Faith at Work James 4 The Priority of Faith

Faith “Unfriends” the World JAMES 4: 1 -4 Result of faithless wisdom: “confusion and every evil thing” (3:16) CONFLICT: Wars and fights (battles), 4:1-2 Strife in the church, in the home, and in society, Gal. 5:14-15; 1 Jno. 3:15; Col. 3:5

Faith “Unfriends” the World JAMES 4: 1 -4 Result of faithless wisdom: “confusion and every evil thing” (3:16) LUST: Desire for (sinful) pleasure, “To set the heart upon”, 4:2 Pleasures (4:1, 3): Enslaved (Titus 3:3) Possessions (4:2): Vain effort to satisfy Petitions (4:3): Selfish prayers of indulgence

Faith “Unfriends” the World JAMES 4: 1 -4 Real Problem: They had befriended the world Adultery (unfaithful to God), 4:4; Jeremiah 3:8, 20 Friendship with the world is hostility toward God, Psalm 73:27-28

Faith “Unfriends” the World JAMES 4: 1 -4 Must “unfriend” the world, 1 Jno. 2:15; Gal. 5:19-21; Rom. 13:12; Eph. 5:6-8, 11 Sharing values, goals, pleasures, wisdom… with the world makes you worldly! Do not lust after selfish pleasures (1 Jno. 2:16) Do not be influenced by worldly people, Eph. 5:7, 11 (1 Cor. 15:33-34)

Faith Relies on God’s Grace by Submitting to God’s Will JAMES 4: 5 -10 Grace overcomes sin, 4:5-6 God is jealous, Exodus 20:4-6 Protective of His glory and honor Refers to His justice and holiness God gives grace that is greater than sin, 4:6; Romans 5:20-21

Faith Relies on God’s Grace by Submitting to God’s Will JAMES 4: 5 -10 Grace to overcome sin requires a working faith, 4:7-10 Faith at work assures grace that saves: Submit to God, 4:7 Resist the devil, 4:7 (1 Pet. 5:9) Draw near to God, 4:8 (Exo. 19:22) Cleanse your hands, 4:8 (Rom. 6:13) Purify your heart, 4:8 (Jas. 1:6-8; 4:3) Godly sorrow and repentance, 4:9 Humble yourselves, 4:10 (Phil. 2:5-8)

Faith does not Speak Evil of its Brethren JAMES 4 : 11-12 To speak evil makes one a judge: Over his brother, 2:4 Over God’s law, Lev. 19:18 (Matt. 22:39) There is one Lawgiver, 4:12 He saves and destroys, Matt. 10:28 He will judge those who sin against us

Faith Depends on God By keeping life in perspective, 4:13-14 JAMES 4 : 13-17 By keeping life in perspective, 4:13-14 Life is uncertain (do not boast about tomorrow), Proverb 27:1; Matthew 6:33-34 Life is brief, Psalm 39:4-6

Faith Depends on God JAMES By living for the will of God, 4:15-17 4 : 13-17 By living for the will of God, 4:15-17 “If the Lord wills” (4:15) Revealed in God’s word…live by it, Ephesians 5:17; Colossians 3:16 Arrogant boasting (4:16) Jas. 3:14 Omitting what we know is good shows faithless arrogance (4:17)

Faith at Work Refuses to practice and have fellowship with worldliness It repents of past and present sins in order to be clean before God Is humble before God Relies on divine grace by doing the will of God, Not on human wisdom that indulges the flesh JAMES 4