James 1 - The Wisdom of the New Creation
1 James, a bond-servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes who are dispersed abroad: Greetings.
James - Notice that James leaves out the part about how he is the actual brother of our Lord Jesus Christ. Instead, he describes himself as His bond-servant.
In the gospels, James is described as being skeptical toward Jesus. He didn't come to believe in Jesus as Messiah until after he had witnessed the risen Christ.
In the book of Acts James is described as the leader of the believers in Jerusalem. His story is similar to that of Paul as the Lord changes him from being hostile toward Christ to being a leader of the church.
a bond-servant - In the seventh year all Hebrew slaves were released by their master. Some willingly chose to continue on as slaves. This is the picture James uses to describe himself. He has freely chosen to follow His Lord. There is no fear or obligation. He serves out of love for His master.
A very good article on the Hebrew concept of bond-servant may be found here.
of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ - James, here, acknowledges that he serves both God and his brother, the Lord Jesus Christ and even suggests that his brother is God, Himself.
To the twelve tribes who are dispersed abroad - The persecution, ironically led by Paul, forced the Jewish Christians to leave their beloved Jerusalem, the seat of the Law of Moses, to bring the gospel message (that we have been freed through Christ from slavery to the Law) to the entire region of Judea, and to the hated Samaritans, and even to the entire world of the despised Gentiles.
The Law of Moses had commanded faithful Israel to separate themselves from the hated practices of the Samaritans and the Gentiles. Now, freed from the demands of the Law, they are free to love the Samaritans and Gentiles.
Acts 8:1
Saul was in hearty agreement with putting him to death. And on that day a great persecution began against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles.
The key to understanding the book of James is to realize that it is specifically addressed to the twelve tribes. Like the book of Hebrews, the theme of James is remaining in Christ and not going back to the Law of Moses. With this key in mind we will be able to understand many verses that seem vague or difficult and we will be able to see how the verses tie together to illustrate this theme.
Greetings - This is the same greeting that James used in his letter of commendation that he sent with Paul and Barnabus. This greeting is used only these two times to start a letter in the New Testament and is one reason the book of James is attributed to the James of Acts 15.
Acts 15:23
and they sent this letter by them, "The apostles and the brethren who are elders, to the brethren in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia who are from the Gentiles, greetings.
The word itself means to be joyful or to be well.
2 Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials,
Consider - So much of the Christian life is mental. Our attitude is what sets us apart from the world and demonstrates the powerful love of Christ.
Romans 6:11
Even so consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus.
Romans 12:2And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.
Philippians 4:8
Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.
Colossians 3:1,2
Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.
it all joy - Joy is "chairo" which is the noun form of the word for "greetings" from verse one. The attitude of joy is what characterizes the Christian who has been set free from bondage to the Law of Moses and the Law of sin and death. If we have a joyful attitude our actions will be a loving expression of God's love for us.
Romans 14:17
for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
The kingdom of this world is all about keeping laws about eating and drinking and everything else pertaining to this world. The kingdom of God is all about the righteousness and peace and joy that are the result of abiding in the word of God's freedom.
Hebrews 12:11
All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness.
Our progress in the Christian life begins with an understanding of our righteousness before God as provided by our Savior, Jesus Christ. Once we understand our righteousness before God we then have peace with our God who is no longer separated from us by our sins. The goal of the Christian walk is to have the lasting joy in all circumstances that results from having peace with God. Righteousness is the tree that produces peace.
Matthew 10:28-30
"Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. "Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS. "For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."
Jesus' yoke for us is easy and His burden is light. This is in contrast to the Law of Moses as interpreted by the Pharisees and Jewish leaders of James' day.
Acts 15:10
"Now therefore why do you put God to the test by placing upon the neck of the disciples a yoke which neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear?
Matthew 23:4
"They tie up heavy burdens and lay them on men's shoulders, but they themselves are unwilling to move them with so much as a finger.
Hebrews 12:3
fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Jesus endured the shame reserved for those who rest in the joyous approval of God and not in the burden of the approval of men. As we separate ourselves from the righteousness of the Law and rest in the righteousness provided by Jesus, we will be persecuted by those who only know the Law of Moses and are ignorant of the righteousness established by Christ.
Jesus was our example as He endured the persecution of the cross, despised the shame of not living up to men's standards of righteousness, and rested in the righteousness of God.
my brethren - James calls his hearers "my brethren" to begin his letter of admonition with a note of encouragement.
when you encounter various trials - Peter goes into more detail than James but says the same thing.
