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A Study of James - Lesson 6 - James 1:26-2:7

Religion that is Profitable, Pure and Faultless: A Bridled Tongue, a Compassionate Heart and Purity of Life (1:26-27)
If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless. Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

James uses both the negative (worthless) and the positive (pure and faultless) to circumscribe genuine religious worship. His emphasis is on what God our Father thinks of our worship, as opposed to what the world thinks, or what our corrupt imaginations might suppose it should be. By reminding us that God is our Father, we maintain the proper sense of how we are to think of our service to God—as obedient children seeking to please their loving father, rather than as fearful slaves groveling in servile bondage to a harsh taskmaster.

religion (Grk: threskeia) – religious worship, especially external.
worthless (Grk: mataios) – devoid of truth, success, result; useless, of no purpose.
pure (Grk: katharos) – clean, pure.
faultless (Grk: amiantos) – not defiled, unsoiled; free from that by which the nature of a thing is deformed and debased, or its force and vigor impaired.

James lists three major areas of practical concern in the Christian life:

1. bridling the tongue
2. showing compassion to those in need
3. maintaining purity and holiness of life

These are so important, in fact, that a so-called 'religion' devoid of these things is declared to be 'worthless' and unacceptable to our heavenly Father.

keep a tight rein on his tongue – Quarrels often begin with the tongue, and sometimes escalate into wars. It is therefore very important to guard your speech closely—thinking carefully before you speak, seasoning your speech with grace (i.e. being focused on God and His grace, seeking the other person's good, and avoiding anything that is evil or corrupt).

Colossians 4:6 – Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person.

An unbridled tongue represents the bitterness, envy, malice, violence and damaged relationships that are produced by strife and anger. To control your tongue is to prevent great destructive evil.

The tongue is also used as an instrument of hypocrisy and false religion. Note that James is discussing a man who thinks himself to be religious, and yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart. Such a man has the appearance of being religious, and yet is deceived. Through our words, we can deceive both others and even ourselves concerning our spiritual condition. With our tongue, we can infect others with such hypocrisy or with the false teachings whereby we seek to justify our unspiritual condition.

look after orphans and widows in their distress – Compassion and mercy are the pedigree of the Christian. Our salvation is born from the immeasurable kindness and mercy that our heavenly Father lavished upon us when He sent His own dear Son to die in our place on the cross—purchasing our eternal forgiveness. God's mercy to us was very costly to Him, and very profitable to us.

Likewise, God's children should bear His image—showing mercy to those in need—helping as we are able to relieve their distress.

Luke 6:36 – Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

This will manifest itself, not merely in pleasant words and kind thoughts, but in genuinely helpful, often costly actions.

orphan (Grk: orphanos) – one who has no parent or guardian.
widows (Grk: chera) – (fem.) a widow.
distress (Grk: thlipsis) – pressure, oppression, affliction, tribulation, distress.

All three words emphasize a dire need, having no one to provide help. There are many people in the world who have greater or lesser degrees of need, but widows and orphans are often the most needy of all, if they have no income and no family, friends or charitable agencies to provide them with homes, meals or clothing. The word 'distress' underscores the desperate condition they are in.

The Christian is not called merely to give money to people poorer than himself. But, if he is unmoved by the hopeless plight of a starving, homeless orphan or widow, then it is questionable whether he has ever appreciated or experienced the great mercy that God shows to undeserving sinners.

Our claim to mercy is legitimized (i.e. becomes manifestly apparent) by displaying mercy to others—an unmerciful sinner is an unregenerate sinner.

Matthew 5:7– Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.

Matthew 9:13 – But go and learn what this means: 'I DESIRE COMPASSION, AND NOT SACRIFICE,' for I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners.

Discussion Question: To what extent should Christians feel obligated to help needy people throughout the world?

Thought provokers: Could we even make a dent in world hunger through our giving? Should we show preference for the needy in our own country? —our own city? —our own community? —our own extended family? To what extent should we give priority to our brothers in Christ? When have we given enough? Should we bankrupt ourselves in order to help the starving and homeless? Should we feel perpetually guilty—thinking we haven't done enough? Are we to be consumed with trying to help the needy—this could devour our time as well as our wealth? To what extent do welfare and government assistance affect these issues?

keep oneself from being polluted by the world – The third major pillar of genuine religion is holiness of life—keeping yourself separate from worldliness. The idea here is to reject the godless worldview of the unsaved—not to give it the slightest foothold—and to maintain a consistently Biblical worldview. We should regard the reasonings and appetites of the world as pollution, filth—a horrible stench—and keep ourselves from being polluted by it.

We must remember that the unbelievers around us have no love for holiness nor for our holy God. Thus, they eagerly embrace false ideas about what God is like, or deny Him altogether—imagining that the world and all its life came into existence by purely materialistic processes.

