James #9 James #9 Living Wisely in Faith, 5:1-20

James #9- Living Wisely in Faith, 5:1-20  Remember what we’ve seen so far: -Our Intro. to James: first epistle, probably written by the Lord’s brother about the middle of the first century; to predominantly Jewish Christians scatter because of persecution, 1:1 -Difference between and importance of Tests, Trials, & Temptations, 1:2-18 -Effects of receiving the Implanted Word, 1:19-27

James #9- Living Wisely in Faith, 5:1-20  As well as: -Problem of Partiality, 2:1-13 -the great treatise on Faith & Works, 2: The Dangers and Sins of the Tongue, 3:1-12 -True Wisdom, 3: Worldliness, 4:1-17  And now, we’re ready for the final chapter of this great epistle of practicality: -the final exhortations of James, Live Wisely in Faith!

James #9- Living Wisely in Faith, 5:1-20  The exhortation is (as always in James) practical & to the point(s).  It covers several facets of Christian living: >Living justly in this life- vv.1-5 >Living patiently with expectations of mercy & reward from the Lord, vv.7-11 >Living truthfully, v.12 >Living prayerfully and praisefully, vv >Living faithfully, vv > 2:14-17.

James #9- Living Wisely in Faith, 5:1-20  Living Justly, vv.1-6: Subject of perspective of riches re-introduced and further explained from 2:2-7….this time from the other side! -There (in 2:2-7) notice the address is to the poor. -Now he addresses the rich who have evidently become so through abuse: >by withheld wages, v.4 >by probably ignoring needs, v.5 > 2:15ff >by killing the unresisting righteous, v.6

James #9- Living Wisely in Faith, 5:1-20  Living Justly, vv.1-6: With Practical Result of these sins being: -the loss of luster of wealth, vv.2-3a -the witness of self-condemnation, v.3b -the fattening of hearts for slaughter, v.5 The Ultimate Reward of these sins? v.1, “weep and howl for your miseries which are coming upon you.” The Cure? Back to 4:7-10, Submit, Resist, Draw Near, Cleanse, Purify, Mourn, and Humble Yourselves!

James #9- Living Wisely in Faith, 5:1-20  Living Patiently, vv.7-11: -Until the coming of the Lord, v.7 >as the farmer waits for early & late rains, v.7b >by strengthening your hearts: through knowledge, 1:3 through understanding, 1:4 through wisdom, 1:5ff & through perseverance, cf.1:12 >don’t complain against one another either, v.9 your brethren are not the problem, cf.1:14 some of them are inspirational, vv.10-11!

James #9- Living Wisely in Faith, 5:1-20  Living Truthfully, v.12: -Don’t Swear >either by heaven or by earth >or with any other oath, cf. Matt.23:16-22 >It isn’t necessary for one who always tells the truth! “Yes” or “No” is sufficient. >Besides, otherwise one “falls under judgement”!

James #9- Living Wisely in Faith, 5:1-20  Living Praisefully and Prayerfully, vv.13-18: -First, Praisefully: >It is the natural reaction the cheerful who are “full of the Spirit,” Eph.5: Second, Prayerfully: >It likewise is the natural reaction to suffering by the faithful, v.10.

James #9- Living Wisely in Faith, 5:1-20  Living Praisefully and Prayerfully, vv.13-18: -Several things here need attention: >Elders should pray over (in behalf of) the sick, v.14a. >Anointing with oil was used medicinally, Luke 10:34. >Symbolically, oil and other elements were used in miraculous healing, John 9:6,11. >Remember, at this time Elders usually had spiritual gifts- including but not limited to, healing, 1Cor.12:9, >Also understand that physical healing miraculously done, was associated with spiritual cleansing, Mark 2:3-11.

James #9- Living Wisely in Faith, 5:1-20  Living Praisefully and Prayerfully, vv.13-18: -Now, >if Elders prayed and anointed with oil the sick in order to heal them by the Spirit of God, >they were healed both physically and spiritually, v.15b. -Therefore, “Confess your sins one to another, and pray for one another, so that you may be healed.” -Because, “The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.” v.16b

James #9- Living Wisely in Faith, 5:1-20  Living Praisefully and Prayerfully, vv.13-18: -Proof? >Elijah was a man “with a nature like ours” v.17a >he prayed that it rain not, and it didn’t, 17b >he prayed that it rain, and it did, v.18! -Point? >God certainly did work miraculously. >He still works providentially just like He did for Elijah, cf. 1Kings 18:44-46.

James #9- Living Wisely in Faith, 5:1-20  Living Faithfully, vv Understand clearly: >One can “stray from the truth” v.19 >and because of such be eternally lost, v.20b. -But, >the faithful (those full of faith- including works,cf.2:16) can “save his soul from death” v.20b >by “turning him back” v.19b. -Turning him back to what? >that from which he strayed…. >faithful obedience to the truth!

James #9- Living Wisely in Faith, 5:1-20 Conclusion? Back to a summarizing statement quoted in the beginning of our study: “The chief aim of the writer was to encourage those to whom he wrote to endure patiently their trials, and to eliminate from their hearts and lives those serious defects which rendered them un-Christian in nature.” (Guy N. Woods, A Commentary on the Epistle of James, p.19) My hope is that this study has, and will continue to do the same for me and you!