Today we read the final words to the Hebrews where the writer tells them that “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” Therefore, “Do not be carried about with various and strange doctrines… Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.”

Then we begin reading the first of two letters written by Peter from Rome shortly before his death during the persecution of Nero. His first letter is written to Christians dispersed in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia.

Peter encourages the Christians, who are under great persecution, to endure and remain faithful to Jesus, whose life and death provide them with living hope of eternal salvation. Therefore, they do not need to fear their persecutors because no one can take away their eternal salvation that is kept by the power of God for those who have faith in Jesus Christ.

“In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, whom having not seen you love… Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, ‘Be holy, for I am holy.’”

“Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart, having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever, because ‘All flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of the grass. The grass withers, and its flower falls away, but the word of the Lord endures forever.’”

More from Peter tomorrow, so keep reading.

(Hebrews 13:1-25, 1 Peter 1:1-2:3)

#bibleliteracymovement #chronologicalbibleteaching

Today the author of Hebrews tells us that it is impossible to please God without faith – “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.”

The writer explains that it is by faith that we believe that the universe was created by the word of God. Then he gives the Hebrews a history lesson of people who walked by faith, beginning in the Creation Era.

Creation Era:

• “By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained witness that he was righteous…”
• “By faith Enoch [Seth’s descendant] was taken away so that he did not see death…”
• “By faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household, by which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.”

Patriarch Era: 

• “By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance…”
• “By faith Sarah herself also received strength to conceive seed, and she bore a child when she was past the age…”
• “By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises offered up his only begotten son…”
• “By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come.”
• “By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph…”
• “By faith Joseph, when he was dying, made mention of the departure of the children of Israel, and gave instructions concerning his bones.”

Exodus Era: 

• “By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden three months by his parents…”
• “By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter…esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward.”
• “By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king…By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood…By faith they passed through the Red Sea as by dry land…”

Conquest Era: 

• “By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they were encircled for seven days.”
• “By faith the harlot Rahab did not perish with those who did not believe, when she had received the spies with peace.”

Judges Era and forward: 

• “Gideon and Barak and Samson and Jephthah, also of David and Samuel and the prophets: who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.”
• “Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection. Still others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yes, and of chains and imprisonment…”
• “And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise.”

The promise of the coming seed was fulfilled through Jesus Christ. Those in the Old Testament were saved by faith, looking forward to the coming Savior, the final sacrificial Lamb, just like we today are saved by faith looking back at what Jesus did for us on the cross. So although the ones in the Old Testament did not see the fulfillment of all of God’s promises in their lifetime, God did deliver on His promise He made back in the garden to Adam and Eve, to send a Savior. So we can be assured that He will deliver on the promise that one day Jesus Christ is returning, and in that day He will restore all that is broken. 

Therefore, the writer of Hebrews tells us to live our lives, enduring this day, trusting in the Lord and His promises, and expectantly looking forward to that Day, the Day Jesus returns – “let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

Tomorrow we conclude the letter to the Hebrews and begin a letter written by Peter. Keep reading.

(Hebrews 11:1-12:29)

#bibleliteracymovement #chronologicalbibleteaching

Today the author of Hebrews tell us that Jesus Christ is the High Priest of a new covenant which is better than the old covenant under the Law of Moses; for he “has obtained a more excellent ministry, inasmuch as He is also Mediator of a better covenant, which was established on better promises.”

Under the first covenant, the high priest went alone inside the tabernacle behind the veil to the “Holiest of All” once a year to offer sacrifices “for himself and for the people’s sins committed in ignorance; the Holy Spirit indicating this, that the way into the Holiest of All was not yet made manifest while the first tabernacle was still standing.” This act was symbolic of the work that was done through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, the Perfect Sacrifice and foundation of the new covenant. “For if the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of a heifer, sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies for the purifying of the flesh, how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? And for this reason He is the Mediator of the new covenant, by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, that those who are called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.”

Back in the garden, after the fall, the Lord established the way to approach Him when He killed an innocent animal to atone for the sins of Adam and Eve. Then He covered them in that animal’s skin, illustrating that the shedding of the blood of the innocent atones for the sins of the guilty. In the wilderness with Moses, Aaron, and the Israelites, the Lord gave rules and regulations regarding the sacrificial system. “And according to the law almost all things are purified with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no remission.” Therefore Jesus “appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself… so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many… By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.”

