James 2:10

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James 2:10


10 For [gar] whosoever [hostis] shall keep [tereo] the whole [holos] law [nomos], and yet [de] offend [ptaio] in [en] one [heis] point, he is [ginomai] guilty [enochos] of all [pas]. KJV-Interlinear


10 For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all. NASB


The spiritual life is not a cafeteria from which you can pick and choose what you will believe or will not believe, what you will obey or not obey, what you will agree with or not agree with.

In a sense, the spiritual life is extremely rigid in that God demands obedience to His mandates, while at the same time, the spiritual life gives a person the maximum of freedom of function in life.

In contrast, the temporal life is filled with relativism, boasting of freedom and flexibility in life, when in fact the temporal or non-spiritual life makes one an absolute slave with extreme limitations in life. Freedom to commit sin is not freedom at all, but an abuse of truth and life. And when it really comes down to it, the temporal life is nothing more than a life outside of Gods will, a life equal to nothingness.

When Adam and Eve lived in the Garden, they had but one sin possibility. And once committed, they lost their entire relationship with God. They incurred spiritual death and lived in risk of separation from God forever. One sin was all it took to ruin it all for the entire human race.

But of course out of evil, God can work good, and our salvation option was provided for us all.

And now, we have numerous sin opportunities in life. But again, all it takes is one in order to sever our relationship with God.

As for unbelievers, the sin aspects of life have only to deal with their function in society with respect to the acceptable norms and standards of life. They are already spiritually dead. We are all born that way. Faith in Christ is our way out of that predicament.

But for believers, sin affects your functioning spiritual life. You are either in fellowship or you are not.

When you confess your sins to God the Father, then you are placed in fellowship. When you commit a single sin, you are automatically out of fellowship.

Being guilty of one sin has the same spiritual affect as being guilty of all sins. There is no such thing as being half in fellowship and half out. Likewise, just because the spiritual repercussions of all sins is the same (loss of fellowship), does not mean that the repercussions in society are the same (social ostracism, jail time, etc.), nor does it justify any act of sin.

In society, we have different penalties for different sins. Murder comes with a prison sentence, while gossip comes with a reputation sentence of sorts. In either case, your spiritual life is disengaged pending your confession to God the Father. And both sins or crimes can be reconciled to God through confession, while at the same time we still have to deal with the functioning laws of society, whether they be social or criminal.

A man in prison has the opportunity to advance to spiritual maturity while serving out his life sentence, just as a gossip has the same opportunity.

Your circumstances, or the location of your home are irrelevant.

But to all persons, obedience to Gods mandates is paramount. You cannot pick and choose your way through divine mandates. If wives are to be obedient to their husbands, do they nod, snicker, and are they excused? If a gossip justifies his maliciousness against someone because they deserve it, are they justified in their actions? If a husband, who has responsibility over his family, chooses to engage in drunkenness or other selfish activities in total disregard of his family, is he exempt because he is the boss?

In every case, God issues divine mandates, and in every case they must be obeyed. No exceptions.

Why does James bring this to our attention? Because your spiritual life is your most valuable possession. It affects your entire life now and in eternity. It is your source of a relationship with God. It is your source of stability in life. It is your source of investment and prosperity forever. In effect, your spiritual life commands a value, which exceeds trillions of trillions of trillions and more.

Why would you risk losing it for the temporary pleasure, or stubbornness, of disobedience to God?

What could temporary pleasure or stubbornness possibly gain for you, that God cannot do better?

James 2:8-9

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James 2:8-9


8 If [ei] [mentoi] ye fulfil [teleo] the royal [basilikos] law [nomos] according to [kata] the scripture [graphe], Thou shalt love [agapao] thy [sou] neighbour [plesion] as [hos] thyself [seautou], ye do [poieo] well [kalos]:
9 But [de] if [ei] ye have respect to persons [prosopolepteo], ye commit [ergazomai] sin [hamartia], and are convinced [elegcho] of [hupo] the law [nomos] as [hos] transgressors [parabates]. KJV-Interlinear


8 If, however, you are fulfilling the royal law, according to the Scripture, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself,' you are doing well. 9 But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors. NASB


By dealing with partiality and disrespect to people, we commit the sins of prejudice, of bias, injustice, intolerance, of favoritism and so forth. And though you are not commanded to make anyone and everyone your best friend, you are commanded to demonstrate respect and fairness to all.

Matt. 22:39
39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

Lev. 19:15
15 Ye shall do no unrighteousness in judgment: thou shalt not respect the person of the poor, nor honour the person of the mighty: but in righteousness shalt thou judge thy neighbour.

Lev. 19:18
18 Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the Lord.

This is the second of the two greatest of laws. Can you remember the first? 'You shall love the Lord…'

Ok. Now you recall them.

God is to be first in everything, and then people are to be treated as you would yourself. Given these two rules that regulate your relationship with God and people, then everything else comes easy. The bulk of your trouble, if not all of your troubles, has to do with your relationship, or lack of it, with God and people.

Bible doctrine provides the solutions to all of the interpersonal skills you require in life.

Your life is not to be guided by celebrityship, not by wealth, not by talent, not by the many typical things that folks look to for role models.

But, you are to look to Bible doctrine, the content of truth, as your role model, for guiding your life.

This law is called a royal law. It came directly from God, and applies to all of humanity, not to believers only. It is a part of the common grace policy of God, and as such is necessary for the stability of society. To approach this law in pretense by demonstrating partiality in any way, in promoting social classes by any definition, so as to elevate ones self above others, is a sin.

James 2:6-7

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James 2:6-7


6 But [de] ye [humeis] have despised [atimazo] the poor [ptochos]. Do [katadunasteuo] not [ou] rich men [plousios] oppress [katadunasteuo] you [humon], and [kai] draw [autos] [helkuo] you [humas] before [eis] the judgment seats [kriterion]?
7 Do [blasphemeo] not [ou] they [autos] blaspheme [blasphemeo] that worthy [kalos] name [onoma] by [epi] the which ye [humas] are called [epikaleomai]? KJV-Interlinear


6 But you have dishonored the poor man. Is it not the rich who oppress you and personally drag you into court? 7 Do they not blaspheme the fair name by which you have been called? NASB


There are two categories of wealth. Spiritual wealth is derived from spiritual growth. Temporal wealth comes from the many aspects of 'things' from this world.

Likewise, there are two categories of poverty. Spiritual poverty comes from the lack of spiritual resources. Unbelievers for example are spiritually destitute. And temporal poverty comes from the lack of worldly possessions like property, or income, or money and so forth.

In James' illustration, the poor man is poor with respect to worldly things and the rich man is rich with respect to worldly things. But, on the other hand, the poor man was rich with respect to spiritual things and the rich man was poor with respect to spiritual things.

If you turn your life over to God and pursue your spiritual life, then you are automatically classified as poor worldly speaking, and rich spiritually speaking. Why so? Well, anything of this world is temporary and anything of the spiritual realm is eternal. The temporary has virtually no value when compared to anything eternal.

So, a billionaire loses his wealth when he dies. His billions have no value, to him, after he has left this world. His bank accounts and titles do not transfer to heaven. In the worst possible case, a billionaire who is an unbeliever, will be wealthy one minute, and die, and then the next minute will find himself in Torments awaiting the Lake of Fire. That is the quintessence of losing it all, really fast.

And on the other hand, the spiritually mature person who is a poor man in this world, can die, and then enter into heaven and be instantly wealthy because his eternal blessings are beyond imagination and therefore beyond calculation.

But, if you despise the poor man in this world, then you also despise God, who put him in that position. If you play favorites with the rich man because you perceive there will be some benefit for you, then you reject God and Gods plan, and Gods definition of exactly what has value and what does not.

Likewise, there are two possible realms in which we can live, in the spiritual realm, which is founded on truth, or in the temporal realm, which is here because of truth, but stands in opposition against truth.

So, anyone who lives in this world and pursues the world, seeking their riches from the world, will stand in opposition of you, purely because you live in the spiritual realm, or at least try to live your life in accordance with Gods mandates.

Believers are persecuted, Christians are persecuted, conservatives in general are persecuted. Tyrants persecute the masses. Club members persecute, by gossip, other club members. Office politics attempts to eliminate competition for advancement.

