submit yourselves to god boasting about tomorrow james...

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Landmark Publications, Inc., 1045 Maynor Street, Nashville, TN 37216, U.S.A., John C. Sewell, Ph.D., Editor

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Submit Yourselves to God

Boasting About Tomorrow

James 4:1-17




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Submit Yourselves to God Boasting About Tomorrow

James 4:1-17, 1. From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members? 2. Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not. 3. Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts. 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. 5. Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy? 6. But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. 7. Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. 9. Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. 10. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up. 11. Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge. 12. There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy: who art thou that judgest another? 13. Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain:




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14. Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. 15. For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that. 16. But now ye rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil. 17. Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin. Introduction: I. Coffman refers to the three topical sections of this chapter; viz.,

A. Worldliness condemned (verses 1-12). B. Non-Christians (parenthetically) are urged to become disciples (verses 7-10). C. Worldliness further condemned in regard to making plans without reference to God’s will (verses 13-17).

II. Holloway pointed out that James, in this section, denounce those who turn from God to the world.

A. James 2:4, 5, 6, 7, 14, 16, 20, 21, 25, Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts? Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him? But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats? Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are called? What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what




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doth it profit? But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?

B. James 3:11-13, Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter? Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh. Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.

Commentary:

Submit Yourselves to God

James 4:1, From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members?

I. Whence come wars and whence come fightings among you? What causes fights and quarrels among you?

A. This is a sad state of affairs within the church.

B. James makes it plain that the divisions, contentions and bickerings among disciples were totally wrong.

C. Scriptures:

1. 2 Corinthians 7:5, For, when we were come into Macedonia, our flesh had no rest, but we were troubled on every side; without were fightings, within were fears.

2. 2 Timothy 2:23, But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes.




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3. Titus 3:9, But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain.

D. Holloway wrote that wars and battles/fightings are military terms used figuratively here to refer to the sinful wranglings and contentions found all too often in divisive church splits.

1. 2 Timothy 2:23, But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes.

2. Titus 3:9, But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain.

II. come they not hence, even of your pleasures that war in your members? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you?

A. These fightings sprang from their evil hearts.

B. Luke 8:14, And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.

C. Human, fleshly desires envy, was against the soul and have caused all the world’s problems.

1. James 3:17, 18, But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.

2. Luke 8:14, And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.




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3. Titus 3:3, For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.

4. 2 Peter 2:13, And shall receive the reward of unrighteousness, as they that count it pleasure to riot in the day time. Spots they are and blemishes, sporting themselves with their own deceivings while they feast with you;

5. James 1:14, 15, But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.

6. James 3:6, And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.

7. Romans 7:23, But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.

8. Galatians 5:19-21, Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

James 4:2, Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not.

I. You lust, and have not: you want something but don’t get it.




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A. 1 John 3:15, Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.

B. Matthew 5:21, 22, Ye have heard that it was said of them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.

C. All this lust leads to no obtaining of those things they want.

D. Holloway gives examples of lust, desire leading to murder, viz.,

1. Cain and Abel. Genesis 4:2-8.

2. David and Uriah. 2 Samuel 11.

3. Ahab and Naboth. 1 Kings 21.

4. Jesus was crucified because of the jealousy of the Jewish hierarchy.

a. Matthew 27;18, For he knew that for envy they had delivered him.

5. The apostles were persecuted because of the jealousy of those who opposed them.

a. Acts 5:17, Then the high priest rose up, and all they that were with him, (which is the sect of the Sadducees), and were filled with indignation,

b. Acts 13:45, But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy, and spake against those




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things which were spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming.

c. Acts 17:5, But the Jews which believed not, moved with envy, took unto them certain lewd fellows of the baser sort, and gathered a company, and set all the city on an uproar, and assaulted the house of Jason, and sought to bring them out to the people.

II. You:

A. kill and…

1. Matthew 5:21, 22, Ye have heard that it was said of them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.

2. 1 John 3:12-15, Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous. Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you. We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death. Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.

