Here are some throughts from "Unlocking the Bible" by David Pawson on the book of James (for those who may be too lazy to read that chapter) :-)
There are two particular difficulties in studying Scripture.
1. Mental difficulty: you don't understand what you are reading.
2. Moral difficulty: when you do understand it, that is in its applications.
James is the book that is the easiest to understand because he spells out what needs done. But it is the hardest to undertake.
There are five James in the New Testament. This James is the half brother of Jesus. James was one of four half-brothers, together with a number of sisters (we don't know how many), formed the family circle. You may not be aware too that at least five, or possibly seven, of the twelve apostles were Jesus' cousins, which explains why so many of them were present at a private wedding in Cana in Galilee (See John chapter 2). Would be strange for them to turn up uninvited unless they are relatives!
Even so, Jesus had tension with the rest of the family. At one time, they had to take Him home (Mark 3:21), thinking he was out of his mind. His own brothers did not believe Him (John7:3-5). Can you imagine James (and Jude) becoming writers of the New Testament in spite of their earlier teasing? How history would re-arrange itself in later years and our Lord vindicated.
The key contents of the letter of James are:
- Wealth
- The tongue
- The World
- Wisdom
There are some difficulties in this letter, key one being the apparent contradiction of justification by faith (in particular book of Romans) versus justification by works.
James 2:24 (NIV) You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone.
Romans 3:28 (NIV) For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from observing the law.
James does not mention key events, such as Jesus' death, resurrection and ascension, or the ministry of the Holy Spirit. It seems to be about doing good deeds only.
Even the Protestant reformer Martin Luther said he was disgusted with the letter, that it contained nothing evangelical and failed to show Christ. Christ is only mentioned twice in the whole letter. When he translated the Bible, he puts James in an appendix at the end, together with Hebrews, Jude and Revelation. He didn't quite have the courage to cut it right out, but he shifted it out of the main text.
The contradiction can be dealt with if we understand the context by which Paul and James was writing. Paul was writing to the Gentiles and James to the Jewish believers. Paul was defending Gentiles from Jewish legalism, while James was defending Jews from Gentile licence (excessive freedom). The word 'works' have different meanings here. Paul writes of the works of the Law, while James writes of the works of faith, that is actions. What James is saying is, 'Faith without actions is dead.' He is not commenting about the works of the Law. He used an illustration in James 2:14-18 about deeds of kindness for someone who is cold and hungry. James is saying that faith is not something you profess. You have got to show you believe in Jesus by carrying it out.
So with Paul and James, God is giving us two different angles on this crucial issue so that we get it in balance and get the whole truth.
Legalism says we are saved by works; licence says we are saved without works; but liberty (the Christian position) says we are saved for works, but they are good works, works of love.
Even Paul, the apparent champion of justification by faith, says in Ephesians 2:8-10
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
So we are not saved by good deeds, but we are saved for good deeds, and we will be judged by our deeds.
Legalism says, "We are going to make sure that you are not free to sin, by making rules and regulations."
Licence says, "We are free to sin."
Liberty says, "We are free not to sin."
WELL SAID! I look forward to discover many more gems in James.
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Thanks Ps.Chris for this. I love it.
ReplyDeleteThere's a few thoughts that came to my mind as i am reading this:
1. we don't need a licence to sin. whether jews, gentile, believer or non-believer. No one needs a 'permit' to sin.
2. I love how the contradiction is explained. It explains how works and faith intertwine. I'd like to add tho in the example of abraham that is given in James- that he was made righteous first before his 'works' kicked in years later. In (gen 15:6) abraham believed and was credited to him righteous, then a covenant was cut between him and god.... then he slept w his maidservant...then he pimp his wife again (gen 20)..etc Years later, when faith was fully established in his heart, his work (singular) kicked in.
3. All this seems to teach me that works is a result of faith but faith is not a result of works. And faith comes from the 'renma' word of christ (me paraprahsing)
4. It is no wonder it's called fruits of the spirit - it's fruit (you can't force the durian to come out asap)
Hahah thanks Ps. as i type I begin to see how the gospels connect.
Thanks, good insight.
ReplyDeleteBTW, just in case, the term "licence" here is not so much as a "permit" to sin, but to mean "Excessive freedom; lack of due restraint"
There are seemingly quite a few paradoxes but make perfect sense when you take time to think about them.
"He who seeks to save his life will lose it; whoever wants to be the greatest must become a servant of all; and the first shall be last and the last shall be first.
But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss."
This is where we learn to think deep! I don't think it necessarily suggests complication in the logic.
We pursue God and then to discover He's really the One pursuing us!
Thanks for all your comments. I would appreciate those who leave a comment to also state their names if you can. Not compulsory, but helpful :)
Thanks Ps Chris for the quick reply.
ReplyDeleteHe who the Son has set free, is free indeed.
Jesus gave us that freedom so that we can be free from sin.
Thanks for the analysis Ps. Chris.
ReplyDeleteThe Bible always teaches us about faith and work. By one saying 'I have faith in God alone will not mean anything unless it is being put to work’. This reminds me Jesus words ‘Don’t just say you love me but keep to my commandments if you love me’. This is also a work.
All Bible characters or testimonies have taught us a strong teaching of faith. As you have mentioned, by we zooming in or have a deep thought:
1- God asked Abraham to kill his one and only son that he begotten in the age of 100. What kind of blind faith Abraham had upon God that though he loved his son more then anything but only because God told him to do so, Abraham without questioning further, he brought his son and when he was about to strike him God stopped Him. And from that day until today he is known as the Father of Faith. Faith comes not just with work but also obedience. Obeying to his calling and instructions.
2- The same goes to Moses. When the Egyptians came on their chariots when the Israelites at the red sea did God tell Moses that this will happen time ahead? No! Moses didn’t even know that the Red Sea will open. Imagine you have 1 million people behind you and they are trembling with fear, and accusing Moses from bringing them out and to be dead in the hands of the Egyptian. Gosh that is terrifying. But the faith that Moses had in God and when he cried out to Him, God showed his faithfulness by opening the red sea and guarded his chosen once until they cross over to the other side of the sea. Faith comes with work again.
This has gone from Jacob, Joseph, David, and many more. It is remarkable to see how Gods words can be analyzed in many different ways. That is way God’s words are like the living water.