JAMES LESSON 2


     We will begin this lesson in James 1:13 "Let no man say when he
is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil,
neither tempteth he any man:"

     We had been discussing in the last lesson the tribulations and
temptations of man. Temptations come to make us strong in the Lord.
God allows the devil to tempt us. He does not bring the temptation
Himself. It is actually the lust of the flesh which tempts mankind.
We discovered in the last lesson that to withstand temptation of the
flesh from the devil, brings us a crown of life. Not only does it
bring us a crown of life, but it makes us stronger with each
temptation that we overcome.

     James 1:14 "But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of
his own lust, and enticed."

     We know this to be true, with the example of Adam and Eve. The
first mistake she made, was to listen to that old deceiver Satan. Then
she looked upon that which was forbidden. The lust of mankind has
always been the thing that causes man to sin. We have said it over and
over in these lessons. We must get our flesh under the control of the
spirit to avoid sin in our life. The temptation is sometimes very
great, but our will to do God's will must be greater than the
temptation. It is not a sin to be tempted. It is a sin to fall to the
temptation.

     James 1:15 "Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin:
and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death."

     The wages of sin is death. The only reason Christians do not have
to pay those wages, is because Jesus paid it for us. "Conceived" in
the verse above, means catch, help, or take. Then when lust has taken
control, the person sins. We must get the flesh under control.  Paul
spoke of even whipping his body into line daily. This probably did not
mean a physical whipping, but a taming of his flesh. The flesh of man
is sinful. All have sinned and come short of the glory of God.
We must receive forgiveness for our sins through the shed blood of
Jesus Christ, and then go and sin no more.

     James 1:16 "Do not err, my beloved brethren."

     This is just saying, walk in the salvation you have received.

     James 1:17 "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above,
and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no
variableness, neither shadow of turning."

     God is the same, today, yesterday, and forever. God does not
change. God is the source of all Light. Jesus called Himself the Light
of the world. The Light is so bright there is no shadow where God is.
Ephesians 4:8 "Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led
captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men." These gifts that Jesus
gave the believers are spiritual gifts. Romans 6:23 "For the wages of
sin [is] death; but the gift of God [is] eternal life through Jesus
Christ our Lord."  Romans 11:29 "For the gifts and calling of God
[are] without repentance." Romans 12:6 "Having then gifts differing
according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, [let us
prophesy] according to the proportion of faith;" Romans 12:7 "Or
ministry, [let us wait] on [our] ministering: or he that teacheth, on
teaching;" Romans 12:8 "Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that
giveth, [let him do it] with simplicity; he that ruleth, with
diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness."

     James 1:18 "Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth,
that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures."

     In the first chapter of John, we read that the Word was God. We,
also, read that all things that were made, were made, by that same
Word. On the day of Pentecost, when the Spirit fell on the 120
Christians, they became first-fruit offerings to the Lord. Ephesians
1:13 "In whom ye also [trusted], after that ye heard the word of
truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye
believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise," Ephesians
1:14 "Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of
the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory."  We see in
the verse following that those who follow the Lamb {Jesus Christ} are
spoken of as firstfruits. Revelation 14:4 "These are they which were
not defiled with women; for they are virgins.  These are they which
follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth.  These were redeemed from
among men, [being] the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb."

     James 1:19 "Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be
swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:"

     In view of the things he has already mentioned, James says,
listen and don't talk too much. Usually if we listen carefully to what
someone is saying, before we speak, we will not get angry. It is just
a misunderstanding that causes wrath. Let the other person explain, so
you can avoid problems. We are cautioned in Proverbs to listen and not
talk so much. It even says, if you listen more than you talk, they
will believe you are smart, whether you actually are or not.

     James 1:20 "For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of
God."

     Jesus was slow to anger. In fact, He was a very patient person.
If we are to be like our Leader, Jesus Christ, then we must be of a
quiet nature, as well. The Bible calls it longsuffering.

     James 1:21 "Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of
naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is
able to save your souls."