Now, lets do a little current events. Far left liberal views are generally in opposition to truth. They oppose self-determination, they oppose the use of military force, they oppose war even if it is just, they are appeasers, they pursue big government, they oppose Christian spiritual expression in public, they promote racism and controversy, and so forth.

Now if you are insulted, then you do have a philosophical problem that you need to correct. But anyway, truth embraces freedoms, and liberties, and helping out others even if a war is called for. And we live in a time when politicians will make public spectacles of placing prayers in walls, while the masses of media promote liberal values, while basic Christian values are squelched in the courts and in the classrooms.

As an advancing Christian, you are the one who is being oppressed, by a world that would prefer to destroy your values, while advancing its own evil 'one world' views.

The last time a 'one world view' existed, was at the time of the Tower of Babel. And before that, just prior to the Flood of Noah. The next 'one world view' will come from the antichrist in the Tribulation, and that is still future.

So, the rich (worldly pursuers) of this world, persecute the poor (spiritual pursuers), by virtue of their anti-God philosophy. Because Satan hates God, because the world is founded in the evil philosophies, then anyone who pursues their spiritual life will inevitably find themselves the target of oppression.

Better to be the target, than one who conforms to the world and joins the world in its attacks against Christian values.

Oh, and by the way, we are not trying to identify the antichrist here. No one in this dispensation will be able to do that. Evil has, for a long time, attempted to take control of the reigns of history, but God thwarts evil at every turn. Empires have tried to control history, religions such as Islam have attempted to seize control over history, but this will never occur until after the Rapture occurs, and the Tribulation begins.

If the time is not yet right, then God will prevent any attempt of evil, to seize the world. But then, that does not prevent oppression from existing in the world. And certainly we cannot make world problems go away by ignoring them, either.

Do not joins forces with evil, lest you join in its outcome.

James 2:5

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James 2:5


5 Hearken [akouo], my [mou] beloved [agapetos] brethren [adelphos], Hath [eklegomai] not [ou] God [theos] chosen [eklegomai] the poor [ptochos] of this [toutou] world [kosmos] rich [plousios] in [en] faith [pistis], and [kai] heirs [kleronomos] of the kingdom [basileia] which [hos] he hath promised [epaggello] to them that love [agapao] him [autos]? KJV-Interlinear


5 Listen, my beloved brethren: did not God choose the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him? NASB


Every person who is born into this world has the potential of being saved. Anyone can believe in Christ and anyone can grow up spiritually.

However, those who have few worldly resources to depend on, can potentially have more interest and thus rely more on God and faith, than those who have wealth.

The difference between the two, rich and poor, has to do with where they place their trust, or to whom they look for help, in time of need.

The wealthy have money, assets, and financial resources. The wealthy can purchase insurance, pay for legal council, and they can afford to buy new, or buy their way out of a fix if the need arises. So, there is the ever present tendency to rely on ones possessions.

The poor, on the other hand, lack these things. They cannot defend themselves in court. They cannot afford insurance. They cannot pay their monthly bills, or get things fixed when they break. The poor usually have poor credit, which limits their ability to finance purchases. When difficulties come along, they are without resources and thus face greater hardships in life.

The poor nearly always find themselves between the proverbial rock and hard place. And by the way, the poor generally includes nearly everyone from the upper middle class, downward. And why the upper middle class? Well, they generally are strapped with mortgages and debts, and live beyond their means, which gives them some form of pressure in life. And though they have greater resources than the working stiff's of the world, they are not the wealthy class of whom James has been speaking.

James contrasted those who have nothing, with those who are mega wealthy. The multi-millionaire vs. the destitute. And when both of these folks go to a church service, then what is likely to be found in the heart of each?

The wealthy is likely to be there for show, while the poor is there out of need.

And of course folks will slobber all over the rich guy, while ignoring the poor man.

Spiritual growth follows spiritual desire, and the underlying assumption here, in this illustration, is that the rich man sees no need for God, faith, or a spiritual life, while the poor man has only those things to turn to as he has no earthly resources to help him in time of need. And, his needs are daily and constant.

There is another view of the phrase, 'poor of the world,' and that has to do with the content of ones soul. If you reject the world, that is, you reject sin, arrogance, evil, and such pursuits, then you are poor in the world. Worldly views are not your focus.

And on the other hand, if your pursuit is in the spiritual realm, then with spiritual growth, you will be rich. Therefore, though poor in worldly soul content, you can be rich in spiritual content within your soul. And this principle can apply to anyone, billionaire or pauper, of course.

Being poor, or middle class, and thus subject to the pressures of life, such that there will be times when you have no resources with which to deal with your problems, is a good thing. This pressure helps you look to God, Christ, doctrine, and your spiritual life.

Being wealthy has the potential of leading you astray from a need for God, by giving you something else to rely on in life.

But then, God is not without adequate tests for both rich and poor. We all will face our eventual death from this life, and if you are wealthy, then the best thing that could possibly happen to you, is to get some terminal illness, which will force you to look to God. This assumes of course that you have generally ignored Him during your life.

You may have enough to pay for all the medical care in the world, but there will always be a point when nothing exists that can help you, and you will have to face the music of reality, so to speak.

As or the rest of us, the monthly bills and daily living pressures are enough to drive us to intense prayer, because that is all we have.

James 2:2-4

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James 2:2-4


2 For [gar] if [ean] there come [eiserchomai] unto [eis] your [humon] assembly [sunagoge] a man [aner] with a gold ring [chrusodaktulios], in [en] goodly [lampros] apparel [esthes], and [de] there come in [eiserchomai] also [kai] a poor man [ptochos] in [en] vile [rhuparos] raiment [esthes];
3 And [kai] ye have respect [epiblepo] to [epi] him that weareth [phoreo] the gay [lampros] clothing [esthes], and [kai] say [epo] unto him [autos], Sit [kathemai] thou [su] here [hode] in a good place [kalos]; and [kai] say [epo] to the poor [ptochos], Stand [histemi] thou [su] there [ekei], or [e] sit [kathemai] here [hode] under [hupo] my [mou] footstool [hupopodion]:
4 Are ye [diakrino] not [ou] then [kai] partial [diakrino] in [en] yourselves [heautou], and [kai] are become [ginomai] judges [krites] of evil [poneros] thoughts [dialogismos]? KJV-Interlinear


2 For if a man comes into your assembly with a gold ring and dressed in fine clothes, and there also comes in a poor man in dirty clothes, 3 and you pay special attention to the one who is wearing the fine clothes, and say, 'You sit here in a good place,' and you say to the poor man, 'You stand over there, or sit down by my footstool,' 4 have you not made distinctions among yourselves, and become judges with evil motives? NASB


Now, first and foremost, this passage doe not tell you how to choose your friends or those with whom you wish to socialize. Nor does this passage tell you that you must socialize with stinky old poor men.

In this passage there is a stark difference drawn between the man with the gold ring and fine clothing, and the poor man dressed in rags. These are the meanings. And they are made dramatically clear in their difference in order to teach a point of moral character, not to demand rules for picking your friends.

In life, we will always be exposed to situations that prompt the temptation of bias or prejudice. How your moral character goes, will decide how you will treat people in general.

Here the 'assembly' is a formal gathering of some sort. It could be a church assembly, a court of law assembly, a social club assembly, or a family gathering. In any case there will be people there of whom you like and of whom you will not like.

The real question here is your motivation. Are you judgmental? Are you seeking some sort of benefit or advancement? Are you trying to win brownie points? Are you choosing those with whom you want to associate because you perceive that they will benefit you in some way? Do you show favor to those with whom you presume are talented, connected financially or socially, or perhaps because they have some sort of authority, which if you play your cards right, will benefit you someday?

Like I said, life is full of situations that will tempt you into a prejudicial mode, if you allow it.

Join any social club, where competitiveness is always at the forefront, and it won't be long before you recognize the social clique's that drive the club. You are either in, or you are out, depending on how you relate to the existing members, or depending on how they perceive you.

If you are wealthy and of benefit to them, then you will be accepted. If you are a nobody, then you will have to do a lot of brown-nosing in order to become accepted.

One of the common opposing forces to authority and respect, are the functions of peer pressure and disrespect.

Authority and respect accompany the divine establishment principles, while their opposites, peer pressure and disrespect, are functions of evil.

Teens are exposed to this principle early in life, in school or in their own neighborhood, and adults are exposed to this principle through social or work related politics.

