Today, we conclude our study of the film, The Apostle, and examing the word “apostle.” We look at how Paul’s apostleship has been disputed and… Read More »THE CONCEPT OF THE APOSTLES IN FILM AND SCRIPTURE, part 3
Christian love does not mean that I must like a person and agree with them on everything. I may not like the words they use… Read More »James 2:8-13 – Mercy Triumphs over Judgment
Chapter 2 is really about compassion. The believer who is properly connected to the Bible is also properly connected to the body of Christ. The… Read More »James 2:1-7 – Remove all Partiality
Ultimately the key both to responding to trials and resisting temptation is to be found in one’s reaction to God’s Word. Receptivity to the Word,… Read More »James 1:19-27 – Hearing and Doing the Word
This post continues to look at the word apostle and how it has been used in modern movies as well as some modern-day people calling… Read More »THE CONCEPT OF THE APOSTLES IN FILM AND SCRIPTURE, part 2
Verse 12 reveals the purpose in trials which is maturity. This verse shows us that loving God keeps us faithful to Him through the trials so that we persevere and endure.
In verses 13-18, James shows believers how to resist in temptation. Sometimes the trials are testings on the outside, and sometimes they are temptations on the inside. Trials may be tests sent by God, or they may be temptations sent by Satan and encouraged by our own fallen nature. It is this second aspect of trials—temptations on the inside—that James dealt with in this section. Believers are in danger of falling before the attacks and pressures of trials. But they are also subject to falling before the attractions and pleasures of temptation. Just as a wrong reaction to testing will obstruct spiritual growth and maturity, so will a wrong response to temptation. James outlined three pieces of temptation for the believer to think about: source of temptation (vv. 13-14), the steps in temptation (vv. 15-16), and the solution for temptation (vv. 17-18).
One may ask, “what is the relationship between testings on the outside and temptations from within?” The answer is if we are not careful, the testings on the outside may become temptations on the inside. When our circumstances are difficult, we may find ourselves complaining against God, questioning His love, and resisting His will. At this point, Satan provides us with an opportunity to escape the difficulty. This opportunity is a temptation
I was asked to write an article on the word “apostle” found in Scripture, how it is used, and if it is still applicable to today (or did it cease after the last apostle died). This stems from an older movie called “The Apostle” as well as other modern-day pastors/preachers calling themselves apostles. This is a three part-series where today we will focus on introducing the subject, reviewing the movie, and beginning to look at the usage of the word “apostle.”
The word “apostle” and its meaning is easily misunderstood. Many seem to think that apostle only refers to members of the original twelve men called by Christ. But what about Matthias? He became an apostle in Acts when he was chosen to replace Judas. Also, Paul considered himself an apostle as did many others of that time. Since Paul’s letters are some of the earliest writings of the New Testament, and since he uses the Greek word for apostles, apostolos, more than any other author in the New Testament, all historical investigations of the origin, meaning and significance of the word properly begin with his letters.[1] However, many dispute Paul’s claims at being an apostle for various reasons which leads back to the matter at hand of apostleship. What is an apostle and how does one become an apostle? This paper will show that there are two definitions for an apostle, one in a narrow or provides a definition in the technical sense and the other in a broad or non-technical sense. Apostle refers to the twelve members originally called by Jesus and includes Matthias and Paul who both met the qualification of Acts 1:21; and the word apostle refers to those sent as messengers of the church. It will be shown that unlike Sonny from the film The Apostle, who declared himself an apostle, that people were declared apostles by others for a purpose. This paper will examine the film The Apostle and how the word apostle is used. In addition, the narrow and broad use of the word apostle will be examined including qualifications to be an apostle and whether or not Paul was an actual apostle.
Read More »The Concept of the Apostles in Film and Scripture
Throughout the Bible are people who turned defeat into victory and trial into triumph. Instead of being victims, they became victors. James tells us that we can have this same experience today. No matter what the trials may be on the outside (James 1:1–12) or the temptations on the inside (James 1:13–27), through faith in Christ we can experience victory. The result of this victory is spiritual maturity.
If we are going to turn trials into triumphs, there are four essentials to victory: a joyful attitude (v. 2), an understanding mind (v. 3), a surrendered will (v. 4, 9-11), and a heart that wants to believe (v. 5-8)
God’s goal for our lives is maturity. If we resist Him, then He chastens us into submission. But if we submit to Him, then He will accomplish His work. He is not satisfied with a halfway job. God wants a perfect work; He wants a finished product that is mature and complete.
5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. 6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. 9 Let the lowly brother boast in his exaltation, 10 and the rich in his humiliation, because like a flower of the grass he will pass away. 11 For the sun rises with its scorching heat and withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beauty perishes. So also will the rich man fade away in the midst of his pursuits. (ESV)
KEY TAKEAWAYS
All too often trials prompt groanings and complaints. This kind of response does not contribute to Christian maturity. It only makes matters worse. Trials are not to be seen as tribulations but testings. A test is given to see if a student can pass, not pass out. James gave sound advice on how to score high on every test. One who brings the right attitude to the trial, who understands the advantage of the trial, and who knows where to obtain assistance in the trial will certainly end up on God’s honor roll.
1 James, a bond-servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes who are dispersed abroad: Greetings. 2 Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. 4 And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
Having finished our devotional study on Colossians, we now move to a new book. Today, we start our study on the Book of James. Also, this post will mainly be an introduction to the book of James by looking at its authorship, date, recipients, and a general summary of the book. I have provided a significance study on the book of James previously and would suggest that as a primer as well.
Few books of the Bible have been more maligned than the little Book of James. Controversy has waged over its authorship, its date, its recipients, its canonicity, and its unity.
Martin Luther famously took issue with the book of James. He didn’t think it expressed the “nature of the Gospel,” it appeared to contradict Paul’s statements about justification by faith, and it didn’t directly mention Christ. He said James “is really an epistle of straw, compared to these others, for it has nothing of the nature of the Gospel about it.” However, that “straw” is really one that sticks and pricks. James has enough strawy needles to prick the conscience of every dull, defeated, and collapsed Christian in the world. James is able to exhort and encourage, to challenge and convict, to rebuke and revive, to describe practical holiness and drive believers toward the goal of a faith that works. James is one of the most practical books in the NT because it offers instruction and exhortation to Christians who are experiencing problems, as all of us do.
Considered one of the General Epistles, James, like the epistles of Peter, John, and Jude, is an letter addressed not to individual churches or persons but to a larger sphere of believers. The teaching in these general letters complements the doctrine of Paul. Paul emphasized faith; James stressed conduct; Peter, hope; John, love; and Jude, purity.[1]