James 1 

“Authentic Faith” What it is, and how do we live it out.

Author: Ya’akob, Jacob, James; ½ brother to Jesus. 

·      James’ journey to faith; 

- Mark 3:21 ”But when His own people heard about this, they went out to lay hold of Him, for they said, “He is out of His mind.”“

- John 7:5 ”For even His brothers did not believe in Him.“

- 1 Corinthians 15:7 ”After that He was seen by James, then by all the apostles.“

- Acts 1:14 ”These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers.“

·      James was a leader of the Mother Church in Jerusalem made up of persecuted Jewish Christians. 

- Acts 12:17 ”But motioning to them with his hand to keep silent, he declared to them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, “Go, tell these things to James and to the brethren.” And he departed and went to another place.“

- Acts 15:13 ”And after they had become silent, James answered, saying, “Men and brethren, listen to me:“

- Galatians 1:18-19 ”Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and remained with him fifteen days. But I saw none of the other apostles except James, the Lord’s brother {Mt.13:55}.“

- Galatians 2:9; 11-12 ”and when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that had been given to me, they gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised. Now when Peter had come to Antioch, I withstood him to his face, because he was to be blamed; for before certain men came from James, he would eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing those who were of the circumcision.“

Date: AD45-50 or AD60, James was killed in AD62.

·      If AD46, then it was the first epistle written.

Written to: The 12 Tribes of Israel who are scattered among the Gentiles. The apostle Peter also wrote to the diaspora.

·      It appears to be written to Jewish Christians but there’s no doubt that it was also intended to reach Jews everywhere. The letter has a Jewish flavor to it.

·      Much of the letter of James mirrors, the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ found in the Sermon on the Mount. (Matthew 5-7)

·      We also see some of the wisdom of the Proverbs in the letter of James.

·      The letter contains 12 short teachings in chapters 2-5, these teachings reveal what authentic faith is and how to live it out.

Application: Authentic faith will produce Christlike character and conduct.

·      Positional righteousness should lead to practical righteousness.

·      How do we keep our faith useful?

·      The Christian faith is not just about surviving, it’s about thriving.

·      This letter deals with real issues that take place in the church.

Greeting to the 12 Tribes (1)           

1 James, 

a bondservant {slave by choice} of God

and of the Lord Jesus Christ, 

To the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad {like seeds}

Greetings. 

·      The Jews have been scattered over time; by the Assyrians, the Babylonians, the Romans; in AD63, AD70, AD135.

Profiting from Trials (2-11)

2 My brethren {15x}, 

count {consider} it all joy 

when {not if} you fall into {encounter} various trials, 

A] Going through various trials are a part of having authentic faith. 

·      “God never sharpens a knife on a stick of butter.“ -Unknown 

·      I went through a heavy trial this week, and I cried out to God, and when He brought me through it, His Joy strengthened me again.

B] Trials have a way of making people bitter and causing them to let go of their joy in the LORD, becoming irritable, agitated, aggravated.

C] The word trial here means, “testing to prove.”

·      The Devil’s goal in the testing of our faith is to get us to fail, either morally, or to get us to throw away our faith completely.

3 knowing that 

the testing of your faith produces patience {not passive waiting, stay under, steadfastness, the ability to suffer long}. 

·      We must continue to be learning this important reality. “Oh that’s what’s happening.”

·      God often uses our trials to do a work in us.

·      God can allow discomfort to develop character in our lives.

4 But let patience {endurance} have its perfect work {don’t bail prematurely}, 

that you may be perfect {mature}

and complete {whole}, 

lacking {KJV: wanting} nothing {not deficient}. 

·      The process of maturity involves enduring hardship.

·      We must endure to mature.

·      Trials have a way of exposing our maturity, or immaturity.

5 If any of you lacks wisdom {V3, “knowing that”}, 

let him {continually} ask of God, 

who gives to all liberally {generous}

and without reproach {shame, criticizing, ungrudgingly}, 

and it will be given to him. 

A] You must first admit that you lack wisdom.

·      1 Kings 3:5&9 5 “At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night; and God said, “Ask! What shall I give you?” 9 Therefore give to Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people, that I may discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of Yours?””

B] James was called old camel knees because of his prayer life.

·      We are to acknowledge God in all of our ways.

C] Romans 8:32 “He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?”

D] God is not going to shame you for what you’re lacking and that He knows you need.

6 But let him ask in faith {trusting}, 

with no doubting {in God’s generosity}, 

for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind {wavering}. 

7 For let not that man suppose {expect} that he will receive anything from the {generous} Lord; 

8 he is a double-minded {indecisive} man {facing 2 ways, undecided}, 

unstable in all his ways. 

9 Let the lowly brother {of humble circumstances} glory in his exaltation {rejoice in the Lord when He lifts them up}, 

10 but the rich in his humiliation {rejoice when the Lord keeps them humble}, 

because as a flower of the field he will pass away. 

