The Epistle of James Lesson 7 “Faith and the Man Within” (Cont’d) and Faith and the Reward of Patience James 4:11 – 5:1-6 Page 17 1

Overview of Chapter 4  In this chapter, he rebukes them harshly for the lifestyle into which some had fallen  They were oblivious to the qualities of the Christian character toward which the gospel had pointed them  They were embroiled in relation­ships among themselves and with people in the world characterized by strife and bitterness, worldliness, unwarranted criticism, greed, and pride 2

Outline of Chapter 4:11-17  Do Not Judge a Brother (11, 12)  Do Not Boast About Tomorrow (13-17) 3

Question 7a. How does one become a “judge” of God’s law? (vs. 11) 11 Do not speak evil of one another, brethren. He who speaks evil of a brother and judges his brother, speaks evil of the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge. 4

Question 7b. Why is it wrong to judge God’s law? (vs. 12) 12 There is one Lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy. Who are you to judge another? 5

Speak No Evil…  When you speak evil of a brother, you are judging him  “Speaking evil” is slandering another or injuring his reputation  We speak evil of the law and become judges of the law when we speak evil of a brother  We just learned that this use of the tongue is a deadly poison (3:8)  You become judges with evil thoughts when you show “partiality among yourselves” (2:4) 6

Speaking Against the Law…  The “law” mentioned here must be the law of Christ because he is referring to “brethren” and “a brother” (11)  We are abusing God’s law of fair treatment by knowingly mistreating and judging a brother  Only the God who gave the law of fair treatment can dictate how that treatment is to be dispensed  “There is one Lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy” (12) 7

Question 8.Why is it foolish to make plans in isolation from God’s plans for us? (vs ) 13 Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit”; 14 whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. 15 Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.” 8

“Today or tomorrow we will go...”  Human pride is the enemy of humility  Both cannot exist simultaneously in the same heart  Self-sufficiency causes men to forget God’s control of everything in this world  “We will go” signifies a pride that depends on human determination and ability and not on divine (13) 9

“Today or tomorrow we will go...”  We must never forget that the accomplishment of our goals is not in our hands, but God’s  We cannot control either: 1. Life’s circumstances-- “what will happen tomorrow;” (14) 2. The continuation of life-- “it is a vapor that...vanishes away.” (14) 10

Question 9.What was the source of the “evil” boasting in verse 16? 16 But now you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil. 11

How To Avoid Boasting and Arrogance…  All such boasting is evil (16)  15 Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.”  With this statement we confess that God completely controls all men and all things on the earth  Whether or not we always say it, we must believe it and demonstrate it in our planning  Do not leave God out of consideration in the making of your plans 12

Question 10a. How does God regard one’s neglect of obedience to His commands? (vs. 17) 17 Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin. 13

Question 10b. How do we “know” what “good” we should do? (See John 8:32; 1Corinthians 2:10-13.) John 8:32 “And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." 14

Question 10b. How do we “know” what “good” we should do? (See John 8:32; 1Corinthians 2:10-13.) 1Cor. 2:10-13 “(10) But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. (11) For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. (12) Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God. (13) These things we also speak, not in words which man's wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual.” 15

James 4:11-12 (NKJ) Do Not Judge a Brother 11 Do not speak evil of one another, brethren. He who speaks evil of a brother and judges his brother, speaks evil of the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge. 12 There is one Lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy. Who are you to judge another? 16

James 4:13-17 (NKJ) Do Not Boast About Tomorrow 13 Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit”; 14 whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. 15 Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.” 16 But now you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil. 17 Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin. 17

The Epistle of James Lesson 7 Faith and the Reward of Patience James 5:1-6 Page 20 18

Overview of Chapter 5:1-6  Verses 1-6 is addressed to the rich who receives a severe condemnation from James for the manner in which they lived  Their dependence upon riches brings only grief  James is addressing the rich while in reality directing the message to the poor saints  The poor Christians are encouraged to believe that their oppression has not gone unnoticed by God 19

Question 1.The rich are severely rebuked by James. What did he foretell about their future? (vs. 1) 1 Come now, you rich, weep and howl for your miseries that are coming upon you! 20

