THE EPISTLE OF JAMES
Chapter One
About three years ago, I
came across a new way of studying that I found to be inspiring, exciting, and
very profitable. This teaching is a reflection of that new method of studying. I
decided to work not only every scripture, but almost every phrase, and
sometimes almost every single word in each scripture. I should mention to you
that a Lexicon was invaluable when searching for the literal translation of
each and every word of God's matchless Word. Combining this with the extensive
background in biblical research which I was so fortunate to receive, the end
result, I'm sure, will bless you. I know it is God's heart and surely it is
mine to illustrate to you that by digging beneath the surface to find the
diamonds of God's Word and by studying in this manner, it will allow you a
greater understanding of God's Word and of the importance of working God's Word
paying the closest attention to detail.
If you decide to undertake
this method of studying, it follows a very simple pattern. First, we will quote
the scripture from the King James Version and then we will quote a literal
translation according to usage as a result of our detailed study and research.
The literal translation of the verse will be placed in a different shade or
color than the King James version of the verse. This will be done to help you
read the literal translation, if you so choose, without any interruptions.
Simply stated, you may want to read through the teaching reading only the
literal translation of the verses after you have finished studying the complete
teaching. Enjoy the teaching. Let's begin.
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First of all, we need a
short introduction concerning the book of James. As you remember, we are never
to guess at what the Word of God means. In the very first verse of chapter one,
God clearly points out to whom the book of JAMES is written. It is written "to
the twelve tribes" which are scattered abroad. So now we know that the
book of James is written to Israel. And we should know by now that this book is
for our learning. It is not written directly to us. However, so much of
what is written is not changed in the Church epistles which are written
directly to us today -- the Church of the Body Christ. And we know that
everything that is written for our learning still applies to us today
if it has not been changed in the Church epistles. There is much to be
learned from this great book of James and in Chapter One, there are three main
topics that are discussed: 1) Wisdom 2) Temptation 3) Doers Vs. Hearers
CHAPTER ONE:
1. James, a
servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are
scattered abroad, greeting.
2, 3, 4. My
brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh
patience. But let patience have her perfect
work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
Literal:
2, 3, 4. Be blessed when you are tempted often because the testing of your
believing achieves patience and endurance which helps one to
become complete and full wanting nothing (perfect) and achieving his intended
goals.
5, 6, 7, 8.
If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall
be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth
is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man
think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.
Literal:
5, 6, 7, 8. If you don't know what to do at times with the knowledge that God
has given you, when it comes to making wise decisions based on the proper
application of the Word, ASK GOD WHAT TO DO. He will answer your
questions willfully without a second thought. He will answer the
need/question/prayer freely, with simplicity and with a readiness of heart. God
does not scold or reprove you when you ask Him for wisdom. Word of
Wisdom is one of the nine manifestations of the spirit that is available to
you. You must believe when you ask, without hesitation, without
separation or strife within yourself, without doubt or indecision,
without fluctuation or unsteadiness, without trembling, BUT WITH POSITIVE BELIEVING.
The man who wavers will not receive anything from God. That man is
double-minded (two-souled) separated within himself entirely. He is unsettled,
not standing fixed, not steady, and inconstant in all his ways.
9, 10, 11.
Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted: But the rich, in
that he is made low: because as the flower of the grass he shall pass away. For
the sun is no sooner risen with a burning heat, but it withereth the grass, and
the flower thereof falleth, and the grace of the fashion of it perisheth: so
also shall the rich man fade away in his ways.
Literal:
9, 10, 11 The believer who is humble should rejoice in that he is elevated - he
is uplifted, by God, over and above anything that could threaten or defeat him.
Rich men should rejoice only if they are made low (become humble). Just as the
flower of the grass passes away, the rich man will fade away in his ways.
12. Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when
he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised
to them that love him.
Literal:
12. Happy and blessed is the man that holds his ground and resists and endures
temptation. 'Endure' here means: 1) to
remain behind after others have gone 2) a brave bearing up against sufferings.
