WEBVTT

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 Well, good morning, church. We are beginning a new sermon series today in the New Testament

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 letter of James. So let me invite you to grab a Bible and to turn with me to James.

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 James is a short but incredibly practical book about wholehearted Christian living.

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 What does it mean to live a life of steadfast living faith in Jesus? What does it look like to live this

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 vibrant life of living faith when you're under pressure, when you're experiencing trials?

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 That's what James is all about. So as we come to God's word, let's go ahead and pray together.

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 Oh, Father, as we have just sung, it is our Lord Jesus Christ who is the source and center and goal

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 of all that we have been created and redeemed to be. So, Father, would you by your Spirit grant us

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 mercy that as we come to your word this morning, as we embark on a new book,

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 that you would grant us eyes to see, ears to hear, hearts to love our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

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 We pray in his name. Amen. Amen. Well, so in the coming weeks, we are going to take the book of James

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 and we are going to unpack this timely letter section by section. But today, I want to start

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 our study of this book by looking at the author. The author introduces himself in verse 1 as James,

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 a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ. But who is this James? Well, there are a few men named James

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 in the New Testament. There's James, the son of Alphaeus, who is listed among the 12 apostles.

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 But we don't know much else about this James, so it seems unlikely that he's the author of the letter

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 that we have. On the other hand, there's also James, the son of Zebedee. And we actually know

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 a lot about him, along with John, his brother, and Peter. This James belongs to that close inner

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 circle of Jesus's apostles. He's one of the three that go along with Jesus in many of his miracles

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 and teachings, even in the Mount of Transfiguration. But we know from Acts chapter 12 that this James

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 was put to an early death by Herod Agrippa I around AD 44. So it seems unlikely that James,

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 the son of Zebedee, is the author of this book either. But there's actually a third James that

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 we learn about in the New Testament. And most scholars agree that he's the one who wrote the letter

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 before us. And that is James, the brother of Jesus. Now, we often find encouragement by looking

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 at the lives of these early disciples and apostles and followers of Jesus. Their own spiritual journeys

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 can help to clarify and even inspire our own. How often are we encouraged by the faith of Peter,

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 by his betrayal and reinstitution by the Lord? How often are we encouraged by the love of John and

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 his perseverance to the end in exile? How often are we encouraged by the dramatic conversion of Paul?

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 But you know, James isn't a character that we often consider. And yet his story is just as rich

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 with the grace of God, and it is just as encouraging. So I want to look at what we know about James. And I

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 want us to just walk through his life story this morning under four headings. I want us to think

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 about James, the doubter, James, the believer, James, the pastor, and James, the martyr. So first,

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 James, the doubter. In Mark chapter 6, after Jesus has been teaching for some time, he comes back to his

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 hometown of Nazareth to teach like he'd been doing in other towns. But the people in his hometown are not

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 buying it. This is what they say when Jesus comes back to Nazareth. They say, is not this the carpenter,

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 the son of Mary and brother of James and Joseph and Judah and Simon? Are not his sisters here with us?

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 So this is one of the earliest references that we have to James. He grew up in the household with

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 Jesus, along with at least three other brothers and some sisters as well, a home of at least seven

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 children. And if there's any truth to the tradition that Joseph, his father, died and left Mary a widow,

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 then the picture we get is that James came from a large family living in first century Palestine

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 under very particular stresses. Not just the common economic stresses that were on the people of that

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 day, but even some deep family stress as well. But you know, if the hometown crowd had a hard time

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 believing in Jesus, what about Jesus' own family? What did James think about all of this?

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 Earlier in Mark's gospel, after Jesus had just chosen the 12 apostles, great crowds were gathering

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 around Jesus. Mark writes this, he says, and when his family heard it, they went out to seize him,

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 for they were saying, he is out of his mind. So it's safe to say that James was skeptical

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 about his brother Jesus, to say the least. And as Jesus' ministry progresses, their unbelief grows.

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 In John chapter 7, we're told not even his brothers believed in him. Now, of course, at first, you can

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 sympathize with James, can't you? I have four brothers. I have two older brothers and two younger brothers.

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 And if one of them started marching around saying, I'm the Messiah, I would immediately say,

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 no, you're not the Messiah. But on a serious note, why did James doubt? You know, your siblings,

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 my siblings, they're flawed. They're selfish at times. But James would not have seen that

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 in Jesus growing up. Jesus was without sin from birth. James probably doubted because, well, it was just,

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 it was just inconceivable. Can anything good come out of Nazareth? Can anything good come out of my

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 family? Surely Jesus isn't the Messiah. And what that means, you see, is that James, he knows what it's

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 like to doubt. And so in the opening of his letter in chapter 1, verses 6 and 7, when he talks about

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 doubting and he talks about being double-minded and how that can make us spiritually unstable,

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 James knows what that's like from the inside. Maybe you've grown up close to Christians. Maybe

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 you've come from a Christian family. And honestly, maybe for you, that's part of what makes believing

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 in Christ so difficult because you've been so close to it. But be assured that the Bible,

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 the God of the Bible, he welcomes doubters. The Bible is actually full of people who doubt.

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 And not just minor characters, Abraham, Moses, David, Peter, James. They can all attest to having

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 their doubts. But is there hope for us doubters? That's the question, isn't it? I mean, what in the

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 world would make James come to actually believe that his brother was the Messiah? At the end of

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 Jesus' life, when he's dying on the cross and his mother Mary is there mourning, do you know where

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 James is? According to John 19, nowhere to be found. Jesus actually entrusts Mary to the care of John,

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 his disciple. But when we turn over just a few short pages from John chapter 19 to Acts chapter 1,

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 we see something incredible. The followers of the risen Jesus are gathered for prayer in Jerusalem,

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 and the apostles are there. And then Luke adds, all these with one accord were devoting themselves

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 to prayer together with the women and Mary, the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.

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 And this brings us to the second part of James' story. The doubter becomes a believer.

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 So what happened to James? You know, we often marvel at Paul's conversion, how the persecutor

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 becomes the preacher. And rightfully, we look at Paul's story as evidence of the reality of Jesus'

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 resurrection. How could this enemy of Christ become a follower of Christ, a preacher of Christ?