1 Peter 1:6-9
In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ; and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls.
It is of the utmost importance, at this point, to consider what these trials may be. Many read James in a general way and miss the particular message he brings to us. Is James merely referring to any sort of trials in general or is he referring to a particular sort of trial. I think that James is referring to the various trials that Hebrew Christians in particular would have faced. I suggest that these trials are those that test our faith in Jesus Christ as the Messiah of the Jews and the fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets..
These various trials provide the proof of our faith in Christ's righteousness. These trials are the persecution of those resting in God's righteousness by those who are striving to attain the righteousness of the Law of Moses. These trials are a continuation of the persecution that scattered the new Christians throughout the world.
These trials are the test to see whether we will fall away from faith in Jesus to fall back into law based righteousness. As we stand firm in the righteousness of Christ, we take our eyes off of the approval of the Law and rest in God's approval. This resting in God's approval results in joy inexpressible and full of glory. This joy results in the salvation of our souls or minds. This salvation is the healing of a mind alienated from God by the failure to establish a righteousness based on the Law of Moses. The joy of resting in God's approval saves our souls and heals our minds.
Colossians 1:24
Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I do my share on behalf of His body, which is the church, in filling up what is lacking in Christ's afflictions.
Here we have Paul living out the words of James. He considers it all joy when he suffers because he is completing Christ's suffering as he is part of the body of Christ in this world.
3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.
knowing - Once again we see that the mind is an important part in salvation.
the testing - The Greek word is "dokimon". It can also be translated "approval" or "proof". I think it is probably better translated "proof" as in
1 Peter 1:7
so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ;
your faith - As I suggested with the word "trials", here I suggest that this is not "faith" in the general providence of God, but rather, our saving faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ. It is our faith that the demands of the Law have been satisfied by Jesus and we are now eternally loved by God.
produces endurance - Our confidence in God's love enables us to remain outside the camp and stand firm in grace without falling away back into the Law.
Hebrews 13:10-13
We have an altar from which those who serve the tabernacle have no right to eat. For the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the holy place by the high priest as an offering for sin, are burned outside the camp. Therefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people through His own blood, suffered outside the gate. So, let us go out to Him outside the camp, bearing His reproach.
4 And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
let endurance have its perfect result - The Greek for perfect result is "ergon teleion" with "ergon" meaning work and "teleion" meaning completed. The idea is that endurance has an final goal.
so that you may be perfect - Standing firm in the grace of Christ has the end goal that each of us should come to realize how we now have eternal fellowship with the Father through the work of the Son.
and complete - This word is used only one other time in the New Testament.
1 Thessalonians 5:23
Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
lacking in nothing -
5 But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.
But if any of you lacks wisdom - Notice that the final work of endurance is that we are to be lacking in nothing. That is that we are not to be lacking any wisdom.
1 Corinthians 1:30
But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption,
This final wisdom is the knowledge of who we are in Christ. We are righteous before God, we are sanctified in His sight, and we have received redemption from slavery to the Law.
Ephesians 1:17
that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him.
This wisdom is the revelation of the knowledge of Christ.
Colossians 1:28
We proclaim Him, admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, so that we may present every man complete in Christ.
let him ask of God - God is the source of the wisdom of Christ. It will not be found in this world since it is in oppostion to all that the world teaches us.
John 14:27
" Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.
1 Corinthians 2:6
Yet we do speak wisdom among those who are mature; a wisdom, however, not of this age nor of the rulers of this age, who are passing away;
who gives to all generously - Under the Old Covenant God gave to those who obeyed the Law. Under the New Covenant God gives generously to all who ask.
and without reproach - The meaning of reproach here, is that of making someone ashamed of their poverty. God gives generously to all without making us feel embarrased at our need.
and it will be given to him - All we have to do is humble ourselves enough to ask. If, on the other hand, we are strong in the wisdom of the world we will not ask and we will not receive.
6 But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind.
he must ask in faith - If someone does not believe that the Old Covenant has ended and the New Covenant has begun then it will be impossible for him to understand all that he has in Christ.
without any doubting - There must be no attempt to continue to abide by the Covenant of personal performance. We must stand firm in the New Covenant of Christ's performance on our behalf. We must not doubt that the work of Christ is sufficient.
like the surf of the sea - I picture a ship in a storm riding out huge waves in the ocean.
driven and tossed by the wind - The ship is at the mercy of the wind and has no control over its path. This is an image of one who tries to keep the Law of human performance. Our inability to perform causes us to lose control of our lives.
