James 1 – Page 2 – Ministry of Grace Church

Category: James 1

James 1:17 – God’s Perfect Gift

Posted on February 19, 2015 by Will

Every good act of giving and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.

Truth to Learn

God cannot be the source of our temptation because He only gives what is good.

Behind the Words

There are two different nouns translated “gift” (or “act of giving”) in this verse. “Act of giving” is translated from the noun dosis which refers to “the act of giving.” “Gift” is translated from the noun dōrēma referring to “the gift itself.”

“Father of lights” is a representation of God as the one from whom lights originate. According to the Apostle John, “God is light and in Him is no darkness at all.” (1John 1:9) But this is not James’ point. The reference to lights (plural) is an apparent reference to the heavenly bodies, the sun, the moon, and the stars. God is the one who gave light to these heavenly bodies. He is the creator and father of these lights.

The word “variation” is from the Greek word parallagē which means “to change alternately from one condition to another” or “to change successively through a series of stages.” This is most likely a reference to the changing of the path of the sun from one season to the next or to the moon from one full moon to the next.

The expression “shadow of turning” is also an allusion to heavenly light. It refers to the turning of a shadow from one part of the day to the next. A shadow changes both in position and intensity as the sun moves through the sky.

Meaning Explained

James is telling us that every good act of giving and every gift in its totality have their source in God. There is nothing good that you receive which does not ultimately come from God. James calls Him the Father of lights, which refers not only to physical lights in the skies, but metaphorically to spiritual light as well.

In the very beginning of creation God said, “light exist!” and light existed. He was declaring Himself present in His new creation. He is the originator, the Father of all light. Not only is He the source and substance of all light, but with Him there is no change or even variation and no moving shadow because He stays the same. That is, He is the same invariable light in all directions and at all times.

God illuminates things, He does not hide them, and He does not change from one moment to the next, from one month to the next, from one season to the next, from the beginning of creation to the end of time, God does not change! Halleluiah!

James is teaching some very profound truths about Jehovah God, here. Not only is He the source of all good, and the very existence of all light, but we can count on Him always being the same and always dealing the same with us. So, no matter what trial or temptation we are facing; no matter whether we resist the temptation or succumb to it, God’s love and His light are unchanged. And, God has not caused the temptation because that would not be in keeping with His character. God gives all good things and God does not change!

Application

Are you in the middle of a trial? Remember that God loves you unconditionally and unceasingly. You can be sure of His love in every situation and at all times!

In God's service, for His glory,

James 1:16 – Perfect Love

Posted on February 18, 2015 by Will

Do not be led astray, my beloved brethren.

Truth to Learn

Seek the truth and do not let yourself be led astray, because God loves you with a perfect love.

Behind the Words

The word translated “be led astray” is a form of planaō which means “to cause to roam or wander about.” This verb is in the passive voice indicating action that is being done to the subject (my beloved brethren). Also, this verb is in the imperative mood, indicating a command. In the Book of the Revelation this word is used with regard to Satan, the antichrist, and the false prophet, leading people astray from the true faith unto idolatry (Revelation 12:9; 19:20; 20:3).

In the Greek text the word order of this verse is “Do not be led astray brethren of mine, beloved ones.” Paul is not saying that his Christian brethren in Galatia are beloved by him (though they surely are), but that they are beloved by God. The reason for this is two-fold. First, is the fact that the word “beloved” comes from the Greek word agapē which is a self-sacrificing type of love. This is the word the apostle John used to describe what God is in 1 John 4:9. The second reason is the fact that in the next verse Paul will talk about the gifts that are bestowed by God; gifts that flow out of God’s love for us.

Meaning Explained

James has just been talking about trials and temptations. In verse thirteen he told his readers:

Let no one being tempted say, "I am tempted by God"; for God is not tempted by evil, and He Himself tempts no one.

