Background Material
James Biographical Info:
• The author was James, Jesus’ half-brother; James and Christ had different Fathers (Matthew 13:55; Mark 6:3).
• James, also called James the Just, (Matthew 13:55; Mark 6:3).
• James was not a believer (John 7:3-5) until after the resurrection (Acts 1:14; 1 Corinthians 15:7; Galatians 1:19).
• James was the pastor of the church in Jerusalem and was Jewish and this book reflects his Jewish up bring; he is mentioned first as a pillar of the church (Galatians 2:9).
• According to the historian Josephus, James was martyred in approximately A.D. 62, prior to the first council of Jerusalem in A.D. 50.
Date:
• This book was written to Hebrew Christians outside of Palestine. It was written around A.D. 46-49. Approximately fifteen years after the resurrection of Christ.
• Even before Paul went on his first missionary Journey.
• It possible that this was the first letter written in the New Testament.
• James 1:1 says "James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes scattered among the nations: Greetings." These who James was writing to were Jewish Christians who were under a lot of persecution which started right after the stoning of Stephen in Acts 7:54-60; 8:1-3, which describes the scattering of the Christian.
• They had no Bible to speak of except the Old Testament. The only thing they had to hang on too was their faith in Christ. Then after ten years of suffering persecution you receive this letter that says.
The Stoning of Stephen
The death of Stephen and the scattering of the believer happen around 35 to 37 A.D. Have been scattered for about ten or twelve years.
(Acts 7:54-60)
54 When the members of the Sanhedrin heard this, they were furious and gnashed their teeth at him. 55 But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. 56 “Look,” he said, “I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” 57 At this they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him, 58 dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul. 59 While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” 60 Then he fell on his knees and cried out, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” When he had said this, he fell asleep. 8 1On that day a great persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria. 2 Godly men buried Stephen and mourned deeply for him. 3 But Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off both men and women and put them in prison.
Perseverance Of The Saints
(James 1:1-18)
Key Center (1:12)
12 Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.
Persevere With Joy (1:2-4)
2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4 Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
Exegesis: Trials strengthen your faith that is already present! You attitude towards trials and temptation, Peter speaks of suffering as testing the genuineness of your faith (1 Peter 1:6-7). Perseverance means steadfastness, it that staying power, the stick-to-itiveness. Much like the word Peter uses “deeply.”
Illustration: The purifying of gold is through fire Illustration. "The Christian is like an athlete. The heavier the course of training he undergoes, the more he is glad, because he knows that it is fitting him all the better for victorious effort." An athlete can not give up. (kick boxing illustration). When I was kick-boxer we worked out all the time. In fact, we did 200 jumping jacks, 200 crunches and 100 push-ups and after that we warmed up for our work out for the day. I got through the jumping jack, and the crunches but when I got to the push-ups there was that point that my muscles were straining and I didn’t think I could do anymore, but somehow I managed to do one more and then another. It was at that point of straining is when I wanted to give up, it that same point in life that James is talking about spiritually. It’s like two rocks thrown in a blender they smash and crash against one another until it dust then God pours His living water and makes clay; then He molds him/her as He desires and in the end he "lacks nothing." The smashing and crashing are like the trials.
Application: How many of us like that athlete right now and you feel like giving up? Or how many of you feel like one of those rocks? James is speaking to us about sanctification, to stay the course do not fall away or give up, God’s deepest desires is for us to mature lack nothing in our walk with Him. James is saying that our Christian walk is not about what we feel it’s about what we believe and where we go then there is trials in our lives.
Transition: Now the Question is: Why should we hold the course, why should we not give up when we feel like it. Because. . . (Read Key Center)
Persevere With Wisdom (1:5-8)
5 If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. 6 But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7 That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.
Exegesis: "In the context wisdom is understanding, the nature and purpose of trails and knowing how to meet them victoriously. Such wisdom is available to the one who ask God for it, not once only, but repeatedly (Gr., present tense)." "Ask and it will be given to you, seek and you will find, knock and the door will be open to you" (Matt. 7:7). "The one who finds wisdom finds life and obtains favor from the Lord" (Prov. 8:35). "James intent, then is to highlight God’s unreserved, uncalculating, unwavering intent to give the gift of wisdom to those who ask." Asking and receiving of wisdom is God giving without reproach. He is not going to give you a spanking for asking Him nor is He going to press guilt on you for your inadequacy.
Illustration: Ask without doubting. (Parachuter illustration). Double-minded and unstable in all he does. Double minded man: One of the most dangerous people in a vehicle are indecisive drives.
