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Post by PrisonerOfHope on Jun 25, 2019 23:59:49 GMT -5
Daily Bible Verse, James 1:25, 25 June 2019
WWW.WONDERFUL1.COM·TUESDAY, JUNE 25, 2019 Tuesday, 25 June 2019 But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.James 1:25 James now contrasts the individual of verses 23 and 24 by describing the person who not only hears, but also does. To describe him, he begins with, “But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty.” The word translated as “looks” is one which signifies, to stoop and peer into. It was used three times in Luke and John, each concerning someone stooping and looking into the tomb where Christ had been laid. For example, in John it says – “And he, stooping downand looking in, saw the linen cloths lying there; yet he did not go in.” John 20:5 Again, a few verses later, it says – “But Mary stood outside by the tomb weeping, and as she wept she stooped down and looked into the tomb.” John 20:11 Being an aorist verb, it signifies one who “has looked into” the matter. It is done and yet it actively continues even after having looked (as will be noted). In the use of the particular verb, one gets the sense of peering into. The person doesn’t just “hear” and forget. He hears, and then in his mind he stoops over and peers intently into what he has heard. It is as if there is a well of life which can be mentally seen and accessed. This marvelous access is then described as being from “the perfect law of liberty.” The previous verse spoke of the man who observes the “face of his birth,” meaning his carnal self which is the Adam in him. That person saw this and then failed to act on what he saw. This person looks into God’s perfect law and he finds the cure for his fallen nature in “the perfect law of liberty.” Liberty defines the perfect law. It is what is obtained from it. And so, it is a law which is completely different than the bondage of sin leading to death which is found in Adam. It is the law which looks to Christ and it is a law of life leading to freedom. In peering into it, the glory of God revealed in His plan of the redemption of man is found. And this is because the person not only stoops down to look into it, but he “continues in it.” The word translated as “continues” is a compound word which gives the sense of remaining close beside. He has stooped and peered. He then continues at that spot, peering into the perfect law of liberty, receiving its wellspring of instruction, and being renewed in his mind and soul. Such a person is then described by James as being “not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work.” In the Greek, the word “hearer” is a noun, not a verb. And, there is no article in front of the word “work.” The words are more rightly translated as “not a hearer of forgetfulness, but a doer of work” (Ellicott). The contrast is obvious. One hears but is a person of forgetfulness. He walks away from what he has heard and there is no change in him. The other is a doer. He hears, and when he does, he becomes a doer of what he heard, changing his life from the image of Adam to that of Christ. Finally, James says, “this one will be blessed in what he does.” In this, the Greek more literally reads, “this one will be blessed in his deed.” The peering into the perfect law of liberty, and the continuance of that, is considered a single deed because it is an ongoing act which leads to life. In this act, the soul is blessed. Life application: Remember the guy who looked at his grubby face in the mirror and walked away not caring? He is the person who hears the word of God and doesn’t care enough to apply it to his life. James contrasts him with someone who has true wisdom. This person looks intently into the Bible; he listens closely to the Sunday sermon; he checks what he’s been told, and then he applies it to his life. As Solomon said – “The words of the wise are like goads, and the words of scholars are like well-driven nails, given by one Shepherd.” Ecclesiastes 12:11 Goads are pointed sticks used to prod a cow along. The Bible should be like that to us. It should prod us in the right direction and toward our goal. When we look into the perfect law and then follow what we have read, it gives us a freedom we previously lacked. The Bible isn’t merely a rule book of things not to do; it is a guide for our souls. Not only should we follow its precepts, but we should continue to follow them daily as we continue on life’s highway. By doing so, we will certainly be blessed in all we do. This doesn’t mean we will be free from troubles and trials, but unlike those whose trials never find a happy resolution, ours will. The Lord will restore all that is lost, heal all that is torn, and raise all who have died in Him. How precious are Your words to our taste, O God. They are sweeter than honey to our mouths! Help us to learn them and then to apply them to our lives. And Lord, help us to continue in them all our days so that we will grow to maturity in You. We love You and praise You, our exalted King! Amen.
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Post by PrisonerOfHope on Jun 26, 2019 18:04:29 GMT -5
Daily Bible Verse, James 1:26, 26 June 2019
WWW.WONDERFUL1.COM·WEDNESDAY, JUNE 26, 2019 Wednesday, 26 June 2019 If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one’s religion is useless. James 1:26 Here James moves from the person who hears the word but doesn’t do it, to the person who deceives himself in his religiosity. He first says, “If anyone among you thinks he is religious.” James is speaking in general terms to all by saying “among you.” However, he is identifying individuals in that group. If there is anyone among his addressees (which, by default, includes anyone today as his letter is a part of God’s word) who “thinks he is religious,” he is to pay heed. The word James uses for “religious,” thréskos, is found only here in the Bible, and nowhere else in any Greek writings. Its origin is uncertain, but it has a kindred noun which occurs in Acts, Colossians, and James, and which deals with reverence or worship of the gods. Its meaning is probably that of a careful observance of the restrictions laid out in practicing one’s religion. Do you feel this describes you? If so, pay attention to what James says. Going on in his words, he says, “and does not bridle his tongue.” The word “bridle,” is introduced into the Bible here, and it is used only once in Scripture, again by James. It means to curb or restrain. Proper exercise of religion is an act of bringing the entire body into submission. A person who submits to God in one way, but throws off His guidance in another has not fully restrained himself. Think of a horse being restrained and coming to a halt, but its tongue flies out of his mouth and keeps on neighing down the road. This is what James is referring to. Instead of restraining his tongue, he instead “deceives his own heart.” When a person acts piously and does everything with a great show, he naturally thinks he is in tight with God. However, if his little tongue, which is still a part of his body, isn’t restrained, then he has proven that he has simply deceived himself. Those around him can tell that he is not what he appears to be. And so, from there James says, “this one’s religion is useless.” The word translated as “useless” signifies vain or worthless. In his attempts to be religious he has failed in what he purposed. There is a defect in his conduct which demonstrates, with all clarity, that he is not the man he appears to be from a distance. The tongue has revealed what the heart is actually like. This is spoken of by Jesus on several occasions, such as in this parable – “Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or else make the tree bad and its fruit bad; for a tree is known by its fruit. 34 Brood of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. 35 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things. 36 But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. 37 For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.” Matthew 12:33-37 Life application: We should be able to understand, quite clearly, that our words reflect our character. If we can’t keep a rein on our tongues, then no one, including the Lord, will see us as anything other than irreligious. Such is the case in almost every instance of someone who speaks too much. Eventually, he runs out of truths to tell and so he will keep on speaking with falsehoods. His words are meaningless because they have no truth or substance behind them. Solomon gives the cure – “Do not be rash with your mouth, And let not your heart utter anything hastily before God. For God is in heaven, and you on earth; Therefore let your words be few.” Ecclesiastes 5:2 & “For in the multitude of dreams and many words there is also vanity. But fear God.” Ecclesiastes 5:7 Instead of dreaming about being religious, act and speak as one who really is. Have control over your tongue and stand in awe of God. When you speak, let your words reflect both love and respect for Him and for others. By doing so, they will also reflect what is actually going on in your own heart. Lord Jesus, how often we fail to keep our tongues in check. As Your servants, give us wisdom when we speak and let our words be carefully selected to be truthful, uplifting, and above all – glorifying of You. Help us to be the type that people can come to when they want to hear only words of truth. In Your precious name we pray. Amen.
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Post by PrisonerOfHope on Jun 27, 2019 23:51:55 GMT -5
Daily Bible Verse, James 1:27, 27 June 2019
WWW.WONDERFUL1.COM·THURSDAY, JUNE 27, 2019 Thursday, 27 June 2019 Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.James 1:27 James spoke of the useless religion of a person in the previous verse. It belongs to someone who “does not bridle his tongue.” Now, he uses the same word to describe religion which is “ ure and undefiled.” The Greek word translated as pure signifies that which is without admixture. There is no contamination in it. The word translated as undefiled signifies that which is unstained. There are no blotches upon it.
Understanding this, he goes on to show how one can identify such pure and undefiled religion “before God and the Father.” The Greek actually reads with the article before “God.” And so it says either “our God and Father,” or “the God and Father.” The article unites the two together. Separating them as is done in the NKJV translation is an unfortunate error which could lead to faulty theology.
With this correction, what James will next describe is that which is deemed as acceptable religion to the God and Father. Before stating it, he says that what is acceptable “is this.” The words do not mean that this is all that is acceptable, but that he is giving an example of what is acceptable, just as he gave what was unacceptable in the previous verse.
Understanding that, he says that it is first “to visit orphans and widows in their trouble.” James uses this example because it is something that God has always found acceptable, regardless of the dispensation of time in which the act occurs. And the reason for this is that this conduct is a reflection of His own character. Time and time again, Scripture calls out this particular aspect of God. This is seen, for example, in Deuteronomy 10:17, 18 –
“For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality nor takes a bribe. 18 He administers justice for the fatherless and the widow, and loves the stranger, giving him food and clothing.”
Because God is this way, our conduct before God in a like-fashion is considered pure and undefiled before Him. And, James continues by saying, “and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.” The word translated as “unspotted” signifies unstained, and thus fully acceptable. It speaks of that which is morally pure and unblemished.
Therefore, there is an active working out of one’s care of others which is united with a moral purity within the person. A person may visit orphans and widows in their trouble and yet not be acceptable to God because he is morally impure at the same time. Without the moral purity, the act is – like all other such things – exposed as a fraud before the God who searches both the hearts and minds of man.
Life application: The words of this verse are referring to a person who has called on Jesus; not everyone in general. Bill Gates, for example, has donated billions of dollars to the AIDS funds as well as other notable causes. However, one cannot buy their way into heaven and no deed is, in itself, good enough to please the Lord. This verse cannot be taken out of the Christian context and applied to non-believers.
Further, faithful Christians will be known for what they do, not for what they claim to have done. This goes all the way back to Acts 5 where a couple named Ananias and Sapphira claimed to have accomplished a righteous deed, but hid the fact that what they claimed didn’t actually match what had happened. As an example for later Christians, they were both “called home” for their wicked act. There is no reason to believe they weren’t part of the faithful believers, but their action was unacceptable.
When we care for orphans and widows, or when we do any other righteous deeds, we need to give the Lord the credit and not try to overstate what we accomplished on His behalf. In addition to this, we need to keep ourselves from being polluted by the world.
There are great disputes over what this means, and many congregations set rules based on their perception of it. This leads to legalism and a stuffy church. Instead, we need to maintain our Christian morals wherever we are and concerning whatever we are engaged in.
We have freedom in Christ to live properly in this world, just not freedom to sin while being here. When we do, we bring dishonor on the One who freed us from the power of sin. In essence, we are acting in a manner contradictory to the very message of freedom He has given to us.
Lord Jesus, it is hard to do good deeds in secret. You know our desires to be noticed, so give us a supernatural ability to overcome these feelings and to work to Your glory alone. Help our religion to be undefiled and free from the stain of sin. Give us the desire to help those who are truly in need while providing You with the credit. Amen.
