A Short Study in James: Having a Working Faith

© 2012 by Norman Watson Jr. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

Published by AuthorHouse 08/03/2012

ISBN: 978-1-4772-2393-2 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4772-2394-9 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2012910946

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Contents

Introduction

Section I Salutation

Section II

A. When trials fall upon people

B. When we bring trials and temptations upon ourselves

Section III The proper response to the word of God, in faith

A. Mere hearing is not enough.

B. Mere doing is not enough

C. The reality of true faith

Section IV The sin of partiality

A. Exhortation against partiality

B. Partiality illustrated

Section V The evidence of a working faith

A. Example of a working faith

B. Result of a working faith

Section VI Faith at work in teaching

A. (James 3:1,2a) A warning to teachers

B. The teacher’s tool

C. The teacher’s source of wisdom

Section VII A working faith and our desires both worldly and natural

A. Natural or worldly desires

B. Natural or worldly affections

C. James answer to lust

D. The evil of judging your brother

E. Presumptuous planning

Section VIII Admonitions for a working faith

A. James 5:1-12 True faith during afflictions

B. Faith working through prayer

C. The blessing of restoring a brother

Introduction

Even though the author is only identified as James, there are four men who bare that name are found in the New Testament. There were one of insignificance found in the early church and he were James the son of Alphaeus, called the less (Mark 3:18; 15:40). James was the son of Zebedee and his brother John, though he was an apostle, he had less prominence in the early church. Another virtually unknown James is found in (Luke 6:16).

The authorship of this Epistle is attributed to James, the brother of Jesus. He was the half brother of Jesus, referred to as a pillar of the church, who along with Peter and John, gave Paul and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathens and the unto the circumcision (Gal 2:9). Growing up in the carpenter’s home, he did not believe in Jesus as being the Son of God, but; after his resurrection he had a post resurrection appearance of Jesus (I Cor.15:7). He later became the leader of the church in Jerusalem.

The Letter of James deals with practical Christianity. He instructs and exhorts, stating principles of practical conduct. James was described as a man of great piety. It was once said of him that his knees were like those of camel knees, due to the exceptionally amount of time that he spent on his knees. Even though James was concern about practical every day religion, his letter was written to the dispersed Jews or the Twelve Tribes scattered abroad.

The Church in Jerusalem, while James was pastor, was made up entirely of Jews and Jewish proselytes for the better part of its existence. The church grew rapidly from the one hundred and twenty, who stood gathered at the Lord’s ascension, to over three thousand at Pentecost. The church being Jews and Jewish proselytes explained why the church had a strong influence in things Jewish well after Paul retuned to Jerusalem, after his third missionary journey. This is evident by James statement in (Acts 21:20); Thou sees, brother, how many thousand of Jews there are which believed; and they are all zealous of the law. It must be understood that James wrote to Christian Jews scattered abroad.

Believed to be written in the early 60’s AD; the central theme of the epistle is a faith that works. James is concerned on how faith works itself out in the everyday, practical Christian life. He explains that there is no true faith if it does not express itself in godliness. He states that there must be more than verbal expression, there must be evidence demonstrated in deed and character.

Section I

Salutation

James 1:1

(James 1:1) says; JAMES, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greetings.

The word that James uses for servant, doulos, is really the title from which he glories. There was no other credit given but that he was a servant of God and of our Lord Jesus Christ. The only thing that matters is that we be a good and faithful servant.

What does James mean when he calls himself servant, or doulos?

1. The slave knows nothing but his master’s word (John 10:3-4). What the master say, the servant does. He has no rights of his own; he is a possession, bought with a price. His main concern is to be pleasing to his master and fulfilling his will; which is his primary responsibility.

2. He is a man of absolute humility. He does not think of his privileges but his duties, he is concerned about his responsibilities and not his rights. He is a man that has totally lost himself and found himself in the service of God.

