"THE EPISTLE OF JAMES"
Chapter Four
OBJECTIVES IN STUDYING THE CHAPTER
1) To gain insight into the source of wars and fighting, even among
brethren
2) To see the importance and means of befriending God, of not speaking
evil of brethren, and planning for the future with the Lord's will
in mind
SUMMARY
James asks his readers to consider the source of wars and fights among
themselves. He identifies the problem as their own desires for
pleasure which war within themselves. Perhaps exaggerating for the
sake of emphasis, he describes their lust and coveting (even murder!)
for things they do not have and cannot obtain. It renders their
prayers fruitless, for they have selfish motives in mind. Sounding
like an Old Testament prophet, James charges them with adultery for
trying to befriend the world. Becoming a friend of the world leads to
enmity with God, who jealously desires us. But if they are willing to
humble themselves, God is willing to show more grace (1-6).
James therefore counsels them to draw near to God in humble submission,
with clean hands, purity of heart, and true contrition. He warns
against speaking evil of brethren and judging one another, lest they
become judges and not doers of the law. The chapter ends with a call
to make plans with the Lord's will in mind, for we have no idea what
the morrow holds and life is short. Otherwise we boast in our arrogance
and sin when we fail to do what we know is good (7-17).
OUTLINE
I. TRUE RELIGION DOES NOT BEFRIEND THE WORLD (1-6)
A. THE SOURCE OF WARS AND FIGHTS (1-3)
1. From within, from desires that war in one's members
2. Such as lust (envy), murder (hate?), coveting, which do not
give what one seeks
3. Leading to unanswered prayers, due to selfishness
B. FRIENDSHIP WITH THE WORLD IS ENMITY WITH GOD (4-6)
1. Whoever wants to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of
God
2. Even as the Scripture warns, and not in vain
3. While God resists the proud, He is willing to give grace to
the humble
II. TRUE RELIGION DRAWS NEAR TO GOD (7-17)
A. BY SUBMITTING TO GOD'S AUTHORITY (7-12)
1. Submit to God, resist the devil and he will flee
2. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you
a. Cleanse your hands, sinners
b. Purify your hearts, double-minded
c. Mourn and weep for your sins
d. Humble yourself before God, and He will lift you up
3. Let God be the Lawgiver and Judge
a. Do not speak evil of one another and judge one another
1) Otherwise you speak evil of the law and judge the law
2) Otherwise you are not a doer of the law, but a judge
b. When there is really only one Lawgiver who is able to save
and destroy
B. BY SUBMITTING TO GOD'S WILL (13-17)
1. We should be careful in making plans for the future
a. We do not know what will happen tomorrow
b. Life is but a vapor that appears for a little while and
then vanishes
2. Therefore we should acknowledge "If the Lord wills" in our
plans
a. Otherwise we boast in arrogance, which is evil
b. For one to know to do good and not do it, that is sin
REVIEW QUESTIONS FOR THE CHAPTER
1) What are the main points of this chapter?
- True religion does not befriend the world (1-6)
- True religion draws near to God (7-17)
2) Where do wars and fights find their origin? (1-2)
- Our desires for pleasure that war in our members
- Lusting and coveting for things we do not have and cannot obtain
3) Why do some not receive what they ask for? (3)
- They ask for the wrong reason, e.g., for personal pleasures
4) What does James call those who would be a friend of the world? (4)
- Adulterers and adulteresses
- An enemy of God
5) What possible translations for the Scripture quoted in verse 5?
- "The Spirit who dwells in us yearns jealously" (NKJV)
- "The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy" (KJV)
- "the spirit he caused to live in us envies intensely" (NIV)
- "He jealously desires the Spirit which He has made to dwell in us"
(NASB)
6) Whom does God resist? To whom does He give more grace? (6)
- The proud
- The humble
7) What counsel does James give to those tempted by the world? (7-10)
- Submit to God
- Resist the devil and he will flee from you
- Draw near to God and He will draw near to you
- Cleanse your hands
- Purify your hearts
- Lament, mourn, and weep
- Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom
- Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord and He will lift you up
8) Why should one not speak evil of a brother? (11)
- They then speak evil of the law and judge the law
- They become a judge, rather than a doer of the law
9) What other reasons does James give for not judging one another? (12)
- There is one Lawgiver who is able to save and destroy
- Who are we to judge another?
10) Why should we be careful about the plans we make? (13-14)
- We do not know what will happen tomorrow
- Our live is only a vapor that appears for a short while
11) With what qualification can one make plans for the future? (15)
- If the Lord wills
12) Of what is one guilty when plans are made without considering the
Lord's will? (16)
- Boasting in one's arrogance
13) Of what is one guilty if they know what is good, but fail to do it?
(17)
- Sin
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