Book of James - seeing where we stand!

This is part of AWMI.net Bible Commentary on James:

James 1

James 1:1

Note on James 1:1

It is generally agreed that this James was the one who was the step brother of Jesus (Galatians 1:19 NKJV).  "   ¹⁹ But I saw none of the other apostles except James, the Lord’s brother."
However, that isn’t certain and there are those who disagree believing this was James, one of the twelve apostles (Matthew 10:2-3).

This is a very practical book, written to instruct the reader on how faith in Christ should manifest itself in everyday living. It specifically counters those who would use grace to promote ungodliness. But upon close study, there is no opposition to salvation by grace, but this book compliments the teaching of grace.

James 1:2

Note on James 1:2

James is clearly stating that we should rejoice in temptations. One translation says, “Throw yourself a party.” But this is often misinterpreted to say that God is the author of these temptations. That is not so. The very context shows that isn’t so (James 1:13-14).
¹³ Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. ¹⁴ But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed.
God doesn’t lead us into temptation, but He is always with us, so we can rejoice, even in the midst of trials, knowing that the Lord will bring us out on the other side.

James 1:3

Note on James 1:3

This is essentially the same thing being said in Romans 5:3 
^{" 3} And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; ⁴ and perseverance, character; and character, hope. ⁵ Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us."

(see my note starting at note 7 below).   Romans 5:3

Note 7 at Romans 5:3: Paul had just expressed the joy that he had concerning the Second Coming of Jesus and the glory that would be revealed in us (Romans 8:18,
 see note 6 at Romans 5:2). Anybody can rejoice about heaven, but here Paul began to say that he had that same rejoicing in the midst of tribulation. This is something that very few people can say, and Paul was presenting this as a direct result of justification by faith.
When we believe that God loves us because of our faith in Him, and not because of our performance for Him, then we rejoice–not only in the good times and pleasant things, like thoughts of heaven, but also in the hard times. Our faith remains steadfast. However, those who trust in their own efforts will be devastated in times of trouble because they will know they are getting what they deserve, and they will feel that they have to clean up their act before they can expect any help. Their attention will be on self instead of Jesus, the Author and Finisher of their faith (Hebrews 12:2).

Paul continued this same thought on through Romans 5:10. In 5:6-8, he illustrated how great the love of God was for us in that He died for us when we were ungodly. Then he drew a conclusion by way of comparison: if God loved us when we were His enemies, then how much more does He love us now that we are His children? That’s the reason Paul could rejoice even in tribulation. If God could work in his life to bring him to justification while he was a sinner, then how much more, now that he was reconciled to God, will God work whatever comes against him for his good!

Note 8 at Romans 5:3: People have taken these scriptures to say that God is the one who brings tribulations to accomplish these positive results in our lives. That is not what these scriptures say.
Tribulations exist, not because God creates them, but because there is a battle between the kingdom of God and the kingdom of the devil. And when we operate in faith, God can grant us such victory that we are actually better off because of the battle
 (see note 9 at this verse).
It’s just like when an army goes to war. If they win, there are spoils to be gained. But if those soldiers embraced their enemy because of the spoil they were expecting to receive, they would be killed instead of blessed. First, they have to fight and win the war. Then, and only then, will the spoils be available. The enemy doesn’t come to be a blessing, but a blessing can be obtained from the enemy if their opponents are victorious.

Likewise, tribulations and adversities are not blessings from God (see note 2 at John 9:2); they are attacks from the enemy intended to steal away the Word of God from our lives (see note 5 at Mark 4:16). No one should say that the temptation came from God, for God is not the one who tempts anyone (James 1:13). However, there are spoils to be gained when we fight and win over our problems.

If problems were what perfected us, then most Christians would have been perfected long ago and those who experience the greatest problems would be the greatest Christians, but that’s not the way it is. God’s Word is given to make us perfect and thoroughly furnished unto every good work (2 Timothy 3:17). God’s Word does not need to be supplemented with problems to accomplish its work.

This is a pivotal point. Those who believe God has ordained the problems in their lives to work some redemptive virtue will submit to those problems and therefore to Satan, the author of those problems (see note 3 at Luke 13:16). They have to or else, in their way of thinking, they would be rebelling against God. Yet James 4:7 tells us to submit ourselves to God and resist the devil. If Satan can reverse our thinking on this issue and get us to submit to the problems he brings into our lives, he’s got us (Romans 6:16).

Paul was simply rejoicing that even in tribulation, he had the opportunity to use, and therefore strengthen, his patience that had already been given him as a fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23) and through the Word of God (Romans 15:4). And as he believed that, as he stood in patience, he would gain experience that would cause him to hope even more the next time the devil attacked.

Likewise, we can rejoice in tribulation, knowing that regardless of what the devil does, we will win and reap the spoils of victory.

Note 9 at Romans 5:3: The word “worketh” was translated from the Greek word “KATERGAZOMAI,” and that Greek word means “to work fully, i.e. accomplish; by implication, to finish, fashion” (Strong’s Concordance). Paul was not saying that tribulations produced patience. Patience comes from the Scriptures (Romans 15:4). But tribulations cause us to use what God has already given us through His Word, and we therefore become stronger as a result (see note 8 at this verse).

Note 10 at Romans 5:3: According to the American Heritage Dictionary, “patience” means “the capacity, quality, or fact of being patient.” One definition of “patient” is “persevering; constant” (AHD). The Greek word used for “patience” here is “HUPOMONE,” and it means “cheerful (or hopeful) endurance, constancy” (Strong’s Concordance). Patience is not a passive word, as many people use it, but it is an active word.

