James 5:12 / I swear to.../ 4-25-2010

Intro: one of the common phrases we hear in modern time is “I swear to God” or “I swear by so and so…” Even though these phrases are usually uttered by the non-believers, it isn’t uncommon to hear these phrases from young believers. However, the Scripture forbids the believers to swear by anything, and Christians need to understand why we are not to swear.

I. Swearing by God

A. Swearing by the name of God is forbidden for two reasons.

1. The name of God “Yahweh” (Hebrew word) was considered so holy and sacred that the people (Jews) were not allowed to use it for any reason. Instead, another word “adonai” (a general Hebrew word, which means “lord”) was substituted in its stead.

2. The 3^rd Commandment commands God’s people to not to use the Lord’s name in vain.

B. The common understanding of swearing by God’s name.

1. Because of above reasons, Jews, Christians and Jewish-Christians (in 1^st century) alike, understood clearly that they were not to use the Lord’s name to swear.

2. Hence, swearing by the name of God was absent and it was never an issue.

II. Swearing by others

A. Issue of swearing in the 1^st Century

1. Neither Jews nor Christians swore by the name of God, however, they did swear by anything and everything else.

2. During the time when this letter was written, Jews, Christians and Jewish-Christians alike swore excessively as means to cover up their deceitfulness and manipulativeness rather than to confirm the truth of their speech.

3. Hence, Jews and Christians swore by any and everything such as animals, objects, people and etc.

B. History

1. Swearing or making oath occurred from early on in the Biblical History. The first recorded event was Abraham making an oath to Abimalech regarding a well (Genesis 21).

2. The book of Genesis also records others patriarchs such as Jacob and Isaac making oaths.

3. When the patriarchs made oaths and promises, it was to demonstrate the validity of their statements, however, by the time when this letter was written, Jews, Christians and Jewish-Christians alike were swearing excessively as means to cover up their evil works.

C. The idea of swearing

1. The underlying idea of swearing or making oaths is that the speaker’s word is not good enough; hence, extra evidence is needed to verify the truth of the claim.

2. Hence, the concept of swearing goes beyond the phrase “I swear by…”. It denotes the speaker’s intention or thought not aligning with his spoken words. Ultimately, swearing denotes the speaker’s character, which is perceived by others as untrustworthy.

III. Conclusion

The passage is teaching the Diaspora Christians that there is no need for Christians to swear whatsoever if the spoken words of the Christians are accepted as truthful and serious by others. Hence, Christians are not to swear; rather, Christians are to focus on speech that is truthful and serious.

1. Speak in truthfulness: this means that there is neither a hint of deception nor ulterior motive in spoken words of Christian. Rather, there is simply truthfulness like a child's answer to a simple question.

2. Speak in seriousness: this means that speaker says what he or she means. There isn’t constant change of positions or opinions in what was said; rather unwavering loyalty to spoken words are demonstrated by constant resoluteness.

James 5:7-11/ Last Day Christians/ 4-18-2010

James 5:7-11/ Last Day Christians/ 4-18-2010

Intro: The passage is directed towards those who are poor and oppressed in the Diaspora Community. The aim of the passage is to encourage the oppressed Christians of the Diaspora Community to demonstrate patience in the time of tribulation.

I. Demonstrate patience in the midst of tribulation

1. Farmers (v7): The Middle Eastern farmers of 1^st Century did not have much control over farming. Unlike today, they neither had the control over irrigation system nor the weather. The farmers’ control was limited to planting the seed. Hence, the farmers had to learn to patiently acknowledge and wait for the things outside of their control, such as rain and weather, for harvesting.

2. Christians (v7): Just like the farmers, Christians are to learn to patiently wait in the time of tribulation. Human beings are not in control; thus, Christians are to acknowledge and learn to patiently wait for God’s dealing in all things knowing that God is the one who is in control.

