James
Chapter 1 Part 2
Testing
of Your Faith
Let
no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be
tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: Jas 1:13
let
no man...
After using the word temptation in the sense of trial, James now uses
it in the sense of solicitation to sin. God cannot be tempted with
evil, neither does He tempt any man with it. Evil temptations come
from evil, not from good.
Resist
in deadly temptation
Believers
are in danger of falling before the attacks and pressures of trials.
But they are also subject to falling before the attractions and
pleasures of temptation. Just as a wrong reaction to testing will
obstruct spiritual growth and maturity, so will a wrong response to
temptation. James outlined the source of temptation, the steps in
temptation, and the solution for temptation.
Source
Of Temptation
James
offered a sharp rebuke to those who find an easy excuse for their
sinning. To free themselves from responsibility they say, “I am
tempted by God,” or “from God” (apo
theou),
denoting the origin, not merely the agency. James made it abundantly
clear God cannot be tempted. There is nothing in God to which evil
can make an appeal. He is literally “untemptable” (apeirastos;
cf. comments on Heb. 4:15). Furthermore, He tempts no one. God often
tests, but He never tempts.
But
every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and
enticed. Jas 1:14
man
is tempted...
Seven
Steps in Temptation
1.
Tempted: thought of evil (Jas. 1:14)
2.
Drawn away: strong imagination (Jas. 1:14)
3.
Lust: delight in viewing it (Jas. 1:14)
4.
Enticed: weakening of the will (Jas. 1:14)
5.
Lust conceived: yielding (Jas. 1:15)
6.
Sin: sinful act committed (Jas. 1:15)
7.
Death: result of actual sin (Jas. 1:15)
his
own lust...
Three kinds of lusts (desires):
1.
Lusts of man (Jas. 1:14; 4:2; Gal. 5:16)
2.
Lusts of Satan (John 8:44; Eph. 2:2-3; Rom. 6:12; 1Jhn. 2:17; 3:8)
3.
Lusts (desires) of God (Gal. 5:17, 5:22-23; Psm. 51:6)
and
enticed... Greek: deleazo.
Translated entice (Jas. 1:14); beguile (2Pet. 2:14); and allure
(2Pet. 2:18).
The
source of temptation is from within a person; it is his own evil
desire, lust, or inner craving. He is dragged away and enticed. This
inner craving draws a person out (exelkomenos)
like a fish drawn from its hiding place, and then entices him
(deleazomenos,
from the verb deleazō
“to bait, to catch a fish with bait, or hunt with snares”). So a
person both builds and baits his own trap.
Then
when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin:
and
sin, when it is
finished,
bringeth forth death.
Jas
1:15
Steps
In Temptation
The biological imagery is vivid. The lust or desire conceives and from this conception sin is born. The unmentioned father is most certainly Satan. The grotesque child, sin, then matures and produces its own offspring, death. The steps are all too clear: unchecked lust yields sin, and unconfessed sin brings death. How strange that sin gives birth to death. It may seem strange, but James warned his dear brothers and sisters who were to read this “genealogy” not to be deceived or led astray. Just as a right response to trials can result in growth to full spiritual maturity, so a wrong response to lust will result in decline to abject spiritual poverty and ultimately to death itself.
Do
not err, my beloved brethren. Jas 1:16
Do
not err...
Do not be deceived by supposing that God is the author of sin or that
He impels any man to commit it (Jas. 1:13).
The
Greek expression refers to erring, going astray, or wandering.
Christians are not to make the mistake of blaming God rather than
themselves for their sin.
This
is just saying, walk in the salvation you have received.
Every
good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from
the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of
turning. Jas 1:17
Every
good gift...
Whatever is good comes from God who never changes; whatever is evil
comes from Satan and fallen man who are bent on doing whatever gains
a selfish and sinful end.
Two
different Greek words for “gift” emphasize the perfection and
inclusiveness of God’s graciousness. The first denotes the act of
giving and the second is the object given. Everything related to
divine giving is adequate, complete and beneficial.
Father
of lights...
An
ancient Jewish expression for God as the Creator, with “light”
referring to the sun, moon and stars (Gen. 1:14-19).
is
no variableness...
Greek: parallage,
change; variation. Only appears here. It is an astronomical term
descriptive of the varying positions of the heavenly bodies causing
changes in the seasons of the year. God is not changeable like this.
In every season He is the same, neither does He change like the
shadow on a sun dial (Heb. 13:8).
neither
shadow of... From man’s perspective, the celestial bodies have
different phases of movement and rotation, change from day to night
and vary in intensity and shadow. But God does not follow that
pattern as He is changeless (Mal. 3:6; 1 John 1:5).
