Session 9 With Obedience Believers respond to Jesus work in their lives with obedience and compassion. JAMES 1:19-27; 2:1-4 When the only option for communicating with someone long distance was a letter, people waited days before expecting a response. The telephone, email, texting, and social media have all changed our expectations. Most people today can t imagine what it was like waiting for a return letter to arrive! What is a realistic expectation for receiving a response to an email, text, or social media post? How does the source of the message impact your response speed? 82 Date of My Bible Study:
UNDERSTAND THE CONTEXT JAMES 1:19 2:13 James began his letter with a call to persevere during trials. Genuine Christian faith at work in difficult times produces spiritual maturity (see last week s lesson). James shifted his focus in 1:19 to introduce some high expectations for maturing believers. A growing faith impacts how Christians live day by day. To put faith into action a Christian needs a guide for how to go about it. God s Word is that guide (1:19-21). James instructed believers to rid themselves of anger, moral filth, and other prevalent evils and to instead humbly live out the truth of the gospel. He challenged his hearers to take action on the truths they discovered in God s Word to be doers of the word and not hearers only. He noted that acting on God s truth leads to blessing (1:22-25). James emphasized that genuine Christians take on godly character expressed as compassionate love and moral purity. The careful use of words, care for orphans and widows, and fair treatment of all were to be traits of all believers (1:26-27). James observed in the church the problem of favoritism, which negates claims to compassion. Genuine believers refuse to show favoritism to any particular class of people. They know all persons to be of equal value in God s eyes. Failure to love your neighbor as yourself goes against God s highest intentions for Christians (2:1-13). As you read James 1:19 2:4, identify the actions James encouraged his readers to take. How do the actions identified define what it means to be a doer of the Word? EXPLORE THE TEXT HEEDING (JAS. 1:19-21) 19 My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, 20 because human anger does not produce the righteousness that Session 9 : With Obedience 83
God desires. 21 Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you. VERSES 19-20 What James s readers needed in their trials and resulting temptations was a foundation built upon the Word of God. He cautioned his readers to pay attention or take heed that they were acting in such a way that they would be able to receive the Word. In order to receive the Word, they had to be able to hear it. Thus, James listed three qualities that would increase their ability to hear. First, James encouraged his readers to be quick to listen. In order to hear the Word of God, we need a listening ear. James also encouraged his readers to be slow to speak. A person who continually talks misses much of what goes on around him. The final command James gave was to be slow to become angry. Several Greek words mean anger, and this word emphasizes a slow-burning anger that is constantly building rather than an outburst of anger. But what does this have to do with hearing the Word of God? Anger can close one s mind to the truth of God. Slow-burning anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. The apostle Paul normally used the term righteousness to describe the righteous status that God gives to Christians as a gift (Rom. 5:17). Here, James was emphasizing the fruit of righteousness, or righteous living, as he did in James 3:18. Human anger does not produce righteous living. Which is easier being quick to listen, slow to speak, or slow to anger? Which is the most difficult? Explain. KEY DOCTRINE: Salvation Repentance is a genuine turning from sin toward God. Faith is the acceptance of Jesus Christ and commitment of the entire personality to Him as Lord and Savior (Mark 1:15). 84 Explore the Bible Personal Study Guide
VERSE 21 Instead of seething in anger at trials or temptations, James encouraged his readers to humbly accept the word planted in you. God plants His Word in the hearts of people. Jeremiah stated, I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people (Jer. 31:33). As his readers humbly received the Word that God implanted, He would save them. Jesus was the living Word of God (John 1:1,14), and the Bible testified of Him (John 5:39). The word planted in you relates to the gospel of Jesus, whose death, burial, and resurrection was the central focus (see 1 Cor. 15:3-5). Turning to Jesus involved a turning from sin. Repentance was a central focus of Jesus preaching (Matt. 3:2; 4:17). Repentance and faith are not two distinct actions but one and the same two sides of the same coin. That explains the first part of verse 21. In order to humbly receive the implanted word, people should be ridding themselves of certain things. The words get rid of were generally used for the taking off of clothing. Like an old set of clothes, James told his readers to shed all moral filth. This word indicated that which was soiled, polluted, or dirty. James used the adjective based on this word to describe the clothing of the poor man in James 2:2. James also encouraged people to rid themselves of evil that is so prevalent. To turn to Jesus is to turn from sin. How are listening and repenting related? Can a person listen to God without acting on what was heard? Explain. BIBLE SKILL: Memorize a verse and apply it to a real life situation. Memorize James 1:21 in your preferred Bible translation. Then write the verse in your own words. Finally, write a couple of sentences here or in a journal, stating how the verse can help you make a tough decision or face a difficult situation. Session 9 : With Obedience 85
DOING (JAS. 1:22-25) 22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 23 Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror 24 and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25 But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it they will be blessed in what they do. VERSE 22 Receiving the word of salvation is different than merely hearing it. It involves a response to the word. For that reason, James encouraged his readers to do what the word says. The tense of this Greek verb stresses continuous action, encouraging them to keep on becoming doers of the word. This is not a one-time action but a continuous lifestyle of practicing the Word of God. We receive the gospel; but we live it out as well. The root of the word translated anyone who listens indicated one who sat in an audience room or auditorium and listened to a lecture. Those who claim to have heard the word but are not living it out deceive themselves. Jesus had pronounced a blessing on those who heard the word and obeyed it (Luke 11:28). Sometimes college students audit a course. They hear the same lectures as the students, but they have no assignments. They also get no credit for the course. Jesus and James did not encourage auditors but disciples, students of the Word of God who both heard it and put it into practice. VERSES 23-24 A person who was a hearer of the word and not a doer was like someone who looks at his face in a mirror. The word looks does not mean a quick glance but a serious and studious look. Some people become engrossed in the study of God s Word, but because they are not doers, it makes no lasting impact. The person who looks at the mirror but doesn t intend to change anything immediately forgets what he looks like. Out of sight is out of mind. Merely listening to the Bible is like looking in a mirror without any intention of changing anything. Only a conceited person would look in the mirror to see himself without any desire to fix what is wrong. 86 Explore the Bible Personal Study Guide