To succumb to the pressures of society, is to adopt evil into your own heart. To reject the corrupt views of society, will result in ostracism from society in general. Can you live with ostracism? Can you live with being the target of gossip?

So, the choice. Whose opinion is more important to you - Gods or mans?

And how will you deal with people - with contempt or with respect, regardless of their outward appearance or possible impact on your life.

James 2:1

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James 2:1


1 My [mou] brethren [adelphos], have [echo] not [me] the faith [pistis] of our [hemon] Lord [kurios] Jesus [Iesous] Christ [Christos], the Lord of glory [doxa], with [en] respect of persons [prosopolepsia]. KJV-Interlinear


1 My brethren, do not hold your faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ with an attitude of personal favoritism. NASB


In the previous chapter, James spelled out the true nature or process of the Christian life. With freedom provided by faith, comes responsibility in the function of the liberty of our spiritual life.

God mandates that we grow up, be mature, and advance in our spiritual life as productive and responsible believers, seeking God first through our function within our spiritual life, empathy and sympathy toward others, and self last.

He does not sponsor bystanders, unproductive members, who are quick to take, and are reluctant to and refuse to give.

With salvation comes great blessing. The fact that a believer will end up in heaven is infinitely better than the alternative of the Lake of Fire. However, the believer who advances in his spiritual life to maturity, will receive blessings and reward, which are infinitely greater than those who do not advance in their spiritual life.

And though these two blessings are phenomenal and infinitely beyond anything available on this earth, believers are warned to not deem themselves as better, or superior, than anyone else. Recall that we are all dust, and in what manner can a speck of dust boast to another speck of dust?

Look about you and see the amazing differences in the faces of people. Some are startlingly attractive while others lack beauty. But, they all have the same common denominator - dust.

God formed us all and used the most worthless of ingredients. And out of dust come artists, doctors, the beautiful sparkling eyes of a child, and more. What can man boast of?

All blessing, all promotion, all reward, all provision comes from God and from no other. Why then would people slobber all over a person who possesses gold rings and purple robes, over the poor? Why then do people lean with bias toward those whom they perceive might give them attention, promotion, or more?

Mans role on this earth is to prove Satan wrong and God right. God has placed each individual into history, with every possible and conceivable circumstance, in order to demonstrate His wisdom over that of every other creature, including and especially man.

You should be thankful that you possess life. You should be thankful that you possess salvation. You should be thankful that God has done immeasurable things for you. Even giving you the honor of a role in history, for the purpose of defeating Satan, evil and death.

Why then would anyone throw away that blessing, and exchange it for the world, which amounts to a grand total of nothing?

What can the world give you, that is greater than that from God? What can another person give you, that is greater than that from God? From whom, or from what, can you gain anything that will be greater than that which comes from God?

Then why sin, why scam, why play games with people and life, why ignore truth, which indifference of arrogance will gain you total failure in life, and destroy your eternal blessings. Eternity is a very ling time, therefore its value cannot be measured by human means. And yet most folks wrestle over the mud of this earth.

Eventually we will discover in this Book of James, that there are three levels of grace.

The first is common grace or that which applies to all people, believer and unbeliever alike.

The second is grace, or that which applies to all believers regardless of their spiritual growth.

And the third level, is greater grace, which is the level of grace that applies to mature believers only.

The third level is your target, your goal, the end of your spiritual race, to which you should pursue with all of your strength and purpose in life.

Therefore, honor God first, through Christ, honor others second, and reserve yourself to last, and let God promote you in His good time, not yours.

God has a plan for your life. His plan is far greater than anything you can do for yourself.

James 1:27

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James 1:27


27 Pure [katharos] religion [threskeia] and [kai] undefiled [amiantos] before [para] God [theos] and [kai] the Father [pater] is [esti] this [houtos], To visit [episkeptomai] the fatherless [orphanos] and [kai] widows [chera] in [en] their [autos] affliction [thlipsis], and to keep [tereo] himself [heautou] unspotted [aspilos] from [apo] the world [kosmos]. KJV-Interlinear


27 This is pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father, to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world. NASB


The typical order of priorities of folks is generally self first, then maybe others if there is time, or so long as they are not an inconvenience, or so long that there is sufficient excess that will enable you to deal with others, and then God, maybe.

However, here we learn the true priorities of a person, or what they should be. First, there is the Father, then there are others, and then self comes in last.

Pure and undefiled religion means, genuine faith that contains no flaws, no blemishes, no sin or human good whatsoever.

In this sense, religion stands for the plan of the Father. God the Father is the author of the divine plan.

The divine plan is subscribed to by the Son and the Spirit. All three members of the Godhead subscribe to, and have adopted, the plan of the Father. They do not compete nor attempt to modify the plan in any way.

To reject the plan of the Father is to reject Him. To reject the Father, is to reject His plan.

The divine plan includes everything in life regarding you, your life, your circumstances, provision for your salvation, provision for the whole concept of your spiritual growth, the dispensations of history, the work of Christ on the Cross, and so forth, for everyone in all of human history.

Second, your attitude toward others is paramount. Selfishness, prejudice, favoritism and so forth all are taboo behaviors. Those who need help the most are portrayed as orphans and widows. To them the world cares nothing, and of them the world takes the most advantage. They are cheated, defrauded, taken advantage of by any and all.

If you have access to he internet, you won't be online for very long before you start getting attacks on your computer, spam, and malicious emails. Your computer comes off the shelf usually with a virus protection program of some kind. Why? Because the world is full of evil malicious thieving people. Most advertisement cannot even be trusted, let alone the true source of most email. So, the most used key on the keyboard is the delete key.

Where is empathy, sympathy, or honesty in the world? The world is severely lacking in these areas. Selfishness, greed, and lust combine with the feeling of a hidden identity because of the internet to give evil folks a new high in being bold in their criminal efforts.

Then there is self. If self comes in last, then everyone else is taken care of. But, far too many put self before even their own family, let alone strangers.

I saw an interview of a kid in Afghanistan. He thought being a terrorist was an occupation equivalent to that of a bricklayer, or carpenter, or doctor. It is a sad state in society when crime and evil are raised to be equal with legitimate occupations.

But then, when society has fallen to such low levels, that it cannot distinguish between good and evil, then what is there to say about their priorities?

A child who lives in a region that is corrupted by Islam as well as other false religions, can be understood. But, how can one understand a child who joins gangs in a more advanced society. Are they different or the same?

Lack of doctrine, regardless of ones location or circumstances will always result in a confused society. However, God is not limited by mans circumstances. God can bring truth and discernment to anyone, anywhere in the world.

You can be negative toward God, Christ, and doctrine anywhere in the world. Likewise regardless of where you live in this world, you can make yourself 'unstained,' through doctrine. We call that mechanism, confession. Our study of 1, 2, 3 Jn., cover that topic thoroughly.

The true religion, or true faith, comes only from God, through doctrine, which produces the proper attitude which you should have toward life, and should be lived while resident in fellowship.

That is the spiritual life. That is the Christian life. It is the easiest life to obtain, through a daily study of the Word of God, but the most difficult pattern of life to live, because of the phenomenal opposition that the world will throw at you.

But then, if you allow it, God will deal with the world for you, making that portion of life, both easier and something you can handle.

James 1:26

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James 1:26


26 If any man [ei tis] among [en] you [humin] seem [dokeo] to be [einai] religious [threskos], and bridleth [chalinagogeo] not [me] his [autos] tongue [glossa], but [alla] deceiveth [apatao] his own [autos] heart [kardia], this man's [toutou] religion [threskeia] is vain [mataios]. KJV-Interlinear


26 If anyone thinks himself to be religious, and yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this man's religion is worthless. NASB


The religion here, that James is speaking of, is in reference to Christianity. However, he is also describing the falsities of Christian behavior and attitude, which can be grouped with all other religions of the world as to their lack of efficacious (efficient or successful) results in ones spiritual life.

Now we have always stated that Christianity is not a religion, but a relationship with God, through Christ, and that religion (in general), is nothing more than mans efforts to achieve the approbation of God, by means of mans own efforts. This definition still stands, of course.

However, James is speaking of the attitude of the individual based on their lack of attention to their spiritual studies. That is, the hearer verses the doer.

The first word used for religion, ' threskos,' refers to the activities or ceremonies of ones worship. The second word, 'threskeia,' refers to the traditions, or habit, or principles of ones worship beliefs.

