Faith In Action-Cleanse and Purify Ourselves

James 4:8

Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.

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We are still talking about God’s offer of grace to help us work through the conflicts which arise among us, and some steps we can take to appropriate, or take full advantage of that grace. We have talked about submission to God, resisting the Devil, and drawing near to God. The next section has to do with how we approach the topic of sin in our lives.

Sin, if we are unsaved, has separated us from God; the only way that relationship can be restored is, of course, through the atoning work of Jesus Christ on the cross. Even for those who are saved, sin in our lives can interfere with our daily fellowship and communion with God. That is why it matters that we come to God with clean hearts and minds.

We can see the beginnings of this thought back in the priestly system of the Old Testament, when the priests washed their hands and feet in the bronze basin before approaching God in the Tabernacle. Exodus 30:17-21. Even James seems to be drawing from the Old Testament when he teaches us this lesson.

Psalm 24:3,4 Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy place? He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.

The word “purify” carries the meaning and usage in the Greek of the day,”to make chaste.” That is an interesting usage when compared to the earlier discussion of James 4:4 of adulterers  and adulteresses. There does seem to be a strong parallel between the idea of being spiritual adulterers and that of presenting ourselves as chaste to The Lord.

And, finally, we see the idea of being “double minded.” This would be a reference it seems to people vacillating between their allegiances. Are we friends with God, or friends with the world? Are we chaste and loyal or are we spiritual adulterers?

A final question is appropriate. If we are saved, are we daily washing in the forgiveness of our sins through the power of the Holy Spirit? Are we washing our hearts and minds so that God will give us the daily grace to overcome the obstacles in our lives? More importantly in terms of washing is this question: have you been permanently washed in the Blood of Jesus Christ for the eternal forgiveness of your sin?

Faith In Action-Draw Nigh To God

James 4:8

 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.

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 As we covered earlier, God has provides sufficient grace for us to overcome the obstacles we face, in this case, particularly the conflicts we face among ourselves. But, we do have to claim, or appropriate that grace. First, we submit to God. Next, we resist the Devil. The next item in our list is to draw near to God, because in so doing He will then draw near to us.

We draw near to God by our worship of Him. We can seem some Old Testament examples of this from the Priests.

Exodus 19:22 And let the priests also, which come near to the LORD, sanctify themselves, lest the LORD break forth upon them.

Leviticus 10:3 Then Moses said unto Aaron, This is it that the LORD spake, saying, I will be sanctified in them that come nigh me, and before all the people I will be glorified. And Aaron held his peace.

Today of course, we have a High Priest in the form of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the writer of Hebrews had this to say while writing about the superiority of the priesthood of Jesus:

Hebrews 7:19 For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God.

To draw hear to God, we have to be like God. A.W Tozer wrote a book entitled “Nearness is Likeness.” The following quote is from that book.

“The more we are like God, the nearer we are to God.  I many be sitting in my living room with my Siamese cat on my lap, and my wife may be twenty feet away in the kitchen, yet I am nearer to my wife than to the cat because the cat is unlike me. We have very little in common.“

How much do we have in common with God? How near to Him are we?

Faith In Action-Let’s Get Sad Over Sin

James 4:9

Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness.

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 Is James telling us here to be sad, sober, gloomy faced Christians? Just a cursory reading of that might lead us to believe that way. But, that is not what James is saying at all.

As always, we have to look at anything we read in God’s Word in light of the context in which it appears. James is still talking about God’s grace for our daily lives and how we can best get our hands on it so to speak.  He has just finished teaching about making ourselves pure in heart and mind to properly approach God. Now he is simply talking about our attitude toward sin.

Sin in our lives should make us sad. We should be distressed and upset about the sin in our lives, as an affront to a Holy God. In other words, we should certainly never take joy, or rejoice in, our iniquities.

Remember David, repenting over his sin with Bathsheeba? He recognized that the true sin was not against even the man he had murdered, but against God. We see this in Psalm 51, when David prayed to God, “Against thee, thee only, have I sinned.” Paul even instructed the Corinthian Church this way in the great Love Chapter, when he isssued this instruction,  love “Rejoiceth not in iniquity“

If we even pause for a moment to consider how our sin came to be paid for, we could never be anything but sad over it. A great, great price was paid to cover the debt of our sin. Because of the price Jesus paid on The Cross, our sin should never be something to rejoice over, but should cause us much grief.

There is a song which captures well the attitude believers should have over sin in their lives.

Feel The Nails By Ray Boltz

They tell me Jesus died
For my transgressions
And that He paid that price
A long, long time ago

When He gave His life for me
On a hill called Calvary
But there’s something else
I want to know

Does He still feel the nails
Every time I fail?
Does He hear the crowd cry
Crucify, again?

Am I causing Him pain?
Then I know I’ve got to change
I just can’t bear the thought
Of hurting Him

It seems that I’m so good
At breaking promises
And I treat His precious grace
So carelessly

But each time He forgives
What if He relives
The agony He felt on that tree?

Does He still feel the nails
Every time I fail?
Does He hear the crowd cry
Crucify, again?

