james4

READ: JAMES 4:1-17 [CHAPTER OVERVIEW]

We want to give a simple overview of this 4th chapter/Letter of James
Remind ourselves again of the very practical side of Jame's epistle
He is not so much concerned with the doctrinal end of things, although he does not let his epistle sink into a mere rant about morality
The rock of doctrinal basis jut out here and there, just to remind us that James is a Bible man and that real good works can only flow from real saving faith and nowhere else
Our chapter indulges in some doctrinal exercises, particularly vs11/v15
But overall, it may be said that James assumes that his readers have a doctrinal grounding and, anyway, we should never divorce this book (or any other) from the whole of the Divine Library which we call the Bible

Taking a practical line invariably brings James into contact with people
(Not that the doctrinal writers like Paul lived in ivory towers) and such contact - where the rubber meets the road - will invariably bring him into contact with imperfect folk - imperfect Christians whose lifestyle does not match their profession of faith

James cannot afford the luxury of walking away from such people
That is the easiest thing in the world to do
I would guess and say, that James would have quite liked the thought
But James here is speaking under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit
Where wrongs need fixed…James has the responsibility of fixing them
So let's have our overview/chapter: 3 main thoughts

1) THE COMPLAINTS WHICH JAMES MADE: vs1-5/v13-14

A/ He accuses them of fighting and warring among themselves
Conflict in the congregation - Aggression in the Assembly!
Not merely the petty little disagreements common to human company
Same word used in Matthew 24/Mark 15/Luke 21: Wars/rumours etc.,
Also used re: the Returning Christ when the Antichrist would make war with the saints and the Christ would make the same war with the wicked
Again…we are not thinking about minor scuffles or skirmishes
We are not told what exactly they fought over
Likely (from the words "ye lust") that it was for self advantage/power
Remember the exhortation: Be ye not many masters [teachers] in 3:1
Seems to have been a powerful fight to see who could be "top dog"

Can imagine the devastating effect this would have in the congregation
Long way from the heathen's observation:
Behold, how these Christians love one another
Think of its discouraging impact upon the spiritual Christians/church
Upon the weak Christians - the new Christians - How crippling
Upon the heathen watching on - how off putting: Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men: (2 Corinthians 3:2)
Want to be a Christian? No thank you…I've enough problems of my own!

B/ It was bitter fighting - ye kill and desire to have
Query the word "Kill!" Was their murder in the Assembly?
In the figurative (though real) sense of having hatred against/brethren
Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him. (1 John 3:15)
Have you not seen such fighting among Christians?
Where pure hatred could be observed - Check some internet debates
No wonder James could not walk away from such things
Other Apostles (including John quoted) tackled it:
But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another. (Galatians 5:15)

C/ Unsuccessful fighting: Ye fight and have not
With all their campaigns…there were no winners: Ye have not
If they wanted spiritual advancement: All they had to do was ask! (v2)
And yet they did ask and yet they still did not receive
Why? Because (v3) they asked amiss
They did not prayer according to the will of God
They wanted God to feed their lusts (v3) - the cause/wars (v1)

D/ This leads us to the very strong language of James (v4)
Bearing/mind his own warnings re: the tongue (3:5) yet he employs it here to deliver one of the most stinging/rebukes in the entire Bible
Our adulterous generation has led us to be hardened against the ferocity of these designations - But they are very strong indeed, especially to a man of such a pure mind as James
He backs up his warnings with Scriptural support: v5
There can be no denying of the charges laid

E/ Is this merely a first century AD Christian problem?
I think not! There is no sin under the sun into which the child of God in the lusts/flesh cannot trundle and is ever in danger of doing so
No passage in the Bible restricted merely to the age in which written

2) THE CURE WHICH JAMES PROPOSED: v6-16

A/ James does not merely point out the problem - supplies the answer
A good doctor does not merely diagnose (easy done) but prescribe
He diagnoses the problem as been fleshly lust and pride (Old bug bear!)

