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James 3:18
18 And [de] the fruit [karpos] of righteousness [dikaiosune] is sown [speiro] in [en] peace [eirene] of them that make [poieo] peace [eirene]. KJV-Interlinear
18 And the seed whose fruit is righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace. NASB
The wisdom of the world is sown in strife, by those who pursue strife or selfish ends, and its only result is more strife, conflict, contention, dissension, and such .
The wisdom from heaven is sown by those who pursue Gods Word, and the result of their activity is peace, calm, harmony, prosperity, security, and ultimately happiness.
Our objective in this life, in this world, is not to become successful, wealthy, popular, influential, and so forth as the world defines these things. Not that these things are bad in themselves, for they are not inherently bad.
But, our objective in this life is to achieve peace. And peace achievement comes through spiritual growth to spiritual maturity.
All of those other things may come to you, if that is Gods will, because He may use you in achieving some other purpose of His, in His divine plan for human history.
Certainly all of those things, and much more, will be made available in eternity and in phenomenal abundance, for that is one of our goals in our eternal life (to be abundantly happy and more), which exists in eternity only.
While in this world, problems do exist, and misery seems to be the centerpiece of life, but then, this life is temporary only. This life in this world is our training ground, our learning center, our growth environment, preparing us for the next life.
The wisdom of this world produces only one thing, and that is a false sense of peace, a delusion, unreasonable expectations, disorientation to reality, a guaranteed path to misery and failure in life.
The wisdom of God, produces genuine peace, a relaxed mental attitude, poise, stability, and more. And eventually, phenomenal blessings that not one person, not the whole of humanity, can even begin to imagine.
Showing posts with label James 3. Show all posts
Showing posts with label James 3. Show all posts
Sunday, August 24, 2008
Saturday, August 23, 2008
James 3:17
This study is from an on going online Daily Bible Study at:
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James 3:17
17 But [de] the wisdom [sophia] that is from above [anothen] is [esti] first [proton] pure [men] [hagnos], then [epeita] peaceable [eirenikos], gentle [epieikes], and easy to be intreated [eupeithes], full [mestos] of mercy [eleos] and [kai] good [agathos] fruits [karpos], without partiality [adiakritos], and [kai] without hypocrisy [anupokritos]. KJV-Interlinear
17 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy. NASB
The differences between the two wisdoms, worldly and spiritual, are phenomenal.
Worldly wisdom comes from evil and promotes evil, and there is nothing good about it. Even those who disagree with this statement cannot argue against the previous verses we have studied. However, they can argue over their interpretations, but there again, they use earthly wisdom or reason, in order to justify their position, and that in itself finds its origins in evil.
In this verse, James explains the differences.
Legitimate wisdom, comes only from heaven, from God, and we become aware of it through our study of the scriptures.
Wisdom is pure. And this simply means that it is without flaws, imperfections, charges of a criminal nature, and so forth. Earthly wisdom is embroiled in deceit, intimidation, threats, and strife, and cannot exist without these things.
Wisdom from above makes a person pure, unlike some religions that seem to believe that a person can become at peace with themselves through knowledge or oneness with nature.
In the case of doctrine, Gods objective for your life is to make you pure through doctrine. His objective in the Christian life is not to make you more intelligent, not to make you more witty, not to make you more brilliant, not to make you more memorable, not to make you more imaginative. Doctrine is there to produce in you, a mature spiritual life.
Being more competitive, intelligent, witty and so forth are earthly characteristics which are used by earthly minded folks in order to draw distinctions between themselves and others. Thus prejudice, bias, elitism, and such come about.
Purity of soul comes from doctrine in the soul and peace comes as a result of that spiritual growth. All fulfilling life comes from God, and from Gods design. Purity is related to the content of your soul, not from any overt works you might be able to perform yourself. Your spiritual actions will follow your spiritual growth. Growth does not result from actions, however actions can serve to reinforce your learning process as you process your life through the cycle of wisdom.
Once your spiritual growth begins to advance, then your life begins its total transformation. Doctrine first, then comes peace, humility, gentleness, reasonableness, tolerance, patience, poise, consistence in your daily life.
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James 3:17
17 But [de] the wisdom [sophia] that is from above [anothen] is [esti] first [proton] pure [men] [hagnos], then [epeita] peaceable [eirenikos], gentle [epieikes], and easy to be intreated [eupeithes], full [mestos] of mercy [eleos] and [kai] good [agathos] fruits [karpos], without partiality [adiakritos], and [kai] without hypocrisy [anupokritos]. KJV-Interlinear
17 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy. NASB
The differences between the two wisdoms, worldly and spiritual, are phenomenal.
Worldly wisdom comes from evil and promotes evil, and there is nothing good about it. Even those who disagree with this statement cannot argue against the previous verses we have studied. However, they can argue over their interpretations, but there again, they use earthly wisdom or reason, in order to justify their position, and that in itself finds its origins in evil.
In this verse, James explains the differences.
Legitimate wisdom, comes only from heaven, from God, and we become aware of it through our study of the scriptures.
Wisdom is pure. And this simply means that it is without flaws, imperfections, charges of a criminal nature, and so forth. Earthly wisdom is embroiled in deceit, intimidation, threats, and strife, and cannot exist without these things.
Wisdom from above makes a person pure, unlike some religions that seem to believe that a person can become at peace with themselves through knowledge or oneness with nature.
In the case of doctrine, Gods objective for your life is to make you pure through doctrine. His objective in the Christian life is not to make you more intelligent, not to make you more witty, not to make you more brilliant, not to make you more memorable, not to make you more imaginative. Doctrine is there to produce in you, a mature spiritual life.
Being more competitive, intelligent, witty and so forth are earthly characteristics which are used by earthly minded folks in order to draw distinctions between themselves and others. Thus prejudice, bias, elitism, and such come about.
Purity of soul comes from doctrine in the soul and peace comes as a result of that spiritual growth. All fulfilling life comes from God, and from Gods design. Purity is related to the content of your soul, not from any overt works you might be able to perform yourself. Your spiritual actions will follow your spiritual growth. Growth does not result from actions, however actions can serve to reinforce your learning process as you process your life through the cycle of wisdom.
Once your spiritual growth begins to advance, then your life begins its total transformation. Doctrine first, then comes peace, humility, gentleness, reasonableness, tolerance, patience, poise, consistence in your daily life.
Friday, August 22, 2008
James 3:16
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James 3:16
16 For [gar] where [hopou] envying [zelos] and [kai] strife [eritheia] is, there [ekei] is confusion [akatastasia] and [kai] every [pas] evil [phaulos] work [pragma]. KJV-Interlinear
16 For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil thing. NASB
The granddaddy of all sins is arrogance. Out of it, all evil and corruption flow. Envy is one of the worst of the sins, Prov. 6:16-19.
Out of it comes jealousy, greed, desire, resentment, and sooner or later, strife, trouble, conflict, discord, contention, dissension, opposition and rebellion.
