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. For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.

Power to Destroy: Fire and Poison

The Origin

Earthly wisdom is man-made. Man-made wisdom may seem successful for a time but is destined to fail since it doesn’t come from God. In Genesis 11 the building of the tower of Babel seemed to be a great success for man’s wisdom, but it ended in failure and confusion. In Genesis 12 it seemed wise for Abraham to go to Egypt during a famine, but the results were disastrous.

In 1 Samuel King Saul thought it wise to lend his armor to protect David against Goliath, but God had other plans. In the Gospels the Disciples’ wisdom thought it best to dismiss the crowd to allow them to find food, Jesus fed them all with just a little. In Acts, earthly wisdom saw it best to try and sail for Rome in spite of heavenly warnings which ended in shipwreck.

The problem with Earthly wisdom is its origin–Sin cursed man.

Earthly wisdom’s origin?

Ephesians 2 teaches that the Christian has 3 enemies: The World – Earthly, The Flesh – Sensual, and The Devil – Devilish. This is the origin of Earthly Wisdom. We should be careful to not confuse knowledge & wisdom. The World has much knowledge and we all benefit from it. But as for Wisdom, there is very little “Earthly”. Earthly Wisdom that man discovers, he knows little about what to do with it.

Henry David Thoreau warned that we had “improved means to unimproved ends.” It is almost as if the entire goal of acquiring Earthly wisdom is to eliminate a need for God. I am very encouraged anytime I meet someone who is discovering more and more Earthly Wisdom and/or Knowledge for the end of using it to God’s glory.

The Operation

What are the evidences of false wisdom?

• Bitter envying

Discontented or resentful longing. Envy produces selfish ambition & zeal.  This ties in with James 3:1. The wisdom of the world says: “Promote yourself. You’re as good as the others, maybe better!” “The squeaky wheel gets the grease.” Sad to say, there is a great deal of selfish, carnal promotion among God’s people. Even the Apostles argued over who was the greatest.

Today’s society has disguised the sin here by adding, “for the glory of God” to the end of it. I may have selfish ambition, but in the end, it is for the glory of God. This is wrong.  This is a sin. This is the operation of Earthly Wisdom. We should be zealous in the things of God, but we must be sure that our motives are right. Do we rejoice when others succeed, or do we have secret envy and criticism? Do we feel burdened when others fail, or are we glad?

• Strife in your hearts 

Angry or bitter disagreement. This word means “party spirit,” as in “political party.” It was used by the Greeks to describe a politician out canvassing for votes. The world’s wisdom says, “Get all the support you can!” Ask people if they are for you or against you! This creates rivalry and division in the church.

“Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than [more important than] themselves” (Phil. 2:3).

• Glory not 

Boasting–Pride loves to boast, and nothing is prouder than earthly wisdom. When heavenly wisdom is at work, there is a sense of humility and submission, and God gets all the glory. There is no desire to compare with any other Christian, only Christ, and compared with Him, all of us have a long way to go!

• Lie not 

Deceit– “Lie not against the truth.” Notice a pattern? The pattern is not difficult to understand. First, there is a selfish ambition that leads to party spirit and rivalry. In order to “win the election” we must resort to boasting, and boasting usually involves lies! A man’s life is not read in his press releases; it is read by the Lord in his heart.

The Outcome

Earthly wisdom produces trouble

Envy, strife, confusion, evil work. It does not appear that God was at work in that assembly. Wrong thinking produces wrong living. One reason the world is in such a mess is because men have refused to accept the wisdom of God. The word translated “confusion” means “disorder that comes from instability.” It is related to “unstable” in James 1:8 and “unruly” in James 3:8. Jesus used this word to describe the convulsions of the world in the last days. Luke 21:9 “But when ye shall hear of wars and commotions, be not terrified: for these things must first come to pass; but the end is not by and by.”

Conclusion:

The most important thing we can do in our local churches is to measure our ministries by the Word of God, not by the wisdom of men. The many battles among Christians, the church splits, the absence of purity and peace, all suggest that something is wrong. Perhaps that “something” is the absence of the wisdom of God.