II. Demonstrate patience for God’s vindication

1. The Last Days (v7,8): The time block between the resurrection of Christ to the return of Christ (1^st Century AD to the second coming of Christ) is known as the “last days” (hence we are living in the last days in 2010). The significance of the “last days” is that it is the time preceding the “coming of the Lord.” When Christ returns in his second coming, he will return for the sole purpose of judging (not for encouraging, healing or saving) the world. Hence, he will be the one restoring all things (separating the just from the unjust, good from the wicked and etc.). Hence, Christians, knowing that His return is near, are to demonstrate patience for God’s vindication in the midst of tribulation.

2. The Hope: Since the Lord’s return is imminent and near, Christians demonstrating patience is not futile. Whether the deliverance or vindication comes with the return of the Lord or in our daily lives in present state, prior to the return of the Lord, one thing remains the same and that is that we have hope in Jesus Christ. Hence, Even in the time of tribulation, Christians are to live in the hope of meeting the Lord.

III. Christians are to demonstrate patience by:

1. Petitioning to the Lord (v9): Christians are not to “grumble,” or “murmur” against one another. Grumbling or murmuring is simply complaining and through out the biblical history, complaint never brought deliverance nor blessing from God; rather, it always resulted in God’s wrath. However, when people cried out to the Lord, meaning prayed to the Lord, God never delayed nor forsook the petition.

2. Steadfast faith (v11): The ESV bible uses the word “steadfast” to describe status of those who are blessed in demonstrating patience. The word “steadfast,” in this context, refers to unwavering, loyal, resolute, determined and firmly decisive faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Hence, Christians are to demonstrate patience in time of tribulation by having the steadfast (unwavering, loyal, resolute, determined and firmly decisive) faith in Jesus Christ.

IV. Conclusion: Christians are not to retaliate against the injustices and oppressions in time of tribulation. Rather, Christians are to demonstrate patience in all things waiting for God’s vindication (whether they come with the return of Christ or in our daily lives prior to his return). We may encounter various difficulties, injustices, hardships and oppressions in various levels in our lives, but our tribulation will be restored by Him and Him alone. So let us depend on him and live the life of patience. May the Lord strengthen you and encourage you in hope of His return.

James 5:1-6/ The Last Day Christians/ 4-11-2010

James 5:1-6/ The Last Day Christians/ 4-11-2010

Intro: In today’s passage, James rebukes the rich, but not for their riches, but for their ungodly characteristics.

I. The characteristics of the rich people of Diaspora Christian Community.

A. Characteristic of Greed (v2-3): The rich people of the Diaspora Community had stored up so much wealth that it was becoming, moth-eaten, corroded, rusticated, rotted and etc. The problem was that within the Diaspora Christian Community, there were also extremely poor people who were dying of starvation.

B. Characteristic of Injustice (v4): The workers/ Poor were being cheated out of their wages. The rich owners kept the wages to themselves in order to maintain their status quo. In addition, in order to judicially justify their wrongdoings, the rich owners used the court system to legalize their actions (v6). In the process, innocent people were condemned and even murdered.

C. Characteristic of Self-Indulgence (v5): The rich people used their wealth to pursue the pleasures of the world. God’s blessing always comes with responsibility. For example, in OT law, Jews are commanded not to harvest the field completely, so that poor or even the wild animals can have something to eat. In the NT, the emphasis is placed on caring for the widows and orphans. The idea is that those who are blessed by God are to help those who are weak or helpless. However, the rich people of Diaspora Community spent their wealth and resources for pursuing the pleasures of the world rather than helping those who are in need.

D. Characteristic of Indifference (v3): The rich people demonstrated indifference towards God’s plan. The phrase “last days” refers to the time block between the resurrection of Christ to the second coming of Christ (hence we, 21^st Century Christians are living on the last days). The significance of the “last days” is that it is the time when God’s redemptive plan is taking place more powerfully than ever before. Hence as God’s people, all effort, resources and energy are to be spent for God’s kingdom, for his glory and for eternal things, which was not the case.