3. He is a man of absolute loyalty. He has no self interest of his own. All that he does, he does to the glory of God. He is not concerned about his profiting by what he does. His loyalty is to God.

4. He is a man that glories in that title, servant of God. He can because no man is ever to be worthy of ever aspiring to that honor. Only when men become true servants can they become truly great. The only thing that any man deserves is to die and burn in hell, but because of his mercy he chose us for himself to serve him. That’s honor.

At the final judgment when God asks; did you hear my Son? Did you do what he said? There will be only one thing that matters, and that is our servant hood and if we were found faithful. Nothing else, nor any earthly title or accomplishment will matter.

To the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greetings. These were converted Jews who face persecution, trials, and temptations. James concern was on how to responds to these trials and temptations and maintain ethical Christian standards.

Section II

A. When trials fall upon people

The proper attitude during Testing

James 1:2-4

(James 1:2-4) says; My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations. Knowing this, that the trying of your faith produces patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

James recognizes that, if we can endure the challenges and difficulties of life with the right attitude, they can lead to spiritual growth and maturity. James knew that with the right attitude and understanding, each challenge was another opportunity to grow and mature. When trial comes our way or we encounter them, our first instinct is; how can I escape? Or we say; why is this happening to me? Some people seem to be able to lie their way out of anything. Others may become stressed or have feelings of hopelessness. But James has a different approach on how to deal with the trial and tests that comes our way.

In verse 2; James states that sometimes Christians fall into various temptations. The word empipto means to fall into or among But; the word James uses is precipipto meaning to fall around or to fall in among. The Christians may fall into trials and temptations, but; Christians should not willingly yield. Yet; there are times when even the best of Christians will suffer and have to endure afflictions.

The word that James uses for count is quite interesting; it has more then one meaning. Count, (hegeomai); one meaning is to judge, consider. Count it all joy when you fall into diver’s temptation. (Notice James indicates that there is something that the one who counts it all joy know). It is not just a decision you makeup in your mind. It’s a decision based on what you know. It’s difficult for a faithless person to face trials and tests with joy. The person has exercised their faith and through experience knows that God’s way is the best; knowing this. But all judgment must be done by a set of rules or standards, or you are likely to make a poor judgment. In a court of law the judge weights his decision base on a set of rules and standards set out by the law of the land. If it wasn’t for those rules of law; anything goes; we look at the situation from what we have experience of God and from God’s point of view and perspective. And we weight out the evidence and know that God’s word is true and his way is best. We have his Word and his promises. Many people makes decisions based on the world standards; what’s make me happy, what’s popular, what they feel, or what everyone else is doing. (Proverb 3:5) says Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not to thine own understanding".

The other word used for count in this verse, and is most proper, have another meaning. It is used as an accounting term. Where there are different columns to put figures; debits and credits. James suggests that we consider it an asset when we are tried and credit it to your account as all joy. Knowing this that all things work together to the good of those who love God and are called for his purpose (Rom 8:28). We can be assured that it is to our benefit when we endure. God tests us to see if we will remain faithful or if we will abandon him to the ways of the world. Nothing tried, nothing proven true. So is our faith. We count it all joy because God gets the Glory and we know that we will be stronger and more well equip in the end.

When we count it all joy, we don’t make the decision to joy because of the trial or trying of our faith, we make the decision to joy, through those trials and temptations to the end. Because there is a better end as promise in his word, we trust that God’s purpose and will be done in us. We have confidence that God will see us through. Not giving up. Most Christians becomes very bitter with testing, but our attitude during testing has a lot to do with weather we grow spiritually and mature or not. Long faces, gripping, being discourage doesn’t help anything. At the end of each test or trial we ought to become more mature. As Christians, the basis for our confidence is always based on what we know: a woman would not give her heart to a stranger, but if she knew, or perceive to know that his heart was genuine, she may. We try him because we believe in him, we trust him because we know that of him to be true. We know that He will put no more upon us then we can bear (1Cor 10:15), we know that we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us