VERSE 25 On the other hand, the doer of the word looks at the mirror, and the perfect law that gives freedom causes him to persevere in it. By combining the words law and freedom, James distanced the word from the legalistic Judaizers of his day who saw the law as some type of way to earn God s approval. Doers of the word do not work for salvation but from salvation. They do because they have received new birth by the word of truth (1:18). Unlike the other man, he is not a forgetful hearer but one who leaves the mirror determined to take action based on what he saw. This is the person who is blessed, a term also used by Jesus to describe those who hear the word of God and obey it (Luke 11:28). What specific truths have you gleaned from recent encounters with God s Word? How has awareness of those truths affected the way you live? Doers of the word do not work for salvation but from salvation. LOVING (JAS. 1:26-27; 2:1-4) 26 Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless. 27 Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. 2:1 My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism. 2 Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in filthy old clothes also comes in. 3 If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, Here s a good seat for you, but say to the poor man, You stand there or Sit on the floor by my feet, 4 have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? Session 9 : With Obedience 87
VERSE 26 One of the ways Christians do the word is by loving others, and that happens in many ways. First, James cautioned believers about using their tongues as instruments of destruction. He already cautioned about speaking too quickly and not listening (Jas. 1:19), and he would return to the subject of controlling the tongue again in chapters three and four. A Christian s speech is an outward indicator of what is inside the heart, just as Jesus said that the mouth speaks what the heart is full of (Luke 6:45). Those who claim to be religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues, their religion is worthless. Other translations for this Greek word include empty, fruitless, useless, powerless, and lacking truth. These people deceive themselves and are offering empty words. VERSE 27 In addition to the tongue, a Christian demonstrates his faith through religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless. One way we demonstrate a heart changed by Christ is to care for orphans and widows. In first-century culture, orphans and widows had no standing in society or any ability by which to support themselves. To look after means to assist and is often used in Scripture to refer to God s coming to deliver His people from crisis (Matt. 25:36; Luke 1:68). James also said that true religion was that which kept oneself from being polluted by the world. Peter used this word polluted to refer to Jesus as One without defect (1 Pet. 1:19). Followers of Christ allow the Spirit to purify them and sanctify them day by day. God has a special concern for orphans and widows. God has commanded His people to take care of orphans and widows. To Look after Orphans and Widows Deut. 10:18; Pss. 10:14-18; 68:5; 146:9; Hos. 14:3 Ex. 22:22-24; Deut. 24:17; 27:19; Ps. 82:3; Isa. 1:17; Zech. 7:10; Jas. 1:27 CHAPTER 2; VERSE 1 Another way that we show love to others is by not showing favoritism. This phrase appears three other times in the New 88 Explore the Bible Personal Study Guide
Testament (Rom. 2:11; Eph. 6:9; Col. 3:25) with an emphasis that God does not show favoritism. This whole section is similar to Leviticus 19:15, Do not pervert justice; do not show partiality to the poor or favoritism to the great, but judge your neighbor fairly. God certainly does not show favoritism as He judges people. The gospel should be a reminder to all that God s love is impartial. Those with a callous disregard for orphans, widows, or the economically disadvantaged demonstrate they have not properly responded to the work of Christ in their lives. VERSES 2-4 James gave an illustration of favoritism that may have occurred in his day. He told about two people coming to worship. One person had a gold ring and fine clothes. The word for gold ring actually meant goldfingered, perhaps implying that he had many gold rings on his hand. The other person who entered was dressed in filthy old clothes. This may have been the dirty clothing of a common worker, but it was certainly the clothing of a poor person. Both men were allowed in the meeting; the difference was in the reception. To the rich man the leaders offered a good seat, but to the poor man they offered a place to stand or a seat on the floor. To the rich man, they showed special attention, but the poor man they barely noticed at all. The problem with favoritism is that it elevates imperfect people as judges. At that point, people are making distinctions based on worldly and temporal things such as money, power, and prestige, rather than a heart of righteousness and justice. They have resorted to the evil thoughts of the world and have rendered unjust verdicts. Those with a callous disregard for orphans, widows, or the economically disadvantaged demonstrate they have not properly responded to the work of Christ in their lives. How does expressing love to others regardless of social standing or life situation demonstrate the gospel? How does a person s failure to show compassion to others demonstrate his or her need for the gospel? Session 9 : With Obedience 89
IN MY CONTEXT Believers must listen to the teachings of God s Word, removing actions that are obstructions. Believers take action on the truths revealed to them in God s Word. Believers are to show compassion and love to all people in both word and deed. Identify potential obstructions to you listening to the teachings of God s Word. What actions can you take to minimize those obstructions? Ask God to reveal areas in your life where you are merely a hearer. As He reveals those areas, commit to act on what He reveals. Record actions you believe He is directing you to take and one step you will take towards completing those actions. Discuss with the group ways of demonstrating care and concern for either orphans or widows or the poor. What action should the group take to be involved in a local ministry to orphans, widows, or the poor? Prayer Needs 90 Explore the Bible Personal Study Guide