These are the products of worldly wisdom. Nothing good ever comes from those who present themselves as wise in the world, when in fact they are not wise at all.
Worldly wisdom is what is left over when spiritual wisdom is disregarded.
We have, every four years in our country, national elections. These almost always make for great examples of worldly wisdom and its repercussions. Public opinion this year is saturated with worldy wisdom.
When doctrine is ignored, then people flock to the only thing that is left - worldly wisdom, and as we have read, the result will always be disaster if worldly wisdom prevails. Fortunately we have many elected officials, many governments (local, state, and federal) so the impact frrom any given region can be mitigated somewhat.
But when the consensus of an entire nation moves toward the wisdom of the world, then the real trouble will become apparent, sooner than later.
But God is gracious, and He has given us such a vast economy and complex system of society, that problems can be slowed down to some degree.
But, James paints the picture of the worst possible result of a society pursuing worldly wisdom. The hope of a society, in false wisdom, will turn to blame when things do not occur as they are expected to. The blame will turn into an even greater resolve to force worldly wisdom to work. Those failures will turn into greater problems, then disillusionment, and anger, and hate, and so forth.
And, as James states here very clearly, every evil thing will result. That is the worst possible situation that a person, group, or nation can find themselves in.
There are two opinions in existence - truth and evil. Truth comes from God, and evil comes from Satan.
For every principle of truth, Satan has invented a counter argument. And as evil takes hold of a society, the attacks against the principles of truth, increase dramatically, even to the point of the absurd. Evil will try with all of its might to destroy truth principles and all that they stand for, and with that destruction, society itself is destroyed.
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James 3:16
16 For [gar] where [hopou] envying [zelos] and [kai] strife [eritheia] is, there [ekei] is confusion [akatastasia] and [kai] every [pas] evil [phaulos] work [pragma]. KJV-Interlinear
16 For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil thing. NASB
The granddaddy of all sins is arrogance. Out of it, all evil and corruption flow. Envy is one of the worst of the sins, Prov. 6:16-19.
Out of it comes jealousy, greed, desire, resentment, and sooner or later, strife, trouble, conflict, discord, contention, dissension, opposition and rebellion.
These are the products of worldly wisdom. Nothing good ever comes from those who present themselves as wise in the world, when in fact they are not wise at all.
Worldly wisdom is what is left over when spiritual wisdom is disregarded.
We have, every four years in our country, national elections. These almost always make for great examples of worldly wisdom and its repercussions. Public opinion this year is saturated with worldy wisdom.
When doctrine is ignored, then people flock to the only thing that is left - worldly wisdom, and as we have read, the result will always be disaster if worldly wisdom prevails. Fortunately we have many elected officials, many governments (local, state, and federal) so the impact frrom any given region can be mitigated somewhat.
But when the consensus of an entire nation moves toward the wisdom of the world, then the real trouble will become apparent, sooner than later.
But God is gracious, and He has given us such a vast economy and complex system of society, that problems can be slowed down to some degree.
But, James paints the picture of the worst possible result of a society pursuing worldly wisdom. The hope of a society, in false wisdom, will turn to blame when things do not occur as they are expected to. The blame will turn into an even greater resolve to force worldly wisdom to work. Those failures will turn into greater problems, then disillusionment, and anger, and hate, and so forth.
And, as James states here very clearly, every evil thing will result. That is the worst possible situation that a person, group, or nation can find themselves in.
There are two opinions in existence - truth and evil. Truth comes from God, and evil comes from Satan.
For every principle of truth, Satan has invented a counter argument. And as evil takes hold of a society, the attacks against the principles of truth, increase dramatically, even to the point of the absurd. Evil will try with all of its might to destroy truth principles and all that they stand for, and with that destruction, society itself is destroyed.
Thursday, August 21, 2008
James 3:14-15
This study is from an on going online Daily Bible Study at:
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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.
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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.
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
James 3:13
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James 3:13
13 Who [tis] is a wise man [sophos] and [kai] endued with knowledge [epistemon] among [en] you [humin]? let him shew [deiknuo] out of [ek] a good [kalos] conversation [anastrophe] his [autos] works [ergon] with [en] meekness [prautes] of wisdom [sophia]. KJV-Interlinear
13 Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him show by his good behavior his deeds in the gentleness of wisdom. NASB
Knowledge comes easily, wisdom not so easy. Knowledge is the mere accumulation of details and can easily be faked, abused, made ambiguous, and more often molded into whatever one wants it to become. Not so with wisdom.
Knowledge is a favorite tool of ego driven folks, scholars, politicians, celebrities, or want-to-be's, who perceive themselves as eminent, elite, or otherwise above all of the rest of us.
Their outward approbations are more important to them, than the correct use of their knowledge.
And James here, challenges us all who wish to be wise, to make our wisdom from understanding, to be consistent with our daily life. To approach wisdom from a life of humility rather than from attention getting ego's.
Wisdom comes from the proper application of truth to life. Wisdom comes from an understanding of knowledge, and how knowledge correlates with the realities of life. Knowledge understanding comes from the correct interpretation of facts with respect to reality.
In life there are two categories of wisdom - that which is true, and that which is false. All true wisdom comes from heaven. All false wisdom comes not from heaven, but from the source of mans abuse of truth.
All true wisdom is derived out from the spiritual sphere in which God wills us all to live. We call that sphere, fellowship.
All false wisdom comes from outside of that spiritual sphere.
All true wisdom comes only from God, through doctrine, by means of the Holy Spirit, while you are resident in fellowship, learning, growing, applying, understanding and repeating this whole process day in and day out all of your life.
All false wisdom comes from the source of the sin nature, and originates outside of the fellowship sphere.
Being double minded is the instability of a life fluctuating in and out of fellowship, sometimes operating in accordance with Gods will, sometimes operating outside of Gods will.
The more fluctuation in ones life means greater instability, greater arrogance, greater self-centeredness. Less fluctuation in ones spiritual life means greater stability, greater humility, greater poise, less need for attention, and greater tolerance (gentleness) toward life in general.
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James 3:13
13 Who [tis] is a wise man [sophos] and [kai] endued with knowledge [epistemon] among [en] you [humin]? let him shew [deiknuo] out of [ek] a good [kalos] conversation [anastrophe] his [autos] works [ergon] with [en] meekness [prautes] of wisdom [sophia]. KJV-Interlinear
13 Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him show by his good behavior his deeds in the gentleness of wisdom. NASB
Knowledge comes easily, wisdom not so easy. Knowledge is the mere accumulation of details and can easily be faked, abused, made ambiguous, and more often molded into whatever one wants it to become. Not so with wisdom.
Knowledge is a favorite tool of ego driven folks, scholars, politicians, celebrities, or want-to-be's, who perceive themselves as eminent, elite, or otherwise above all of the rest of us.
Their outward approbations are more important to them, than the correct use of their knowledge.
