1016. Introduction to James

Welcome to The Daily Platform from Bob Jones University in Greenville, South Carolina. The school was founded in 1927 by the evangelist Dr. Bob Jones Senior's intent was to make a school where Christ would be the center of everything, so he established daily chapel services today. That tradition continues with fervent biblical preaching from the University Chapel platform today on a daily platform. Dr. Steve Pettit, president of Bob Jones University will begin a study series entitled wisdom from above, which is a study of the book of James.

I'd like you to take your Bibles this morning, and please turn with me to the book of James. James chapter 1 today.

How many of you have ever found yourself in a very difficult place and you found yourself having to make a decision and at that moment, you really didn't know what to do. Maybe you found yourself in a position where you got it by sin. Advice from some people you really trusted in and from two different people they gave you opposite advice or maybe you found yourself in a decision not between what is good and bad, but really between two really good decisions and you really didn't know what to do other than the fact you wanted to do what God wants you to comment if you've ever found yourself in one of those positions in your life would you raise your hand. Okay, now to be frankly honest with you I feel like I live in that position every day. In some cases almost every hour and that is a decision needs to be made. I really want to do what God wants me to do and I'm really not sure what to do. It is at that moment that you realize you are in desperate need of wisdom. Our theme this semester is called wisdom from above because that's really where wisdom comes from in the book of James were going to look at this semester at really what we call the thematic peak of the book. That is what it's all about and that begins in James chapter 3 in verse 13 and it runs to James chapter 4 and verse 10 and we will begin that series of looking at those verses, verse by verse through expository preaching, but this morning what I'd like to do is to simply do an introduction to the book of James and try to get the big picture, or if I could simply say it.

I want us to understand James this morning as we began, so that will look at it will set the table and look at it a particular way and then that will help us as we work through the passage of Scripture beginning next week in James three in verse 13. So let's begin reading at the very start of James. James chapter 1 in verse one and will read the first five verses. Let's hear God's word. James a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ to the 12 tribes which are scattered abroad greeting, my brethren counted all joy when you fall into diverse temptations. Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that you may be perfect in entire, wanting nothing. If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraid if not, and it shall be given him. So as we begin this passage of Scripture in the study this semester.

Let's start by asking some very simple and important questions. Number one, who is the author who is writing this book because it really helps us to understand the background to it.

Well it's very clear that the authors of fellow whose name is what James ought his name is Jane what you got a really bad is more his name is James over starting at a good point. We know the author as the question is which James is is that what you may well when you read the New Testament, there is at least three, James is number one is James the brother of John, one of the 12 disciples and in the inner circle of Peter, James and John. So is it that James there's a second James.

He's also one of the 12 disciples not as well-known. These James the son of Alpheus. Are they just calling James the less saber the last. How you doing that's that James and then there's 1/3. James who's really not quite as well-known, and that is James the half-brother of Jesus, so which James is it well we know who it's not. We know it's not James the brother of John. How do we know that because he's the second martyr of the church after Stephen, who was killed by King Herod so it could not have possibly been him wrote this letter because he was already in glory. Let me also say that is most likely not James the last because he was not as well-known and really tradition tells us it's not him, so most likely, we believe that this is James the half-brother of Jesus know what you know about Jesus's family we know his mother's name. Her name is what Mary and dad's name is Joseph but who are his brothers.

You know they are Matthew 1355 tells us about Jesus family. He comes from a family of four brothers. Their names are James Joseph Juden and Simon, four brothers, even though that digit.

Anna says in his sisters that we don't know how many was plural. So let's just keep it simply had at least two sisters. We had four brothers, two sisters, mom and dad grew up in a small town you called at home, school, family, that's where Jesus by at least five boys at least two sisters and tradition tells us that it was James, the half-brother of Jesus who wrote this book.

Now what we know about him what we know that he wasn't a believer.

He wasn't born again until after the resurrection. How do we know that because enforcement is 15 it says that Jesus appeared to his brother James and Matthew 13 tells us that his brothers really were not believers.

So, after he saw Jesus in his resurrected body.

Then he became a believer in Christ the Lord. But we also note something else and that is, he quickly became a leader in the in the Jerusalem church so you could say this way.

He was the leader he was that head pastor or the senior pastor of the church in Jerusalem. He was noted to be a very godly righteous man.

He was called James the just and I think it's important.

As you read this book and I think it will help with some insight that we can actually look at what James is riding as a commentary on the life of his brother because Shirley would've heard his brother speak many times and would have been remembered his words and in some ways he is writing. Maybe offer that as a commentary so that leads me to the second thing and who is the audience to whom are the recipients of the letters and let's go back and no verse one. It's is James a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ to the 12 tribes which are scattered abroad greeting so couple of things are number one. He says he's writing to the 12 tribes that when you think of the 12 tribes you think of what kind of people there called the what you call the children of Israel. We just simply call them Jewish people. So who is he writing to well obviously as you read the book he's writing the people who were believers. So he's writing to Jewish Christians and what is their condition. It says they are scattered abroad nephew go back in the book of acts chapter 8 verse one it starts out by saying a great persecution arose in Jerusalem against the church and is very interesting. It says the same Greek word it says and they were scattered abroad. So what I believe is he's writing to a group of believers who were Jewish. Could been living in Jerusalem and they had been driven out of their homes by persecution and the word scattered abroad means a dispersion and if we would put it in modern language we would call them refugees, so they were living in Israel. They been driven out of their country and now their living as refugees and what is it like to be a refugee will think about it if you're living in your home country in your own culture and your own family you have a home you have a job you have stability, but a refugee. Everything is unstable.