Am I causing Him pain?
Then I know I’ve got to change
I just can’t bear the thought
Of hurting Him

Holy, holy, holy is the Lord
Holy, holy, holy is the Lord

Do you still feel the nails
Every time I fail?
Have I crucified you, Jesus
With my sin?

I’m tired of playing games
I really want to change
I never want to hurt You again

Holy, holy, holy is the Lord
Holy, holy, holy is the Lord

Faith In Action-Resist the Devil

James 4:7

Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

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Earlier we talked about submission to God as a thing which must be done willingly and voluntarily. Now James tells us that there is something else we must do, and that is to resist the Devil. Now it is time for another short grammar lesson! In this case, the term “resist” is an imperative. There is the implication that nothing passive is going on here, but that we are being directed to actively and purposely resist the temptations of the Devil. In other words, there are actions we can and should take to resist.

This theme of active resistance to the Devil appears elsewhere in God’s Word. The Apostle Peter had something to say about it himself.

1 Peter 5:8,9 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.

What things do we need to do in order to resist the Devil?

Put on the full armor of God as contained in Ephesians 6:8-10

Prepare with the Word of God as our Lord Jesus Christ did during his temptations in the desert.

Matthew 4:4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

Matthew 4:7 Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.

Matthew 4:10 Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve

After that, in Verse 11 we see that Satan left from the presence of Jesus. This clearly teaches that in the face of a person well prepared with the Word of God, the Devil will flee.

To resist the devil, we must pray. John 15:7; 1 John 5:14,15; Ephesians 6:18.

Our adversary, Satan, is very powerful. He is certainly more powerful than the individual Christian. We are called and directed to resist him, but notice that it is never by our own strength that we resist. We rely on God’s armor, God’s Word, and prayer TO God for our strength in this battle. If we resist the Devil with those things as our arsenal, Satan will have no choice but to flee.

Faith In Action-Submit To God

James 4:7

Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

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This whole passage is a good example of the lesson that small words matter a lot. James has been talking about conflict in the church and it’s causes. He has moved on to some ways in which we can alleviate that conflict.

Immediately after giving us a grim list of failures, James follows with Verse 6., “But, he giveth more grace.” There, we see the solution, which is God’s grace. He then tells us who He gives that grace to; that would be the humble and not the proud. Then James, as is his habit, gets yet more specific. So, we have humbled ourselves and are seeking God’s grace, now what?

“Therefore, submit yourselves to God.”

That is fairly self explanatory, but let’s explain more nonetheless. We need to submit, or “rank under, ” God. We need to toe the line, so to speak, and line our selves up to do what He want in His way. A very important thing comes up during the study of this particular word, submit. I have said repeatedly that I am NOT a Greek linguist, but grammar counts. It seems that this particular word in this particular sentence is in the passive voice, indicating a voluntary submission to God. In other words, God is not twisting our arm or forcing us into this willingness to “rank under” Him, but wants us to willingly and voluntarily submit.

This word appears elsewhere in the New Testament as well, and some of these passages really reinforce the concept of this voluntary, willing submission.

Jesus’ submission to his parents in Luke 2:51

The general responsibilities of citizens to submit to government in Romans 13:1

Wive’s submission to husbands in Ephesians 5:21-24

Servants to masters in Titus 2:9 and 1 Peter 2:18

So, the first step in overcoming our conflicts, then is willing, voluntary submission to God. Isn’t that really the first step in everything related to our lives of faith? It’s the first step in salvation also, that willingness to admit our shortcomings, accept Jesus’ payment for them, and His Lordship in our lives.  James may have been talking to some unsaved people in his Epistle, and I may be here as well. Have you taken that step and submitted?

Faith In Action-More Grace

James 4:6

But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.

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It may be a good idea to step back here and remember where James is at in his conversation, so to speak. He is not just rambling mindlessly about submission to God and God’s grace, he is presenting those things as a solution to a problem. James started this chapter with a discussion concerning conflict in the church, and the conversation is not over yet.

He has described conflict as arising from the emotions driven to the surface by unmet desires on the part of church members. There is conflict because these people are not getting what they want; they are not getting what they want because they are wanting incorrectly. They are asking for things simply for their own desires, with no consideration of what God’s desires in these matters is.

Wanting what WE want is to be friends with the world and things of it, which then severs our fellowship with God, in effect making us enemies of God. He has even compared replacing Him as the center of our affections to an adulterous spouse in a marriage.

But, as usual, James offers a solution to the problem. He offers several as matter of fact. But the first thing he teaches us is that humble submission is a necessary first step in solving the problems previously discussed. If we are proud and resist, God will not provide us what we need, but if we are humble and submit, He will provide us sufficient grace to work through these problems and conflicts.

How much grace? Well, the following Hymn tells us exactly how much. This is “He Giveth More Grace” by Annie Johnson Flint

He giveth more grace when the burdens grow greater;

He sendeth more grace when the labors increase;

To added afflictions He addeth His mercy,

To multiplied trials His multiplied peace.

