2024 Autumn Sermon Series

James opens his letter by drawing his reader’s attention to the God the giver of every good and perfect gift, not least new birth into his family. Though low in the eyes of the world, the believer can rejoice in their royal status. What is more, far from testing his people, God is at work even through trials to grow his people to maturity, so that they press on to receive the crown of life he has promised. In that the reader can rejoice. It takes wisdom to grasp these things, but God is ready to supply.

We left the letter of James with the writer reminding his ‘dear brothers and sisters’ that they were members of the same family, those brought to new birth through God’s life-giving word. That same word was to shape them in the family way, to the life of righteousness that God desired. However, were they truly heeding that word? ‘Do not be deceived’ writes James, listening but not responding is not listening at all. It is fruitless. Instead ‘humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you’. Be hearers and doers – the true ‘hearing test’ is the response to the word in hearts and deeds that echo God’s concern and priorities. How are we listening?

This week we are thinking about ordering our lives according to the word of truth, particularly in regard to loving our neighbour. As the mercy of God has flooded into our lives in bringing us to new birth as his people, so it is to flow out from us towards others, not least those to whom we are united in Jesus, our brothers and sisters. The church is called to express kingdom values, to honour and dignify one another in light of who we are as fellow heirs and not according to earthly circumstances. As the gospel rewires our values, so indiscriminate care and community triumphs over favouritism and faction.

This week we pick up our series in James with the challenge to consider the true object and the functionality of our faith. James’ argument that ‘a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone’ has caused some confusion, surely we’re justified by faith (Rom. 3:28)? However, James is simply making the point that faith is never alone. Faith in Jesus will necessarily lead to an outworking in life, deeds are inevitable and inseparable from faith, one follows the other as night follows day. He cites Abraham and Rahab by way of example, trust in God led to bold action in life. Likewise, if we really believe the gospel then our actions, our attitudes, actions, ambitions will be shaped as a consequence. Where they are not, we might ask what it is we’re actually believing and return our hearts to gospel truth.

Words matter, words have power. Like a spark in a forest a rogue word can wreak destruction. Like the rudder of a ship the tongue can set the course of a life and a community. With typically direct words James challenges his brothers and sisters singing royal praise but speaking relational poison, this cannot be! A fig tree cannot bear olives, neither is it consistent for the church formed by God’s life-giving saving word, the law that gives freedom (ch1) to spew words of heat and harm. Yet what hope is there if ‘no human being can tame the tongue’? The answer is not simply to address behaviour, but to go deeper, as Jesus said ‘the mouth speaks what the heart is full of’ (Lk. 6:45). Words are a heart issue. The heart exposed to, submitted to, shaped by the gospel word is the heart equipped to tame the tongue and bear fruit in life and lip.

Sometimes when things get heated we can be quick to blame others ‘but you started it,’ other times we might blame our circumstances for our behaviour. Following his diagnosis of the what came over us but what comes out of us, from a heart that wants to win at all costs. Once again the overflow of the heart is in view, the spring reveals the source. Selfish ambition and disorder are the outworking of the heart wired by earthly, unspiritual wisdom. Conversely, a gospel root bears gospel fruit (3:13). The harvest of righteousness (peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy, etc.), is reaped from the heart reordered by wisdom from above. Fruitfulness is not a matter of trying harder, but the heart nourished by heavenly wisdom.

In essence James (4:4-12) is reminding us of the words of Jesus in Matthew 6:24 & Luke 16:13 “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money (or as James puts it the WORLD)”. James calls Christians “You adulterous people” The seventh Commandment says, “Do not commit adultery” In other words ‘Do not be unfaithful to the one you love’. The Second Commandment says we are not to ‘two-time’ God! We are to submit to God and resist the temptations of the WORLD around us. None of this is possible without the indwelling of the Holy Spirit giving us the power to submit to God and to serve only him. “Oh, how long we struggle! Oh, how long we try! Helplessly we labour; Helplessly we sigh Till Your Spirit gives us Power from on high.” Ask God to fill you afresh with his Holy Spirit right now.

This week we consider James’ pastoral word to the church suffering a kind of functional atheism. He urges the members to live in light of the reality of God’s reign. Perhaps with the merchants in mind, those free to follow the money, James rebukes the kind of self-sufficiency that presumes upon tomorrow. By way of encouragement to the suffering rural community James addresses the behaviour of those exploiting their vulnerability, their cries are not unheard, the Lord Almighty will see justice done. The farmers themselves are to persevere steadfast and patient, entrusting themselves to the compassionate Lord as they wait for the day he brings vindication and blessing. The challenge comes to the reader, faith is not theoretical but functional, shaping and directing the response, ambition and hope of the heart.

James has been addressing the functional atheism, or double-mindedness, that plagued the church and the relational chaos that was apparent as a consequence. Where there was doubt and distrust James urges single-minded devotion. In strife, rather than grumbling against those who have, remember the giver of every perfect gift, lean on him, faith functions. In joy praise the supplier, acknowledging the generosity of the giver disposes the thankful to be likewise openhanded. Finally, those suffering a specific sickness are called to repent and be reconciled to the body they’d disregarded (thus the call for the elders and the oil, a symbol of unity). As ever, we see devotion to God works out in commitment to neighbour. This is functional faith, to be lovers of God and lovers of others.