TEACHING NOTES Introduction ‌ Popular Statement: “Christianity is not a religion, it’s a relationship.” “Christianity is not about doing, it’s about being.” ‌ Problem: This is not what the Bible teaches. ‌ What the Bible Actually Teaches: Biblical Religion = Faithful Obedience Religion is devotion and service to God. ‌ Christianity is a religion that is grounded in a relationship. ‌ James 1:19–21 19 Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; 20 for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. 21 Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted Word, which is able to save your souls. ‌ Know this = Grk. Iste - understand this as truth. This is the author’s way of saying, “listen up because this is true and you need to know this.” ‌ Quick to hear = Grk. tachys eis to akousai - The Greek verb akousai (hear) is in the active voice and is a kind of verbal noun. It could be translated, “be quickly listening to learn” or “be always ready to learn.” In the Hebrew/Jewish mind, to listen is to obey. If one hears but does not obey, then that person had not listened. ‌ Slow to speak = Grk. bradys eis to lalesai - We cannot be “quick to hear” if we are always talking. We cannot learn if we are not listening. ‌ Proverbs 10:19 “When words are many, transgression is not lacking, but whoever restrains his lips is wise.” ‌ Ecclesiastes 5:2 “Be not rash with your mouth, nor let your heart be hasty to utter a word before God, for God is in heaven and you are on earth. Therefore let your words be few.” ‌ Slow to anger = Grk. bradys eis orgen - slow to wrath. Proverbs 14:29 “Whoever is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who has a hasty temper exalts folly.” ‌ Anger does not produce righteousness = The anger of man produces slander, violence, and injustice/unrighteousness. We must be slow to anger and know what our anger can mislead us to do. ‌ Put away = Grk. apothemenoi - lay aside, get rid of. ‌ Filthiness = Grk. rhyparian - moral impurity, corruption. ‌ Rampant wickedness = Grk. perisseian kakias - great evil, malice. ‌ Receive with meekness = Grk. dexasthe en prauteti - accept with humility. ‌ Implanted word = Grk. emphyton logon - John 1:1-14 teaches us that “the Word” (Grk. logos) is Christ. As believers, the Spirit of Christ indwells us. Christ is the Word of God who says “I am the truth” (John 14:6). The way, the truth, and the life of God has been implanted in us. ‌ Able to save = Grk. dynamenon sosai - has power to save/deliver. ‌ James 1:22–25 22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. 24 For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. 25 But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing. ‌ Be doers of the word, not hearers only = Notice that being and doing are connected here. James is saying we must be doers of the Word. We must obey the Word of God, not merely listen and know it. James understood this from being raised as a Jew who prayed the Shema daily. The Shema is from Deuteronomy 6:4–5 “4 Hear, O Israel: The Yahweh is our God, Yahweh alone. 5 You shall love Yahweh your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.” The Hebrew word for “hear” is shema and it means to listen and obey. The Hebrew word for “love” is ahab and it means to stay in close relationship. Obviously, a close relationship requires respect, honor, and doing what is right. ‌ Deceiving yourselves = Teachings like “Christianity is about being, not doing” can deceive us into thinking that knowing the truth or having the right doctrine is enough. But the truth is that what we do is an indication of who we are. Being and doing are very much connected. ‌ Forgets what he was like = James uses a humorous illustration here. It seems ridiculous for a person to look in a mirror and then forget what they look like. The ridiculousness is the point. Hearing without doing is ridiculous. ‌ Perfect law of liberty = Grk. teleion nomon tes eleutherias - Notice that James does not view the law of God as oppressive. James believes that the law of God brings liberty or freedom from sin and destruction. Modern theology often teaches that we cannot possibly obey the law of God. While this makes for an easy excuse for sin, it is not what the Bible teaches. See Deut. 30:11-14 and 1 John 5:3 below. ‌ Perseveres = Grk. parameno - continues to do it. The Greek verb meno means to abide or stay and parameno means to continually abide or to be faithful. ‌ A doer who acts = Grk. poietes ergou - a doer who works. While some modern doctrines teach that works are not required for faith, James teaches that works are necessary to our faith. More on this when we get to James 2:14-26. ‌ Blessed in his doing = It is only those who hear and obey who are blessed. ‌ James 1:26–27 26 If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless. 27 Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world. ‌ Religious = Grk. threskos - pious, devout worshiper. Although the modern view of worship is often focused on music, the Bible describes worship as serving God in everyday life and includes acts of worship on Sunday. ‌ Does not bridle his tongue = James will bring this up again in chapter three. The Bible repeatedly states that our words have tremendous power. ‌ Proverbs 18:21 “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits.” ‌ Psalm 34:13 “Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit.” ‌ Deceives his heart = Claiming to be religious while being careless with words is self-deception. ‌ Religion is worthless = Grk. threskeia he mataios - religion is useless, empty. ‌ Pure and undefiled = Grk. kathara kai amiantos - clean and untainted. ‌ Visit orphans and widows = The Greek verb for “visit” here episkeptesthai and means “to look after.” This is not merely a visit, but actually doing good to them and providing for their needs. ‌ Keep oneself unstained = In addition to doing good to those who are suffering, we are also called to reject the sinful ways of this world. Both doing good and not doing evil are part of the Christian life. ‌ Popular Statement: “Christianity is not a religion, it’s a relationship.” “Christianity is not about doing, it’s about being.” ‌ James teaches us to BE a DOER of the Word. ‌ Can we really obey God’s laws? ‌ Popular Doctrine: God gave the Law/Torah to show us we can’t obey. A teaching that became popular after the 1500s AD and the Protestant Reformation is that humans cannot obey God unless God gives them the ability to do so. This teaching also states that the Law or Torah was only given to show humanity that they do not have the ability to obey God. In this view, no human was ever able to obey God’s laws. An unintended consequence of this teaching is giving up efforts to obey because you believe you can’t anyway. However, this is not what the Bible says at all. ‌ Enoch: “Enoch pleased God, walked with God” (Gen. 5:22-24) Noah: “Noah was righteous, blameless” (Gen. 6:9) Job: “Job was blameless and righteous” (Job 1:1, 8; 2:3) ‌ Objection: Enoch, Noah, and Job lived before the Law was given. ‌ What does the Law/Torah say about itself? ‌ Deuteronomy 30:11–14 “11 For this commandment that I command you today is not too hard for you, neither is it far off. 12 It is not in heaven, that you should say, ‘Who will ascend to heaven for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?’ 13 Neither is it beyond the sea, that you should say, ‘Who will go over the sea for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?’ 14 But the Word is very near you. It is in your mouth and in your heart, so that you can do it.” ‌ What did Jesus teach? ‌ Matthew 7:18–21 “18 A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus you will recognize them by their fruits. 21 Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.” ‌ Matthew 28:19–20 “19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” ‌ What did the apostles teach? ‌ 1 John 5:2–3 2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. 3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome. ‌ If we are commanded to obey, then we can obey. The issue is not our ability, but our desire. ‌ How to Respond Prayer: Ask God to reveal what needs to change. Repentance: Agree with God and repent of sin. Worship: Thank God for what He is doing in us. Communion: Take Christ in and renew faithfulness.