B. covet…

C. and cannot obtain: but you cannot have what you want.

III. You fight and war; …quarrel and fight.




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IV. You do not have , have not, because you ask not, do not ask God.

A. They didn’t receive peace and the real satisfaction they sought through all the wrong means because they didn’t ask God for them.

B. Of course, if they had asked for blessings for selfish reasons, God would not have granted their prayers.

C. All of this “carrying on” was foolish because, as Holloway wrote, God is generous with “all good and perfect gifts” which are beneficial to mankind.

1. James 1:17, Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.

2. Matthew 7:7, 8, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.

James 4:3, Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.

I. You ask, and receive not, when you ask, you do not receive,…

A. God answers prayer, but he does not promise to give us every outlandish thing we ask for.

B. What prayer does God grant?

1. Psalm 34:15, The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry.

2. Psalm 145:18, The LORD is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth.




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3. Luke 18:14, I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

4. John 14:13, And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.

5. Mark 11:24, Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.

6. 1 John 5:14, And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:

7. Matthew 7:7, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:

8. Matthew 21:22, And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.

II. because you ask amiss, …you ask with wrong motives,…

III. that you may spend what you get, it in, or your pleasures.

A. The Prodigal Son did this:

1. Luke 15:14, And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want.

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.

I. You adulteresses, You adulterous people,…




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A. James’ readers had adulterous people among them; that is those who were unfaithful to God.

1. 2 Corinthians 11:2, For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.

2. Romans 7:1-6, Know ye not, brethren, (for I speak to them that know the law,) how that the law hath dominion over a man as long as he liveth? For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband. So then if, while her husband liveth, she be married to another man, she shall be called an adulteress: but if her husband be dead, she is free from that law; so that she is no adulteress, though she be married to another man. Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God. For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death. But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter.

3. Revelation 21:2, And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

4. Revelation 22:17, And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

5. Isaiah 54:5-8, For thy Maker is thine husband; the LORD of hosts is his name; and thy Redeemer the Holy One of




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Israel; The God of the whole earth shall he be called. For the LORD hath called thee as a woman forsaken and grieved in spirit, and a wife of youth, when thou wast refused, saith thy God. For a small moment have I forsaken thee; but with great mercies will I gather thee. In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment; but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith the LORD thy Redeemer.

6. John 3:29, He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom's voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled.

7. 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:

8. John 15:18, 19, If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.

9. Jeremiah 2:1, 2, Moreover the word of the LORD came to me, saying, Go and cry in the ears of Jerusalem, saying, Thus saith the LORD; I remember thee, the kindness of thy youth, the love of thine espousals, when thou wentest after me in the wilderness, in a land that was not sown.

10. 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:

11. Mark 8:38, Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of




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him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.

II. know you not that the friendship with, of the world is hatred, enmity toward, with God?

A. Demas made this mistake.

1. 2 Timothy 4:9, 10, Do thy diligence to come shortly unto me: For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia.

B. We must choose to be either a friend of God or of the world.

1. It is impossible to be a friend of both simultaneously.

2. 1 John 2;15-17, Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

3. Matthew 6:24, No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

III. Whosoever therefore would be a friend of the world…Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world…

IV. becomes, makes himself an enemy of God.

James 4:5, Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy?




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I. Or do you think, think you that the Scripture speaks falsely vain? …without reason…vainly,…

A. The Scriptures speak the truth and point us in the direction of peace and righteousness.

B. Scriptures:

1. Psalm 42:2, My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God?

2. Psalm 84:2, My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts of the LORD: my heart and my flesh crieth out for the living God.

3. Psalm 119:20, 131, My soul breaketh for the longing that it hath unto thy judgments at all times. I opened my mouth, and panted: for I longed for thy commandments.