And James here, challenges us all who wish to be wise, to make our wisdom from understanding, to be consistent with our daily life. To approach wisdom from a life of humility rather than from attention getting ego's.
Wisdom comes from the proper application of truth to life. Wisdom comes from an understanding of knowledge, and how knowledge correlates with the realities of life. Knowledge understanding comes from the correct interpretation of facts with respect to reality.
In life there are two categories of wisdom - that which is true, and that which is false. All true wisdom comes from heaven. All false wisdom comes not from heaven, but from the source of mans abuse of truth.
All true wisdom is derived out from the spiritual sphere in which God wills us all to live. We call that sphere, fellowship.
All false wisdom comes from outside of that spiritual sphere.
All true wisdom comes only from God, through doctrine, by means of the Holy Spirit, while you are resident in fellowship, learning, growing, applying, understanding and repeating this whole process day in and day out all of your life.
All false wisdom comes from the source of the sin nature, and originates outside of the fellowship sphere.
Being double minded is the instability of a life fluctuating in and out of fellowship, sometimes operating in accordance with Gods will, sometimes operating outside of Gods will.
The more fluctuation in ones life means greater instability, greater arrogance, greater self-centeredness. Less fluctuation in ones spiritual life means greater stability, greater humility, greater poise, less need for attention, and greater tolerance (gentleness) toward life in general.
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
James 3:11-12
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James 3:11-12
11 Doth [meti] a fountain [pege] send forth [bruo] at [ek] the same [autos] place [ope] sweet [glukus] water and [kai] bitter [pikros]?
12 Can [me] [dunamai] the fig tree [suke], my [mou] brethren [adelphos], bear [poieo] olive berries [elaia]? either [e] a vine [ampelos], figs [sukon]? so [houto] can no [oudeis] fountain [pege] both yield [poieo] salt [halukos] water [hudor] and [kai] fresh [glukus]. KJV-Interlinear
11 Does a fountain send out from the same opening both fresh and bitter water? 12 Can a fig tree, my brethren, produce olives, or a vine produce figs? Neither can salt water produce fresh. NASB
In the natural and normal course of things, you will not find absurdities in nature, as you find them in mankind.
James gives us just a couple of examples.
The springs of water that come out of the ground, provide the same type of water from the same hole. Springs do not pour out one type of water and then another type and then back to the first. Nor do two types come out in a mixed fashion.
What do fig trees produce? Figs. What do olive trees produce? Olives. What do grape vines produce? Grapes.
Have you ever seen a grape vine produce anything else? Corn perhaps!
And this all points to Gods design in creation, for certain things to function in a certain way, and it all comes together perfectly, naturally and normally.
But then, man comes along and functions abnormally. Man takes creation and tries to modify it, to improve on it, to redefine it. And what happens? Things get all messed up.
James warned us that we should not even try to become instructors, leaders, teachers, people of influence, because that position comes with a huge responsibility. People who try to weld their influence on others, in whatever way, risk increased discipline and evaluation tests from Christ, when they stand before His Judgment Seat.
God designed the tongue for the dissemination of truth, not as a tool for promoting ones evil agenda. And all verbal expressions which do not line up with truth, are in effect, evil.
God designed the perfect tool for communication, and man has taken that tool and used it for ego approbations, ruthless tyrannies, malicious prejudices and gossip, for self-advancement at the expense of others, for deception and propaganda, for fraud, for all manner of lies and wickedness.
That which is impossible in nature, should also be viewed as absurd in human behavior. But then, how many will nod their head in agreement, but go right back to their same former behaviors?
How many live their life in fellowship (very few), and how many live their life under the influence of the sin nature (most everyone)? And you, do you follow Gods design or the absurd?
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James 3:11-12
11 Doth [meti] a fountain [pege] send forth [bruo] at [ek] the same [autos] place [ope] sweet [glukus] water and [kai] bitter [pikros]?
12 Can [me] [dunamai] the fig tree [suke], my [mou] brethren [adelphos], bear [poieo] olive berries [elaia]? either [e] a vine [ampelos], figs [sukon]? so [houto] can no [oudeis] fountain [pege] both yield [poieo] salt [halukos] water [hudor] and [kai] fresh [glukus]. KJV-Interlinear
11 Does a fountain send out from the same opening both fresh and bitter water? 12 Can a fig tree, my brethren, produce olives, or a vine produce figs? Neither can salt water produce fresh. NASB
In the natural and normal course of things, you will not find absurdities in nature, as you find them in mankind.
James gives us just a couple of examples.
The springs of water that come out of the ground, provide the same type of water from the same hole. Springs do not pour out one type of water and then another type and then back to the first. Nor do two types come out in a mixed fashion.
What do fig trees produce? Figs. What do olive trees produce? Olives. What do grape vines produce? Grapes.
Have you ever seen a grape vine produce anything else? Corn perhaps!
And this all points to Gods design in creation, for certain things to function in a certain way, and it all comes together perfectly, naturally and normally.
But then, man comes along and functions abnormally. Man takes creation and tries to modify it, to improve on it, to redefine it. And what happens? Things get all messed up.
James warned us that we should not even try to become instructors, leaders, teachers, people of influence, because that position comes with a huge responsibility. People who try to weld their influence on others, in whatever way, risk increased discipline and evaluation tests from Christ, when they stand before His Judgment Seat.
God designed the tongue for the dissemination of truth, not as a tool for promoting ones evil agenda. And all verbal expressions which do not line up with truth, are in effect, evil.
God designed the perfect tool for communication, and man has taken that tool and used it for ego approbations, ruthless tyrannies, malicious prejudices and gossip, for self-advancement at the expense of others, for deception and propaganda, for fraud, for all manner of lies and wickedness.
That which is impossible in nature, should also be viewed as absurd in human behavior. But then, how many will nod their head in agreement, but go right back to their same former behaviors?
How many live their life in fellowship (very few), and how many live their life under the influence of the sin nature (most everyone)? And you, do you follow Gods design or the absurd?
Monday, August 18, 2008
James 3:9-10
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James 3:9-10
9 Therewith [en] [autos] bless we [eulogeo] God [theos], even [kai] the Father [pater]; and [kai] therewith [en] [autos] curse we [kataraomai] men [anthropos], which [ho] are made [ginomai] after [kata] the similitude [homoiosis] of God [theos].
10 Out of [ek] the same [autos] mouth [stoma] proceedeth [exerchomai] blessing [eulogia] and [kai] cursing [katara]. My [mou] brethren [adelphos], these things [tauta] ought [chre] not [ou] so [houto] to be [ginomai]. KJV-Interlinear
9 With it we bless our Lord and Father; and with it we curse men, who have been made in the likeness of God; 10 from the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be this way. NASB
Out of the same mouth can come courtesy or rudeness. And odd as it should seem, we can apply courtesy or rudeness to the same creatures that God, Himself, has designed.
