STUDY THE BIBLE 28   (STB 28)

 “THE BOOK OF JAMES” 

“Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?” (2 Cor 13:5). To be justified before God is not the same as justification before men.

THE PURPOSE

This epistle is a very stern rebuke for professing Christians to justify and examine their behaviour.

“Would there be enough evidence in a court of law, to show that they were Christians!” James says “Prove that you are Christians!” James wanted some proof!

WHO WRITES JAMES and WHEN

James Zebedee, the brother of John, and not James the ‘half’ brother of Jesus, writes the Epistle of James, just before he is killed by Herod in 44 AD (Acts 12:2). We know this, as all epistles in the New Testament are written by apostles, and Jesus ‘half’ brother is not an apostle.

Furthermore, the Christian church was now centred on Antioch (Acts 11:26) to start afresh from those at Jerusalem, which were led by James the brother of Jesus. James Zebedee writes to Jews of the twelve tribes, who have now become Christians (2:1), and are now scattered everywhere (1:1).

As the gospel of Matthew, the first book written in the New Testament, around 37AD, James writes the second book, about six years later, around 43AD and about seven years before Paul puts pen to paper with Galatians in 50AD.

      33 AD               37 AD                    43 AD      50 AD              

The Cross            Matthew                   James                           Paul

THE BACKGROUND

Jesus Christ, God manifest in the flesh, had come exclusively for Israel, and had then gone back to heaven. He left behind three groups of Jews:

1.  The first group were those of the Old Testament ‘hard line’, who refused to receive Jesus Christ, and who saw Christ as overthrowing the laws of Moses. They were extremely happy that he had been put to death.

2.  The second group had loved Christ as the Messiah but were not sure whether they should have him as their Saviour, now that he had gone. These were very disappointed that Christ had not set up his kingdom here on earth, and in fact, were wondering as to whether Christ was who he claimed to be. In fact, they were hardening their hearts in their belief toward him, and their love for the blood sacrifices of animals was growing increasingly stronger.

3.  The third group were those that were saved, having the Lord Jesus Christ as their Saviour, and it’s to this group James writes. So there would have been a lot of doubt and negativity about Christ coming from the first two groups. This would have been dramatically affecting the faith of the former Jews, now Christians.

How do we know this? In his first two chapters James outlines 21 things where they were sinning. They were being DOUBLE-MINDED and would receive nothing from the Lord if it continued.

1.  They are falling into temptations but not counting it as all joy (Jas 1:2)

2.  They are wanting (Jas 1:4)

3.  They lack WISDOM (Jas 1:5)

4.  They are WAVERING in their faith (Jas 1:6).

5.  They are in danger of not receiving anything from the Lord (Jas 1:7)

6.  They are DOUBLE MINDED (Jas 1:8 and Jas 4:8 ).

7.  They are unstable (Jas 1:8).

8.  They are being TEMPTED (Jas 1:13)

9.  They are sinning (Jas 1:15)

10.  They are too quick to speak and they are slow to listen (Jas 1:19)

11.  They had filthiness and naughtiness (Jas 1:21)

12.  They were hearers of the word and not doers (Jas 1:22)

13.  They had forgotten how to be Christians (Jas 1:24)

14.  They had a VAIN RELIGION (Jas 1:26)

15.  They were neglecting the orphans and widows (Jas 1:27)

16.  They were involving themselves in the world again (Jas 1:27)

17.  They were wrongly respecting persons (Jas 2:1)

18.  They had NO WORKS (Jas 2:14)

19.  They were not clothing or feeding their fellow Christians (Jas 2:15)

20.  They were not doing what God wanted them to do (Jas 2:18)

21.  They were just like the devils who also believe there is one God (Jas 2:19)

So James lists all these sins to say this -

“Can you justify yourselves before God and say you haven’t been like this

and done these things?” “Can you stand before God and declare your innocence in these matters?” Of course their answer has to be “NO! WE CAN’T!”

So with this evidence, James points to their father in the faith and their father in the natural, Abraham, and   he says “Be like Abraham, when he obeyed God and offered Isaac on the altar. He could stand before God and truly say he was justified by OBEYING God.” Indeed, he even points out that Rahab the harlot could be justified by declaring her obedience to God. James mentions Rahab to absolutely put them to shame, as   there was nothing lower than a harlot to the Jews.

He continues “Now do likewise and justify yourself with proper thoughts of the hearts and deeds, such that you can also stand before God and justify yourselves. You haven’t been able to justify yourselves to date, so ‘pull your socks up’ and ‘get your act together’, and start acting like Christians. Walk the walk and don’t just talk the talk. Because at the moment you are really nothing more than devils! Be like Abraham!” Strong words indeed!

And it is in this context we have the true meaning of the word “justified” as James uses it. They are saved already, but they can’t justify their actions as Christians. Could they stand before God and say “God we have been obedient to all you demand as Christians.” Justification before God and justification before men are two completely different things.

This is similar to Paul writing to the Galatian Christians, and enquiring after their salvation, as to whether they were also in the faith or not.

DOES JAMES KNOW HOW TO GET SAVED?

Absolutely, and he states this categorically, and is perfectly clear, about the grounds upon which a person may be saved. Once again, he uses Abraham their father in the faith, stating that Abraham was right with God by imputation. He says And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. Jas 2:23.

James skilfully uses the two aspects of Abraham:

1.  As being their father in the Christian faith (Rom 4:16 )

2.  Using the example of Abraham’s works,

although not a Christian, was able to justify his deed with Isaac, before God

And it is in this context that James uses the words “works” and “justify” – not to get saved, but now they are saved, where are their works? James’ theme in this epistle is not justification to get salvation, but justification after their salvation.

THE MISUNDERSTANDING

It’s easy to see “Was not Abraham our father justified by works…” (Jas 2:21), and mistakenly   assume                 that James is promoting a works salvation, until we read the second half of the verse “… when he had  offered                 

Isaac his son upon the altar?”. This was one particular moment when Abraham could be justified, but it is not the apostle Paul’s meaning that Christians have of justification for salvation.

Furthermore, James knew that 100% perfect obedience is required by someone to get saved. For whosoever  shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. Jas 2:10. James knew, as pointed          out already, Christ was the only one who could justify us before God, for eternal security. James knew that when he used Abraham as an example to his readers, he was not saying that Abraham was permanently justified before God for ever after – it was only for that point in time that he was justified.

JAMES FURTHER ADDS

Now just in case the ‘Jewish’ Christians haven’t got the message, he further outlines another 24 faults and  short-comings, and where they need to improve.

1.  Do not be many masters and teachers (Jas 3:1)

2.  Curb your tongue – they are full of deadly poison (Jas 3:8)

3.  Let your works be with meekness and wisdom (Jas 3:13)

4.  Leave off bitter envying and strife (Jas 3:14)

5.  Don’t be hypocrites (Jas 3:17)

6.  Stop fighting with each other (Jas 4:1)

7.  Stop being adulterers having friendship with the world (Jas 4:4)

8.  Submit to God (Jas 4:7)

9.  You are double minded, sinners with impure hearts (Jas 4:8)

10.  Your laughter and joy needs to mourning and weeping over their sin (Jas 4:9)

11.  You need to be humble (Jas 4:10)

12.  Leave off speaking evil of each other (Jas 4:11)