When that believer is examined and tried, he shall receive (lambano) the crown
of life which God promised to them that love Him.
13, 14, 15,
16. Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be
tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: But every man is tempted, when
he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived,
it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. Do
not err, my beloved brethren.
Literal:
13, 14, 15, 16. No man can say when he is tempted that he is tempted of God.
God cannot be tempted and He does not tempt any man. A man is tempted when he
is drawn out or away to a certain point, hurried away, by his own lust -- the
inward passion of concupiscence in a bad sense. This lust is a sinful desire --
THE OLD MAN. These abnormal mental desires correspond to man's morally corrupt,
depraved nature. When a man is tempted or drawn out of his own lust, it
can be said that he is caught by a bait or enticed. Be sharp at all
times. Watch out for the lure -- the TRAP!
Then when
lust has seized, controlled and allowed to dominate one's thinking and
decision-making, and finally influencing one's ACTIONS, (i.e. "when lust
hath CONCEIVED") it results in SIN. SIN, when it is finished or completed
results in DEATH. Do not be led astray, my dearly beloved.
Let's us now summarize
verses 1 - 16 concerning the topic of TEMPTATION:
1) Resisting
temptation breeds patience and endurance which leads to completion,
fullness, and perfection wanting nothing and achieving your
intended goals.
2) Giving in to
temptation, being enticed, lured or baited as a result of your own lust,
your old man, when conceived, brings about broken fellowship or sin whose end
result, when finished, is death.
WHICH ROAD DO YOU CHOOSE TO FOLLOW?
Knowing that the true
God NEVER tempts you, gives you even more reason to absolutely resist
temptation. You don't have an excuse. You know that temptation is from your
personal adversary who is out to steal, kill, and destroy your life. His
temptations are, most often, very subtle. You can be tempted in the smallest of
areas of life that seem unimportant. Don't try to figure everything out because
you may not understand everything about walking by the spirit. BUT you are able
to recognize temptation if you stay sharp and focused and you are able to
resist temptation ALL THE TIME because God says in His Word that in no matter
what way you are tempted, HE MAKES A WAY OUT AVAILABLE.
I Corinthians
10: 13 -- There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but
God is faithful, who will not
suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation
also make away to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
You can be tempted to
lie, tempted by distractions -- there is probably an endless amount of
temptations in this world. You can be tempted to speak when you know you should
be quiet. This is your free will -- to give in to temptation or not. God will
help if you make the effort. JUST REMEMBER, WHENEVER YOU ARE TEMPTED, IT IS
WRONG.
17, 18, 19.
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the
Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. Of
his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of
firstfruits of his creatures. Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be
swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:
Literal: 17,
18, 19. Every perfect and good act of giving comes down from the God of lights
of whom there is no change or alteration -- no shifting circumstances and no
shadow of turning arising from the turning of any body - no variableness.
God, of His own Will, brought us forth with His Word that we should be the
first products or result of His activity, His creation. On account of this, let
every man be:
1) Quick to hear 2) Slow to speak 3) Slow to wrath. **
* * ( wrath = anger together with the
desire for revenge )
20. For the
wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.
Literal:
20. Because this wrath of man DOES NOT ACHIEVE the righteousness of God, the
doing or being what is just or right, the wrath of man and his desire for
revenge always contradicts the righteousness of God. So then the wrath
of man is a trick, a trap, a temptation appealing to the lust of the old man,
which results in sin, which when finished, results in death. NEVER SEEK
REVENGE! It contradicts the righteousness of God! It is off the Word. Be
swift to hear and slow to speak and slow to wrath. Never let your personal
adversary provoke you to wrath and entice you with the temptation to do so. You
must tell yourself:
Philippians 4:
13 -- I can do all things through Christ which [who] strenghtheneth me.
You may
have the thoughts but don't ever take action. Eventually the thoughts will
weaken and go away as you resist and keep resisting the devil. Greater is He
that is in you than he that is in the world.