II. Does the spirit which he caused, made to live, dwell in us long unto envying? … envies intensely?

A. The Holy Spirit is not the cause of the envying you are experiencing?

B. Deuteronomy 32:16, 21, They provoked him to jealousy with strange gods, with abominations provoked they him to anger. They have moved me to jealousy with that which is not God; they have provoked me to anger with their vanities: and I will move them to jealousy with those which are not a people; I will provoke them to anger with a foolish nation.

C. Holloway wrote “that it is the human spirit that is prone to the sin of envy.”




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1. Genesis 6:5, And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.

2. Genesis 8:21, And the LORD smelled a sweet savour; and the LORD said in his heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man's sake; for the imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth; neither will I again smite any more every thing living, as I have done.

3. James 1:13-15, Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.

James 5:6, But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.

I. But he gives us more grace.

A. God, His word and His Spirit give grace and favor.

B. They do not produce envy.

C. Holloway wrote, “God gives the help that human nature needs.”

II. Wherefore, that is why the scripture saith,…

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

B. 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.




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III. “God opposes, resisteth the proud,…

A. God is opposed to the proud, haughty and arrogant.

B. Coffman affirmed, “There is no greater deterrent to righteousness than pride.”

IV. but giveth more grace to the humble.”

A. To the contrary, God’s favor in upon the humble, lowly.

B. Luke 18:9-14, And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

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

D. 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.

James 4:7, Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

I. Submit yourselves, be subject therefore unto God; …




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A. James issues here a direct command, “Be subject to God” now and always 100% of the time to all God’s commands.

B. Romans 10:3, For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.

C. Ephesians 5:24, Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.

II. but resist the devil,…

A. If we are to fully subject ourselves to God, we must resist the devil with all our might ever more.

B. Holloway well wrote, “Christians are not to fight with one another, but are take our stand against their true enemy, the devil.”

1. Ephesians 4:27, Neither give place to the devil.

2. Ephesians 6:11, 12, Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

3. 1 Timothy 3:6, 7, Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil. Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.

4. 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.




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5. Matthew 4:10, 11, 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. Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him.

III. and he will flee from you.

A. Jesus resisted the devil and the devil left him for a while.

1. Matthew 4:8, Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them;

B. When we resist the devil, he will flee from us for a season, but will be back.

1. You can definitely count on this.

2. It is a definite fact!

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.

I. Draw nigh, come near to God…

A. Our duty is to approach God, to come near to God in heart and life.

B. Scriptures:

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

2. Jeremiah 30:21, And their nobles shall be of themselves, and their governor shall proceed from the midst of them; and I will cause him to draw near, and he shall approach unto me:




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for who is this that engaged his heart to approach unto me? saith the LORD.

3. Ezekiel 44:13, And they shall not come near unto me, to do the office of a priest unto me, nor to come near to any of my holy things, in the most holy place: but they shall bear their shame, and their abominations which they have committed.

II. and he will come, draw near to you.

A. When we draw near to God, we will not be rejected.

B. God welcomes with open arms penitent believers who draw nigh to him.

C. John 1:14, And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

III. Wash, cleanse your hands, you sinners;…

A. The hands and lives of sinners must be washed, cleansed by the blood of Christ.

B. Romans 6:1-4, What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

C. Holloway well said that we must draw near to God with clean hands and pure hearts.

IV. and purify your hearts, you double-minded.




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A. The hearts of double-minded sinners are to be cleansed by the blood of Christ.

B. Hebrews 10:22, 23, Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)

C. 1 Peter 1:22, 23, Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently: Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.

D. Psalm 24:4, He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.

E. Psalm 26:6, I will wash mine hands in innocency: so will I compass thine altar, O LORD:

F. Psalm 73:13, Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency.

G. 1 Timothy 2:8, I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.

James 4:9, Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness.

I. Grieve, be afflicted, and mourn and weep; wail…

A. Repent of all your sins!

B. Scriptures:




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1. Isaiah 22:4, Therefore said I, Look away from me; I will weep bitterly, labour not to comfort me, because of the spoiling of the daughter of my people.