Three
great principles are presented:
(1)
God is the Father, or Creator, of the heavenly bodies;
(2)
As their Creator, He is certainly more stable than they. With God,
there is not even the slightest change, He is immutable;
(3)
God is only good, and always good.
This
third principle relates (verse 17), to the proceeding context. It
answers the implication (of verse 13), that God may sometimes tempt
man to evil. Though God tries the saints (John 6:6; Heb. 11:17), He
never tries with evil intent to tempt them.
Immutability
of God: Since all changes are either for the better or for the worse,
God is unchanging because He is perfect and cannot get better nor
become worse. The Scriptures describe God’s nature, will and
character as immutable or unchanging.
To
be immutable, does not mean to be immobile. God also has the
qualities of personality and can act, think, create, and make
decisions. God is unchanging. Therefore, Christians can depend on His
love and power, because God has not changed since biblical times.
God
is the same, today, yesterday, and forever. God does not change. God
is the source of all Light. Jesus called Himself the Light of the
world. The Light is so bright there is no shadow where God is.
Ephesians
4:8 “Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led
captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.”
These
gifts that Jesus gave the believers are spiritual gifts.
Romans
6:23 “For the wages of sin [is] death; but the gift of God [is]
eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
Romans
11:29 “For the gifts and calling of God [are] without repentance.”
Romans
12:6 “Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is
given to us, whether prophecy, [let us prophesy] according to the
proportion of faith;”
Romans
12:7-8 “Or ministry, [let us wait] on [our] ministering: or he that
teacheth, on teaching;” “Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he
that giveth, [let him do it] with simplicity; he that ruleth, with
diligence; he that showeth mercy, with cheerfulness.”
Solution
For Temptation:
In
stark contrast with the morbid scene of death that descends from
unbridled lust is the bright scene of new life that emanates from the
Word of truth (Jas. 1:18; cf. Eph. 1:13; Col. 1:5). The father of
darkness — Satan (Acts 26:18; Col. 1:13) — generates the
offspring of sin and death. The Father of the heavenly lights (i.e.,
God, who created the starry universe) gives salvation and life and is
unchanging. Shadows from the sun shift, but not the One who made the
sun! The words, every good and perfect gift is from above, have a
poetic cadence in Greek. They are literally, “every good act of
giving (dosis)
and every perfect gift (dōrēma)
is from above.”
The
solution for temptation is to be found in a close relationship with
the Father and a constant response to His Word. One must rest in the
unchangeable Lord of light and rely on His life-giving “Word of
truth” (cf. Eph. 1:13; Col. 1:5; 2Tim. 2:15).
Of
his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a
kind of firstfruits of his creatures. Jas 1:18
his
own will...
It is God’s will that all people be saved—begotten by the Word
(John 3:16; 1Tim. 2:4; 2Pet. 3:9; Rev. 22:17).
This
phrase translates a Greek word that makes the point that regeneration
is not just a wish, but an active expression of God’s will, which
He always has the power to accomplish. This phrase occurs at the
beginning of the Greek sentence, which means James intends to
emphasize that the sovereign will of God is the source of this new
life.
begat
he us...
The Word of Truth is one of the agents that make men new creatures
(see, John 3:5; 1Pet. 1:23; Eph. 5:26).
The
divine act of regeneration, or the new birth.
word
of truth... Scripture, or the Word of God. He regenerates sinners
through the power of that Word (2. Cor. 6:7; Col. 1:5; 1 Thess. 2:13;
Titus 3:5; 1 Peter 1:23-25).
kind
of firstfruits...
Originally
an Old Testament expression referring to the first and best harvest
crops, which God expected as an offering (Exo. 23:19; Lev. 23:9-14;
Deut. 26:1-19). Giving God that initial crop was an act of faith that
He would fulfill His promise of a full harvest to come. See,
Rom. 8:23.
There
is no reason why one of God’s chosen firstfruits, or regenerated
believers, has to yield to temptation. He must learn to resist its
deadly force, or he can never grow into the spiritual maturity God
desires of His children of light (Eph. 5:8; 1Thes. 5:5).
In
the same way, Christians are the first evidence of God’s new
creation that is to come (2 Pet. 3:10-13), and enjoy presently in
their new life a foretaste of future glory.
All
the redeemed are God’s firstfruits in that they are the first step
in God’s redemption of all creation (Rom. 8:18-23).
In
the first chapter of John, we read that the Word was God. We also
read, that all things that were made were made, by that same Word. On
the day of Pentecost, when the Spirit fell on the 120 Christians,
they became first-fruit offerings to the Lord.