Romans 1:18-22 – For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse. For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools …

We must remember that, by their godless attitudes and actions, and their stubborn unrepentance, they are treasuring up wrath for themselves:

Romans 2:5-6 – But because of your stubbornness and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath for yourself in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, who WILL RENDER TO EACH PERSON ACCORDING TO HIS DEEDS:

Therefore, we must avoid the greed, the sensual lust, the selfishness and self-centeredness that characterizes the world in which we live…

2 Timothy 3:1-5 – But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; Avoid such men as these.

We need to be aware of the persuasive, mind-shaping power of television, radio, music, movies, magazines, literature, classrooms, seminars, etc., and must be very discerning as to the material we permit ourselves and our families to be exposed to. Peer pressure is yet another powerful source of worldly influence that must be overcome.

We must declare spiritual war—not an outward war of physical violence, but an inward war of spiritual conflict—on the sin and worldliness that remains in our hearts, seeking to root out every thought or imagination that is contrary to God and godliness:

2 Corinthians 10:3-5 – For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ,

Chapter 2

The Snare of Favoritism (2:1-7)
My brothers, as believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, don't show favoritism. Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in shabby clothes also comes in. If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, 'Here's a good seat for you,' but say to the poor man, 'You stand there' or 'Sit on the floor by my feet,' have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? Listen, my dear brothers: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him? But you have insulted the poor. Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court? Are they not the ones who are slandering the noble name of him to whom you belong?

This develops the theme introduced in 1:9 concerning the brothers who are poor and rich in material goods. In the former passage, James addressed those on either end of the social spectrum. Here, however, he turns this around and addresses us all—regardless of our material blessings—as to how we should behave toward those on either end of the scale. It is all too easy to judge by mere appearances, or worldly concepts—seeking a selfish, earthly advantage for ourselves.

Suppose a man comes … – James gives an illustration of two men who come into your meeting—one exuding wealth, the other reeking of poverty. If we treat the wealthy man better than the poor man, we are acting like evil judges who seek a bribe.

Has not God chosen those who are poor … – We must change our perspective—seeing the two men as God sees them. After all, He chooses many people who are poor, weak and despised …

1 Corinthians 1:26-27 – For consider your calling, brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble; but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong,

In Acts 10:34, Peter says 'God is not one to show partiality.' Some people conclude, from statements like this, that the doctrine of sovereign election must be false—that God never plays favorites. However, James makes it clear that God does 'play favorites'—He often chooses those who are poor and lowly over those who are rich and noble. It is clear from Acts 10:34 and James 2:5, that to show partiality is to favor those who have outward, worldly privileges—it doesn't mean simply that you prefer one person over another.

When Peter said that God is not one to show partiality, it was in response to God choosing certain Gentiles unto salvation. What Peter meant was 'God doesn't choose Jews only—He also chooses Gentiles.' The outward privilege of being a Jew did not imply that God would choose every Jew unto salvation, nor that He would exclude every Gentile from salvation.

you have insulted the poor –i.e. Whenever you have less concern for the poor than for the wealthy.

Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? … – It is the rich who often use their wealth and position to take advantage of others. Why then should we seek favor from those who are so treacherous and evil?

James contrasts the blessings God gives the poor	with the various ways that the wealthy exploit us
to be rich in faith	who are dragging you into court
to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him	who are slandering the noble name of him to whom you belong

Note the parallels along the two rows of the table above: 1) It is the rich of this world who drag us into court, but we are to be rich in faith. 2) God has promised His kingdom to those who love Him, but the rich slander His noble name.

Application:

1.	Learn to bridle your tongue.
2.	Have compassion for those in genuine need—such as orphans and widows. Remember God's compassion toward you.
3.	Maintain purity of life and avoid being polluted by worldliness
4.	Be very discerning as to the material you permit yourself and your family to be exposed to—on TV, in movies, books, magazines, videos, classes, friendships, etc.
5.	Avoid showing favoritism based on a person's wealth or position. Treat poor brothers with respect and lovingkindness.

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A Study of James - Lesson 4 - James 1:13-18

A Crucial Distinction: Trials vs. Temptation (1:13-16)
When tempted, no one should say, 'God is tempting me.' For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death. Don't be deceived, my dear brothers.

God tests us, but He doesn't tempt us. As noted in an earlier lesson, the Greek word peirasmos has both meanings.

James is drawing a crucial distinction here—God places tests in our path as opportunities for obedience. But they are also opportunities for sin, and if we do not respond to the testing in the proper way, it becomes a temptation that leads us to sin. We must not blame God for the sin that results when we respond wrongly to the test He sends.

Paul speaks of the Law in a similar way:

Romans 7:12-13 – So then, the Law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good. Therefore did that which is good become a cause of death for me? May it never be! Rather it was sin, in order that it might be shown to be sin by effecting my death through that which is good, so that through the commandment sin would become utterly sinful.

