Our Christian Faith - The Book Of James

Our Christian Faith

So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath. - James 1:19

Today, let us meditate on the title of ‘Christian Faith’. When we are going on a trip, it is good to read a map so that we know how to get to our destination. We will know where we are going, how we're getting there, and what sites we're going to see. Having a map helps us to maximize the trip. James chapter one gives us a map for our Christian lives. Today, we're going to discover the lessons which James instructed to all the believers in Jesus. James 1:1 introduces us about James and to what he is about.

James was the half-brother of Jesus Christ. There were four men called James in the New Testament. Although, we cannot identify which one he is, we can conclude from the book itself that this James is a Palestinian. We know from chapter 1:6 where he talks about a wave of sea driven and tossed by the wind. In chapter 3:4 this James lived by the sea, and we know that he lived in a land full of figs, oil, and wine. Chapter 3:12 tells us that he lived in a land of salt and bitter springs. The James of whom we speak about today is the half-brother of Jesus Christ. The thing that sets Christ apart, in the mind of James, is the Resurrection. What makes Christianity unique from every other religion in the world, is our risen Savior Jesus Christ.

Faith and Commands:

The book of James is made up of 5 chapters of 108 verses, but what's more important is that 54 of them are imperatives, imperative meaning commands. Commands for our perfect christian lives. James is a commanding figure who does not want to hear your excuses. He wants to deal with function not theory. He wants to know more about your walk and less about your talk. He's concerned about your demonstration, not your declaration. And he wants to be able to observe your commitment, and not merely bend or curve around your conversation. James is concerned today that we have become milquetoast Christians. James is concerned that the church has become a playpen for babies rather than a workshop for adults. He preaches with fire with illustrations and analogies of people.

James a bondservant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ. Why wouldn't he say James, half-brother of Jesus? You see, James had come to understand that in his conversion, Jesus was not just his half-brother, but he was his Lord. James is going to say, If Jesus Christ is Lord, stop living idly and start strengthening your Christian faith. If Jesus Christ is Lord, nothing you face will be bigger than you. Because in order for it to be bigger than you, it has to be bigger than Him. And there is no such obstacle bigger than Him. And because you have Him, no obstacle is bigger than you. For the Lord says, “you can do all things through Christ who strengthens you.” Jesus is Lord.

James 1:1 says that James is writing to those who have been scattered to the 12 tribes, who are dispersed. This refers to Jewish Christians who, through persecution in Acts chapter 8:1, have been scattered beyond Palestine. They were now scattered everywhere because persecution broke out in Jerusalem. Even though persecution had ended by Acts 9:31, there were many kinds of internal conflicts that had arisen. It was causing great pain in the lives of these believers.

We know James is writing to the believers, because he calls them in verse 16 ‘my beloved brethren’. In fact he says in verse 18, “Of His own will the Lord brought us forth by the Word of truth, that we might be a kind of first fruits of His creatures.” So James begins to talk about trials. In verses 2-3, James states, “count it all joy when you fall into various tails, knowing that testing of your faith produces patience.

Faith in Action

James 2:17 says, thus faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. Verses 17 to 26 he is talking about our faith. Our faith is dead without action. Some of us may say, “well I'm waiting for God to help me.” James says, God is waiting for you to start moving so He can help you. Many of us want to be still targets and say, “Lord take me to victory”. The Lord Jesus Christ is saying, walk in victory, and you can watch me take you there. Some of us may say, maybe God doesn’t think it’s the right time, yet James is saying, no you are not ready yet. God is there with the Lordship of Jesus Christ to give you victory over your failed life, to give you victory over your failed passions, to give you victory over your failed addictions, to give you victory over those failed oppression and much more.