Coro Baptist Church

Within the heart of every believer, there is a tooth-and-nail battle taking place between the desires of the spirit and the desires of the flesh. All too often Christians listen to the tempting, yet empty, promises of the world to satisfy the desires of the flesh. James likens this relationship with the world to being like a close friendship. But it is a friendship that leads to dissatisfaction, fights and quarrels, pride, and most significantly, enmity toward God. Rather than seeking to have the desires of the flesh tickled by friendship with the world, James encourages believers to humble themselves before God, submit to him, wash their hands and purify their hearts of sinful ways. It is when we are humble before God that we will find ourselves lifted up, having the desires of the spirit satisfied by God, as God is satisfied in us. Additional Bible References; 2 Samuel 11:26-27; 12:7-10

When you look at a Christmas nativity scene, what do you see lying in the manger? What do you see in the incarnation? Nothing less than the heart of God is revealed in the birth of his Son, Jesus Christ. It's often said, "Jesus is the reason for the season." But why? What's the reason for Jesus? What's the reason behind God's entire great plan of redemption? Love! For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son... His love for you is the reason behind the reason for the season. Believe and receive his love today.

There's nothing quite like a good tree that produces fruit that looks good and tastes good. James teaches us that wisdom is like that too– where it comes from determines both its form and its fruit. And the "wisdom from above" that James speaks of is demonstrated, not in knowledge or intellect, but by its conduct and character. True wisdom is shown by its works and its fruit! James wants his readers to know what this wisdom looks like, and to grow in it. He also warns us of a 'false wisdom' which has its own form and bears its own fruit too. O, how we need this wisdom from above in the church and in the world today. Where does it come from? It comes from above! From heaven. From God. And so again, we are drawn to prayer to ask Him who gives generously to all who ask in faith as we depend upon the Spirit of Christ who is our wisdom.

From the preaching of a sermon to the teaching of Sunday school, Coro is blessed to have many individuals capable of teaching and preaching among us. They each have the ability to speak God's word and guide others in maturity and wisdom. Wouldn't it be wonderful if even more people became teachers and preachers both within and outside of Coro? I think it would be... but before we start tapping shoulders and filling rosters, James gives us a warning. While teaching is a noble role, it is not to be given to just anyone. Instead, it should be reserved for those whose speech reflects a heart transformed into Christlikeness, evident in their self-control and consistency. For teachers of the word are judged more strictly than others because, by their words, they wield great power—capable of both building up and destroying the lives of those who listen. Let us take James' instructions to heart and be wary of those whom we listen to and place in positions of power in our lives. Not just those at Coro, but those we give ear to on YouTube, SermonAudio, podcasts and more.

Faith by itself is dead. Faith apart from works is useless. Faith apart from works is dead. So says James in the passage before us this week. Whilst the passage is unique in that it has drawn much attention and debate over the centuries, the message it contains is not unique at all– not to James, and not within the Letter of James. The gift of saving faith is always accompanied by works of faith– faith, "working through love" as Paul puts it in Galatians 5:6 for example; and being "doers of the word, not hearers only," as James puts it in James 1:22. Far from being a doctrinal disaster, this is simply the power and work of the 'implanted word' bearing God's intended fruit in our lives as it matures within us– as God gives the growth.

God has no favourites in his kingdom and therefore, we are not to have our own favourites in the church – his family here on earth. To show partiality, James teaches, not only goes against the royal law of love, but sets ourselves up to be "judges with evil thoughts" and "transgressors of the law." Where would any of us be if not for the gracious favour God has shown each and every one of his children, without distinction? Our own salvation depends entirely upon the mercy of God. And so, as those "under the law of liberty" who have received such mercy from God, we are to receive one another in similar fashion– not in judgment, but with mercy.

This week in our passage from James we encounter some clear yet rarely followed wisdom to the question, "How should I live in order to please the Lord?" Listen to the word of God, and do what it says. The world is full of advice givers trying to instruct and guide us on the best way to live. They tell us what they believe is most important—the what, where, when, how, and why of life. James joins the conversation, but instead of offering us people's thoughts and opinions, he points us to a higher source: the Word of God. James reminds us of the Word's vital role in guiding us to understand what God and the Lord Jesus Christ find pleasing, so we can live by it. There is no guesswork involved. However, it's not enough just to own a bible, is it? We must read it, listen to God's words, and follow what it says.

Don't be deceived! If every good and perfect gift comes from the Father, why would we doubt his goodness and grace when trials of various kinds come our way? And yet, this is the temptation we all face when our faith is tested. James helps us to remain steadfast under such trials by making us aware of the 'life-cycle' of temptation and sin which brings forth death, and by reminding us of the gracious unchangeable character of God who has brought us forth into new life by the word of truth. Please pray that we might hear and abide by that word of truth and so be kept from being deceived.

How wonderful it is to know that Jesus is not ashamed to call us his brothers and sisters (Hebrews 2:11-12, Mark 3:34-35). And yet, is it equally wonderful to hear James, the once unbelieving brother of Jesus, call himself a "bond-servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ." This letter of James is written by a changed man– from unbelief to saving faith; sceptical brother to humble servant; from cynical hearer to faithful doer of the word. What has brought about this transformation? – "He gives more grace." Far from being an 'epistle of straw' (as Luther once described it), the Letter of James is filled with practical gospel substance. James expects the grace of God to bear fruit in the lives of those who have received it and so exhorts us to a living and active faith. As we sit under this word in the coming months, may we be "not hearers only, deceiving ourselves," but "doers of the word" of grace that we hear.

This week we commence a series on the letter of James. Ray will give a more in-depth introduction to the letter next week, while my sermon will focus on Chapter 1 verses 2-12. There James asks us, as his readers, to 'count it pure joy' when we encounter various trials. Is that reasonable? Is it even possible? Well, yes it is if we know that through trials God is maturing our faith so that we become steadfast. God is at work in us and will generously grant us the wisdom we need to endure each trial and remain firm in our trust in his goodness and sovereignty. Such trials may include poverty or wealth - both can test our faith - and James gives instruction on faith's response to both situations. When we are tested and remain steadfast in faith our love for the Lord deepens because we know he is the one who achieved this in us, such is his mercy and kindness to us in Christ Jesus. James reminds us that, as those who love God, we receive the promised 'Crown of Life', which, much more than the gift of immortality, is eternal life with the One we love. Could there be any greater blessing than that?!