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 You know, what else could turn Paul around like that except for an encounter with the risen Lord?

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 But you know, for me, I find James' story just as powerful, though we know less about it.

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 How could this family member come to believe that his brother was the Messiah?

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 Listen to 1 Corinthians 15. This is Paul writing about some of the earliest teachings of the church,

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 the earliest events of Christianity. He says,

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 I delivered to you as a first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins in

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 accordance with the scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in

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 accordance with the scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, that is Peter, then to the 12,

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 that is the rest of the apostles. Then he appeared to more than 500 brothers at one time,

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 most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James.

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 The fact that James, the brother, the doubter, the skeptic, comes to profess faith in Jesus as the Messiah,

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 as the King, as the Lord, is just as powerful a testimony of the resurrection of Jesus as any.

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 But is it not also an incredible testimony to the grace of Jesus?

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 Can you imagine you spend your whole ministry teaching, preaching, healing the sick, performing miracles,

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 and your own brothers reject and ridicule you the whole time, and in your final hour,

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 they completely abandon you? How would you treat them if you had the chance to come back and treat them in any way?

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 Thankfully,

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 Jesus is not like us.

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 He comes to James, his brother,

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 in mercy.

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 He appears to him personally after the resurrection

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 and extends him grace

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 and forgiveness.

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 Jesus, and James's hard heart

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 comes alive

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 with saving faith.

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 What a wonderful,

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 merciful Savior Jesus is.

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 But what about you and me?

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 How does this heart change happen to us?

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 Jesus has ascended to the right hand of the Father.

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 We shouldn't expect a personal

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 resurrection appearance

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 to us.

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 But look at what James writes in chapter 1, verse 18.

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 He writes,

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 of his own will,

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 that is God,

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 God brought us forth,

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 that is he gave us new birth

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 by the word of truth.

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 That we should be

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 a kind of first fruits

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 of his creatures.

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 James is saying

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 that the same power that rose Jesus from the dead,

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 that same new creation power

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 that was unleashed

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 in those first resurrection appearances

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 is at work now

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 in what James calls

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 the word of truth.

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 And what is that?

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 What is this power

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 that's being unleashed

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 even now?

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 What is this,

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 this means whereby it comes,

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 this word of truth?

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 Well, friends,

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 it's the gospel.

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 The good news

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 that Jesus has died

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 and risen again for us

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 so that we can now be freed

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 from condemnation

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 and made new,

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 a new creation.

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 For James,

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 this is what it means

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 to be a disciple,

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 life-changing trust

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 in Jesus as Lord

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 and it's available now

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 to those who hear

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 and respond

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 to you and me today

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 just as it was available

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 to James

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 and his audience back then.

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 And when you read the letter

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 that James wrote,

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 you realize something

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 very important

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 about what this faith

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 in the Lord Jesus means.

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 It doesn't mean

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 we simply sort of

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 acknowledge Jesus

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 and then go about our lives

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 in the same old way.

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 No, that kind of faith,

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 James will say in chapter 2,

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 is a dead faith.

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 In reality,

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 that's no faith at all.

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 No, what we see

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 from James' letter

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 is that genuine faith

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 in Jesus

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 means a whole life

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 shaped by the person

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 and work

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 and words of Jesus.

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 You know,

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 at first glance,

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 the book of James

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 doesn't seem to have

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 a lot to say

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 about Jesus.

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 Jesus is only explicitly

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 referenced in chapter 1,

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 verse 1,

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 and in chapter 2,

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 verse 1.

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 But when you keep reading,

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 you realize that again

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 and again

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 and again,

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 James' letter

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 is just saturated

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 with allusions

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 and references

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 to the words of Jesus.

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 It's woven

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 into the very fabric

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 of the letter.

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 It's as if James

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 can reflect

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 the words of Jesus

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 almost unconsciously

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 as he speaks

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 and as he writes.

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 In that sense,

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 faith is a bit

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 like a marriage.

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 Couples that have been

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 married for a long time,

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 they tend to speak similarly.

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 They tend to have

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 facial expressions

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 that mirror each other.

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 Sometimes it seems like

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 they can even have

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 the same thoughts.

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 And you know,

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 at the emotional climax

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 of the letter of James

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 in chapter 4,

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 verse 4,

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 James will use

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 that same metaphor

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 for our relationship

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 with God in Christ,

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 the metaphor of marriage,

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 when he challenges

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 our worldliness

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 and our selfishness

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 and he says,

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 you adulterous people.

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 In other words,

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 to act like the world

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 is to betray

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 your loving spouse.

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 So what is real faith?

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 Real faith is falling

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 into the arms

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 of your loving Lord,

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 forsaking all others

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 and letting your whole life

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 be constantly shaped by him.

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 That's what James,

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 the believer,

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 shows us.

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 But the story of James continues.

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 As the book of Acts unfolds,

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 we see that James,

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 the believer,

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 becomes James,

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 the pastor.

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 In fact,

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 James becomes

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 one of the key leaders

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 of the church in Jerusalem.

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 By the time

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 of the Jerusalem Council

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 in Acts 15,

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 where the great issue

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 of Gentile inclusion

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 is settled

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 in the early church,

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 who is it

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 that's presiding

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 over that great gathering

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 of massive theological,

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 spiritual,

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 and practical importance?

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 It's James.

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 James is the one

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 who brings that council

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 to a peaceful

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 and life-giving conclusion.

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 And it's James,

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 the pastor,

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 that we hear speaking

00:15:45.919 --> 00:15:48.039
 in this letter before us.

00:15:48.980 --> 00:15:49.919
 Like a good pastor,

00:15:50.039 --> 00:15:51.360
 this book is incredibly practical.

00:15:52.059 --> 00:15:54.019
 There are more practical commands

00:15:54.019 --> 00:15:54.919
 per verse

00:15:54.919 --> 00:15:55.839
 in the book of James

00:15:55.839 --> 00:15:56.860
 than any other

00:15:56.860 --> 00:15:57.759
 New Testament letter.