2. Isaiah 33:9, The earth mourneth and languisheth: Lebanon is ashamed and hewn down: Sharon is like a wilderness; and Bashan and Carmel shake off their fruits.

3. Jeremiah 4:28, For this shall the earth mourn, and the heavens above be black; because I have spoken it, I have purposed it, and will not repent, neither will I turn back from it.

4. Jeremiah 9:1, 18, Oh that my head were waters, and mine eyes a fountain of tears, that I might weep day and night for the slain of the daughter of my people! And let them make haste, and take up a wailing for us, that our eyes may run down with tears, and our eyelids gush out with waters.

5. 2 Corinthians 7:10, For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.

II. let your laughter be turned to mourning, change your laughter to mourning…

A. Matthew 5:4, Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.

B. Luke 13:3, 5, I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.

C. Sinful reveling must give way to genuine sorrow for sins.

III. and your joy to heaviness, gloom.




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A. Sin is no little thing! It is not a small matter.

B. Sin is not a thing to be taken lightly! Sin is not a laughing matter!

James 4:10, Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.

I. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, before the Lord,…

A. To be right with God, pride must be replaced with humility!

B. Matthew 23:12, And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.

C. Luke 18:14, I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

II. and he, the Lord shall exalt you, lift you up.

A. Converts are elevated from the depths of sin and guilt to righteousness and hope of glory.

James 4:11, Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge.

I. Do not slander one another, speak not one against another, brethren, brothers.

A. Christians are not to speak evil one of another.

B. How often is the command violated?...all too often in almost every church.




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C. Holloway pointed out that we who have received mercy from God must show kindness to our fellow Christians.

II. He that; anyone who:

A. speaketh against a brother or…

B. Scriptures:

1. Leviticus 19:16, Thou shalt not go up and down as a talebearer among thy people: neither shalt thou stand against the blood of thy neighbour; I am the LORD.

2. Psalm 50:20, Thou sittest and speakest against thy brother; thou slanderest thine own mother's son.

3. Psalm 101:5, Whoso privily slandereth his neighbour, him will I cut off: him that hath an high look and a proud heart will not I suffer.

4. Romans 1:30, Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,

5. 2 Corinthians 12:20, For I fear, lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I would, and that I shall be found unto you such as ye would not: lest there be debates, envyings, wraths, strifes, backbitings, whisperings, swellings, tumults:

6. 1 Peter 2:1, Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, all evil speakings,

B. judgeth his brother,…

1. Matthew 7:1-5, Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but




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considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye.

2. Romans 2:1, Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things.

3. Romans 14:1-3, Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations. For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs. Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him.

C. speaketh against the law, the law of Christ.

1. It is not Christ’s will that Christians gossip, backbite and condemn one another.

D. and judgeth the law;…

III. When, but if thou judgeth the law,…

IV. thou art not a doer of the law, you are not keeping it,…

V. but a judge, sitting in judgment on it.

A. We are not to condemn the law, sit in judgment on the law.

B. We are to submit to, live in keeping with the Royal Law of Christ, the gospel.




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James 4:12, There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy: who art thou that judgest another?

I. One only is the lawgiver and judge, There is only one Lawgiver and Judge.

A. Jesus Christ is the lawgiver and Judge in view here.

B. John 12:48, He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.

C. John 5:37, And the Father himself, which hath sent me, hath borne witness of me. Ye have neither heard his voice at any time, nor seen his shape.

D. Matthew 25:31, 46, When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:




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For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not. Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me. And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.

E. Isaiah 33:22, For the LORD is our judge, the LORD is our lawgiver, the LORD is our king; he will save us.

F. Psalm 7:11, God judgeth the righteous, and God is angry with the wicked every day.

II. even he, the one is able to save and destroy:…

A. Matthew 10:28, And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

B. Psalm 3:8, Salvation belongeth unto the LORD: thy blessing is upon thy people. Selah.

C. Psalm 17:7, Shew thy marvellous lovingkindness, O thou that savest by thy right hand them which put their trust in thee from those that rise up against them.

