Fear No Fear

(All scripture from Lexham English Bible, Copyright 2012 Logos Bible Software)

“Understand this, my dear brothers: every person must be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger, for human anger does not accomplish the righteousness of God. Therefore, putting aside all moral uncleanness and wicked excess, welcome with humility the implanted message which is able to save your souls. But be doers of the message and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves, because if anyone is a hearer of the message and not a doer, this one is like someone staring at his own face in a mirror, for he looks at himself and goes away and immediately forgets what sort of person he was. But the one who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues to do it, not being a forgetful hearer but a doer who acts, this one will be blessed in what he does” (James 1:19-25)

James, the half-brother of Jesus (same mother – Mary – but different fathers – Joseph, not God Almighty), wrote this letter. He was the first leader of the Jerusalem church. He wrote it around 46-48 AD (maybe as late as 60 AD). He was martyred for his faith in 62 AD by the high priest ordering his stoning. He was greatly respected in the Jewish and the Gentile worlds. The viewpoint of his letter is not NEW, but a thoroughly Messianic-Jewish view of the scriptures. He agrees with Jesus. the scriptures, and with Paul that works do not save you. But if you have real trust in Jesus you can’t help but do good works. The works are a result of a relationship with God, not a way to earn a relationship. Trust in Jesus is the basis for correctly fulfilling biblical commandments, and this is the light in which this letter should be read.

Chapter one is James’ greetings to the believers that had been scattered from Jerusalem into the world at large. He encourages them to hold fast in the various trials that they are experiencing. A believer can rejoice even in trials because our joy comes from God and not from our circumstances.

Chapter two admonishes all believers to reject class distinctions. We are all equal in the Kingdom because God made all men equal. He also expands on the ideas Jesus taught about trust in God and good works. Works mirror our trust. No trust, no works. If you trust, you can’t HELP but do good works. Being a good person doesn’t get you into heaven.

Chapter three touches on our need to place even our tongues into submission to the cross. Only by drawing on God for our words can we tame the tongue (it is not US that tames it, we just replace the source of our words). We are to lean into the wisdom of heaven. Let THAT be the source of our every word and we will help bring peace to those around us.

Chapter four encourages us to stand on the Word, use the Word, and study the Word. By submitting to God and standing on what the Word teaches, the devil will automatically flee. He cannot stand against the Word. He is a defeated foe. He has already lost. Us he can attack, but God? He doesn’t have a chance, so he runs away.

Chapter five starts talking about the problems with wealth. When we love money and trust in it, we will fail and fall. When we ask for financial blessing, but only to blow it on our passions and desires, we won’t receive. Greed cannot be part of our thinking. We can be totally satisfied with what we have, when we are basing our satisfaction on God. If God is first, anything and everything can follow. But if we don’t have God as our firm foundation, finances will ruin us. The chapter ends with James’ exhortation for the believers to be patient in the Lord. Don’t spend all your time dreaming for the future, but also work here in the present. Pray for one another. The prayer based on trust in God will work miraculous wonders. If you don’t have enough belief in your trust in God, ask someone who does believe for prayer. Prayer makes ALL the difference in our lives. It is a major tool for keeping our eyes on the One who does it ALL: Jesus.

Summary

Key Players: God, Jesus, James

Key Verse(s): James 1:19-27; 2:14-26; 3:13-18; 4:1-10; 5:7-20