The Scripture makes it very clear that as we focus on purity we experience power from above. Paul stressed this in his final letter to his understudy Timothy. “Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter [i.e., “iniquity”], he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work” (2Ti 2:21). How? The process is simple: God the Father works through the Son. The Son works through the Holy Spirit. The Spirit works through the Word. The Word works through the believer. The believer works through living faith.
Gene Cunningham - January 20, 2003
A Faith That Endures #1
The book of James is about suffering: Jam 1:1-2, Jam 1:12, Jam 5:11. There's a parallel to the Beattitudes in Matthew 5-7. The Greek words for trial and temptation is the same; God tests; Satan tempts. James may have been listening to his brother, Jesus who visited him after the resurrection (1Co 15:7). James and Job are the first writings of respective testaments and each is about suffering. Paul responded to suffering with confidence in God (2Co 12:1-10). We are being refined into the likeness of the Lord (Heb 5:8). James is writing to believers; "salvation" in the book means deliverance (5 times he mentions it in the context of trials). Rightly dividing the word of truth (2Ti 2:15, Jam 1:12): (1) Reconize source (2Ti 3:16, 2Pe 1:20, Mat 5:17-18); (2) Unity of scripture -- doesn't contradict itself (Mat 24:35, Joh 10:35); (3) Progressive revelation (Heb 8:6, Heb 11:13); (4) Every book has a purpose/theme; (5)Context, context, context (Gal 3:16); (6) spiritual illumination (1Co 2:10-13; (7) humility is paramont (2Ti 2:20-21).
Conference notes for this series can be found [HERE]
Scripture References: Matthew 5:17-18, James 1:12, Galatians 3:16, Hebrews 5:8, Hebrews 11:13, James 5:11, Hebrews 8:6, James 1:12, John 10:35, James 1:1-2, Matthew 24:35
From Series: "James - A Faith That Endures"
Given a the Washington DC Conference in November 2007 this 8-part study in James examines our faith. We are to be 'doers' and not 'hearers' only. By this we are 'justified' before men (not God). In this way James complements (and precedes) Paul writings.