Patience is actually faith–faith that is sustained over a long period of time. Patience comes from the Scriptures (Romans 15:4), just as faith does (Romans 10:17). Patience is a fruit of the Spirit, just like faith (Galatians 5:22-23). It was by faith that Moses endured (the definition of patience, Hebrews 11:27). It was through faith and patience that Abraham received the promises (Hebrews 6:12-15), and not just faith, but a faith that was constant over a twenty-five-year period of time.

Therefore, patience is not just passively waiting on God to do something, but it is actively believing for the manifestation of God’s promise against all odds, regardless of how long it takes. That kind of faith will make you perfect and complete, not wanting for any good thing (James 1:4).

Patience is a byproduct of hope. Romans 8:25 says, “But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.” When people have hope firmly established in them, then no obstacle or length of time can keep them from enduring. That’s why the Scriptures produce patience, because they give people hope (Romans 15:4).

Therefore, patience, hope, and faith are all intertwined. People can’t have one without the others. Those who say they are patiently waiting on God yet have lost their hope are deceived. Likewise, those who don’t believe God are not operating in patience. First comes hope from a promise of God’s Word. Then faith begins to give substance and evidence to those things that were hoped for (Hebrews 11:1). And if time is involved before the manifestation comes, then patience does its work (James 1:4).

Andrew Wommack's Living Commentary.

Yet Romans 15:4 says patience comes from the Scriptures. Which is it? Patience (which I believe is faith over a prolonged time) comes from the Scriptures (Romans 10:17 and 15:4), but it has to be developed, or matured. It’s like someone who goes to school to learn a trade. They may be completely trained upon graduation, but they still develop their skills as they put that training into practice. Likewise, we get our faith and patience from the Scriptures, but they develop as we encounter trials in life.
A soldier trains in basic, but they don’t have the same level of proficiency as the soldier who has been in actual combat. Combat makes better soldiers than just training. But if soldiers were to try to embrace their enemy because they thought their commander sent the enemy to make them better soldiers, they would be killed. They are the enemy, and soldiers only become better soldiers if they fight the enemy. Embracing the enemy leads to death.
Some Christians have interpreted these passages to say that our Commander-in-Chief (Jesus) sends problems on us to perfect us. Therefore, they actually embrace the problems instead of fighting against them. And many have died doing just that. God doesn’t send trials and temptations into our lives (Mark 4:17). That’s the work of the devil. But we do develop patience as we resist life’s temptations. It is imperative, though, that we keep it clear who is the author of problems and who is the Author of blessings. God doesn’t tempt us (James 1:13). We have to submit to God and resist the devil (James 4:7).

James 1:3

Note on James 1:3

 Yet Romans 15:4 says patience comes from the Scriptures. Which is it?
Patience (which I believe is faith over a prolonged time) comes from the Scriptures
(Romans 10:17 and 15:4), but it has to be developed, or matured. It’s like someone who goes to school to learn a trade. They may be completely trained upon graduation, but they still develop their skills as they put that training into practice. Likewise, we get our faith and patience from the Scriptures, but they develop as we encounter trials in life.

A soldier trains in basic, but they don’t have the same level of proficiency as the soldier who has been in actual combat. Combat makes better soldiers than just training. But if soldiers were to try to embrace their enemy because they thought their commander sent the enemy to make them better soldiers, they would be killed. They are the enemy, and soldiers only become better soldiers if they fight the enemy. Embracing the enemy leads to death.

Some Christians have interpreted these passages to say that our Commander-in-Chief (Jesus) sends problems on us to perfect us. Therefore, they actually embrace the problems instead of fighting against them. And many have died doing just that. God doesn’t send trials and temptations into our lives (Mark 4:17). That’s the work of the devil. But we do develop patience as we resist life’s temptations. It is imperative, though, that we keep it clear who is the author of problems and who is the Author of blessings. God doesn’t tempt us (James 1:13). We have to submit to God and resist the devil (James 4:7).

Andrew Wommack's Living Commentary.

James 1:4

Note on James 1:4

In other words, we don’t run from the battle just because we are in a tight spot. If we persevere, we will be better off in the long run. Our faith will develop into patience, and the end results of that will be that we become perfect and complete, wanting nothing.

James 1:5

Note on James 1:5

We can assume this is a continuation of the truths James was expounding on in the previous verses. If we are in the midst of a trial and don’t know what to do, we can ask God for wisdom and He will grant it unto us. And He does it without rebuke. This is very important because most of the trials we encounter are self-inflicted. They are due, at least to some degree, to some misstep on our part. If we feel God is angry at us, we might fail to seek His wisdom, thinking we are just getting what we deserve. But that’s not the way the Lord is. If we are in trouble, we can ask for His help and wisdom and He gives it without rebuke. Thank You, Jesus!
Compare this with Mark 16:14, where Jesus upbraided His disciples after His resurrection because of their unbelief and hardness of heart. It is the same Greek word (“ONEIDIZO”) used in Mark 16:14 (“upbraided”) as is used here and was translated “upbraideth.” There is a difference between asking a question for understanding and questioning God in unbelief.

 James 1:6

Note on James 1:6

This is a scriptural principle that applies not only to asking for wisdom, but whatever we desire, we have to believe we receive when we pray (Mark 11:24) without wavering in order to receive. Holiness is not a prerequisite but faith is.

Andrew Wommack's Living Commentary.
** It is always up to you  - neighbor: either you seek and learn to accept the truth or else you fail as you attempt to use only your  own limited human wisdom.  
  We get our faith and patience from the Scriptures, but they develop as we encounter trials in life.

" Choose this day whom you will follow!"