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Post by PrisonerOfHope on Jun 28, 2019 23:17:52 GMT -5
Daily Bible Verse, James 2:1, 28 June 2019
WWW.WONDERFUL1.COM·FRIDAY, JUNE 28, 2019 Friday, 28 June 2019 My brethren, do not hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with partiality.James 2:1 With the words, “My brethren,” James is seen to be addressing believers, specifically Jewish believers though (see verse 1:1). That he is not merely addressing Jews in general is confirmed by the next words of the verse, “do not hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ...” It is with certainty that he is speaking to those who are saved through faith in Christ Jesus, whom he then calls “the Lord of glory.” The words, “the Lord,” have been inserted by the translators, but they are rightly inserted for clarity. Simply stated though, it says, “of glory.” The Greek has an article before “glory,” and so it more accurately reads, “the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of the glory.” This then expresses the state which Christ possesses which is above all things, and of which He spoke in John 17 – “I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do. 5 And now, O Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was.” Paul refers to Christ in the same manner, using the same descriptor, in 1 Corinthians 2 – “which no one of the rulers of this age did know, for if they had known, the Lord of the glory they would not have crucified” (YLT). James identifies Christ in this way, saying that we are not to hold to the faith of Him “with partiality.” This now helps to explain why He has focused on Christ as “the glory.” The scholar Bengel explains – “Christ is Glory; and therefore faith in Him is glorious, and the faithful are glorious. This glory of the faithful is far above all worldly honour; no respecter of persons acknowledges it.” In other words, if we show favoritism to one person over another when they are in the same type of human body as we are, then we are holding an earthly position of one over another despite the glory they possess because of being in Christ. If one were to exalt a handful of unrefined ore over a cup of gold, it would make more sense than showing favoritism of one over another. A better example might be holding a bucket of the dust of the earth up and saying it has more value than that of a man. Though man was brought forth from the dust, the sum of his parts combined with the breath of life in him, makes him of far greater value than simply the materials of which he is comprised. As this is so, then the separation of the believer because of the Spirit which dwells in him as a result of faith in Christ brings him to a state of glory which is not to be diminished by earthly comparisons. Life application: Anytime we show favoritism, we are failing to live as Christ did. The Bible says that “all have sinned and all fall short of the glory of God.” It goes on to say “but while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” There was no favoritism at all in this. Instead, Christ died for all. He made the example for us to follow. We are not to worry about those who reject Him because it is His right to avenge; they will receive their due penalty from His hand. We, however, should attempt to never show favoritism when evangelizing, in church settings, or at any other time. Regardless of race, color, level of wealth, etc., we need to be about the same business with all. Pastors need to be careful of favoritism which leads to exalting the wealthy above those who have less. Parents need to be careful of showing favoritism or they will have one spoiled child and one angry child. This list goes on – work partners, choosing friends, etc. The less favoritism we show, the better off we will be among others and the less bad words and strife will be directed toward us. Lord, help us to not show favoritism. Instead, give us a willing heart to accept all people as You do. You gave Your life on the cross for them despite their situation. We were all sinners, and yet You came for all. Level of wealth, looks, race, and so on are things we look at, but You do not. Help us to love all equally as we work towards leading them to You. How glorious you are, and may Your glory rest upon all of Your people! Amen.
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Post by PrisonerOfHope on Jun 29, 2019 23:51:07 GMT -5
Daily Bible Verse, James 2:2, 29 June 2019
WWW.WONDERFUL1.COM·SATURDAY, JUNE 29, 2019 Saturday, 29 June 2019 For if there should come into your assembly a man with gold rings, in fine apparel, and there should also come in a poor man in filthy clothes,James 2:2 James now makes an interesting statement saying, “For if there should come into your assembly.” The word translated as “assembly,” is sunagógé, a synagogue. The word is seen fifty-six times in the New Testament, but this is its only use when speaking specifically of a gathering of believers in Christ Jesus. It is used in the gospels and in Acts many times, but it speaks of a meeting of Jews in the ordinary sense. It is used twice in Revelation when speaking of the “synagogue of Satan,” meaning the Jewish assembly which rejects Christ throughout the church age. However, James writes now of the synagogue when referring to believers in Christ. Hence, it is a taste of what is seen in blooming in the world today, that of the “Messianic Synagogue.” It is another good indication that James, though writing to believers in his own day, is an epistle which prophetically looks to the state of the world in the end times, just prior to the return of Christ. Of that type of gathering, James notes that there may come in “a man with gold rings, in fine apparel.” The word “rings” is actually singular in the Greek – “a gold ring.” The word for “fine” is lampra, and it signifies “shining,” or “splendid.” It is an adjective which describes our modern day “lamp.” This guy is really something. He is obviously wealthy. However, along with him someone else arrives. He is “a poor man in filthy clothes.” The word translated as “poor” signifies “bent over.” He is destitute and beggarly. His outward appearance may seem objectionable to those around him, especially because of the word translated as “filthy.” It is a word found only here and in Revelation 22:11. It gives the sense of being foul or squalid. When used in regards to morals, it would be a wicked person. The appearance of these two is completely the opposite. James is comparing the external appearance of them to help us make right judgments. This will continue for the next few verses. Life application: What would you do if you faced this situation? Let’s add to it and ask, “What if the man in fine clothes smelled heavenly because of some great aromatic oil like patchouli, but the poor man in shabby clothes smelled worse than a cow stall in summer?” How would you react if they both came to a Bible study in your living room? Pastors have to face this from time to time and they have been known to fail… money is a great enticement. People in the congregation are no different, we gravitate toward those whom we can benefit from or whom we don’t find repulsive. However, the biblical model is that we should treat all equally and not respect one over another based on wealth. It is the wealthy who look down on others, as if they are less worthy; it is the wealthy who look down on those who drive cheaper cars; and it is the wealthy who look down on those who live in a different and less affluent neighborhood. And yet, we gravitate towards them because we feel we can somehow improve our status by being around them. The same is true of any movie star or radio personality. Despite having glamour and wealth, they are often the most mixed up and insecure people around – having drug, alcohol, and family problems in abundance. Instead of judging by appearance, we need to evaluate others based on who they are as individuals. In particular, we should look at their potential in Jesus Christ. If we do this, then the externals of those we encounter will fade away and the true beauty or ugliness of that person will be evident. Lord Jesus, give us hearts to deal fairly with others despite their external appearance or social status. May we not show preference to anyone because we can benefit from them, but let us deal with all men according to the wise principles we learn from Your word. This we ask so that You will be pleased with our hearts as we interact in all of our relationships. Amen.
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Post by PrisonerOfHope on Jul 1, 2019 0:47:17 GMT -5
Daily Bible Verse, James 2:3, 30 June 2019
WWW.WONDERFUL1.COM·SUNDAY, JUNE 30, 2019 Sunday, 30 June 2019 ...and you pay attention to the one wearing the fine clothes and say to him, “You sit here in a good place,” and say to the poor man, “You stand there,” or, “Sit here at my footstool,”James 2:3 The Greek word translated as “pay attention” gives the sense of a favorable viewing and showing preference. In comes this guy with a gold ring and shining clothes, and he is immediately regarded in a favorable light, even without knowing a thing about him. He could be an arrogant, controlling, manipulating person, but he is given high regard simply because of his fancy duds. And so you say to him, “You sit here in a good place.” The Greek more closely reads, “You sit here, honorably.” He is so seated simply because of his external appearance. This spot is what Jesus spoke of in Matthew 23 – “But all their works they do to be seen by men. They make their phylacteries broad and enlarge the borders of their garments. 6 They love the best places at feasts, the best seats in the synagogues.” Matthew 23:5,6 The person is given high regard based only on the fact that he looks good. On the other hand, in walks the poor guy in the stinky, filthy clothes. Without knowing a thing about him, you make a value judgment. He might be the nicest guy in town. He might be humble, caring, selfless, and honorable in all he does. But, because of his disgusting external appearance, you say to him, “You stand there.” He isn’t even given a seat to sit on. But maybe he has been working all night, and that is why his clothes are filthy. Without even knowing his circumstances, he is made to stand through the meeting. This, while the other guy slept all night and had time to put on his nice clothes, eat a big breakfast, and then take a donkey-cab to the synagogue without being overworked in the slightest. Or, you might – fortunately – have a wee little room left for the poor guy to sit, and so you say, “Sit here at my footstool.” The Greek reads more closely, “You sit here under my footstool.” How nice of you. You are elevated and have a footstool, and this poor guy sits not on your footstool, but in a position which is directly on the floor at a lower level than where your filthy feet are. He gets to look at your dirty feet, despite his beautiful nature, simply because he is wearing dirty clothes. However, the other guy, a real “jerk” by every sense of the word, sits honorably. Life application: Once we find out who a person is, if we are caring of such things as good morals and an honorable character, the externals don’t matter to us. But our first impressions often guide us to want to be closer to those who are more presentable externally. Without knowing anything else about people, we will naturally incline towards those who present themselves in a clean and orderly way. This is because we can make value judgments based on externals. However, taking these value judgments and acting on them alone can lead us to showing inappropriate favoritism. Let each of us be careful in how we evaluate others. Instead of jumping to snappy decisions based on externals alone, let us look deeper and try to determine the true quality and character of the inner man. Lord God, help us to be people of character by being people who do not show favoritism towards others simply because of their external appearances. Fine clothes and gold jewelry don’t make a person more respectable or honest. And dirty clothes doesn’t mean a person has bad character. Help us, Lord, to look deeper than externals when we meet people along life’s highway. Amen.
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Post by PrisonerOfHope on Jul 1, 2019 23:58:04 GMT -5
Daily Bible Verse, James 2:4, 1 July 2019
WWW.WONDERFUL1.COM·MONDAY, JULY 1, 2019 Monday, 1 July 2019 ...have you not shown partiality among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts?James 2:4 James now completes his thoughts concerning “partiality” which began in verse 2:1. The NKJV says, “have you not shown partiality among yourselves.” This makes it sound like he is confirming his idea in 2:1 concerning partiality. However, he gives an entirely different word here than there. In 2:1, he mentioned partiality with the word prosópolémpsia. He now speaks not of partiality, but of division by using the word, diakrinó. The thought is correctly reflected in the Aramaic Bible with, “are you not divided in your souls.” As Vincent’s Word Studies states, “The meaning here is, therefore, that, in making a distinction between the rich and the poor, they expressed a doubt concerning the faith which they professed, and which abolished such distinctions.” He is referring not to the partiality of verse 2:1, but of the faith itself. The faith of the people is to say, “We are all one in Christ” (see Galatians 3:28), but by making decisions based on partiality, the faith itself is divided in the mind of the people. How can there be no distinction in Christ if we are making such distinctions? It shows a people who have two minds which are not in agreement. Understanding this, he then says that this reflects that they have “become judges with evil thoughts.” Christ is one, and those in Christ are one. But in dividing believers as they have, they reflect a mind with evil thoughts concerning dividing the parts of a united whole. A suitable example of what this is referring to might be displaying this attitude towards one of the fifty states within the United States of America. Each is to have equal representation in the Senate based on statehood – two senators. And each is to have equal representation in the House based on population – 1 representative for a set amount of people within each state. However, because one state has lots of representatives (equate this to the rich guy with the gold ring and the fancy duds), the president says to a senator representing that state, “You come sit here at my table.” However, another state has only a few representatives (equate this to the guy in dirty clothes), the president says, “You wait over there in the chair by the door.” In so doing, he has shown partiality which is not supposed to exist in dealing with the states, and he has become divided in his mind concerning the intent and purpose of the constitution which frames the government. In this, he has become a judge with evil thoughts. Life application: Be careful how you look on others and accept them as God’s image-bearers regardless of their status according to the world. Instead of degrading others, let us ever exalt the Lord. We all belong at the same level as we live in His presence and as we worship His glory – “Let us go into His tabernacle; Let us worship at His footstool.” Psalm 132:7 Lord Jesus, may we feel the conviction of having shown preference to others based on their position, dress, wealth, and so on over those who are less fortunate in this world. Give us the ability to see others as you see them – looking on the heart and beauty of the inner-man rather than the externals, which are so fading. May You be pleased with how we treat our fellow men. Amen.