II. Relevant to us?

Above mentioned characteristics are relevant to all Christians of 21^st Century because:

A. These are common characteristics of sin: Although degrees may differ, many Christians of 21^st century also demonstrate above characteristics. For example, Greed (unnecessary workaholism), Injustice (nepotism or cheating), Self-Indulgence (resources spent on entertainment) and Indifference (personal interest over glory of God).

B. We live in the “last days:" Just as the rich people of the Diaspora Community, we also live in the last days, where we eagerly wait on the return of our Lord.

III. God’s people are to:

A. Use our resources for God’s glory: our resources (energy, time, money, effort and etc) are to be used for God and His kingdom.

B. Use our resources for caring for the needy: our resources (energy, time, money, effort and etc) are to be used for those who are suffering and weak.

IV. Doing these things (above mentioned) may be difficult at times, but if we realize that we are storing up the treasures in heaven and the fact that the return of Christ is near (last days), we will have the right urgency to do what is pleasing before God.

James 4:13-17/ Acknowledge His Will/ 3-28-2010

Intro: A type of people who consisted the Diaspora Christian Community was traveling merchants. These merchants were financially successful, most likely belonging to the Equestrian Order (a group of people who were financial backbone of the Greco Roman Empire), and their sole purpose in life was to make profit (as indicated in their speech: “today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town, and spend a year there and trade and make a profit”). And the Word of God is rebuking and instructing these people to acknowledge the will of God in their daily life.

I. Why are they being rebuked?

A. The Word of God does not rebuke these people (traveling merchants) for:

i. Working hard, planning for the future, going to different places and seeking out opportunities.

ii. Above characteristics are necessary things in life, and it is biblical for a God-fearing person to work hard, plan for the future, go to different places if necessary and seek out opportunities in all things (especially regarding serving God).

B. The Word of God rebukes these people (traveling merchants) for:

i. Boasting of what they can do and what they can accomplish as if they were the ones who were in control.

ii. Making the daily decisions and future goals without considering God’s will.

iii. The traveling merchants demonstrated a type of lifestyle that depended upon themselves and cared solely of creating profit. God’s will and his plans were excluded in their life. Hence, the rebuking is directed towards failure to acknowledge the will of God.

II. The instruction: Acknowledging God’s will. God’s people are to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that…” Acknowledging the will of God entails three aspects.

A. Prioritizing the will of God: God’s people must seek the will of God and consider His plan in prior to making any and every decision regarding success or the future. This means saying to oneself, “what does God desire from me?” or “what decision would glorify God?”

B. Obedience to the will of God: God’s people must obey the will of God even if it seems unprofitable or unfavorable at times (However, regardless of what one may think, God’s will is always good, pleasing and perfect). Knowing the will of God is merely the first step, and it must be followed by response of obedience.

C. Continual response to the will of God: the phrase “you ought to say…” is infinitive verb in Greek language; this means that the action at hand must be demonstrated continually. The obedience and the submission to the will of God is to be demonstrated consistently, and not just once.

Conclusion: As Christians living in the 21^st Century, we are to acknowledge the will of God in our studies, in our works, in our free time, in our relationships and in our plans and goals. However, the most important will of God (His general will for his people) is for His people to acknowledge Jesus Christ as the Lord and Savior. Let us acknowledge Jesus Christ our Lord and savior in our daily life!!!

James4:11-12/ To encourage or to slander?/3-21-2010

I. Intro: The passage begins with the last and the final, the eleventh Imperative (an imperative in grammatical context, is a command; so the idea is something that we must obey). James gives this last and the final imperative to the believers in the Diaspora Christian Community. And the command is that they are not to speak against one another or slander. And this is the theme that James dealt in earlier chapter (3:1-12). Yet it’s so important that James is instructing the believers again.

II. What is slander?

1. Slander is not an evaluation. Evaluation is done in order to promote improvement for an individual or to create more effective atmosphere for a group. Even within the church setting, leaders evaluate. And so evaluation is overall constructive and it is done in any and every group setting. However, slander is neither constructive nor necessary. Slander is not an evaluation.

