James 3

James 3:1-12

• James 3:1 – Be careful about being teachers. We have plenty of authority to teach, but we must be careful with that responsibility.
• James 3:2 – If you can control your tongue, you are doing well! This is something we must constantly work on.
• James 3:3 – Proverbs 20:21 – Speech is powerful!
• James 3:6 – A single word or sentence can have enormous consequences.
• James 3:7-8 – We can control so many creatures, but not the tongue.

James 3:13-18

• James 3:13 – Wisdom is shown by good behavior.
• James 3:17
  • Pure – wisdom that is true
  • Peace-loving – not inclined to break the peace unless necessary.
  • Reasonable – able to be reasoned with
  • Full of mercy – Mercy is not weakness. Our example is God’s mercy.
  • Impartiality – without prejudice or bias
• James 3:18 – Peacemakers create the fruit of righteousness.

Introduction

• I Corinthians 14; Acts 20:7 – It’s God’s will that local churches assemble. Buildings are authorized under this general authority.

Let’s keep our focus on the spiritual.

• Matthew 23:5, 23-24

Let’s thank God for the building.

• Acts 2:46; 3:11; 5:12 – Where did the first Christians meet? Solomon’s portico.
• Isn’t the need for a new building a wonderful problem to have?
• Many brethren in the world do not enjoy such comforts.

Let’s not compromise the gospel to fill the pews.

• Galatians 1:10

Wherever we worship, let’s try to do it well.

• Philippians 4:17

In matters of judgment, let us practice love.

• Romans 14:13
• Let us be kind, patient, and loving.

Holiness: Its expression in scripture

• God’s name is holy (Matthew 6:9; Luke 1:49)
  • Before scribes would write the name of God, they would change clothes, purify themselves, and use a different quill and different ink.
  • Using the name of God correctly shows respect and humility. It shows the right mindset.
  • There are many different names for God in scripture which emphasize different aspects of His character.
• Godhead (John 17:11; Mark 1:24; Acts 5:3)

Holiness: Its emphasis

• Holiness is the attribute that defines His other attributes:
  • God’s love is holy
  • God’s mercy is holy
  • God’s judgment is holy
  • God’s justice is holy
  • God’s goodness and severity is holy
  • God’s patience is holy
  • God’s … is holy
• It’s the bedrock of God’s glory.

Holiness: Its implication

• Leads to conviction of guilt
  • Isaiah 6:5 – Isaiah’s recognition of Holiness, I am not worthy
  • Luke 5:8 – Peter falls to his knees – why?
  • II Corinthians 7:8-11 – Godly sorrow
• Produces careful obedience
  • Leviticus 10 – Nadab and Abihu … didn’t approach God properly

Introduction

• God formed the family at the very beginning. It is a critical relationship.
• God uses “family” in both physical and spiritual relationships.
• I Corinthians 4:14-17 – Paul uses familial terms about them and about Timothy.
• I Timothy 3:4-5 – Family is involved in the qualifications for an elder.

Love each other!

• Matthew 22:37-40 – Love for others is one of the greatest commandments.
• Matthew 5:43-46 – Love even your enemies. If your family members are your enemies, love them also!
• John 3:16 – God loved the world full of sinners!
• Romans 5:6-8 – God loved us while we were sinners. My love should be based on God, who loves all unconditionally. God demonstrates His love. He is active in His love. If I love my family, I will take action.

Sacrifice for each other!

• Hebrews 13:16, 15 – Doing good and sharing are sacrifices that God is pleased with.
• Worshiping God is good, but we have obligations beyond that.
• When is the last time you sacrificed in some way for your family?
• Philippians 2:4 – Look out for the interests of others.
• John 15:12-13 – If Jesus sacrificed His life for sinners, what will I sacrifice for my family?

Help and encourage each other!

• I Thessalonians 2:7, 11 – Paul said he was as close as a nursing mother to them.
• I Timothy 5:1-2 – Help and encourage others like family.
• Galatians 6:1-2 – Help bear one another’s burdens.
• Proverbs 17:17

Forgive each other!

• Matthew 6:12-15 – If we do not forgive others, God will not forgive us! See also Colossians 3:13; Ephesians 4:32.
• II Corinthians 2:6-8 – When one comes back and makes things right, forgive and rejoice!
  • Parents, help your children to feel sorry rather than forcing them to say they are sorry. The words will come if the thoughts are sincere.

James 2

James 2:1-4

• James 2:1 – Faith and favoritism do not go together.
• James 2:2-4 – In those days, the senatorial class wore gold rings. The peasant class would typically only have a single cloak and would likely be dirty. We might be tempted to make friends with the wealthy people for our own evil motives (business deals, etc.). We should instead emphasize what is common. We should have the attitude from Luke 6:5 and love all men.

James 2:5-7

• You can serve God or not whether you are rich or poor. The poor were often especially responsive to the gospel. The gospel is an avenue by which the poor can be elevated. See Proverbs 30:9; Matthew 19:24; 13:22. Do not reject someone that God accepts.
• Something was apparently going on where the rich were oppressing people.
• James 2:7 – The rich people of that day had apparently been blaspheming the name of Christ or Christians in general.

James 2:8-13

• James 2:8 – “Love your neighbor as yourself” is called the royal law. It goes all the way back to Leviticus 19:18 and was repeated several times afterwards, including Matthew 22:39.
• James 2:10 – If you break any part of the law, you are guilty of the law as a whole.
• James 2:12 – The law of liberty gives us liberty from sin – not from laws or obligations to God.
• James 2:13 – God causes our behavior to come back around and meet us. If we do not forgive, God will not forgive us. Matthew 18:35

James 2:14-26

• James 2:14 – Faith means nothing without action behind it.
• James 2:15-16 – If someone is in legitimate need and your faith is not sufficient to act in helping the person, your faith is dead.
• James 2:19 – The demons also believe in God. Clearly their faith is not sufficient. See Luke 4:33-34; Acts 19:15.
• James 2:21-23 – Exhibit A: Abraham was justified by acting on his faith and sacrificing his son Isaac. Compare justification in Titus 3:7; Romans 5:9; I Corinthians 6:11. How are we justified? By all of these things!
  • Genesis 22:1-18 – Abraham offered Isaac.
  • Hebrews 11:17 – Abraham acted out of faith!
  • It is not faith or works. Abraham showed his faith by his works of obedience.
• James 2:24 – Man is not justified by faith alone.
• James 2:25 – Exhibit B: Rahab was justified by her active faith.
  • Hebrews 11:31
• James 2:26 – Faith without works is like a body without a spirit – it is just a corpse.
• See Romans 4:1-5. Is this saying the opposite of what we just read? No. It is comparing “works” here to wages that are due to a working man. It is pointing out that we do not earn our way to heaven. We are justified because God has forgiven our sins.