11 For no sooner has the sun risen with a burning heat than it withers the grass; 

its flower falls, and its beautiful appearance perishes. 

So {in the same way} the rich man also will fade away in his pursuits {achievements}. 

Loving God Under Trials (12-18)

12 Blessed is the man who endures temptation {remains faithful under trials}; 

for when he has been approved {stood the test}, 

he will receive the crown of life {abundant and eternal}

which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. 

A] Temptation is a part of life. 

Temptation itself is not sin. 

The Lord Jesus Christ was tempted, yet He didn’t sin.

·      Hebrews 4:15-16 “For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”

·      1 Corinthians 10:13 “No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.”

B] One of the keys to overcoming temptation is to be in a continual state of falling in love with the Lord.

·      Do you love the Lord?

13 Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am tempted by God";

for God cannot be tempted by evil, 

nor does He Himself tempt anyone. 

·      Holy God will never give a solicitation to sin. He is never the source of temptation.

14 But each one is tempted when

he is drawn away {lured} by his own desires {appetites/lusts, evil inclinations}

and enticed. 

A] This is how temptations come.

·      1 John 2:16 “For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world.”

B] Luke 4:13 ”Now when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from Him until an opportune time.“

C] Another key to overcoming temptation is to get new desires. Develop new passions. 

·      You must be proactive in that area of your life where you are frequently enticed to give into sin.

15 Then, when desire has conceived, 

it gives birth to sin; 

and sin, when it is full-grown {accomplished}, 

brings forth death. 

·      A person may choose to enjoy the pleasure of sin for a season, but the wages of sin remain the same, death.

16 Do not be deceived {misled}, my beloved brethren. 

·      Don’t be fooled by your own desires.

·      Don’t fool yourselves by making excuses or placing the blame for your compromise with sin on others.

17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, 

and comes down from the Father of lights, 

with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning {Immutable}. 

A] Proverbs 14:14 ”The backslider in heart will be filled with his own ways, But a good man will be satisfied from above.“

B] The Father isn’t fickle or change like shifting shadows.

18 Of His own {sovereign} will

He brought us forth by the word of truth, 

that we might be a kind of firstfruits {crown} of His creatures. 

A] John 1:13 “who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.”

B] Genesis 6:5-6 “Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And the Lord was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart.”

·      Ephesians 2:8-10 “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.”

Qualities Needed in Trials (19-20)

19 So then, my beloved brethren, 

let every man be

swift to hear, 

slow to speak, 

slow to wrath {get angry}; 

A] The LORD gave us 2 ears and 1 mouth.

B] We do not speak very well when we speak hastily.

C] We do not hear very well while we are enraged.

20 for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God. 

Doers-Not Hearers (21-27)

21 Therefore lay aside all filthiness

and overflow of wickedness {KJV: superfluity of naughtiness, prevalent evil}, 

and receive with meekness the implanted word, 

which is able to save your souls. 

A] Authentic faith is laying aside all filthiness.

B] Authentic faith involves a humble teachable heart. 

·      Let the word of God be rooted in your heart. 

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

·      Acts 20:32 ”“So now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.“

22 But be doers of the word, 

and not hearers only {passive listener, in one ear and out the other}, 

deceiving yourselves {attendance without application}. 

·      Authentic faith involves being a doer of the word, and not a hearer only.

·      If we are only hearing, or only reading our Bibles, and not applying the teachings to our lives, we are not practicing authentic faith, but living under the delusion that we are benefiting from only going to Church.

·      Matthew 7:24&26 ”“Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: “But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand:“

23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word

and not a doer, 

he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; 

24 for he observes himself, goes away, 

and immediately forgets what kind of man he was {identity & integrity; V18}. 

·      This is why we desire to teach the word of God, because the word of God acts as a mirror before our hearts to reveal to us what kind of people we are.  

25 But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty {the free life}

and continues in it {continue to live it out}, 

and is not a forgetful hearer {in one ear and out the other; 10%?}

but a doer of the work, 

this one will be blessed in what he does. 

·      Authentic faith leads to faithful action, and faithful action leads to blessings.

26 If anyone among you thinks he is religious {observant; has authentic faith}, 

and does not bridle his tongue {more in chapter 3}

but deceives his own heart, 

this one's religion {supposed faith} is useless {worthless, hot air, shallow and empty}.

·      Authentic faith is going to have an impact on the way we talk.

27 Pure and undefiled religion {authentic faith} before God

and the Father is this: 

to visit {care for} orphans and widows in their trouble, 

and to keep oneself unspotted {unstained, unpolluted} from the world.

·      Authentic faith is manifested in active love and steadfast holiness.

·      Good works and personal holiness are the byproducts of genuine Christian faith.

·      Genuine faith is not validated merely by what we say, but authentic faith is demonstrated by what we do. See chapter 2.