7 For that man ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord,
that man - The man who doubts the finality of the cross, the man who thinks that Christ was wrong when He said, "It is finished".
ought not to expect - One must not expect God to reveal the meat of Christ while we are lusting after the milk of Moses.
John 16:12
I have many more things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now.
The disciples could not bear the fullness of the message of grace until the fullness of God's love had been demonstrated at Calvary. At the cross the temporary Law of human performance was replaced by the eternal grace of Christ's performance.
that he will receive anything - "Anything" refers back to that which was lacking, that is the wisdom of the completeness of the work of Jesus Christ.
For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form, and in Him you have been made complete, and He is the head over all rule and authority;
from the Lord - The wisdom of Christ's fulness comes from the Lord. The wisdom of the way of human performance comes from searching the Law.
John 1:17
For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ.
8 being a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.
being a double-minded man - A man who places his faith in both the Law of Moses and the grace of Christ.
unstable in all his ways - Unstable as the ship on the ocean. He is unable to do what he wants, just like Paul before he understood the freedom of grace.
Romans 7:15
For what I am doing, I do not understand; for I am not practicing what I would like to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate.
9 But the brother of humble circumstances is to glory in his high position;
But - Instead of having one foot grounded in the Law and one foot in grace.
the brother of humble circumstances - One who has failed to receive the blessings that flow from obedience to the Law and instead has received the curse of humble circumstances. Wealth was considered to be a blessing that came from God as a result of living in accord with the Law of Moses. Humble circumstances were considered to be the curse of living a sinful life.
Deuteronomy 11:26-28
"See, I am setting before you today a blessing and a curse: the blessing, if you listen to the commandments of the LORD your God, which I am commanding you today; and the curse, if you do not listen to the commandments of the LORD your God, but turn aside from the way which I am commanding you today, by following other gods which you have not known.
John 9:2
And His disciples asked Him, " Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he would be born blind?"
glory in his high position - This brother has humble circumstances in relation to the Law but has high position in relation to Christ. He is to focus all of his attention on this high position and disregard the humble circumstances.
Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
We have been released from the low position of slavery to the Law of Moses and seated at the right hand of God the Father in the high position as sons of God with Christ.
10 and the rich man is to glory in his humiliation, because like flowering grass he will pass away.
the rich man - The rich man is one who has been blessed with the riches of this world as a reward for keeping the Law of Moses. He is similar to the Pharisees of Jesus' day who looked down on sinners who disregarded the letter of the Law.
Luke 15:2
Both the Pharisees and the scribes began to grumble, saying, "This man receives sinners and eats with them."
is to glory - To glory means to place confidence in.
Philippians 3:2-4
Beware of the dogs, beware of the evil workers, beware of the false circumcision; for we are the true circumcision, who worship in the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh, although I myself might have confidence even in the flesh. If anyone else has a mind to put confidence in the flesh, I far more:
in his humiliation - Paul was rich in obedience to the Law but he gloried in his humiliation in respect to the Law of Moses. He left behind his accomplishments in the Law and focused his confidence on his high position in Christ.
because like flowering grass he will pass away - The beauty of the Law of Moses was temporary. The beauty of the grace and truth of Jesus Christ is eternal.
Hebrews 8:13
When He said, " A new covenant," He has made the first obsolete. But whatever is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to disappear.
"Will pass away" is a translation of the Greek word "erchomai". Here are four passages where "erchomai" is used in regard to the "passing away" of the Old Covenant.
Matthew 5:18
"For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished.
Heaven and earth is a Jewish idiom for the Old Covenant.
Isaiah 51:16
"I have put My words in your mouth and have covered you with the shadow of My hand, to establish the heavens, to found the earth, and to say to Zion, 'You are My people.'"
Matthew 24:34,35
"Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place. "Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away.
This generation is the last generation of the Old Covenant.
2 Corinthians 5:17
Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.
The old creature is man under the Old Covenant. The new creature is man under the New Covenant.
2 Peter 3:10
But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up.
The elements are the commands of the Law of Moses.
11 For the sun rises with a scorching wind and withers the grass; and its flower falls off and the beauty of its appearance is destroyed; so too the rich man in the midst of his pursuits will fade away.