You have no assurance of a job. Not sure where you going to live. You are being persecuted. You are suffering. You are alone you are. You are living in poverty, perhaps abuse and despair is a very, very difficult and painful situation. So James is riding. If I do say this way to his church members okay. He's not writing to people he doesn't know he's writing the people to whom he has pastored any calls them brethren and beloved brethren at least 11 times to express his affection and love for them and he is riding them in this particular situation.

Some of you the book of James as a first century. 101 manual for Christian living. Because when you read the book James a style is very straightforward and it's very simple. It's almost like reading the book of Proverbs where James is not so much focused on doctrinal truth as he is to practical Christian living there hundred and eight verses in the book of James, and 50 of them, and for and there are 50 definitive commands and those 108 verses so he's really challenging them in the way they live because really Christianity is about what you believe manifested in the way in which you live.

So that's his audience. Which leads me to the third point, that is what is the main purpose of the book of James. A couple things I think that a very interesting is that first of all that out of the 27 books of the New Testament today beginning with Matthew ending with Revelation out of the 27 books in the New Testament. This is the what I what we would say the oldest New Testament book. In other words, this was written before the apostle Paul wrote anything before Matthew Mark Luke and John before before Peter's epistles are Johnson or any of those.

This is the first book and so that's very important and is he is writes this book is he has a very clear goal and what is his goal.

If you look back at what we read.

Notice he says in verse three he says you you brothers and sisters are going through trials. Okay he says in verse three. Knowing this, the trying of your faith is is is your your faith is being tested is producing in you endurance. That's of faith stretched out that's that's becoming practical and here's the goal verse four he says, but let patience have her perfect work or its maturing.

What is the goal that James has for every believer, and that is believers become mature.

Now when you read the New Testament letters of Paul James of Peter and John. Those four writers, you will discover that they all had the same goal. The goal was that every Christian grow and mature.

So your spiritual growth is crucial and foundational to your Christian faith. You need to be a growing Christian.

But what is very interesting is that when you read the letters of Paul and Peter and John and James you find the goal is the same, but the language that describes maturity is slightly different. For example, when you read Paul's letters, Paul's goal is for for believers to mature and become like Christ.

So we would say Christ likeness is the goal.

I think when you read Peter's letters. His goal is that believers become holy be holy, for I am as I am holy. The Lord says you read John's letters, especially first John and you find that John's goal is for Christians to be perfected in love or to become mature in love.

So one focuses on being like Christ. One focuses on being holy one focuses on love and then you come to the book of James, and what is the primary focal point the focal point is that believers become wives look at James three verse 13 who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you.

Verse five James one. If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, what is point you're trying to mature and grow. That's his goal and how you get there you get there through becoming wise. So what is the goal or the main purpose of James is to help believers mature into becoming wise people and actually it's interesting if you would compare James to Paul and you see a lot of similarities. You see, I actually see him and Peter also.

For example, James says in verses two through five of chapter 1, the trials produce endurance, and endurance produces maturity. You read in Romans chapter 5 where Paul writes in verses three through five pieces trials produce endurance and endurance produces proven Christlike character, you become like Jesus. So as we look at these let wheeze as we look at these words, it's not like these authors have different goals. They have the same goal, but they use a different kind of a language, but it's interconnected.

For example, look at Paul's use of the word wisdom is Regis in verses Colossians 19 he says that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding.

Colossians 128 him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everybody mature perfect in Christ Jesus. Colossians 23 in Jesus are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. Colossians 316 let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom.

First Corinthians 1 verse 30 it says, but of him are you in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption.

Here's the point. Really simple that to become like Christ and to become wise or in essence, the goal of the Christian life that if you could set this way it's like looking at a mountain same mountain at a different angle you could look at it from one side or the other side same mountain we look at it differently.

Christ likeness, holiness, love, wisdom so James is goal is to help every believer mature into a wise man or wise woman and I think all of us would be honest this morning and we all recognize our desperate need of wisdom which leads me to the fourth question and that is what is the process towards gaining wisdom.

How do you get wisdom.

I think it's pretty clear that wisdom is not something you get automatically. For example, you don't necessarily get wisdom by sitting in a classroom. Wisdom does not come through knowledge. I like what I like what Ecclesiastes says with much not knowledge comes great weariness. How many of you gotten tired of classes that's not necessarily wisdom. Wisdom doesn't come by gaining understanding. For example, you can be a PhD and not necessarily be a wise person.

There are a lot of smart people who do really stupid things. So what is wisdom. Wisdom is something more.

It is something that only God can give. That has to be clear in your mind. If any of you lack wisdom, leading ask of God, who giveth to all people in a generous manner. Notice Proverbs 26 for the Lord did this wisdom so then what does one have to do to pursue wisdom.

