James 1

1 James, a bondservant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad: Greetings.

Today we begin our study of the book of James. James introduces himself as bondservant of Jesus Christ. A bondservant would be described today as a slave. James could have introduced itself so many different ways. He could have said, “James the brother of Jesus” or “James the leader of the church in Jerusalem.” Yet the title he preferred was a bondservant of God and Jesus. James was one of the sons of Mary and Joseph.

The Bible teaches us that Joseph and Mary did not have physical relations until after Jesus was born.

Matthew 1:24-25 Then Joseph, being aroused from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord commanded him and took to him his wife, and did not know her till she had brought forth her firstborn Son. And he called His name JESUS.

The Bible does not teach that Mary was perpetual virgin but that she was a virgin until Jesus was born.

Matthew 13

54 And when He had come to His own country, He taught them in their synagogue, so that they were astonished and said, "Where did this Man get this wisdom and these mighty works?

55 Is this not the carpenter's son? Is not His mother called Mary? And His brothers James, Joses, Simon, and Judas?

56 And His sisters, are they not all with us? Where then did this Man get all these things?"

We don’t know how my sisters he had but four brothers are mentioned by name. Because James is listed first we assume that he was the oldest.

We know at one time that James did not believe that Jesus was the Messiah.

John 7

2 Now the Jews' Feast of Tabernacles was at hand.

3 His brothers therefore said to Him, "Depart from here and go into Judea, that Your disciples also may see the works that You are doing.

4 For no one does anything in secret while he himself seeks to be known openly. If You do these things, show Yourself to the world."

5 For even His brothers did not believe in Him.

James also became the head of the church Paul mentioned that James was one of the main leaders in the church.

Galatians 2:9 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.

Apparently James was the main speaker for the leaders.

Acts 15

12 Then all the multitude kept silent and listened to Barnabas and Paul declaring how many miracles and wonders God had worked through them among the Gentiles.

13 And after they had become silent, James answered, saying, "Men and brethren, listen to me:

14 Simon has declared how God at the first visited the Gentiles to take out of them a people for His name.

15 And with this the words of the prophets agree, just as it is written:

16 'After this I will return and will rebuild the tabernacle of David, which has fallen down; I will rebuild its ruins, and I will set it up;  

17 So that the rest of mankind may seek the LORD, even all the Gentiles who are called by My name, says the LORD who does all these things.' 

18 "Known to God from eternity are all His works.

19 Therefore I judge that we should not trouble those from among the Gentiles who are turning to God,

20 but that we write to them to abstain from things polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from things strangled, and from blood.

21 For Moses has had throughout many generations those who preach him in every city, being read in the synagogues every Sabbath."

22 Then it pleased the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas, namely, Judas who was also named Barsabas, and Silas, leading men among the brethren.

James was such a leader that his view was readily embraced.

James was also the one who met with Paul when he returned to Jerusalem after many years.

Acts 21

17 And when we had come to Jerusalem, the brethren received us gladly.

18 On the following day Paul went in with us to James, and all the elders were present.

19 When he had greeted them, he told in detail those things which God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry.

20 And when they heard it, they glorified the Lord. And they said to him, "You see, brother, how many myriads of Jews there are who have believed, and they are all zealous for the law;

21 but they have been informed about you that you teach all the Jews who are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, saying that they ought not to circumcise their children nor to walk according to the customs.

22 What then? The assembly must certainly meet, for they will hear that you have come.

23 Therefore do what we tell you: We have four men who have taken a vow.

24 Take them and be purified with them, and pay their expenses so that they may shave their heads, and that all may know that those things of which they were informed concerning you are nothing, but that you yourself also walk orderly and keep the law.

You can tell by those words that James was very strong when it came to not disrupting the Jewish culture. James’ view of Judaism caused many to criticize his book because it speaks so much of work and so little of grace.

