James
4:11-5:6
*Who
is it about? Who should we learn more about? Us or God?
*Who
is James talking to? (Professing believers, but by their actions
they did not look like believers.)
*In
verses 4:4-6 James impresses upon his readers the importance and
urgency of the decision to follow Christ. He writes with “a
stronger conviction of the seriousness of sin than most of us are
willing to hold.” Did they want friendship with God or friendship
with the world?
*Verses
4-6 emphasizes God's requirements of Christians/ explains what a
Christian would look like. He challenges them to search their hearts
and know where they are with God. This begins with repentance, and is
only achieved through grace from God.
*
“James has a problem: his readers are being corrupted by bitter
envy and selfish ambition leading to fights and quarrels.
He has a goal: to help them learn to live in love and at peace with
each other. Therefore he has a prescription for them: repentance.”
Rather than judging others, we should remember God's rightful
judgment and mercy towards forgiven sinners, and extend the same to
others.
* “To
what extent is your life directed by the knowledge that Christ is
coming back?” Much of our thinking and behavior is shaped by
what we can see of present circumstances or past events. Yet
Scripture speaks forcefully of Christ's return as a fact that
should be directing how we live now. Christians are to be
motivated by the certainty of this future event.
*How would your life look differently if you really believed that Jesus was coming back tonight in righteous judgment?
*How would your life look differently if you really believed that Jesus was coming back tonight in righteous judgment?
With commentary help from :http://www.biblegateway.com/resources/commentaries/IVP-NT/Jas/Dont-You-Know-Choice-Be-Made and http://www.biblegateway.com/resources/commentaries/IVP-NT/Jas/Patience-Until-Lords-Coming