For the sun rises with a scorching wind and withers the grass - Just as the Son came upon the city of Jerusalem in 70ad with the scorching wind of the Roman armies and withered the city and the temple and the whole Old Covenant system ...
and its flower falls off and the beauty of its appearance is destroyed - and the beauty of the Old Covenant system and its temple were destroyed by the very Gentiles who were despised by the Law fearing Jews ...
so too the rich man in the midst of his pursuits will fade away - so too the man who is rich in obedience to the Law of Moses will fade away with the passing away of the Old Covenant system of blessings and cursings.
12 Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.
Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial - These trials were the persecution by the Old Covenant Jews against the New Covenant Jews who were being tempted to fall away from standing firm in the New Covenant and returning to the Old Covenant system.
John 16:1-3
"These things I have spoken to you so that you may be kept from stumbling. "They will make you outcasts from the synagogue, but an hour is coming for everyone who kills you to think that he is offering service to God. "These things they will do because they have not known the Father or Me.
Acts 8:1-4
Saul was in hearty agreement with putting him to death. And on that day a great persecution began against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. Some devout men buried Stephen, and made loud lamentation over him. But Saul began ravaging the church, entering house after house, and dragging off men and women, he would put them in prison. Therefore, those who had been scattered went about preaching the word.
for once he has been approved - Once the trial is over God will declare that those who have stood firm in their belief in the New Covenant have won the race. They have not been disqualified. In the Greek, the word for approved is dokimos. The word for disqualified is adokimos. Those who are approved are those who have not stepped off of the New Covenant track and slipped back into the Old Covenant.
1 Corinthians 9:25-27
Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. Therefore I run in such a way, as not without aim; I box in such a way, as not beating the air; but I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified.
he will receive the crown of life - The word stepanos which is here translated "crown" is actually "wreath". It literally means "that which is twisted" as the leaves and branches of the laurel tree were twisted together to form the crowns awarded at Greek atheletic contests. This wreath is also called elsewhere the crown of righteousness, the crown of glory, and the crown of exultation. Those who are approved are those who have gloried and exulted in the righteousness of Christ and abandoned the false righteousness of the Law. This is not a literal crown, but rather a metaphor for the never-ending fellowship which we have with God.
Revelation 2:10
'Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, so that you will be tested, and you will have tribulation for ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.
which the Lord has promised - I can't find any promise of a literal crown. I think the crown is a promise of the life we have in Jesus. We are also promised an inheritance which I think is also the life we have in Jesus. This life in Jesus is contrasted to the temporary life and inheritance of the land granted Israel through obedience to the Law of Moses.
2 Timothy 1:1
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, according to the promise of life in Christ Jesus,
to those who love Him - Those who are standing firm in the faith, looking ahead to Jesus coming in judgment on the Old Covenant system and not looking back to the temporary life given by that system.
2 Timothy 4:7,8
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing.
13 Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am being tempted by God"; for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone.
Let no one say when he is tempted - This passage makes little sense unless we keep in mind that the temptation is to drift back into the Law of Moses.
"I am being tempted by God" - Someone could well say that it is God who is tempts us to fall away into performance driven religion. After all, didn't God Himself give us the Law and the temple and the whole system of animal sacrifices.
for God cannot be tempted by evil - But God cannot be tempted to love us with a conditional love.
and He Himself does not tempt anyone - And He does not tempt us to try to perform to earn His love.
14 But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust.
But each one is tempted - The temptation to go back to the false security of the Law.
when he is carried away - "Carried away" is an unfortunate translation of a Greek word "exelko" which means dragged out. In English "carried away" is an idiom which means over excited. The Greek has no such connotation. "Exelko" is only used this one time in the New Testament so there are no other passages to help determine its meaning. I would translate this as drawn out as into a trap.
and enticed - The Greek word for enticed carries the connotation of a trick or deception.
by his own lust - Lust does not only have a sexual connotation. It means any excessive desire. I think that it here refers to the boastful pride of life which is the desire to perform for God which is "drawn out" of us by the "deception" of the Law.
1 John 2:16,17
For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever.
James is comparing the Law to a harlot who uses our lust to perform for God to draw us away from our rest in Jesus and tricks us into trying to earn our salvation.
