Bible Study James Chapter 4

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James 4:1-10

So here again James continues the theme that a true Christian, one who believes in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior that they will do good things. Will show themselves to be a believer by the evidence of the fruit of their lives. James is not saying that works are equal to faith. He’s saying that works show that you have faith. In chapter 3 James gave us 8 things that would be displayed by a true believer. He is saying here in chapter four that as believers, those who show themselves as believers by the way they behave, that it is not becoming of Christians to be Christ followers and to be arguing with one another. To be in strife and have conflict. In James 4:1  it’s clear that he is talking about members of our bodies, our flesh. We have fleshly desires, moods, appetites, things that we get ourselves into.  He’s making the point here in James 4:2 two of the dangers when we act in the flesh. We lust, covet, fight. These things are a result of people who are operating, acting and listening in the flesh. We are living to please ourselves, giving in and living carnally. We get angry because of what we do not have. Paul called out the church of Corinth. 1 Corinthians 3:1-3. He noted they were carnal, fleshly and as a result he listed the consequences. Paul again called out the church of Galatian in the book ofG Galatians 5:15.The church of Philippi was also called out in Philippians 4:2. So it’s not uncommon but what James is saying is that the root of the problem is the flesh.

This isn’t unique to the days of the Bible. This happens in among believers today. Every church usually has at least a little conflict, strife, going on in it. Is your first reaction to argue, scream maybe even curse and before you know it you’ve said and done something carnal? The more we are like Christ then the less, strife, conflict and arguing there is in us. Even as a believer our spirit has been regenerated but not our flesh. When we die our spirit goes to heaven, our fleshly earthly body disintegrates and goes back to the earth. We eventually get a new glorified body. So while living as a Christ follower our spirit has been regenerated but we’re living in a shell of a fleshly body that has not. So the war between the two ensues and continues till we die or the Lord takes us to heaven. Until then, we have to make the conscious decision not to live according to the flesh and to live according to the spirit. Our flesh wants to dominate our life, our flesh is insatiable, always wanting to get the upper hand. That’s why we’re told seven times in the New Testament to crucify the flesh, deny ourselves, to put to death the things of the flesh and to turn from the flesh and follow Jesus. Matthew 16:24; Mark 8:24; Luke 9:23; Romans 6:6; Galatians 5:24; Ephesians 4:22;  and Colossians 3:5. . A whole section in Galatians Chapter 5. Paul talks about the acts of the flesh and the acts of the spirit. It instructs us to put forth every effort to walk in the spirit and not the flesh. The root of our flesh or the influence of our flesh is this sinful world we live in. James explains here that friendship with the world is enmity with God. The definition of the word enmity is “the state or feeling of being actively opposed or hostile to someone or something” wow, I don’t ever want my actions to be hostile or in opposition toward God. 

The church and us as believers can’t cut ourselves off from the world because then non believers would never know what we know. Which is the love of Christ and salvation through faith. It is the idea that we can’t be a friend of the world. We naturally choose our friends to be those where we have shared interests. Things in common, likes and dislikes. You spend time together, do things together. That’s what friends do. Versus having acquaintances. We don’t have the same relationships with acquaintances that we have with our friends. Acquaintances you don’t have much in common, we exchange pleasantries but we don’t hang out with them. That’s the idea, don’t hang out with the world. We should have enough contact with the world that we are influencing the world like salt and light. We are to influence the world, flavor the world like an antiseptic when we speak the truth of God’s word it may be a little painful for people but yet it’s the antiseptic truth of God’s word. Have contact with the world but don’t make the world your friend. Because it is impossible for us to walk with Christ and to have the values, the standards and truth of Christ while at the same time sharing the values and standards of this world. It’s impossible. We can’t be friends with both, we have to choose. What James is saying here is that if you’re a true follower you’re not going to want to hang out with the world, be a friend of the world, do what the world does, talk like the world talks, go to the places the world goes, you’re going to want to be someone that pleases God and brings glory to His name. We have to choose our associations wisely. We can’t choose any that is in conflict with our walk with Christ.  You can’t have one foot in the world and one in a relationship with Jesus. Our prayers when we seek God need to be made with a servant’s heart. Open to what honors and glorifies God. Not for us to make tight fisted demands of God. Be humble. Admit how we feel but give it to God and be willing to accept God’s way as being the right way. God is not to be treated as if he’s a genie to grant you wishes. He is not a tool in our hands. We are a tool in His hands. Turn to God. Our heart must be right before we ask. Resist the devil and he will flee. Be firm, he fears God’s power and we have God in us. 

Warnings About Worldliness 

1. Do not befriend the world James 4:4
2. Do not be polluted by the world James 1:27
3. Do not love the world 1 John 2:15-17
4. Do not conform to the world Romans 12:2
5. Do not be condemned with the world 1 Corinthians 11:32

A life in the flesh/of the world 

   1. Incomplete, never satisfying. You may find a measure of satisfaction in this life    apart from Christ that brings you temporary satisfaction but it’s all temporary. The ultimate satisfaction comes from knowing the Lord and this world can’t bring that. 

   2. Incompatible with God. Friendship with the world and its culture is incompatible with God and with who He is. 

Things that work in concert against us as Christians 

1. our Flesh James 4:1
2. the world James 4:4
3. the devil James 4:7

James 4:11-12

We should not judge other believers. This is not referring to calling out a fellow believer when we see them do something wrong. At those times share what God “The Judge” says on the matter, but do so with love. This passage of scripture here In James is referring to thinking a person is better because they’re rich, coming to decisions about someone based on appearances, where they live, work, financial status, etc. 

James 4:13-17

We should look at our life everyday and consider if this is where God wants us, are we doing what God wants us to. We should never put faith in things of here on earth. It will be gone. Sin is not just about what I say or do wrong. It is also what should I do for Jesus, to help build God’s Kingdom and I don’t do it. Sins of omission.