Old Llantrisant Hill
- We come to the end of James
- How you would you finished the letter?
- James has been challenging – in his book
- He is pointing out the standards expected of beleivers
- What will be his final words of counsel?
- The last 2 verses
- The central issue – not to focus on the letter of the Scripture over the spirit of the Scriptures
- Not to focus on the writer but the One giving the commands [God]
- Do not look for ‘errors’ in others but look for the challenges in your own life
- Concerned with the practical truths of living as Christ’s people in a fallen word
- At the time there was a debate amongst Jewish people – did cause sin?
- James is clear throughout his book (e.g. chapter 1) – no!
- Therefore, we are to come alongside and help each other
- Is the ending abrupt?
- Not really – James has been summing up
- Four categories of people – suffering, cheerful, sick, wandering?
- A key part of our witness is external (outside the Church) but also internal (speaking to other Christians within the Church)
- We remind ourselves and each other
- We declare Christ to one another
- There are those in any church at risk of wandering
- This is not talking about losing salvation
- 1 John 2, 1 Cor 11, 2 Tim 2, Heb 3, Mark 13
- Christians cannot lose their salvation
- Departure from fellowship is often unmasking the ‘normative belief’ underneath
- Although we may have confidence we do not know for certain whether people are saved
- Hence we must consistently point people to the truth
- How do we know if this applies to us
- Is our lifestyle in line with doctrine?
- Is Scripture our rudder?
- Is faith demonstrated by works?
- Are we submitting to God?
- James 2:17
- Have you been coming to church for a long time but are not saved (though others may think so)?
- Is the book of James making you comfortable?
- We are good at praying for each other but are we good at forming deep relationships with others?
- Are we good listeners?
- Do we have spiritual maturity?
- Are we saturating ourselves in the word?
- What if you recognise someone at risk of wandering?
- Matt 18:15-17
- The goal of church discipline is restoration
- It is about building up not bringing down
- To preserve the unity in Christ
- The is a pathway to follow in love
- James speaks about ‘hard hearts’
- We must take great care in how we speak to others (and how we are understood by each other)
- We should come alongside people
- We have a duty to check ourselves
- We have a duty to give a fair hearing
- James ends with encouragement
- To take joy
- To continue in fellowship
- Pray that God will strengthen us for our Christian life