Hearing
and Doing the Word
Wherefore,
my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak,
slow to wrath: Jas 1:19
be
swift to...
Seven
Commands to Christians
1.
Be swift to hear (Jas. 1:19)
2.
Be slow to speak (Jas. 1:19)
3.
Be slow to wrath (Jas. 1:19)
4.
Lay aside all filthiness (Jas. 1:21)
5.
Lay aside all overflowing of wickedness (Jas. 1:21)
6.
Receive the Word with meekness (Jas. 1:21)
7.
Be doers of the Word (Jas. 1:22)
slow
to wrath...
Four
Kinds of Disposition
1.
Those easily angered and easily pacified
2.
Those easily angered and difficult to appease
3.
Those not easily angered and easily appeased
4.
Those not easily angered and difficult to appease
Rest
in divine truth
Ultimately
the key both to responding to trials and resisting temptation is to
be found in one’s reaction to God’s Word. Receptivity to the
Word, responsiveness to the Word, and resignation to the Word are
essential to spiritual growth. One must accept God’s Word, act on
it, and abide by it.
Receptivity
To The Word
Again
James identified with his audience, My dear brothers, and then made
it clear that what was to follow was of great importance: take note
of this, or “know this” (iste).
A threefold injunction follows: let everyone… be quick to listen,
slow to speak, and slow to become angry. In an argument, of course,
the one who is listening rather than lambasting is the one who is
slow to anger (cf. Jas. 3:1-12).
For
the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God. Jas
1:20
wrath
of man... This verse
explains why men should be swift to hear, slow to speak, and slow to
wrath. The wrath of man cannot work the righteousness that God
requires. For example, the zeal of Israel in murdering the prophets,
their own Messiah, and His followers.
Anger
fails to yield the righteous life that God desires, the goal to which
this epistle is committed.
“Wrath”:
From the Greek word that describes a deep, internal resentment and
rejection, in this context, of God’s Word (Gal. 4:16).
Trials
require silence and patience because talk inflames anger, and anger
inflames talk. Anger also distracts from listening to God.
Jesus
was slow to anger. In fact, He was a very patient person. If we are
to be like our Leader, Jesus Christ, then we must be of a quiet
nature as well. The Bible calls it longsuffering.
Wherefore
lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive
with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.
Jas 1:21
lay
apart all...
filthiness...
Greek: rhuparia,
moral filthiness; impure and unholy affections; baseness; vileness;
depravity. Only used here. It is from rhuparos
meaning cheap or shabby; foul; dirty; moral wickedness; sordid; mean.
Translated vile (Jas. 2:2). The root word rhupos
is translated filth in 1Pet. 3:21. Also rhupoo,
moral filth (Rev. 22:11).
superfluity
of naughtiness...
Greek: perisseia.
Translated superfluity (Jas. 1:21) and abundance (Rom. 5:17; 2Cor.
8:2; 10:15). The word for naughtiness is kakia,
wickedness (See, Eph. 4:31). Here the idea is the abundance of
wickedness.
receive
with meekness...
Greek: prautes,
mildness; gentleness. Here; Jas. 3:13; 1Pet. 3:15.
the
engrafted word...
Greek: emphutos,
inborn; innate. Only here. It is by the Word of Truth inborn and
implanted in the soul that one is saved and begotten (Jas. 1:18; Eph.
5:26). The Word is called seed (1Pet. 1:23; 1Jhn. 3:9). When it is
implanted in the soul it germinates and springs forth into eternal
life. Only the seed that fails to be sown on properly prepared soil
and cared for, will fail to bring forth fruit (Mat. 13:3-30).
Consequently
it is essential to put away, or remove, all moral filth (ryparian,
used only here in the NT; cf. rypara,
“shabby,” in Jas. 2:2) and all the abundance of evil, and humbly
(lit., “in meekness”) receive the implanted Word. “Planted”
(emphyton,
used only here in the NT) contrasts with grafted. The Word is to be
ingrown or inborn, rooted in the fertile soil of the soul. It is that
Word of God which can save.
But
be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own
selves. Jas 1:22
be
ye doers...
Greek: poietes,
a performer. Translated doer (Jas. 1:22, 1:23, 1:25; 4:11; Rom. 2:13)
and poet (Acts 17:28).
and
not hearers...
Greek: akroates.
Here; Jas. 1:23, 1:25; Rom. 2:13.
deceiving...
Greek: paralogizomai,
to deceive by false reasoning. Here and Col. 2:4.
For
if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man
beholding his natural face in a glass: Jas 1:23
beholding
his natural... A
forceful Greek word meaning to observe carefully and cautiously, as
opposed to taking a causal glance.
