REAL RELIGION
(The Book of James)
By
Dr. 0. Wilburn Swaim, Th.D.
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I. The TEST OF FAITH (1:1-11)
Examples of Abraham, Job.
Benefits:
A. Learning Patience (3)
B. Growing toward Perfection (4)
C. Gracious Provision:
1. Wisdom (5-8)
2. Exaltation (9-11)
3. Reward (12)
II. The TEST OF CHARACTER (1:13-25)
A. Source (13,14). Not God, but the heart. God gives:
1. Good Gifts (17)
2. New Birth (18)
B. Process (15)
C. Warning (16)
D. Safeguard Against (19-25)
1. Be a Learner (19-21)
2. Be a Doer (22-25)
III. The TEST OF PARTIALITY (2:1-13)
"Respect" Vs 1 & 9 is "based on outward conditions." V. 3 is "epiblepo", to look upon with partiality." In partiality, we:
A. Fail to Act like Christ (1-3). Romans 2:11
B. Act like Unjust Judges (4)
C. Despise Whom God Loves (5,6). I Corinthians 1:18-31
D. Forego Common Sense (7) Transgress Applicable Laws (8-12). Note involved laws:
1. Royal Law (8) "Love neighbor as self"
note: Proverbs 23:4,5; I Timothy. 5:8; 6:10
2. Mosaic Law (9-11) "sin (hamartia) you are working...by the law as transgressors (parabasis).
3. Perfect Law (12) note: 1:25 I Peter 2:16
E. Incur Judgment on Ourselves (13)
IV. The TEST OF GOOD WORKS (2:14-26)
Note: Faith-works vs. Law-works
A. Dead Faith (14-17,20,26). I John 3:16-24
B. Demonic Faith (19)
C. Demonstrated Faith (18, 21-25)
1. Abraham's Action (21-24). Genesis 15:6 w/22:18). Hebrews 11:8-19 Abram:
a. Went Out
b. Sojourned
c. Looked
d. Offered Up
D. Rahab's Risk (25)
V. The TEST OF THE TONGUE (3:1-12). 1:19,26
A. A Bridled Tongue (1-3). Psalms 32:8,9 The lady and the tongue on the altar
B. A Boastful Tongue (4,5a)
C. A Blazing Tongue (5b-12)
1. Inflamatory (5b,6)
2. Unruly (7)
3. Deadly (8) Preacher & Pillow Proverbs 18:21
4. Inconsistent (9-12). I Peter 3:10
VI. The TEST OF WISDOM (3:13-18)
True wisdom:
A. Received from Above (15) I Corinthians 1:30
B. Results in Good Behaviour (13,14,16)
C. Recognized by: (17)
1. Purity
2. Peaceableness
3. Placable
4. Pitiful
5. Productive
6. Parity
7. No Pretense
D. Reward of Peace (18)
VII. The TEST OF PEACE (4:1-5:12). Verse 1
A. God's Supply (2,3)
1. Desire (2a)
2. Desperation (2b)
3. Denial (2c,3)
a. Asking Not (2c)
b. Asking Amiss (3)
B. God's Authority (4-17)
Submit to Him, or His enemies: World (4), Flesh (lusts, or, selfishness) (3), or the Devil (7).
1. Surrender to God (7a)
2. Stand Against Satan (7b)
3. Seek God's Closeness (8a)
4. Separate from Sin (8b)
5. Scale Down your Importance (9,10)
6. Speak as becoming Christ (11-17)
a. Un-judgingly (11,12)
b. Un-boastingly (13-17)
C. Good Business Relationships (5:1-6)
Concerning:
1. Last Days (2,3)
2. Laborers (4)
3. Life Style (5,6)
a. Pleasure (5)
b. Persecution (6)
D. Great Patience (5:7-11)
As:
1. Good Farmers (7)
2. Good Neighbor (8). For: The Lord is coming (7), is at hand (8), and, is ready (9). Examples: Jeremiah (10) and Job (11).
E. Godly Conversation (5:12)
VIII. TEST OF PRAYING (5:13-18)
A. Prayer and Praise (13). "Afflicted" to suffer hardships & troubles, as in military life (13). Prayer and Faith (14,15). "Sick" to be feeble, sick, as in Luke 7:10 (14); "Sick" to faint, grow weary; be sick, as in Revelation 2:3 (15a).
The elders are to pray for him (aor. imperative), "after annointing with oil...", and:
1. The Prayer of faith shall save the "weak one;"
2. The Lord shall raise him up;
3. Sins shall be forgiven. No credit is given to oil, as though a medicine. It is a symbol only.
B. Prayer and Confession (15b,16). "And if sin it might be he has committed (perfect tense), it shall be forgiven him."
Confess our: Sins to God (15). The inference is that a severe sin has brought on the sickness. If it is sin that has caused the sickness (15b), It would be assumed that the infirmed in calling on the elders, would be: Acknowledging awareness of sin being, or not being, involved; Indicating his repentance and desire for forgiveness and deliverance.
1. Faults to One Another (16). "Faults," "lapses, deviations from the truth."
To pray for one another is to exercise our priestly duty.
C. Prayer Example (17,18)
IX. TEST OF HELPS (5:19,20)