2. Slander is not gossip. Slander often times develops from gossip and results from gossip but slander still isn’t gossip. There is a specific word used to mean gossip in Greek (Phlualoi 1Tim 5:13), and it literally means “unnecessary talk” but there is a different Greek word used for slander. The word for slander is katalalias (as in today's passage), which literally means “to speak evil against” or simply “to slander.” Christians are not to gossip, but still slander does not equate with gossip.

3. Slander is speaking falsehood about a person in attempt to tarnish the person’s reputation. The actual English definition of slander is “defamation,” which means “to damage the good reputation of.” And so in today’s passage, James commands the believers not to just talk less, but not to defame one another. And James gives the audience two reasons why not to slander.

III. Believers are not to slander because:

1. Slander speaks against the law: Christians are not to slander because it speaks against the law. The most important law of God comes from Matthew 22 (Mark 12). In Matthew 22, God’s people are instructed to love God with all their heart, mind and soul and to love the neighbors as self. So the greatest law is love, loving God and neighbors. And so when slander takes place, it is a direct challenge and opposition to the law of God. Hence, slander is not merely directed towards a person, but it is also directed against God’s law. Slander speaks against God’s law of love.

2. Slander is demonstration of arrogance: Slander results from judging others. However, there is only one who can judge, and he is God. Thus, when slander takes place, the person, who slanders, is placing himself in equal terms with God. So slander is demonstration of exalting of self in equality with God. Hence, slander is demonstration of arrogance.

IV. Believers are to love others.

If there is a person with psychosis (chemical imbalance in brain) and he is harming others as result, addressing the issue or just punishing the person will not resolve the matter. Until the root problem of chemical imbalance is dealt with, the problem will continue. In the same way, merely telling others not to slander will not resolve the issue because slander is the surface problem. The root problem is lacking in genuine love for others. Christians are to understand that genuine love is to be demonstrated between the believers.

V. Conclusion: As Christians, we are to expect slander from non-believers. Non-believers slander one another, God's people and God, and they are expected because God and the world are in opposition. But believers in Christ are not to slander one another because it opposes God and demonstrates arrogance; instead Christians are to love one another.

Application

In order to genuinely love one another, we are to be humble. Humility is the beginning of all things. If you are humble, you will not judge others. If you are humble, you will not think of yourself more highly than others. If you are humble, you will be able to love others genuinely with selfless love.

James 4:7-10/Christian Test/3-14-2010

I. Intro: today's passage is mainly directed to one group of people within the Diaspora community. The identity of this group is articulated in the previous passage (chapter4 verse4) where James describes them as "adulterous, hostile towards God and enemy of God," none of which is description of God-fearing genuine believers' characteristics. These are actually the descriptions of non-believers. Apparently there were a lot of these so-called church-going non-believers who were convinced that they were Christians because they merely attended church gatherings. And as a result, there were conflicts within the church between these church-going non-believers and the genuine believers.

II. To these church-going non-believers, James gives 10 imperatives. Imperatives are commands in grammatical context. An example of Imperative would be something like the 10 Commandments. Hence, imperatives are not suggestions, but it is an injunction that must be obeyed with utmost urgency.

1. Submit to God: when a person submits to God, it results in salvation. Hence, James is rebuking the non-believers to submit before God by being genuinely saved.

2. Resist the devil: resisting the devil refers to opposing any and every demonic power as well as the influences from the world. It is also an evidence of genuine salvation; hence James is teaching that the mark of genuine salvation will be demonstrated by life that resists any and every type of ungodliness.

3. Draw near to God: drawing near to God refers to having intimate fellowship with God. The desire to have intimate fellowship with God is another evidence of genuine salvation; hence James is explaining that if there is no desire to have intimate fellowship with God, the salvation itself is questionable.