So, if your worship activities are false, then your worship traditions are false. And likewise, if your worship traditions or principles are false, then your worship activities are false. And if your theological approach to God is false, then you have nothing, but a huge waste of time in pursuing nothing, because of your arrogant attitude.

So, you have only yourself to blame for your failure. And, you are the fool for doing what you are doing.

You have no one else to blame, and no one else to complain to when you discover your error. If indeed, you do discover your error during this life.

In short, there are a lot of false religious types out there in the world. In Christianity, they can say all the right things, and put on a performance for others to see. They will even impress others by their performance in either deed or in word, but they are only fooling themselves.

The false believer, or rather the believer who pursues false principles, spends most of their time trying to convince others in order to gain the approval of others, or to impress them.

The false believer will spend much of his time, trying to censure, criticize, scorn, judge, or correct others.

The false believer pursues a course of self-approval or self-justification.

Whether ones religion is Islam or Buddhism, or simply a Christian who has been misguided in his faith due to his own failure in Bible study, ones behavior in the carnal side of a false faith is the same. False is false is false. And, false equates to nothing, as far as advancing in ones spiritual life.

Unbelievers cannot advance because they have no spiritual side in which to advance. And believers who are more or less off track, just derail themselves.

The tongue is something that should be driven by the heart. The heart represents the soul of the individual. The person should think before speaking. However, when a person speaks before thinking, then they demonstrate a lack of inner control, and a lack of wisdom in their life.

And this is James' whole point. Words that are driven by emotion are not wisdom. Wisdom is driven by thought, but then thought comes only from a daily study.

And the hearer, in this case, is someone who dos not pursue his study, and therefore lacks the resources for thought, therefore lacks the resources to produce reasonable comments. His speaking is nothing more than the knee-jerk reaction of an empty soul.

It is far better to impress God (who is able to bless) by means of learning doctrine and growing up in ones spiritual life, thus obeying His will, than to attempt to impress people (who cannot bless) and submitting to the peer pressures of society.

James 1:25

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James 1:25


25 But [de] whoso looketh [parakupto] into [eis] the perfect [teleios] law [nomos] of liberty [eleutheria], and [kai] continueth [parameno] therein, he [houtos] being [ginomai] not [ou] a forgetful [epilesmone] hearer [akroates], but [alla] a doer [poietes] of the work [ergon], this man [houtos] shall be [esomai] blessed [makarios] in [en] his [autos] deed [poiesis]. KJV-Interlinear


25 But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man shall be blessed in what he does. NASB


We have two mirrors that we can peer into in life. The mirror on the wall, which reveals only the surface or the shallowness of humanity, and the mirror of the Word for God, which reveals the inner depths of the soul. The real you.

The person who examines himself by way of the mirror on the wall, no matter how closely he (or she) makes an examination of himself, will walk away with nothing more than a superficial view of himself and of life. The image disappears and is nothing more, when the reflection walks away.

Likewise, the person who treats their spiritual life in a similar manner (being a hearer only, a looker into the mirror on the wall), will walk away with nothing to show for it.

The hearer is the one who glances at the Bible, at doctrine, at Christ, at their spiritual life in general.

And here in our present verse, the one who is a doer, is the one who looks more intently, the one who leans down, as it were, to examine more closely, the mandates, principles, teachings of the scriptures. The doer studies what he is viewing, remembers what he is viewing, believes what he is viewing, adopts into his life that which he has been viewing.

The Law of Liberty here, refers to the content of the Bible.

Freedom being the environment which allows one to live without undue restrictions. And, freedom is comparable to victory in the battle against sin and death via salvation (faith in Christ).

Liberty being the function of being able to think or act without constraints. And, liberty is comparable to advancement in ones spiritual life through the daily study of the scriptures.

However, both being confined within boundaries by the laws of truth and justice, which are taught in the Bible.

Sin, crime and so forth, exist outside of these boundaries, and are never a part of freedom or liberty.

Both of these descriptions, hearer and doer, are described as people who are either forgetful, or effectual.

The hearer is one who is absentminded, has poor priorities, neglectful of their own life, delusional with respect to reality, and so forth. They lack spiritual growth.

The doer is one who is productive, capable, effective, able, powerful, successful, all with respect to their most valuable possession, their spiritual life. They advance to spiritual maturity.

And that brings us to the value of leading one of these two lifestyles. The hearer ends up in life with nothing. Remember, we all leave this world and take nothing physical with us. Only the content of ones soul moves on beyond this life.

The doer possesses doctrine and production from doctrine, in their soul. These things, which come from God, are the basis for blessing in eternity.

Therefore, being 'blessed in what you do' is a reference to your assimilation of Bible doctrine in your soul, and using it in your daily life. The key is in the using, not the mere looking or awareness. And thus by means of your spiritual growth, blessing is credited to you.

Blessings is not credited to you by means of your human effort or ability (lest you might be tempted to boast), but by means of the truth which becomes resident and used in your soul (by means of Gods grace).

James 1:23-24

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James 1:23-24


23 For [hoti] if any [ei tis] be [esti] a hearer [akroates] of the word [logos], and [kai] not [ou] a doer [poietes], he [houtos] is like [eiko] unto a man [aner] beholding [katanoeo] his [autos] natural [genesis] face [prosopon] in [en] a glass [esoptron]:
24 For [gar] he beholdeth [katanoeo] himself [heautou], and [kai] goeth his way [aperchomai], and [kai] straightway [eutheos] forgetteth [epilanthanomai] what manner of man [hopoios] he was [en]. KJV-Interlinear


23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror; 24 for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was. NASB


If you are a hearer of the Word of God, then you are no better than the reflection of your own face in a mirror. While you are standing in front of the mirror, your image is reflected. However, it has no real depth, no content, no fragrance, no texture. A reflection is nothing more than a lighted appearance.

And, when you leave the mirror, your reflection leaves along with you, and is no more.

So, there are two lessons from this verse.

First, the lesson of the mirror reflecting your eternal self. The mirror does not reflect the content of your soul, but only the visual portions of your body, which by the way, is made of dust. If God had made you of something else, then that substance would be reflected.

So, your reflection is not of the real you, but only of the physical exterior of you. Your personality, your thoughts, your attitude, all are not revealed in the mirror. So even you cannot see the real you in a mirror.

But unlike the mirror, the Bible is a reflection of the real you. When you peer into the scriptures, the Bible reveals the real you.

Now, you can stay with the Bible and see the real you, or you can likewise, turn away form the Bible because you do not like what you see, for whatever reason.

Either you are disinterested, or you simply do not agree with what the Bible has to say about you.

In the mirror, you can see only what you wish to see. You can apply makeup, or grooming, or whatever to yourself in order to make the image into what you want to be seen as. But the mirror will never reveal your true reflection. So the mirror like the world, reflects only what is desired, while the Bible reflects the truth whether you like it or not.

The hearer does not pursue the realities or facts or truth. The hearer merely captures a glance and then forgets or ignores the truth, retaining only that which is compatible with his desires.

James 1:22

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James 1:22


22 But [de] be ye [ginomai] doers [poietes] of the word [logos], and [kai] not [me] hearers [akroates] only [monon], deceiving [paralogizomai] your own selves [heautou]. KJV-Interlinear


22 But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves. NASB


All too often, believers in Christ fall into a delusional state of carnal security. They hear the gospel, or they hear the doctrinal instruction and somehow figure that it does not apply to them.

A person hears the gospel and believes in Christ, then presumes that, that is all there is to their spiritual commitment. After all, once saved there is nothing further to do but wait for your call home to heaven.

But then, life did not end for most of us once we believed in Christ. The days, and weeks, and years continued on and on, and we often wondered if there wasn't something more, perhaps something left out, or perhaps God went on a vacation.

Life was supposed to be rosy once saved, but we seem to have nothing but trouble.

Once saved we were exposed to the many rituals and beliefs, that are prevalent in the many church groups. So which one was right and which were wrong? We go to church faithfully, maybe even attend a mid-week prayer meeting.

We go to clubs or organizations that form in order to promote some type of Bible principle. Groups like the fathers group, or the parents group, or the promises group, or something similar, where a concept of doctrine (which most of the time is merely a gimmick), is emphasized in order to get memberships.