He then went on to inform us that the source of these temptations is our own desires which have gotten out of control. He now returns to his comments about God. Believing that God tempts us to sin is heresy and James wants to make a strong point of the fact that not only does God not tempt us, but He loves us and is the source of all good things for us.

When we go through trying times, it is easy to roam from God, to get “weary in well doing,” to blame God, and to basically quit trying. James is encouraging us to hang in there during such times, not allowing ourselves to be led astray, because as brothers and sisters in Christ we are all loved by God.

This epistle (letter) is clearly addressing all of us who have been born again and who are loved by God. This agapē love has as its focus the good of the one being loved. God wants the best for us. He is not a mean ogre who wants to trick us into sinning. After all, that breaks our fellowship with Him. He wants us to grow from our trials so that we will be more like His Son, Jesus.

Application

I encourage you my brothers and sisters in Christ, in spite of whatever trials and tribulations you are going through right now, continue to walk facing God, keeping your focus on Him alone. When we are in the middle of trials one of the best pieces of advice we can receive is what James tells us later in this letter;

Be humbled before the Lord, and He will lift you up. (James 4:10)

In God's service, for His glory,

James 1:15 – Death’s Birth

Posted on February 17, 2015 by Will

Then, desire having conceived, gives birth to sin; and sin, having been completed, brings forth death.

Truth to Learn

Though we think of birth as the beginning of life, our unrestrained lusts produce a birth which results in death.

Behind the Words

The word translated “conceived” is a form of sullambanō, which is made up of sun, meaning “together” and lambanō, meaning “to take” or “to receive.” Sullambanō means “to grasp hold of” or “to enclose in the hands.” Figuratively, it is used in reference to conception when the egg grasps hold of the sperm.

“Gives birth” is translated from the Greek word tiktō, meaning “to bear or bring forth in birth.”

The Greek word apoteleō is translated here as “having been completed.” It is made up of apo, used as an intensifier and teleō meaning “to complete.” Hence, it refers to a process that has been absolutely, completely finished.

Finally, “bring forth” is translated from the Greek word apokueō, which is made up of apo, meaning “from” and kueō, meaning “to swell or be pregnant.” This is a medical term for giving birth, whereas tikto, discussed above, is a literary term for the same thing.

Meaning Explained

Once again Paul uses a play on words to make his point. What he is telling us is that the child of lust is sin, and the child of sin is death. We were told in the previous verse that we are drawn away and enticed by our own overly strong desire, or lust. Now we are told that when that lust has grasped hold of us it produces sin, which then produces death.

When we give in to those overly strong desires, we do so to gain something: pleasure, power, possessions, accomplishment, etc. Instead of getting what we thought we wanted, however, what we get is death. Physical death is the separation of the body from the soul and spirit and it breaks our fellowship with those we have known in the flesh. The death talked about here, caused by sin, separates us spiritually from all that is holy and is a breaking of our fellowship with God. Just as the Father could not look upon the Son for those three hours as he hung on the cross bearing our sins, He cannot be in fellowship with us when there is sin in our life.

Likewise as Adam and Eve thought they would gain something from eating of the forbidden fruit, they, instead, got death. They died in a physical sense in that they began dying that day, eventually being cast out of the garden. They also died in a spiritual sense, in that they hid from God and were afraid of Him. When we give in to our selfish desires we are putting our own will before God’s will. This is the exact opposite of humbling ourselves before God and submitting to His will. Selfish satisfaction produces separation from God whereas humble submission produces close fellowship with God.

Application

Satisfying our lusts is an act of putting our will and our desires ahead of what God wants for us. It is taking the throne in our own life instead of giving it to the One who truly deserves it. Let us regard God’s will as the most important thing in our lives and He will take care of the rest.

In God's service, for His glory,

James 1:14 – Temptation’s Source

Posted on February 16, 2015 by Will

But each one is tempted by his own desires, being drawn away and enticed by them.

