Studies in the Epistle of James

[nChrist]

Studies in the Epistle of James

James 1:23-2:13

By Paul M. Sadler

"For if any be a hearer of the Word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was" (James 1:23,24).


THE PAINFUL REALITY



Most people are photogenic! They have a winsome smile and look as natural in a photograph as real life. Unfortunately, I am not one of those people. Several years ago I went to a professional photographer hoping to get an acceptable photograph to use for the Searchlight and press releases. I explained to him that I wasn't photogenic to which he replied, with a chuckle, "Pastor, I've been doing this longer than you've been alive. Don't worry we'll have you out of here in a few minutes." An hour later he was whistling a different tune! "You're right, Pastor, you're not camera friendly!" I tried to warn him! Those who have attempted to get a good picture of me are reading these lines saying to themselves, truer words have never been spoken!


With the advent of the computer and programs like Adobe Photoshop it's possible to work wonders with a photograph today. You can darken graying hair, remove blemishes, and even eliminate wrinkles. If you are really on the cutting edge of this new technology, you can make a posed appearance look natural. Some would call this mercy! If you look in a mirror, however, what you see is the cold hard facts. Mirrors don't lie! This is called justice!


Mirrors ("a glass" Gr. esoptron from which we get our English word optical) in biblical times were highly polished pieces of metal that reflected one's image. In the above portion, James uses the mirror as a metaphor for the Word of God. He likens the man who is merely a hearer of the Word to a man who looks into a mirror, but simply walks away ignoring the fact he's withering away. The mirror of God's Word exposes the "hearer only" to be a wretched sinner, but he has no time or desire to ponder the matter and quickly forgets his precarious state.


James praises the man who continues in the "perfect law of liberty." This man is blessed because he isn't merely a forgetful hearer of the Word; he's a doer of it. He looks into the mirror of God's Word and sees the importance of obeying the will of God. The perfect law of liberty is synonymous with the Sermon on the Mount recorded in Matthew Chapters 5, 6 and 7. A casual reading of the Sermon on the Mount and the epistle of James clearly shows that the two are woven together throughout with kingdom truth. In fact, there are at least 15 parallel passages between the teaching of the Lord Jesus and the Apostle James. Here are three examples:


1. The importance of spiritual maturity concerning kingdom truth:



"Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect" (Matt. 5:48 ).


"But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing" (James 1:4).


2. The kingdom saints were to avoid the perils of uncertain riches:



"Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal" (Matt. 6:19,20).


"Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you. Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are motheaten. Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days" (James 5:1-3).
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[nChrist]

Studies in the Epistle of James

James 1:23-2:13

By Paul M. Sadler

3. Whatever the kingdom saints asked in faith believing they received:



"Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened" (Matt. 7:7,8 ).


The Sermon on the Mount referred to by James as the "perfect law of liberty" is the standard of righteousness that will govern the coming Millennial Kingdom to be established here upon the earth. It should be noted that the "perfect law of liberty" primarily deals with relationships. While the foundation of this charter rests squarely upon the Mosaic system, it transfers the offence of a sinful act to the motive behind it. The Law says, "Thou shalt not commit adultery," but the perfect law of liberty adds, "That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart" (Matt. 5:28 ). After Pentecost, when a Spirit-filled believer applied the deeper teachings of the Sermon on the Mount in his every day experience it brought liberty?hence the designation, the perfect law of liberty. It is important to remember, "Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty" (II Cor. 3:17).


"If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain. Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world" (James 1:26,27).


Although Christianity is often called a religion, humanly speaking, it is only so in a secondary sense. True Christianity is a personal relationship with Christ. It's amazing when you consider it, but all the religions of today's world are false. The only religion that was ever divinely ordained of God was Judaism. Sadly, the Jews had allowed it to degenerate to the point where Paul merely called it "the Jews' religion" (Gal. 1:13).


Religion is works, pure and simple! But James differentiates between religious acts which are external and those that are a product of an inward change. Note that the apostle uses the terms "pure" and "undefiled" in a moral and ethical sense rather than a ceremonial sense. The Jew who went through all the motions of giving alms, fasting, and praying publicly may have seemed to be religious, but his unbridled tongue exposed his true nature. The venom flowing from his lips in the form of cursing and bitterness demonstrated that he had only deceived.


The man who had believed on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ was regenerated; therefore, he experienced a change of heart, mind, and direction. Thus like the horse that is bridled, his tongue was under control of the Word of God. In relation to the kingdom then, the mark of true religion was the man who glorified God with his speech and would naturally care for the orphans and widows among them. A change of heart always reflected itself in a change in actions under the kingdom gospel (Matt. 7:15-20). Today, "we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them" (Eph. 2:10). Note, "we should walk" in good works, which implies this may not always be the case. That's the nature of grace!


THE PITFALL OF PARTIALITY



"My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons. For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment; And ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool: Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts?" (James 2:1-4).


As James tackles the subject of partiality in this section he begins with the salutation "my brethren" to remind us that he is addressing the household of faith, particularly those of the dispersion. The apostle adds, "Have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons." Though somewhat awkward, the sense of this passage is "hold not the faith of the Lord Jesus Christ with respect of persons." The warning was, don't show favoritism toward anyone!


