Thursday, August 21, 2008

James 3:14-15

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James 3:14-15


14 But [de] if [ei] ye have [echo] bitter [pikros] envying [zelos] and [kai] strife [eritheia] in [en] your [humon] hearts [kardia], glory [katakauchaomai] not [me], and [kai] lie not [pseudomai] against [kata] the truth [aletheia].
15 This [houtos] wisdom [sophia] descendeth [esti] [katerchomai] not [ou] from above [anothen], but [alla] is earthly [epigeios], sensual [psuchikos], devilish [daimoniodes]. KJV-Interlinear



14 But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, do not be arrogant and so lie against the truth. 15 This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, natural, demonic. NASB


Bitterness, envying, strife, jealousy, and selfishness are all a part of the weaknesses making up the sin nature.

Sin begets sin begets sin, and just as a cancer that goes on and on without being checked, sin will continue like a parasite, until both the parasite and the host are totally consumed and dead. There is only one end for sin and the one who pursues it.

There are two types of wisdom - spiritual wisdom which is the only legitimate wisdom, and carnal wisdom which is totally false.

The false wisdom, or carnal wisdom, does not come from Heaven. It is, as James states here, earthly, natural, and demonic.

Earthly speaks to the carnal nature of humanity, or the nature which exists outside of the spiritual realm. The non-spiritual aspects of ones existence.

Natural speaks to the animalistic attributes of ones character. The sensual attributes, the natural drives of hunger, warmth, territorial characteristics, dominance, aggressive behaviors, lust drives and so forth from the view of an animal, totally apart from reason or human purpose.

Demonic speaks to the policies of Satan, which are evil. Anything that is in total opposition to truth.

So, there is no honor in the wisdom of this world. It is totally corrupt and has no good value.

All earthly views are dishonest and lies. You cannot modify or compromise the truth, which comes from God. And all attempts to utilize truth, by modifying it even a little bit in order to justify or make convenient your beliefs, results in your pretense of wisdom, when in fact your are committing yourself totally to a world of delusion.

There is only one environment that is real and true and that is the spiritual realm. Everything else is a divorce from reality.