August 24th 2025 James ch 1 v 15 - 27
V 15. When evil desire arises in the mind, it does not stop there,
Lust gives birth to sin, and sin produces death. Death is here spiritual death in contrast to the life God gives to those that love him (1 v 12).
V 16,17. The point that James makes is that God, instead of being the source of temptation, as some were contending, is the source of all good in the experience of men.
James was especially desirous that his readers realize this, and so he addressed them with the tender my beloved brethren.
Father of lights is a reference to the creative activity of God this title for God was not unknown in Jewish thought ,
Although there is considerable question as to the correct reading of the last part of verse 17,
the meaning is clear enough: God IS completely consistent; he does not change.
V 18 James highpoints his rejection of the idea that God is the author of temptation.
He has already shown that such a charge is contrary to the nature of God (1 v 13) and to His consistent goodness (1 v 17).
Now he appeals to his readers experience in the Gospel. "So far from God's tempting us to evil, His will is the cause of our regeneration."
These early Christians were called firstfruits because they were a guarantee of many more to come.
V 19. The strong warning to be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath may be a reference to the readers' accusations against God.
Or it may be simply a general statement about hearing and speaking.
20. When a Christian gives vent to wrath, he is incapable of acting justly or righteously; and in addition, he prevents, or at least hinders, the evidence of God's righteousness in the world.
V 21. Lay apart all filthiness. Since the Word is a seed, it must have good soil in which to thrive.
Superfluity of naughtiness might suggest that only excess of evil is to be put away.
However, Tasker rightly takes superfluity to mean "remainder."
"Every converted Christian brings with him into his new life much that is inconsistent with it.
This has to be laid aside, that he may give himself more completely to the positive work of receiving with meekness the engrafted word" This word is able to save his soul.
V 22 Christianity is a religion of action.
As Important as it is to listen ( 1 v 19), one must not stop there.
Doing must follow listening. To be a hearer only is a form of self-deception.
V 23,24. The hearing but not doing man is, like a person who sees the reflection of his own face in a mirror.
"He sees himself, it is true, but· he goes on with whatever he was doing without the slightest recollection of what sort of person he saw in the mirror"
V 25. The mirror, which reveals the imperfections of the outer man, is now contrasted with the perfect law,
the law of freedom, which reflects the inner man. This is the first reference to law in the epistle
James uses the term to denote the right side of Christianity, the "teaching."
Here he calls the law perfect. Compare Ps 19:7: "The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul." James, as a Jew, writing to Jews, is deliberately ascribing to teaching the attributes of the law.
To James it is perfect because it was made perfect by Jesus Christ.
Law of liberty probably means that it is a law that applies to those who have the status of freedom, not from law, but from Sin and self, through the word of truth.
The man who looks into this law and makes a habit of doing so will become a doer of the work and find true happiness (shall be blessed in his deed).
V 26. James now moves from the more general "not hearing but doing" to the more specific "not mere worship but doing."
The word religious means "given to religious observances."
In this context it refers to attendance at worship services and to other observances of religion, such as prayer, almsgiving, and fasting.
A man who is trustworthy in these observances but fails to control his speech in everyday life deceives himself This mans religion is vain
V 27. "This is not a definition of religion, but a statement . . . of what is better than external acts of worship.
James had no idea of reducing religion to a negative purity of conduct, supplemented by charity-visiting"
Since orphans and widows were not provided for in ancient society, they were typical examples of those who needed help.
Keeping himself unspotted from the world
In addition to extending charity, maintaining personal purity is another way in which true religion expresses itself.
The world here and in ch 4 v 4 refers to pagan society opposed to God.
News from the Church New dates
27th August….. Church Coffee Morning 10am to 1pm
3rd September..…..Friendship Group, (this covers all ages and the lonely people)
20th August…. Knit and natter is a time to finish old projects or learn new skills
if you just want to talk well that’s OK too
ANSWERS TO 17th August QUESTIONS
1) Stones 2) Leprosy 3) The cock crowed 4) In the wilderness 5) His mother-in-law 6) Oil for the lamps 7) 4 days 8) Mustard seed 9) Sermon on the mount 10) He hung himself 11) Money changers
12) Swaddling clothes 13) Pilate’s wife 14) Spices 15) Trough the house roof 16) Washed their feet
Bible Quiz this week’s Quiz is General about the gospels
1 What happened to the veil in the temple when Jesus died?
2 What kind of work did Joseph teach Jesus to do?
3 When did Nicodemus come to Jesus?
4 Who told the shepherds about Jesus?
5 What institution did Jesus give, the night he was betrayed?
6 How long was the darkness over the land when Jesus died?
7 In what form did the Holy Spirit come to the baptism of Jesus ?
8 When did Jesus perform His first miracle ?
9 what does the bread and wine represent in the Lord’s supper?
10 The prodigal son feed which animals?
11 How did Jesus get to the disciples who were out in the lake?
12 What did King Herod do to John the Baptist because of his preaching?
13 Which group of the Jews believed in the resurrection, the Pharisees or the Sadducees ?
14 On what day of the week was the resurrection of Jesus?
15 Jesus told stories with important lessons in them, what do we call them?
16 Where did Peter find a coin to pay their taxes with?
God Bless