A. Self-Control Dearly loved brothers, understand this: Everyone must be (19)

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1 Explore the Bible Lesson Preview October 28, 2018 With Obedience Background: James 1:19-2:13 Lesson: James 1:19-2:4 Motivation: James continues his teaching on practical Christianity by emphasizing outward behavior to confirm inward transformation. Special mention is given to demonstrating mercy toward those less fortunate. Examination: I. Heeding (1:19-21) My dearly loved brothers, understand this: Everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger, for man s anger does not accomplish God s righteousness. Therefore, ridding yourselves of all moral filth and evil, humbly receive the implanted word, which is able to save you. A. Self-Control Dearly loved brothers, understand this: Everyone must be (19) 1. Quick to hear or quick to listen God gave us two ears and only one mouth. 2. Slow to speak How many times have you heard some lament I spoke without thinking; or I spoke out of turn. Rarely are we sorry for something we did not say in haste. (Prov. 17:28) 1 / 9

2 3. Slow to wrath For man s anger does not accomplish God s righteousness. (19b-20) Anger usually occurs when reality falls short of our expectations; the Bible repeatedly warns about acting in anger because it publicly displays a lack of trust in God. (2 Cor. 12:20; Eph. 4:26, 31; Col. 3:8; 1 Tim. 2:8). B. Separation Therefore ridding yourself of all moral filth and evil (21) The word picture of riddin g yourself is that of taking off old dirty clothing. It is a conscious effort of self-examination, confession and repentance (1 John 1:8-10; Eph. 4:24-32). C. Sanctification humbly receive the implanted word, which is able to save you. (21 b) God s Word will change us if we receive it humbly and are willing to apply it. (John 17:17) HCSB, p. 2138: 1:21 Implanted word refers to the gospel as received by the believer. II. Doing (1:22-25) But be doers of the word and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. Because if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man looking at his own face in a mirror. For he looks at himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. But the one who looks intently into the perfect law of freedom and perseveres in it and is not a forgetful hearer but one who does good works- this person will be blessed in what he does. A. Sincerity But be doers of the word, and not hearers only (22) America has more hearers of the word of God than ever before! Christians can read, hear, logon, tune-in, and attend Bible Studies every day of the week. Yet, surveys of North American Christians show little evidence of an increased number of doers. Barna Research surveys consistently show that tithing among responders who called themselves born again is dropping. Other such surveys show that church attendance, which spiked following 9/11/01, has declined in America over the ensuing years. Born again 2 / 9

3 respondents to surveys regularly say that they lie, cheat and commit sexual sin; many see truth as subjective, depending on the circumstance, i.e. What might be wrong for one person would be OK for another. God s Word provides a standard for behavior (Heb 13:8). James example is of a mirror. It does one no good to look in a mirror if he/she doesn t plan to change anything (vs ). A special blessing is promised for those who are not only hearers but also doers. Our entire church model of a Fully devoted follower of Christ is based on the assumption that hearers will become doers, specifically in the areas of prayer, worship, discipleship, stewardship, service and evangelism. (Lev. 25:10; John 15:14). B. Specificity looking at his own face in a mirror (22) 1. Forgetful immediately forgets what kind of man he was (24) 2. Free will be blessed in what he does (25) HCSB, p. 2138: 1:23-25 in the contrast between the hear er of the word who looks at his own face in a mirror and yet forgets, and the doer of the word who looks intently into the perfect law of freedom and perseveres, the distinction is found in whether the one who looks allows the perfect law of freedom (the gospel) to shape his life s course. The person who hears and does the word puts faith into action and is blessed ; his worship influences his life. 3 / 9

