James 1
James 1
Luther was wrong. James is not contradicting Paul about faith and works. This chapter does not even mention the Law.
#faith
#James
Published May 22nd, 2017
Main point summary
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Main point summary
Dear brothers and sisters. Your faith will be tested so ask God for wisdom to rejoice in the time of trial. Don't seek riches because they pass away but let his word change you. Desire is not a way God tests us. That is your own sinful nature that needs to be dealt with. No, your faith should lead you to care for the needy and purge your body of sinful corruption. This is the road to blessing! James.
Discourse**
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James 1:1-27
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a James, a servant 1 of God and b of the Lord Jesus Christ, To c the twelve tribes in d the Dispersion: Greetings.
Greetings from James the Lord's servant to all Christians
e Count it all joy, my brothers, 1 when you meet trials f of various kinds, for you know that g the testing of your faith h produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be i perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
Rejoice in trials because they produce steadfast faith which ultimately results in perfection
j If any of you lacks wisdom, k let him ask God, l who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. But m let him ask in faith, n with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like o a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; p he is a double-minded man, q unstable in all his ways.
Ask God for wisdom because he gives it generously but only if you ask without doubting
Let the lowly brother boast in his exaltation, and r the rich in his humiliation, because s like a flower of the grass 1 he will pass away. For the sun rises with its scorching heat and t withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beauty perishes. So also will the rich man fade away in the midst of his pursuits.
God exalts the lowly but humbles the rich because they are chasing what quickly passes away
u Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive v the crown of life, w which God has promised to those who love him.
God rewards those who love him and who remain steadfast under trial with the crown of life
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Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire x when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and y sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.
Don't blame God when you are tempted because God is incapable of evil. No, its your own desires that lead you into sin and ultimately to death
Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. z Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from a the Father of lights b with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. 1 c Of his own will he d brought us forth by the word of truth, e that we should be a kind of f firstfruits of his creatures.
Don't be deceived--God never changes and every good gift comes from Him. We ourselves are living proof of that as we become new creatures in him
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g Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person h be quick to hear, i slow to speak, j slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.
Listen more and speak less and keep anger under control because it is the opposite of God's righteousness
Therefore k put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with l meekness the implanted word, m which is able to save your souls.
Therefore, get rid of all sinful pollution and embrace God's word with humility--that is the way to salvation
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But be n doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.
Be a doer of the word--if you think hearing is enough you are deluded
For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like.
Why? That's as silly as looking at your face in the mirror and forgetting what you look like as soon as you walk away
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But the one who looks into the perfect law, o the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, p he will be blessed in his doing.
But the active, persevering doer of the law of liberty will be blessed
If anyone thinks he is religious q and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s r religion is worthless.
If you claim to be religious but can't control your tongue you are deluded
Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: s to visit t orphans and widows in their affliction, and u to keep oneself v unstained from the world.
No, true religion is about caring for those in need and avoiding the pollution of the world
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