Online-SUNDAY SCHOOL

Celebrate Your Trails 8 NOV 09

JAMES 1:2-4 Dr. Herschel H. Hobbs in his Studying Life and Work Lessons, July-September 1993, pages 6-7 wrote “The Epistle of James was written by Jesus’ half brother, who was also the pastor of the church in Jerusalem. It was written to Jewish and Gentile [note: James and his church were Judaizers. James wrote to those “twelve tribes which were scattered abroad” meaning ACTS 8:2-4. These were Christians who were Jews. While the letter applies to Christians who were Gentiles, he really wrote only to Jewish Christians.] Christians scattered throughout the Roman world and is the most Jewish book in the New Testament [note: this supports my previous note]. Since James did not mention the Jerusalem Conference of A.D. 49 [note: this is ACTS 15 and adds further support], his book probably was written prior to that date. If so, it evidently was the first book of the New Testament to be written. It is also the most practical book in the New Testament; it deals with applied Christianity…. Paul regarded James as one of the pillars of the Jerusalem church (Gal. 2:9).”

James used a Greek word (adelphol, plural of adelphos, which means out of the same womb. So in context with verse 1, he means fellow Jewish Christians.

Dr. Hobbs points out the need to consider context on page 8 “The key word in verse 2 is “temptations” (peirasmois). The root meaning of the word is trail or testing. The English word is from the Latin and originally meant “trails whether good or bad” (Robertson, Word Pictures, 11). In each usage the context must determine which meaning is correct.”

James warned against (Greek) “various trails in character.” It is the person who falls into such trails, whether on purpose or not. Trials faced with joy result in endurance, which leads to maturity (being perfect) and full (complete) development. They are a proving ground for the genuineness of one’s faith. James is not saying trails are the only way, nor a required way of for faith growth and identification. But Peter does say in verse 6 of 2 PET 1:5-7 that endurance (Greek meaning) is essential to the Growth Process for a Christian.

JAMES 1:5 Wisdom is the ability to use knowledge wisely. God gives wisdom abundantly and graciously when we ask, IF we have the KNOWLEDGE to apply. In Peter’s Growth Process, knowledge is the key to real Christian growth, after one has the virtue (moral energy to grow. This very point is what most pastors and teachers overlook. Knowledge must come before wisdom. Without knowledge, God has nothing to work with.

Assuming the Christian has the knowledge for a particular situation, God, through the Holy Spirit, will give liberally the guidance to act upon this knowledge. Note specifically (2 Pet 3:18 RSV) But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen."

JAMES 1:6-8 Dr. Hobbs, page 10 “James cautioned us that if we expect to receive God’s liberal gift we must ask in faith, “nothing wavering,” or having doubt as to whether or not God will give needed wisdom.” Doubting. i.e., going back and forth between belief and unbelief (cf. Rom. 4:20), is the lack of the virtue in Peter’s Growth Process. The back and forth is not about losing one’s salvation. It is about moving ahead or not along the Growth Path. James used the illustration of a “double-minded man” which means a drunken person who has drunken so much as to be unstable in walking.

Thus the thought is God is not going to give a fine gift to a drunk who may break it.

JAMES 1:9-10a James had to deal with the social bias of the rich versus the poor in economic and social ways. Paul deal with a similar situation. Note (1 Cor 11:20-22 RSV) "When you meet together, it is not the Lord's supper that you eat. {21} For in eating, each one goes ahead with his own meal, and one is hungry and another is drunk. {22} What! Do you not have houses to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God and humiliate those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I commend you in this? No, I will not."

The issue is certainly not making all Christians to have the same degree of money. James is not saying a rich person had to become poor anymore than Paul did in (1 Tim 6:17-19 RSV) "As for the rich in this world, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on uncertain riches but on God who richly furnishes us with everything to enjoy. {18} They are to do good, to be rich in good deeds, liberal and generous, {19} thus laying up for themselves a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of the life which is life indeed."

