Wednesday, October 10, 2007
James
Study #3
James Chapter 1
We have discussed that the name of Jesus is only mentioned two times in James and one reference is made to Him without naming Him.
James is emphasizing, if you have faith show we your Fruit.
Last week we were reminded that God does not tempt anyone to sin. Again let me say God may test us in order to strengthen our faith, but never with the leading into sin.
V13 neither tempt he any man with sin, v17 there is no variableness or shadow of a hint that God would lead someone into sin V14 describes it when man is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.
It is the dangling of the carrot in front of rabbit that leads it into the trap.
How important it is to resist evil and allow the HS to purge this lust out of our heart and mind.
The sin nature in all of us can be held back, Faith in Christ, the Empowerment of the HG in us can and will keep us from this temptation to sin if we allow.
Chapter 1
Tonight’s study is true and pure religion
Jas 1:19 ¶ Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:
20 For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.
:21 Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.
The importance of hearing, in the last days their will be famine Amos said in the hearing of the Word of God.
How many times have I got in trouble for not hearing when I should have, I had the opportunity?
slow to wrath; slow to become angry,
v20 declares to us that anger of man does not bring about righteousness, the irritation of the natural man, the heart does not produce anything God accepts as righteousness.
V21 lay apart all filthiness, notice the words “lay apart” if we lay apart then we are not connected with
Apart is being separated from all manner of filthiness, both of flesh and spirit; all pride, vanity, wrath, malice, and evil speaking,
1Pe 2:1 ¶ Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings,
The word of God can not effectively take hold of a persons life if he or she is not separated from moral filth and evil. Notes from bible:We must be aware that allowing any kind of moral filth into our lives or homes, including filthy language or obscenity through videos or tv grieves the HS and violates the holy standards of God for His people. Eph 5.6&7 declares for you and I not to be partakers with them. We as believers must take righteousness and holiness seriously.
V21… receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.
Engrafted word; means it becomes a part of you, it is implanted in you, it becomes the nature of your living. It is the Word of God that brings to us salvation.
Jas 1:22 But, 19 times this word in James, but be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
:23 For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:
:24 For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.
How many of you get upset when you find out you have been deceived?
How much worse is it to deceive yourself? We must be doers of the Word of God.
To many people look at being a doer as something of a command and it is a command but it is a command with power to the individual who takes action upon the Word.
As we know just hearing the word and not acting upon what we have heard is seed that fell on stony ground, no value. God’s word is action which must be acted upon.
Jas 1:25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth [therein], he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.
:26 If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion [is] vain.
:27 Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, [and] to keep himself unspotted from the world.
Perfect law of Liberty, James is not neglecting liberty of the grace of God.
Notice the power from being a doer, blessed in his deed.
Jas 1:26 If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion [is] vain.
Seem to be religious, may be calls himself a preacher, or deacon might have the papers that says he is but he can not bridle his tongue, the Message bible says it like this Jas 1:26 Anyone who sets himself up as "religious" by talking a good game is self-deceived. This kind of religion is hot air and only hot air.
V27 Pure religion is described this way NIV to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.
Many a people started out with the right motive I believe in helping others, then as money came in, the wrong person in front of them with temptation, they no longer remained pure or unspotted from the world.
True and Pure Religion, True is being a doer of the word, Pure remaining unspotted from this world.