We end the reading with a word of encouragement to the Hebrews to persevere and draw near to Christ “with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching… Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise: ‘For yet a little while, and He who is coming will come and will not tarry. Now the just shall live by faith; But if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him.’ But we are not of those who draw back to perdition, but of those who believe to the saving of the soul.”

More to the Hebrews tomorrow. Keep reading.

(Hebrews 8:1-10:39)

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Today the author of Hebrews says that we have a High Priest, Jesus Christ. And because Jesus suffered many trials and temptations while on earth, as we do, He can empathize with our suffering. “Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” 

Our inclination can be to run to family and friends with our problems instead of first going to the One who is in charge, the Lord. We have a Savior who knows us and loves us more than any other person. In fact, Jesus loves us so much that He went to the cross and died a horrific death for us becoming “the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him.” So we can trust Him with our lives, and we can trust that His ways are for our good regardless of our feelings.

The author continues by rebuking the Hebrews for being lazy Christians – “For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food. For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.”

All Christ followers should be growing in the knowledge of Jesus and sharing with others. We are not called to be lazy, passive Christians who want to be entertained and who constantly have to be fed by others like a baby. We are called to be ones who are actively pursuing the knowledge of our Savior to help mature other Christians and to share the good news of Christ with this lost and dying world.

The author then compares Jesus to Melchizedek, a king and priest who entered the scene of this story in the beginning, during the Patriarch Era (Gen 14:17-24). Melchizedek was without genealogy, just like Jesus who entered the scene without genealogy as a seed from outside of the human race – “For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, to whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all, first being translated ‘king of righteousness,’ and then also king of Salem, meaning ‘king of peace,’ without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the Son of God, remains a priest continually.”

Melchizedek, who has no recorded ancestry and was both a priest and a king, was a foreshadow of the coming Priest, King Jesus Christ. As Abraham gave tithes to Melchizedek, so the Levites receive tithes from the people according to the law. But these tithes would not provide salvation, just as the Levitical priest could not provide salvation. The Levites were broken sinners just like everyone else. Therefore, they had to offer sacrifices for themselves before they could offer sacrifices on behalf of others. There was still a need for a Savior to come from the outside – “For He of whom these things are spoken belongs to another tribe, from which no man has officiated at the altar. For it is evident that our Lord arose from Judah, of which tribe Moses spoke nothing concerning priesthood.”

Mary and Joseph are both from the tribe of Judah. Jesus came as a seed from heaven, was birthed by Mary, and became the perfect High Priest and “a surety of a better covenant… For such a High Priest was fitting for us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and has become higher than the heavens; who does not need daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the people’s, for this He did once for all when He offered up Himself. For the law appoints as high priests men who have weakness, but the word of the oath, which came after the law, appoints the Son who has been perfected forever.”

The perfect work of our salvation was completed on the cross when Jesus Christ, the perfect High Priest, laid down His life as the final sacrificial Lamb. The free gift of eternal life is now available to anyone who puts their faith and trust in Jesus as their Savior.

More to the Hebrews tomorrow. Keep reading.

(Hebrews 4:14-7:28)

#bibleliteracymovement #chronologicalbibleteaching

The letter to the Hebrews explains that, in the past, the Lord spoke through prophets. But in these last days, God has spoken through His Son, Jesus Christ, “the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become so much better than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.” Jesus is more excellent because He is the Son of God, whom even the angels worship.

In the beginning of this story, the Lord gave dominion to Adam and Eve over all things on the earth. But when they did not exercise their dominion over the serpent and gave in to the temptations from Satan, that dominion was transferred to Satan and his evil powers which are described in Ephesians 6:12 as the rulers of darkness of this age and the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. However, God sent Jesus “to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me” (Acts 26:18).

Jesus came so “that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.” And one day Jesus will return and destroy all evil for eternity.

Jesus “has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as He who built the house has more honor than the house. For every house is built by someone, but He who built all things is God. And Moses indeed was faithful in all His house as a servant, for a testimony of those things which would be spoken afterward, but Christ as a Son over His own house, whose house we are if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm to the end.”