James is addressing the spiritual equality among Christens. So in context “made low” is the rich becoming humble. Dr. Hobbs, page 11 “Vaughan (James, 26) said “The humiliation of the rich then, is a humbling of the soul, a disposition of the heart. It is the attitude of a man whose pride in material wealth has been shattered.” So James addresses the rich coming to see this by either by losing his money or by being brought through some circumstance in order to realize that money means little and is at best transitory.

JAMES 1:10b-11 This can be summed up this the old phrase “Here today and gone tomorrow.”

JAMES 1:12 DR. Hobbs, page 12 “”Blessed” is more than happiness. Happy suggests happening. If good things happen to us, we are happy. Bad things results in unhappiness…. But this blessedness comes from having endured the trail and being victorious in it. … Enduring trials proves that our faith is genuine.

Such a person will receive “the crown of life.” Since successful endurance is proof of one’s salvation, this can hardly refer to that…. This crown may be seen as the honor related to a victor’s reward.” See 2 TIM.

JAMES 1:13 Dr. Hobbs, page 12 “Note “tempted” and “evil” on this verse. James was not thinking of trials, but of temptations to commit sin.” To tempt is to test, try, prove, or solicit to evil. In verses 2 and 12, the same Greek word is used to mean those trials that are designed to prove the quality of one's character. In this verse the word means "a solicitation to evil," and this, James says, is not from God but from man's own inner lust (v. 14). Any attempt at self-excuse is based on ignorance both of God and of the nature of temptation. James then addresses the why and consequences.

JAMES 1:14 Dr. Hobbs, page 13 “The Greek verb means “drawn out.” This is significant…

In the phrase “of [by] his own lusts” (epithumia) I see “his own” as referring to a person’s legitimate desire that the devil turns into lust.”

It is best thought of as carried away and enticed. We cannot blame the devil for our sin. The devil may well [i.e. his demons] pervert the situation with increased temptations and self-justifications. But all sin is a personal decision to sin. The devil cannot make any saved person sin!

JAMES 1:15 The progression is frightening and certain: lust, sin, death (See Eve's temptation, Gen. 3:6-22. This was a seemly logical thought process and choice when she made it.

JAMES 1:16 Do not be deceived. Used also in 1 Cor. 6:9; 15:33; and Gal. 6:7.This is easy to say, but how do we do it? Dr. Hobbs, page 17 “Many Christians simply do not study their Bibles sufficiently and do not apply to their lives what they learn. Therefore, they are led astray from real Christian development (v. 8). Such is not in keeping with God’s will.” Paul’s statement is vital here: (1 Cor 14:29 RSV) "Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others weigh what is said." The Greek word for weight or judge is 1252. diakrino, dee-ak-ree'-no; from G1223 and G2919; to separate thoroughly, i.e. (lit. and reflex.) to withdraw from, or (by impl.) oppose; fig. to discriminate (by impl. decide), or (reflex.) hesitate:--contend, make (to) differ (-ence), discern, doubt, judge, be partial, stagger, waver. In other words, immediate emotional acceptance is to be avoided. TEST ALL YOU HEAR!

JAMES 1:17 Every good thing is given in the sense that all good comes from (or is allowed) by God. Both the gift and the act of giving are involved. The point is that all these good things come from above. God is the source of all light--physical, intellectual, moral, and spiritual--and He does not change. But we must remember Paul’s vital warning: (2 Cor 11:14-15 RSV). And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. {15} So it is not strange if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds."

JAMES 1:18 God's will or purpose is the cause of our regeneration (He brought us forth) by means of the Gospel message though personal Repentance and Faith (ACTS 20:21). These first believers, largely Jewish in background, were the guarantee of a fuller harvest of believers from all nations to come.

Marvin Ganote, Hobbs Study Class, Adult Teacher. Lesson at: http://dma.dreamhosters.com/~ganotemd/lesson.htm or http://homepages.udayton.edu/~ganotem/bible/lesson.htm