D. Luke 19:10, For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.

E. Isaiah 13:11, And I will punish the world for their evil, and the wicked for their iniquity; and I will cause the arrogancy of the proud to cease, and will lay low the haughtiness of the terrible.




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III. but who art thou that judgest your neighbor? Who are you to judge your neighbor?

A. Who indeed?

B. James 2:12, 13, So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty. For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.

C. Romans 14:4, Who art thou that judgest another man's servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand.

Boasting About Tomorrow

James 4:13, Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain:

I. Listen, Come now, you that say,…

II. “Today or tomorrow, we will go to this or that city, and spend a year there, carry on business, trade, and get gain, make money.

A. Coffman referred to the fact that, “The presumption of men is a dreadful and arrogant conceit.”

B. Humans arrogantly make all manner of boastful plans for the future over which they have no control.

C. Holloway observed that “commercial travel was common in the ancient world.”

D. Business planning is necessary, but leaving God out of our plans is sinful.




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E. 1 Timothy 6:17-19, 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; That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate; Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.

F. Luke 12:13-21, And one of the company said unto him, Master, speak to my brother, that he divide the inheritance with me. And he said unto him, Man, who made me a judge or a divider over you? And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth. And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.

James 4:14, Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.

I. Why, whereas you do not even know what shall be, will happen on the morrow, tomorrow.

A. Matthew 6:30, Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?




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B. 1 Peter 1:24, For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away:

C. Proverbs 27:1, Boast not thyself of to morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.

II. What is your life?

A. Really! What has your life amounted to so far?

B. What can it become?

III. For you are a vapor, mist that appears for a little time, and then vanisheth away.

A. How very brief life is!

B. Job 7:7, O remember that my life is wind: mine eye shall no more see good.

C. Psalm 39:5, Behold, thou hast made my days as an handbreadth; and mine age is as nothing before thee: verily every man at his best state is altogether vanity. Selah.

D. Psalm 102:3, For my days are consumed like smoke, and my bones are burned as an hearth.

E. Psalm 144:4, Man is like to vanity: his days are as a shadow that passeth away.

F. Hosea 13:3, Therefore they shall be as the morning cloud and as the early dew that passeth away, as the chaff that is driven with the whirlwind out of the floor, and as the smoke out of the chimney.

James 4:15, For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that.




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I. Instead, for that you ought to say,…

II. “If the Lord will, if it is the Lord’s will,…

A. All our plans for tomorrow should be prefaced on the premise, “If the Lord will.”

B. Acts 18:21, But bade them farewell, saying, I must by all means keep this feast that cometh in Jerusalem: but I will return again unto you, if God will. And he sailed from Ephesus.

C. Acts 21:14, And when he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, The will of the Lord be done.

D. 1 Corinthians 4:19, But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord will, and will know, not the speech of them which are puffed up, but the power.

E. 1 Corinthians 16:7, For I will not see you now by the way; but I trust to tarry a while with you, if the Lord permit.

F. Hebrews 6:3, And this will we do, if God permit.

G. Matthew 7:21, Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

H. Matthew 12:50, For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.

I. Matthew 26:39-44, And he went a little farther, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt. And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour? Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. He went away again the second time, and




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prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done. And he came and found them asleep again: for their eyes were heavy. And he left them, and went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words.

J. Romans 15:32, That I may come unto you with joy by the will of God, and may with you be refreshed.

III. we shall both live, and do this or that.

A. God is supreme. All mankind must be subservient to the sovereignty of God.

James 4:16, But now ye rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil.

I. But now your glory is your vauntings; as it is, you boast and brag.

A. The evil glorying here condemned is that which leaves God out of our planning as if we have control of the future without consideration of God and God’s will.