This thought is also express by Peter in
2 Peter 2:18-22
For speaking out arrogant words of vanity they entice by fleshly desires, by sensuality, those who barely escape from the ones who live in error, promising them freedom while they themselves are slaves of corruption; for by what a man is overcome, by this he is enslaved. For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world by the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and are overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first. For it would be better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn away from the holy commandment handed on to them. It has happened to them according to the true proverb, "A DOG RETURNS TO ITS OWN VOMIT," and, "A sow, after washing, returns to wallowing in the mire."
Here Peter is referring to the Law of Moses. Once the Hebrew Christians had escaped from slavery to the Law they fell away from the freedom they had in Christ back into slavery again.
15 Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death.
Then when lust has conceived - James continues the metaphor of the Law as a harlot by describing the illegitimate offspring of the illicit relationship between those who have been betrothed to Christ and yet have gone back to the harlot.
it gives birth to sin - This is the sin of returning to the Law of Moses. It is also the subject of the entire letter to the Hebrews.
Hebrews 12:1
Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,
Notice that the author says "the sin". There is one particular sin in mind here, the sin of falling away from the grace of Christ to the works of the Law of Moses.
and when sin is accomplished - The work of the Law was to lead us to Christ. Once we have embraced Christ, the Law can only draw us away from Him.
it brings forth death - This is spiritual death. The sin of going back to the performance based religion of the Law of Moses separates us from the unconditional love of Christ which is spiritual death.
16 Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren.
Do not be deceived - Do not allow the Law to entice you away from Christ. The Law tries to trick us into believing that we must earn God's love through our own efforts.
my beloved brethren - This phrase is used three times in the first two chapters of the book of James. Here James is reminding his readers of God's love for them so they will be encouraged to resist the deceit of the Law's lie that God will only love us if we obey its demands.
17 Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow.
Every good thing given - This word for good is also used in the book of Hebrews to speak of the New Covenant creation.
Hebrews 9:11
But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things to come, He entered through the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this creation;
Hebrews 10:1
For the Law, since it has only a shadow of the good things to come and not the very form of things, can never, by the same sacrifices which they offer continually year by year, make perfect those who draw near.
every perfect gift - Notice also that Hebrews 10:1 refers to those who are made perfect by the New Covenant.
is from above - The Old Covenant is a temporary earthly representation of the heavenly reality.
Hebrews 9:24
For Christ did not enter a holy place made with hands, a mere copy of he true one, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us;
coming down from the Father of lights - This is also language of the New Covenant. In Jesus the shadowy darkness of the Old Covenant was passing away. The light Jesus brings into the world dispels the shadows of the Law of Moses.
1 John 2:8
On the other hand, I am writing a new commandment to you, which is true in Him and in you, because the darkness is passing away and the true Light is already shining.
with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow - The constant light of the New Covenant dispels the shadows of the Old Covenant forever.
18 In the exercise of His will He brought us forth by the word of truth, so that we would be a kind of first fruits among His creatures.
In the exercise of His will - Under the Old Covenant our will determined our standing before God. Under the New Covenant it is His will that determines our standing.
He brought us forth - "Brought us forth" is the same word translated in verse 15 as "brings forth". James is contrasting the birth of death produced by the old creation with the birth of the new life of the first fruits produced by the new creation.
by the word of truth - The word of truth is the gospel message. This is the good news that we have been set free (or redeemed, bought again by a new master) from slavery to the Law of Moses.
Colossians 1:5
because of the hope laid up for you in heaven, of which you previously heard in the word of truth, the gospel
John 8:31-36
So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, "If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free." They answered Him, "We are Abraham's descendants and have never yet been enslaved to anyone; how is it that You say, 'You will become free'?" Jesus answered them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin. "The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son does remain forever. "So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.
Galatians 4:3-5
So also we, while we were children, were held in bondage under the elemental things of the world. But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, so that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive adoption as sons.
The context of Galatians 4 shows that the elemental things of the world refers to the Law of Moses.
so that we would be a kind of first fruits - The first fruits were the first produce of the harvest. The completion of the harvest was at the end of the Old Covenant age in 70ad. James is speaking of those who were the first produce of the harvest; those chosen out of the world to be witnesses of the image of God. These were those who believed up until the final harvest.
Revelation 14:15
And another angel came out of the temple, crying out with a loud voice to Him who sat on the cloud, " Put in your sickle and reap, for the hour to reap has come, because the harvest of the earth is ripe."
among His creatures - These are the creatures of the new creation in Christ.