Or, we go to church once a month, or only on holidays, or we simply get disillusioned with all of this Bible stuff and turn ourselves off to it all. After all, most everyone we see, who promotes themselves as Christian, or born-again believers, are in reality hypocrites or phony's or they just seem weird. After all, none of them are successful billionaires, or presidents, or kings, or celebrities. But then, what was Jesus' life like?

And our delusional trap is in the evaluation of people, rather than of God and doctrine.

People did not author the Bible, God did. People are not the source of the spiritual life, God is. So evaluation needs to be focused on the source and principles of doctrine, not on people and the hundreds of weird interpretations or applications that they come up with.

Then the idea that all you have to do is be sincere, be nice, give the church (occasionally), begin to build up a set of standards for how we are to behave, or rather how we want to behave. And voila, the carnal trap opens its jaws and snatches us up, which halts all spiritual growth and benefit.

Hearer, means to listen only. A child can listen, 'Clean up your room. Wash your hands.' They know and understand, but they don't seem to comply with the instruction.

Doer, here means to become productive in your spiritual life, to perform. And performance means that you apply the principles of doctrine to your daily life.

This does not mean that you go out to 'do' something. Doing, means to be obedient to the principles and mandates issued in the scriptures.

We have already put together a list called the Spiritual Checklist in the Special Studies section, which we studied in Joel. You might want to review it sometime. Here you will find the do's of the spiritual life.

And, just as there will always be those who listen but won't follow through, there will also be those who will go out and 'do' things, but still are not in compliance with the spiritual life. So you can get trapped both ways.

Doing things, is not the spiritual life. This is the do-gooder trap. They are trying to buy their way into spiritual acceptance.

The easiest way to recognize if a thing done, is a part of the spiritual life, is to ask yourself if an unbeliever can do the same thing. If so, then it likely is just busy work of the spiritually dysfunctional person.

Unbelievers can go knocking on doors. Unbelievers can give to charity. Unbelievers can crusade for political agendas, and so forth.

Your primary 'doing' is first, confession in order to get into fellowship. An unbeliever cannot confess and get Gods forgiveness. An unbeliever cannot get into fellowship.

Then the believers' next series of do's, is to keep monitoring his or her spiritual life in order to confess when necessary and keep themselves in fellowship. This is the soldiers guard duty, to watch out for the enemy of sin in ones life. To keep himself resident in the Fortress of God for spiritual security. To remain in the presence (spiritually) of God, for personal relations to function.

Then, there is the studying (while in fellowship), the learning (while in fellowship), the applying (while in fellowship), the gaining of understanding (while in fellowship), the development of wisdom (while in fellowship), etc., etc., etc.

Then we live our life, in responsibility, recognizing our obligations to giving, to interacting with people, to dealing with disasters. All the while understanding that everything that we have comes from God, and more importantly, that Jesus Christ controls history.

The bulk of your 'doing,' occurs within your spiritual growth function, and then your production comes from your application of common sense principles to your daily life.

Your productive life results from your spiritual growth. Spiritual growth does not result from activities performed outside of your fellowship sphere.

James 1:21

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James 1:21


21 Wherefore [dio] lay apart [apotithemi] all [pas] filthiness [rhuparia] and [kai] superfluity [perisseia] of naughtiness [kakia], and receive [dechomai] with [en] meekness [prautes] the engrafted [emphutos] word [logos], which [ho] is able [dunamai] to save [sozo] your [humon] souls [psuche]. KJV-Interlinear


21 Therefore putting aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls. NASB


The terms filthiness, and superfluity of naughtiness, refer respectively to the passionate sins or sins of the moment, and the malignant or well-entrenched patterns of sins in your life.

Here is your command to set aside the old life, the life which pursues or resides within the pattern of the sin nature, and replace it with a life spent within the fellowship sphere.

The old things are put aside, making room for the new. The carnal self is ended and the new spiritual self is initiated within your life. We quit the old and begin the new. We separate ourselves from the sin nature and commit ourselves to the spiritual pattern of life. We divorce ourselves from the old, and join a new marriage to the new. We leave behind us, that which was decayed, and begin afresh that which is brand new.

You can probably come up with several more phrases which demonstrate this principle.

The sin nature commands the body and through it commands the soul. The sin nature is not good, it is poison to the soul. It breeds death in various forms.

One death may be the lack of salvation by preventing one from believing in Christ. Another form of death is sin for the believer which keeps him out of fellowship and thus renders his spiritual life, and thus spiritual growth, dysfunctional.

By putting sin behind you through confession, then you are able to take in spiritual food (Bible doctrine), and thus feed your soul with good nourishment.

Salvation (through faith in Christ) saves the soul of the unbeliever, but once saved, doctrine saves (transforms, makes productive) the soul through spiritual growth and production.

The soul thrives on spiritual food, but you must be in fellowship for it to work and be beneficial in your life.

Living outside of the spiritual sphere of fellowship, the soul does not receive its proper portion of spiritual food. Lacking nourishment leads to illness (spiritual illness) and this will overflow into the physical condition of the individual. Likewise, lacking spiritual food, leads to a malfunction of the soul, a scaring over of the exterior of the soul, limiting clarity of discernment as well as a diminished orientation to life.

The sin nature produces a filth, which 'cleaves' to the soul and this cleaving leads to a hardness (scar-tissuing) of the soul. As the soul crusts over by living an out-of-fellowship life, departure from reality and truth becomes greater and greater, and the beliefs and ideas of life become more and more absurd.

James 1:19-20

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James 1:19-20


19 Wherefore , my beloved brethren , let every man be swift to hear , slow to speak , slow to wrath :
20 For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God . KJV-Interlinear


19 This you know, my beloved brethren. But let everyone be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger; 20 for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God. NASB


Those who speak quickly in a knee jerk fashion, are generally the same as those who are easily angered. Quick to speak, quick to react in anger or defensiveness. The defensive person is typically shallow and therefore easily offended. They take offense at nearly anything.

There are typically four temperament categories of people.

First, are those who are easily exasperated, but easily placated

Second, those who are easily angered, and difficult to be settled down.

Third, those who are not easily annoyed, but are difficult to be quieted down.

Fourth, those who are not easily annoyed, and are easily calmed down.

Our passage speaks to the fourth category. Open your ears and listen, set your mind at ease and consider, and do not be quick to react in either anger or defensiveness.

Maturity gives you the resources to deal with life without losing your temper, without losing your poise, and certainly without badgering, or ridiculing, or putting someone else down.

The first three categories of people have little if any inner resources. They are filled with insecurities and instabilities. Everything in life is a personal threat to them. And, as our passage states, they cannot possibly grow up spiritually to maturity if they do not begin to use their mind before using their mouth.

Remember, you are dust, just like everyone else. Dust cannot possibly insult, to any degree, any other dust. What is accomplished? Does a worm gain an advantage over another worm by telling him, 'You are slimier than I?'

All insults, all anger, all sin as it were, are direct insults toward God, and the manifestation of ones stupidity.

Bible study replaces ones shallowness with maturity, and poise, and most important, a relaxed mental attitude toward life in general. More often, the serious things of this world aren't really that serious. People simply take themselves too seriously. What is serious, is ones salvation escape from the Lake of Fire, and ones spiritual maturity and related eternal blessings.

James 1:18

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James 1:18


18 Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth , that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures . KJV-Interlinear


18 In the exercise of His will He brought us forth by the word of truth, so that we might be, as it were, the first fruits among His creatures. NASB


Here is a contrast. Man takes his God given intellect, moves beyond the legitimate limits established by God, and combines his wants and desires with lust, to produce sin.

Now if anyone wants to boast about being able to create something out of nothing, then sin is your product.

God, on the other hand, takes His will, combines it with truth and produces eternal life.

Which of the two are more honorable?

Jesus Christ went to the Cross, and paid the price demanded by sin and death. Jesus Christ defeated them both and became the first fruit, an example set forth for all of humanity.

Believers, who have believed in the Savior, who is Jesus Christ, whether born in the time of Adam, of Noah, of Job, of David, or at anytime in all of human history, are saved the very instant they believe in Christ.

That is the 'begat' being expressed here. Regeneration verses creation. Bringing man forth, is the act of regeneration of life into something (man), who otherwise does not have life. Physical life of the human body, and forever life of the human soul are not eternal life, a life that admits the believer into heaven to live with God or all of eternity.