The author warns the Hebrews not to go astray in their hearts as the Israelites did in the wilderness with Moses during the Exodus Era – “Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God; but exhort one another daily, while it is called ‘Today,’ lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end, while it is said: ‘Today, if you will hear His voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.’ For who, having heard, rebelled? Indeed, was it not all who came out of Egypt, led by Moses? Now with whom was He angry forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose corpses fell in the wilderness? And to whom did He swear that they would not enter His rest, but to those who did not obey? So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.”

Without faith, it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6). A sign of a true believer’s faith is their endurance to the end. God promises an ultimate rest for those who endure, trusting in Jesus and His word – “Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall according to the same example of disobedience. For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and it is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.”

More to the Hebrews tomorrow. Keep reading.

(2 Timothy 4:19-22, Hebrews 1:1-4:13)

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Paul instructs Timothy to pass down what was taught to him about Jesus Christ to “faithful men who will be able to teach others also.” It is crucial, as disciple makers, that we aren’t seeking to entertain the crowds and build our own platforms. Disciple making is intentionally pouring into others who will reproduce by teaching others the word of God and how to walk with the Lord. If you are pouring into others, deep bonds will form like Paul and Timothy’s, but the goal of disciple making is multiplication. That’s why Paul says we are called to be diligent like soldiers for Christ spreading the gospel – “You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier.”

“But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!” 

Paul exhorts Timothy, who has followed in his footsteps, to continue growing in the things that he has learned, beginning when he was a boy and was taught by his mom and grandmother – “from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.”

Paul speaks of the importance of understanding the Bible, the power of God’s word, and our call to share truth from Scriptures – “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.”

Paul ends his letter encouraging Timothy to finish well as Paul has done – “I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing… At my first defense no one stood with me, but all forsook me. May it not be charged against them. But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, so that the message might be preached fully through me, and that all the Gentiles might hear. Also I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion. And the Lord will deliver me from every evil work and preserve me for His heavenly kingdom. To Him be glory forever and ever. Amen!”

We live in a world where many have turned their backs on the word of God. As Christ followers, we are called to endure and continue teaching sound doctrine from the Bible, until God takes us to our eternal home.

Tomorrow we begin reading a letter written to the Hebrews (it is debated whether or not Paul is the author of this letter). Keep reading.

(2 Timothy 2:1-4:18)

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In the ministry there are many false teachers who are in it for their own personal gain and recognition. Paul ends his first letter to Timothy encouraging him to remain faithful – “But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses… O Timothy! Guard what was committed to your trust, avoiding the profane and idle babblings and contradictions of what is falsely called knowledge— by professing it some have strayed concerning the faith.”

Paul also writes a letter to Titus, who Paul left on Crete, so that he would “set in order the things that are lacking, and appoint elders in every city as I commanded you.” Paul warns Titus of the false teachers who are teaching what “ought not, for the sake of dishonest gain… They profess to know God, but in works they deny Him, being abominable, disobedient, and disqualified for every good work.”

Paul exhorts Titus to rebuke the false teachers and to promote right teaching. “For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.”

Paul says that once we all were “foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another. But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.”

Paul concludes his letter to Titus telling him to “avoid foolish disputes, genealogies, contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and useless. Reject a divisive man after the first and second admonition, knowing that such a person is warped and sinning, being self-condemned.”

We end today’s reading with Paul writing another letter to Timothy shortly before his death in Rome, around 64 AD, during the persecution of Nero. Paul, probably knowing that death is near, encourages Timothy to stand firm in his faith, “which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am persuaded is in you also. Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner, but share with me in the sufferings for the gospel according to the power of God, who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began, but has now been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, who has abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, to which I was appointed a preacher, an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles.”

More from Paul to Timothy tomorrow. Keep reading.

(1 Timothy 6:11-21, Titus 1:1-3:15, 2 Timothy 1:1-18)

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Today Paul gives Timothy standards for choosing church elders and deacons as well as the guidelines for the caring of widows.

Elders – “Must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach; not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous; one who rules his own house well, having his children in submission with all reverence (for if a man does not know how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the church of God?); not a novice, lest being puffed up with pride he fall into the same condemnation as the devil. Moreover he must have a good testimony among those who are outside, lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.”

