Sermons
The Church in James
The Church In James
Introduction:
1. In the last several weeks we have been studying about the church as it is revealed in the various writings of the N.T.
2. We have observed a consistent picture of the church in the Gospel accounts, in Acts, in the writings of Paul and in Hebrews.
3. Is this same picture seen in the rest of the epistles and Revelation?
4. This study will address the church in James. The next lessons will consider the church in the writings of Peter and then in Revelation.
5. When we finish we should have a complete picture of the church as revealed in the entire N.T.
Discussion:
I. James is addressed “to the twelve tribes who are dispersed abroad” (1:1).
A. This gives a Jewish flavor to the author’s view.
1. As we observed in our study of Acts, the church began within Judaism.
a. They were “in the temple” (Acts 2:46) after Pentecost. They went up to the
temple to pray (Acts 3:1ff) and taught there (Acts 3:11).
b. They saw what they were doing in preaching the kingdom as the fulfillment of
what the O.T. had prophesied (Acts 2:23; Acts 7).
2. James’ address suggests that Jewish Christians are in his mind. It probably
refers to Jewish Christians living in non-Jewish areas, but the address is vague
and gives no indication whether scattered individuals or communities are
involved.
B. Elsewhere in the N.T. Christians are perceived as the true Israel of God (Rom. 9:6;
Gal. 6:16; Eph. 2:11-13, 19; Rev. 7:1-14). Is this what James means when he
addresses the “twelve tribes dispersed abroad”?
C. This address, “to the twelve tribes dispersed abroad,” does not give us as complete
a picture as Paul’s greeting in 1 Cor. 1:2: “to the church of God at Corinth, those
sanctified in Christ, saints by calling, with all who call on the name of the Lord
Jesus Christ.”
II. James 2:2 mentions “your assembly” (synagogue) while 5:14 identifies the elders “of the church” (ekklesia).
A. It is interesting that both the Jewish concept (synagogue) and the Christian concept
(church) are used side by side.
1. To be sure 2:2 may be talking about a particular worship assembly.
2. 5:14 is talking about the elders of a locally organized group.
3. But there is overlap. It is these locally organized groups that assemble for
worship and encouraging one another.
B. For James the concepts are relatively equivalent and synonymous.
C. His statements confirm his understanding of the church as meeting together and
being organized under the leadership of elders who are concerned for the well-
being of the members of the church.
III. A significant lesson learned about the church in James is the principle of equality among the members of the community (2:1-13).
A. The rich cannot claim privileges over the poor.
B. Partiality is ruled out.
C. There is no hierarchy in evidence here.
1. He describes them as “beloved brethren” (5).
2. And all “called” by the same fair name (7).
3. The poor are even “heirs of the kingdom” (5). (Note the association between
church and kingdom.)
4. The “royal law” of the kingdom involves “loving your neighbor as yourself” and
this excludes “showing partiality” (8).
5. All these will be “judged by the law of liberty” (12).
IV. For James the “word implanted” (1:21) is to discipline the community as “wisdom come down from above” (3:13ff) and issues in real life practices (2:18ff).
A. If the “law of liberty” governs the citizens in the kingdom, then the “word
implanted,” the “wisdom from above” disciplines their behavior.
1. This concept harks back to Matt. 16:18 and the confession of Jesus as Lord.
Jesus remarked, “Flesh and blood did not reveal this to you but My Father who is
in heaven” (Matt. 16:17).
2. Thus the law of the kingdom community originates with “wisdom from above”
that results in peace (James 3:18).
3. He describes God as both “Lawgiver and Judge” (4:12).
B. James uses the marital imagery to call attention to the radical nature of the
relationship that the people of God sustain to Him (4:1-10).
C. In 4:7 he refers to the “coming of the Lord,” a phrase reminiscent of the return of
the bridegroom for His bride (Matt. 25; Jn. 14:3).
D. It is obvious that James, like other N.T. writers, sees the Christian community
through the lens of a kingdom and a marriage, images that have powerful
implications regarding humility and submission (4:7, 10).
V. Another significant lesson gleaned from James is the responsibility of the church to care for the individual needs of its members (5:13ff).
A. Each individual has the privilege of calling for the elders of the church.
B. Inherent in this is the fact that the elders have special authority in matters of faith
and prayer.
C. Corporate intercession may be more effective in some instances than mere
individual prayer.
VI. James discourages too many becoming teachers (3:1).
A. Implies a recognized function of teaching in the church.
B. Establishes teaching as significant to the work of the church.
Conclusion:
1. While James is a brief letter of only 5 chapters the information that he gives on the church is significant.
2. He describes it as involving assemblies (2:2) and uses the Jewish synagogue concept, as well as the Greek concept of the called out (church/ekklesia; 5:14).
3. He recognizes elders and their special role of caring for the spiritual well being of the church.
4. He recognizes the images of marriage and kingdom and their role in humility and submission.
5. He sees the church as composed of equal individuals and admonishes his readers to respond to the law of liberty by loving all without partiality.
6. He sees the church as having received the word and admonishes following the wisdom that comes down from above that results in peace.
- 10-18-2018-Wayne-G ... hurch-In-James.mp3 (8.51 MB)
- The_Church_In_James.pdf (72.50 kB)