00:15:59.319 --> 00:15:59.759
 And James,

00:15:59.860 --> 00:16:00.539
 like a good pastor,

00:16:00.639 --> 00:16:02.139
 is a master of illustrations.

00:16:02.139 --> 00:16:03.319
 He puts before us

00:16:03.319 --> 00:16:05.039
 the billowing sea,

00:16:05.199 --> 00:16:06.159
 the withered flower,

00:16:06.580 --> 00:16:07.620
 a face in the mirror,

00:16:07.759 --> 00:16:09.059
 a bit in the horse's mouth,

00:16:09.319 --> 00:16:10.319
 the rudder of a ship,

00:16:10.819 --> 00:16:12.139
 destructive forest fires,

00:16:12.600 --> 00:16:13.779
 pure springs of water,

00:16:13.980 --> 00:16:14.679
 corroded metal,

00:16:14.860 --> 00:16:15.620
 moth-eaten clothes.

00:16:15.699 --> 00:16:16.460
 Every paragraph

00:16:16.460 --> 00:16:17.799
 of this letter

00:16:17.799 --> 00:16:18.759
 comes to life

00:16:18.759 --> 00:16:19.879
 in our mind's eye.

00:16:22.600 --> 00:16:23.779
 But what is James'

00:16:23.960 --> 00:16:25.139
 great pastoral concern

00:16:25.919 --> 00:16:26.819
 in this letter?

00:16:26.820 --> 00:16:29.860
 Well, the audience

00:16:29.860 --> 00:16:31.480
 is most likely

00:16:31.480 --> 00:16:32.920
 Jewish Christians

00:16:32.920 --> 00:16:34.140
 who are living

00:16:34.140 --> 00:16:35.420
 outside of Palestine,

00:16:35.620 --> 00:16:36.160
 scattered

00:16:36.160 --> 00:16:38.280
 because of the persecution

00:16:38.280 --> 00:16:39.240
 that took place

00:16:39.240 --> 00:16:40.620
 after the martyrdom

00:16:40.620 --> 00:16:41.360
 of Stephen

00:16:41.360 --> 00:16:42.620
 in Acts chapter 8.

00:16:43.560 --> 00:16:43.800
 In fact,

00:16:43.860 --> 00:16:45.040
 later in Acts 11,

00:16:45.140 --> 00:16:45.720
 we learn that

00:16:45.720 --> 00:16:47.879
 those who had been scattered

00:16:47.879 --> 00:16:48.920
 by the persecution

00:16:48.920 --> 00:16:50.120
 in connection with Stephen,

00:16:50.240 --> 00:16:50.700
 Luke writes,

00:16:51.000 --> 00:16:52.120
 traveled as far as

00:16:52.120 --> 00:16:52.660
 Phoenicia,

00:16:53.220 --> 00:16:53.740
 Cyprus,

00:16:54.080 --> 00:16:54.980
 and Antioch.

00:16:54.980 --> 00:16:57.259
 And so,

00:16:57.399 --> 00:16:58.360
 James addresses

00:16:58.360 --> 00:16:59.060
 his letter

00:16:59.060 --> 00:16:59.860
 in chapter 1,

00:17:00.060 --> 00:17:00.560
 verse 1,

00:17:00.759 --> 00:17:02.420
 to the 12 tribes

00:17:02.420 --> 00:17:03.659
 in dispersion.

00:17:03.720 --> 00:17:04.500
 The 12 tribes

00:17:04.500 --> 00:17:04.980
 are referenced

00:17:04.980 --> 00:17:05.980
 to the people of God,

00:17:06.299 --> 00:17:07.279
 referencing the 12 tribes

00:17:07.279 --> 00:17:07.700
 of Israel

00:17:07.700 --> 00:17:09.019
 in the dispersion.

00:17:09.079 --> 00:17:09.279
 That is,

00:17:09.319 --> 00:17:10.500
 the ones who've been scattered.

00:17:12.440 --> 00:17:13.220
 And we learn

00:17:13.220 --> 00:17:13.920
 from James' letter

00:17:13.920 --> 00:17:14.620
 that these Christians

00:17:14.620 --> 00:17:15.599
 were facing hardship.

00:17:16.019 --> 00:17:17.259
 Having left their homes,

00:17:17.360 --> 00:17:18.240
 they're trying to establish

00:17:18.240 --> 00:17:18.960
 new lives

00:17:18.960 --> 00:17:19.900
 in often hostile

00:17:19.900 --> 00:17:20.779
 foreign environments,

00:17:21.120 --> 00:17:21.720
 and in particular,

00:17:21.880 --> 00:17:22.740
 it seems like they're facing

00:17:22.740 --> 00:17:23.759
 economic strains

00:17:23.759 --> 00:17:24.360
 and stressors

00:17:24.359 --> 00:17:25.079
 even at times

00:17:25.079 --> 00:17:25.559
 it looks like

00:17:25.559 --> 00:17:25.919
 they're facing

00:17:25.919 --> 00:17:26.979
 economic oppression

00:17:26.979 --> 00:17:28.240
 by wealthy landowners.

00:17:29.619 --> 00:17:31.199
 And under that kind

00:17:31.199 --> 00:17:32.019
 of pressure,

00:17:32.899 --> 00:17:35.000
 they're being tempted

00:17:35.000 --> 00:17:36.539
 to begin acting

00:17:36.539 --> 00:17:38.319
 like the world.

00:17:39.819 --> 00:17:41.039
 Showing favoritism

00:17:41.039 --> 00:17:41.699
 to the wealthy

00:17:41.699 --> 00:17:42.299
 and powerful,

00:17:43.699 --> 00:17:45.000
 giving in to jealousy

00:17:45.000 --> 00:17:46.159
 and selfish ambition,

00:17:47.500 --> 00:17:48.559
 engaging in conflict

00:17:48.559 --> 00:17:49.219
 and dissensions

00:17:49.219 --> 00:17:49.919
 in their midst,

00:17:50.399 --> 00:17:51.240
 forgetting to care

00:17:51.240 --> 00:17:51.939
 for the marginalized

00:17:51.939 --> 00:17:52.679
 and the poor.