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Post by PrisonerOfHope on Jul 3, 2019 0:12:07 GMT -5
Daily Bible Verse, James 2:5, 2 July 2019
WWW.WONDERFUL1.COM·TUESDAY, JULY 2, 2019 Tuesday, 2 July 2019 Listen, my beloved brethren: Has God not chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him?James 2:5 James now appears to make a sudden departure from his previous words. It is not a departure in thought though. Rather, it is a departure in style. He has been speaking about not demonstrating partiality. He then gave the example of showing favoritism by showing preference to a rich, well-dressed man over a poor, raggedly-dressed man. His words, however, are not a departure. Instead, they are given to expand upon that thought as he speaks of the customary attributes of the rich and the poor. From there he will talk about precepts from the Law of Moses, and how those precepts pointed to the need for a merciful attitude, which will then triumph over judgment – the exact thing he just spoke of in the previous verse, which was of a person who “judges with evil thoughts.” Therefore, James’ coming words follow naturally to complete the very thought he has just conveyed. Understanding this, he begins with, “Listen, my beloved brethren.” It is a call to attention, asking his audience to pay careful heed. Again, as he has already done, he used the term “brethren.” It is to believers in Christ that he is speaking. He next begins his statement to which he has called them to attention, by saying, “Has God not chosen the poor of this world…?” The same idea is presented by Paul in 1 Corinthians 1:27-29. There Paul explains why God has done this – “For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. 27 But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; 28 and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, 29 that no flesh should glory in His presence.” Going on, James says that God has “chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith.” Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. Rich people will often not take the time to hear something which detracts from their ability to get richer. Or, they may feel so comfortable in their wealth that they don’t even need to waste their time with something that won’t profit them further in this world which has handed them so much. They are so busy thinking about their life of ease that there is no need to think about things so trivial as an uncertain “hope” of something coming after death. On the other hand, the poor are tired of the world – of being beaten up by the world, of fighting for every morsel of food, of being trivialized, and so on. They have no hope in this world, and so they are willing to consider that a better life ahead is their only hope of joy. And so they seek after that possibility. Some think they find it in one religion or another, but those who find it in the truth of God’s word which speaks of Christ are truly blessed. They have come to the true Source of hope and joy. In this they become rich in faith, having obtained the eternal promise. They have, as James says it, become “heirs of the kingdom.” That which was promised at the very moments after the fall of man is realized in Christ. Adam was to reign over the world, having dominion over all the works of God’s hands which he sees. But he fell and lost that right. Christ Jesus retrieved it through His perfect obedience to the Father. Now, that kingdom is assured for all who have put their faith and trust in Him. Paul speaks of this kingdom often, such as – “He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, 14 in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.” Colossians 1:13, 14 It is this kingdom, as James says, “which He promised to those who love Him?” We have an explanation of the words, “those who love Him,” from the hand of John – “For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome.” 1 John 5:3 What John is speaking of here is not the commandments of the Law of Moses. Paul explicitly negates that premise in 1 Corinthians 7:19 when he says, “ Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing, but keeping the commandments of God is what matters.” Paul says that “Circumcision is nothing.” As circumcision was a command found within the Law of Moses, he cannot be speaking of the Law of Moses. Rather, to keep the commandments of Christ the Lord is to be obedient to the words of Christ. It is He who fulfilled the law, and it is He who established a New Covenant, setting aside the Old. To those who love God, who are willing to put aside self, and who trust in the Lord Jesus alone for their salvation, God has promised His kingdom. And for those who have done so, the promise is obtained. It may be yet future, but it is surer than the wealth of the rich. Their riches will disappear with them, but the eternal riches which lie ahead in Christ will never fail. As a point of doctrine, one could spend all day asking if God’s election of the “poor of this world” is active or passive, but there is no need. It is – as revealed throughout Scripture – passive. The rich people of the world are usually too caught up in the world to stop and consider their state before God. The intelligent are too often “too smart to need God.” And so on. However, the poor don’t have such things, and their hope is placed in God for wisdom, intelligence, an inheritance, etc. In their coming to God through faith, they are then “chosen” by God. James’ words do not negate the concept of free will. Rather, they establish it. How can we know this is true? Because there are some wealthy believers. There are some wise believers. There are some noble believers. And so on. If the words of James and Paul were true across the board, then one might argue that God has purposefully picked only those in the categories mentioned. But such is not the case. Life application: The words here contain one of the wonders of God’s workings in humanity. All people are separated from God because of their sins. This is just the way it is. But God sent His Son to reconcile us to Him. In order to receive this, we need to acknowledge that we can’t save ourselves and that we are totally dependent on His mercy through Jesus Christ. The problem is that those who are rich naturally feel secure and also competent to handle all of life’s problems, including reconciliation with God. This leads to smugness about God and a careless attitude towards salvation – “I’ve got it all under control.” In a similar fashion, people tend to feel that God will look on them differently than the next guy who has such obvious faults. But God doesn’t grade on a curve and salvation is not human origin. The poor will understand this. And so it is that the poor, the weak, the lowly, and the broken are those who come to Jesus in faith, completely empty-handed. “O God, is there room for me?” It is when one comes to God through Jesus in this manner that God is exalted. When someone arrives with a list of their great accomplishments, wealth, or fame then God receives no glory – and they receive neither mercy nor salvation. God longs to look on the lost sinner and lavish His grace upon him, if he will only drop every pretense that blocks the way. “Therefore the Lord will wait, that He may be gracious to you; And therefore He will be exalted, that He may have mercy on you. For the Lord is a God of justice; Blessed are all those who wait for Him.” Isaiah 30:18 Thank You Lord Jesus, for looking down on us, even us. We are sinful souls and beggars with empty hands, and yet you have granted us Your salvation through the work You accomplished. May we never boast in anything but the cross You bore. This we ask that You alone will be exalted for Your great and mighty deliverance, wrought on our behalf. Amen.
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Post by PrisonerOfHope on Jul 3, 2019 23:40:12 GMT -5
Daily Bible Verse, James 2:6, 3 July 2019
WWW.WONDERFUL1.COM·WEDNESDAY, JULY 3, 2019 Wednesday, 3 July 2019 But you have dishonored the poor man. Do not the rich oppress you and drag you into the courts?James 2:6 James has just spoken of those God has chosen, meaning “the poor of this world.” He went on to say that they are “rich in faith.” However, he now says to his audience, “But you have dishonored the poor man.” The “you” is plural. He is making a general statement about the conduct of those even within the faith. In giving the example of the well-dressed man in contrast to the man in filthy clothes, he is calling out the conduct of those in the gathering. In essence, “God has chosen this person because he is rich in faith, and yet you have humiliated him by treating him as a less-than-equal.” In this, he who should be most highly honored has been dishonored. He then adds in, “Do not the rich oppress you…?” The idea here is that the rich lord their status over others. In the streets, the poor would be made to get out of the way of the rich being carried on his palanquin. When buying food at the store, the rich would tell the store owner to take him first so that he wouldn’t have to stand in the heat. Things such as this, which were surely as common then as they are now, were to alert the congregation that in showing preference to the rich man in the congregation, they were only feeding this type of attitude in a place where it should be completely starved. And more, James continues with the fact that it is the rich who, “drag you into the courts?” They had the money to hire lawyers, they had the wealth to bribe judges, and they had the social position to convince those who stood in judgment that they were in the right – even when they were in the wrong. The rich were not the friends of his addressees, rather they were the ones who persecuted them. And so why should a rich man be given preference in a congregation of saints where those of the greatest faith (as a general rule) were those who were the poor of the world? Life application: Even though it is the meek, the lowly, the humble, and the poor who will inherit the kingdom, these are the very same people we insult by our inappropriate judgments. We look down on others who have less than us and exalt those who have more than us. But James says that the very people we look up to are the ones who are fighting against us as we live our lives. And the opposite is usually true of the poor. They will normally open their door for others, remain non-judgmental about things they disagree on, and generally live life in more contentment than the wealthy who simply strive to become more wealthy and more “superior” to those around them. Nothing has changed in these 2000 years since James wrote his words, and it is a warning to each of us every day. We need to keep away from insulting the poor and exalting the rich simply because of their station in life. Heavenly Father, help us to see each man for his inner qualities and not his external riches. May we be fair judges of those around us so that we might not sin against You. Help our hearts to not show favoritism or partiality towards those we can benefit from. This we ask through Jesus who looked with favor upon us, even in our time of greatest poverty. Amen.