Our differences in opinion are usually directed based on our subjective views of others. Thus James has been reminding us in this chapter and the last, to not tolerate or use bias or prejudice, or any form of unfair practice toward others.
Any and all sin is directed toward God. Any and all sin may be aimed at people or attitudes and such, but God is the author and designer of creation, so any complaints we may have, any opinions we may adopt, any ill feelings we may harbor, are a direct insult toward Gods design.
This will be explained more, when we get to verse 13 and on from there.
But, our double sided views of life come as a result of the existence of the sin nature within us. The sin nature is something ingrained in the body, not the soul. It has an influence on our soul with regard to what we believe and such. But when we die, and when our soul leaves the body, the sin nature remains with the body and is destroyed as the body decays.
Our soul sails off to heaven leaving the sin nature behind for good.
But, even though the sin nature is not a part of the soul, we still face life with decisions made from our own free will. God gives us all choices and in life we all choose of our own free will.
We cannot blame our predicaments on the sin nature, because we do have the ability to not listen to it. God has given us all the ability, through doctrine, to permanently run the influence of the sin nature out of our life, but of course its path is soooo easy to follow, and its enticements are soooo enticing.
And, rather than following the divine rules of authority and truth, we generally follow the counter authority called peer pressure and popularity, and follow the world in its views. So out of the same mouth, views are directed from the soul (designed by God) and from the sin nature (the choices of man).
And why is this? Because we choose it to be so. We were given something beautiful and make it into something rotten. And we do it all on our own, and by choice.
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James 3:9-10
9 Therewith [en] [autos] bless we [eulogeo] God [theos], even [kai] the Father [pater]; and [kai] therewith [en] [autos] curse we [kataraomai] men [anthropos], which [ho] are made [ginomai] after [kata] the similitude [homoiosis] of God [theos].
10 Out of [ek] the same [autos] mouth [stoma] proceedeth [exerchomai] blessing [eulogia] and [kai] cursing [katara]. My [mou] brethren [adelphos], these things [tauta] ought [chre] not [ou] so [houto] to be [ginomai]. KJV-Interlinear
9 With it we bless our Lord and Father; and with it we curse men, who have been made in the likeness of God; 10 from the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be this way. NASB
Out of the same mouth can come courtesy or rudeness. And odd as it should seem, we can apply courtesy or rudeness to the same creatures that God, Himself, has designed.
Our differences in opinion are usually directed based on our subjective views of others. Thus James has been reminding us in this chapter and the last, to not tolerate or use bias or prejudice, or any form of unfair practice toward others.
Any and all sin is directed toward God. Any and all sin may be aimed at people or attitudes and such, but God is the author and designer of creation, so any complaints we may have, any opinions we may adopt, any ill feelings we may harbor, are a direct insult toward Gods design.
This will be explained more, when we get to verse 13 and on from there.
But, our double sided views of life come as a result of the existence of the sin nature within us. The sin nature is something ingrained in the body, not the soul. It has an influence on our soul with regard to what we believe and such. But when we die, and when our soul leaves the body, the sin nature remains with the body and is destroyed as the body decays.
Our soul sails off to heaven leaving the sin nature behind for good.
But, even though the sin nature is not a part of the soul, we still face life with decisions made from our own free will. God gives us all choices and in life we all choose of our own free will.
We cannot blame our predicaments on the sin nature, because we do have the ability to not listen to it. God has given us all the ability, through doctrine, to permanently run the influence of the sin nature out of our life, but of course its path is soooo easy to follow, and its enticements are soooo enticing.
And, rather than following the divine rules of authority and truth, we generally follow the counter authority called peer pressure and popularity, and follow the world in its views. So out of the same mouth, views are directed from the soul (designed by God) and from the sin nature (the choices of man).
And why is this? Because we choose it to be so. We were given something beautiful and make it into something rotten. And we do it all on our own, and by choice.
Sunday, August 17, 2008
James 3:8
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James 3:8
8 But [de] the tongue [glossa] can [dunamai] no [oudeis] man [anthropos] tame [damazo]; it is an unruly [akataschetos] evil [kakos], full [mestos] of deadly [thanatephoros] poison [ios]. KJV-Interlinear
8 But no one can tame the tongue; it is a restless evil and full of deadly poison. NASB
No one, that is, no one under creation, can tame the tongue. No one possesses the ability to bring their own tongue under total control. Why?
For one thing, the tongue is a representation, or the manifestation, of the content of your soul. What you think, you eventually speak. And what you think is influenced by what you have learned in life. And what you have learned in life influences what you believe.
There are only two sources of influence which can affect your life - the carnal side which is run by the sin nature, and the spiritual side which is run by the Holy Spirit through Bible doctrine.
Everything which is bad in life, and eventually comes out of your mouth, comes from your sin nature.
Nothing bad will ever come out of the spiritual side. By definition, that is an impossibility. The spiritual side of your life is the state of perfection, the state of fellowship with God, the environment of your relationship with God.
God can have nothing to do with sin, so the spiritual side must exist within a state of sinless perfection. This is accomplished with confession (to God the Father), and it is made possible by confession, because Christ paid all of the costs associated with sin and death.
The state of the sin nature, is a state of deadly poison. The meaning of 'ios' is the type of poison which comes from a deadly and fatal snakebite, from which there is no recovery.
Living outside of the spiritual life, means that you are living in a jungle environment in which total failure is your only destiny.
Life under the sin nature is deadly, guaranteed failure, and from your own effort and energy, you will never change its nature. You can't.
In order to defeat the sin nature, you need something that is greater than it. That greater source is Christ, doctrine, and a functioning spiritual life. Which, by the way, all come from God, not you.
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James 3:8
8 But [de] the tongue [glossa] can [dunamai] no [oudeis] man [anthropos] tame [damazo]; it is an unruly [akataschetos] evil [kakos], full [mestos] of deadly [thanatephoros] poison [ios]. KJV-Interlinear
8 But no one can tame the tongue; it is a restless evil and full of deadly poison. NASB
No one, that is, no one under creation, can tame the tongue. No one possesses the ability to bring their own tongue under total control. Why?
For one thing, the tongue is a representation, or the manifestation, of the content of your soul. What you think, you eventually speak. And what you think is influenced by what you have learned in life. And what you have learned in life influences what you believe.
There are only two sources of influence which can affect your life - the carnal side which is run by the sin nature, and the spiritual side which is run by the Holy Spirit through Bible doctrine.
Everything which is bad in life, and eventually comes out of your mouth, comes from your sin nature.
Nothing bad will ever come out of the spiritual side. By definition, that is an impossibility. The spiritual side of your life is the state of perfection, the state of fellowship with God, the environment of your relationship with God.
God can have nothing to do with sin, so the spiritual side must exist within a state of sinless perfection. This is accomplished with confession (to God the Father), and it is made possible by confession, because Christ paid all of the costs associated with sin and death.