The soul was created with forever life. That is what unbelievers have, and it is what will keep them alive in the Lake of Fire.

However, believers, are regenerated the very moment they believe in Christ. Their regeneration is a human spirit, into which eternal life takes up residence. This is where the phrase 'born again' comes from. The believer receives a regenerated life in the form of a newly created human spirit.

Once born, a person cannot be unborn. Once born, a person cannot reverse the process and return to the status of not being born. Thus, the new birth of the human spirit is permanent. Once saved, always saved. You cannot lose, or reverse, your eternal life or salvation status.

God did this in order to make us, humanity, the first fruits, after the pattern of Jesus Christ, for all of creation.

Were it not for Christ, there would be no further life. Were it not for believers in Christ being made new creatures again, there would be no further creation. Gods work is good. Mans work, your work, will never measure up to His standard.

James 1:16-17

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James 1:16-17


16 Do [planao] not [me] err [planao], my [mou] beloved [agapetos] brethren [adelphos].
17 Every [pas] good [agathos] gift [dosis] and [kai] every [pas] perfect [teleios] gift [dorema] is [esti] from above [anothen], and cometh down [katabaino] from [apo] the Father [pater] of lights [phos], with [para] whom [hos] is [eni] no [ou] variableness [parallage], neither [e] shadow [aposkiasma] of turning [trope]. KJV-Interlinear


16 Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren. 17 Every good thing bestowed and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation, or shifting shadow. NASB


All errors of our human existence come through deception of one sort or another. We can be deceived by the world and we can be deceived by our own ignorance.

Deception originates due to the lack of discernment, due to the lack of illumination, due to the lack of knowledge, and thus due to the lack of wisdom.

All wisdom comes from God and from no other source. Man cannot gain wisdom apart from that which is made available from God.

Whether man studies mathematics or any of the sciences, by sticking with the facts and relationships of those studies, truth can be discovered as they were defined within themselves by God. God created the universe and all of the divine laws that govern everything in it.

Where man gets into trouble is when he makes interpretations that swerve away from the facts, and then man makes wrong decisions based on his misinterpretations. Man came from apes. Government was designed to solve all problems. Blondes have more fun. Being good will get you into heaven. The beliefs of people are many and quite varied, and they are not all limited to theology only.

'Be not deceived,' simply means that you have access to truth through a daily Bible study, and therefore you have no excuse for being deceived, if indeed you are living a life in deception.

God cannot sin. God is able to not sin. God is light, the Father of lights. In God there is no darkness, no shadows, no uncertainty, no deception, no temptation whatsoever.

Back in the Old Testament, the High Priest wore an Ephod, and around his neck hung the breastplate of judgment or of decision. When inquiry was made of the Lord, the breastplate lit up in lights, which is plural. That lighting was called the Urim and Thummim. These terms are both plural, for several lights lit up depending on the question and the answer supplied.

Urim means lights or fire, and Thummim means perfection or completeness. Together they both mean the perfect illuminator. And that is exactly what information from God really is. With Gods wisdom, there can be no mistake, no misinterpretation, no wrong decisions.

By modifying, compromising, cancelling, changing and doing anything to the Word of God, a person is introducing shadows, darkness, lies into the truth of life. And that always leads to loss or disaster.

Within our context, God is not the temptor of sin, but the source of all good things, all perfect things. Nothing but perfection can come from God. Man, on the other hand, is his own source of temptation, lust and sin. Man is dust and nothing more.

James 1:14-15

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James 1:14-15


14 But [de] every man [hekastos] is tempted [peirazo], when he is drawn away [exelko] of [hupo] his own [idios] lust [epithumia], and [kai] enticed [deleazo].
15 Then [eita] when lust [epithumia] hath conceived [sullambano], it bringeth forth [tikto] sin [hamartia]: and [de] sin [hamartia], when it is finished [apoteleo], bringeth forth [apokueo] death [thanatos]. KJV-Interlinear


14 But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust. 15 Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death. NASB


God is not able to sin, and God is able to, not sin. Therefore, God is not the source of sin, nor even of temptation.

And here James teaches us that man is the source of his own flaws, and failures, and of sin itself. But there are levels man has to pass before being committed to sin. Mans thoughts are not automatically sin unless he passes by these various levels of commitment to his wants and desires.

Man is born with many natural wants, and needs and desires. These in themselves are not sin. They are innocent levels of consciousness.

Whether in hunger or pleasure, whether in need or entertainment, even Adam and Eve had driving forces within their nature which were not counted as sin. They had only one restriction, and that was to not eat of the forbidden fruit.

But after the fall in the Garden, then a second category of desires came onto the sin scene, and that was in response to mans attempt to cover up his flaws and drive his own destiny himself. Thus, evil was fully evolved at that point, leaving only its development to be carried out during human history.

Man can look at members of the opposite sex and enjoy their beauty. Man can look at scenic views and enjoy its beauty. Man can look at the possessions of another and enjoy their beauty. Man can do all of these and more, and still not reach the point of lust and then sin.

Here James teaches us that there is the look, then the temptation, then combined with lust, and finally the going beyond the point of temptation when the thought or desire or act becomes transformed into sin.

The look or thought may not be sin. It may simply be appreciation of something seen. But when combined with lust, or the abnormal desire, then temptation enters into the picture. This still may not be the point of sin, but man is a weak creature by his very nature, and when lust or temptation is entertained within ones mind, the line to cross for sin is almost immediate.

Within himself, man does not have the power with which to prevent himself from crossing the line of sin. Don't fool yourself. And don't be stupid and try to fool others. Life is not a game of chicken, that you can play dodge with Gods mandates.

God forbids sin, but man is up to his eyeballs in it. Adam could not resist a bite of fruit. How can you resist far greater lusts or temptations?

Quite simply, James tells us that temptation is found within us, and does not come from any outside source. It does not comes from God, and it does not come from anyone or anything else.

A beautiful person is not the source of temptation. Gold is not the source of temptation.

But when your normal desires cross the line of the abnormal, producing lust, then temptation evolves within your own soul. Persistence in that course produces sin.

Verse 14 produces an image of a double metaphor. The first is that of dragging a fish caught by a hook. The hook was concealed with bait, but the bait was so desirable the fish took the bait, thus was caught by the hidden hook and led to his ultimate demise when pulled out of the water.

The second is that of the enticements of a prostitute. The enticements entertain the desires of the young man, who becomes hooked by the bait, and thus led to his demise.

Death is the ultimate result of sin. But this is not physical death for we all sin and we do not fall down dead immediately.

Verse 15 produces a another metaphor, which is that of a spider who spins but a single strand of its web. It is thin and imperceptible and can be broken easily, but with repeated spinning's, the single thread can become a mighty cord that is not so easily broken. Thus the commitment to the disregard of truth, means the commitment to sin, and sooner or later it will be so strong in ones life that getting away from sin will be extremely difficult.

Now remember that sin is not limited to some act, but more often is that of an entire mind set which drives your pattern of life.

Death is the result. And this death is ones spiritual death, or your eviction from fellowship.

In order to get back into fellowship, you have to confess your sins. That detailed study is in 1, 2, 3 Jn.

Truth through the study of Bible doctrine, while in fellowship, is your only, repeat, your only defense against sin and a life of evil.

In life, you have growth and productivity. But in death, well a dead thing produces nothing and has nothing. And that is the ultimate reality that you must face in life. In Christ there is life, otherwise you have nothing. And the end of your life will reveal all of that to you once and for all. But why wait until it is too late to learn the truth.

James 1:13

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James 1:13


13 Let [lego] no man [medeis] say [lego] when he is tempted [peirazo], [hoti] I am tempted [peirazo] of [apo] God [theos]: for [gar] God [theos] cannot be tempted [apeirastos] [esti] with evil [kakos], neither [de] tempteth [peirazo] he [autos] [peirazo] any man [oudeis]: KJV-Interlinear


13 Let no one say when he is tempted, 'I am being tempted by God'; for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone. NASB


Excuses are easy to come by, and blaming God for ones flaws or failures in life, is the easiest thing to do. Obviously, God is not physically around to deny your excuse, in front of people.

God is not able to sin, and God is able, to not sin. He is both perfect and sovereign in His own will.

But people find it easy to excuse their life, by blaming someone else, anyone else, in order to make themselves feel better about their insecurities, or flaws, or failures in life.