00:17:52.680 --> 00:17:55.980
 And so James,

00:17:56.100 --> 00:17:56.500
 the pastor,

00:17:56.640 --> 00:17:57.539
 writes this letter

00:17:57.539 --> 00:17:58.519
 to serve like

00:17:58.519 --> 00:17:59.820
 an extended sermon.

00:18:00.019 --> 00:18:00.940
 It's a collection

00:18:00.940 --> 00:18:02.060
 of encouragements

00:18:02.060 --> 00:18:03.320
 and exhortations

00:18:03.320 --> 00:18:05.120
 to help his scattered

00:18:05.120 --> 00:18:06.640
 flock remain faithful

00:18:06.640 --> 00:18:07.240
 to Jesus

00:18:07.240 --> 00:18:09.019
 and to keep on living

00:18:09.019 --> 00:18:09.660
 the faith

00:18:09.660 --> 00:18:10.640
 they profess.

00:18:14.240 --> 00:18:15.080
 And you know,

00:18:15.120 --> 00:18:16.019
 one thing is particularly

00:18:16.019 --> 00:18:17.360
 striking about James,

00:18:17.460 --> 00:18:17.920
 the pastor.

00:18:17.920 --> 00:18:20.880
 in this letter,

00:18:21.560 --> 00:18:24.360
 James never once

00:18:24.360 --> 00:18:25.279
 mentions

00:18:25.279 --> 00:18:26.640
 that he's the brother

00:18:26.640 --> 00:18:27.300
 of Jesus.

00:18:28.519 --> 00:18:29.860
 He never plays

00:18:29.860 --> 00:18:30.500
 that card.

00:18:32.080 --> 00:18:32.320
 I mean,

00:18:32.360 --> 00:18:33.060
 I have to confess,

00:18:33.259 --> 00:18:34.400
 if I had been writing

00:18:34.400 --> 00:18:34.900
 this letter

00:18:34.900 --> 00:18:36.700
 and I had some hard words

00:18:36.700 --> 00:18:37.200
 to say,

00:18:37.779 --> 00:18:38.900
 I think I'd be tempted

00:18:38.900 --> 00:18:39.960
 to slip that in

00:18:39.960 --> 00:18:40.740
 at least once.

00:18:41.420 --> 00:18:41.900
 You know,

00:18:42.039 --> 00:18:43.039
 you should really listen

00:18:43.039 --> 00:18:43.940
 to what I'm saying.

00:18:44.060 --> 00:18:44.740
 After all,

00:18:45.060 --> 00:18:45.920
 I'm the brother

00:18:45.920 --> 00:18:46.560
 of Jesus,

00:18:46.559 --> 00:18:47.119
 you know,

00:18:47.259 --> 00:18:47.740
 the Messiah,

00:18:47.919 --> 00:18:48.299
 the Lord,

00:18:48.419 --> 00:18:49.079
 that's who I am,

00:18:49.200 --> 00:18:49.919
 so listen up.

00:18:51.919 --> 00:18:52.899
 And yet for James,

00:18:53.159 --> 00:18:54.440
 not once

00:18:54.440 --> 00:18:56.759
 does he do that.

00:18:59.379 --> 00:18:59.960
 You see,

00:19:00.059 --> 00:19:00.980
 James had come

00:19:00.980 --> 00:19:01.519
 to see

00:19:01.519 --> 00:19:03.779
 that real wisdom,

00:19:04.419 --> 00:19:05.839
 real love

00:19:05.839 --> 00:19:06.960
 comes

00:19:06.960 --> 00:19:08.859
 not in exalting

00:19:08.859 --> 00:19:09.519
 ourselves,

00:19:10.099 --> 00:19:11.299
 but by humbling

00:19:11.299 --> 00:19:11.879
 ourselves.

00:19:14.419 --> 00:19:14.899
 Again,

00:19:15.019 --> 00:19:15.460
 in the heart

00:19:15.460 --> 00:19:16.059
 of the letter

00:19:16.059 --> 00:19:16.779
 in chapter 4,

00:19:16.839 --> 00:19:17.419
 he will write,

00:19:18.079 --> 00:19:19.419
 God opposes

00:19:19.419 --> 00:19:20.099
 the proud,

00:19:20.639 --> 00:19:22.019
 but gives grace

00:19:22.019 --> 00:19:22.899
 to the humble.

00:19:24.159 --> 00:19:25.119
 Humble yourselves

00:19:25.119 --> 00:19:26.019
 before the Lord,

00:19:26.980 --> 00:19:27.879
 and he will

00:19:27.879 --> 00:19:28.679
 exalt you.

00:19:31.240 --> 00:19:32.279
 James' life

00:19:32.279 --> 00:19:33.599
 and his ministry

00:19:33.599 --> 00:19:35.200
 is living proof

00:19:35.200 --> 00:19:36.579
 of the central

00:19:36.579 --> 00:19:37.539
 fact

00:19:37.539 --> 00:19:38.759
 of the gospel.

00:19:39.700 --> 00:19:41.039
 That what gets us

00:19:41.039 --> 00:19:42.220
 into a relationship

00:19:42.220 --> 00:19:42.919
 with God

00:19:42.919 --> 00:19:44.079
 and what allows us

00:19:44.079 --> 00:19:44.659
 to progress

00:19:44.660 --> 00:19:45.840
 in that relationship

00:19:45.840 --> 00:19:46.560
 with God,

00:19:46.779 --> 00:19:47.940
 what gets us

00:19:47.940 --> 00:19:49.040
 into that relationship

00:19:49.040 --> 00:19:49.680
 with God,

00:19:50.060 --> 00:19:51.259
 our standing with him

00:19:51.259 --> 00:19:52.420
 is not about

00:19:52.420 --> 00:19:53.200
 our good works,

00:19:53.580 --> 00:19:54.519
 and it's not about

00:19:54.519 --> 00:19:55.580
 our family background,

00:19:55.580 --> 00:19:56.900
 and it's not about

00:19:56.900 --> 00:19:57.400
 our intellect,

00:19:57.400 --> 00:19:58.160
 it's not about

00:19:58.160 --> 00:19:59.040
 our performance.