What motivates you to get wisdom. When I began the message I said how many of you have ever come to a place where you know what to do and you needed wisdom will what got you to that place where you didn't know what to do when James chapter 1 verses two through five. He sets it up for us why it is that we pray for wisdom. Why do we need wisdom because we are we hat we are facing some unexpected or unavoidable or unwanted trials and pressures that have come into our life.

The best way to get wisdom is through problems, problem-solving going through trials and therefore we are in the midst of this pressure and we have to think properly and we have to respond correctly in a way that honors God and fulfills his will.

I was in a meeting this morning from nine to little after 2 o'clock. At the end of the meeting, we concluded that we did know exactly what to do and we need to pray and seek God for his mind. Now that's what James is talking about you and I are going through a trial and we need to see God's perspective, God, what do you want me to do Lord lead me, Lord, guide me and does God promise that God promises all the wisdom that you need to make the decisions that are in within the purpose and alignment of his will.

Someone is since wisdom is seeing life from God's perspective.

Wisdom is the ability to make a connection between the trials that I'm enduring and the purpose and the character of God. God what you doing here what am I to pray for.

I do pray that the Lord will give me wisdom. Wisdom is having right responses because you have to make a decision you can just borrow in the ground and just sit there. You have to make a choice. What is wisdom is becoming skillful in living a godly and righteous life. How can I go through this trial and come out on the other side a winds are more godly person so this is what James is communicating in the beginning of the letter believers face multifaceted trials physical trials emotional trials relational trials financial trials governmental trials spiritual trials verbal trials and one of the trials.

These are the things it calls pressure or bring stress into my life and James makes it clear the trials are not things that we should run from, they are not things that we should get out of. They are things that are designed to grow and expand our faith. However, we are not to be passive in trial, God is growing us up. Think about it. Think of it this way, you cannot be spiritually mature and at the same time be emotionally immature. Think about that. You cannot be spiritually mature and at the same time be emotionally immature. So what does a trial do for us. It squeezes us and what comes out of us all kinds of emotions, fear, anger, jealousy, often times, depression, or discouragement, confusion, feeling sorry for yourself and what God is doing is he's taking the pressure that produces or squeezes out of these out of us this emotionally immature response and he is driving us to seek the Lord to let God watch to trust God to change us to work things out so that we can rejoice in his power.

So how do I get wisdom. Wisdom columns through seeking the Lord in the midst of a trial. God's process of maturing a Christian into a spiritually wise man and woman is to bring us to greater dependence on God and not dependence on her cell and that leads me to the final thing and that is what is James overall concern. That is, he is concerned that believers might under value, the trial, in other words, he's concerned about having the wrong point of view about your trial. James creates his own word to describe his concern and what is the concern. If you read beginning in verse six, let him ask in faith, nothing wavering, that's for wisdom, for he that waiver that is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind atolls. Let not that man think he should receive anything of the Lord and in verse eight he says a double minded man is unstable in all his ways. James creates a word that didn't exist. Double minded is the word die.

Sue costs literally means to souls. The idea is that in the middle of a trial.

You and I often have two minds to hearts and to souls.

It's it's almost like what Paul says in the battle between the flesh and the spirit because it were Christian we have the flesh and the spirit.

And here's the idea in the middle of a problem were struggling. We know we need God's wisdom.

We have a heart for God, but we also have a heart for our own desires, but we want one of the problems and trials is that we really want God to work it out the way I wanted to be worked out when in reality it may not be the way the gods going to work.

John Bunyan described this person is Mr. facing both ways. It's like a person has a desire for God is like a person has a desire for the world and he stuck in the middle because all of us live here all of us have a desire to follow the Lord if it were Christian. We also have a desire for the pleasures and the and the blessings of this world.

So here's the issue. Do I continue in an immature state living out my own selfish desires controlled by anger controlled by fear control by jealousy.

All those emotions or do I surrender to God and single-mindedly not with two hearts, not to souls but with one mine do I wholeheartedly seek God and say God I want your will and your purpose in your plan. And through that I grow in the grace and knowledge Lord and Mike and I mature Inc. that's really what the big picture is all about, and the question is this will I grow and mature into a wise person.

So let me ask a question how many of you would say I want. I really do want to be a wise person. How many of you would acknowledge that raise your hand right God's word is clear and you can become wise as you respond and seek the Lord and pray and follow his wordiness will, and God will give you all the wisdom that you need. Let's all stand together as we are dismissed this morning in prayer and let's pray that God will help us to have his wisdom, Lord, we thank you for your word this morning. We thank you that through your truth and through your power, you can give us the wisdom that we need to make the right choices right now in alignment with your word and will help each one Lord to grow in wisdom. We pray in Jesus name, amen. You been listening to a sermon from the book of James by Dr. Steve Pettit, president of Bob Jones University. For more information on Dr. Pettit series, visit our website@thedailyplatform.com where you can get a copy of Steve's study booklet entitled wisdom from above. Thanks for listening. Join us again tomorrow as we study God's word together on the daily