However, all insecurities are caused by the lack of capacity in ones soul. Capacity to deal with the many circumstances of life, that is. And whether you are prosperous or dead poor, it makes no difference. There will always be tests of your character with regard to your environment and circumstances in life.

The world is the stage for all of the testing, and your attitude is the primary ingredient that will determine your outcomes in life.

A major part of the spiritual life is responsibility. In this life, God gives us all obligations of one sort or another. We owe a debt to Him, that is for sure. But with truth comes freedom, and with freedom comes responsibility. Truth gives us all freedom to pursue life with vigor. But that does not give you the right to abuse your freedom.

All of your decisions in life come as a result of your own thoughts. No one can enter into your soul and manipulate your thoughts.

However, just as young folks may reject authority in life and therefore submit to peer pressure as an alternative to authority, so too, all people who reject Gods Word and its authority, will find themselves subscribing to public consensus.

And all too often, the public view will sooner or later find fault in everything or anything that has absolutely nothing to do with their decisions.

An example. Government attempts to regulate business. Problems arise. Government finds fault with business and imposes more regulations. Problems arise. Government continues to find different sources of fault and the cycle continues indefinitely. Government never sees their own role as the primary ingredient for failure.

Likewise in the spiritual life. People try to define their own way through life. Problems arise. People keep on finding fault with anything or everything but themselves. The cycle continues and they never grow up spiritually.

Thus the study of the crowns we just went over briefly. These are gauges for your personal feedback. Learn them, use them. Keep your mind open and alert for flaws in the function of your spiritual life.

James 1:12

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James 1:12


12 Blessed [makarios] is the man [aner] that [hos] endureth [hupomeno] temptation [peirasmos]: for [hoti] when he is tried [dokimos] [ginomai], he shall receive [lambano] the crown [stephanos] of life [zoe], which [hos] the Lord [kurios] hath promised [epaggello] to them that love [agapao] him [autos]. KJV-Interlinear


12 Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life, which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. NASB


The key words in his verse are, blessed, endures, crown of life, and love. Nearly all of these words have been misunderstood and misapplied, making this entire verse and passage in James confusing for most folks.

First, understand that there are five crowns mentioned in the Bible.

Three of the crowns apply to ones self: the crown of victory or incorruption - 1 Cor. 9:25, the crown of life - James 1:12, Rev. 2:10-11, and the crown of righteousness - 2 Tim. 4:8. And, the other two crowns apply to others that your life may affect: the crown of rejoicing or soul winner - Phil. 4:1, 1 Thes. 2:19, and the crown of glory - 1 Pet. 5:4.

The first three crowns deal with residence in fellowship (crown of victory), testing in ones life or trials in ones life (crown of life), and the attainment of integrity or spiritual maturity (the crown of righteousness). These three crowns apply to your own self.

The last two crowns deal with bringing others to Christ or their salvation through your evangelism (the crown of rejoicing or soul winner), and your activity with regard to helping others learn doctrine and to grow up in their spiritual life (the crown of glory).

All five crowns are available to everyone for winning their possession. Crowns are representative of phenomenal rewards of the spiritual life, both in time and especially in eternity. We are warned to hold fast onto the crowns that we have, lest others may take them away.

Crowns are representations of Gods blessings or rewards, for ones attainment of these various components of the spiritual life.

The first three deal with your own spiritual life, ie., living in fellowship as much as possible, living the spiritual life through thick and thin and not falling away from your spiritual life especially when times get tough, and finally achieving spiritual maturity and holding on to it. The second two crowns deal with your interaction and help for others, whether family, friends, neighbors, or strangers.

In our passage, we are dealing with the crown of life (testing). Testing can come in many forms. For the wealthy it may deal with greed verses charity. For the poor it may deal with the frustration of life and still sticking with your Bible study. For us all, problems, disasters, tests of all sorts can come into our lives, and how we deal with them in frustration, heartache, stress, anxiety, greed, self-righteousness, and on and on, will tell the true measure of our spiritual strength.

We have already studied the definition of love in 1, 2, 3 Jn. Love is the content of the scriptures. Love is not an emotional feeling, passion, or desire. Doctrine is love, and when you have doctrine in your soul, then you have the content or principles, or mandates, etc., of love within you.

Therefore, those who pursue their spiritual life - residing in fellowship, studying, learning, applying, and growing up in their spiritual life, will have the inner resources for dealing with life and all of its difficulties.

When difficulties arise, then they will sail right through them, looking to God through doctrine, maintaining their responsibilities in life, to help them survive and thrive spiritually. To them will come the blessings of the crown of life - survival and sustaining of ones faith while under trials.

Note that these crowns are designated for believers only, and only spiritually advancing believers can achieve them. Immature or indifferent believers cannot gain them.

For anyone who has believed in Christ, but does not advance in their spiritual life, these rewards are not available. Thus the warning we find in Revelation to seize them and hold them lest someone else take them away from you.

At the Judgment Seat for Christ, we will all stand before Him for our individual evaluation. Those who have been faithful in advancing in their spiritual life, will possess these crowns, and will receive eternal rewards because of them.

Those who have not advanced in their spiritual life, will not possess the crowns and will lose their eternal rewards (not salvation though). Those who have possession of their crowns will receive the undistributed share of rewards, which are lost by those who lost their rewards (see the Parables of Christ).

So, lest your share be distributed to other mature believers, you should want to pursue your crowns and hold on to them. Thus the warning here in our verse. He who perseveres in his spiritual life, though the world hammers you, will receive credit for your crown. But, he who gets upset, blames God, quits his Bible study, gets angry, refuses to believe doctrine, rejects doctrine, doubts (as we have already studied in this chapter), will lose rewards as well as whatever rewards he has achieved in life.

The big danger in life is advancing in ones spiritual life, and then simply falling away from ones spiritual life because of frustration, anxiety, greed, hardship, etc.

The reality of life is that the world is a reflection of Satanic policies. Life is not going to be easy. Don't expect it to be. You are going to be hammered from so many directions, opinions, philosophies, disasters, that it will make your head swim. And that is why sticking with your Bible study is so important, so that you do not get blindsided and headed down the wrong path without your realizing it.

Bible doctrine gives you discernment, and crowns give you a gage (maturity awareness) to monitor your spiritual advancement and in keeping it.

James 1:11

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James 1:11


11 For [gar] the sun [helios] is no sooner risen [anatello] with [sun] a burning heat [kauson], but [kai] it withereth [xeraino] the grass [chortos], and [kai] the flower [anthos] thereof [autos] falleth [ekpipto], and [kai] the grace [euprepeia] of the fashion [prosopon] of it [autos] perisheth [apollumi]: so [houto] also [kai] shall [maraino] the rich man [plousios] fade away [maraino] in [en] his [autos] ways [poreia]. KJV-Interlinear


11 For the sun rises with a scorching wind, and withers the grass; and its flower falls off, and the beauty of its appearance is destroyed; so too the rich man in the midst of his pursuits will fade away. NASB


This metaphor makes it very clear, or at least it should make it clear, that everything in this world is transitory, fleeting, temporary, brief as it were. Nothing in this life, nothing that is, from this physical world, is permanent.

And as such, it has no intrinsic value.

The best possessions to have, are those which retain their value no matter what, and those whose value goes on forever. Nothing in life fits that description, except Bible doctrine and the blessings that accompany it.

The sun rises and falls. The sun gives life, or at least presents an environment that supports life. But, at the same time, that sun causes life to cease.

The sun combined with time are the best of friends that one could have, and they are the worst of enemies.

As the earth rotates, time becomes fleeting. The day comes on us and the day leaves us. We cannot go back to the days of earlier times. Once past, those days are gone forever.

Likewise, the possessions of this life come to us and then they leave us. Life is short in the grand scheme of things. We may think that life seems to go on slowly and forever, but once you become thirty, or forty, or fifty, or sixty, or seventy, or eighty and so forth, then the speed of life becomes a blur.

It was just yesterday when we were young. But now, where did all of that time go? How did it get past us? We still have many things we want to do in life, many things that we haven't finished.

We have hustled, and built up, and accumulated all that we have. We have become successful to some degree, and yet what is it all for? Even young folks believe that they have all the time in the world to accomplish their goals. They don't.

There are two categories of possessions available to each one of us in life. There are possessions which will be ours forever, and possessions that will only be temporary.

