warring – Ministry of Grace Church

Where do wars and controversy come from among you? Do they not come from your passions warring in your members?

Truth to Learn

Fighting and quarreling result from our own selfish desire for gratification.

Behind the Words

The opening word of this verse is pothen, which is an interrogative adverb. That is, it indicates the question, “From where?” It may imply “What is the place?” or it may imply “What is the cause?” as it does in this case.

The word translated “wars” is polemos and refers to warfare or fighting in general. The word translated “controversy” is the word machē, which refers to specific “battles, skirmishes, or controversies.”

“Among you” is translated from en humin, which literally translates as “in you (plural).” James is referring to the fighting and bickering within the church. How tragic!

The word translated “passions” is hēdonē (from which we get the word hedonism). This word means “sensual pleasure, enjoyment, or gratification.”

The verb translated “warring” is strateuomai, which means “to wage a military campaign.” It is expressed here as a participle in the middle voice, so it could be interpreted as “waging war with yourselves.”

“Members” is a word that we have seen previously. It is the Greek word melos, referring to a limb or other part of the body. In this case it is probably referring metaphorically to members of the Body of Christ (the Church.)

Meaning Explained

Being the practical person he is, James will focus this entire chapter on interpersonal problems that exist in the church. The church is not immune to problems and James wants us to see what causes them so we can overcome them. He has just taught about heavenly wisdom which is peaceable and the fruit of righteousness which is sown in peace. Unfortunately, such peace is often lacking, even in the church.

He tells us here that the source of wars and battles among people are the very desires for pleasure and personal gratification that each one of us has naturally. But it is not the mere possession of these desires that causes problems, rather it is the uncontrolled expression and pursuit of these pleasurable desires (the lusts, as we will see in the next verse).

James is using a complex metaphor here referring to the personal pleasure that wars “in your members.” By this expression he is referring not only to the battling that goes on inside each one of us, within our own bodies, but also the selfish battling that goes on between members of the body of Christ, the Church. And once again we see that problems, even within the church, are caused by focusing on ourselves and our own needs, instead of the needs of others.

Application

Are you at odds with someone in your church? James will tell us later how to eliminate these quarrels. For now, though, let’s recognize that the source of the issue is your own desire for gratification. Can you release that to God? Can you forgive the other person (and forget the offense ever happened) and give God all the glory?

In God's service, for His glory,

Romans 7:23

But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.

Truth to Learn

Because of the battle within us, we become captured by our sin nature, but confession sets us free.

Behind the Words

“Members” is from a Greek word we have seen before. It is melos, meaning “a limb or other part of the body.”

The word translated “warring against” is antistrateuomai, which is a compound word made up of anti, meaning “against” and strateuomai, which means “to make war against a specific enemy.”

“Bringing me into captivity” is from aichmalotidzō, which means “to be taken away as a captive and made a prisoner of war.”

Meaning Explained

In verse 21 Paul said that he perceives an unwritten law that brings out evil in him whenever he is determined to do what is right. In verse 22 he said there is another law that he delights in: the Law of God. These are the two forces that are warring within him and in all of us. As we saw in the previous verse, these two forces are the “inner man” (the intellect of man) and the “old man” (the sin nature).

He now goes back to referring to these two opposing forces as laws, calling them the “law of my mind” (the intellect) and the “law of sin” (the sin nature). He aptly describes the conflict that occurs between these two as warfare. And, you will notice that Paul is astute enough to recognize that this is a warfare that is going on within his body. The two opposing forces have taken up residence in his (and our) physical body. These two opposing forces, these two laws, are at war specifically against each other and the battlefield is within our body.

He also recognizes that the law of sin is taking him captive and making him a prisoner of war. Hence, Paul is telling us that as the law of his mind, which delights in the Law of God (that is, obedience to God), and the law of sin (the sin nature) clash, the sin nature captures him, leads him away as a captive, and makes him a prisoner of war. In other words, his sin nature gains dominion over him.

I believe that this completely describes the battle that every Christian faces daily. We want to be obedient to God, we are determined to be obedient to our Heavenly Father and to please Him. But instead, we find ourselves succumbing to “the sin which so easily ensnares us” as Hebrews 12:1 calls it.

I don’t know about you, but I find that I get almost angry with myself knowing what I should do and, instead, doing what I know I shouldn’t do. As hard as I try I can’t overcome this enemy and it sometimes makes me feel guilty! Thank goodness for confession.

Application

Let us give thanks to God that the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sin! Though “our sins are like scarlet,” His blood washes them away completely so that we appear to God “as white as snow.” And we get that cleansing through confession, daily, hourly, minute-by-minute confession. For He is faithful and just to forgive us and to cleanse us – every time!

Now that’s grace!

In God’s service, for His glory,

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Ministry of Grace Church

Tag: warring

James 4:1 – Roots of Conflict

Romans 7:23 – Captured, Then Confessed