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Post by PrisonerOfHope on Jul 4, 2019 16:03:32 GMT -5
Daily Bible Verse, James 2:7, 4 July 2019
WWW.WONDERFUL1.COM·THURSDAY, JULY 4, 2019 Thursday, 4 July 2019 Do they not blaspheme that noble name by which you are called?James 2:7 James, still speaking of the wealthy, asks another rhetorical question with the words, “Do they not blaspheme that noble name…?” The word “they” is in the emphatic position, and is thus to be stressed, “Do THEY not blaspheme that noble name?” James has been speaking of those who come into the meeting of believers, and so it can be assumed that this is even speaking of someone who only claims to be such as well. And yet, he asks the question as if even the wealthy believer is known to do this. The word translated as blaspheme signifies to refuse to acknowledge good, meaning that which is worthy of respect. In this, it is a reversal of moral values. What appears to be the case, because this is speaking of believers (or supposed believers), is that even in their state as such, they bring discredit upon the name of Christ by their refusal to acknowledge the equality of believers who are less wealthy than they are. That is seen in the words, “by which you are called.” All believers have the name of Christ upon them. This type of thought goes back even to the Law of Moses. In the Greek translation of Deuteronomy 28:10, the name of the Lord is called upon the people of Israel – “Then all peoples of the earth shall see that you are called by the name of the Lord, and they shall be afraid of you.” Likewise, the thought is seen several more times in the Old Testament, such as in Amos 9:12 – “‘That they may possess the remnant of Edom, And all the Gentiles who are called by My name,’ Says the Lord who does this thing.” James then cites this passage from Amos 9 in the decision rendered in Acts 15 concerning the inclusion of the Gentiles into the New Covenant. The name of Jesus is called upon His people, such as in the act of baptism, where believers are commanded to be baptized “in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:19). The Greek of Matthew 28:19 refers to the “name” in the singular. In other words, there is one name which identifies the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. When a person is baptized, he is baptized into the name of the Triune God. As this name rests upon all believers, and as the wealthy bring discredit upon the poor believers, then they are blaspheming the name which rests upon those same poor believers. The name rests upon them, and they are just as “in Christ” as any other person – regardless of any other distinction, including temporary, earthly wealth. Life application: The rich and famous normally become so out of touch with reality that they begin to think of themselves as mini-gods. This will happen because people follow them around and throw themselves at them without a second thought. They are sought out for perceived wisdom even if they lack any true common sense or deep intelligence at all. The powerful, having such control over others, will also develop an aggravated sense of their own worth. Look at the vast majority of those in power in Washington today. Their actions and votes indicate high arrogance; voting contrary to what is right in order to further their own petty goals. Anyone who would actively support the murder of unborn children and call it good brings slander upon the name of the Creator. Those who attempt to control the free exercise of speech or faith likewise discredit the name of God. This is because it is the Christian’s duty to spread the gospel in each and every possible circumstance. When that right is hindered in any way, it slanders the name of the Lord because it was He who ordained that His message go forth. How much worse then is such an attitude when held by a supposed believer in Christ. Don’t look at the lesser issues or actions of those you admire. Instead, look at their treatment of the name and gospel of Jesus Christ. This is how you gauge the true person. Heavenly Father, please give us discerning eyes to see the true person and not to look at superficial matters that can distract our attention. Help us never to show favoritism because of wealth, power, or position. Help us not to decide matters upon color of skin or ethnicity as well. Instead, keep our eyes focused on a person’s admiration and exaltation of You as the true measure of who he is. Amen.
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Post by PrisonerOfHope on Jul 5, 2019 22:45:22 GMT -5
Daily Bible Verse, James 2:8, 5 July 2019www.wonderful1.com·Friday, July 5, 2019 Friday, 5 July 2019
If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you do well;James 2:8
James is now speaking to those who would presume to show preference to the rich within the congregation. In verse 2:6, he said, “But you have dishonored the poor man.” He is making an example for each person to consider. He is not saying that each person has done this, but that it is an inclination that anyone could be prone to. Now, to contrast dishonoring the poor man, he says, “If you really fulfill the royal law.”
Those who had shown preference had failed and had not done what was right. Now, he shows them how to correct this by fulfilling the “royal law.” The meaning of the term “royal law” is debated, but Albert Barnes gives what is probably the best sense of what it signifies – “It is called a ‘royal law,’ or kingly law, on account of its excellence or nobleness; not because it is ordained by God as a king, but because it has some such prominence and importance among other laws as a king has among other men; that is, it is majestic, noble, worthy of veneration. It is a law which ought to govern and direct us in all our intercourse with men - as a king rules his subjects.”
He is correct in this. Jesus exalted this law to a preeminent position. When questioned by an expert in the law concerning which was the greatest commandment, we read – “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.” Matthew 22:37-40
Thus, as can be seen, from both the Old and New Testaments, this is “according to the Scripture.” Jesus placed loving God above all else, and then loving one’s neighbor as one loves himself. Thus, it is a “royal law,” having all of the weight and majesty of the very words of God and a precept worthy of our full attention and application to our lives.
In doing this, James says, “you do well.” In other words, there is commendation in store for you. If this precept is properly applied as given, then you are doing what is just, right, and acceptable in God’s eyes. The poor person is no less a neighbor than the rich, and so he is to be loved as a neighbor, despite his state.
Life application: The reference that James is quoting is Leviticus 19:18 – “You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord.”
This is a book that few people read and this is a verse that is found in the middle of many other laws and rules. As one can see, though seemingly insignificant because of its placement, it is considered by the Lord as a part of the preeminent duties of man. This shows us how important it is to be well-versed in the Old Testament as well as the New. It is in this that we can understand how Jesus came to utter His words as He did.
Because James is dealing with treating others fairly as a sign of true Christian devotion, he repeats Jesus’ words. If “all the Law and the Prophets” hang on these two commandments, then we need to be extremely careful how we treat others – particularly in matters of judgment about how we accept them. If Christ has accepted them, how much more should we.
One thing is for sure, Lord God, we don’t want to fight against You. So open our hearts to be accepting of our neighbors, and to love them, even as we love ourselves. And Lord, give us the ability to put You first in our lives every moment of every day; loving you with our my hearts, souls, and minds. We know things will be in the proper perspective if we follow these holy guides. Amen.
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Post by PrisonerOfHope on Jul 6, 2019 22:54:53 GMT -5
Daily Bible Verse, James 2:9, 6 July 2019
WWW.WONDERFUL1.COM·SATURDAY, JULY 6, 2019 Saturday, 6 July 2019 ...but if you show partiality, you commit sin, and are convicted by the law as transgressors.James 2:9 James just cited the royal law which is that, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” He now shows that “if you show partiality, you commit sin.” The word translated as “you show partiality” is found only here in the Bible. It indicates favoring an individual, and the idea is that of doing so over others. God has given the royal law which disallows any type of unjust partiality in our dealings with others. We are to treat all the same. In showing partiality, we therefore commit sin. The word translated as “commit” is one which signifies “to work.” Therefore, it says more specifically, “you work sin.” Further, the word “sin” is in the emphatic position. The Greek reads, “sin you are working.” There is a high stress on the consequences of showing partiality and the negative connotations which accompany such an act. In the commission of the act, James then says that you “are convicted by the law as transgressors.” A person can show favoritism outwardly where others see it, or they can do so without anyone else knowing it. Thus, like coveting, this is as much a sin of the heart as it is something which can be actively committed. As the Lord reads the hearts and minds of man, there is no escaping the act, from the moment it germinates in the heart to the time that the act actually occurs. In showing favoritism, we err against the written law of God. James will explain what this means in the next verse, but even without that further explanation, we can see the far-reaching and all-encompassing condemnation which surely arises from the Law of Moses. It is a “body of death” as Paul calls it in Romans 7:24. We cannot escape the thoughts of our heart and the evil inclinations which are buried there. They come forth even when we try to extinguish them, and they bring about only condemnation. As Paul called out concerning this state, “O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?” His answer comes in verse 7:25, “I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!” Life application: Jesus Himself said that all the law and the prophets (the entire Old Covenant) hang on our loving God with all of our being and on loving our neighbors just as we would love ourselves. The impossibility of meeting these two laws is revealed in our daily breaking of the other points of the law in a thousand ways. The good news is that although we all have fallen short of this, Jesus didn’t. As He said – “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill.” Matthew 5:17 Be sure to understand what Jesus is saying. In His ministry, He was accused of violating the very law He came to fulfill. Instead, He fulfilled it. This was done on our behalf and it is the reason that we are not under the law. The law was not made obsolete by Jesus’ inaction; it was made obsolete by His actions. This still doesn’t excuse us when we show favoritism, but it allows forgiveness when we do. It should be our aim to live a life of honoring God and of loving our neighbor, but when we fall short, there is mercy and forgiveness in the blood of Christ. James’ words should convict every person that they have fallen short of God’s glory and are in need of an advocate. There is one! His name is Jesus and He shows no favoritism. He is willing to forgive all who call on His name. Take time today to tell someone else about His wonderful gift. Thank You so very much, O God, for Jesus! Though I’ve shown favoritism a thousand times and failed to love my neighbor as myself again and again, I know there is power in the wonder-working life of my Lord and Savior! Where I failed, He prevailed. And so to Him belongs my heart and my joy! Thank You, O God, for Jesus! Amen.
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Post by PrisonerOfHope on Jul 7, 2019 19:59:28 GMT -5
Daily Bible Verse, James 2:10, 7 July 2019
WWW.WONDERFUL1.COM·SUNDAY, JULY 7, 2019 Sunday, 7 July 2019 For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all. James 2:10 James now explains what was left ready to be stated in the previous verses. He just spoke of the “royal law” in verse 8. That concerned loving one’s neighbor as we love ourselves. From there, he said that if one follows through with this, he does well. However, he says that if you show partiality (something we all have done), you “are convicted by the law as transgressors.” With that in mind, and knowing that we have all failed to love our neighbor as ourselves at one time or another, he says, “For whoever shall keep the whole law.” The idea here is that of someone who has been meticulous in every precept of the Law of Moses, doing all that is required of him in a line by line adherence to what it says, but yet he is to “stumble in one point.” In this, there is a problem. The imagery here is a person who is walking along through life, and during his walk he is applying the Law of Moses to that walk perfectly. But while he was busy attempting to earn God’s favor through every minute precept, he fails to see the little rock in his path. It is a rock of loving his neighbor as himself, and he stumbles over it. This person was so consumed with his own attempt at being righteous before God that he ignored the fact that there are others who are also living out their lives. Some are like him – well dressed, meticulous in adherence to the law, and refraining from sin. But, along comes someone who is shabby, who has failed to adhere to the law, and who has lived a life of sin. However, this person knows that he has sinned, and he knows that he is in need of God’s mercy. Despite this, Mr. Meticulous shows favoritism against Frank Failure, knowing that he and his friends are so much more righteous than Frank. He has stumbled in a point of the very law he has been so faithful to adhere to. And the result? James says, “he is guilty of all.” The meaning is that he is held fast by the condemning power of the law. The Law of Moses is a codified body of law. It is not merely a compilation of 613 laws that must be individually kept without connection to the others. Rather, it is one body of 613 laws. To break one is to break the entire body. As Charles Ellicott says – “As a chain is snapped by failure of the weakest link, so the whole Law, in its harmony and completeness as beheld by God, is broken by one offence of one man; and the penalty falls, of its own natural weight and incidence, on the culprit.” Jesus made this point perfectly clear when speaking to those of Israel who were like Mr. Meticulous – “‘“Also He spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: 10 “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other men—extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector.12 I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.’ 13 And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”’” Luke 18:9-14 The Pharisee looked to his own righteousness because he meticulously obeyed all of the precepts of the law which could be externally evaluated. However, at the same time, he stood before God as a law-breaker. He had violated a law which could only be read by God because it is a law of the heart. His heart revealed his true character, and the law was broken. In this, he became guilty of all. Life application: When witnessing to others, this is one of the best verses to make a logical defense for their need for Jesus. Another verse which is often used is – “...for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23 However, many will dismiss Romans 3:23 unless further explanation is given. In order to make this sink in, ask them a direct question such as, “Have you ever told a lie?” Only a liar would say, “No.” Almost everyone will say, “Yes, of course I have.” Once they admit this, you can introduce James 2:10. “Well, the Bible says if you stumble at just one point you are guilty of breaking the whole law.” When he hears this, it gives him a definite point to consider. Re-explaining the verse in another way will usually solidify your point. “The Ten Commandments form the basis of ‘the Law’ and they’re a unified whole. If you break any part of ‘the Law,’ you have broken the whole law.” This is the point when most people begin to understand their separation from God. It doesn’t matter if you have lied, murdered, been disobedient to your parents, bowed down to an idol, or showed favoritism. Any infraction breaks the whole law. Take time to memorize James 2:10, and consider how you can weave it into a proper application of a Gospel presentation. It truly can be a turning point in someone’s life. So think on it, use it, and then explain the great mercy of God who would forgive such a violation because of His great love for His people. Lord God, thank you for those verses which convict us of our sin. When we understand that just one infraction of the law separates us from You, it helps us to understand how immense is Your mercy towards us. We have violated Your law so many times, and yet because of Jesus, You grant us pardon. Thank You for the gift of Your Son Jesus who reconciles us to You. Amen.