The state of the sin nature, is a state of deadly poison. The meaning of 'ios' is the type of poison which comes from a deadly and fatal snakebite, from which there is no recovery.
Living outside of the spiritual life, means that you are living in a jungle environment in which total failure is your only destiny.
Life under the sin nature is deadly, guaranteed failure, and from your own effort and energy, you will never change its nature. You can't.
In order to defeat the sin nature, you need something that is greater than it. That greater source is Christ, doctrine, and a functioning spiritual life. Which, by the way, all come from God, not you.
Saturday, August 16, 2008
James 3:7
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James 3:7
7 For [gar] every [pas] kind [phusis] of beasts [therion], and [te] [kai] of birds [peteinon], and [te] of serpents [herpeton], and [kai] of things in the sea [enalios], is tamed [damazo], and [kai] hath been tamed [damazo] of mankind [phusis] [anthropinos]: KJV-Interlinear
7 For every species of beasts and birds, of reptiles and creatures of the sea, is tamed, and has been tamed by the human race. NASB
The tongue is untamable. The sin nature is untamable. The sin nature of man is unchangeable, unalterable, and unfixable.
With these examples, which James uses from his own time, he points out that man has tamed the seemingly untamable.
Man has taken animals, who do not think as we do, do not articulate as we do, do not use the systems of logic and reason that we do, and we have been able to tame them and bring them under our domestic control, to some degree.
In our current day, we can look beyond the animal kingdom and into the scientific kingdom. Man has accomplished transportation feats just in this last century, where man has been bound to the horse for millennia.
From the horse and buggy, to spacecraft, to cars in virtually everyone's possession, man has tamed the powered engine and speed, and made his life faster and more productive.
Man has tamed technology, such that we have laptop computers, microwave ovens, telescope views of deep space, understandings of genetics and amazing cures in medicine. We could continue this list for days, but suffice to say, with all of mans feats in discovery and invention, he has never conquered sin or the sin nature within himself.
Gossip has never been controlled. Deception in politics, in sales, in religion and so forth, are ever present. Controversy in beliefs, in attitudes, in how we perceive the world and life around us, has never been more complicated.
With each advancement in technology and world knowledge, the clarity of truth becomes more and more vague.
I would presume that, that will be the pattern of the remaining days and years, however many there are, of our dispensation, the Church Age.
Technology, inventions, discoveries, general knowledge of this world, and so forth will most likely rush into mind-boggling things, in the years and decades to come. But, the sin nature, illustrated by the tongue, will still be the single untamable item, and cause of mankind's ultimate downfall.
You are not going to change the ultimate course of history, but you can control your own spiritual life and ultimate destiny, by controlling your own tongue.
Self-control comes by faith, faith by application, and application by understanding, and understanding by hearing, and hearing by listening, and listening by self-control over your daily spiritual life.
This is the circle of wisdom, which we studied in Revelation 1, in Isaiah 11, and throughout this entire daily study.
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James 3:7
7 For [gar] every [pas] kind [phusis] of beasts [therion], and [te] [kai] of birds [peteinon], and [te] of serpents [herpeton], and [kai] of things in the sea [enalios], is tamed [damazo], and [kai] hath been tamed [damazo] of mankind [phusis] [anthropinos]: KJV-Interlinear
7 For every species of beasts and birds, of reptiles and creatures of the sea, is tamed, and has been tamed by the human race. NASB
The tongue is untamable. The sin nature is untamable. The sin nature of man is unchangeable, unalterable, and unfixable.
With these examples, which James uses from his own time, he points out that man has tamed the seemingly untamable.
Man has taken animals, who do not think as we do, do not articulate as we do, do not use the systems of logic and reason that we do, and we have been able to tame them and bring them under our domestic control, to some degree.
In our current day, we can look beyond the animal kingdom and into the scientific kingdom. Man has accomplished transportation feats just in this last century, where man has been bound to the horse for millennia.
From the horse and buggy, to spacecraft, to cars in virtually everyone's possession, man has tamed the powered engine and speed, and made his life faster and more productive.
Man has tamed technology, such that we have laptop computers, microwave ovens, telescope views of deep space, understandings of genetics and amazing cures in medicine. We could continue this list for days, but suffice to say, with all of mans feats in discovery and invention, he has never conquered sin or the sin nature within himself.
Gossip has never been controlled. Deception in politics, in sales, in religion and so forth, are ever present. Controversy in beliefs, in attitudes, in how we perceive the world and life around us, has never been more complicated.
With each advancement in technology and world knowledge, the clarity of truth becomes more and more vague.
I would presume that, that will be the pattern of the remaining days and years, however many there are, of our dispensation, the Church Age.
Technology, inventions, discoveries, general knowledge of this world, and so forth will most likely rush into mind-boggling things, in the years and decades to come. But, the sin nature, illustrated by the tongue, will still be the single untamable item, and cause of mankind's ultimate downfall.
You are not going to change the ultimate course of history, but you can control your own spiritual life and ultimate destiny, by controlling your own tongue.
Self-control comes by faith, faith by application, and application by understanding, and understanding by hearing, and hearing by listening, and listening by self-control over your daily spiritual life.
This is the circle of wisdom, which we studied in Revelation 1, in Isaiah 11, and throughout this entire daily study.
Friday, August 15, 2008
James 3:5-6
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James 3:5-6
5 Even [kai] so [houto] the tongue [glossa] is [esti] a little [mikros] member [melos], and [kai] boasteth great things [megalaucheo]. Behold [idou], how great [helikos] a matter [hule] a little [oligos] fire [pur] kindleth [anapto]!
6 And [kai] the tongue [glossa] is a fire [pur], a world [kosmos] of iniquity [adikia]: so [houto] is [kathistemi] the tongue [glossa] among [en] our [hemon] members [melos], that it defileth [spiloo] the whole [holos] body [soma], and [kai] setteth on fire [phlogizo] the course [trochos] of nature [genesis]; and [kai] it is set on fire [phlogizo] of [hupo] hell [geenna]. KJV-Interlinear
5 So also the tongue is a small part of the body, and yet it boasts of great things. Behold, how great a forest is set aflame by such a small fire! 6 And the tongue is a fire, the very world of iniquity; the tongue is set among our members as that which defiles the entire body, and sets on fire the course of our life, and is set on fire by hell. NASB
As are the bit or the rudder, so too the tongue is a small tool, which has tremendous power.
The tongue is the means, as illustrated by these examples, of communicating ideas, thoughts, beliefs, which, when they deviate from truth, can cause great evils in the world.
How many people have been misled by eloquent speeches, by commanding tyrants, by smooth sales men, by approbation driven politicians or celebrities? How many people in the world have been misled by religious leaders, by speeches of hate, by cute or isolated gossips?
When the forest is dry, as the spiritual lives of the masses are when they lack spiritual resources, then it takes only a little spark to set the entire forest on fire, burning to a crisp, everyone.
