Sunday, March 28, 2010
♥ Esther's Sunday Musings 2010#1 Study of James
I would like to inform everyone that I will be trying to do a study of the Epistle of James and have a post up every Sunday covering one chapter! Also on Wednesday I would like to conduct a study on Bible Versions so that many will understand why I stand on the KJV and maybe a few of you will even agree with me! So without further ado I give you this Sunday's Musing ^^
"James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting."
James starts by introducing himself as the servant of the Lord Jesus Christ. The letter is to the Jews scattered abroad, but also bear in mind that this letter now applies to the Gentile brethren of today as well.
"Servant" conveys the meaning of slave of bond slave. Also note that the same word is used to denote Jame's attitude to Jesus as God; this showed his belief in the deity of the Lord Jesus Christ. Also please note that James is the Lord's half brother of the flesh and is not ashamed to speak that way of the Lord Jesus.
2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;
3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.
4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
In verses 2-3 James admonishes us to see temptations as a joyful experience, for by tempations our faith is tried and bringeth patience to our life. Temptations are also known as diverse trials. The temptations are not supposed to be known as allurements to sin, but to be known as tests of character. God wants nothing but for our faith to be strengthened as his children.
In verse 4 he says "Let patience have her perfect work" in context we should let patience have the full effect, enduring trials and temptations to the end, standing firmly rooted in our Lord Jesus Christ. For by enduring the trials and tests we will be made mature and complete in Christ with nothing essential lacking.
Pausing briefly at verse 4 I would like to think about FAITH.
I would like to think about the words of Peter in 2 Peter 1:1 "Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ:" He addresses us who have obtained 'Like Precious Faith' through the righteousness of our Lord Jesus Christ.
So what is 'Like Precious Faith'?
Let's briefly visit Ephesians 4:4-6 " There is ONE body, ONE Spirit, ONE hope, ONE Lord, ONE faith, ONE baptism, ONE God & Father of all, who is above ALL, and through ALL, and IN YOU ALL. (believers only)" Wow... so this is saying that there is only one faith to believe? Not many but only ONE that God will accept?
In Hebrews 11:6 it says that "BY faith it is impossible to please Him (God), for he that cometh to God must believe that HE is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him." So without this 'Like Precious Faith' it is impossible to please God the Father. Our faith must be founded on this ONE and ONLY faith that will save us.
Q.) What exactly is this 'Like Precious Faith?"
A.) None other than the Lord Jesus Christ paying the price on the cross for our sins. This is the ONE 'Like Precious Faith' anything outside of this is FALSE faith.
In Romans 3:24-26 we read "Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in His blood, to declare His righteousness for the remission of sins that are past through the forbearance of God: To declare I say at this time His righteousness: that He might be just; and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus."
So we are justified freely by God's grace and redemption though the Lord Jesus Christ. God hasn't set forth any other. Not Allah, not Buddha, not Mary, and etc. ONLY through the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ, this IS the HEART of salvation. We are ONLY justified through this faith!
Now turning to Galatians 2:16 we read "Knowing that a man is NOT justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the las: for by the works on the law shall no flesh be justified."
Good works and following the law of the Old Testament will not and cannot justify man. God knows that NO MAN can ever keep the ten commandments. All that the ten commandments do is show us how sinful and lost we really are in God's eyes. In the New Testament Jesus takes the Ten Commandments and make it even more impossible to follow them by including your thought life. So all it really does is damn you to hell. We can ONLY be justified by faith in Jesus Christ.
Also in Galatians 3:22-28 it says "But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe. But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after the faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster. For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew no Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male of female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus."
So starting with verse 22, Paul is saying that ANYONE under sin which is EVERYONE, we all can have the promise of salvation through Jesus Christ. It goes on to say in verse 23 that before faith in Christ Jesus, the Jews were under the law, they did not know about this wonderful saving faith through Jesus Christ because it hadn't yet been revealed. The law was their schoolmaster (The Law of God the Father) this law was so rigid and was next to impossible to obtain forgiveness if any at all. But it was made to bring us the knowledge of the holiness of God and prepare them for Christ. But after the faith in Jesus Christ was revealed, forgiveness is freely given by Jesus Christ, to all them that repent of their sins. We are not longer under the law of God the Father but under grace.
In verse 27 It says "For as many of you as have being baptized in Christ have put on Christ." Baptism, is an important step in any Christian's life. It should not be taken lightly or pushed aside. Think of Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch (Acts 8:29-40). Right after being converted the eunuch desired to be baptized. Philip was sure to tell him that he could only be baptized if the eunuch believed in the Lord with all his heart and the man replied "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God." Then he was baptized. A true Christian should desire this with his whole heart, it's an act of faith and humbleness, showing you dying to your flesh and living in Christ.