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Post by PrisonerOfHope on Jul 8, 2019 23:14:43 GMT -5
Daily Bible Verse, James 2:11, 8 July 2019
WWW.WONDERFUL1.COM·MONDAY, JULY 8, 2019 Monday, 8 July 2019 For He who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not murder.” Now if you do not commit adultery, but you do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law. James 2:11 James now reveals how the words of the previous verse are true. He had said, “For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all.” Now he says, “For he who said.” This is speaking of the Lord who is the Lawgiver. The law came through Moses, but it is the Lord who spoke it forth first. In fact, the two commands now cited were spoken directly from the Lord to the people at Mount Sinai – “Do not commit adultery.” “Do not murder.” Because they both issue forth from the same Source, and because they are a part of one set of commands, breaking either is to break the whole body of law in which they are included. This is why James says, “Now if you do not commit adultery, but you do murder.” Who is to say that doing one, but not the other, is acceptable? They both fall under the same law. And those commands which seem of less weight, such as coveting, can actually be the very source of violating the others. When one covets another’s wife, it can lead to adultery. When one covets another’s possessions, it can lead to theft or even to murder. Thus, in violating any precept of the law “you have become a transgressor of the law.” Leviticus 18:5, a part of the law, says to the people, “You shall therefore keep My statutes and My judgments, which if a man does, he shall live by them: I am the Lord.” Is there any person in Israel’s recorded history from the time of the giving of the law until the coming of Christ that is still alive? No. They are all dead. From Moses and Aaron and then through all of the judges, kings, and prophets, all are dead. They did not do the things of the law. Only in the coming of Christ is found One who did the things of the law, and He lives. His death was not because of a violation of the law on His part. Rather, it was for violations of the law by us. The fact that He came out of the grave demonstrates that He did not die for His own sin, but as a Substitute for ours. It is we who are transgressors – or those who go beyond the line – of the law. It is we who need redemption from the law, and it is Christ who accomplished that for us by never going beyond the law. Life application: Why would James pick such a seemingly harsh commandment, such as not committing murder, to be the standard he uses? Most people have obviously never committed murder. They would be aghast at even the thought of it. But in reality, we are all guilty of this sin. According to God’s standard which Jesus revealed to us it says – “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.’ 22 But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment.” Matthew 5:21, 22 God looks at the intent of our hearts. None of us have gone without hating another. Likewise, most of us have looked at another in lust and are guilty of adultery. Like coveting, the heart is what is evaluated by God, even if there is no external acting upon what the heart inclines toward. All of this shows sin for what it is – utterly sinful. It also shows us our great need for Jesus’ perfect righteousness. Without His shed blood, we are utterly condemned, not just by our actions, but by our intent. O God, thank You for Jesus! Lord, we have fallen so very short of Your perfection. Our thoughts are filled with that which is wrong and our hearts have been intent on evil. Forgive us of our faults – not because we deserve it, but because of Jesus, our only Hope and our Savior. We place ourselves completely in His hands and accept what He did for us. Thank You, O God, for our Lord Jesus. Amen.
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Post by PrisonerOfHope on Jul 9, 2019 23:30:07 GMT -5
Daily Bible Verse, James 2:12, 9 July 2019
WWW.WONDERFUL1.COM·TUESDAY, JULY 9, 2019 Tuesday, 9 July 2019 So speak and so do as those who will be judged by the law of liberty.James 2:12 James now gives a summary statement based on what he has been speaking about for quite some time. He says, “So speak and so do.” He had shown earlier in this chapter that those who speak with partiality sin, in particular verses 2-4. He had written about being doers of the word at the end of the previous chapter, in particular verses 22-27. He now combines those thoughts to show that believers are to unite proper speaking with proper action. In this conduct, our speaking and our doing are to be considered as done by “those who will be judged by the law of liberty.” This takes the reader back to his words of verse 1:25 – “But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.” The “law of liberty,” as explained in verse 1:25, is where liberty defines the perfect law. It is what is obtained from it. And so, it is a law which is completely different than the bondage of sin leading to death which is found in Adam. The law of liberty is the gospel where sin is not imputed. Because this is so, the believer should strive all the more to conduct his affairs in holiness. Rather than a license to sin, he is given the freedom to act apart from sin, and it is that law of liberty by which we will be judged. In this, we are to speak and to do in accord with our position in Christ. To understand what that means, James will continue on with further explanation. His words in the coming verses will combine the thought of speaking and doing with real, practical examples of what he means. But his words in the second half of this chapter are also some of the most debated over and misunderstood verses in the epistles, and so they must be carefully evaluated. Life application: In evaluating James 2:12 & 13, the context needs to be considered. It is certain that if you have accepted Jesus Christ, you are forgiven – “I write to you, little children, Because your sins are forgiven you for His name’s sake.” 1 John 2:12 Forgiveness in Christ is a done deal. From the moment you receive Him, you are forgiven of every sin you have committed and of every sin you will yet commit. One cannot lose his salvation. However, judgment for a believer is based on rewards for faithfulness. The law of Christ gives freedom from sin and condemnation, but it doesn’t give freedom for licentiousness. It is most important to keep these things in their proper perspective, and this is what James is relaying to us in his words. Saved believers will stand at the judgment seat of Christ to receive rewards based on the life we live in Him. Because of this, we should speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom. And how can we do anything else! Jesus gave His life for us. Shouldn’t we then do our utmost to bring Him the honor and glory He deserves? Live for Him today, tomorrow, and always! Lord Jesus, give us the ability to be merciful to others, just as you have been to us! If you have forgiven all of our transgressions, then we should remember that others deserve the same. Remind us that when they turn and ask for forgiveness, we need to show the same mercy that we have been shown. Thank You Lord for Your goodness to us! Amen.
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Post by PrisonerOfHope on Jul 10, 2019 23:49:56 GMT -5
Daily Bible Verse, James 2:13, 10 July 2019
WWW.WONDERFUL1.COM·WEDNESDAY, JULY 10, 2019 Wednesday, 10 July 2019 For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.James 2:13 The Greek reads with more force than is presented here. It more rightly says, “For the judgment will be merciless to the one who has shown no mercy.” It is a precept which permeates Scripture in various ways. Solomon says this in Proverbs – “Whoever shuts his ears to the cry of the poor Will also cry himself and not be heard.” Proverbs 21:13 James’ words also remind the reader of the parable of the Unforgiving Servant in Matthew 18:21-35. Jesus shows there that mercy in us is something that is evaluated by God in our own judgment. David’s words in 2 Samuel acknowledge this precept as well. There he says, “With the merciful You will show Yourself merciful.” The reason for this is that mercy is an attribute of the Lord. It is a part of His very nature. In Exodus 34, when revealing His glory before Moses, the Lord proclaimed – “The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth, 7 keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children and the children’s children to the third and the fourth generation.” Exodus 34:6 Later in Numbers, when the people of Israel sinned against the Lord, Moses appealed to Him for them. In his appeal, he said, “And now, I pray, let the power of my Lord be great, just as You have spoken.” After that, he repeated the very words of the Lord from Exodus 34 as the prime example of how the Lord would most effectively reveal His great power – “‘The Lord is longsuffering and abundant in mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgression; but He by no means clears the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generation.’ 19 Pardon the iniquity of this people, I pray, according to the greatness of Your mercy, just as You have forgiven this people, from Egypt even until now.” Numbers 14:18, 19 Astonishingly, Moses saw the power of the Lord most fully demonstrated in His mercy and forgiveness. This is what the Lord had declared concerning Himself, and Moses grasped onto it, knowing that the Lord is unchangeable in His Being. As this is so, he appealed to that truth. Moses is considered Israel’s great lawgiver. A law demands justice leading to punishment for transgression. But Moses saw the strength of the Lord in withholding that, and in its place granting mercy. Does that not sound like God working in Christ? The greatest demonstration of all of God’s power is found in the giving of His Son for sinful man. It is the very heart of the gospel, and the gospel is the very heart and purpose of all Scripture in regards to salvation. Paul says as much in 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.” The law and its penalties could not compare to the mercies of the Lord. And the Dispensation of Law was but a dark moment in redemptive history as it led to the gloriously revealed light of the Dispensation of Grace. Moses, understanding this precept above all else, then spoke out his petition to the Lord, and the Lord pardoned according to his plea. This is why the judgment will be merciless to the one who has shown no mercy. It is because in not showing mercy, we cast off one of the principle attributes of God, in whose image we are created. But in being merciful, we too will find mercy. As James says, “Mercy triumphs over judgment.” God who is merciful will look upon us in mercy when we reflect His nature and demonstrate mercy. Life application: James indicates that mercy is a powerful tool for good in our lives and for our eternal destiny. A good way to remember the meaning of mercy is to remember it along with the meaning of grace. Mercy is not getting what you do deserve; grace is getting what you do not deserve. As Jesus speaks of this so poignantly in Matthew 18, take time today to read the entire parable and see how this confirms what James says. However, remember to take the entire subject of forgiveness in context. When we receive Jesus as our Lord and Savior, all our sins are forgiven. Therefore, in the context of the Christian’s life, being unmerciful will result in loss of rewards, not condemnation. Either way, being merciful will keep us from a greater judgment because we are acting as our Heavenly Father does when we stray. Lord Jesus, it is not always easy to be merciful, but it reflects Your divine character when we are. Because of this, please grant us the ability to be more merciful to others so that we might be pleasing to You. May Your words sink into our lives and become our very nature – to Your glory! Amen.