Sin uses God's good gifts for evil. Sin causes us to disobey God's good and holy law—using something holy for an evil purpose. Likewise, our evil desire causes us to respond wrongly to the tests that God sends into our lives—using a good gift of God for an unholy purpose.
Who was the first person to blame God for his sin?

Genesis 3:11-12 – And He said, 'Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?' The man said, 'The woman whom You gave to be with me, she gave me from the tree, and I ate.'

For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone –This raises a couple of questions…

Question: If 'God cannot be tempted by evil', then how could Jesus, who is God, have been tempted by Satan in the wilderness?

Hebrews 4:15 – For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin.

The way James is defining 'temptation', it would seem that temptation necessarily leads to sin, but Jesus didn't sin, so what's going on here?

He was tested, not tempted—at least, in the way James is distinguishing between the two words. However, we must never assume that a test will necessarily be easy. Our Lord still felt hunger when Satan tempted Him to turn the stones into loaves of bread. In fact, obedience is often the unpleasant path in the short-term.

Question: If God doesn't 'tempt' anyone, then why, in the Lord's prayer, do we ask 'Lead us not into temptation'? Why ask God not to do something He would never do?

Perhaps the petition has more the meaning 'Lead us away from temptation' or 'Give us the grace to resist temptation.'

Or, it may have the meaning 'Lead us not into testing'. However, this would raise another question: If we are to rejoice in the tests that God sends—if they help to develop our trust and perseverance—then why would we ever pray that God 'Lead us not into testing'? Perhaps the answer is that we ask God not to send the trial, but if He sends it anyway, then we are to respond to it with joyful trust and endurance, knowing that He has a good purpose for it.

Another possibility is that it means: 'Don't place us in a trial that is beyond our ability to bear.' But 1 Corinthians 10:13 guarantees that God will never allow us to be tempted to that degree—

1 Corinthians 10:13 – No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.

Note that this passage assures us that we need never suppose that any temptation is just too much for us to bear. God does two things in every temptation:

1. He limits the severity of the temptation to keep it within our ability to bear it.
2. He provides the way of escape so that we can bear it.

When we recognize that our trials are sent by God, and that He will keep them within our ability to bear them, then we can have the confidence we need—confidence in God, that is—to faithfully endure each trial He sends.

How do we succumb to trials? Is it due to using our 'free will' to make a bad decision?

James says that we succumb to trials by our 'own evil desire'. It is not so much 'free will' as 'evil desire' that causes us to fall into sin. We should never forget that our Adamic nature is not eradicated at regeneration—that the Christian life is a continual struggle between the flesh and the Spirit. It is not 'free will' that wins this battle, but God's grace. We need to be constantly asking God for the grace we need as we diligently employ the means He has given us to grow in His grace: Bible Study, prayer, worship, exercise of love and compassion, hearing the preaching of the Word, meditating upon the Scriptures, etc.

each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed – James uses some interesting words here. 'dragged away' (Grk: exelko) is a term often used in hunting and fishing to mean 'to lure from its hiding place'. 'enticed' (Grk: deleazo) means 'to catch by means of bait'. Hence, Jay Adams' translation of verse 14 is quite literal…

James 1:14 – Instead, each one is tempted by his own desires; like a fish going after bait he is hooked and pulled up.
-- Jay E. Adams, The New Testament in Everyday English

The fish that goes after a baited hook is either too stupid to detect the hook, or else too hungry to care. We need to be acutely aware of the danger in succumbing to temptation—thinking of it as a baited hook, and diligently avoid it. Again, this involves maintaining a heavenly vantage point from which to view the trials we encounter. If our affections are set on heavenly things, we will not so easily be tempted to do evil…

Colossians 3:1-4 – Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.

Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death –This is the 'life-cycle' of sin—another vivid word-picture used by James to teach us how desire leads to sin and death. It is reminiscent of Paul's statements about sin and death…

1 Corinthians 15:56-58 – The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law; but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.

It is easiest to weed a garden when the weeds are small. Likewise, it is easiest to stop a sin in its beginning stages.

It is God who gives us the victory over sin and death, and so victory comes as we look to Him in patient trust, and seek from Him the grace we need to overcome trials and temptations. An athlete trains during the week for the big game on Sunday. So also consistency in our communion with God provides the needed preparation for trials.

Don't be deceived, my dear brothers –this is a solemn warning that we should take sin and temptation very seriously, and that we should be on guard against the deception arising from our sinful desires. Fish are often deceived by a baited hook—don't be like them.

God's Good Gifts: New Birth and Trials (1:17-18)
Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.

In contrast to the charge that God is the author of temptation and sin, James affirms instead that God is the Giver and Source of every good and perfect gift. He sends us trials, but these trials are meant to be good gifts, and that is what they are if we respond to them with joyful, trusting endurance. Likewise, God will provide the strength and wisdom to overcome trials if we abide in His grace and seek His help in time of need.