     "Superfluity", in the verse above, means abundance. To lay aside
the naughtiness in our life, would be to crucify this old man of flesh
and let our spirit rule over the flesh. "Engrafted" means implanted.
It is the Word of God {Jesus Christ} who saves our soul. This is
speaking of being so full of Jesus and His Word {Bible} that we will
have His Word implanted in our inner-most being. Our heart will be
stayed upon God and His Word, and that will cause us to live the way
we should.

     James 1:22 "But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only,
deceiving your own selves."

     Even the scribes and Pharisees were hearers of the Word of God.
The devil spirits even heard and believed, but they were not
doers.  James 2:19 "Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest
well: the devils also believe, and tremble." They believe, but they
decided to follow Lucifer instead of God. We may say we are
Christians, but the real test is do we live what we profess? Are we
just saying and not doing?

     James 1:23 "For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer,
he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:"  James
1:24 "For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway
forgetteth what manner of man he was."

     This really is speaking of someone who professes Christianity,
but lives like the world. This is like people who get baptized and
then go back to their old way of life. When we repent, are saved, and
baptized, we are to become a brand new creature. Old desires to sin
should be gone. We are not the image we were before we are in Christ.
What manner of man are you? Are you Christ-like, or worldly?

     James 1:25 "But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty,
and continueth [therein], he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer
of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed."

     Jesus said, if you love me, you will keep my commandments. The
key word is continueth. He not only professes Christianity, but walks
continuously in the salvation he has received. No one has to ask him,
if he is a Christian. His way of life shows the world that he is a
Christian. Everything we do should be done as unto the Lord. We are to
work the work of an evangelist, until the Lord comes back. Even
minutes before His return, we should be trying to win one more soul to
Christianity.

     James 1:26 "If any man among you seem to be religious, and
bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's
religion [is] vain."

     This is speaking of someone who is a Christian in form only. The
world may even look on him and think of him as a Christian, but his
heart is not right with God. We have discussed before, that the words
that come out of the mouth, spoken by the tongue, are what we are
inside. Out of the heart, the mouth speaketh. You can not curse and
bless with the same tongue. Evil words come from an evil heart. The
heart of man reveals what relationship he has with God. Religion is
something we do systematically. We can be religious about most
anything. To be a true Christian, our heart must be washed in the
blood of the Lamb. We must speak healing, peaceful words from a heart
stayed upon God.

     James 1:27 "Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father
is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, [and]
to keep himself unspotted from the world."

     The two things Jesus said were the important commandments were to
love God above all else, and to love our neighbor as ourself. You can
not be involved in the ways of the world and belong to God. Christians
are in the world, but are not of the world. We must not get involved
with the world. We are to be a separated people. The neighbors that we
are most responsible for are the neighbors that cannot help
themselves. The widows and orphans are the responsibility of the
Christians. Keep yourself stayed upon good things, and you will not
have time to get involved with the bad. When you do for those who
cannot help themselves, you are doing it unto God.



































                           James 2 Questions


1.  Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of _____.
2.  What do tribulations come for?
3.  Who, or what, actually tempts us?
4.  What brings us a crown of life?
5.  Every man is tempted when he is drawn away of his own ______.
6.  What was Eve's first mistake?
7.  How can we avoid sin in our life?
8.  Sin bringeth forth ________.
9.  Why do the Christians not have to die for their sins?
10. What is chapter 1 verse 16 really saying?
11. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from _______, and cometh
    down from the ________ of _________.
12. Quote Ephesians chapter 4 verse 8.
13. What is the gift of God?
14. The gifts and calling of God are without __________.
15. What are some of the spiritual gifts mentioned in the 12th chapter
    of Romans.
16. Who are the firstfruits of His creatures?
17. Who made all things?
18. What is the earnest of the inheritance?
19. Let every man be _______ to hear, ______ to speak, ______ to
    wrath.
20. What can usually stop an argument, before it gets started?
21. If we are to be like Jesus, what should our nature be like?
22. What does "superfluity" mean?
23. What does "engrafted" mean?
24. What is the Word?
25. Be ye _______ of the Word, and not _________ only.
26. Quote James chapter 2 verse 19.
27. Jesus said, if you love me you will _______ my commandments.
28. What shows the world that you are a Christian without you telling
    them?
29. Quote James chapter 1 verse 26.
30. Describe pure religion, undefiled before God and the Father.