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Critical Points in James – Lesson 13
Friends, you may have thought that Lesson 12 was the last lesson on James. However, I like to recap a study so we can review the many points. First, James does such a great job of explaining practical Christianity. Secondly, we need everything he presents to live our lives for Jesus.
I hope that you will make a practice of rereading James regularly. So today, let’s take a quick look at the twelve lessons’ main points.
- Faith Grows Through Trials – Lesson 1
Our attitude toward trials needs to change. We need to rejoice when we must face all types of problems (trials). Trials test our faith, and overcoming them produces patience and the ability to withstand whatever Satan throws at you.
As your faith grows, you can ask more from God and know that He is faithful to answer your prayers of faith. God responds to our faith in Him.
If we ask for wisdom, God will give it to everyone who asks in faith. First, however, you must ask with confidence and not doubt. James says, 6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. James 1:6-8 NKJV
- Tempted by God – Lesson 2
Trails do not come from God. No evil can tempt God, and He does not tempt anyone. So, from where does temptation come? Is it Satan who tempts us?
James tells us the answer to this question.
14 But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. 15 Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death. James 1:14-15 NKJV
We learn from this section of Scripture that our nature causes us to sin. God did not tempt us, nor did Satan. Instead, the source of our sin lies within our person and our tendency to do what we know is wrong.
On the other hand, every good and perfect gift comes from the Father. For example, He brought Jesus into the world so that He might save us.
- Doers – Lesson 3
Today, the church seems to be satisfied with just getting to church on Sunday. Of course, most of us realize that is not what Christianity is. Still, the idea persists. It is much easier to invite someone to church than tell them about a loving Savior Who could make a difference in their life.
James says, “not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” He wants to make sure that we understand that being Christian is more than listening to preaching and teaching. It requires action.
25 But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does. James 1:25 NKJV
Remember that Israel heard what God said; they just did not do it. So he destroyed their nation and sent them into bondage until they decided to do what God required.
- Impartial – Lesson 4
You would think that the one place that you would not have people showing favoritism would be in the church. Sadly, that is not true and was not true in the early church either. People seem always to want to put someone up and tear someone down.
2 My brethren, do not hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with partiality. James 2:1 NKJV
James makes it clear that we are to share the gospel without showing partiality as Christians. Jesus died for all equally, and every one of us fits in one class. We are sinners. It does not matter what we have or don’t have, and we are all saved by grace.
- Faith – Works; What Saves? – Lesson 5,
The apostle Paul emphasizes the saving grace of our Lord Jesus, and James emphasizes works.
Neither of them is in any disagreement on what saves a person. It is faith in the atoning blood of Jesus the Christ, shed on the cross for our sins that can save. Salvation comes through believing in Jesus as the Son of God and that He died for you. Works are your response to that faith.
James points out that if we don’t have works, our faith is without expression. So how can you show anyone that you have faith without works? It is impossible!
14 What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? James 2:14 NKJV
Faith is an action word. If you believe in Jesus as your Savior, you will do what He has commanded.
Remember the example of Abraham and Isaac. James says, 22 Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made ]perfect? James 2:22 NKJV
His conclusion is clear in this verse. 26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also. James 2:26 NKJV
- The Untamable Tongue – Lesson 6
And then there is the tongue. You can use it for great good, but often it is used for evil. As Christians, we are to use our mouths to share God’s Word, lead people to Jesus, and teach them how they should live.
9 With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God. 10 Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so. 11 Does a spring send forth fresh water and bitter from the same opening? James 3:9-11 NKJV
We all need to be very careful what we say and how we say it. Using your words to uplift is practical Christianity.
James says to show our faith by good conduct in the meekness of wisdom.
Words are essential to life!
- Fighting and Quarreling – Lesson 7,
Christians can not fight and quarrel! So stop it! You are the temple of God. God’s temple fight with God’s temple? Of course not!
James pushes us to realize that many of the things we are guilty of are simply wrong. They are wrong on a human scale, but much more so on a spiritual level.