Pastor Chance Strickland

Harpeth Baptist Church
Kingston Springs, TN

http://www.harpethbaptist.org

Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell. 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. Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter? Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh.

Power to Destroy: Fire and Poison

“How great a matter a little fire kindleth…”

Illustrations:

• It is said that during one night in London in World War II, the bombs hit and the fires destroyed at least a million books!”
• In just a few days a wildfire can burn thousands of acres, all from just a little spark.
• A fire reportedly started in the O’Leary barn in Chicago at 8:30 p.m., October 8, 1871; and because that fire spread, over 100,000 people were left homeless, 17,500 buildings were destroyed, and 300 people died. It cost the city over $400 mil.

“The tongue is a fire…set on fire of hell.”

Our words start fires. Proverbs 26:20 “Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: So where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth.” Proverbs 26:21 “As coals are to burning coals, and wood to fire; So is a contentious man to kindle strife.” When church members and especially leaders can’t control their tongues, the result is destruction. This is exactly what the devil and hell would want.

Whatever happened to dignity? “For every word in Hitler’s book, Mein Kampf, 125 lives were lost in World War II.” Colossians 4:6 states, “Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.”

The tongue is also like a dangerous poisonous animal

It is restless and unruly, and it seeks its prey and then pounces and kills. You can drive through animal reserves and admire the wild animals in their natural habitat. But there are warning signs posted all over: Do not leave your car! Do not open your windows! Do not feed the wildlife! These seemingly peaceful animals are capable of doing great damage or even killing someone. Just as some animals are poisonous, some tongues spread poison.

The deceptive thing about poison is that it works secretly and slowly and then kills. Inject just enough “tongue poison” into a conversation and lives can be wrecked. Would you turn wild animals loose in our church? An unruly tongue will accomplish the same results. James reminds us that animals/fire can be tamed; When you tame an animal, you get a worker instead of a destroyer. When you control fire, you generate power. The tongue can’t be tamed by man, it can be tamed by God.

Your tongue need not be “set on fire of hell” 

Like the Apostles at Pentecost, it can be set on fire from heaven!

Power to Delight: the Fountain and Tree. The fountain gives water that man needs to stay alive

In the Old Testament, the presence of a fountain/well was a great blessing to an area. Man needs water not only for drinking, but also for washing, cooking, farming, and a host of other activities so necessary to life. Water is life-giving, and our words can give life. However, if water is not controlled, it brings death and destruction, you all saw this here in 2010.

Water also cleanses. There was a laver in the Old Testament tabernacle and temple, provided for the cleansing of the priest. God’s Word is the spiritual water that cleanses us. Our words to others can help to cleanse and sanctify them.

The tongue is also delightful because it is like a tree

In Bible lands, trees are vitally important to the economy: they help to hold down the soil; they provide beauty and shade; they bear fruit. “Our words can help to shelter and encourage a weary traveler, and can help to feed a hungry soul.”

But James issues a warning: a fountain cannot give forth two kinds of water, and a tree cannot bear two different kinds of fruit

We expect the fountain to flow with sweet water. We expect the fig tree to bear figs. We expect the olive tree to bear olives. If the tongue is inconsistent, there is something wrong with the heart. When Peter was out of fellowship with Christ, he uttered some cursing; but he went out and wept bitterly and confessed his sins.

Our tongue cannot bless the Father and then go bless out man made in the Father’s image. These things ought not so to be

“Twelve Words That Can Transform Your Life.” -Warren Wiersbe

If you use these words and sincerely mean what you say from your heart, you will find that God will use you to be a blessing and encouragement to others. There are only twelve of them, but they work.

“Please” and “Thank you.” When you use these three words, you are treating others like people and not things. You are showing appreciation.

“I’m sorry.” These two words have a way of breaking down walls and building bridges.

“I love you.” Too many people read “romance” into these words, but they go much deeper than that. As Christians, we should love the brethren and even love our enemies. “I love you” is a statement that can carry tremendous power.

