King James Bible Study – “And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.” – Mark 8:34
Date: Friday, November 22, 2019
Chapters: Book of James
Message: A Hearer And Doer Of God’s Word
Hello My Friend,
As saved, born again Christians, we know the power that Christ gives to our lives through our faith, and faithfulness to Him. We are in a day and age where people are afraid to speak up for their faith as Christian persecution is at an all time high. Jesus did not shine His light upon us to be hidden in a closet, He did so that He would shine through us wherever we go. So, it is very critical that we not only live by faith, but walk in our faith by being obedient to Him. “Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. 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.” – James 1:21-24.
The Book of James contains five chapters, and was written by James, called “the Just”, mentioned by Paul with Cephas and John as “pillars” in the church at Jerusalem. He is also the half brother of Jesus, being born of Mary and Joseph. The timeline is approximately 60-62 AD, and it was addressed to the Christian Jews, scattered all over the world due to Christian prosecution. The purpose of the epistle (letter) was to comfort believers who were undergoing trials for their faith, and to remind them that their faith is what brings their good works, which comes first by reading His Word. The letter begins with whom this is addressed to, the Christian Jews, who were in Jerusalem, who witnessed Stephen being stone (Acts 7), and were among those who scattered out of fear.
“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. If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. A double minded man is unstable in all 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. 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.” – James 1:2-8,12-14.
“count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;” This letter may be addressed to the Christian Jews, but it applies to all saved, born again Christians. Divers; different or various temptations. It is interesting that James addresses temptation, rather falling into it, as the source for the problems we face as Christians. The truth is, we are great at staying faithful when those exciting blessings come, but when our faith is tried we are easily drawn into the temptations that the devil is all too willing to entice us with. I will admit that I have been in a state where my flesh overshadowed my faith, and fell into temptation. Thankfully, by the grace of God, Jesus has always grabbed me, and pulled me out of the hole before I fell in too deep. You see, salvation never keeps us from sinning again, but it does lead the way to righteous living as we learn to God’s Word, and start to obey it. Let me tell you, before I got saved, I lived like any person who had some morals, I knew some things were wrong and avoided them. It was God’s word that taught me the truth, and my obedience to it that helped me endure temptation. James reminds us that while we are saved by grace, without works, our faith is dead.
“If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well: But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors. For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.” – James 2:8-10,14-14-19,23.
“he is guilty of all.” This is where it gets kind of confusing, we know that we are saved by grace through our faith in Christ alone, therefore, we are not subject to the Law in that we need to follow it to keep our salvation. You cannot mix Law with grace, if you do that then you are changing the Gospel, and if you do that then, you are not saved I that if you were to commit one sin, you would be guilty of all. However, faith by grace leads to obedience to the Law as our works reflect our faith since the same acts that God sees as sin before grace are still seen as sin to Him today, God does not change. Again, while we are not subject to the Law, it is our obedience to the Law after we are saved that keeps us faithful. James confirms this, and reminds us that we are all sinners saved by grace, to make sure that we are not quick to judge anyone who has fallen from grace.
“My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation. For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body. Behold, we put bits in the horses’ mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body. Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth. For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind: But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be. Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom. But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.” – James 3:1-4,7-10,13-15.
“If any man offend not in word,” It is our words that often cause more problems than our actions. And let me tell you, they could hinder someone who has fallen from grace, a new convert, or someone lost from accepting Christ as their Saviour from repentance. We need to be careful that we do not become judgmental of those who are struggling with sin, we do not know what people have gone through, what they have endured, or what they are dealing with. There is a difference between righteous judgment and judgment of people. As James continues, he reminds us of that. “Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up. Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge. There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy: who art thou that judgest another? Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that. But now ye rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil. Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.” – James 4:10-17.
“Therefore to him that knoweth to do good,” God truly blesses us when we are humble, if we say we have no sin, if we walk around boasting of all the things we have gotten away with through grace, then we are guilty of sin all the same. And, ignorance only goes so far, as we grow in our faith, we come to know what right from wrong through God’s eyes. And if know to do good, and refrain from it perhaps out of fear or offending someone, and do it not, then we are guilty. Sin is sin to God, there is no such thing as big and little sin, it is all despicable to God, and it hinders Him from blessing us. “To do justice and judgment is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.” – Proverbs 21:3.
As Christians, we are going to be tried, we are going to face trials, we are going to suffer heartache and affliction, some of our own doing. As much as we would like for God to intervene, He will not stop someone’s freewill, whether it is good or bad, but He can give us peace and comfort through the trying of our faith. We have to realize that the things we go through are not a punishment from God they are to give us wisdom and a deeper understanding of Him, and how have endured them through our faith and faithfulness.
“Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy. But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath: but let your yea be yea; and your nay, nay; lest ye fall into condemnation. Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms. Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” – James 5:11-16.
“The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” Effectual; Producing an effect, or the effect desired or intended. Fervent; Hot; boiling; very warm; earnest; excited. In other words, when we are passionate in what we are praying for as well as being faithful to God, He will give us the things we need and desire. The greatest blessings come when we are there for others through some of the most trying times in our faith. “Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.” – I Peter 4:12-13.
Today’s Prayer: God, Thank You, for Your mercies and grace, and longsuffering, and patience with us in that while we are yet sinners, You never give up on us because of our faith in Your Son. It can be so difficult to keep going when faced with things that challenge our faith, but You can give us the strength to keep going no matter what we are facing. Lord, give us Your power, grace, love, comfort, and the peace we need to keep going. Increase our faith in You, and help our unbelief. Let us not forget all You have have blessed us with, even the little things, and the blessings You have waiting for us as we endure these trials. I ray this in Your name, Jesus. Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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