Application: Do we go to God for wisdom or do we just leave Him out of the picture of my life. Weather it’s trials or temptation do we seek God for wisdom as to how to deal with sin in our lives. We pray, “God forgive me for my sin” or “God show what I can do to avoid such sin in the future!” See one wants to escape from the results of our sins and the later is being proactive about sin. This one of many circumstances that God’s wants us to ask him for wisdom about. Here we have two choices: Seek God’s advice or attempt to do thing on our own. A parachuter will not come down softly unless he’s pulls the rip cord right. Or are we harboring sin in our hearts and can not come to Him with a clear conscience. See this is a heart issue.
Transition: Now why should we want to seek God’s wisdom? Why should we want to be proactive about sin? Because. . . (Read Key Center)
Persevere With Promise (1:9-12)
9 The brother in humble circumstances ought to take pride in his high position. 10 But the one who is rich should take pride in his low position, because he will pass away like a wild flower. 11 For the sun rise with scorching heat and wither the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed. In the same way, the rich man will fade away even while he goes about his business. 12 Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. (Key Center & Paragraph Point)
Exegesis: James could very be alluding the to second coming. James is also directly discussing the way we as Christians should treat other in the body of believers. The brother in humble circumstances": "The brother in humble circumstances" or brothers that are not as well off as others should be confident in Christ because in Christ we all have riches and rewards which are being stored up through faith (their situation verses Matt. 5:11-12). To the rich bother, he should not think he is better than anyone else is because all have received grace through Christ. The riches that are man made will wither/fade away just like the flower in the sun. The awesome light of God’s Son will destroy all man made riches even while we go on living as well. (Read 1 Peter 2:4-7). James’ point in this passage is that we all have spiritual equality so we all should think and live in such a manner. James main point it that its those who are counted among the ones who love God will have their riches in glorious presence in His Kingdom or in James’ words, "the crown of life!" The eternal life of God’s Kingdom is for those who perseveres to the end and through the test and trials of this world.
Illustration: The riches that are man made will wither/fade away just like the flower in the sun. The presence’s God is everywhere and He knows our behavior, our attitudes, and even our thoughts about others when others are not looking. In the end it will all be laid bare. We will not be able to hide behind our anything or anyone else. It’s not here it’s there that counts, it’s not the worldly riches, pleasure and passions of this world it’s the eternal life with him. Contrast the kingdom of the world and the kingdom of the world illustration.
Application: Don’t look at your brother and make a wrong judgement. When we are all born we are born naked without anything on us for any worldly possessions. In like of Jesus’ return all worldly wealth with be destroyed and we all will face judgement, rich, poor God will make not favoritism’s or see any color of skin, in the awesome light of God’s Son all will be exposed. Stay faithful until the end and you will receive the crown of life.
Transition: Are you read for that day when all well be exposed? Are we living in such a way that we are anxiously awaiting His return? Are you holding on to the faith to the end? Because. . . (Read Key Center)
Persevere With Perspective (1:13-18)
13 When tempted, no one should say, "God is tempting me." For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; 14 but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. 15 Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death. 16 Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers. 17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. 18 He chose to give us birth through the word of truth that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.
Exegesis: The author’s intention is simply to trace the results of temptation when one yields to it. The order is evil desire, sin, and death. Temptation does not come from God. God’s nature is righteousness not temptation and sin. Don’t think that God is the author of sin and suffering! All that God gives from heaven is good and perfect, it’s never is evil or bad. God gave salvation through the Word of truth. Salvation is good and perfect. First fruits, in the Old Testament the first fruits were the first part of the harvest, which was the best. These Christians were new believers and were the first fruits or generation to experience the new birth in the full sense of the word, which would spread to all the generation in the future. The Gift of salvation is given from God!
Illustration: Evil desire, sin, and death.
Application: If sin begins with desire, then what is it that we desire. Do we desire the things of God or do we desire the things of this world? God is not the author of suffering in this world, the suffering in this world is a direct result of someone using their free will to sin and unfortunately it’s hurts others and at times it hurt us unfairly. God gave salvation through the Word of truth which is a good and perfect gift. These Christians were new believers and were the first fruits or generation to experience the new birth in the full sense of the word, which would spread to all the generation in the future. The Gift of salvation is given from God!
Transition: Have you experienced this good and perfect gift God had given us called salvation? ? Because. . . (Read Key Center) God has made a way for you to receive the crown of life all you need to do is to accept the Him have the right perspective on life and know that God ever intended for to go through some of things we had to go through. He wants to change our lives heal our hearts and give us the Crown of Life. Do you want this Crown?
Conclusion: (Read Key Center)