“I’m praying for you.” And be sure that you are. When you talk to God about people, then you can talk to people about God. Our private praying for people helps us in our public meeting with people. Of course, we never say “I’m praying for you” in a boastful way, as though we are more spiritual than others. We say it in an encouraging way, to let others know that we care enough for them to meet them at the throne of grace.

Pastor Chance Strickland

Harpeth Baptist Church
Kingston Springs, TN

http://www.harpethbaptist.org

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.

Several in their assembly wanted to teach and lead

James had to warn them: “Be not many masters.” They were impressed with the authority and prestige of the office and forgot about the tremendous responsibility. Those who teach the Word face the stricter judgment. Teachers must use their tongue to share God’s truth, and it is easy to commit sins of the tongue. Teachers must practice what they teach, or their teaching is hypocrisy. Much damage can be done when a teacher misleads in word or deed.

Some in these assemblies would teach trying to re-introduce keeping the law and circumcision. Others taught truth but wouldn’t live it. Some tried to teach before they knew anything themselves. There were false teachers who would thrive off of the false desires of the crowd. So James writes in regards to the dangers of becoming a teacher within an assembly.

But teachers are not the only ones who are tempted and sin

Every Christian must admit that “in many things we offend all.” Sins of the tongue seem to head the list. We fancy it up today and call it “sticking our foot in our mouth.” It is sin no matter what we call it. James writes that the person who is able to discipline his tongue gives evidence that he can control his whole body. He proves that he is a mature (perfect) man. Words lead to deeds, control words, then control deeds.

Writing about the bit and the helm, James presented two items that are small of themselves, yet exercise great power, just like the tongue.

A small bit enables the rider to control the great horse, with a small rudder the captain steers the huge ship

The tongue is a small member of the body, and yet it has the power to accomplish great things. The bit and the rudder must overcome contrary forces. The bit must overcome the wild nature of the horse. The rudder must fight the winds and currents that would drive the ship off its course. The human tongue also must overcome contrary forces.

We have an old nature that wants to control us and make us sin. There are circumstances around us that would make us say things we shouldn’t say.  This means that both the bit and the rudder must be under the control of a strong hand. The rider keeps the mighty power of his horse under control.  The captain steers the ship even through storms.

When Jesus Christ controls the tongue: We need not fear to say the wrong things or saying the right things in a wrong way! “When Jesus is the Lord of the heart, He is Lord of the lips.” The words we speak affect the lives of others. A judge says “Guilty!” or “Not Guilty!” and those words affect the destiny of the prisoner, his family, and his friends. The President of the United States speaks a few words and signs some papers and the nation is at war.

Even a simple yes or no from the lips of a parent can greatly affect the direction of a child’s life. Never underestimate the guidance you give by the words you speak or do not speak.

Pastor Chance Strickland

Harpeth Baptist Church
Kingston Springs, TN

http://www.harpethbaptist.org

Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? 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. Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way? For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

Living Faith

James gives living illustrations of living faith.

• The first is Abraham

A revered patriarch and father of the Hebrew people.

justified by works

This doesn’t contradict Paul’s teaching that Abraham was justified by grace through faith. James cannot mean that Abraham was made righteous before God because of his own good works:

First, James already stressed that salvation is the gift of grace (1:17–18); Also, in verse 23, James quotes Genesis 15:6, which states that God credited righteousness to Abraham on the basis of his faith; Finally, the work that James said justified Abraham was his offering up of Isaac, this occurred many years after he first exercised faith and was declared righteous before God.

Instead, Abraham’s offering of Isaac demonstrates the genuineness of his faith and the reality of his justification before God. James is emphasizing the display before others of a man’s claim to salvation.

By works was faith made perfect

This refers to bringing something to its end, or to its fullness. “Just as a fruit tree has not arrived at its goal until it bears fruit, faith has not reached its end until it demonstrates itself in a righteous life.” James asks, “Seest thou?” Do you see my point?

• The second is Rahab

A Gentile prostitute is James’ 2nd illustration of living faith

Rahab the harlot 

The OT records her faith, which was the basis of her justification before God. She demonstrated the reality of her faith when she protected the messengers of God at personal risk. James did not intend, however, for those words to be a commendation of her occupation or her lying.