21. Wherefore
lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with
meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.
Literal:
21. Wherefore put off from one's self; lay aside all dirt or filth of the worst
sense (filth = gross moral corruption) and overabundance of vice and malice,
the intent to harm others, -- PUT OFF THE EVIL HABIT OF IT -- and
receive with humbleness the embedded and firmly fixed Word of God into the
innermost part of your mind -- into your heart. It is only this Word of God
which is able to save your soul from judgement (the penalty of death and
destruction) but presents as a gift, everlasting life as the result of the
resurrection. It is the purpose of God's Word to bring in all positive
blessings to replace condemnation.
22. But be ye
doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
Literal:
22. But in contrast to filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, BE YE A DOER
of the Word MAKING the Word WORK IN YOUR LIFE and in the lives of others who
choose to believe. Being a DOER means that you make something work! And
we are not to be hearers only (hitchhikers) deceiving our own selves by drawing
false conclusions. This can lead to cheating or deceiving others as a result of
sharing your false conclusions. This is all the result of you being a hearer
and not a doer of the Word of God.
23, 24, 25.
For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man
beholding his natural face in a glass: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his
way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. But whoso looketh
into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer
of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.
Literal:
23, 24, 25. For if you are a hearer of the Word and not a doer, you become like
a man observing or beholding his natural face in a mirror. For he sees himself
and goes his way and immediately forgets what kind or sort of man he was!! He
can't remember anything about his countenance -- his appearance. HE FORGOT
WHAT HE LOOKED LIKE! BUT whoso stoops down and bends forward to look at the
Word of God more closely -- the one who studies diligently and CONTINUES to
persevere at it, this man is not a forgetful hearer, BUT A DOER OF THE WORK. He
does not forget like the man who forgot what he looked like, but he remembers
the Word because he made it his own. And when he needs it, it is there because
it is embedded in the fleshly tables of that man's heart. This man accomplishes
the objectives of his study. He makes things happen with God working with him.
The man who stoops down and bends forward to look at the Word more closely WILL
BE HAPPY AND BLESSED in whatever he does. THUS SAITH THE LORD!!! You will be
blessed in your deed. In whatever you do, God will bless the outcome -- the end
result. So hunt down those treasures. There is nothing better to do. Study all
day if God works in your heart to do so. Keep God first and tell everything
else to go to the opposite of heaven. The world has nothing for you. Don't let
the lure fool you. Inside there is an empty shell. You need to search out the
900 treasures. How many do you know? Stoop down, bend forward, look closely.
Work the Word. That's what you should be doing. God will take care of
everything else. God will bless your work and your efforts right now.
26. If any
man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth
his own heart, this man's religion is
vain.
Literal: 26.
If any man among you gives the appearance of being a zealous and diligent
performer of the outward service of God (religious in a bad sense) and does not
curb or control his tongue, but deceives with false statements, false promises
and misleading ideas, his own heart, this man's religion is foolish, idle,
useless, and empty. That is the result of this man's religion.
27. Pure
religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the
fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.
Literal:
27. The worship of God that is pure, unstained, and unsoiled is this:
1) To visit, with the purpose of helping, the
ones who have been deprived or robbed of their hope or happiness such as the
orphans and widows in their time of suffering and pain.
2) TO KEEP YOURSELF WITHOUT ANY FLAW OR DEFECT
OR SHORTCOMING FROM THE WORLD. How is this accomplished?
a) By being a DOER of the Word and not a hearer
only.
b) By resisting temptation which results in
patience. Resisting breeds patience.
c) By resisting the Devil and not giving him
any place in your life.
d) By studying the Word on a daily basis
stooping down and bending forward taking a closer look.
e) By helping people who are afflicted. Speak
the Word with agape - the love of God.
f) By praying every day with your understanding
and in the spirit.
g) BY KEEPING GOD FIRST IN YOUR LIFE.
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