19 This you know, my beloved brethren. But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger;
This you know - We know the message of the gospel that we have been set free from the demands of the Law of Moses.
my beloved brethren - James uses this phrase three times in chapters one and two. He is encouraging his readers to remember that they are loved by God and have been adopted into His family.
But everyone must be quick to hear - We know that we have been set free but we must be careful to keep listening to word of truth.
slow to speak - We must act as those who have been set free. We must not use our tongue to demand that others perform to our expectations.
and slow to anger - We must also not get angry with those who do not meet our expectations.
20 for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God.
for the anger of man - When we are performance oriented with ourselves we think that others will respond to our anger and perform for us.
does not achieve the righteousness of God - Our expectation for performance causes more sin instead of causing more righteousness.
Romans 5:20
The Law came in so that the transgression would increase; but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more,
21 Therefore, putting aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls.
Therefore - Refers back to anger not being effective in producing righteousness.
putting aside all filthiness - Acting in anger mars the image of God's love in us that same as dirt mars our faces.
and all that remains of wickedness - The word for wickedness refers to our mistreating of one another as we live as slaves to performance.
Titus 3:3
For we also once were foolish ourselves, disobedient, deceived, enslaved to various lusts and pleasures, spending our life in malice and envy, hateful, hating one another.
in humility - Instead of the boastful pride of life which the Law engenders, we are to be humble receivers of God's love.
receive the word - James is reminding us to be quick to hear. Hearing tells us who we are under the New Covenant.
implanted - This refers back to the agricultural imagery of verse eighteen. The word planted in our minds will grow into the image of the new creation.
which is able - Hearing the word of our salvation and letting it take root in our minds is able to make us grow up into the image of God.
to save - James is speaking to believers who have already been saved in the sense of deliverance from the Law of Moses. Here salvation refers to the healing of our minds.
Romans 5:10
For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.
Romans 12:2
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.
your souls - The Greek word for soul is psyche which means mind and gives us our word psychology.
22 But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves.
But prove yourselves doers of the word - Here James begins the discussion of faith and works. Doers of the word are those whose works reflect the fact that they have been delivered from the Law. Doers are those who have works.
and not merely hearers - Mere hearers are those who have been freed from the demands of the Law but obligate others to meet those same demands. Hearers are those who have faith.
who delude themselves - They are deluding themselves by not realizing that they have been set free so that they may set others free. We are loved so that we may love.
1 John 4:19
We love, because He first loved us.
23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror;
a hearer of the word - We must let who we are in Christ transform our minds.
Ephesians 4:23
and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind,
and not a doer - We must let who we are in Christ transform our actions.
Ephesians 4:24
and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.
he is like a man who looks - Where we focus our minds determines our actions.
2 Corinthians 3:18
But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.
at his natural face - Just as we look at our natural face to see what we are like we must look at our spiritual face to see what we are really like spiritually.
in a mirror - A mirror reveals what we look like. Our spiritual mirror reveals who we are in Christ, those who have been forgiven of the debt we owe to the Law of Moses.
Ephesians 4:32
Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.
24 for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was.
for once he has looked at himself and gone away - We must continually keep in mind our heavenly position as beloved children adopted into God's family.
Colossians 3:1-3
Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
he has immediately forgotten - When we cease to focus on what Christ has done for us we immediately forget who we are.
what kind of person he was - We are unconditionally loved by God in spite of our performance.
25 But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in what he does.
But one who looks intently - We must look intently at who we are in Christ.
at the perfect law - The perfect law corresponds to the mirror which tells us what we are like. It is the perfect law in contrast to the Old Testament law which was imperfect and only led us to Christ. The perfect law tells us who we are in Christ and how we should act as those who are in Christ.
the law of liberty - The perfect law is that we should act as those who have been set free from the Law of Moses. A good illustration of this law is Jesus' parable found in
Matthew 18:21-35
Then Peter came and said to Him, "Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Up to seven times?" Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.
"For this reason the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his slaves. "When he had begun to settle them, one who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him. "But since he did not have the means to repay, his lord commanded him to be sold, along with his wife and children and all that he had, and repayment to be made. "So the slave fell to the ground and prostrated himself before him, saying, 'Have patience with me and I will repay you everything.' "And the lord of that slave felt compassion and released him and forgave him the debt.
