James is a very practical book which emphasizes appropriate daily living. It is much like wisdom literature. Many of his teachings are paralleled in the sermon on the mount of Matthew 5 through 7. The book of Jude is a frightening book about the current danger of error, rebellion and judgment. Believers must always be on guard and remember that their protection is from God. The conclusion is one of the strongest prayers of affirmation of the keeping power of God in all the Bible.
“ God does not tempt so as to destroy, but He does test so as to strengthen.” (Page 20)
“Notice that a mature Christian is described in three ways: (1) perfect (telos); (2) with integrity or complete (holoklēros cf. 1 Thess. 5:23); and (3) lacking in nothing (NJB ‘not deficient in any way’). Trials are God’s means of producing maturity (cf. Heb. 5:8–9). Maturity is not theological insight only, but daily faithful endurance! Maturity is who we are, not what we know! Its fruit is seen and developed in crisis.” (Page 11)
“James is calling on believers to make a decisive personal choice about how they face their life situations. Knowing Christ changes everything! It is literally ‘add it all up!’ In the ancient world sets of numbers were totaled at the top, not the bottom, as in our culture.” (Page 9)
“Salvation through Christ affects the head (doctrine), the heart (volitional trust in Christ), and the hand (lifestyle Christlikeness).” (Page 37)
“Notice the universal offer of wisdom ‘if any of you.…’ God’s wisdom is available to His children, but they must sense the need, ask, and receive. Wisdom, like maturity, is not automatic.” (Page 11)
2 ratings
Brandon Gross
3/1/2022
Rogers Steven Warner
8/19/2015