4. Clean your hands: This is from Exodus 30, and the symbolic implication of having clean hands is having blameless or sinless life. An example of this is Pontius Pilate's washing of his hands after handing Jesus over to the Jews in order to be free from blame or sin. This imperative is directed towards the "sinners" according to today's passage. Hence, James is literally commanding the non-believers, "stop sinning you sinners!"

5. Purify your hearts: This is taking one step further from cleansing our hands. Being pure in heart refers to being pure and clean from the inward, from the heart whereas having clean hands refers to having blameless outwardly life. The implication of this imperative is that people who are double-minded may seem blameless outwardly, but are filled with sin inwardly. Hence James addresses the people not to be double-minded, meaning be blameless from the inward.

6. Be miserable: this refers to the being broken and wretched over one's own sin. Genuine believers neither enjoys nor dwells in sin; rather, they are to be miserable over sin.

7. Be mournful: not only the believers are to feel miserable over sin, but they are to mourn over sin.

8. Weep: this is an expression resulting from feeling miserable and mourning over sin. It's not talking about just shedding some tears out of emotionalism, but weeping bitterly like apostle Peter when he realized he had betrayed his lord three times.

9. Be gloomy: the phrase "let your laughter be turned into mourning and your joy to gloom" refers to the laughter of scoffers. James is sternly warning those who mock and jeer at God and his people that they are to turn from their laugher. They are to mourn and gloom over their sin. This is first spoken by Jesus in Luke 6:25 (Woe to you who laugh now, for you shall mourn and weep) as a warning. Same implication follows in today's passage.

10. Be humble: humility is the beginning of genuine salvation and James is addressing the non-believers to humble themselves so that they may be saved.

In today's passage, the ten imperatives are mainly directed towards the church-going non-believers; it's a command and a warning to the non-believers. However it also applies to the genuine believers; the genuine believers are to use these imperatives as a barometer to check the status of one's salvation. This passage was never meant to be used as a weapon to judge or condemn others. But it is given to us (believers) as means to observe ourselves continually according to the measure given by God, so that we do not lose sight of His precious gift. So let us continually challenge and test ourselves, according to the holy ordinances of God.

Application:

Be a genuine believer: being a genuine believer means having clear motive in serving and loving God.

3-7-2010/ Follow the Spirit's will/ Matthew 26:40-41

Intro: Jesus goes to the garden of Gethsemane to pray the day before his arrest. Jesus asks his disciples to pray, but upon his return, He finds them sleeping repeatedly because of their physical weariness. In the same way, a lot of times, when we want to follow God, obey the will of the Spirit, and be faithful, it's our flesh and the will of our flesh that hiders us. Our flesh or the will of flesh may be different things.

1. Physical Hunger: thinking about food during bible study, worship or even prayer time.

2. Physical weariness: falling a sleep instead of praying after coming home from school or work.

3. Lust: keeping sexually immoral thoughts during worship time.

4. Ambition: keeping the mind and heart busy with worldly and selfish ambitions, thus neither having time nor desire for God.

5. Greed: being occupied with goal of earning more by working unceasingly (no break, no sabbath, no time for God).

All of these things can hinder us as it did for the disciples. However, we are to remember that the importance is not what we are vulnerable to, but it is the acknowledgment of the fact that we are weak and thus we are to rely on God. In return, Jesus gives clear cut solution and He teaches us that we are to be awake and pray.

I. Be awake

Being awake means always be aware of possibility of falling into temptations. There are neither super Christians nor perfect Christians. We can and we will always fail without our Lord. Hence, we have to be aware and acknowledge that we are weak.

II. Pray

Because we are aware and we acknowledge that we are weak, we are to rely on God. The most intimate way for us to rely on God is to pray consistently.

2-21-2010/ Who is your friend? /James 4:1-6

Intro: One decision that all Christians have to eventually make is choosing either the world or God as true friend.

I. Befriending the world will result in conflicts for Christians.

A. Conflict with others (v4): Christians who befriend the world will always have conflict with other genuine Christians because one belongs to the world and the other belongs to God.