Truth to Learn

We may want to blame someone or something else for our sinfulness, but each of us is to blame for our own sin.

Behind the Words

James tells us that each and every one of us is tempted, not by God, but by his (or her) own “desires.” This is translated from the Greek work epithumia which is made up of epi, which means “above or over” (as in epidermis) and thumia, which means “the mind.” What this word represents is overly strong desires of the mind. It is often translated as “lusts.”

The words “drawn away” are from the Greek word exelkō. This is made up of ex meaning “out of” or “away from” and helkō, meaning “to drag” or “to draw.” This word was used by Jesus in John 6:44 where He said that the Father draws men to Him. Hence, this word means to be pulled away or drawn away.

The word translated “enticed” is deleadzō, from the noun delear which means “bait.” And what is the purpose of bait on the end of a hook? It is to entice and entrap a fish. Metaphorically, this word means “to trick or entice.”

In the previous verse we noted that the word “by” was translated from apo, referring to source rather than agency. In this verse the word “by” is translated from hupo which indicates agency. In other words, our overly strong desires are the very things (the agency) which cause us to be tempted.

Meaning Explained

When we sin, we have no one to blame but ourselves. We cannot claim the old Flip Wilson line, “The devil made me do it!” And we cannot blame our parents, or the way we were raised. The sin comes from within and it can only be taken care of from without; that is, by the blood of Christ. He is the perfect Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world (John 1:29).

We all have desires and they are necessary for sustaining life. We have the desire to eat, we have the desire to rest when we are tired, we have sexual desire, we have the desire to achieve, and many others. All of these are good and necessary in the proper balance. It is when any one of these becomes too great, even uncontrollable, that we get tempted to sin.

This is not to say that Satan and his fallen angels have no part in our temptation. In both Matthew 4:3 and 1Thessalinians 3:5 we find that our adversary is referred to as “the tempter.” The world system, which he controls, is made up of the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh, and the pride of life (1 John 2:16).

No matter who or what the source of our temptations may be, James is telling us that the agency of our temptation is our own desires which we allow to get out of control. When this happens, those lusts draw us from God’s way and entrap us in our own selfish ways.

Application

We all sin. It’s a fact of life. None of us has complete control of our fleshly desires. But we do have a Savior who did not sin and who gave His life to pay for ours. Let us thank our God for the blood of Christ and for the faith to believe in Him.

In God's service, for His glory,

James 1:14 – Temptation’s Source

Posted on February 13, 2015 by Will

But each one is tempted by his own desires, being drawn away and enticed by them.

Truth to Learn

We may want to blame someone or something else for our sinfulness, but each of us is to blame for our own sin.

Behind the Words

Meaning Explained

Application

In God's service, for His glory,

James 1:13 – Not From God

Posted on February 12, 2015 by Will

Let no one being tempted say, "I am tempted from God"; for God is not tempted by evil, and He Himself tempts no one.

Truth to Learn

God is not the source of our temptation. When it does come, He wants us to grow in faith. And, even when we stumble and give in to temptation, He has already taken care of it.

Behind the Words

The word here translated as “tempted” is from the same Greek word, peiradzō, which was translated “trials” back in verse two. There it was explained that this word refers to “a trial, temptation, or a putting to proof by means of experimentation.” This word, however, can also have the meaning of “a solicitation to do evil.”

The word translated “from” is the Greek preposition apo which means “from” or “away from.” In other words, in this verse Paul is saying that no one should accuse God of being the originator of the temptation. Therefore, we could paraphrase it this way:

Let no one say when he is tempted, “This temptation is from God.”

“Evil” is from the Greek word kakos, which refers to that which is bad or externally worthless.

Meaning Explained

In verse two, James made the point that falling into various temptations produces a trying or testing of our faith. In this verse he is making it clear that God is not the source of the temptation, although He does allow us to go through trials. God cannot be tempted to sin and He does not tempt any of us to sin. It is our own sin nature along with the world system, the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh, and the pride of life, which cause us to be tempted (see 1 John 2:16). God has no sin nature and there is nothing in the world system that He does not already have.