In politics, candidates speak in ambiguous terms - change, promise, new things, old ways, and they let the hearers make their own interpretations as to what is meant. Without saying anything, they collect followers who are convinced that their candidate is going to give each of them what they want.
This is true in politics, in religions, is social circles all over the world. And all it takes is a population that lacks the spiritual resources to distinguish between those who are duping them and those who are trying to lead legitimately. Selfish concerns replace principles of truth.
Any deviation from truth, is tantamount to an embracing of evil. And the fires of hell are here represented as the course of nature, or the continual turning of the wheels of evil set in motion, by the tongue.
Unless the tongue is stopped, then the motion of evil accelerates and cannot be stopped easily.
The tongue represents the ideas, the speeches, the beliefs, the attitudes, that people have in life. And when truth is cancelled out, then a people will chase their own destiny right over the cliff, all the while cheering as they go over. And then it is too late, and many suffer as a result of economic problems, crime problems, war problems, social problems and so forth.
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James 3:5-6
5 Even [kai] so [houto] the tongue [glossa] is [esti] a little [mikros] member [melos], and [kai] boasteth great things [megalaucheo]. Behold [idou], how great [helikos] a matter [hule] a little [oligos] fire [pur] kindleth [anapto]!
6 And [kai] the tongue [glossa] is a fire [pur], a world [kosmos] of iniquity [adikia]: so [houto] is [kathistemi] the tongue [glossa] among [en] our [hemon] members [melos], that it defileth [spiloo] the whole [holos] body [soma], and [kai] setteth on fire [phlogizo] the course [trochos] of nature [genesis]; and [kai] it is set on fire [phlogizo] of [hupo] hell [geenna]. KJV-Interlinear
5 So also the tongue is a small part of the body, and yet it boasts of great things. Behold, how great a forest is set aflame by such a small fire! 6 And the tongue is a fire, the very world of iniquity; the tongue is set among our members as that which defiles the entire body, and sets on fire the course of our life, and is set on fire by hell. NASB
As are the bit or the rudder, so too the tongue is a small tool, which has tremendous power.
The tongue is the means, as illustrated by these examples, of communicating ideas, thoughts, beliefs, which, when they deviate from truth, can cause great evils in the world.
How many people have been misled by eloquent speeches, by commanding tyrants, by smooth sales men, by approbation driven politicians or celebrities? How many people in the world have been misled by religious leaders, by speeches of hate, by cute or isolated gossips?
When the forest is dry, as the spiritual lives of the masses are when they lack spiritual resources, then it takes only a little spark to set the entire forest on fire, burning to a crisp, everyone.
In politics, candidates speak in ambiguous terms - change, promise, new things, old ways, and they let the hearers make their own interpretations as to what is meant. Without saying anything, they collect followers who are convinced that their candidate is going to give each of them what they want.
This is true in politics, in religions, is social circles all over the world. And all it takes is a population that lacks the spiritual resources to distinguish between those who are duping them and those who are trying to lead legitimately. Selfish concerns replace principles of truth.
Any deviation from truth, is tantamount to an embracing of evil. And the fires of hell are here represented as the course of nature, or the continual turning of the wheels of evil set in motion, by the tongue.
Unless the tongue is stopped, then the motion of evil accelerates and cannot be stopped easily.
The tongue represents the ideas, the speeches, the beliefs, the attitudes, that people have in life. And when truth is cancelled out, then a people will chase their own destiny right over the cliff, all the while cheering as they go over. And then it is too late, and many suffer as a result of economic problems, crime problems, war problems, social problems and so forth.
Thursday, August 14, 2008
James 3:3-4
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James 3:3-4
3 Behold [idou], we put [ballo] bits [chalinos] in [eis] the horses [hippos]' mouths [stoma], that [pros] they [autos] may obey [peitho] us [hemin]; and [kai] we turn about [metago] their [autos] whole [holos] body [soma].
4 Behold [idou] also [kai] the ships [ploion], which though they be [on] so great [telikoutos], and [kai] are driven [elauno] of [hupo] fierce [skleros] winds [anemos], yet are they turned about [metago] with [hupo] a very small [elachistos] helm [pedalion], whithersoever [hopou] [an] the governor [euthuno] listeth [horme] [boulomai]. KJV-Interlinear
3 Now if we put the bits into the horses' mouths so that they may obey us, we direct their entire body as well. 4 Behold, the ships also, though they are so great and are driven by strong winds, are still directed by a very small rudder, wherever the inclination of the pilot desires. NASB
The tongue, the bit for a horse, and the rudder on a ship, are very small elements when compared to the larger object.
The horse can be cantankerous and unwilling to cooperate. The ship can be driven by high winds and waves. The person can be driven by their emotions.
The horse can have a mind of its own, and with its weight of perhaps a thousand pounds, is virtually unmanageable by any means other than a bit. You cannot hold it by the neck, and you certainly would not grab onto a leg. He would kick the daylights out of you.
As for the ship. Think aircraft carrier. You can't push it away from the dock with your hands. You cannot push it back from the dock if the ocean is driving it. The ship weighs into the tens of millions of tons. So, your only method of guiding it is via the rudder.
With the mere turn of a wheel, with the mere touch of the bridle, both ship and animal, in their whole body become manageable and totally under your control.
So, with the volatile nature of your attitude, you have a means of imposing self-control over yourself. Your tongue is controlled by your mind. You are the skipper of your own ship and through your own volition, you possess the means of controlling your own thoughts, and actions. Your tongue is probably the loosest of your body parts, as far as spontaneous comments or displays of your attitude.
Control it, and you are well on your way to total self-control.
But, remember self-control always begins with the power which fuels self-control, and that is Bible doctrine.
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James 3:3-4
3 Behold [idou], we put [ballo] bits [chalinos] in [eis] the horses [hippos]' mouths [stoma], that [pros] they [autos] may obey [peitho] us [hemin]; and [kai] we turn about [metago] their [autos] whole [holos] body [soma].
4 Behold [idou] also [kai] the ships [ploion], which though they be [on] so great [telikoutos], and [kai] are driven [elauno] of [hupo] fierce [skleros] winds [anemos], yet are they turned about [metago] with [hupo] a very small [elachistos] helm [pedalion], whithersoever [hopou] [an] the governor [euthuno] listeth [horme] [boulomai]. KJV-Interlinear
3 Now if we put the bits into the horses' mouths so that they may obey us, we direct their entire body as well. 4 Behold, the ships also, though they are so great and are driven by strong winds, are still directed by a very small rudder, wherever the inclination of the pilot desires. NASB
The tongue, the bit for a horse, and the rudder on a ship, are very small elements when compared to the larger object.
The horse can be cantankerous and unwilling to cooperate. The ship can be driven by high winds and waves. The person can be driven by their emotions.
The horse can have a mind of its own, and with its weight of perhaps a thousand pounds, is virtually unmanageable by any means other than a bit. You cannot hold it by the neck, and you certainly would not grab onto a leg. He would kick the daylights out of you.
