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Review
Chapter 1 – James told us to consider it joy when we face trials because trials test our faith and the process of testing our faith brings us to maturity and makes us into the kind of people we should be.
Chapter 2 – James argued that if we have saving faith and genuinely believe the gospel, it will change the way we think, the way we live, what we value and who we are.
Chapter 3 – James focuses on strife within the community. James argues that the strife results from our lack of understanding of the gospel. Growing in “wisdom from above” leads to peace and unity because we are all striving after and seeking and valuing the same thing: the word of God. Wisdom from above can be summarized in 2 basic ideas: a growing single-minded pursuit of the gospel of Jesus Christ and a humble merciful attitude toward others. I
4:7 begins the final section of the book which is basically a call to repent. Having just confronted them with the stark choice of being friends with God or friends with the world, he goes on answer the “so what” question, the bottom line and the bottom line is repent.
Passage
Suppose I’ve already made a claim to faith and consider myself a believer, but now I hear what James has to say and I’m not sure my claim to faith meant anything? I don’t see the kind of change he’s talking about. What should I do?
James answers that question: Draw near to God. Submit yourself to him. Resist the lies and temptations of the devil. Stop playing both sides of the table, humble yourself, confess and repent.
The key idea in this section is humble yourself.
For more detail and explanation, please listen to the podcast.
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Series: James: The Gospel in Shoe Leather
Study: James Resources
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