"But that slave went out and found one of his fellow slaves who owed him a hundred denarii; and he seized him and began to choke him, saying, 'Pay back what you owe.' "So his fellow slave fell to the ground and began to plead with him, saying, 'Have patience with me and I will repay you.' "But he was unwilling and went and threw him in prison until he should pay back what was owed.
"So when his fellow slaves saw what had happened, they were deeply grieved and came and reported to their lord all that had happened. "Then summoning him, his lord said to him, 'You wicked slave, I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. 'Should you not also have had mercy on your fellow slave, in the same way that I had mercy on you?' "And his lord, moved with anger, handed him over to the torturers until he should repay all that was owed him. "My heavenly Father will also do the same to you, if each of you does not forgive his brother from your heart."
and abides by it - We must not only hear the law of liberty, we must also keep it constantly before our minds.
not having become a forgetful hearer - When we forget the grace God has shown to us in the New Covenant we don't treat others graciously.
Ephesians 4:32
Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.
but an effectual doer - Literally this is "a doer of work".
this man will be blessed - One who is gracious with others as God has been gracious with him will be happy.
in what he does - Allowing others to be what God is making them instead of trying to get them to perform in certain ways will result in happiness in all we do.
26 If anyone thinks himself to be religious, and yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this man's religion is worthless.
If anyone thinks himself to be religious - James is contrasting the religion of the Old Covenant with the religion of the New Covenant. Salvation under the Old Covenant was through keeping the Law. Salvation under the New Covenant is through Christ's work on our behalf.
Acts 15:1-5
Some men came down from Judea and began teaching the brethren, "Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved." And when Paul and Barnabas had great dissension and debate with them, the brethren determined that Paul and Barnabas and some others of them should go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and elders concerning this issue. Therefore, being sent on their way by the church, they were passing through both Phoenicia and Samaria, describing in detail the conversion of the Gentiles, and were bringing great joy to all the brethren. When they arrived at Jerusalem, they were received by the church and the apostles and the elders, and they reported all that God had done with them. But some of the sect of the Pharisees who had believed stood up, saying, "It is necessary to circumcise them and to direct them to observe the Law of Moses."
And Peter said,
Acts 15:10,11
"Now therefore why do you put God to the test by placing upon the neck of the disciples a yoke which neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear? "But we believe that we are saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, in the same way as they also are."
And James said,
Acts 15:19-21
"Therefore it is my judgment that we do not trouble those who are turning to God from among the Gentiles, but that we write to them that they abstain from things contaminated by idols and from fornication and from what is strangled and from blood. "For Moses from ancient generations has in every city those who preach him, since he is read in the synagogues every Sabbath."
James adds these last instructions so that the Gentile Christians don't unneccesarily offend the Jews.
and yet does not bridle his tongue - We use our tongues to get people to perform, both for God and for ourselves.
Galatians 5:13-15
For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, "YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF." But if you bite and devour one another, take care that you are not consumed by one another.
but deceives his own heart - Those who call on others to fulfill the Law have forgotten their own freedom from the Law.
this man's religion - He is still trying to live under the Old Covenant.
is worthless - The Old Covenant has become obsolete and worthless.
Hebrews 8:13
When He said, " A new covenant," He has made the first obsolete But whatever is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to disappear.
27 Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.
Pure and undefiled religion - Pure grace undefiled by adding Law.
Luke 5:36-39
And He was also telling them a parable: "No one tears a piece of cloth from a new garment and puts it on an old garment; otherwise he will both tear the new, and the piece from the new will not match the old. "And no one puts new wine into old wineskins; otherwise the new wine will burst the skins and it will be spilled out, and the skins will be ruined. "But new wine must be put into fresh wineskins. "And no one, after drinking old wine wishes for new; for he says, 'The old is good enough.'"
in the sight of our God and Father - We must remember to live for God's approval and not be tempted to please men by going back to the Law of Moses.
is this - Living to serve one another instead of living for ourselves by trying to earn God's favor by keeping the Law of Moses.
Galatians 6:2
Bear one another's burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ.
to visit orphans - Those who are fatherless, those who cannot support themselves. Salvation itself is moving from being Fatherless slaves to becoming adopted sons with full inheritance.
and widows - Those who have no husband, those who cannot support themselves. Salvation itself is becoming the bride of Christ.
in their distress - The word for distress is also the word translated as tribulation.
and to keep oneself unstained by the world - We must keep ourselves from being stained by going back to world of the Law of Moses
Galatians 5:1
It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.
posted by Bill @ 6:15 PM
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