Justified by works 

The Greek verb dikaioo (justified) has two general meanings. The first pertains to acquittal, declaring and treating a person as righteous; The second meaning pertains to vindication or proof of righteousness; It is this 2nd meaning that is in view in this passage.

Rahab was justified by works, or her faith was vindicated. She had to have faith to hang the cord out the window before anything ever happened. She had to have faith to believe the men & hide them.

The 3rd illustration of living faith is a human body

While a dead body is by appearances the person we knew, once the soul is gone that person is not there. The body is dead. James says so it is with faith. When unaccompanied by works, it is dead. Living faith will be proved or vindicated by works.

Pastor Chance Strickland

Harpeth Baptist Church
Kingston Springs, TN

http://www.harpethbaptist.org

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. But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?

Dead Faith

In the verses we cover tonight, James contrasts living faith with what he calls dead faith. He contrasts saving faith with non-saving faith and productive faith with unproductive faith. Godly faith with a kind of faith that is exercised even by demons. This is Dead faith.

A man may say

Some disagree on who “a man” is referring to, whether it is his humble way of referring to himself or not. Or it could refer to one of his audience who objected to his teaching; how much of the following passage should be attributed to this antagonist as opposed to James. Regardless, the main point is the same: The only possible evidence of true faith is works. By his statement in verse 18, we see James saying that the two (faith and works) cannot be separate.

Thou believest that there is one God

To his readers, this is a clear reference to a familiar passage.

Deut 6:4-5 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD: And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.

This was/is the most basic doctrine of the Old Testament.

The devils also believe

Even fallen angels affirm the oneness of God and tremble at its implications. James is saying here that Demons are essentially sound in their doctrine (they know the Word better than us and they have lived some or most of it), but sound doctrine by itself is no proof of saving faith. They know the truth about God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit, but hate it and them.

What wilt thou know, O vain man

It means literally empty or defective. The objector’s claim of belief is fraudulent, and his faith is a sham. He is no better than fallen angels.

2 Timothy 3:7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.

That faith without works is dead?

What wilt thou know, O vain man? The faith you profess that is without works is dead. James is not contrasting two methods of salvation (faith versus works), instead, he contrasts two kinds of faith: living faith that saves and dead faith that does not.

Pastor Chance Strickland

Harpeth Baptist Church
Kingston Springs, TN

http://www.harpethbaptist.org

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.

The Simple Illustration

A poor believer came into a fellowship, without good clothes and in need of food. The person with dead faith saw the need, but he didn’t do anything to meet the need. All he did was say a few words.

James 2:16 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?

So the person went away as hungry and naked as he came in! Food and clothing are basic needs whether saved or unsaved.

1 Timothy 6:8 And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.

Matthew 6:31–32 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.

Believers have an obligation to help others in need.

Galatians 6:10 As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.

Matthew 25:40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

James asked the question in verse 14, “Can ‘this kind of’ faith save him?” John answers this question very well:

1 John 3:17–18 But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.

We are saved by faith unto good works. But, if the works or deeds are absent, is there any faith?

The Simple Answer

Again the question surfaces: “Can that kind of faith save him?” What kind? The kind of faith that is never seen in practical works. The simple answer is no! “Any declaration of faith that does not result in a changed life and good works is a false declaration.” James calls this dead faith.

Faith (if it hath not works) by itself  …  is dead. “Just as professed compassion without action is phony, the kind of faith that is without works is mere empty profession, not genuine saving faith.” According to John Calvin, “It is faith alone that justifies, but faith that justifies can never be alone.”

Being alone

By itself. True saving faith can never be by itself: it always brings life, and life produces good works. Dead faith has only an intellectual experience.  In the mind, one knows the doctrines of salvation, but has never submitted to God and trusted Christ for salvation. He knows the right words, but doesn’t back up his words with his works. Faith in Christ brings life (John 3:16).

Where there is life there must be growth and fruit. James warns us that “faith without works is dead” (James 2:17, 20, 26). Beware of a mere intellectual faith.  No man can come to Christ by faith and remain the same. No more than he can come into contact with a 220-volt wire and remain the same.

