James Review

James wrote a lot about works and faith.  We often want to make them opposing ideas, but as he taught by God’s inspiration, God expects us to do good works of faith once we accept Jesus Christ as our personal Savior and Lord.  We are saved by faith alone, but our faith should lead us to do the good work that God calls us to do.

James also wrote about lusting for what other people had.  He warned us that as followers of Christ, we should not do this but should pray for God to provide us with what we need.  This is the opposite of what some Christians proclaim today.  

He also taught that lust and envy can lead to wars, and we see a lot of wars today because people of another country have what we lust for.  Of course, we also see this with people within our country lusting after what others have and fighting with them over it instead of praying to God for Him to meet our needs and help us overcome our lust and envy.  

James said that we have not because we ask not, or that we asked amiss.  If we pray to God for our needs to be met, that is all we need to do.  We don't need to pray that our wants and desires will be met. 

James warned us about becoming rich with no concern for others and putting our faith in our riches instead of in God.  He said we cannot be faithful to God and faithful to the material things of this world at the same time.  As Christians, we can never put the things of the world ahead of being obedient to God and be faithful to Him.

James warned us about controlling our tongue, which is but a small part of our body but is often very hard to control.   He said it is like a bit in a horse’s mouth or a rudder on a ship, both being small things that controlled the direction of much larger things.  He said that the tongue can be the same way for people, determining how we react to other people.  He also that cursing and blessing cannot come out of the same mouth.  We should use our tongue to proclaim God’s love to all people and not to curse or condemn others, even lost people of the world.

James warned us about the brevity and uncertainty of our physical life, saying we shouldn't make plans that assume we will always have another day, but should put our future in God's hands.  

James also tells us if we know to do good and don't do it, that is a sin.  It is not just the things that we do that are against God's will that is sin, but the things that we know we should do and then don't do as well.

Next, we will look at 1 John.

James 5:17

James 5:17 says, Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months.  James then referred to Elijah, who he said was a man subject to the same passions or desires as all men are.  He was no different than any other man physically, but he was different than many spiritually.  James said that even though Elijah was just a man, when he prayed that it not rain by faith in God’s power, that it didn’t rain for three and a half years.  That is great faith, and it is the kind of faith we need today.  

Verse eighteen adds, And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit.  James said that when Elijah prayed for it to rain after these three and a half years, that it rained and the earth began to be fruitful once more.  This was all done to show God’s power and not Elijah’s.  If our prayers are to be effective, we need to pray for God’s will to be done and not our own.  

Verse nineteen continues, Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him;  James gave the example of some fellow believer erring from the truth and our converting them or bringing them back to God’s truth.  I believe that we witness to people about the truth of God and their faith converts them to the truth.  

Verse twenty concludes, Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.  Then, instead of converting a fellow Chrisitan from error, James refers to converting a sinner.  He said if we did lead someone to accepting God's gift of faith that we would hide a multitude of sins.  We can interpret this as hiding a multitude of our sins, but I believe it means a multitude of the sins of the person who is converted, since our sins can only be hidden from God’s sight by putting our faith in Jesus Christ.

James 5:13

James 5:13 says, Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms.  James said if anyone is afflicted, let him pray.  I don't believe that this means we aren't to see a doctor if we can, but we are to put our healing in God's hands by praying for God's will to be done in the situation.  We may not be healed, as Paul wasn't when he prayed about the thorn in his flesh three times, but we should pray in faith.  James also said if we were merry, or happy, that we should sing psalms, which are songs of praise to God.  

Verse fourteen adds, Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:  James then said if we are sick, that we should call on the elders, or spiritual leaders of the church to pray over us and anoint us with oil.  We don't do this as much anymore, but maybe we should, as long as we are asking for God's will to be done.  

Verse fifteen continues, And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.  James said that a prayer of faith would save the sick, and they would be lifted up and forgiven of any sins they had committed.  The key is putting our faith in Jesus Christ and our fate in His hands.  If we pray for healing, it has to be that it happens in God's time, and it may not be in this lifetime.  If we are praying in faith that God's will be done, then we will be forgiven of our sins, now and forever.  

Verse sixteen concludes, Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.  James then said that we are confess our faults to one another and to pray for one another so that we might be healed.  He then said that the effectual fervent pray of a righteous man availed much.  We must be sincere in our prayers, and we must be a follower of Christ to be righteous, since we will never be righteous without being His follower.  

James 5:9

James 5:9 says, Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold, the judge standeth before the door.  James tells us that we as Christians aren't to have grudges against one another because the judge is at the door.  I personally believe this means that we as Christians aren't to have grudges against anyone even the lost people of the world.  The Judge, Jesus Christ, is at the door and will be the judge of all people when He returns.  

Verse ten adds, Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience.  James then reminded them that the prophets of God had often suffered for their speaking in God's name, and they were an example of suffering affliction and yet being patient in their faith in God to deliver them.  Even if we suffer for speaking God's word today, we need to continue to do so with a patient knowledge that He will one day restore us to peace as long as we remain faithful.  

Verse eleven continues, Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.  James said that we should count those who endure in keeping their faith in God during suffering for their faith as happy.  We too often proclaim the opposite, saying that if we put our faith in God that He will bless us with everything we want and not just with the things we need.  He gives the example of Job, who endured great suffering but still remained faithful to God.  Just as Job ultimately had everything restored, so will we if we remain faithful to God, though it may not be in this lifetime.  

Verse twelve concludes, But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath: but let your yea be yea; and your nay, nay; lest ye fall into condemnation.  James warns us to not swear by anything in heaven or on the earth, I believe based on our ability to make something happen.  I don't believe that it means we aren't to take an oath to tell the truth or to be loyal to our duty in worldly situations under God's guidance and power and not our own.  If we begin to swear to something based on our own ability, it will lead us having our action being condemned by God.