B. Conflict with self (v1b-3): Christians who befriend the world will have internal conflicts because in the core of befriending the world, there lies desire for pleasure, lust and selfish wants, all of which devalue God and things of God.

C. Conflict with God (v4): Christians who befriend the world are in hostility with God because the idea is that befriending the world over God is the breaking of the spiritual marriage covenant with God. Hence, people are referred to as adulteresses.

II. Pride is the reason for friendship with the world.

A. The root cause of choosing the world over God is pride.

B. In the core of befriending the world, there lies pride because the underlying idea of choosing the world over God is that people do not need God or God is insufficient.

III. Befriending God means humility.

A. Befriending God refers to humility because when a Christian befriends God over the world, there is the conceder that God is indispensable foundation in one’s life.

B. Befriending God is humility, and God looks for a person of humility and gives grace (v6). The description of God’s preferred person, through out the bible, is described as person of humility.

IV. Conclusion: When Christians befriend God, grace of God will be renewed daily whereas befriending the world will result in ongoing detrimental conflicts.

V. Application: Be humble.

A. Look to Jesus Christ: Jesus Christ came to us as a man even though he is one part of divine trinity. Jesus Christ is the epitome of biblical humility.

B. Imitate Jesus Christ: Jesus Christ is the ultimate role-model of humility for all Christians because he befriended and relied upon God in all things despite who he was.

2-14-2010/ True Wisdom/ James 3:13-18

Intro: Christians are to be wise in all things; hence, Christians are to seek for wisdom. However, Christians need to understand that there are two types of wisdom: the wisdom from the world and the wisdom from above.

I. Wisdom from the World

A. Motive

1. Envy (v14): Envy is best understood as bitter jealousy. Regardless of how good or wise things may seem, if it stems from jealousy or envy, it's from the world.

2. Selfish Ambition (v14): Selfish Ambition is best understood as personal gratification and self-fulfillment. Regardless of how good or wise things may seem, if the underlying intent is to fulfill self-desire, it's from the world.

B. Characteristics of wisdom from the world: the reason why Christians are not to imitate or partake in worldly wisdom.

1. Earthly (v15): This refers to self-advancement. In wisdom from the world, there is no genuine sacrifice of living for others and for God.

2. Unspiritual (v15): This refers to being opposition to spirit. Unspiritual things may range anywhere from physical lust to intellectualism without Christ. Wisdom from the world is never aligned with the will of God.

3. Of the Devil (v15): This refers to anything that deludes a person’s mind away from God’s decrees, which comes from the devil. Wisdom from the world originates from the devil.

C. Wisdom from the world is not merely inadequate for Christian life, but it is detrimental to growing relationship with God because it is false wisdom that opposes God.

II. Wisdom from above

A. Motive

1. Purity (v17): Purity refers to not being contaminated by the patterns of world and thus it's aligned with the will of God. Wisdom from above thus is the true wisdom since its motive is of God.

B. Characteristics: the wisdom from above will demonstrate godly characteristics as evidence and thus Christians are to seek and demonstrate the true wisdom from God.

1. Peace-loving: the wisdom from God does not produce conflict.

2. Considerate: the wisdom from God is expressed in loving others.

3. Submissive: the wisdom from God demonstrates obedience to God-given authority.

4. Full of mercy: the wisdom from God demonstrates compassion to those who are suffering and not just forgiving the wrong doers.

5. Full of good fruits: the wisdom from God is expressed in action (not just in words) to produce good results.

6. Sincerity: the wisdom from God leads the person to honesty before God.

C. The wisdom from God is the true wisdom because it is aligned with the characteristics of God.

III. Conclusion: Christians are to seek after wisdom that comes from God regardless of how slow, ineffective, dull, awkward, unpopular and foolish it may seem because even the foolishness of God is mightier than the wisdom of men.