The Word—A Mirror
He
sees his blemishes and imperfections and is moved by what he sees. As
long as he sees his deformities, spots, and ugliness he tries to do
something about them. But when he turns away from the mirror, he
forgets and his imperfections no longer bother him. So it is with the
Bible. As long as one studies it, he sees himself as he really is and
constantly seeks to improve himself and conform to its teaching (Jas.
1:25). If he gets away from the Bible,
a man soon forgets the real picture of himself, "what manner of
man he was" (Jas.
1:24).
in
a glass...
Greek: esoptron,
mirror. Here; 1Cor. 13:12, First
century mirrors were not glass but metallic, made of bronze, silver
or for the wealthy, gold. The metals were beaten flat and polished to
a high gloss, and the image they reflected was adequate but not
perfect.
The
one who listens and does nothing is like a man who glances at his
face in a mirror and then forgets what he saw. It is interesting that
James cited a man (andri)
in this illustration. A woman would probably not give just a cursory
glance, and if she saw a flaw she would probably do what she could to
cover it or correct it. Not so this man who sees the “face of his
birth” (prosōpon
tēs geneseōs)
and then forgets about it.
For
he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth
what manner of man he was. Jas 1:24
straightway
forgetteth what... Unless professing Christians act promptly after
they hear the Word, they will forget the changes and improvements
that their reflection showed them they need to make.
This
really is speaking of someone who professes Christianity, but lives
like the world. This is like people who get baptized and then go back
to their old way of life. When we repent and are saved, and baptized,
we become a brand new creature.
Old
desires to sin should be gone. We are not the image we were before we
are in Christ. What manner of man are you? Are you Christ-like, or
worldly?
But
whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth
therein, he
being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall
be blessed in his deed. Jas 1:25
whoso
looketh into...
Greek: parakupto,
to bend over for a better look. Translated look into (Jas. 1:25) and
stoop down (Luke 24:12; John 20:5, 20:11).
the
perfect law... This
is not the law of Moses, but the new covenant, the only perfect law
(Heb. 8:6). The law of Moses was imperfect and faulty (Heb. 7:12,
7:18-19, 7:22; 8:6-7). In
both the Old Testament and New Testament, God’s revealed, inerrant,
sufficient and comprehensive Word is called “law” (Psalm 19:7).
The presence of His grace does not mean there is no moral law or code
of conduct for believers to obey. Believers are enabled by the Spirit
to keep it.
of
liberty... Genuine freedom from sin. As the Holy Spirit applies the
principles of Scripture to believer’s hearts, they are freed from
sin’s bondage and enabled to obey God (John 8:34-36). It is a law
of liberty because it frees from the principles of sin and death
(Rom. 8:2-3; Gal. 5:1, 13). James also describes it as the royal law
(2:8), for it is the law of the messianic King (Gal. 6:2).
and
continueth therein...
Greek: parameno,
to stay beside; stand by; stand fast. Translated continue (Jas. 1:25;
Heb. 7:23; Phlp. 1:25) and abide (1Cor. 16:6). The idea is taken from
women spending much time at the mirror decorating themselves to the
greatest advantage, not leaving one hair or the smallest ornament out
of place. Thus, if one will be as careful to take every advantage of
the Word of God to keep his soul saved and his life conformed to the
gospel, he will "be blessed in his deed."
To
look into the mirror of the Word of God involves an obligation. One
must look intently into the perfect Law that gives freedom. The
intent and sustained look with a ready response is the key to
spiritual strength and continued maturity. The word for “looks
intently into” (parakypsas)
literally means “to stoop down” in order to have a good close
look.
The
“Law that gives freedom” seems like a paradox. Law seems to imply
restraint and therefore a lack of freedom. Not so with God’s Law.
His perfect Law provides true freedom. “Hold to My teaching,”
Christ said, “then you will know the truth, and the truth will set
you free” (John 8:31-32). One who does what God decrees will find
full liberty and will be blessed in what he does.
Jesus
said, if you love me, you will keep my commandments. The key word is
continueth. He not only professes Christianity, but walks
continuously in the salvation he has received. No one has to ask him
if he is a Christian. His way of life shows the world that he is a
Christian.
Everything
we do should be done as unto the Lord. We are to work the work of an
evangelist, until the Lord comes back. Even minutes before His
return, we should be trying to win one more soul to Christianity.
If
any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue,
but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is
vain. Jas 1:26
to
be religious...
Greek: threskos,
a careful follower of his belief. Only occurs here.
and
bridleth not...
Greek: chalinagogeo.