00:19:59.700 --> 00:20:00.620
 Not even being

00:20:00.620 --> 00:20:01.960
 a physical brother

00:20:01.960 --> 00:20:02.620
 of Jesus

00:20:02.620 --> 00:20:03.880
 counted for anything

00:20:03.880 --> 00:20:06.600
 because the whole thing

00:20:06.600 --> 00:20:10.180
 is sheer undeserved grace.

00:20:12.800 --> 00:20:15.280
 Every good gift

00:20:15.280 --> 00:20:16.960
 comes down

00:20:16.960 --> 00:20:18.920
 from the father of lights,

00:20:19.280 --> 00:20:19.860
 James will write

00:20:19.860 --> 00:20:20.540
 in chapter 1,

00:20:21.220 --> 00:20:22.060
 with whom there is

00:20:22.060 --> 00:20:22.960
 no variation

00:20:22.960 --> 00:20:24.380
 or shadow due to change.

00:20:24.380 --> 00:20:27.440
 You know,

00:20:27.460 --> 00:20:27.840
 if you read

00:20:27.840 --> 00:20:28.860
 James' letter quickly,

00:20:29.800 --> 00:20:30.480
 you can miss

00:20:30.480 --> 00:20:31.100
 the fact

00:20:31.100 --> 00:20:32.660
 that God's grace

00:20:32.660 --> 00:20:33.100
 is there

00:20:33.100 --> 00:20:33.880
 at almost

00:20:33.880 --> 00:20:34.900
 every turn.

00:20:36.140 --> 00:20:36.920
 When believers

00:20:36.920 --> 00:20:37.700
 need wisdom

00:20:37.700 --> 00:20:38.520
 to grow

00:20:38.520 --> 00:20:39.360
 under trials,

00:20:39.480 --> 00:20:40.480
 he points to God

00:20:40.480 --> 00:20:41.400
 who gives

00:20:41.400 --> 00:20:42.400
 generously

00:20:42.400 --> 00:20:43.220
 to all

00:20:43.220 --> 00:20:44.560
 without reproach.

00:20:45.460 --> 00:20:46.360
 When we're caught up

00:20:46.360 --> 00:20:47.200
 in favoritism

00:20:47.200 --> 00:20:48.020
 and the glory

00:20:48.020 --> 00:20:49.060
 of fine clothes

00:20:49.060 --> 00:20:49.960
 and worldly wealth,

00:20:50.040 --> 00:20:50.600
 he points us

00:20:50.600 --> 00:20:51.080
 to Jesus,

00:20:51.380 --> 00:20:52.520
 the Lord of glory,

00:20:52.840 --> 00:20:53.620
 where our real wealth

00:20:53.620 --> 00:20:54.100
 is found.

00:20:54.380 --> 00:20:56.640
 When we're struggling

00:20:56.640 --> 00:20:57.760
 with judging others,

00:20:57.860 --> 00:20:58.740
 he reminds us

00:20:58.740 --> 00:20:59.560
 of the mercy

00:20:59.560 --> 00:21:00.500
 God has shown us

00:21:00.500 --> 00:21:01.280
 that triumphs

00:21:01.280 --> 00:21:01.860
 over judgment.

00:21:02.400 --> 00:21:03.200
 When we're wrestling

00:21:03.200 --> 00:21:04.960
 with self-centered desires,

00:21:05.140 --> 00:21:05.860
 he reminds us

00:21:05.860 --> 00:21:06.540
 of the desire

00:21:06.540 --> 00:21:07.420
 of God for us

00:21:07.420 --> 00:21:08.600
 like a loving spouse

00:21:08.600 --> 00:21:10.100
 jealous for his bride.

00:21:11.500 --> 00:21:12.540
 When we need patience

00:21:12.540 --> 00:21:13.660
 to endure suffering,

00:21:14.000 --> 00:21:14.700
 he points us

00:21:14.700 --> 00:21:15.360
 to the coming

00:21:15.360 --> 00:21:16.660
 of Jesus our Lord

00:21:16.660 --> 00:21:17.840
 who is compassionate

00:21:17.840 --> 00:21:18.900
 and merciful.

00:21:20.080 --> 00:21:20.940
 When our bodies

00:21:20.940 --> 00:21:21.580
 are sick,

00:21:21.660 --> 00:21:22.460
 he reminds us

00:21:22.460 --> 00:21:23.460
 of God's willingness,

00:21:23.760 --> 00:21:24.080
 eagerness

00:21:24.079 --> 00:21:24.960
 to answer prayer

00:21:24.960 --> 00:21:25.899
 and he reminds us

00:21:25.899 --> 00:21:27.059
 that our greatest sickness,

00:21:27.220 --> 00:21:28.059
 the sickness of sin

00:21:28.059 --> 00:21:28.699
 has been forgiven.

00:21:31.139 --> 00:21:31.859
 And at the end

00:21:31.859 --> 00:21:32.299
 of the letter,

00:21:32.799 --> 00:21:33.419
 he reminds us

00:21:33.419 --> 00:21:33.980
 when our hearts

00:21:33.980 --> 00:21:34.480
 are wandering

00:21:34.480 --> 00:21:35.579
 far from the truth,

00:21:36.919 --> 00:21:37.819
 he reminds us

00:21:37.819 --> 00:21:38.679
 that we can return.

00:21:40.399 --> 00:21:41.579
 Like the prodigal son,

00:21:41.659 --> 00:21:42.439
 we can come home

00:21:42.439 --> 00:21:43.559
 and find that our father

00:21:43.559 --> 00:21:44.399
 will welcome us

00:21:44.399 --> 00:21:45.319
 back from death

00:21:45.319 --> 00:21:47.139
 and cover a multitude

00:21:47.139 --> 00:21:47.899
 of sins.

00:21:51.579 --> 00:21:52.639
 Salvation's by grace,

00:21:52.720 --> 00:21:53.720
 not for the strong,

00:21:53.839 --> 00:21:54.339
 the proud,

00:21:54.419 --> 00:21:55.079
 or the can-do,

00:21:55.179 --> 00:21:55.879
 but the humble,

00:21:56.319 --> 00:21:57.179
 the ones who know

00:21:57.179 --> 00:21:57.720
 they're weak.