4 III. Loving (1:26-2:4) If anyone thinks he is religious without controlling his tongue, then his religion is useless and he deceives himself. Pure and undefiled religion before our God and Father is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself unstained by the world. My brothers, do not show favoritism as you hold on to the faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ. For example, a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and dressed in fine clothes, and a poor man dressed in dirty clothes also comes in. If you look with favor on the man wearing the fine clothes and say, Sit here in a good place, and yet you say to the poor man, Stand over there, or, Sit here on the floor by my footstool, haven t you discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? A. Useless Religion If anyone thinks he is religious, without controlling his tongue, then his religion is useless and he deceives himself (26) James has more to say about the tongue in 3:2-12. (Matt. 5:20) HCSB, p. 2138: 1:26-27 James made an observation about true religion. Just as the hearer looks in a mirror and forgets his own face, so the person who refuses to hold his tongue is deceived about his faith. He hears and talks, but he does not act on what he has heard. James definition of pure and undefiled religion is based on action, not heedless hearing and meaningless lip service. B. Undefiled Religion Pure and undefiled religion before our God and the Father is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world (27) Believer s Study Bible, p. 1759: 1:26-27 In keeping with the author s emphasis upon genuine faith and its consequent good works, James defines pure religion in terms of one s ability: (1) to control his tongue; (2) to perform ministry to those in need, i.e., to orphans and widows and (3) to strive after and achieve moral purity. This is not intended to describe the full essence of the Christian faith. James will go on to address Christian virtues of avoiding partiality, providing for the physical needs of a fellow believer, devoting oneself to God and rejecting worldly enticements, handling financial resources correctly and cultivating consistency and fervency in prayer. These verses are an affirmation of the nature of Christian ministry and the moral posture which inevitably results from faith. 4 / 9

5 C. Impartial Religion My brothers, do not show favoritism (2:1) William Barclay (The Letters of James and Peter, pg ) comments: Respect of persons is the New Testament phrase for undue and unfair partiality; it means pandering to someone, because he is rich or influential or popular. It is a fault of which the New Testament consistently condemns. It is a fault of which the orthodox Jewish leaders completely acquitted Jesus. Even they were bound to admit that there was no respect of persons with him (Luke 20:21; Mark 12:14; Matthew 22:16). After his vision of the sheet with the clean and unclean animals upon it, the lesson that Peter learned was that with God there is no respect of person (Acts 10:34). It was Paul s conviction that Gentile and Jew stand under a like judgment in the sight of God, for with God there is no favoritism (Romans 2:11). This is a truth which Paul urges on his people again and again (Ephesians 6:9; Col. 3:25). The Old and New Testaments unite in condemning partiality of judgment and favoritism of treatment which comes of giving undue weight to a man s social standing, wealth or worldly influence. And it is a fault to which everyone is more or less liable. We do well to remember that it is just as much respect of persons to truckle to the mob as it is to pander to a tyrant. (Deut. 10:17) D. Unbiased Religion For example (2) 1. Rich Person gold ring and dressed in fine clothes (2:2) The culture of the first century AD was much more aware of social standing and class than we are today. Perhaps the bulk of the church s members were slaves, with no legal standing, property or rights. (1 Cor 1:26) Since the rich and noble tended to ostentatiously display their standing (often with multiple gold rings on each finger), the local church assemblies were tempted by custom and material need to show favoritism. 2. Poor Person dressed in dirty clothes (2:2) HCSB, p. 2138: 2:2-3 James portrayed favoritism by illustrating contrasting attitudes toward a wealthy man and a poor man who enter the meeting (Gk su nagogeyn ). The attendance of a wealthy man promises financial advantage since his tithes and offering may be large, thus the people in the assembly look with favor on him. Look with favor is related in meaning to showing favoritism in verse Improper Reaction Haven t you discriminated among yourselves and become 5 / 9

6 judges with evil thoughts (2:4) HCSB, p. 2138: 2:1 The phrase show favoritism is addressed four times in the NT (cp. Rm 2:11; Eph 6:9; Col 3:25), each time indicating that God does not show favoritism. When we sin by showing favoritism we imply that God did not make all men and women equal. Thus, anyone who shows favoritism is guilty of having evil thoughts (Jms. 2:4). HCSB, p. 2138: 2:4 James condemned favoritism with a rhetorical question ( haven t you discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? ), to which his audience could only answer, Yes. The word discriminated suggests that pandering had created divisions within the fellowship of the synagogue. Probably neither the wealthy man nor the poor man was a member of the synagogue. IV. Love in Action (2:5-13) Listen, my dear brothers: Didn t God choose the poor in this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom that He has promised to those who love Him? Yet you dishonored that poor man. Don t the rich oppress you and drag you into the courts? Don t they blaspheme the noble name that was pronounced over you at your baptism? Indeed, if you keep the royal law prescribed in the Scripture, Love your neighbor as yourself, you are doing well. But if you show favoritism, you commit sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors. For whoever keeps the entire law, yet fails in one point, is guilty of breaking it all. For he who said, Do not commit adultery, also said, Do not murder. So, if you do not commit adultery, but you do murder, you are a lawbreaker. Speak and act as those who will be judged by the law of freedom. For judgment is without mercy to the one who hasn t shown mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment. A. Prejudice (5-8) James cites three reasons why prejudice against the poor is unwise: 1. The poor are rich in faith (5) Perhaps because they are not trying to create a heaven on earth, Christians with less material possessions tend to focus on the Spiritual (1 Sam. 16:7; 2 Cor. 4:18; Luke 12:16-21; Isa 55:1-6; Heb. 13:6). 2. The rich oppress you and drag you into the courts (6) At this early date, the reference was probably not to religious persecution. Rather, it refers to the custom of 6 / 9