When we have exhausted our store of endurance,

When our strength has failed ere the day is half done;

When we reach the end of our hoarded resources,

Our Father’s full giving is only begun.

His love has no limits, His grace has no measure,

His power has not boundary known unto men;

For out of His infinite riches in Jesus,

He giveth, and giveth, and giveth again.

Faith In Action-Grace To the Humble

James 4:5,6

Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy?But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.

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James has been discussing the war that exist between the things of the flesh and the things of God. He has done a good job explaining that, to prefer the things of the world, and the things of the flesh, is to basically be in a state of enmity with God.

Verse 5 here is difficult, and a number of different meanings have been assigned to it. One I read indicated this as being a reference of something like this, “Don’t you know that the Holy Spirit that lives within you as a believer is jealous, and is grieved when you choose the things of the flesh over the things of Him?” Yet another described it as a reference to true believer having the Holy Spirit, while false, only professing converts do not. Either way, it leads nicely into the next verse, where the meaning and application is clearer.

As usual, James first describes our problem and then tells us how we can fix our problem. Here, it is simply: our problem is being proud, and the solution is for us to become humble. This, is a nutshell, is simply about submission. God gives grace, and wants us to submit to Him. Satan, on the other hand, wants us to rely on ourselves and our own abilities. Satan wants us to be proud; and it was pride that caused Satan to fall in the first place, wasn’t it?

The idea of God giving grace to those willing to become humble and submit while resisting those who are proud is repeated several times in God’s Word. This thought originates in the Book of Proverbs; in fact, James is basically quoting this passage in his:

Proverbs 3:34 Surely he scorneth the scorners: but he giveth grace unto the lowly.

The Apostle Peter was also inspired to write on this topic:

1 Peter 5:5 Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.

In the next day or so, we will look some more at God’s thoughts on being proud versus being humble. Today we will close with this thought: God’s grace and salvation extends to those willing to relinquish self and humble themselves to Him. On the other hand, Grace cannot cover those who insist on having it their way, and doing it their way.

Faith In Action-Enemies of God?

James 4:4

 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.

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Read all of James Chapter 4 here

James is speaking in a very clear and forthright manner here; he pulls no punches. He presents this issue as very black and white. Repeated study has shown that there is no middle ground, and no gray here.

To not provide one’s full allegiance and love to God and God alone is spiritual adultery. In case that was not clear enough, James has gone on the say this another way. To be friends with the world is to be enemies with God.

The world here is not referring to the Planet Earth, but to the system and the ways of the world as a way of life.  The way of the world is self, self, self. The focus on self results in hostility and rebellion towards God. Once again, if we take a trip back to Genesis Chapter 3, we can see how this focus on self led to the Fall in the first place.

Who is James addressing here? It seems that most of what he has written is directed at believers. Maybe this is not as clear in this case. He tells us straight out that we are either friends with the world, or friends with Him. 1 John 3:10 teaches us that we are either children of God, or children of the Devil. Where is the middle ground?

As we read this, the time is good to consider: Who’s friend are you? Who’s child are you?

Faith In Action-Adulterers and Adulteresses?

James 4:4

Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.

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Read all of James Chapter 4 here

This is an interesting phrase to have just right out of the blue in James’ writing, and it probably is worth some explanation. James is about to launch into a discussion of who our primary relationship is going to be with: Will that be with God, or will it be with the world.

James is not making a reference here to an actual act of committing adultery here. He is not accusing the believers he is writing to of cheating on their husbands and wives. It seems evident that a reference to that subject would seem slightly out of place. What, then, is James saying?

What Jame is referring to here is spiritual rather than sexual infidelity. Specifically he is addressing Jewish believers who were violating their covenant relationship with God by loving the world rather than Him. Are there parallels for the church today? Probably there are, as the church today is what? The Bride of Christ.

At any rate, the Jewish believers that James was writing to would have understood his reference immediately. The covenant relationship of Israel with God is in many ways a picture of the Covenant relationship a man and woman have in marriage. The nation of Israel had a history of violating this covenant and turning to other idols and gods rather than the One True God whom they were, in essence married to.

Let us look at some Old Testament passages where we see this.

Jeremiah 3:8 And I saw, when for all the causes whereby backsliding Israel committed adultery I had put her away, and given her a bill of divorce; yet her treacherous sister Judah feared not, but went and played the harlot also.

2 Chronicles 21:11 Moreover he made high places in the mountains of Judah, and caused the inhabitants of Jerusalem to commit fornication, and compelled Judah thereto.

Psalm 73:27 For, lo, they that are far from thee shall perish: thou hast destroyed all them that go a whoring from thee.

Ezekiel 16:32 But as a wife that committeth adultery, which taketh strangers instead of her husband!

Jesus also referred to the Jews of His day as the equal of a cheating wife:

Matthew 12:39 But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas:

Clearly, James was trying to make a point here; the point he was making was very serious. If we choose a relationship with the world, we are, in effect, cheating on God as a husband or wife who had a relationship with another would also be cheating.

We today are supposed to be the Bride of Christ. If we are, what is our relationship with our Bridegroom? Are we faithful, or are we adulterers?