Deacons – “Must be reverent, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not greedy for money, holding the mystery of the faith with a pure conscience… Likewise, their wives must be reverent, not slanderers, temperate, faithful in all things. Let deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well.”

Widows – Paul instructs the church to let her family take care of her first. However, if she does not have a family, the church is to provide for her. But Paul tells them to refuse the young widow; “For when they have begun to grow wanton against Christ, they desire to marry, having condemnation because they have cast off their first faith. And besides they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house, and not only idle but also gossips and busybodies, saying things which they ought not. Therefore I desire that the younger widows marry, bear children, manage the house, give no opportunity to the adversary to speak reproachfully.”

We end the reading with Paul stressing the importance of being content with what the Lord has given you in this life – “Now godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.”

Tomorrow we conclude this letter to Timothy, read Paul’s letter to Titus, and begin Paul’s second letter to Timothy. Keep reading.

(1 Timothy 3:1-6:10)

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Satan is looking to devour as many souls as possible. We saw his tactics back in the garden, when he tempted Eve by the lust of the eye (the fruit looked good), lust of the flesh (it would be good for the belly), and the pride of life (she would know as much as God). Eve fell for the lies and temptations from Satan, and Adam, who was passively standing by her, did as well. They both ate from the forbidden tree, resulting in the fall of humankind.

James urges us to not fall for the lies and temptations from Satan – “Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.”

James warns against judging one another, putting confidence in ourselves and our plans, trusting in riches, grumbling against one another, and making false oaths. He says we should encourage one another through prayer – “Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms… Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.”

After James’ letter, we read Paul’s letter to Timothy. “Many scholars believe that Paul was released from imprisonment after some two years in Rome, that he wrote 1 Timothy and Titus during this time, and that he made his hoped-for trip to Spain as well.” (OYCB)

In Paul’s letter to Timothy, “a true son in the faith,” he warns against false teachers in the church. He mentions two false teachers, “Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I delivered to Satan that they may learn not to blaspheme.” 

Paul says the Lord “desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time, for which I was appointed a preacher and an apostle—I am speaking the truth in Christ and not lying—a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.” 

Then Paul gives instructions regarding the church structure. He tells the men to pray and worship without wrath and doubting, and the women to dress modestly and not seductively within the church. He also says that the women should not teach men or exercise authority over men within the church. “For Adam was formed first, then Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression.” So although we are all equal in Christ, we do have different roles and responsibilities. (Women teaching men in church is one area of Scripture that is highly debated. “Paul has a specific context for his restriction about women teaching men in this letter, but it does not contradict his permitting women from prophesying and praying in the assembly in his letter to the Corinthians (1 Corinthians 11).” ~ Iva May)

More from Paul to Timothy tomorrow. Keep reading.

(James 4:1-5:20, 1 Timothy 1:1-2:15)

#bibleliteracymovement #chronologicalbibleteaching

Today James, the brother of Jesus and leader of the church in Jerusalem, writes a letter to the Jewish Christians during a time of persecution, to encourage them to live out their faith. He tells them that wisdom comes from the Lord and temptation is from Satan. James goes on to give them four instructions for living as Christ followers:

1) Be doers of the Word – “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves… What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, ‘Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,’ but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.” 

Works don’t save us, but they do prove our faith. James gives examples using the lives of Abraham and Rahab. Both Abraham and Rahab acted based on faith – Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice his son, Isaac, and Rahab’s willingness to hide the spies and to send them back safely. 

2) Don’t be prejudiced- It appears that favoring the rich is a problem within the church. So James gives a rebuke – “My brethren, do not hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with partiality. For if there should come into your assembly a man with gold rings, in fine apparel, and there should also come in a poor man in filthy clothes, and you pay attention to the one wearing the fine clothes and say to him, ‘You sit here in a good place,’ and say to the poor man, ‘You stand there,’ or, ‘Sit here at my footstool,’ have you not shown partiality among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts? Listen, my beloved brethren: Has God not chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him?… If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself,’ you do well; but if you show partiality, you commit sin, and are convicted by the law as transgressors.”

3) Control the tongue – “And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell… But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so.”

4) Don’t envy – “But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there.”

It is by the power of the Holy Spirit that we are able to be doers of the word, not show partiality, control our tongue, and not envy others. James says, “But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.”

More from James tomorrow so keep reading.

(James 1:1-3:18)

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