James uses attendance in the assembly to illustrate his point. First, the term "assembly" here is the Greek word for synagogue.
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[nChrist]

Studies in the Epistle of James

James 1:23-2:13

By Paul M. Sadler

James wasn't one to sit idly by where an injustice was concerned; consequently, his response is predictable: Are you not showing partiality, which is a sin against God? God is equally concerned about both souls. In essence, he says, isn't it in keeping with your calling to be an imitator of God, who is not a respecter of persons? The apostle makes an airtight case that they had become "judges of evil thoughts." Clearly the motive behind showing partiality to the rich man was selfish gain. On the other hand, the poor man had nothing to offer but a sincere heart and a desire to serve the Lord. Sadly, this same type of prejudice can be seen today in the Church in regard to divorce, social status, race, etc. For example:


Mohandas K. Gandhi was the leader of the Indian nationalist movement against British rule and considered the father of his country?.Gandhi says in his autobiography that in his student days he was truly interested in the Bible. Deeply touched by reading the Gospels, he seriously considered becoming a convert, since Christianity seemed to offer the real solution to the caste system that was dividing the people of India. One Sunday, he went to a nearby church to attend services. He decided to see the minister and ask for instruction in the way of salvation and enlightenment on other doctrines. But when he entered the sanctuary, the ushers refused to give him a seat and suggested that he go and worship with his own people. Gandhi left and never went back. "If Christians have caste differences also," he said to himself, "I might as well remain a Hindu."1


"Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him? But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats? Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are called?" (James 2:5-7).


James was appalled at the attitude of many within the assembly who despised the poor. They were the very one's God had chosen to inherit the kingdom blessings. This doesn't mean that simply because a man is poor he's automatically saved, anymore than a rich man could not be saved because he's wealthy. God loves them both! William Barclay makes this insightful comment:


James is not shutting the door on the rich - far from it. He is saying that the gospel of Christ is especially dear to the poor and that in it there is a welcome for those who have no one to welcome them, and that through it there is a value set on those whom the world regards as valueless.


God has greatly used the believing poor to accomplish His will, seeing that they are normally in closer touch with the counsel of His will. The night Christ was born God chose to announce the arrival of His beloved Son to a group of poor, lowly shepherds who, like Simeon, were awaiting the consolation of Israel (Luke 2:8-20,25). Of course, the rich were so consumed with their business affairs they were unaware the Messiah was even coming. Interestingly, Christ passed by the ivory palaces of Rome when He came into the world. He chose rather to be born in the insignificant town of Bethlehem, where His mother Mary laid Him in a manger - a feeding trough for animals. He was born into poverty that we might be made rich. The humble surroundings into which Christ was born speaks volumes. You see, both poor and rich can approach Him, as demonstrated in the visitation of the shepherds and the wise men.


It seemed to go beyond James as to why there were those in the assembly who wanted to cater to the rich. It was the wealthy and powerful who were behind setting up false witnesses against Christ and Stephen. They were the ones who demanded the death of the Savior and committed the murder of Stephen. Why then would they want to appease those who persecuted them and were responsible for having some of their own hauled off to the judgment seat? James was amazed that they were so blind! Like Judas, some of the rich undoubtedly surmised that the coming kingdom might profit them in more ways than one (John 12:4-6). Thus, they had an ulterior motive for their attendance - gain!


"If ye fulfil the royal law according to the Scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself, ye do well: But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced [convicted] of the law as transgressors. For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law. So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty. For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath showed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment" (James 2:8-13).


We believe the "royal law" is a reference to the totality of the Law of Moses, which is summed up in: "Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself." You see, if the hearers of James loved their neighbor, they would not commit adultery with their neighbor's wife. If they loved their neighbor, they would not steal from him or do him any harm. 


But as sure as the sun rises someone probably pointed out to James that while they may have been guilty of prejudice, they had never murdered anyone. To which James replied: "For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all." D. L. Moody explained it this way: Picture a man hanging over a ravine by a chain that has ten links. If all ten links break, he will fall to his death. If five links break, he will fall to his death. If just one link breaks, death is waiting! You only have to break one law to be a transgressor of the law.


Those who lived under the law will be judged by the law. "So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty." Note James clarifies that it will essentially be the "perfect law of liberty" the Lord uses to administer justice in the kingdom. As we have seen, it specifically deals with relationships under the Mosaic system and exposes the motive behind the action. One of the standards is this, those who showed no mercy will not be shown mercy (Matt. 7:1-5 cf. James 2:13). The apostle's desire was that his readers would show mercy to the poor so that in the Day of Judgment they might rejoice in judgment and not be the subject of it for being unmerciful.




Endnotes



1. 1500 Illustrations for Biblical Preaching, Edited by Michael P. Green,

Baker Book House, Grand Rapids, MI, pages 286,287.



2. The New Daily Study Bible, The Letters of James and Peter by

William Barclay, Westminster John Knox Press, Louisville, London, pages

76,77.

[Brother Jerry]

Amen.

I have to say that James is one of my favorite books.  When I need to get back on my feet after a trial...it is James that usually pulls me through it.

[nChrist]

Amen.

I have to say that James is one of my favorite books.  When I need to get back on my feet after a trial...it is James that usually pulls me through it.

Amen Brother Jerry!

James is an incredibly beautiful book. It's sad that many don't understand it and become confused. In this respect, the same is true for Hebrews, another incredibly beautiful book. Both of these books have great truths for us that lead to strength and appreciation for the Gifts of GOD. Maybe we could say that they require slow and diligent study to see what GOD is telling us in more difficult portions of Scripture. I must add that it is well worth the additional time and effort to understand the beautiful message from GOD.

Love In Christ,
Tom