Used only here; Jas. 3:2. Bridle
means “control,” or as another translation renders it, “keep a
tight rein”. Purity of heart is often revealed by controlled and
proper speech.
but
deceiveth his...
Greek: apatao,
to cheat; outwit; to be deceived. Here; Eph. 5:6; 1Tim. 2:14.
this
man's religion...
Greek: threskeia.
Translated religion (Jas. 1:26-27; Acts 26:5) and worshiping (Col.
2:18). This
refers to ceremonial public worship. James chose this term, instead
of one referring to internal godliness, to emphasize the external
trappings, rituals, routines and forms that were not followed
sincerely.
is
vain...
Greek: mataios.
Translated vain (Jas. 1:26; 1Cor. 3:20; 15:17; Tit. 3:9) and vanity
(Acts 14:15).
Pure
and undefiled religion is twofold:
1.
To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction (Jas. 1:27)
2. Keep self unspotted from the world. True religion consists of universal benevolence and purity of heart and life (Mat. 5:16, 5:44; 2Cor. 9:8; Col. 1:10; 1Tim. 1:5; Tit. 2:7, 2:14; 3:1, 3:8; Heb. 12:14; Jas. 1:27; 3:13, 3:17; 1Pet. 2:12; 1Jhn. 3:17)
Resignation
To The Word
Receptivity to the Word and responsiveness to its revelation must be coupled with a new approach to life. One must be resigned to continued obedience and perpetual practice.
One
who is truly religious will demonstrate it by controlled speech. The
word “religious” (thrēskos)
refers to external observances. The outward ritualistic practices
which a person may think are commendable are considered to be
worthless (mataios,
“futile, fruitless, useless”) if there is no parallel control, or
tight rein on the tongue, a theme elaborated more fully in Jas.
3:1-12. Such a person deceives himself (apatōn
kardian heautou,
lit., “misleads or seduces his own heart”; cf. a different word
for deceive in Jas. 1:22).
This
is speaking of someone who is a Christian in form only. The world may
even look on him and think of him as a Christian, but his heart is
not right with God. We have discussed before, that the words that
come out of the mouth, spoken by the tongue, are what we are inside.
Out
of the heart, the mouth speaketh. You cannot curse and bless with the
same tongue. Evil words come from an evil heart. The heart of man
reveals what relationship he has with God. Religion is something we
do systematically.
We
can be religious about most anything. To be a true Christian, our
heart must be washed in the blood of the Lamb. We must speak healing,
peaceful words from a heart stayed upon God.
Pure
religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit
the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and
to keep himself unspotted from the world. Jas 1:27
Pure
religion and... James picks two synonymous adjectives to define the
most spotless kind of religious faith, that which is measured by
compassionate love (John 13:35).
fatherless
and widows... Those without parents or husbands were and are an
especially needy segment of the church. Since they are usually unable
to reciprocate in any way, caring for them clearly demonstrates true,
sacrificial, Christian love.
from
the world... is describing the evil world system.
The
two things Jesus said were the important commandments were to love
God above all else, and to love our neighbor as our self. You cannot
be involved in the ways of the world and belong to God. Christians
are in the world, but are not of the world. We must not get involved
with the world. We are to be a separated people.
The
neighbors that we are most responsible for are the neighbors that
cannot help themselves. The widows and orphans are the responsibility
of the Christians. Keep yourself stayed upon good things, and you
will not have time to get involved with the bad. When you do for
those who cannot help themselves, you are doing it unto God.
A
clean and undefiled religion (external observances) is one in which
one’s conduct and character are disciplined in accordance with
God’s Word. The Greek word thrēskeia
(religion) appears only four times in the New Testament and two of
those occurrences are here (cf. Col. 2:18; Acts 26:5). It is apparent
that God’s emphasis is not on religious ritual but on right living.
James
outlined what God the Father (cf. “Father” in Jas. 1:17)
stresses: look after orphans and widows — referring to one’s
conduct, and keep oneself from being polluted — referring to one’s
character. “From being polluted” translates one word aspilon,
“spotless” (cf. 1Tim. 6:14; 1Pet. 1:19; 2Pet. 3:14), in contrast
with moral filth (Jas. 1:21). A believer with God-pleasing “religion”
helps others in need — and thus is faultless (lit., “pure,
undefiled”), and keeps himself pure (lit., “clean”). This is
not a definition of religion but rather a contrast to mere acts of
worship and ritualistic observances that are commonly called
“religion.” Again, the goal is a mature Christian walk and
practical holiness. What does it take to achieve that goal? The first
step is to stand with confidence. Trials or temptations will not
topple one who is anchored in God’s truth and is applying that
truth to his life.
