From One Slave to Another by John

FROM ONE SLAVE TO ANOTHER (JAMESBS1.SER)
James 1:1-18

1. James is mentioned 42 times in the N.T.
(1) The name “James” is really “Jacob.” (Jacob seems to be reserved for Israel). He is referred to 27 times in the NT. The only difference in the names is the language. “Yacob” is Hebrew, and “Yacobos” is Greek.
(2) There are four and perhaps five Jameses in the NT (Some think only three.)
a. James, the father of Judas not Iscariot is one.
b. James, the son of Alphaeus is another.
c. James the Less, (Mark 15:40) could be the son of Alpheus.
d. James, the brother of John.
e. And James, the half-brother of Jesus. (James, Joses, and sisters mentioned in MK 6:3)
2. We feel sure the brother of John was martyred before the Book of James was written. (Acts 12:2)
3. Except for the half-brother of Jesus, the others do not seem to have been well-known and respected enough to write this Book.
4. On the other hand, James, the brother of our Lord, saw Jesus after the resurrection according to Paul in I Corinthians 15:7. (Seeing Jesus is a canon requirement for a writing to be included in the NT.
(1) Most of us think this is the half-brother of Jesus who also was a church leader in Jerusalem (Acts 15).
(2) It hardly seems possible someone other than Peter or John could have risen to such prominence without a direct connection with Jesus.
5. The James of this Book calls himself simply a “bond-servant of God and the Lord Jesus Christ.”
6. From his writing, we know he was steeped in Judaism, but sparkling with his new life in Christ! He considered himself as one slave writing to another.
(1) Dr. Joel Gregory says, “Faith Works!” and it does!
(2) If you have faith, you can see God at work all the time, all around you! And it’s important for you to know it’s true!

I. THE BOOK IS ADDRESSED TO THE DIASPORA.

1. Diaspora means dispersed.
(1) Strabo, who lived while Jesus was on earth said, “It is hard to find a spot in the whole world which is not occupied and dominated by the Jews.” (“James, Faith Works!” Gregory, p.7)
(2) Something like 4 million Jews were scattered across the Roman empire. God placed them in the right places to spread the Good News about Him!
2. We think of Paul having plowed new ground everywhere he went, but there were Jews already there, and some of them were godly people! They didn’t know who they were waiting for, but they were waiting for Jesus!
3. James was writing to all of them, but specially the Christians! At that stage, I think he expected all of the Jews to receive Jesus. Time may have dimmed that hope.
4. I believe one of the most important things we need to learn today is God wants us scattered!
(1) Years ago in Mississippi I was asked, “Why do you Baptists fight so much? Everywhere I look there’s a Baptist Church fight going on, and then there’s two or three little Baptists churches when it’s over! Why do you fight so much?”
(2) My answer was and is, “Because we don’t practice what we believe!”
(3) “You mean you believe in peace, but you don’t practice it?”
(4) “No. I mean we believe in, but don’t practice, missions! Oh, we send money overseas to start churches, but we won’t start one next door! God knows we aren’t doing what He told us to do, and He lets us have a falling out! Then a new work starts! Obedience is a better way, but this way works. Everybody knows there are more Baptists in Mississippi than there are people!”
5. I love what Joel Gregory said about Christians gathering in “holy huddles.” Listen, “Churches have built their own gymnasiums, schools, and intricate social structures. While none of these is wrong in itself, all of them together can keep believers from being scattered as salt and light in a rotting and darkened world. One minister received an advertisement for a Christian subdivision in which only born-again people could live within its walls. That conjures up the image of Christian grocery stores where only Christians may shop for consecrated corn flakes, justified jelly, and sacred sauerkraut!”
6. We will save ourselves so much trouble if we just begin to realize we can’t keep the great commission without leaving the comfort of the family house!

II. THE FIRST LESSON OF THE BOOK CONCERNS TRIALS.

1. The word, “peirosmos” used here, in the KJ, is translated seven ways in the verb form. It is only ts as “temptation” in the noun form.
(1) Paul used it in I Cor 10:13. It would be a little awkward to ts it “test” there.
(2) In Acts 16:7, neither of these would do. The KJ ts it “assayed” and the NAS as “were trying”.
(3) Remember, translators have to translate thoughts, not just words!
2. Even Webster’s definition of the word “temptation” has “to try” as the original meaning.
3. Now, if the same word is used all the way through the NT, why does the Bible say God never tempts anyone?
(1) The answer is, because He doesn’t!
(2) The event is the same. How you react to it determines whether it was a temptation or a trial!
4. God allows us to try out our faith by going into the enemy’s, Satan’s, realm. Satan is limited in what he can do. Read Job 1:1-2:6, and you’ll see God allowed, but limited, Satan. He does the same with us.
5. In Homer’s Odyssey, Odysseus (Ulysses) had his seamen plug their ears and tie him to a mast as they passed the sea nymphs called the sirens. Their songs were supposed to be so beautiful seamen were drawn to them and crashed their ships on the rocks. Odysseus, as his own prisoner, heard them and lived! He knew how to overcome their temptation! For him it was a test! Because he prepared for it!
6. James says testing produces endurance! So that you may be complete, lacking in nothing!
7. V. 12 says the one who endures receives the crown of life!

III. HIS NEXT MESSAGE CONCERNS WISDOM.

1. Did you note the play on words between v.4 and v.5?
(1) “Lacking nothing.”
(2) “If any of you lacks faith...”
(3) This is a particular style of speech called “paranetic.” It ties thoughts together with catch words, and generally collects maxims or truisms under topics. In 108 verses, James uses 60 imperatives. Those are the three characteristics of paranetic literature.
2. If trials endured and passed bring completion and life, and failures bring instability and death, we need to know we are making the right choices, Amen?
(1) James saw that question coming, and he knew the answer.
(2) V. 5, Ask God for wisdom! (Whatever definition you give to wisdom, if it is Christian, it will be practical!)
3. How God gives the gift is important. God gives liberally, without accusation or reproach.
4. We must ask in faith, without doubt.
5. And the emphasis is on staying true until the answer comes!

CONCLUSION:

1. This wonderful message is written to and for Jews, particularly Christian Jews, but it has an undying message for us! We’ve just begun to touch it today.
2. God sees to it we are scattered as leaven in a lump so we can share the good news of Jesus with others.
3. He allows our faith to be tested. It produces strength, stability and perfection, so that we may become completely grown up in Jesus
4. No person has enough wisdom to know how to react when he is tested, but God will gift us with wisdom when we ask Him.
5. Now here you are. You don’t know whether you ought to trust Jesus, or not. Ask God. You don’t about whether you should receive Jesus and join the church, or not. Ask God. He has the wisdom, and He’ll give it to you!

Emmanuel 01/04/86
ECC 1/23/2005