Studies from James

 -by Paul Sudhakar

 

1. INTRODUCTION:

New Testament can be divided into 4 main streams:

1. Matthew to John (4 gospels) - presentation/ manifestation of the gospel
2. Book of Acts - propagation of the gospel
3. Romans to Jude - exclamation of the gospel
4. Book of revelation - consummation of the gospel.

Thus the book of James comes in the 3rd main section of the new testaments.

Paul’s letters includes what Christian faith is all about.

John’s letters includes what Christian love is about.

Peter’s letters includes what Christian hope is about.

Jude shows how to defend our Christian faith

James shows how we can demonstrate our faith in our works.

In this letter James shows that the church was doctrine rich but not in works. The words ‘work’ and ‘works’ comes 17 times, the word'faith' comes 16 times and the word ‘perfect’ comes 5 times.

James was the half brother of Jesus. John 7:5 shows that Jesus brothers did not believe in him. James too was one such brother. But the turning point in his life was when James saw the resurrected Lord Jesus Christ. Acts 1:14 shows that Mary his mother and brethren believed on him.

Bible speaks of James elevation in 3 places. This was because of his faith:

1. Acts 12:17 James was looked upon as an elder.
2. Acts 15:13 James was chosen to lead the local church at Jerusalem.
3. Acts 21:18, Gal 2:9 Paul referred James as a pillar to the church.

James had a unique position in leading this local church. Why?

• Church at Jerusalem was the first local church and was to be a role model to the future local churches. If the leadership in this place failed, those will be carried to the following churches. Thus James had to be very care full in leading this local church.
• The shadow of Judaism was still there in this local church. They had only the OT in their hands. They had to rightly interpret the OT and preach to both the gentiles and the Jews. Preaching to the Jews is tough than preaching to a gentile. James had this tough work to do. James did not have any other church to support or learn from. Neither did he have any experience like that of Peter or John, who had opportunities to spend time with Lord Jesus Christ. But with that few knowledge he completely depended on the Lord. Jesus counts our maturity not by the years but by the depth of our commitment or surrender to the Lord.

What history says about James:

• James was nicknamed as ‘James the holy one’. He was named because he lived such a holy life.
• James spent a lot of time in prayer. His knees became like camel knees because of constant kneeling.
• James was a martyr. He was pushed from the top of the temple, for confessing the Lords name in spite of their perceutions. Even falling from the top he did not die. Like Stephen, James saw the Lord and prayed for those around him. Later he was killed.

The Spirit of God lead the people to write the Bible.Not only writing but also the composition and the order.

Chronologically the book of james comes firstin the new testemant and the book of job comes first in the old testemant.

The book of james is sandwiched between the book of hebrews which talks of christian faith and the book of 1 peter which talks of the future hope.

To whom is James writing?

1. To the scattered people. (the 12 tribes)  James1:1  These people had to pay a prose for what they believed.They faced opposition by the roman empire. 
1. Because they thought they worshiped another king      
2. early belivers used to gather at night and Romans thought they gathered so to plot against the king.
3. partaking of the tables.Romans said that they are carnibals coz they talk of eating and drinking flesh and blood.For the early church, to stand for christ, it demanded their lives. Matyers means willing laying down their lives.
2. To the bretheren James1:2 In Christ we are brothers and sisters.
3. To the begotton people  James1:18   Christ payed a prise to save us coz we were (a)born in sin Rom3:10, Psalm 51:5  (b)unable to help ourselves.  John 8:34, Jer17:1

James1:2- "fall" actual translation is'coming across a temptation', not falling into sin.

God allows trials and temptation in our life. why? He allows it for our growth and to add blesings.so how can we convert these trials into joy?

Never Alone by Dr. Woodrow Kroll

MORNING HYMN When in affliction's valley I tread the road of care
My Savior helps me to carry the cross so heavy to bear
Tho' all around me is darkness, Earthly joys all flown;
My Savior whispers His promise, Never to leave me alone!

And Jacob rose up early in the morning, and took the stone that he had put for his pillows, and set it up for a pillar, and poured oil upon the top of it.

There was one occasion, however, when Jacob was alone, quite alone. After he had purchased the birthright from his brother Esau and had deviously received his father's blessing, Jacob set out to seek a wife. His father charged him not to marry a Canaanite but to journey to distant Paddan-aram and take a wife of the daughters of Laban, his mother's brother. This provided the perfect excuse for Jacob to flee from the wrath of his cheated brother, who had vowed to kill him.

Exiled from home and running from revenge, this solitary wanderer traveled north from Beersheba toward Haran. He camped on a remote plateau near the city of Luz. Here Jacob had time to ponder the events of his early life. Would the God of Abraham and Isaac be the God of Jacob as well? Was the covenant to extend to him? A sense of loneliness crept over him. Fear that his brother had followed him made Jacob apprehensive. He saw the figure of Esau behind every tree and rock. Finally, sheer exhaustion caused him to sleep, even with nothing but a stone for his pillow.

During the night Jacob had a dream. This was no ordinary dream, but a revelation from God. Jacob saw a ladder set up on the earth which reached into the heavens. Upon the ladder were the angels of God ascending and descending. But the most amazing feature of the dream was that at the top of the ladder stood the Lord Himself saying, "l am the LORD God of Abraham . . . and, behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places to which thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land, for I will not leave thee."

The words of God must have been music to Jacob's ears. The blessing which God had promised to Abraham and Isaac was now promised to Jacob as well. His lonely heart would never be lonely again. Jacob awakened with a start and gasped, "Surely the LORD is in this place; and I knew it not. . . . And Jacob rose up early in the morning, and took the stone that he had put for his pillows, and set it up for a pillar, and poured oil upon the top of it" and called the place Bethel--the "house of God" (Genesis 28:18-19). Certainly this was a turning point in his religious life. When Jacob arose early that morning it was with a new attitude toward God. Jehovah was not some distant and unknowable god, but one who had been there, right in that very place. There was an open pathway of communication between God and men.

In essence, the revelation of this stairway to Jacob is a revelation of Jesus Christ. He is our ladder of communication to heaven. With regard to salvation, Jesus Christ is our stairway through the stars to the God of heaven. Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me" (John 14:6). But the Lord Jesus is so much more. To the Christian Jesus Christ is a continual, well-worn pathway to God. The Apostle Paul expressed it so clearly: "For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man, Christ Jesus" (1 Timothy 2:5). The ladder of communication between God and men is Jesus Christ. He is our go-between, our mediator, our ladder of prayer.

Jacob was astounded to learn that communication between God and men was possible. Yet armed with that knowledge, he was no longer lonely. The Father's "I am with thee" to Jacob is God's promise to all His heirs. Jesus said, "And lo, I am with you always" (Matthew 28:20). As the heir of God's promise we need never feel alone. We never are.

Nissi