As for the ship. Think aircraft carrier. You can't push it away from the dock with your hands. You cannot push it back from the dock if the ocean is driving it. The ship weighs into the tens of millions of tons. So, your only method of guiding it is via the rudder.
With the mere turn of a wheel, with the mere touch of the bridle, both ship and animal, in their whole body become manageable and totally under your control.
So, with the volatile nature of your attitude, you have a means of imposing self-control over yourself. Your tongue is controlled by your mind. You are the skipper of your own ship and through your own volition, you possess the means of controlling your own thoughts, and actions. Your tongue is probably the loosest of your body parts, as far as spontaneous comments or displays of your attitude.
Control it, and you are well on your way to total self-control.
But, remember self-control always begins with the power which fuels self-control, and that is Bible doctrine.
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
James 3:2
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James 3:2
2 For [gar] in many things [polus] we offend [ptaio] all [hapas]. If any man [ei tis] offend [ptaio] not [ou] in [en] word [logos], the same [houtos] is a perfect [teleios] man [aner], and able [dunatos] also [kai] to bridle [chalinagogeo] the whole [holos] body [soma]. KJV-Interlinear
2 For we all stumble in many ways. If anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body as well. NASB
Before we start this study, remember that anything that an unbeliever can do, anything that a fallen angel can do, is not the spiritual life.
So, as James is going to explain the control over ones tongue and equate that to a state of perfection, we have to look deeper into the spiritual life, in order to see the meaning of this illustration.
But first the verse. Stumbling here, means the many flaws and weaknesses inherent with being human. We are all born with a sin nature, and as such, in our sinful state, in these physical bodies, it is absolutely impossible for any human being to be, or to become perfect.
There are two exceptions in history. First, there was Adam and Eve. Ok there will be three exceptions.
First there is Adam and Eve. They were created perfect by God. They lived in the Garden and could have lived there forever if they had never sinned. But they did sin and that was the fall of all of humanity. 'For by one man, Adam, all have sinned.' That is the genetically passed sin nature that we all get from our parents.
Eve was fooled in the Garden and sinned, but Adam knowingly sinned when he saw Eve's fall. So the sin nature passes to humanity from Adam.
The next person is Jesus Christ. He was born of the seed of the woman. Joseph was never involved in Mary's pregnancy. Jesus was born perfect and therefore never had a sin nature. He was not born from joint parents in the usual way.
Jesus was born perfect, lived His life in perfection, and went to the Cross in perfection, was beaten and nailed to the Cross in perfection and died while in perfection. Jesus was in a state of fellowship all of His life. He depended on the Holy Spirit for His earthly spiritual power. Jesus never once delved into His own powers of deity, but remained completely human all of His earthly life. That made Him the perfect candidate to pay the price demanded by sin and death, in our behalf.
We, on the other hand, are imperfect from within our own essence.
But, we can become perfect by following Gods fellowship rules. When you sin you are out of fellowship. When you confess your sin(s), then you are placed back into fellowship. God forgives those sins (your sins were judged at the Cross, not forgiven), and once forgiven, which God can do because Christ has already paid the price for them, then you are placed immediately back into fellowship. And there you remain until the next round of sins in your life.
The tongue is a tiny member of your body. It is driven by your thoughts. And often times many people seemingly speak without thought, but that is sort of a blonde joke. What is in your mind will eventually drive your tongue.
If you can control your mouth, then you have half the battle won. The spiritual battle that is. The spiritual life is a battle, and most of that battle comes from within your own thoughts. So, self-discipline and self-control are key elements in your ability to maintain control over your spiritual life.
James will use the bridle on the horse, and the rudder on the ship to explain the correlation between mans tongue and mans life.
If your tongue is the driving force, then you have virtually complete control over your entire body, if you control your tongue. If you have the self-discipline to control what you say, in every situation, then you more than likely will have very good control over every other action you do in life.
Since your mind (soul), contains what you think, and that controls your tongue, then with tongue control, you more than likely will possess other controls over the way you think, and decide, and do things in life.
If you do not stumble into sin, then you will be residing in fellowship or in a state of spiritual perfection, even though you as a human being are essentially imperfect.
In this life, you can live only in a carnal state (out of fellowship), or in a spiritual state (in fellowship). There are no other choices or realms of existence.
Do not be fooled by this 'tai chi' stuff, or the ability to control or direct the 'energy' within and around you, and accomplish harmony with nature, as in Taoism. You probably remember the coverage it received in the opening ceremonies of the Olympics last weekend.
The Bible is very clear on this point. Man cannot attain peace or perfection or harmony, from the source of his own will or effort. The spiritual life is defined by God and not by man.
The energy, or the force, which surrounds your life is the Holy Spirit, and when in fellowship, He is in control, not you, and you cannot perceive, feel, sense, detect or otherwise have any emotional connection with the Holy Spirit. In our dispensation that connection does not exist, but it will exist in the Millennium.
Anyway, your first battle in life is self-discipline. Control your tongue, control your thoughts, and therefore control your whole existence. Slow dancing, or humming, or chanting will get you nowhere.
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James 3:2
2 For [gar] in many things [polus] we offend [ptaio] all [hapas]. If any man [ei tis] offend [ptaio] not [ou] in [en] word [logos], the same [houtos] is a perfect [teleios] man [aner], and able [dunatos] also [kai] to bridle [chalinagogeo] the whole [holos] body [soma]. KJV-Interlinear
2 For we all stumble in many ways. If anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body as well. NASB
Before we start this study, remember that anything that an unbeliever can do, anything that a fallen angel can do, is not the spiritual life.
So, as James is going to explain the control over ones tongue and equate that to a state of perfection, we have to look deeper into the spiritual life, in order to see the meaning of this illustration.
But first the verse. Stumbling here, means the many flaws and weaknesses inherent with being human. We are all born with a sin nature, and as such, in our sinful state, in these physical bodies, it is absolutely impossible for any human being to be, or to become perfect.
There are two exceptions in history. First, there was Adam and Eve. Ok there will be three exceptions.
First there is Adam and Eve. They were created perfect by God. They lived in the Garden and could have lived there forever if they had never sinned. But they did sin and that was the fall of all of humanity. 'For by one man, Adam, all have sinned.' That is the genetically passed sin nature that we all get from our parents.
Eve was fooled in the Garden and sinned, but Adam knowingly sinned when he saw Eve's fall. So the sin nature passes to humanity from Adam.
The next person is Jesus Christ. He was born of the seed of the woman. Joseph was never involved in Mary's pregnancy. Jesus was born perfect and therefore never had a sin nature. He was not born from joint parents in the usual way.
Jesus was born perfect, lived His life in perfection, and went to the Cross in perfection, was beaten and nailed to the Cross in perfection and died while in perfection. Jesus was in a state of fellowship all of His life. He depended on the Holy Spirit for His earthly spiritual power. Jesus never once delved into His own powers of deity, but remained completely human all of His earthly life. That made Him the perfect candidate to pay the price demanded by sin and death, in our behalf.