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Post by PrisonerOfHope on Jul 11, 2019 23:31:45 GMT -5
Daily Bible Verse, James 2:14, 11 July 2019
WWW.WONDERFUL1.COM·THURSDAY, JULY 11, 2019 Thursday, 11 July 2019 What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him?James 2:14 James is now going to discuss several verses on faith versus deeds. How these verses are interpreted sets the stage for how you believe your salvation is accomplished and completed in Jesus Christ. Also, these verses – in particular – provide a dividing line between Roman Catholicism and Protestant theology. Did Jesus accomplish everything on our behalf in order to be saved, or do we need to “participate” in our justification before the Lord? And further, is “faith” considered a deed or not? The Roman Catholic Council of Trent in 1546 put their side firmly in writing. Here is one of the applicable canons – Canon 24: "If any one saith, that the justice received is not preserved and also increased before God through good works; but that the said works are merely the fruits and signs of Justification obtained, but not a cause of the increase thereof; let him be anathema." Roman Catholicism states that we can only preserve our faith by deeds. It implies that Jesus’ work was insufficient in and of itself to justify us and maintain our justification. Protestants hold to biblical doctrine which states that man is justified by faith in Christ alone, but Roman Catholicism says that works are a cause of the increase of justification – without which one who has come to Christ can still be lost (“the justice received is not preserved and also increased before God through good works”). In other words, and this is clearly stated by the Roman Catholic Church, that one must participate in their salvation – be it initial or continued salvation. As in everything dealing with the RCC, it is a “plus” religion – Jesus, plus Mary; faith, plus works; the Bible, plus the church decisions; etc. Understanding this, attempts are made by protestants to weasel out of the words of James as well. They equivocate on the meaning of “works” in order to justify that James isn’t saying what he is saying. For example, the Pulpit Commentary says – “The two apostles use the word ἔργα [with] different senses. In St. Paul it always has a depreciatory sense, unless qualified by the adjective καλὰ or ἄγαθα. The works which he denies to have any share in justification are ‘legal works,’ not those which he elsewhere denominates the ‘fruit of the Spirit’ (Galatians 5:22), which are the ‘works’ of which St. James speaks.” This doesn’t resolve the matter at all. It further confuses it. This is because the issue at hand is not “works” but of someone being saved, which James states is what then justifies in verse 2:23. Whether these are legal works or so-called “fruit of the Spirit” works doesn’t change the matter of justification at all. Comparing Paul’s words with what James will speak of from now until the end of the chapter comes down to one thought, and one thought alone – “Is man justified by faith alone, or is he justified by works?” Or can it be that they are referring to two sides of one coin, faith being equated with the work? If by faith alone, then what is James speaking of when he says, “works?” Because “fruit of the Spirit” works doesn’t really mean anything in justification. The reason for this is that if one has the Spirit, that person is saved (Ephesians 1:13, 14). So how can “fruit of the Spirit” works be the basis for justification – meaning being deemed righteous before God and thus saved? And so James begins with, “What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works?” The word “profit” is found only in 1 Corinthians 15:32, here in James 2:14, and again in James 2:26. It signifies something heaped up or increased and thus, “cumulative advantage.” Can a person saying “I have faith” without there being some type of work to support it be a means of increase? From there, James defines what that “increase” or “profit” is – being saved. This is seen in the question, “Can faith save him?” The question is, “Who is ‘him’?” It is almost universally accepted that “him” is referring to the person who has the faith. However, the Greek allows for it to be another. Instead of the individual with the faith, it is rather more likely speaking of the person who is in need of mercy. James 2 is speaking of the relationship of one towards another (verses 2-4; verse 6; verse 8; and then verse 13). The person in verse 13 failed to show mercy to another and thus gets no mercy. Further, the word sózó, translated as “save” here does speak of salvation quite often, but it is also used in the gospels concerning healing (Matt 9:21, 22; Mark 5:23, 28, 34, etc). James will next speak of one who is in great need, and he asks if our faith alone can correct that need. When James says “profit” here, who is it that he is referring to? The answer is found in verse 2:26. It is not speaking of the profit of the one with faith, but the one who has the need. And so, in essence, James is saying, “Can my faith profit another? Or, do I need to demonstrate the faith I have in order for another to profit?” James cannot be speaking of the profit of faith for the one with the faith because he himself has already told us that it does in Acts 15. Peter rose to address the council at Jerusalem and he stated, “But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved in the same manner as they.” Peter called out openly what Paul proclaims in Ephesians 2:8, 9. That a person is saved by grace, and that is through faith in what Christ did, not in our own works. James agreed to this and sent out a letter to the early church that the Gentiles were not bound to the law of Moses. He also gave several recommendations to the churches in order to keep the congregation out of a greater dilemma, but these were not points of salvation. Rather, they were things to be done because of salvation until the time that they could be more fully explained by the epistles. Life application: If we are (as Paul says) justified by faith alone apart from deeds of the law (Romans 3:28), but James says that “a man is justified by works, and not by faith only” (James 2:24), then the answer to this issue must be based not on the type of works, but the impetus behind them. Consider this as you do your deeds before God. What is it that impels you to accomplish certain things, and what are you looking to obtain as a result of your works? Heavenly Father, give us wisdom in discerning the truth of difficult passages in Scripture. At times, there are things which arise which are really tough for us to understand. May our doctrine be pure and may our hearts be in tune with living out the truth of Your word. This to Your honor and glory and to the saving of our souls. Amen.
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Post by PrisonerOfHope on Jul 12, 2019 23:10:07 GMT -5
Daily Bible Verse, James 2:15, 12 July 2019
WWW.WONDERFUL1.COM·FRIDAY, JULY 12, 2019 Friday, 12 July 2019 If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food,James 2:15 James now gives an extreme example of how faith should be worked out in deeds. He just asked about someone not having works, while having faith. He asked, “Can faith save him?” In the commentary on the previous verse, it was questioned who “him” was speaking of. James doesn’t specifically answer the question, but he proceeds to give his example whichclosely reflects the sentiment of Matthew 25 concerning the judgment of the nations based on the treatment of those who are hungry, thirsty, strangers, naked, sick, and in prison. His example is concerning a “brother or sister.” James is speaking of a believer in Christ who sees another believer. In this, he says that person is “naked.” The word is rarely used to signify stark naked. Rather, it is a person who possesses only his undergarments, or who is poorly clothed in the extreme. James further says that he is “destitute of daily food.” This is well translated. The word is ephémeros. It signifies that which occurs on the basis of a day. From day to day this person is lacking food. With this in mind, he will continue with the thought in the next verse. Life application: Regardless of the issue of whether James is speaking of deeds resulting in salvation, or whether he is speaking of deeds accomplished in faith by those who are saved, shouldn’t we consider the plight of others simply because they are also God’s image-bearers? Let us not lose sight of the trees for the forest. May we open our hearts to those who have such great needs as are spoken of by James in this verse. Lord God, give us willing hearts to love and assist those who are destitute, caring for them and their needs according to our ability to do so. Help us not to turn a blind eye to our brother or sister who is in need when we are able to help in getting them back on their feet. May this be so in order that You will be glorified through the works we accomplish in Your name. To Your glory we pray. Amen.
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Post by PrisonerOfHope on Jul 13, 2019 23:16:14 GMT -5
Daily Bible Verse, James 2:16, 13 July 2019
WWW.WONDERFUL1.COM·SATURDAY, JULY 13, 2019 Saturday, 13 July 2019 ...and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit?James 2:16 James just spoke of the person who is “naked and destitute of daily food.” Now, referring to those he is writing to, he says, “and one of you says to them.” It is a believer speaking to the person who is naked or destitute of daily food. There is an obvious understanding of the person’s plight. Nobody could look at him and not understand the need which exists. And yet, instead of offering assistance, there is just a general greeting, “Depart in peace.” The words were a common way of sending another off. Three examples from the gospels and Acts will show this – 1) After Jesus forgave a woman of her sins, he said, “Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.” Luke7:50 2) After he had healed a woman of her flow of blood, he said, “Daughter, be of good cheer; your faith has made you well. Go in peace.” Luke 8:48 3) After Paul and Silas were released from captivity, the keeper of the prison said, “The magistrates have sent to let you go. Now therefore depart, and go in peace.” In the case of James’ example, the individual says this to the one in need, but then adds in “be warmed and filled.” It sounds like a noble blessing and it is probably intended to make the one saying it feel good about himself, as if he had accomplished something. However, James continues with the words, “but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body.” If you notice in the three examples from the gospels and Acts, those who were told to depart in peace had received some tangible benefit. The woman who was a sinner was freed from her sin-debt. The woman who had the issue of blood was freed from her affliction. And the apostles who were jailed were allowed to depart without further charge or harm. For them, the words “Go in peace,” were because they had been granted something that could provide them with the peace they were in need of. On the other hand, the person who is in need in this example in James has been given nothing but a word of encouragement. Of this, James asks what will that profit them? The answer is, “Nothing.” In fact, it will only deepen the affliction they have through the knowledge that their destitute state doesn’t matter to another believer at all. Where is their love, empathy, or any care in their words? Has this person been healed in any way? Certainly not. But this is the purpose of our faith. It is to understand that we have been given mercy, and we are to then extend that mercy to others. In his words, James uses the term ophelos, or profit. As in verse 2:14, he again asks, “what does it profit?” James is not speaking of the one with faith. Rather, he is speaking of the one in need. Therefore, the question of verse 2:14, “Can faith save him?”, is not speaking of the person with faith, but of the one who is in need. It should say, “Can faith heal him?” The answer is, “Without deeds, ‘No!’” That will continue to be explained in the next verses. Life application: Doing good deeds for the name and for the cause of Christ – this is what James is speaking of today. How many times do we see a friend in need and feel sorry for him, but don’t really do anything to help him? “Gee, I’m so sorry about that Tom…” Often we feel helpless simply because the problem is something too big for us to handle, or it is out of our area of expertise. Or, maybe we are just too busy to get involved. For whatever reason, we tell Tom, “I wish you well…” If our words aren’t backed up with something more solid, they may really mean nothing to Tom. Quite often, something more solid can simply be spending time with the person. A lot of the pain of difficult times is the isolation during them. If a friend is sick, getting divorced, financially ruined, etc., then it is true that we may not be able to help them with the main problem. But we may be able to lend an ear when they need to talk, or to take them out – away from their pains for awhile – to dinner or a movie. What is seemingly unhelpful may be a great value to the person. In James 2:16, the matter is something we could help with – a friend or stranger who is cold and hungry can easily be given something warm and some food. Wishing them well and spending a few minutes with them really doesn’t help them at all. What they need is a Big Mac and a blanket. If you have never helped out at a homeless shelter or an inner-city mission, you might try it. And you might realize that it is a blessing to you as much or more than for the people whom you have helped. Make an effort to help in whatever capacity is relevant to the situation. People don’t normally forget kindness and the Lord certainly remembers every good act done in His name. Lord, give us hearts to help the helpless; give us the desire to assist the needy; grant us the ability to carry through with those intentions, and to provide us with the understanding that You are the one to receive the glory when the deed is done. May we be instruments of Your love to those who are suffering. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
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Post by PrisonerOfHope on Jul 14, 2019 23:59:03 GMT -5
Daily Bible Verse, James 2:17, 14 July 2019
WWW.WONDERFUL1.COM·SUNDAY, JULY 14, 2019 Sunday, 14 July 2019 Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.James 2:17 James now shows that a person’s faith needs to be expressed outwardly in acts which are of value in relation to the faith. What does that mean exactly? First, he says, “Thus also faith by itself.” The Greek actually is structured with “by itself” at the end of the verse. Further, “faith” has an article before it to show that he is speaking of the faith of the individual in the gospel. Not all types of faith require works to be alive – “so also the faith, if it may not have works, is dead by itself.” YLT In this, James is showing that a professing Christian’s faith which never goes beyond that faith into some type of action, is a dead faith. One can think of a baby in a womb which issues forth dead. It doesn’t mean it isn’t a baby, but it does mean that it has no purpose from that moment on. Such is true, James says, concerning the faith by itself. He then adds in “if it does not have works.” Again, the word “it” is speaking of “the faith,” not all types of faith. One does not need to have works if he has faith in the strength of a chair to hold him. One does not need to have works if he has faith that his wife will cook dinner that evening. James is speaking of one who has faith in Christ, but who does not outwardly display that faith in acknowledgment of what they have received. For such a person, their faith “is dead.” The only person it does any good for is the individual. But it does nothing beyond him. But Christ worked in order to save him. What kind of appreciation is there in what He did, when a person isn’t willing to extend what Christ did on to others in some manner? But, this brings in an obvious question. When James says, “if it does not have works,” what is he talking about? “What works?” The Roman Catholic Church makes a great deal about works being necessary to be saved and to continue to be saved – cooperating in salvation with Christ. Reformed theologians speak of “works” as being a necessary demonstration of saving faith – the fruits of it. But neither system defines what “works” somehow prove the saving faith – either for or because of salvation. Each just gives the statement expecting adherents to somehow know what works justify them (RCC) or prove their justification (Reformed). James will continue to reveal what he means, including what “works” demonstrate a faith which is alive. Life application: Other than to hang a door, a doornail is pretty much useless. And so it is with a faith in Christ that isn’t then exercised through accompanied action. James is going to give biblical examples of faith-based deeds in the verses ahead and then he will provide a verse which has brought about argument and theological finger-pointing for eons. Until we get there, let us just think about what it means to be saved and how we can know if we are. Paul says in Romans 10:9 – “...that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” Either this is true or it is not. Paul then goes on to say – “In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.” Ephesians 1:13, 14 Again, if we are saved by the expression of faith in Romans 10, and then immediately marked with God’s Holy Spirit as indicated in Ephesians, then how can our faith later be considered dead? Our faith is part of the gift of God for salvation as is noted elsewhere in Ephesians. So what actions are necessary to ensure our faith is alive? Think on these things and understand that there is a satisfactory answer to them if we simply think on faith from a biblical perspective. Heavenly Father, for those who have called on Jesus, we once lacked saving faith, but O! how sweet was the day we received the gift of grace through faith from You. May we never forget the glorious moment You brought our souls to life. We reached out and accepted what You offered – peace through Your precious Son, our Lord and Savior! Help us to never forget this, and to act with living faith because of it always. Amen.