“He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life” (1 John 5:12).

Dead faith isn’t saving faith. Dead faith is counterfeit faith.

Pastor Chance Strickland

Harpeth Baptist Church
Kingston Springs, TN

http://www.harpethbaptist.org

What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?

Can Faith Save Him?

though a man say

This important phrase governs the interpretation of the entire passage. James does not say that this person actually has faith, but that he claims to have it.

faith

This is “faith” in a broad sense, any degree of acceptance of the truths of the gospel. Professing Christians.

and have not

Here, someone who continually lacks any external evidence of the faith he routinely claims. Not a onetime slip-up or an occasional/irregular sin.

works

Works refer to all righteous behavior that conforms to God’s revealed Word.  Specifically, in the context, to acts of compassion.

can faith save him?

“Can that kind of faith save?” Or, “Can the faith this man claims forgive his sin and get him to heaven?” James is not disputing the importance of faith; He is opposing the notion that saving faith can be only an intellectual exercise without a commitment to active obedience. The grammar and form of the question demand a negative answer. “NO.”

James is not asking here can faith save. James is asking can this kind of “faith” save. This brings us to the introduction of our study on Faith and Works in James.

Introduction to Faith and Works:

As we being a section on Faith and Works, we should be careful to remember a few things:

• James is writing to Christians

Converted Jews Scattered abroad. This is not necessarily a topic for discussion with non-believers. The idea here is not, “Are you really saved & going to heaven?” Rather, “Is your ‘so-called’ faith living or dead?” Also, James is not writing for an examination of others. He is writing for an examination of self.

• James is not writing that faith is by works.

Clearly, he settles this before the area we are reading. In James 1:17–18 he says, “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.” Some would use this passage to say James is contradicting Paul. Paul stressed that man is saved by faith alone. But, Paul also stressed the importance of works. Paul clearly feels similarly to James on the importance of our faith and works. One other factor to consider between James and Paul: Audience.

James is writing to established religious people, established in their Judaism, and now converted and more mature Christians.

Paul is writing to some established in religion, some new to religion, and mainly newly converted Christians. He went to a place and started a church of new converts. He left and later wrote back.

• James was writing to Jews who had abandoned the works righteousness of Judaism to accept Christ.

Now, they had the mistaken idea that since righteous works and obedience to God’s law were not necessary for salvation, they were not necessary at all. Thus they reduced faith to a mere mental assent to the facts about Christ. Some have done just the same today. We should be careful with this in modern day salvation.

The main idea of James’ writing here is:

“What we do, reveals who we are.” We err in this passage when taking a “what we do makes us who we are” point of view. Sure that is the natural human way but in sanctification, it is not God’s way.

So as we study this area of James…

Use the teachings here to examine yourself. Is your faith dead due to lack of works? Are you a hearer only and not a doer? Have you allowed yourself to back-off into the state of “do-nothing” with the mentality: It’s not my works that save me. I am not under the law.

Be careful not to let your mind wander. You will want to think of others who you think may have dead faith. You will want to try to run the controversial debate of faith vs. works in your mind.

James and Paul do not contradict each other, they complement each other. Besides, who inspired these men to write?

Pastor Chance Strickland

Harpeth Baptist Church
Kingston Springs, TN

http://www.harpethbaptist.org

So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty. For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.

The Appeal to Avoid Partiality

So speak and so do

James 1:22 “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.” Here James again reminds them to be doers.

Shall be Judged

The majority of verses 12 and 13 deals with coming judgment. Let’s look at that first then at other parts of the verses. Most every statement of faith contains a statement about the return of Jesus Christ and the final judgment. None of us completely agree on the details of future events, but the certainty of them none denies. In spite of this none of us would deny the importance of a final judgment.

Both Jesus and Paul assured us that Christian believers will never be judged for their sins; John 5:24 says “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.” And according to Romans 8:1, “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.”