We, on the other hand, are imperfect from within our own essence.
But, we can become perfect by following Gods fellowship rules. When you sin you are out of fellowship. When you confess your sin(s), then you are placed back into fellowship. God forgives those sins (your sins were judged at the Cross, not forgiven), and once forgiven, which God can do because Christ has already paid the price for them, then you are placed immediately back into fellowship. And there you remain until the next round of sins in your life.
The tongue is a tiny member of your body. It is driven by your thoughts. And often times many people seemingly speak without thought, but that is sort of a blonde joke. What is in your mind will eventually drive your tongue.
If you can control your mouth, then you have half the battle won. The spiritual battle that is. The spiritual life is a battle, and most of that battle comes from within your own thoughts. So, self-discipline and self-control are key elements in your ability to maintain control over your spiritual life.
James will use the bridle on the horse, and the rudder on the ship to explain the correlation between mans tongue and mans life.
If your tongue is the driving force, then you have virtually complete control over your entire body, if you control your tongue. If you have the self-discipline to control what you say, in every situation, then you more than likely will have very good control over every other action you do in life.
Since your mind (soul), contains what you think, and that controls your tongue, then with tongue control, you more than likely will possess other controls over the way you think, and decide, and do things in life.
If you do not stumble into sin, then you will be residing in fellowship or in a state of spiritual perfection, even though you as a human being are essentially imperfect.
In this life, you can live only in a carnal state (out of fellowship), or in a spiritual state (in fellowship). There are no other choices or realms of existence.
Do not be fooled by this 'tai chi' stuff, or the ability to control or direct the 'energy' within and around you, and accomplish harmony with nature, as in Taoism. You probably remember the coverage it received in the opening ceremonies of the Olympics last weekend.
The Bible is very clear on this point. Man cannot attain peace or perfection or harmony, from the source of his own will or effort. The spiritual life is defined by God and not by man.
The energy, or the force, which surrounds your life is the Holy Spirit, and when in fellowship, He is in control, not you, and you cannot perceive, feel, sense, detect or otherwise have any emotional connection with the Holy Spirit. In our dispensation that connection does not exist, but it will exist in the Millennium.
Anyway, your first battle in life is self-discipline. Control your tongue, control your thoughts, and therefore control your whole existence. Slow dancing, or humming, or chanting will get you nowhere.
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
James 3:1
This study is from an on going online Daily Bible Study at:
DailyBibleStudy.Org | Daily Bible Study Index Page | Daily Bible Study Online E-Book Library
James 3:1
1 My [mou] brethren [adelphos], be [ginomai] not [me] many [polus] masters [didaskalos], knowing [eido] that [hoti] we shall receive [lambano] the greater [meizon] condemnation [krima]. KJV-Interlinear
1 Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, knowing that as such we shall incur a stricter judgment. NASB
The word for 'masters' is a reference to anyone who might fulfill the role of instructor or teacher. This is not limited to priests or rabbi's, or anyone who might be considered an instructor of theology. This also includes anyone who has a tongue.
And that includes you, and just about everyone on the planet.
In this chapter, James gives us a lesson regarding the tongue. It is a little component in the human anatomy, but it can pack a huge wallop in society.
Anyone who can speak, has the potential of being an instructor. Anyone who can listen, has the potential of being a student. So your words when spoken, or written for that matter, fly out of your mouth or mind, and into the general population.
Your hearers, are other people. Whether family, fellow workers, or strangers, makes no difference. Your words have the potential of being believed by others and as such, you can potentially mis-direct others in their life.
God has a message for you. If you are going to speak your mind, then you had better be speaking the truth, and with wisdom, otherwise your evaluation, when you stand before the Lord, will go a bit harder for you. Christ will pour over your record and make your evaluation tougher.
As for religious leaders, political leaders, social leaders, parents, or people in general, there will be a special intensified evaluation of them because of the looseness of their tongues, and the vastness of their attitude.
Preachers or religious instructors especially, will receive the severest of reviews. They have the potential of turning people away from their correct spiritual path. And as such, these instructors can potentially be destroying an eternity of blessing for others.
The worst possible outcome is to turn people away from Christ, and thus lose their salvation.
Now, note that everyone is accountable for his or her own decisions. No one has any excuse even if they have been misled by faulty instruction. God provides plenty of alternative sources of truth, to counter the bad sources.
But this verse is dealing with the tongue and those who use it.
Tyrant leaders, unqualified leader want-to-be's, those who are impressed by their own opinion, radicals and such, are good candidates for Gods special review. The whole point here is, think before you speak. And if you have nothing good to say, then remain quiet.
DailyBibleStudy.Org | Daily Bible Study Index Page | Daily Bible Study Online E-Book Library
James 3:1
1 My [mou] brethren [adelphos], be [ginomai] not [me] many [polus] masters [didaskalos], knowing [eido] that [hoti] we shall receive [lambano] the greater [meizon] condemnation [krima]. KJV-Interlinear
1 Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, knowing that as such we shall incur a stricter judgment. NASB
The word for 'masters' is a reference to anyone who might fulfill the role of instructor or teacher. This is not limited to priests or rabbi's, or anyone who might be considered an instructor of theology. This also includes anyone who has a tongue.
And that includes you, and just about everyone on the planet.
In this chapter, James gives us a lesson regarding the tongue. It is a little component in the human anatomy, but it can pack a huge wallop in society.
Anyone who can speak, has the potential of being an instructor. Anyone who can listen, has the potential of being a student. So your words when spoken, or written for that matter, fly out of your mouth or mind, and into the general population.
Your hearers, are other people. Whether family, fellow workers, or strangers, makes no difference. Your words have the potential of being believed by others and as such, you can potentially mis-direct others in their life.
God has a message for you. If you are going to speak your mind, then you had better be speaking the truth, and with wisdom, otherwise your evaluation, when you stand before the Lord, will go a bit harder for you. Christ will pour over your record and make your evaluation tougher.
As for religious leaders, political leaders, social leaders, parents, or people in general, there will be a special intensified evaluation of them because of the looseness of their tongues, and the vastness of their attitude.
Preachers or religious instructors especially, will receive the severest of reviews. They have the potential of turning people away from their correct spiritual path. And as such, these instructors can potentially be destroying an eternity of blessing for others.
The worst possible outcome is to turn people away from Christ, and thus lose their salvation.
Now, note that everyone is accountable for his or her own decisions. No one has any excuse even if they have been misled by faulty instruction. God provides plenty of alternative sources of truth, to counter the bad sources.
But this verse is dealing with the tongue and those who use it.
Tyrant leaders, unqualified leader want-to-be's, those who are impressed by their own opinion, radicals and such, are good candidates for Gods special review. The whole point here is, think before you speak. And if you have nothing good to say, then remain quiet.
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