But what about Hebrews 4:15?

For we do not have a high priest who cannot be touched with the feelings of our infirmities, but was in all points tempted just as we are, yet without sin. (Hebrews 4:15)

This verse tells us that Christ was tempted to sin. How can that be if God cannot be tempted by evil? This is part of the beauty (and paradox) of the incarnation of Christ. He is completely God and completely man. His god-ness (his divinity) was never tempted, indeed cannot be (as James tells us here), but his human-ness (humanity) was tempted in every way we are, and yet He was without sin. He never gave in to temptation. That is the very thing that made Him a worthy sacrifice for our sins. If He had not become completely man (and without sin), he would not have been able to pay for our sins.

So… whereas it is appropriate to say that God allows us to go through trials to strengthen our faith and to make us more like Christ, and those trials may be a result of giving in to temptation, the source of the temptation is not God. The source of the temptation is the tempter, Satan (Matthew 4:3 and 1 Thessalonians 3:5), and his world system (Ephesians 2:2 and John 12:31).

Application

On those occasions when we do not resist temptation but fall victim to it, we still have this promise:

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9)

Halleluiah! Our God has thought of everything. Give Him the praise!

In God's service, for His glory,

James 1:12 – Crowning Reward

Posted on February 11, 2015 by Will

Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for having been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.

Truth to Learn

Patiently enduring the trials of our lives will result in eternal rewards of far greater value than all of our possessions and anything that money can buy.

Behind the Words

The word for “temptation” here is the same as in verse 2, peirasmos which, as was pointed out earlier, means “a criterion or test by which something is proved or tried.”

The word for “endures” is the verb hupomenō, the noun form of this word is translated as “patience” in verses 3 and 4. It’s the word that means “to remain under the load without complaining” or “to persevere.”

The word translated “approved” is also from verse 3. It is the noun dokimos (from the verb dikomadzō) which refers to proving or refining with the intent of finding good. In this verse it refers to someone who has already undergone testing and has successfully endured it. This person has been refined and his faith has been purified by the trial.

“Promised” is from the Greek word epangellō, which is made up of epi, used as an intensifier, and angellō, meaning “to announce” or “to declare.” It is expressed here in the aorist tense, indicating an action completed at a point in time in the past.

The word translated “the Lord” does not appear in the earliest manuscripts. However, even without the presence of this word it is clear who made the promise.

Meaning Explained

Not only has James taught us that we are blessed when we encounter various trials (temptations, sufferings) but he promises us that we will receive more blessing when we endure them. James is summing up what he has been talking about for eleven verses now; the person who patiently endures, who stays humbly submitted throughout the difficulties, sufferings, and trials of life will come out more refined and more Christ-like.

James does not promise us that we will be given riches, like Job, when we endure our trials. But James does say that if we endure our trials with an ever strengthening faith, we will one day receive a crown of life which is promised to those who love God. This is one of the crowns that we will be able to cast at the feet of God proclaiming His worthiness as depicted in the book of Revelation.

the twenty-four elders will fall down before the One sitting on the throne. And they worship Him who lives forever and ever, and throw their crowns before the throne, saying, O Lord, You are worthy to receive the glory and the honor and the power, because You created all things, and by Your will they are and were created. (Revelation 4:10, 11)

Other crowns of reward promised to Christians include:

The incorruptible crown (I Corinthians 9:24, 25)
The crown of glory (I Peter 5:2-4)
The crown of righteousness (2 Timothy 4:7, 8)
The crown of rejoicing (1 Thessalonians 2:19)

Application

Will you have a crown to cast before your King some day? Or will you be in the crowd thinking, “I wish I had a crown to cast before Him”?