But our works will be judged and rewarded accordingly. Our words will be judged. What we say to people, and how we say it, will come up before God. Even our careless words will be judged. Matthew 12:36, “But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.” The words we speak come from the heart; so when God judges the words, He is examining the heart.

James contrasted two attitudes

Showing mercy to others and refusing to show mercy. If we have been merciful toward others, God can be merciful toward us. However, we mustn’t twist this truth into a lie. It does not mean that we earn mercy by showing mercy because it is impossible to earn mercy. If it is earned, it is not mercy!

The Law of Liberty

We shall be judged “by the Law of liberty.” The “Law of liberty” is the law of Christ. The Lord Jesus said, “If ye love me, keep my commandments.” -John 14:15

What is His commandment? “This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.” -John 15:12

Liberty does not mean license. License (doing whatever I want to do) is the worst kind of bondage. Liberty means the freedom to be all that I can be in Jesus Christ. “License is confinement; liberty is fulfillment.”

The Word is called “the Law of liberty”

God’s Word can change our hearts and give us the desire to do God’s will. Thus, we obey from inward compulsion and not outward constraint.

Mercy rejoiceth against judgment, v. 13

The person whose life is characterized by mercy is ready for the day of judgment. They will escape the charges that justice might bring against them because of God’s mercy. By showing mercy to others we give proof of having received God’s mercy.

Pastor Chance Strickland

Harpeth Baptist Church
Kingston Springs, TN

http://www.harpethbaptist.org

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. For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law.

The Occasion to Sin

Royal law or “sovereign law”: the idea is that this law is supreme or binding. What is the Royal Law? Love your neighbor. If you fulfill this, you do well. According to the scripture, this most likely is written in reference to Leviticus 19:18 which states, “Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the LORD..”

This same law is given throughout scripture: Matthew 22:39 says, “And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.” And in Romans 13:9, “For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.” Lastly, according to Galatians 5:14, “For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. “

Love thy neighbor as thyself. This is the Royal law. This law, when combined with the command to love God, summarizes all the Law and the Prophets. “James is not advocating some kind of emotional affection for one’s self, for self-love is clearly a sin;” Though the fact of self being primary is evident. The command is to pursue meeting the physical health and spiritual well-being of our neighbor.

Pastor Chance Strickland

Harpeth Baptist Church
Kingston Springs, TN

http://www.harpethbaptist.org

Man’s Inconsistency with God’s Impartiality

Listen! From verse 4’s example of partiality, James demands the attention of the reader to make the case for the poor. We see the partiality and how we humans would have the lesser sit on the ground underfoot, while commanding attention in a scornful manner, “Hearken!”

The Kingdom

Those over whom Christ rules presently, as well as its future millennial and eternal glory. We may have the poor sit on the floor. God has chosen them as heirs. They are now children of the King who would inherit the kingdom. Luke 6:20 says, “And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said, Blessed be ye poor: for yours is the kingdom of God.” Of course the rich would inherit as well, but the point being made here is that both would.

Therefore, man’s partiality is inconsistent with God’s impartiality. “How then can other believers force these poor to sit at their feet like conquered victims?” “Instead, every effort should be made to ennoble the poor and to rejoice in salvation together with them.”

Despised

Oppressed or literally “to tyrannize” rather than make effort to rejoice together in the coming kingdom and inheritance of incorruptible things. James writes that the poor were being despised in the church. Then he gives an example of what would happen in the world (rich vs. poor) to illustrate his view of what was happening in the church.

Draw you before the judgment seats

Drag you into court–a reference to civil court. Don’t the rich of the world drag you into court? Most likely for debt. The poorest of the poor could hardly afford to live. Money lending was a plentiful business. If a creditor met a debtor on the street he could drag him by the neck of his robe into the court. This was a common practice of the rich on the poor. There was no sympathy. Now, remember here, James is not condemning the rich, if anything their lack of sympathy. An unpaid debt should be called in whether rich or poor. The issue was that the rich were brutal in their handling. But, in reality, he is condemning the church for acting similarly at gatherings.