Your Miseries Are Coming Upon You…  Early Christians suffered much at the hands of those who were in power – rich people  These rich people put their trust [faith] in wealth and power rather than in God  The rich are not condemned simply because they are rich  These obtained their wealth by wrongful means  Their end will come at the judgment  Destruction of Jerusalem or final destruction??? 21

Question 2.The riches of the rich were __________ and their garments _____________. (vs. 2) 2 Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are moth-eaten. 22 corrupted moth-eaten

Christ Said…  Matt. 6:20, 21: “but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”  Luke 6:24, 25: "But woe to you who are rich, For you have received your consolation. Woe to you who are full, For you shall hunger. Woe to you who laugh now, For you shall mourn and weep.” 23

Question 3a. When had the rich heaped up their treasure? (vs. 3) 3 Your gold and silver are corroded, and their corrosion will be a witness against you and will eat your flesh like fire. You have heaped up treasure in the last days. 24

The Last Days…  Their treasures were gathered in the last days which were already upon them  “The last days” are from the time of Christ’s death to the end of time (Heb. 1:2)  “In the last days perilous times will come” (2Tim. 3:1)  “Scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts” (2Pet. 3:3)  Paul explained the last days in Acts 2:17-21 which was spoken by the prophet Joel 25

Question 3b. The corrosion of their gold and silver would testify about what bad decision on their part? (vs. 3) 3 Your gold and silver are corroded, and their corrosion will be a witness against you and will eat your flesh like fire. You have heaped up treasure in the last days. 26

Their Corrosion Will Be A Witness…  The precious metals themselves do not rust  With the evil mixed with them, they were no longer pure metals  Mixed with fraud, deceit, oppression, falsehood, and murder  These precious metals will be of no help in the judgment day 27

Question 4b. Many had increased their profits by what kind of fraud? (vs. 4) 4 Indeed the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, cry out; and the cries of the reapers have reached the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth. 28

Question 4b. Who had paid attention to the plight of the defrauded? (vs. 4) 4 Indeed the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, cry out; and the cries of the reapers have reached the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth. 29

“The Lord of Sabaoth”  “Sabaoth” means “hosts” or “armies”  It possibly refers to the Lord of the spirit world  Paul mentioned this phrase once in Romans 9:29  James is saying that the “cries” have reached the One who will be doing the judging 30

Question 5a. Describe the lifestyle of the rich. (vs. 5) 5 You have lived on the earth in pleasure and luxury; you have fattened your hearts as in a day of slaughter. 31

Question 5b. What did they not realize about the consequence of this lifestyle? (vs. 5) 5 You have lived on the earth in pleasure and luxury; you have fattened your hearts as in a day of slaughter. 32

The Sins of the Rich… (5:1-6) 1.They had heaped up treasure for themselves to the neglect of others’ needs; 2.They had amassed their wealth by defrauding poor, defenseless laborers; 3.They had resorted to “condemnation” and “murder” (figurative?) to achieve their pernicious goals; 4.They had lived on the earth in luxury while their victims suffered in poverty; 33

The Sins of the Rich… (5:1-6) 5.They had fattened their hearts in self- satisfaction over their “successes”; 6.They had ignored the warnings of Jesus and the apostles: a. Matthew 6:19,20-- Do not lay up treasures on the earth but in heaven; b. Luke 12:21-- Fools choose worldly riches instead of riches toward God; c. 1Timothy 6:9,10-- “Many sorrows” accompany greediness. 34

James 5:1-3 (NKJ) Rich Oppressors Will Be Judged 1 Come now, you rich, weep and howl for your miseries that are coming upon you! 2 Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are moth-eaten. 3 Your gold and silver are corroded, and their corrosion will be a witness against you and will eat your flesh like fire. You have heaped up treasure in the last days. 35

James 5:4-6 (NKJ) Rich Oppressors Will Be Judged 4 Indeed the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, cry out; and the cries of the reapers have reached the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth. 5 You have lived on the earth in pleasure and luxury; you have fattened your hearts as in a day of slaughter. 6 You have condemned, you have murdered the just; he does not resist you. 36