Hang in there and endure the trials of life, always looking to the author and finisher of our faith. Patient endurance is not easy but it is rewarding, both now and eternally!

In God's service, for His glory,

James 1:11 – Disappearing Riches

Posted on February 10, 2015 by Will

For the sun rose with a burning heat and the garden withered; its flower fell, and the beauty of its appearance completely perished. So the rich man also will be extinguished in his journeys.

Truth to Learn

This life and our possessions are only temporary. Do not be lifted up by pride or put your security in these fleeting things. Put your security in the grace of God.

Behind the Words

Anetellō is the Greek word translated “rose.” It is a compound word made up of ana, meaning “up,” and tellō, meaning “to set out for a goal” or “to rise.”

“A burning heat” is from tō kausōn, which comes from the verb kaiō, meaning “to burn.” Thus, kausōn refers to “a burning heat.” The presence of the definite article tō, however, indicates a specific type of burning heat. As a result it could be translated as “the scorching heat.”

The words “will be extinguished” are translated from marainō which means “to put out or extinguish as with a fire.” Here it carries the meaning that the rich man will cease to exist on this earth.

“Journeys” is the translation of poreia, which means “travels” or “journeys.” Most likely it is a reference to the rich man’s journeys through life.

Meaning Explained

Staying with his focus on the rich man and his wealth, James points out that “the sun rose with a scorching heat, the garden withered, its flower fell, and its beauty is gone.” Flowers in a garden are quite beautiful but they are delicate and temporary. They only last a short time and it takes but a single day’s worth of hot, scorching sun and wind before they wither and disappear.

The same is true with a wealthy man and his riches; they are but temporary possessions, not eternal. We humans look on the outward things, the attractive things, the possessions. However, these things can be stripped away in an instant. The real wealth is that which is produced by the trials which produce humility and a strengthened faith. The most valuable thing a man can have is a humble submission to the Almighty Ruler of the earth.

Take Job as an example. He had great wealth. Yet, by God’s permission, it was taken from him, not because he was evil, but because God chose to do it. Even Job had to learn that it is God who rules the world, not himself, and certainly not riches.

Then Job answered the LORD and said: “I know that You can do everything, And no purpose of Yours is withheld from You. … I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye has seen You. Therefore I dispise myself, I have repented in dust and ashes.” (Job 42:1, 2, 5, 6)

Even a rich man who lives a long life will one day cease to exist on this earth. In the eternal state he will be no different from the poor beggar except for the spiritual riches that either one of them may have sent on ahead of time.

Application

We are all on a journey through this life. And, like the great men of faith listed in Hebrews chapter 11 we should recognize that we are but strangers and pilgrims on this earth. Let us realize that all that we are and all that we have are gifts from God. All of our possessions come from Him, so let us give Him the praise and the glory for everything.

In God's service, for His glory,

James 1:10 – Humble Wealth

Posted on February 9, 2015 by Will

but the rich one in his humbling, because like a flower of the garden he will pass away.

Truth to Learn

Riches cause pride and harm our relationship with God. Some day we will pass away and have to give an accounting to God.

Behind the Words

The word translated “rich one” is the Greek word plousios, which means “one who has great possessions.” This is someone who we would say is rich, or wealthy.

The Greek word translated “humbling” is tapeinosis, which is from the same root as “lowly” in the previous verse. It means to be humbled or brought low.

“Garden” is from a form of the word chortos which originally meant “court or garden.” In later usage it also came to mean “a pasture or grassy field”

The word translated “pass away” is a form of parerchomai, which is a compound word made up of para, meaning “near” and a form of erchomai, meaning “to come” or “to go.” So, literally it means to come near or to go close to something. Metaphorically, however, here it means “to pass away, to perish, or to cease to exist.”

Meaning Explained

Since this is a continuation of the sentence started in the previous verse, we need to look and see what the verb is in relation to, “but the rich one in his humbling.” The verb in the previous verse, which applies to “the rich one” in this verse is the one which is translated “let … glory.” So we could interpret the first of this verse as, “but let the rich man glory in his being humbled.”