God gave us all, three assets with which to invest during our life - time, volition and doctrine. Everyone has possession of these three things. Most use their time to pursue temporary things. Some are very successful at it and most are not.

Then there are those who use their time to pursue Bible doctrine - learning it, utilizing it, nurturing it so to speak, and they in turn build up possessions which are permanent within their soul. These possessions last forever and not only that, but these possessions become the basis for wealth blessings in heaven in the next life. It is those blessings that will be with you forever. That alone makes them phenomenally valuable. More valuable than all of the physical wealth on this planet combined.

Pursue worldly things, and ignore God and your spiritual life, and you will end up life with nothing, regardless of what you are able to accumulate in life.

Pursue Bible doctrine and your spiritual life, and no matter what you otherwise are able to gain in this life, if anything, you will be guaranteed a phenomenally successful life in eternity. Because eternity depends on your spiritual possessions not your physical possessions.

James 1:9-10

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James 1:9-10


9 [de] Let [kauchaomai] the brother [adelphos] of low degree [tapeinos] rejoice [kauchaomai] in [en] that he [autos] is exalted [hupsos]:
10 But [de] the rich [plousios], in [en] that he [autos] is made low [tapeinosis]: because [hoti] as [hos] the flower [anthos] of the grass [chortos] he shall pass away [parerchomai]. KJV-Interlinear


9 But let the brother of humble circumstances glory in his high position; 10 and let the rich man glory in his humiliation, because like flowering grass he will pass away. NASB


In life, there is the rich man and there is the poor man. But life has two components to it, the temporal or carnal side, and the spiritual side.

Both of these sides have a rich element as well as a poor element. But which is the better of the two?

In the carnal world, prosperity and wealth come only in the form of things like money, property, even in things such as entertainment. But the down side of these things is that they are temporary at their very best. When a person dies, all of them vanish from his possession. Even circumstances in life can take them away, as in disasters.

In the spiritual side, prosperity and wealth, even happiness in every possible structure, are formed as a part of the soul. These things are spiritual and therefore eternal in nature. Once you possess them, they can never be taken away. Death has no power over the content of the soul, therefore death cannot take anything (in your soul), away from you.

But the advantage of the spiritual side of life, is that it always overflows into the temporal or physical side. That cannot be said of the reverse. Things of the carnal side cannot overflow into the spiritual side.

Spiritual prosperity and blessing always affect the physical side of life. And their affect takes effect regardless of your situation in life.

You can be as poor as a church mouse, but rich in doctrine and be far better off than the wealthiest billionaire. Because remember, your wealth in doctrine will extend into eternity and that will convert into phenomenal wealth forever. The billionaire will only have his money in this life and then he will die and have nothing.

Unless of course, he is a spiritually mature believer. Then that would be the best of both worlds.

Unfortunately most wealthy types, lack Bible doctrine and spiritual growth. Likewise most non-wealthy types lack Bible doctrine as well.

The worse possible situation that a person can be in, is to live in utter poverty now, reject Christ and not be saved, and then ultimately go into the Lake of Fire. That is the quintessence of being a loser.

The best possible life is to be saved, be spiritually mature, and be a multi-billionaire, then in eternity be phenomenally wealthy to boot.

But most of us will not fit into that last category. The next best thing, is to be saved and advance to spiritual maturity. Then regardless of your life, your eternity will be beyond imagination.

The brother of glory, is the believer who has advanced to spiritual maturity. His high position is in Christ, and not necessarily in this world. His glory will continue on forever.

The rich man, is the one who glories in his earthly riches, whatever they may be, to the exclusion of God, Christ, or doctrine. They are for a time and then they will fade and die out, just as the grasses of the field in the Autumn of the year.

But unlike the grass, which may come back in the Spring, the Autumn is the death and final time for the person leaving this world. His earthly wealth does not come back to him in heaven, or anywhere else for that matter.

James 1:7-8

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James 1:7-8


7 For [gar] let [oiomai] not [me] that [ekeinos] man [anthropos] think [oiomai] that [hoti] he shall receive [lambano] any thing [tis] of [para] the Lord [kurios].
8 A double minded [dipsuchos] man [aner] is unstable [akatastatos] in [en] all [pas] his [autos] ways [hodos]. KJV-Interlinear


7 For let not that man expect that he will receive anything from the Lord, 8 being a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. NASB


Now for the person who waivers in their thinking, here is a further explanation of the doubtful person.

'Double-minded,' refers to two souls. 'Two souls,' is a reference to the two ways in which people can think. Or rather the two patterns of thought which people can pursue.

The first is the carnal pattern, or the pattern of thought, which occurs outside of the fellowship sphere.

The second is the spiritual pattern, or the pattern of thought, which occurs only while resident inside of the fellowship sphere.

Thus two souls, so to speak.

We all exist in one of two environments in life. The carnal environment or the spiritual environment.

The carnal environment is the one into which we are all born. The spiritual environment is the one in which only believers can occupy, and only by way of confession, 1 Jn. 1:9.

All spiritual phenomena occurs inside the spiritual environment. Your spiritual life exists only while you are inside of the spiritual environment. We also call that environment, the fellowship sphere. That is, the confession procedure brings you into fellowship with God.

All spiritual growth, all spiritual production in the life, all blessing that comes from God, occurs only while you are in fellowship. That is spiritual blessings, not the common blessings that are available to all of humanity, both believer and unbeliever.

The double-minded person is one who cannot seem to get their spiritual priorities in order. They are the doubtful ones. They are those who compromise Gods principles of life. They are the ones who modify Gods principles of life. They are the ones who are indifferent, apathetic, divisive, and so forth. They pursue things divine, of their own invention, or things that are more consistent with their personal views. They pursue things that are more convenient to how they want life to be in their own eyes.

We all have the double-minded potential. Most, unfortunately, emphasize their carnal side rather than their spiritual side, all the while calling their carnal side, spiritual.

And what does that type of person receive from God, in the way of prayer hearing, in the way of spiritual blessing? Nothing.

James 1:6

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James 1:6


6 But [de] let him ask [aiteo] in [en] faith [pistis], nothing [medeis] wavering [diakrino]. For [gar] he that wavereth [diakrino] is like [eiko] a wave [kludon] of the sea [thalassa] driven with the wind [anemizo] and [kai] tossed [rhipizo]. KJV-Interlinear


6 But let him ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. NASB


Doubting here means to withdraw from, or to oppose, to discriminate, to decide, or to hesitate, to contend, to make, to differ, to discern, doubt, judge, be partial, stagger, to waver. In other words, anything which would present an attitude in opposition to, or indifferent to, or apathetic toward, or to compromise or modify that which comes from God.

'Asking in faith' means to be one-hundred percent in agreement with God and His policies.

Now a quick note here. There are a lot of religions out there, a lot of churches, a lot of views as to what the Bible says and means. Interpretations are a dime a dozen.

If you are Mormon, then you may believe in one set of principles. If you are Amish, Catholic, Baptist, Presbyterian or whatever, then you will have a different set of principles that you believe in. So which are the right ones to follow?

And actually, that is an easier question to answer than you think.

Truth makes itself evident to anyone and everyone. But truth (Gods truth) has to be pursued. And remember that truth comes from God, it is never discovered by man. So you will never find it on your own. God will reveal it in due time, when you pursue your spiritual life.

Your biggest single hurdle, is to stick with your studies, regardless of how you feel about the subject matter being studied. Keeping an open mind is a fundamental principle of Bible study and the spiritual life.

So if we happen to mention abortion, or global warming, or praying to angels, or some other hot issue that doesn't sit well with you, all you have to do is tolerate the study or comments, and not quit your Bible study. That is a part of your perseverance testing. God will reveal the truth of a matter in due course.

God reveals all truth to you. It is the Holy Spirit who actually performs this revelation process of doctrine. All you really are doing is listening or reading (while is fellowship), and then believing (or not believing). The Holy Spirit makes all things clear to your mind. The truth will stand out as truth, and the lies will stand out as lies.

Any doubting or agitation you have toward truth will make you just like the waves of the ocean, never still, never stable, always being agitated by the wind and currents. Always being driven and influenced by outside forces.

Rejection of doctrine in whatever form, produces instability in your life. Without truth in your life, you will never find stability. You cannot find it without Gods truth inside of your soul. You will always be driven by others.