7 moneylenders prosecuting debtors. James questioned showing partiality to rich people who show no Christian sympathy to the poor. 3. They blaspheme the noble name (7) Barclay, pp : The rich and the masters would have many a reason for insulting the name Christian. A slave who became a Christian would have a new independence; he would no longer cringe at his master s power, punishment would cease to terrorize him and he would meet his master clad in a new manhood. He would have a new honesty. That would make him a better slave, but it would also mean he could no longer be his master s instrument in sharp proactive and petty dishonesty as once he might have been. He would have a new sense of worship; and on the Lord s Day he would insist on leaving work aside in order that he might worship with the people of God. There would be ample opportunity for a master to find reasons for insulting the name of Christian and cursing the name of Christ. (Mk. 10:28-30) B. Precept Indeed if you keep the royal law prescribed in the Scripture, Love your neighbor as yourself, you are doing well (8) Believer s Study Bible, p. 1759: 2:8 Leviticus 19:18 is called the royal law either because: (1) it was given by our God who is King, or (2) it is the supreme or highest law governing human relationship. The latter is the more probably reason. (John 15:12) James summarized the passage by giving his readers a rule for living: If you welcome someone in to the congregation based on appearance, that s wrong. However, if your welcome and hospitality is based on God s love for people (regardless of whether they re rich or poor) then you did well. C. Process For whoever keep the entire law, yet falls in one point, is guilty of breaking it all. (10) Typical rabbinical teaching of James day pictured obedience as a series of credits and debits, with special value being given to keeping Sabbath law. If one s credits (obedience to the law) outweighed one s debits (disobedience), then God s favor followed. To the contrary, James taught, God s law is a unified whole. Both the commandments prohibiting murder and the commandment prohibiting adultery originated form the same Lawgiver. To violate one part of the law (such as showing partiality) makes one a lawbreaker, a sinner (Rom. 3:23). Looking back at our study on Galatians, we see once again 7 / 9

8 that adherence to the law cannot save; salvation must be by grace through faith in Jesus Christ and His atoning work (Eph. 2:8-9; Heb. 7:19-22; 9:11-15). D. Primary Mercy triumphs over judgment (13) James concludes by haring the heart of the gospel: God s mercy and grace, displayed through Christ (John 3:16), takes precedence over the condemning judgment of the law (Gal. 3:10). Because of the inward transformation produced by being in Christ (2 Cor 5:17; Rom 12:1-2), Christians should show outward evidence by what they Speak and do (12). Failure to show love ( mercy ) is the ultimate proof that one is, in fact, not a Christina (John 13:34-35; 1 Cor. 13:4-8). Application: 1. Love is reflected by sensitive listening and loving word. 2. Love is distributed by kind acts toward the poor, especially, widows and orphans in need. 3. Love is confirmed by acting in mercy. (Heb. 4:15-16; Matt. 5:7; 1 Jn. 4:4-21) Leader Pack Item 5: Poster: Pairs in Galatians and James Biblical Illustrator: p. 84: The Social Elite in the First Century Notes: **You may access David s Lesson Preview in MP3 format at: g ; 8 / 9

9 Dates: 8/29-11/14 Midlink; 10/27 Men:Serve; 10/31 Light the Night; 11/3 Preteen Parenting Seminar; 11/3 - HS Bonfire; 11/3 - Summit Hoedown; 11/4 MIYCO; 11/8 A Night of Worship with Beth CYP; 11/9 Re:Create Date Night; 11/10 Legacy 685 Appreciation Dinner; 11/15 Staff Hunt Retreat; 11/18 Christmas Store gift collection; 11/18 Thanksgiving Lunch (Spanish); 11/22-23 Thanksgiving Holidays; 11/25 No LBS; 12/1 Deacon s Christmas Party; 12/6-9 - Celebration Performances; 12/15 Night of Hope Tour with (CYP); 12/23 No LBS; 12/24 - Christmas Eve 2,4 & 6; 12/24-25 Christmas Holidays; 12/31 Summit New Year s Eve. 9 / 9