In verse 28 it shows that this faith in Jesus Christ is not a respecter of persons. We are all one in Christ Jesus our Lord! Anyone in this world can come unto Him with repentance and faith in his finished work on the cross! The words of Christ should be the Christian's final authority, not the opinions of man, popes, priests, pastors, elders, and etc.
Moving on to John 8:31b-32 "If ye continues in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and truth shall make you free."
The Word of God is full of nothing but truth and his truth will set our souls and minds free. All who live holding on to this precious promise will definitely be living lives that are different from this world. It will also cause us to be persecuted or ignored. For righteous living convicts the hearts of sinners and they dislike and hate having their consciences violated.
In Mark 8:38 we receive a word of warning "Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of Me and of My words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels."
If we are ashamed of Christ, we are identified as not having faith in Christ and God shall then in turn be ashamed of us when he comes again... what a chilling and saddening thought.
All those who have faith look forward to Christs second coming. Hebrews 9:28 "So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for Him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation."
BY nature we as Christians should be looking and waiting for Christ's return. The promises of God should make us desire to be with Him and make us love Him more! We should be waiting to be delivered from this evil world!
2 Peter 3:10-13 "But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness. Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for a new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness."
The faith of a Christian is a faith that makes Pharisees stumble and the heathen believe and mark as foolishness. We should believe in every word of the Lord Jesus Christ, whether it be believing that he made the earth in 6 days or is says that he will create 100lbs. hail stones in the tribulation. Our God is great enough to do anything, we cannot put Him in a box! If he says he will destroy the earth, all power to Him! I am just thankful I will not be there I will already be delivered from this sin crusted earth! That is my heavenly promise! The Lord has prepared us something better than this earth, it's a new one, and what a glorious day that will be! Can you believe it? The God of this earth creating a new one for His saints... just because HE CAN!
The faith of the New Testament is different from the Old Testament because the object of the faith is different! In the Old Testament faith was just faith in God in general, you couldn't have the Holy Ghost dwelling in you, you could only believe in God the Father is general and work your way into paradise. But today after Jesus' death and resurrection we can have the assurance that all our sin is already forgiven, bought and paid for through Christ's blood, he is willing to forgive His children!
Returning to Jame 1:5-6 we read "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed."
If any of God's faithful children lack in wisdom and ask for it, this verse gives us the amazing promise that God will give it to those that love Him and will withhold nothing!
Verses 7 and 8 of James says "For let not that man think that he shall recieve anything from the Lord. A double-minded man is unstable in all his ways."
Who is 'that man?' Well that man is the man who wavers or doubts in his ways. We must not live a life expecting God to everything that we ask, or expect blessings, we must live humbly as expecting nothing, and if the Lord decides to bless us all the more joyful we will feel that we've been accounted worthy of his blessing. I must state though that bringing your worries, needs, and requests to the Lord is in NO WAY wrong. He listens and finds it pleasurable.
Satan will try anything to make a Christian waver, stumble, then fall. We must remember to keep sober and vigilant, for our adversary the devil walketh about as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour! With that being known we should follow the careful instruction in Hebrews 6:10-19 "Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel."
We as Christians MUST be FOUNDED on God's holy word, for the powers our soul wrestle with is a spiritual warfare were we fight with Satan himself! DO NOT take this for granted, I know for a fact that the powers of darkness exist, I used to physically wrestle with spirits at night! We must stand armed and strong, ready to fight and give an answer.
Many 'Christians' of today are wandering this world unarmed, living comfortably warming their church pews! Many aren't girt about in truth, and many care less about spreading the pure gospel. ALso many are not holding their shields of faith high... if they are holding a shield at all.
Sadly the majority of 'Christian' youth's faith of today is steamed on fun, on music, on feelings, and wishy washy doctrines that will not make them grieve in the soul or be on fire to spread God's word. We are raising a generation of lazy 'Christians' religious but lost.
Many youth are dulled and bored with the idea of walking a straight and narrow path that their Bible (if using the right one) speaks about, they don't want to be known by the world as the 'goody-two-shoes' they would much rather put their treasures on the things of this world and be distracted by sports, television, music, radio, magazines, but take out their BIBLE?!! That's to much of a request!
Many 'Christians' of today can never say that they wear the helmet of salvation, and many are carrying around plastic swords full of man's changes and opinions, instead of the sword that is two-edged and cuts through man's hearts with conviction! Many do not know or find it embarrassing to say a supper prayer in public, much less kneeling by their bed and praying a prayer seeking God's will.