II. all such boasting, glorying is evil.

A. Proverbs 21:24, Proud and haughty scorner is his name, who dealeth in proud wrath.

B. Habakkuk 2:5, Yea also, because he transgresseth by wine, he is a proud man, neither keepeth at home, who enlargeth his desire as hell, and is as death, and cannot be satisfied, but gathereth unto him all nations, and heapeth unto him all people:

C. Romans 1:30, Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,




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D. 1 John 2:16, In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.

James 4:17, Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.

I. To him therefore that knows to do good, anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do, …

A. Matthew 23:23, Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.

II. and doeth it not, does not do it,…

A. Sins of omission and commission are equally serious.

B. Romans 14:23, And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.

C. Matthew 25:45, 46, Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me. And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.

D. Luke 12:47, And that servant, which knew his lord's will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes.

III. to him it is sin, sins.

A. Phillips’ translation reads, “Well remember that if a man knows what is right and fails to do it, his failure is a real sin.” (via Coffman)




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References

Coffman, James Burton. James Burton Coffman Commentary, Volume II, James 1 and 2, 1 and 2 Peter, 1, 2, 3 John, Jude. Abilene Christian University Press. Abilene, TX, 1979.

Holy Bible, American Standard Version. 1901, Thomas Nelson and Sons. Nashville, TN, 1901.

Holy Bible, New International Version, Zondervan, Grand Rapids, Michigan, 49530. 1986.

Holloway, Gary. The College Press NIV Commentary, James and Jude. College Press Publishing Company, Joplin, Missouri, 1996.




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Questions

1. What causes contentions among disciples? Explain your answer. ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

2. What desires battle within us? _______________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

3. What were “all the wrong ways” by which James’ readers tried to get what they wanted? ___________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

4. Do we ever make the same mistake? Give examples. ____________ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________




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5. Would they have gotten what they wanted if they had asked God for it? Explain your answer. _____________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

6. Is it wrong to ask God for things that give us pleasure? Why or why not? See verse 3. ___________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

7. In what way(s) were the people to whom James wrote adulterous? ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

8. What are signs that a person is a friend of the world? _____________ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________




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9. Is being a friend of the world a lifestyle to which we may have been predestined? What about DNA and behavior? ________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

10. What awaits those who are friends of the world, haters, enemies of God? _____________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

11. Explain verse 5. What does it mean? ________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

12. _______________ says, “____________________ ______________ the __________________________ but gives __________________ to the _________________________.” (NIV)

13. Does God give varying amonts of grace to different people? See verse 6. If so, to whom does God give the most grace and to whom does he give the least? ____________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________




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14. If we resist the devil, he will flee from us? How far will the devil flee and how long will he stay gone? ____________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

15. How can we successfully draw near to God? ___________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

16. Define, compare and contrast sinners and double-minded. ________ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

17. Do you observe washing of hands as a religious act? What connections are there if any between the command in verse 8 to “Wash your hands” and Jewish ceremonially washings? Did Jesus observe ceremonial washing of hands? _________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________




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18. How do we purify our hearts? ______________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

19. _____________________, ______________________________ and ___________________. _______________ your ________________ to _____________________ and your ________________________ to _____________________ yourselves before the __________________, and he will _______________________ you _______________. (NIV)

20. Is it surprising to you that James needed to tell certain disciples not to slander one another? Why or why not? ________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

21. How does the slanderer speak against and become a judge of the law? ______________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

22. Who are you and I to judge our neighbors? ____________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________




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23. Is it wrong to plan future business activities with a view to increasing profits? ___________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

24. What is your life? …really? ________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

25. Is saying “If it is the Lord’s will” enough? If not, what else is needed? ___________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

26. Is all boasting and bragging evil? If not, what boasting and bragging are permitted? ______________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________




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27. “To him therefore that _____________________________ to do ________________________, and __________________________ it not, to him it is sin.” (ASV)

28. What connections are there between this verse and what James has written or will write in this epistle? ___________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

29. Define sins of omission and sins of commission. ________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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submit yourselves to god boasting about tomorrow james...

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