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Post by PrisonerOfHope on Jul 15, 2019 23:26:12 GMT -5
Daily Bible Verse, James 2:18, 15 July 2019
WWW.WONDERFUL1.COM·MONDAY, JULY 15, 2019 Monday, 15 July 2019 But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.James 2:18 James now introduces a possible argument someone might make. It is a hypothetical to get his reader to consider the matter. Paul did this in 1 Corinthians 15:35 – But someone will say, “How are the dead raised up? And with what body do they come?” In this verse, James’ hypothetical is stated in relation to what was said in verse 2:14. There James said, “What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works?” Can such faith bring help or healing to another? No. Not unless it is converted into works. In response, someone might say, “You have faith, and I have works.” What is the source of the faith? What is the motivation behind the works? Also, what external benefit is one over the other? To stimulate thought on the matter, James then says, “Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.” A more literal reading of this would be, “Show me your faith apart from your works, and I from my works will show you my faith.” Can a person’s faith without any deeds be demonstrated in the care of another? Obviously not. Faith is something that is within a person and which only concerns that person. On the other hand, James argues that a person can demonstrate his faith by his works. The person in verse 15 who is naked or destitute, and who is helped out by someone, can see the faith of that person in action. However, there is a problem. People do good deeds all the time, and they often do not do them in faith. They may do them for recognition, to make themselves feel better, for personal gain, and so on. Good deeds may demonstrate faith in a true believer, but they also can be done by people who only claim to be believers, or who have nothing to do with the faith. James is only concerned with those of the faith who are willing to demonstrate their faith through good deeds. This will continue to be seen in the verses ahead. Life application: James is working towards a goal in his thought process. He is coming to the conclusion that faith has an important part in our walk as Christians, but that deeds do as well. He still hasn’t indicated what deeds, or what type of deeds, other than to speak in the general terms of the previous verses. In the coming verses, he will use several noted figures from the Bible to establish a baseline of what deeds are acceptable for the justification James refers to. Think on these people, and even do a quick personal study on them and where they are mentioned in Scripture, before those verses are evaluated. Also, please think on the state of non-believers who do nifty deeds for others. Contemplate how they fit into the picture of the salvation Jesus’ provides. If deeds could increase our standing before God, can their deeds be credited for righteousness even though they don’t have faith in Jesus? Surely you realize now that they obviously can’t (see Romans 4:2), but it is important to think on their acts in comparison to those of Christians. James stands and quotes someone who says, “You have faith and I have works.” He then agrees with that person by saying that he will show his faith by what he does. Can I do super things after becoming a Christian to increase my justification before God? Paul says that “we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad” (2 Corinthians 5:10). For the believer, this is not a judgment of justification. Instead, it is a judgment for rewards and losses. Are our deeds done in conjunction with our faith? What deeds are you doing since you became a Christian? And what is the motivation behind them? Are you doing them for your own glory or that of Christ? Heavenly Father, help us to want to be pleasing to You without pretense or for self-serving reasons. May our actions be a testimony to the salvation that Jesus worked out on our behalf, and may we not suppose that we are increasing our position in You above what He did, but let us trust in Him alone for our standing as Your servants. Amen.
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Post by PrisonerOfHope on Jul 17, 2019 0:28:12 GMT -5
Daily Bible Verse, James 2:19, 16 July 2019
WWW.WONDERFUL1.COM·TUESDAY, JULY 16, 2019 Tuesday, 16 July 2019 You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble!James 2:19 The word “you” is singular and it is in the emphatic position, and so James – writing to a Jewish audience – implies that the individual is self-deceived if he claims to have faith and yet has no works. The structure of the first part of this verse varies a bit between manuscripts - You believe that One is the God. You believe that the God One is. Either way, God is the formal object, and it is speaking of the oneness of God, not so much the fact that there is one God – although that is to be understood. This then is in line with the proclamation of Moses which is recorded in Deuteronomy 6:4 – “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one!” James uses this statement of faith in order to highlight the belief in the monotheistic God who is also Triune in nature – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. In emphatically stating to each person in his audience that they believe God is One, he is preparing them for his next words to show how little that actually means all by itself, even though it is a good thing. As he says, “You do well.” Jews believed this all along, ever since Moses proclaimed it to the people. James says that this is commendable. It demonstrates faith in the words of Moses concerning God’s nature. However, that is only good to a certain point. He shows this by saying, “Even the demons believe.” The Oneness of God is understood by the demons, just as it is to those humans who accept the premise. Both accept the same truth. However, James continues. They believe “and tremble!” The word James uses is found only here in Scripture, phrissó. It originally meant “to be rough on the surface,” and thus “to bristle.” From this one gets the sense of hair standing on its end from terror. It is more than to tremble, but to shudder. It carries the sense of horror at the knowledge. This is what James is referring to, and it is something that is intended to point to the Oneness of God, despite speaking of faith in Jesus. In other words, He is indicating that faith in Jesus is faith in God. This is confirmed by the accounts of demons being faced with the presence of Jesus as recorded in the gospels, such as – “When He had come to the other side, to the country of the Gergesenes, there met Him two demon-possessed men, coming out of the tombs, exceedingly fierce, so that no one could pass that way. 29 And suddenly they cried out, saying, ‘What have we to do with You, Jesus, You Son of God? Have You come here to torment us before the time?’” Matthew 8:28, 29 These demons had a knowledge of Jesus, including that He is fully God. As James says, “God is One.” But these are demons. James is saying to his audience that just because someone knows God is One, it doesn’t mean that their knowledge is backed up by anything of further value. If the demons believed this and backed it up with action, they would not be demons set for destruction, but angels who would forever stand before God praising Him. James’ point is, “Where do you stand? On belief alone, or belief plus acting on your belief.” Life application: Most rational people will believe there is one God, regardless of how they exercise that faith, so James is saying that this is nothing special. In fact, even the demons believe this, but they shudder at that knowledge. Why? Because they believe in God from first-hand knowledge! Their belief is more than general faith, and that knowledge tells them they will receive their sentence in due time. How many times have you heard someone say, “I believe in God,” and then you watch them live lives of ungodliness? This is irrational because someone who believes in God and lives that way hasn’t thought the whole thing through. However, the demons have. They know that judgment awaits, and yet they continue on their reckless path. This is what James is talking about. Misdirected faith is wasted faith. If you are a Jehovah’s Witness, a Mormon, etc., then you obviously believe in God. However, your faith is misdirected and it is therefore useless. God isn’t contradictory and His word is not to be manipulated. Rather, it is to be believed as written. You believe that God is One. Good! Don’t waste your faith in Him then. Exercise it appropriately unto salvation and proper action. Call on Jesus, who is God. O God, we believe in You, and we believe that Your word is true. Give us wisdom in understanding it more each day. Grant us to know Your ways, faith that isn’t dead, and the desire to accomplish deeds that will be pleasing to You. May our lives be as examples to others of faithful Christians who honor You in all ways. Amen.