We are to avoid all fighting and quarreling. Listen to the Scripture.
Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members? 2 You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask. 3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures. James 4:1-3 NKJV
As Christians, we are to humble ourselves at all times. When we fail, God is with us to forgive, but it requires action on our part. We can not let our pride cause us to sin. When it does, we must be quick to ask forgiveness of God and of those we have offended.
“God resists the proud,
But gives grace to the humble.”
- Friendship with the World – Lesson 8
You have a choice. But, you can only choose one. You can be friends with Jesus, or you can be friends with the world. First, you must decide which way you will go, then be faithful to your choice.
James asks a simple question, and we all have to answer it if we are going to claim to be a Christian. ”
Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. James 4:4b NKJV
So what do you choose? Whose friend will you be? Will you serve God or yourself?
- What is submission to God? – James Lesson 9
Remember this lesson? We do not like to submit to anything or anyone. It goes against human nature. Yet we submit to governments, employers, husbands, or wives all the time. So we choose to whom we will and to whom we will not submit.
7 Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. James 4:7-8 NKJV
There are two promises we need to plant into our hearts and minds. First, if you resist the Devil, he will flee from you. The second is even better; draw near to God and God will draw near to you.
So clean up your act, and stop being double-minded. God is waiting for you. He did His part.
- Judging and Boasting – James Lesson 10,
We are not to judge fellow Christians. It is not within our job description, nor are we qualified to do so.
11 Do not speak evil of one another, brethren. He who speaks evil of a brother and judges his brother, speaks evil of the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge. James 4:11 NKJV
We are not to boast about what we will do or when. If we follow God, He will decide where we will go and what we will do when we get there.
13 Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit”; 14 whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. 15 Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.” 16 But now you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil. James 4:13-16 NKJV
- Rich in What? – James Lesson 11
Christians are to gain wealth beyond all measure!
The rich are warned: 5 Come now, you rich, weep and howl for your miseries that are coming upon you! 2 Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are moth-eaten. 3 Your gold and silver are corroded, and their corrosion will be a witness against you and will eat your flesh like fire. You have heaped up treasure in the last days. James 5:1-3 NKJV
This wealth is not to be in gold, cloth, or silver. It is to be in heaven. Our world centers around gaining wealth in physical goods. People use some for good and some for evil, but we will take nothing with us.
- Be Patient and Persevering – James Lesson 12
As we apply these scriptures, we need to be patient. God’s timing is not the same as ours. Therefore, we are to persevere until His return. We may live to see it, or it may be after we have passed.
7 Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain. 8 You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand. James 5:7-8 NKJV
In conclusion, we are to care for those in need. We are to rejoice with those who rejoice and pray with those who are sick. Our responsibility to each other is next to our duty to God.
13 Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms. 14 Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. James 5:13-14 NKJV
And last, but not least, we are to look to the health of the brethren. Many will have hard times and be drawn away by the world. It is our task to go to them and try to bring them back.
19 Brethren, if anyone among you wanders from the truth, and someone turns him back, 20 let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins. James 5:19-20 NKJV
Note: I hope that you have enjoyed James as much as I have. He deals with so many problems in the church, I feel very kindred with him. He is humble and yet not afraid, to tell the truth to people who may not want to hear.
May God bless you and guide you as you apply these teachings to your life.
You can join us anytime. Following are links to the Previous Lessons from James: Faith Grows Through Trials – Lesson 1, Tempted by God – Lesson 2, Doers of the Word – Lesson 3, Impartial – Lesson 4, Faith – Works What Saves – Lesson 5, The Untamable Tongue – Lesson 6, Fighting and Quarreling – Lesson 7, Friendship with the World – Lesson 8, What is submission to God? – James Lesson 9, Judging and Boasting – James Lesson 10, Rich in What? – James Lesson 11, Be Patient and Persevering – James Lesson 12 and the last Critical Points of James – James Lesson 13