00:21:58.839 --> 00:21:59.799
 This is James,

00:21:59.859 --> 00:22:00.439
 the pastor.

00:22:04.299 --> 00:22:05.119
 And this leads us

00:22:05.119 --> 00:22:05.919
 to our last point.

00:22:06.960 --> 00:22:07.200
 James,

00:22:07.259 --> 00:22:07.799
 the pastor,

00:22:08.599 --> 00:22:09.539
 becomes James,

00:22:09.659 --> 00:22:10.000
 the martyr.

00:22:11.599 --> 00:22:12.339
 How does the story

00:22:12.339 --> 00:22:13.299
 of James' life end?

00:22:13.299 --> 00:22:14.500
 Well, in the New Testament,

00:22:14.659 --> 00:22:15.559
 the last picture

00:22:15.559 --> 00:22:16.379
 that we get of James

00:22:16.379 --> 00:22:17.119
 is that he's still

00:22:17.119 --> 00:22:18.079
 shepherding the church

00:22:18.079 --> 00:22:19.039
 in Jerusalem

00:22:19.039 --> 00:22:20.599
 amidst growing tensions

00:22:20.599 --> 00:22:21.759
 and growing conflicts

00:22:21.759 --> 00:22:23.240
 between the religious

00:22:23.240 --> 00:22:23.859
 establishment

00:22:23.859 --> 00:22:24.639
 and the burgeoning

00:22:24.639 --> 00:22:25.359
 Christian movement.

00:22:26.639 --> 00:22:27.799
 That's the last picture

00:22:27.799 --> 00:22:28.399
 we get of James

00:22:28.399 --> 00:22:29.039
 in the New Testament.

00:22:29.159 --> 00:22:29.720
 But we know

00:22:29.720 --> 00:22:30.799
 from historical records

00:22:30.799 --> 00:22:31.799
 outside the New Testament

00:22:31.799 --> 00:22:33.740
 that James was put to death

00:22:33.740 --> 00:22:35.659
 in 62 AD.

00:22:36.240 --> 00:22:36.700
 At a moment

00:22:36.700 --> 00:22:38.039
 of political transition

00:22:38.039 --> 00:22:38.940
 in Jerusalem

00:22:38.940 --> 00:22:39.779
 when things were

00:22:39.779 --> 00:22:40.700
 sort of precarious,

00:22:41.099 --> 00:22:42.039
 the religious authorities

00:22:42.039 --> 00:22:42.980
 found an opportunity

00:22:42.980 --> 00:22:44.380
 to accuse James

00:22:44.380 --> 00:22:46.120
 of transgressing the law

00:22:46.120 --> 00:22:47.220
 and they delivered him

00:22:47.220 --> 00:22:48.160
 up to be stoned.

00:22:51.019 --> 00:22:51.620
 James,

00:22:52.839 --> 00:22:54.799
 once the doubter,

00:22:55.380 --> 00:22:57.259
 once the doubter

00:22:57.259 --> 00:22:58.099
 in the end

00:22:58.099 --> 00:22:58.759
 refused

00:22:58.759 --> 00:23:00.380
 to deny his belief

00:23:00.380 --> 00:23:01.339
 in Jesus as Lord

00:23:01.339 --> 00:23:02.620
 even though it cost him

00:23:02.620 --> 00:23:03.160
 his life.

00:23:05.980 --> 00:23:07.220
 What made James

00:23:07.220 --> 00:23:08.700
 so steadfast

00:23:08.700 --> 00:23:09.559
 in the face

00:23:09.559 --> 00:23:10.779
 of such pressure?

00:23:10.779 --> 00:23:13.339
 how easy

00:23:13.339 --> 00:23:14.440
 it would have been

00:23:14.440 --> 00:23:15.139
 for him

00:23:15.139 --> 00:23:16.059
 to just compromise

00:23:16.059 --> 00:23:17.420
 with those worldly

00:23:17.420 --> 00:23:18.799
 machinations around him

00:23:18.799 --> 00:23:20.259
 to find a pragmatic solution

00:23:20.259 --> 00:23:21.099
 to say,

00:23:21.240 --> 00:23:21.379
 no,

00:23:21.480 --> 00:23:22.240
 I followed the law

00:23:22.240 --> 00:23:23.160
 my entire life.

00:23:23.299 --> 00:23:24.420
 I can sit loose

00:23:24.420 --> 00:23:25.119
 to Jesus

00:23:25.119 --> 00:23:25.920
 as the Messiah.

00:23:27.920 --> 00:23:28.980
 Yet he doesn't do that.

00:23:29.019 --> 00:23:30.779
 He holds fast.

00:23:30.779 --> 00:23:35.339
 James,

00:23:35.440 --> 00:23:35.779
 it seems,

00:23:35.879 --> 00:23:36.879
 really believed

00:23:36.879 --> 00:23:38.079
 what he wrote

00:23:38.079 --> 00:23:39.460
 in chapter 1,

00:23:39.519 --> 00:23:40.059
 verse 12.

00:23:40.139 --> 00:23:40.700
 He writes this.

00:23:40.799 --> 00:23:41.079
 He says,

00:23:41.240 --> 00:23:42.319
 blessed is the man

00:23:42.319 --> 00:23:43.759
 who remains

00:23:43.759 --> 00:23:44.759
 steadfast

00:23:44.759 --> 00:23:46.240
 under trial.

00:23:47.599 --> 00:23:48.639
 For when he has

00:23:48.639 --> 00:23:49.619
 stood the test,

00:23:50.319 --> 00:23:51.160
 he will receive

00:23:51.160 --> 00:23:52.099
 the crown of life

00:23:52.099 --> 00:23:53.579
 which God

00:23:53.579 --> 00:23:54.799
 has promised

00:23:54.799 --> 00:23:56.099
 to those

00:23:56.099 --> 00:23:56.839
 who love him.