B/ He sees a spiritual dimension to it all - all outward actions have such
There are three parties to be considered in these affairs:
[i] God Himself! Look all what James says about God:

* Whatever it takes to clear up this mess: God gives grace to the humble (v6) Not only grace…but more grace - so the battle can be won

* God resists the proud (v6) Not only will proud, fighting Christians not have God on their side, but they will have God fighting against them

* God must be submitted to (v7) a logical necessity: "therefore"
We ought ever to be seeking His will and when it runs contrary to ours, to surrender ours unto His - He is Lord, not we, ourselves

* We must draw near to God (v8) and if so, He will draw near unto us
But if we don't and desire to keep a distance, then a gulf will develop

* We must cleanse/hands and purify/hearts (v8) We are the guilty ones

* God isn't meeting us half way in our sins - they must be forsaken

* There must be repentance for these sins (v9) and humility before God (v10) - Only then, can we see exaltation (v10) - Proper/real exaltation
Unlike the proud, earthly advancement many Christians seek after

We cannot afford not to avail ourselves of this cure as it relates to God
The problem is spiritual and therefore the solution is spiritual
Only God can help a church/Christian given to fighting - on His terms

[ii] Another party involved in the matter is Satan (v7)
The instruction here is short and simple: Resist him
Not much explanation here - if some proposed move is not a resisting of the devil, but (as likely otherwise) a placating - then do not engage in it
Resist the devil - at all times and on all fronts and your success is guaranteed: He will flee from you - but it must be done with all/heart
Double minded ways are seen as part of the problem
Unstable in all their ways (1:8) Should cleanse their hearts (4:8)
If you go at this half hearted, then Satan will face you down
Satan will exploit your inherent weakness - but he will be unable to get out quick enough if you come at him wholeheartedly trusting then Lord

[iii] The third party involved is, of course, ourselves
Seen some of duties toward God and our responsibilities toward Satan
But we have also responsibilities towards other Christians
No man is an island - least not a professing Christian in a church set up
(Which is called a fellowship: And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.)
Having called for a good dose/humility on our part (v6/v10) James speaks of how we treat other believers: Speak no evil of them (v11)
Why not? James gives us another one of his logical explanations:
Answer: If we judge a brother, then we speak evil of and judge the law/God (which disallows such a thing, but what is that to us?)
This then puts us outside the keeping of the law, because we have become its judge (v11) Leading to new field/thought i.e. we are
challenging God who alone is the all powerful Judge (v12)

C/ James takes up this matter of seeking to replace God (v13-16)
There are quite a few thoughts in these verses which may be lifted out of context and made use of…but the context of them is this:
We cannot compete with God as we try to do when we judge a brother

[i] Already seen God alone as Lawgiver
God alone is able to save or destroy (v12) It is not for us to do it
[ii] We cannot even tell what a day may bring forth - the gist of v13-14
Indeed, our life is very short/transient - Who are we to judge another?
[iii] We ought to say that the Lord's will be done and accordingly live our lives (v15) This will necessitate refraining from unfair judging of a brother who just happens to be getting in the road of our ambitions

[Please remember that we are not forbidden to judge with righteous judgement i.e. strictly according to the word of God in all matters
(John 7:24/1 John 4:1 etc.,) Such judgements are not forbidden here by James, who made his own righteous judgements in v4!]

D/ James sums up this section (i.e. as he reminds them of the cure) that their complaint is indeed grievous (v16)

3) THE CHALLENGE WHICH JAMES VENTURED: v17

A/ James was a gutsy preacher - evident from v4
Gutsy even when he is seeking to have Christians/fellowship from seeking to judge one another and to be kind and have grace etc.,
Gutsy need not mean arrogant and roaring at people
Even quiet, spoken people (if such James was) can be gutsy
Gutsyness (here anyway) is when you say all what has to be said, and then remind your hearers: to know these things and not do them is sin

B/ As James challenged his readers, so now
There is nothing changed in the requirements/God
Christians still engage in these and so the "cure" is still the same
Can only be the same - if it has changed, then it is either for the better or for the worse and both reflect on the character/God who gave it us
There has been no change in these requirements - still binding on us

C/ There really is nothing else to do but what is written here
Don't let us add sin to sin by being disobedient
What a privilege to be in Christ and in a community/people where we none is to be our Master, for we have one Master, even Christ and we are all brethren (Matthew 23:9) Don't ruin it!
Let's get it back to the way God wants it to be

THE END