Lesson 2 - James
James 1:1-4
“James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting.
My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;
Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.
But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.”
Who was James?
- He was a leader of the Jerusalem church.
- Acts 15:13-21 – you see him exercising his authority in the church about an important topic
i. People from Judea were telling people that they needed to be circumcised to be saved.
ii. But we know that we are not saved by our works
1. Ephesians 2:8, 9
“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Not of works, lest any man should boast.”
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- This James was not James the son of Zebedee whose death is recorded in Acts 12:2
- James’ leadership is also recorded in
i. Acts 12:17
“But he, beckoning unto them with the hand to hold their peace, declared unto them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, Go shew these things unto James, and to the brethren. And he departed, and went into another place.”
ii. Acts 21:18
“And the day following Paul went in with us unto James; and all the elders were present.”
iii. Galatians 1:19
“But other of the apostles saw I none, save James the Lord’s brother.”
iv. Galatians 2:9, 12
“And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision.
“For before that certain came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision.”
v. Galatians 2:9
“And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision.”
- He was the physical half-brother of Jesus. Mary, his mother had children after Jesus was born. His siblings are half-siblings because they only shared Mary as their mother. Their father was Joseph.
- Galatians 1:19
“But other of the apostles saw I none, save James the Lord’s brother.”
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- Matthew 13:55, 56
“Is not this the carpenter’s son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas?
And his sisters, are they not all with us? Whence then hath this man all these things?”
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- Matthew 12:46
“While he yet talked to the people, behold, his mother and his brethren stood without, desiring to speak with him.”
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- Mark 6:3
“Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us? And they were offended at him.”
Jesus did not have earthly father. His father is the heavenly Father. He had an earthly mother in Mary.
What is the book of James?
- It is a letter addressed to the Jews “scattered abroad.”
a. It was a letter intended for the Christian Jews.
- It is a series of commands for Christian living. God is not mainly teaching men how to be saved in this book. He is teaching them how to live after they are saved.
- It is a call to repentance and revival among God’s people.
Exhortations found in this book
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- James 4:8-10,13-16
- James 5:1-6, 19-20
How to react to trials? Verse 2
“My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; “
Diverse means many
- Trials are not a matter of if but when.
- Trials are temporary
Romans 8:18
“For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.”
2 Corinthians 4:17
“For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;”
- Watch your attitude
- It will encourage other believers when you go through trials with a good attitude.
- Unsaved people will marvel at how well you handle difficulties in life. When they ask how you handle the problems, you can tell them about God.
- Look at the example of Job
- Job 1
He lost his family, servants, and his animals
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- He handled it well
Job 1:22
“In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.”
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- God blessed him after the trials
Job 42:10
“And the LORD turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: also the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before.”
What trials are all about? Verse 3
“Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.
- They try your faith
- Trials are a way for us to trust God
- Our faith in God strengthens
i. When we go through trials, we tend to seek God more
- Trials make us more like Jesus
- 1 Peter 1:6, 7
“Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:
That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:”
The trying of our faith is like the trying of gold. When gold is put through the fire, the impurities are purged.
God is trying to mold us in the image of his Son Jesus Christ.
Romans 8:29
“For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.”
What to do during trials? Verse 4
“But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.”
- Be patient
Patience is the virtue of waiting on God, of learning to pray and obeying when you think God doesn’t seem to pay attention
Patience builds faith
Romans 5:3
“And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;
And patience, experience; and experience, hope:
And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.”
- Let God finish His work in you
Perfect – has the idea of complete
Wanting – has the idea of lacking
- Do not lose faith in God. Do not get angry at God.
Isaiah 55:8, 9
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.
For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.”
- Watch and pray about the problem
- If there is sin, confess it to God
- Remember God’s promise that when the trial is over, we’ll be complete.
A result of the trial is that we will be more fit/useful for the Master’s use
2 Timothy 2:21
“If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work.”
The main thing is to trust God
Proverbs 3:5, 6
“Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”
Put your trust in the LORD – the one who loves you and has a home in heaven for you
Do not put your trust anywhere else – people will disappoint you. But God never disappoints