Blaspheme that worthy name

Probably a reference to religious courts. Wealthy Jewish opponents of Christ were harassing these poor Christians slandering the name of Christ. Slander is the use of blaspheme here not blaspheme as in the Holy Spirit.

By the which ye are called

Called – the same word used for a wife taking her husband’s name in marriage. Also, a son being called after father. The first church at Antioch had followers first called Christians. Most likely called this in jest or as a nickname. The Christians gladly took the name of Christ. As a child, we take the name of our father. As a bride, we take the name of our groom. The wealthy heathen would blaspheme this name.

Pastor Chance Strickland

Harpeth Baptist Church
Kingston Springs, TN

http://www.harpethbaptist.org

My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons. For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment; And ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool: Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts?

The Principle of Impartiality

An attribute of God that is not spoken of often is His impartiality. Impartiality is a serious and recurring theme in Scripture. God is absolutely impartial in His dealings with people. And in that way, as with His other attributes, He is unlike us. Humans, even Christians, are not naturally inclined to be impartial.

We tend to put people in categories, ranking them by:

• Their looks,
• Their clothes,
• Their race or ethnicity,
• Their social status,
• Their personality,
• Their intelligence,
• Their wealth and power,
• The kind of car they drive,
• The type of house and neighborhood they live in.

But all of those things are non-issues with God. They are of no significance or meaning to Him whatsoever.

The Principle of Impartiality

This is not referring to faith in the act of believing. This refers to the entire Christian faith, “Our Faith.” It says in Jude 3, “Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.”

The Lord of glory

Christ is the One who reveals the glory of God. In His incarnation, He showed only impartiality. As stated in Matthew 22:16 “And they sent out unto him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, Master, we know that thou art true, and teachest the way of God in truth, neither carest thou for any man: for thou regardest not the person of men.

Consider the variety of people included in His genealogy, His choice of the humble village of Nazareth as His residence, and His willingness to minister in Galilee and Samaria, both regions held in contempt by Israel’s leaders.

Respect of persons

This originally referred to raising someone’s face or elevating the person. It came to refer to exalting someone strictly on: a superficial, external basis, such as appearance, race, wealth, rank, or social status.

An Example of Partiality

Gold ring

Jews commonly wore rings, but few could afford gold ones. There are some reports that in their day the wealthiest wore rings on every finger but the middle one to show off their economic status. Some ancient sources indicate that there were even ring rental businesses.

Goodly apparel

This refers to bright, shining garments. Goodly apparel is used of the gorgeous garment Herod’s soldiers put on Jesus to mock Him. Also used when describing the apparel of an angel. It can also refer to bright, flashy color and to brilliant, glittering, sparkling ornamentation. James is not condemning for this flashy dress, but rather the church’s flattering reaction to it. It is okay to dress nice. It is okay to wear gold rings. Some would take this out of context and build a non-biblical principle out of it.

A poor man

There were people of means in the early church. In 1 Timothy 6:17–19, it says “Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate; Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.”

Sit in a good place

A more comfortable, prominent place of honor. The synagogues and assembly halls of the first century sometimes had benches around the outside wall and a couple of benches in front. Most of the congregation either sat cross-legged on the floor or stood. There were a limited number of good seats; and they were the ones the Pharisees always wanted. As stated in Mark 12:38–39, “And he said unto them in his doctrine, Beware of the scribes, which love to go in long clothing, and love salutations in the marketplaces, And the chief seats in the synagogues, and the uppermost rooms at feasts”

Partial in yourselves

The true nature of the sin in this passage was internally seeing one human as better than another; not the goodly apparel, golden rings, being rich or that he was given a good seat. The pharisees in Matthew 12 wouldn’t be sinning by sitting in the better seat. They would sin by thinking they deserved to get the seat while others sat on the floor.

Judges of evil thoughts

James feared that his readers would behave just like the sinful world by catering to the rich and prominent while shunning the poor and common. We should look after the poor and rich alike.

Some would preach this as “Shun the rich” and “Cater to the poor.” However, wouldn’t this make God also partial?

Pastor Chance Strickland

Harpeth Baptist Church
Kingston Springs, TN

http://www.harpethbaptist.org