James reminds us that it was God who wrought our salvation when He chose to give us birth through the word of truth. James ascribes our salvation entirely to God, and not to ourselves in any way. This agrees with the teachings of Paul, Jesus and Peter—Salvation is of the Lord—all 100% of it!

good – (Grk: agathos) good, useful, pleasant, excellent, honorable.
perfect – (Grk: teleios) finished, complete, perfect, mature.
above – (Grk: anothen) from above, from a higher place, from the beginning, anew. See John 3:7.
lights – (Grk: phos) the usual word for light or anything that emits light; fire, a star, a lamp.
shifting – (Grk: trope) turning, as of the heavenly bodies.
shadows – (Grk: aposkiasma) the shade cast by one object on another.

James seems to have in mind here a shadow cast by the sun—a shadow that shifts so slowly it seems unchanging unless we observe its progress throughout the day. James is assuring us that God never changes—not even slowly, like the sun's shadows. Our God is always a generous, giving Father to His beloved children. We don't have to worry that He will someday grow impatient or distracted. We can trust Him to always be ready to help in times of trial.

Malachi 3:6 – For I, the LORD, do not change; therefore you, O sons of Jacob, are not consumed.

Matthew 28:20 – lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.

Hebrews 13:8 – Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

chose – (Grk: boulomai) to will deliberately, have a purpose, to desire. God gave us birth because He purposed to do this for us.
give us birth – (Grk: apokueo) to bring forth from the womb, to give birth to, to produce.

Note that the figure of birth rules out our own choices, merit or willingness. Rather, just as parents purpose to have a child, so our heavenly Father purposed to bring forth life in us. Scripture often uses figures that emphasize the fact that salvation was not based on anything we willed or did, but is entirely God's purpose and doing—figures like birth (John 3:7; here), resurrection (Ephesians 2:4-5), creation (2 Corinthians 4:6), a heart transplant (Ezekiel 36:26), the fashioning of clay by a potter (Romans 9:21). Of course, Scripture also plainly denies that our willing or running had any part in our salvation…

Romans 9:15-16 – For He says to Moses, 'I WILL HAVE MERCY ON WHOM I HAVE MERCY, AND I WILL HAVE COMPASSION ON WHOM I HAVE COMPASSION.' So then it does not depend on the man who wills or the man who runs, but on God who has mercy.

James reminds us of the great gift of regeneration that God has freely, undeservedly given to us. This should encourage us to ask God for other graces we need, confident that He will give them freely.

through the word of truth – The Holy Spirit never acts independently of the Word of God. When God regenerates us (giving us 'birth') by His Holy Spirit, He always does this in concert with His Word. It may be through the immediate preaching of the Word, through the reading of the Scriptures, the reading of a sermon or tract, the personal witness of a Christian, or by meditating upon the Word that has already been implanted in the heart. The indwelling Word of God is like a seed planted, and the Holy Spirit's regenerating ministry is like the sunshine and rain that causes the seed to sprout and grow.

1 Peter 1:23 –

31 Edthird Grade James Test Prep

for you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that is, through the living and enduring word of God.

John 17:17 – Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth.

Romans 1:16 – For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.

Romans 10:17 – So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.

firstfruits – (Grk: aparche) the first portion of the harvest, firstlings. The Old Testament law required the Israelites to give the first of their harvest to the Lord. Christians are likewise distinguished from others, having been consecrated to the Lord.

of all He created –Christians are the first of God's 'harvest', having been given His Spirit, and reconciled to Himself. In contrast, the rest of creation (i.e. plants, animals, climate, etc.) must await the day when we are glorified and our bodies are redeemed…

Romans 8:18-23 – For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now. And not only this, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body.

Remembering God's ultimate purpose for us and for His creation should give us great hope and encouragement, enabling us to persevere through the trials of life.

Application

1.	Recognize that it is the testing, and not the temptation to fail the test, that comes from God.
2.	Don't allow sinful lusts to turn a testing into a temptation. Nip sin in the bud.
3.	Don't respond like a fish: Remember that the attractiveness of the potential sin is nothing more than a baited hook that waits to capture you in a sin—polluting your conscience, damaging your relationships, ruining your reputation and depriving you of your assurance.
4.	Recognize God as the generous, unchanging Giver of every good gift. Consider with joy that each trial is a loving gift that provides the opportunity to seek from Him the gifts of grace and wisdom we need to endure the trial.
5.	Remember that God freely, undeservedly gave you the precious gift of the new birth, and that we are but the firstfruits of creation—a mere foretaste of the unimaginable glory we will experience when He restores His entire creation—eliminating once and for all the sin, evil, pain and death that is so common today.

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31 Edthird Grade James Test Questions