Sadly much of this compromise and degrading of Christianity as a whole has come upon us by the leaders in the home, in the church, or teachers, bringing in new doctrines for those 'itching ears'. We must all ask the question "WHERE DO I STAND?"
Think of Ephesians 4:17-32.
17 This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind,
18 Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:
19 Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.
20 But ye have not so learned Christ;
21 If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus:
22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;
23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;
24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
25 Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.
26 Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:
27 Neither give place to the devil.
28 Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.
29 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers
30And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption
31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice
32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.
And Ephesians 5:1-20
1 Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;
2 And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.
3 But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints;
4 Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks.
5 For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.
6 Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.
7 Be not ye therefore partakers with them.
8 For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light.
9 (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;)
10 Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.
11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.
12 For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret.
13 But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light.
14 Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.
15 See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,
16 Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
17 Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.
18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;
19 Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord
20 Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;
We must not fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead reprove them! Not walking as the way of the world walks and talks. Many Christians understanding have been darkened in this day and age, they've been alienated from God, or are being willing ignorant. Having given themselves unto all uncleanliness. Having corrupt (wicked) communications, which can ALSO be found in perverse Bible versions. The church of today grieves the Holy Spirit, the true Christian striveth to walk in righteousness and holiness, redeeming the time for the days are EVIL. We are supposed to be ambassadors for Christ! Shedding light to the hopeless world. We need to walk respectfully and not like fools! Encouraging one another in sound doctrine, singing hymns, and making sweet melody in our hearts to the Lord!
Back in James 1:9-12
"Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted:
But the rich, in that he is made low: because as the flower of the grass he shall pass away.
For the sun is no sooner risen with a burning heat, but it withereth the grass, and the flower thereof falleth, and the grace of the fashion of it perisheth: so also shall the rich man fade away in his ways.
Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him." we read that even a man who is considered lowly in an earthly degree, because he has faith in Christ he can rejoice that in God's eyes he is exalted. And in verse 10 and 11 even if a man be rich and is made low (robbed of his riches Christ's sake, or reduced in circumstances to for a test of character) he should still rejoice because nothing on this earth last forever. Except your soul and faith in Jesus Christ. Everything else will perish or become worthless fading away and forgotten. In verse 12 we receive a wonderful promise! That "Blessed is the man that endureth temptation, he shall receive a crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love Him." The Lord rewards his loving, faithful, and those who have finished the race of life staying steadfast and true to God.
Verses 13-15
"Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:
But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.
Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death." Warns that no man should EVER blame God for their temptation! For God Himself cannot be tempted with evil, neither would he tempt any man to sin! All sin and temptations come from our own lusts of the flesh and we are enticed to sin, just like a child is enticed to lie if confronted with something they do not want to be punished for. The sweet seduction of our wanting flesh causes our temptation and Satan knows where we are weak in we don't guard against him! Lust of the flesh bringeth us nothing but sin, and sin can cause nothing but a souls spiritual death. Which means eternal separation from God.
In verses 16-18 "
Do not err, my beloved brethren.
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.
Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures." James continues to tell us not to be deceived, for the brethren's well-being is precious to him! Only Good and perfect gifts come for God almighty. He will ALWAYS give us the word of truth!
Versus 19-20 say "
Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:
For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God." Tells us to be swift to hear, slow to speak, and slow to wrath. For man's wrath worketh not towards righteousness to God. All evil comes from ourselves because of sin nature, all good comes from God. Christians should rely on the Holy Spirit to keep us balanced. We should listen more than we talk, caring more about our effect on others. We should not be quickly to enrage when we don't get our own selfish desires. There is however a Godly wrath that Christians may experience.
Verse 21 states "
Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls." We must lay apart (put off and put away) all filthiness and failing to check evil, this allows the chance for wickedness to overflow in out lives. This can only be overcome by humbly welcoming the gospel.
It goes on to telling us in verses 22-25 "
But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:
For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.
But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed." Be DOERS of the word not just HEARERS!, by being this way we deceive our own selves, and looking into a mirror. In the same way a hearer sees his moral condition in the Word of God, but as soon as he closes it and walks away he forgets what he's read and seen.
In verse 25 it says that anyone who looks at the standard set by the gospel and continues in it not forgetting what he heareth and applies it in his life, that person will be BLESSED by the Lord.
Verse 26 "
If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain." This verse talks about the man who is religious but lost. This man seems to know the Word of God, he goes to church every Sunday, he doesn't know how to shut his mouth, and because of his mouth he deceives his own soul and heart by a religion and thought that he has created on his own. He does all his religious practices in vain, for he has no pure faith in Jesus Christ of therefore any salvation. His religious babblings get him nowhere but to hell. (God forbid! Hopefully he comes to the knowledge of Jesus Christ)
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