00:23:56.839 --> 00:24:00.319
 The steadfastness

00:24:00.319 --> 00:24:01.179
 of James

00:24:01.179 --> 00:24:02.019
 in death

00:24:02.019 --> 00:24:02.839
 in martyrdom

00:24:02.839 --> 00:24:03.619
 was rooted

00:24:03.619 --> 00:24:05.480
 in the deeper

00:24:05.480 --> 00:24:07.399
 steadfastness

00:24:07.399 --> 00:24:08.859
 of God.

00:24:10.019 --> 00:24:11.559
 God's promises

00:24:11.559 --> 00:24:12.720
 were like

00:24:12.720 --> 00:24:13.859
 the bedrock,

00:24:14.539 --> 00:24:15.599
 the unshakable

00:24:15.599 --> 00:24:16.480
 foundation

00:24:16.480 --> 00:24:17.220
 on which

00:24:17.220 --> 00:24:18.079
 James stood.

00:24:18.819 --> 00:24:19.659
 God's promises

00:24:19.659 --> 00:24:20.339
 stood firm.

00:24:20.619 --> 00:24:21.240
 God had promised

00:24:21.240 --> 00:24:21.959
 in the Old Testament

00:24:21.959 --> 00:24:22.500
 that he would

00:24:22.500 --> 00:24:23.559
 save his people

00:24:23.559 --> 00:24:24.179
 from their sin

00:24:24.179 --> 00:24:24.519
 and death,

00:24:24.559 --> 00:24:24.839
 that he would

00:24:24.839 --> 00:24:25.659
 bring them back

00:24:25.660 --> 00:24:26.180
 from exile,

00:24:26.279 --> 00:24:26.600
 that he would

00:24:26.600 --> 00:24:27.640
 gather them in.

00:24:28.060 --> 00:24:28.820
 And what James knew

00:24:28.820 --> 00:24:29.620
 is that he did.

00:24:30.019 --> 00:24:30.660
 God remained

00:24:30.660 --> 00:24:31.820
 steadfast to his promise

00:24:31.820 --> 00:24:32.420
 at the cost

00:24:32.420 --> 00:24:33.160
 of his own son.

00:24:33.500 --> 00:24:34.560
 Jesus willingly

00:24:34.560 --> 00:24:36.220
 remained steadfast

00:24:36.220 --> 00:24:36.820
 for us,

00:24:36.980 --> 00:24:37.940
 enduring the cross,

00:24:38.420 --> 00:24:39.360
 bearing our shame,

00:24:39.800 --> 00:24:40.600
 rising again

00:24:40.600 --> 00:24:41.320
 in new life.

00:24:43.900 --> 00:24:45.460
 What will keep us

00:24:45.460 --> 00:24:47.600
 steadfast today?

00:24:51.500 --> 00:24:52.640
 Like James' audience,

00:24:52.800 --> 00:24:53.420
 we are a church

00:24:53.420 --> 00:24:54.019
 under pressure.

00:24:55.660 --> 00:24:57.220
 What will keep us

00:24:57.220 --> 00:24:58.440
 steadfast today?

00:25:00.880 --> 00:25:01.840
 The answer is

00:25:01.840 --> 00:25:03.240
 knowing the same

00:25:03.240 --> 00:25:04.640
 Lord that James

00:25:04.640 --> 00:25:05.160
 knew.

00:25:06.060 --> 00:25:06.300
 You know,

00:25:06.320 --> 00:25:07.000
 the end of our story

00:25:07.000 --> 00:25:08.060
 may not be martyrdom,

00:25:08.160 --> 00:25:08.820
 but the road

00:25:08.820 --> 00:25:09.820
 for us

00:25:09.820 --> 00:25:10.759
 will not always

00:25:10.759 --> 00:25:11.460
 be easy.

00:25:12.940 --> 00:25:13.680
 Charles Spurgeon

00:25:13.680 --> 00:25:14.019
 wrote,

00:25:15.060 --> 00:25:15.779
 the best

00:25:15.779 --> 00:25:17.080
 of God's

00:25:17.080 --> 00:25:17.700
 saints

00:25:17.700 --> 00:25:18.720
 must

00:25:18.720 --> 00:25:19.580
 drink

00:25:19.580 --> 00:25:20.660
 the wormwood.

00:25:21.620 --> 00:25:22.640
 The dearest

00:25:22.640 --> 00:25:23.460
 of his children

00:25:23.460 --> 00:25:24.000
 must bear

00:25:24.000 --> 00:25:24.560
 the cross.

00:25:24.559 --> 00:25:26.619
 no Christian

00:25:26.619 --> 00:25:27.259
 has enjoyed

00:25:27.259 --> 00:25:28.720
 perpetual prosperity.

00:25:30.039 --> 00:25:31.039
 Now that you are

00:25:31.039 --> 00:25:31.899
 stronger in the

00:25:31.899 --> 00:25:32.579
 spiritual life,

00:25:32.679 --> 00:25:33.799
 you must enter

00:25:33.799 --> 00:25:34.899
 upon the riper

00:25:34.899 --> 00:25:35.639
 and rougher

00:25:35.639 --> 00:25:36.819
 experience of

00:25:36.819 --> 00:25:38.079
 God's full-grown

00:25:38.079 --> 00:25:38.659
 children.

00:25:40.339 --> 00:25:41.879
 We need winds

00:25:41.879 --> 00:25:42.720
 and tempests

00:25:42.720 --> 00:25:43.659
 to exercise

00:25:43.659 --> 00:25:44.379
 our faith,

00:25:45.220 --> 00:25:46.059
 to tear off

00:25:46.059 --> 00:25:46.619
 the rotten

00:25:46.619 --> 00:25:47.480
 bough of

00:25:47.480 --> 00:25:48.639
 self-dependence,

00:25:48.640 --> 00:25:50.360
 and to root

00:25:50.360 --> 00:25:51.259
 us more firmly

00:25:51.259 --> 00:25:52.320
 in Christ.

00:25:54.720 --> 00:25:55.880
 That's what we learn

00:25:55.880 --> 00:25:57.080
 from the life

00:25:57.080 --> 00:25:58.080
 of James,

00:25:58.280 --> 00:25:58.820
 the brother

00:25:58.820 --> 00:25:59.680
 of Jesus.

