visit orphans and widows in their distress- Outward action (Charity)• to keep oneself unstained by the world- Inward purity (Chastity) (1 Ti 1:5)

Until the mind accepts a truth, a person won’t use his will to act on it.

A truth becomes part of us when we let it into our hearts. The heart is the

doorway through which truth becomes effective in us.

Acting on truth often involves our bodies. We use our hands and feet

to carry out the truth.

Live with integrity.

Show resilience in trials.Resist temptation.

Respond to the Scriptures.Respond to the Scriptures.