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Post by PrisonerOfHope on Jul 17, 2019 12:39:14 GMT -5
Daily Bible Verse, James 2:20, 17 July 2019
WWW.WONDERFUL1.COM·WEDNESDAY, JULY 17, 2019 Wednesday, 17 July 2019 But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?James 2:20 James has spoken of faith without works and works which demonstrate faith. From there, he used demons as an example of belief which is void of any value. They believe in God and yet they tremble. One can believe in something without having faith in it. A person can believe that an arrangement of wood in the corner of a room is a chair, but he may not have faith that the chair is capable of holding his weight. A person can believe in God, and yet he can also have no faith in that same God. A person can even believe in Jesus and yet not have faith that Jesus died for his sins and was resurrected proving His own sinlessness. James now asks a question to get his reader to think this matter through. He begins with, “But do you want to know, O foolish man.” The word translated as “foolish” is kenos. It means “empty,” either literally or figuratively. It would indicate a man whose head is empty from not thinking clearly. He is lacking in moral content. To understand, one could think of almost any liberal in the world today. There is no substance behind their thought process. James’ words are general, as if he is speaking to anyone who hasn’t figured out what he is saying. There needs to be faith behind knowledge. The two need to work in harmony with one another. And so in order to complete his question, he says “that faith without works is dead?” The word translated as “works” is the same common word that he uses twelve times in this chapter alone, ergon. It is a deed which accomplishes what is initiated by an inner desire. James says that faith without such “is dead.” Here, there is a variance in some manuscripts. Some say nekra, or “dead,” while others say arge, or “worthless.” In the end, they come to substantially the same meaning. A tree can have fruit which is shriveled up and dead, or it can have fruit which cannot be eaten for some reason. And so either way, the fruit is not able to accomplish that for which it was intended. To support his statement, James will next give two examples directly from Scripture. He (and thus the Lord who inspired the words) obviously finds that these two examples (Abraham and Rahab) are sufficient to convey the exact intent of what he means here. As he does, so should we. What is it that Scripture says about these two that James finds worthy of note, and what is it that Scripture itself also elsewhere says about these two which will help us to understand what James is conveying? Of the concept of faith without works being dead, Albert Barnes says – “That the faith which does not produce good works is useless in the matter of salvation. He does not mean to say that it would produce no effect, for in the case of the demons it did produce trembling and alarm; but that it would be valueless in the matter of salvation.” Is this correct? Two things need to be considered. First, it was argued in verse 2:14 that James’ words, “Can faith save him?”, were speaking of another, not the individual with the faith. That was substantiated by the fact the example which immediately followed the question was referring to helping another. Secondly, even if this was speaking of the person with the faith, then to support Albert Barnes’ statement, it would have to assume that in Genesis 15:6 Abraham was not yet “saved” (meaning declared righteous), in the sense of pleasing God and being justified by Him. As will be seen, this is entirely incorrect. And so the question is, “If faith without works is dead, then what ‘works’ prove that the faith is alive?” Charles Ellicott, in line with almost all reformed thinkers, says, “Works are the natural fruit of faith, and without them it is evident that the tree is dead.” This statement, however, explains nothing concerning “what works,” demonstrate or prove saving faith. How can a person read such things and feel any more secure in his walk than before he read them? He is left with nothing but a dubious sense of, “I need to do works to prove my faith.” From there, he goes and does and does and does, but his doing never satisfies because nobody told him what “works” are considered acceptable. One might as well go back to Roman Catholicism under such an explanation of “works which demonstrate saving faith.” Life application: Jesus said, “But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, ‘Raca!’ shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, ‘You fool!’ shall be in danger of hell fire” (Matthew 5:22). Raca means “empty-headed,” and it is what James appears to be calling people here. But he is using the term in a general sense to explain how someone may not be thinking an issue through clearly. Further, Jesus uses the term moros, when speaking of a fool (think of our modern term “moron”). Paul uses that term when speaking of others because the Bible already describes who a fool is for us, such as – “The fool has said in his heart, ‘There is no God.’ They are corrupt, They have done abominable works, There is none who does good.’” Psalm 14:1 Therefore, one valid definition of a fool is a person who denies the existence of God. But, a person claiming to have faith and yet lacking the proper deeds of faith could also be considered foolish. Keep this in mind because it bears on the examples James is going to give and how we can know what deeds are relevant to saving faith. One reason this is so important is that anyone can claim any deeds are necessary fruits of a converted person. If so, then if someone else doesn’t do what the individual determines is necessary to prove his faith, finger-pointing and accusation results – “He can’t be a Christian because…” This is exactly what happens in churches and denominations all over the world. All because people set their own standards of “deeds of righteousness” rather than looking to the Bible to determine proper deeds which result from saving faith. We will determine what they are in the verses ahead. Sure we will… Have faith! Lord Jesus, we know that You have accepted us because of our faith in Christ. We have this certainty because we called on You in faith and because You then sealed us with Your Holy Spirit as a guarantee. It was the sweetest moment ever! May our deeds now reflect this, all the days of our lives. Amen.
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Post by PrisonerOfHope on Jul 18, 2019 23:26:23 GMT -5
Daily Bible Verse, James 2:21, 18 July 2019
WWW.WONDERFUL1.COM·THURSDAY, JULY 18, 2019 Thursday, 18 July 2019 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar?James 2:21 James now introduces the first of the two examples which he inferred were coming by the question which comprised the previous verse. He asked, “But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?” To affirm that it is the case, he begins his examples with, “Was not Abraham our father justified by works.” Albert Barnes states the following concerning this – “Justified by works - That is, in the sense in which James is maintaining that a man professing religion is to be justified by his works. He does not affirm that the ground of acceptance with God is that we keep the law, or are perfect; or that our good works make an atonement for our sins, and that it is on their account that we are pardoned; nor does he deny that it is necessary that a man should believe in order to be saved. In this sense he does not deny that men are justified by faith; and thus he does not contradict the doctrine of the apostle Paul. But he does teach that where there are no good works, or where there is not a holy life, there is no true religion; that that faith which is not productive of good works is of no value; that if a man has that faith only, it would be impossible that he could be regarded as justified, or could be saved and that consequently, in that large sense, a man is justified by his works that is, they are the evidence that he is a justified man, or is regarded and treated as righteous by his Maker. The point on which the apostle has his eye is the nature of saving faith; and his design is to show that a mere faith which would produce no more effect than that of the demons did, could not save.” Barnes, as well as others, states that “faith which is not productive of good works is of no value.” This is true, however, he fails to state what “works” are acceptable to justify a man. As noted in the previous commentary, this will naturally cause a person to say,“I need to do works to prove my faith.” From there, he goes and does and does and does, but his doing never satisfies because nobody told him what “works” are considered acceptable. Barnes then continues with, “that if a man has that faith only, it would be impossible that he could be regarded as justified.” That, unfortunately, entirely negates what Paul says concerning justification. Paul says that a man is justified apart from works of the law. He says that a person believes, and when he believes he is sealed with the Holy Spirit. Consider the man who believes, is saved, and then dies – such as the man on the cross next to Christ. What works did he do? What about the person who is a quadriplegic and cannot do whatever supposed “works” someone thinks up as being necessary to be justified? However, this was not the case with Abraham. God declared Abraham righteous in Genesis 15:6. The offering of Isaac was seven chapters and many years later. And yet, James questions, was not Abraham “justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar?” It begs a positive response. Is this the same work that is necessary for us? Obviously not. James will continue with his analysis of what Abraham did for the next few verses. He will then move on to the prostitute Rahab. What is it about what they did that makes their works acceptable? Life application: James remembers the great test of faith of the Hebrew people – that of Father Abraham offering up his son Isaac on Mount Moriah. However, Paul also speaks of the righteousness of Abraham and how it was obtained by him. Hebrews 11 speaks of this same account of the offering up of Isaac as well. Because of this, it must be incredibly important and a matter that needs to be considered carefully. Take time to read Genesis 22, Romans 4, and Galatians 3. If you can understand these areas of the Bible, and also the account as mentioned in Hebrews 11:17-19, then you can more fully understand what is being spoken of by James concerning faith versus deeds. Together, these passages will take you about 15 minutes to finish but they contain a lifetime of wealth for us to remember. In the end, the account of Abraham, Isaac foreshadows the Person and work of Jesus. He, the only begotten Son of the Father, climbed this same hill, with his own wood (the cross) on His back; and His Father allowed the sacrifice to continue. Because of what Jesus did, we are now reconciled to God the Father. It is faith in this action and faith alone which justifies us in the sight of God. Don’t be distressed at any foe that comes against you – Jesus is on your side and God the Father has approved of you because of faith in what His Son did. Be at peace! Thank You Heavenly Father for the Gift of Your Son, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Thank You that He bore our sin and wrath on the cross so that we are now reconciled to You through His precious blood. We know that we can add nothing to this great work, but we simply need to accept it by faith alone. Praises, honor, and majesty belong to You alone! Amen.
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Post by PrisonerOfHope on Jul 19, 2019 23:08:04 GMT -5
Daily Bible Verse, James 2:22, 19 July 2019
WWW.WONDERFUL1.COM·FRIDAY, JULY 19, 2019 Friday, 19 July 2019 Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect? James 2:22 James just cited the account of Abraham offering up Isaac on the altar to support his notion that “faith without works is dead.” With that in mind, he then says, “Do you see.” Translations are divided on this. Some make it a question, “Do you see…?” Others make it a statement of fact, “You see...” Either way, the thought comes out the same in the end, which is, “that faith was working together with his works...” In the Greek, James makes a play on words by saying that Abraham, “was working the works of him.” So, Abraham has works that he is working out together with his faith. The word is sunergeó, and it is key to understanding what is being relayed. It means “to cooperate” or “to work together.” It is where our modern word synergy is derived from. Of this, Albert Barnes says – “The apostle does not say that, in regard to the merit which justifies, they came in for an equal share, for he makes no affirmation on that point; he does not deny that in the sight of God, who foresees and knows all things, he was regarded as a justified man the moment he believed, but he looks at the result as it was, at Abraham as he appeared under the trial of his faith, and says that in that result there was to be seen the co-operation of faith and good works. Both contributed to the end, as they do now in all cases where there is true religion.” How can it be that Abraham “was regarded as a justified man the moment he believed,” and yet it also be true that a cooperation of faith and good works contributed to the end, if by “end” he means justification? Either one is justified and declared righteous, or he is not. The only thing that can be affected by his faith are the works (whatever works) that he does. The works are not separated from his faith, but they are combined with it. James then confirms this by saying that “by works faith was made perfect.” It is not the justification that was made perfect. Rather, that was something that occurred many years earlier. His later works had no bearing on that declaration – as Paul clearly shows in Romans 4:9-11. This is important to understand prior to arriving at verse 2:24. It is his faith that was made perfect. Life application: Roman Catholicism claims that deeds of righteousness increase our standing before God and assist in our justification. Protestant theologians say they have no merit but only prove salvation. Paul, however, says we are justified by faith alone and that this occurred in Abraham’s case long before the time of Isaac. Therefore, the justification is by faith alone. Was Abraham’s deed of sacrifice meritorious in and of itself? Or was the action pointing to something else that hasn’t yet been analyzed? If you studied the passage from Hebrews 11 which deals with Abraham, then you may have an inkling of what was really involved in Abraham’s deed. Understanding what Hebrews 11 says is the key and it will resolve the matter. No matter what the resolution is, what is important for now is that Abraham did what he was called to do. You also have a divine calling on your life – one to be holy, to honor the Lord, and to care for others in selfless ways. This calling, along with telling others about Jesus’ wonderful salvation, is something you should be pursuing all the time. Have faith that the Lord will be with you as you do! O God, how precious is the study of Your word! It is so wonderful to look into matters presented there and to know that you have provided all we need to know to live in a holy and Christ-honoring manner. In all ways, may our lives reflect Your plan and purpose…to the praise of Your glorious grace. Amen.
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