00:26:00.060 --> 00:26:00.300
 James,

00:26:00.380 --> 00:26:00.860
 the doubter,

00:26:01.220 --> 00:26:01.820
 the believer,

00:26:01.980 --> 00:26:02.520
 the pastor,

00:26:02.660 --> 00:26:03.100
 the martyr.

00:26:03.560 --> 00:26:04.200
 Through it all,

00:26:04.360 --> 00:26:05.259
 James' life

00:26:05.259 --> 00:26:05.940
 was one of

00:26:05.940 --> 00:26:06.820
 becoming rooted

00:26:06.820 --> 00:26:08.360
 more and more

00:26:08.360 --> 00:26:08.800
 firmly

00:26:08.800 --> 00:26:10.460
 in the steadfastness

00:26:10.460 --> 00:26:11.080
 of Jesus

00:26:11.080 --> 00:26:12.380
 until his whole

00:26:12.380 --> 00:26:12.780
 life,

00:26:13.000 --> 00:26:14.020
 even his death,

00:26:14.320 --> 00:26:14.860
 bore witness

00:26:14.860 --> 00:26:15.460
 to the grace

00:26:15.460 --> 00:26:15.920
 of God

00:26:15.920 --> 00:26:16.500
 in Christ.

00:26:18.440 --> 00:26:19.039
 And God

00:26:19.039 --> 00:26:19.980
 extends that

00:26:19.980 --> 00:26:21.440
 same grace

00:26:21.440 --> 00:26:22.200
 to us

00:26:22.200 --> 00:26:23.279
 right now.

00:26:23.500 --> 00:26:24.319
 An invitation

00:26:24.319 --> 00:26:25.440
 to let our

00:26:25.440 --> 00:26:26.680
 lives be made

00:26:26.680 --> 00:26:27.900
 whole by him

00:26:27.900 --> 00:26:29.279
 and to root

00:26:29.279 --> 00:26:29.840
 our lives

00:26:29.840 --> 00:26:31.180
 in his unchanging

00:26:31.180 --> 00:26:31.740
 mercy,

00:26:32.019 --> 00:26:32.500
 knowing,

00:26:33.019 --> 00:26:33.819
 as James says,

00:26:33.900 --> 00:26:34.579
 that God

00:26:34.579 --> 00:26:35.779
 has promised

00:26:35.779 --> 00:26:36.880
 a crown

00:26:36.880 --> 00:26:38.059
 of life

00:26:38.059 --> 00:26:39.500
 to those

00:26:39.500 --> 00:26:40.100
 who love him.

00:26:41.819 --> 00:26:42.720
 Let's pray.

00:26:45.460 --> 00:26:50.220
 O Lord Jesus,

00:26:50.400 --> 00:26:51.039
 we confess

00:26:51.039 --> 00:26:51.539
 that we are

00:26:51.539 --> 00:26:52.200
 often blown

00:26:52.200 --> 00:26:52.880
 and tossed.

00:26:55.160 --> 00:26:55.779
 And we confess

00:26:55.779 --> 00:26:56.720
 sometimes when we

00:26:56.720 --> 00:26:58.000
 look at the stories

00:26:58.000 --> 00:26:58.900
 of these great saints

00:26:58.900 --> 00:26:59.660
 in the New Testament,

00:26:59.840 --> 00:27:00.779
 we can be discouraged

00:27:00.779 --> 00:27:01.519
 because our lives

00:27:01.519 --> 00:27:02.380
 so rarely,

00:27:03.279 --> 00:27:03.819
 it seems,

00:27:03.920 --> 00:27:04.600
 in our own eyes,

00:27:04.680 --> 00:27:06.019
 reflect these rich

00:27:06.019 --> 00:27:06.579
 realities.

00:27:09.259 --> 00:27:09.900
 And yet,

00:27:09.940 --> 00:27:10.140
 Jesus,

00:27:10.259 --> 00:27:11.059
 we thank you

00:27:11.059 --> 00:27:12.380
 that though our

00:27:12.380 --> 00:27:13.319
 stories in our lives

00:27:13.319 --> 00:27:14.120
 may look differently,

00:27:14.119 --> 00:27:16.639
 your presence

00:27:16.639 --> 00:27:17.799
 and your grace

00:27:17.799 --> 00:27:18.519
 and your power

00:27:18.519 --> 00:27:19.259
 and your spirit

00:27:19.259 --> 00:27:20.039
 in our lives

00:27:20.039 --> 00:27:21.379
 are just the same.

00:27:23.639 --> 00:27:24.819
 Give us eyes

00:27:24.819 --> 00:27:25.539
 to see

00:27:25.539 --> 00:27:26.439
 your faithfulness

00:27:26.439 --> 00:27:27.000
 to us

00:27:27.000 --> 00:27:28.259
 and the fruit

00:27:28.259 --> 00:27:29.019
 of your spirit

00:27:29.019 --> 00:27:31.119
 at work in us.

00:27:31.779 --> 00:27:32.299
 Help us to

00:27:32.299 --> 00:27:33.459
 encourage one another

00:27:33.459 --> 00:27:35.319
 with the signs

00:27:35.319 --> 00:27:36.219
 of life-giving

00:27:36.219 --> 00:27:37.179
 reality

00:27:37.179 --> 00:27:37.839
 that we see

00:27:37.839 --> 00:27:38.500
 in one another.

00:27:39.819 --> 00:27:40.599
 And Lord Jesus,

00:27:40.859 --> 00:27:41.419
 root us

00:27:41.419 --> 00:27:42.339
 more deeply

00:27:42.339 --> 00:27:44.519
 in your steadfastness

00:27:44.519 --> 00:27:45.459
 so that we too

00:27:45.459 --> 00:27:47.199
 might become

00:27:47.199 --> 00:27:48.359
 steadfast in faith.

00:27:49.679 --> 00:27:50.500
 We pray this

00:27:50.500 --> 00:27:50.939
 in your name,

00:27:51.059 --> 00:27:51.179
 Lord.

00:27:51.859 --> 00:27:52.119
 Amen.

00:27:53.559 --> 00:27:53.959
 Amen.

00:27:53.959 --> 00:27:54.099
 Amen.