IV. Application

A. Fear God: Fearing God is the beginning of all wisdom.

B. Love God: Loving God will help believers to desire the wisdom of God.

1-31-2010/Imitating the Father/ Ephesians 5:1-8

Outline

Background: One of the main problems of the Church of Ephesus was the division within the church. Jewish Christians and Gentile Christians were not getting along together. And in response to this, Apostle Paul gives the instruction that Christians are to be focused on imitating the heavenly father, which in turn will resolve the problems they were facing. And Christians are to imitate the heavenly father in three ways:

I. Christians are to walk in love

a. To walk mean to live one's life; the idea is that life is a long journey that we have to walk through.

b. There were four types of love in Greco Roman culture.

i. Agape: unconditional love like that of God's love to his children.

ii. Phileo: brotherly love.

iii. Eros: erotic love.

iv. Strogos: natural affection.

c. The love that Paul is referring to is agape, the unconditional love.

d. Jesus demonstrates his love to Peter despite his denials (Luke 22:61).

* In imitating the heavenly father, Christians are to first demonstrate the agape love, towardsthe fellow brothers and sisters in Christ.

II. Christians are to put away the old self

a. Christians are not to continually live in sin after being saved.

b. Apostle Paul gives 6 specific characteristics of sin that Christians are to get rid of:

i. Sexual immorality: any type of sexual activities outside of marriage.

ii. Impurity: beyond the action, impurity encompasses thoughts, desires, words, intent of sexual immorality.

iii. Covetousness: any worldly thing that people may greed over (material possession to reputation).

iv. Filthiness: thoughts, words, desires, actions and everything else that are not godly.

v. Foolish Talk: any type of gossip to unnecessary talk.

vi. Crude joking: jokes or content of conversation that are derogatory.

*In imitating the heavenly father, Christians cannot continue to live in the old self, the life of sin.

III. Christians are to be apart

a. Being apart for Christians means not conforming into the patterns of this world.

b. Christians are to set themselves apart for God.

c. In biblical context, being holy refers to being apart.

d. Being holy means not engaging in certain activities or having certain lifestyles.

e. Being holy is not a suggestion, but a mandatory condition that all Christians are to have.

*In imitating the heavenly father, Christians are to set themselves apart, meaning be holy.

Conclusion: When Christians live the life of likeness of the father, there will be much less problems such as divisions within the church, as shown in the church of Ephesus.

1-10-2010/ Faith and Works/ James 2:14-26

Outline

I. The audience that James is addressing is a group of people who did not demonstrate action (in loving, helping, encouraging others and etc.) despite their confession to be believers.

II. The “actions” or “good works” that James is referring to is result of having genuine saving faith (response to the salvation in Jesus Christ), and it is not a prerequisite for salvation.

III. Hence in order to demonstrate “good works” or “action,” the bible speaks of, the person must foremost have the genuine saving faith.

A. The early Reformers concurred that the faith, in Jesus Christ, necessitates three elements in order for that faith to be considered as genuine saving faith.

i. Notitia: the content of what a person believes. The idea is that whatever the person believes (the object of faith) needs to be true in order for that faith or belief to be genuine saving faith.

ii. Assensus: intellectual assent. The idea is that the person must give an assent or agreement to the object of faith, at least theoretical or intellectual level, in order for that faith or belief to be genuine saving faith.

iii. Fiducia: the complete surrender and trust. The idea is that the person must give complete surrender and trust, to the object of faith, in order that faith or belief to be genuine saving faith.

B. The people James is addressing are missing the last part “Fiducia.”

IV. When there is complete surrender and trust in God, it will naturally produce good works since complete surrender and trust in God means obedience to the Word of God. And the Word of God teaches God's people to do good works” (Ephesians 2:10).

V. Application

A. Complete Surrender: Whether it is a job, money, goal, ambition, relationship, reputation, friend, hobby, Christians are to give up all things for God; i.e. placing these things as secondary, behind obedience to God.

B. Complete Trust: Whether it is a job, money, goal, ambition, relationship, reputation, friend, hobby, or even one’s life, Christians are to place confidence in God that He will provide because He is the giver of every good and perfect gift.