The fact that James had a great ministry among the circumcised is confirmed in the way he addresses this letter:

to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad

This is one of the General Epistles, like those of Peter, John, and Jude, is not addressed to individual churches or persons but to a larger sphere of believers. The teachings of the New Testament epistles can be summed up this way:

Paul emphasized faith

Peter emphasized hope

John emphasized love

Jude emphasized purity

James emphasized conduct

Even though James addresses his letter to the Jewish believers, his teaching is applicable to all believers and enables us to see the balanced of grace and works. Even though we talk a lot about grace, Jesus taught us that works are an important part of our faith.

Matthew 5:16 “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”

James hits the ground running right from the start.

2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials,

James begins by telling us that trials should be faced with an attitude of joy. He did not say that a believer should be joyful for the trials that come, but joyful in the midst of the trials.

Trials are not to be seen a punishment for disobedience or as punishment for sin.

This is a lesson that we are taught in the book of Job.

Job 1

1 There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was blameless and upright, and one who feared God and shunned evil.

2 And seven sons and three daughters were born to him.

3 Also, his possessions were seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen, five hundred female donkeys, and a very large household, so that this man was the greatest of all the people of the East.

4 Now his sons would go and feast in their houses, each on his appointed day, and would send and invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them.

5 So it was, when the days of feasting had run their course, that Job would send and sanctify them, and he would rise early in the morning and offer burnt offerings according to the number of them all. For Job said, "It may be that my sons have sinned and cursed God in their hearts." Thus Job did regularly.

Job lost everything, and he was told that he had to have done something wrong. After all this kind of calamity doesn’t come on people unless they deserve it!

One of his friends, Zophar spoke of a person who has sinned.

Job 20

27 The heavens will reveal his iniquity,

And the earth will rise up against him.

28 The increase of his house will depart,

And his goods will flow away in the day of His wrath.

29 This is the portion from God for a wicked man…

Job, if the shoe fits…

After all that Job went through, God blessed him with twice as much.

If Job could speak to us today, he would say, when you are in a trial hang on, God is going to double His blessing in your life!

Job 42

12 Now the LORD blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning; for he had fourteen thousand sheep, six thousand camels, one thousand yoke of oxen, and one thousand female donkeys.

13 He also had seven sons and three daughters.

14 And he called the name of the first Jemimah, the name of the second Keziah, and the name of the third Keren-Happuch.

15 In all the land were found no women so beautiful as the daughters of Job; and their father gave them an inheritance among their brothers.

16 After this Job lived one hundred and forty years, and saw his children and grandchildren for four generations.

17 So Job died, old and full of days.

God makes an incredible promise through Isaiah:

Isaiah 61:7 Instead of your shame you shall have double honor, and instead of confusion they shall rejoice in their portion. Therefore in their land they shall possess double; everlasting joy shall be theirs.

So rather than complaining, grumbling and griping, we are to realize that there are good things that are going to be developed in our lives.

3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.

This is something we KNOW…

The Greek word translated “know” means “to know by experience.”

Know “knowing by experience”

Haven’t you seen that that to be true in your life? Those trials that you have gone through have made you stronger, or more understanding, more compassionate, or wiser? James tells us that we know good things are going to happen in our lives, so we need to have the right attitude toward the trial. But I still want the benefits and the blessings without the trials. I don’t ask for much! Just remember that

Patience (endurance/perseverance) is produced it doesn’t happen instantly!

Think of an Olympic athlete, do you just show up at the Olympics, run, and leave with a gold metal? You have to train and compete for years to be able to get there. It works the same way with patience/endurance/perseverance, trials are the training!

Listen to the benefits of the training.

4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.

Three goals are going to be accomplished by the development of patience or endurance.

Goal 1. Maturity

Goal 2. Completeness

Goal 3. Lack nothing

Here is what James has taught us in these few verses:

Trials are not our enemy…

Trials produce patience…

Patience produces maturity…

Patience produces completeness…

Patience causes you lack nothing…