{"id":13750,"date":"2025-04-03T16:06:52","date_gmt":"2025-04-03T20:06:52","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/cristolaverdad.com\/?p=13750"},"modified":"2025-04-25T08:09:15","modified_gmt":"2025-04-25T12:09:15","slug":"book-of-james-ch-1","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cristolaverdad.com\/?p=13750","title":{"rendered":"Book of James, Ch.1"},"content":{"rendered":"

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The Book of James<\/strong><\/span>, Chapter 1: Read<\/a> &\/or listen<\/a> from the Bible.<\/p>\n

The Book of James has only 5 chapters. The writer of this letter was James a servant of God & half brother of Jesus. (Mat.13:55, Gal. 1:19<\/a>). He was not a believer until after the resurrection of Jesus. (Jn.7:2-3, Acts 1:14, 1 Cor. 15:7<\/a>, Acts 12:17). Another brother of Jesus who wrote a book was Jude.<\/p>\n

This is considered the oldest book of the New Testament, written around AD 45-50.<\/p>\n

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This book is a practical guide for a Christian living that honors God.<\/p>\n

1\/Trials & Testing<\/span> \u2013\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 James 1:2-8
\na) Trials produce patience, perseverance ->Maturity.
\nb) God gives wisdom abundantly.
\nc) Ask with Faith without doubting
\n2\/ Poverty & Riches<\/span> –\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 James 1:9-11
\na) The low exalted, the rich made low.
\n3\/ Trials & Temptation<\/span> -James 1:12-18
\na) Temptation -> Lust -> Sin = Death.\u00a0 – (Strategies for conquering lust-video<\/a>).
\n4\/ Hearing & Doing the Word<\/span> – James 1:19-27
\na) The Law of Liberty<\/a> :\u00a0\u00a0 Love<\/span> God and love neighbor (Mat.22:37-39<\/a>). More here<\/a>.
\nb) Unbridled tongue useless religion
\nc) Pure religion= 1) Visit orphans & widows, & 2) keep unspotted from the world.<\/p>\n

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James, Chapter 1<\/span><\/p>\n

1 James<\/span>, a bondservant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ<\/strong>,<\/p>\n

To the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad: Greetings.<\/p>\n

2 My brethren<\/span>, count it all joy<\/span> when you fall into various<\/span> trials<\/strong>, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith<\/strong><\/span> produces patience.<\/strong> 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete<\/span>, lacking nothing. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom<\/span><\/strong>, let him ask of God,<\/span> who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. 6 But let him ask in faith<\/span>, with no doubting<\/strong>, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

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James died defending the faith, according to historian Josephus James was martyred in AD 62. So he knew very well about trials & suffering. But he shows us a different perspective on how to respond to trials. Instead of getting sad, discouraged & even sometimes doubting God, we who are in the faith, can count it all joy because now we know that these trials are testing our faith & producing in us endurance (patience) that leads to maturity<\/strong> (G5046<\/a>= perfect).<\/p>\n

Vs.5 When we don’t understand something, let us approach God in prayer & ask Him for wisdom in any situation. He will give it to us abundantly<\/strong> & with out reproach.<\/p>\n

James doesn’t just tell us we need to have faith but he shows us what real faith looks like. A person that lacks faith & doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind, this brought to mind Eph.4:14\u00a0 ‘so we may no longer be children, tossed here and there by waves<\/strong> and carried about with every wind of doctrine<\/strong> by the trickery of men<\/span><\/em>‘.<\/p>\n

God allows difficult times to refine our character, making us more like Christ. See Rom.5:3-4<\/a>\u00a0 “. . .tribulation produces perseverance (<\/em>G5281<\/a>=patience); 4 and perseverance, character<\/strong>; and character, hope’<\/em>. See also 1 Peter 1:6-7<\/a>\u00a0 “. . you have had to suffer various trials<\/strong>, 7 in order that<\/span> the genuineness<\/strong> of your faith<\/strong>, which is more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tried by fire<\/strong>, may be found to result in praise<\/strong>, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.<\/em>”<\/p>\n

9 Let the lowly brother glory in his exaltation, 10 but the rich in his humiliation, because as a flower of the field he will pass away. 11 For no sooner has the sun risen with a burning heat than it withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beautiful appearance perishes. So the rich man also will fade away in his pursuits.<\/p>\n

12 Blessed is the man who endures<\/strong> temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life<\/strong> which the Lord has promised<\/span> to those who love<\/span> Him<\/strong>. 13 Let no one say when he is tempted, \u201cI am tempted by God\u201d; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone<\/span>. 14 But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own<\/strong> desires (G1939<\/a>=lust<\/strong>) and enticed. 15 Then, when desire has conceived<\/strong>, it gives birth to sin<\/strong>; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

16 Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren<\/span>. 17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights<\/strong>, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning. 18 Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Let us learn to be humble & content with what we have.\u00a0 1 Timothy 6:17<\/a> “Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy<\/em>;”.<\/span><\/p>\n

Vs.12 -The blessing comes after we have stood the test. Our love<\/span> for God<\/strong> is the motive for resisting temptation & when we endure, we will receive the crown of life. Even God allows trials & temptations, they don’t come from Him, only every good & perfect gift comes from Him. We should avoid blaming others for our sins, a person commits sin because he\/she chooses to sin, & when they don’t endure temptation & sin grows, it brings forth death. We see death<\/strong> (1:15) stands in contrast to the crown of life<\/span> (1:12). Remember James is speaking to believers, & death means separation from God.<\/p>\n

-To overcome temptation is important to recognize we are the only ones to blame, that temptation comes from our own sinful desires (lust), & that there is a progression<\/strong> that we need to be aware of so we can be prepare, pray & surrender to the Spirit<\/strong> of God instead the flesh.<\/p>\n

1\/\u00a0 Sin & temptations starts in the heart<\/span> (Matt.15:19<\/a>, Rom.1:24<\/a>), with a thought that it’s allowed in the mind, it promises pleasure or profit, and if instead of resisting & rejecting the thought<\/strong> we receive it, and cherished in the mind, then lust conceives<\/strong>. <\/span><\/p>\n

2\/\u00a0 Then it pulls us; is birthed<\/strong> into action, <\/span>brings forth sin<\/strong>. <\/span><\/p>\n

3\/ When sin is finished,<\/a> practiced, grown, it brings forth death<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n

If we take that bait & don’t repent and get back on the path of righteousness before<\/strong> we consent to it in our mind, or before it pulls us into sin<\/strong>, then we\u2019re on the course that leads to death, because we are surrendering to the flesh.<\/p>\n