It’s pretty easy for us to see why the poor people are to glory in being raised-up by Christ and put on an equal footing with all others in the church. But why would someone with great possessions glory in being humbled? When we are humbled before God we realize that we owe everything we have to God, because it has all come from Him. After all, we are not on this earth to gain possessions; rather we are here to glorify God.

Worldly riches have a way of causing us to feel proud and self-sufficient. But this does not draw us closer to God; instead, it leads us away from Him. When we are in need, we get on our knees and seek God’s face. When we have wealth, we have no reason to seek God’s assistance. Those who have riches should recognize that such riches ultimately come from God and belong to Him. Therefore, God should receive glory and praise for them, but this only comes from a heart filled with humility.

One day, like the beautiful flowers in the garden, we will pass away. In the final analysis, what we have done for God is all that will matter. Riches that we have amassed to ourselves make us proud. Riches that are used for God’s glory, on the other hand, will produce eternal reward.

Application

Look at the poor widow in Luke 21:1-4. She gave a mere two small coins to the temple treasury. That’s equal to about 2/5 of a cent today. Jesus said that she gave more than all the others combined, because she gave all that she had. They gave out of their riches because they didn’t need it all. She needed all that she had and yet she gave it all to God.

What are you giving to God?

In God's service, for His glory,

James 1:9 – Humble Exaltation

Posted on February 6, 2015 by Will

Let the lowly brother glory in his exaltation,

Truth to Learn

Being poor and unimportant is humbling. As a Christian, you have been elevated to the position of a child of God. God’s children are neither unimportant or poor.

Behind the Words

The word translated “humble” is the word tapeinos which means “not rising far off the ground” and metaphorically means one who is “depressed, humbled, or lowly.” In this verse it is expressed as “the brother, the lowly one.” This word order emphasizes the fact that he is a brother, not of physical relation but of spiritual relation as a child of God, and only secondarily that he is lowly.

“Glory” is translated from kauchaomai which can mean “to boast” or “to glory,” either in a good sense or a bad sense. In this verse it is used in a good sense. Once again, we see James using the imperative mood of the verb indicating a command of encouragement, therefore, the translation “glory” is most appropriate.

The word translated “exaltation” is hupsos which is from the root huper or hyper meaning “over or above.” It refers to a position of elevation or dignity, so it could be translated as being “elevated” or “lifted up.”

Meaning Explained

This verse seems to introduce a new topic for James, and yet it should be tied in to the previous section, particularly with:

My brothers, consider it all joy when you fall into various trials, (James 1:2)

Although there is some disagreement as to what James meant by “lowly,” it seems most natural that he is making a reference to a Christian brother who does not have riches or who has a lowly station in life. This is based primarily on the fact that in the next verse James speaks to the one who has much of the world’s goods, that is, a rich person. The thesis of this entire section of James’ letter is that we should find delight in trials and among the most difficult trials are being in poverty and/or lacking health.

Being poor can be humbling and at times it can even be humiliating. James commands those of us who are in a humble station in life to glory in it. His reason for glorying is that the lowly person is actually elevated, or lifted up, by God when he becomes a Christian. In Christ we are all on the same level and God receives the glory.

If you read the story of the rich man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19-31) you will see that while on this earth the rich man had all this world had to offer, while Lazarus had nothing, not even health. After death, because of his faith, Lazarus was elevated to an exalted position by the side of Abraham, while the rich man, due to his lack of faith, was reduced to the torment of hell fire.

Application

If you are lacking in the things that this world has to offer, then you know how humbling it can be. Instead of complaining about it, however, you should give God the glory for raising you up in Christ Jesus and making you His child.

One day when this life is over, you will assuredly give glory to God for His having made you His child! Why not do it now!

In God's service, for His glory,