Boundaries Studies
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Intro: James wrote to people who were having serious problems with what they said.
1. Our Words have the power to direct
James 3:1-4
1Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. 2We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check. 3When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. 4Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go.
Get control of your mouth by:
2. Our Words have the power to destroy
James 3:5-8
5Likewise the tongue is a small of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. 6The tongue is also a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell. 7All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man. 8but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.
3. Our Words have the power to delight!
James 3:9-12
9With the tongue we praise our Lord and father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness. 10Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be. 11Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? 12My brothers, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.
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Faith is not an emotional feeling we work up inside of us. Faith is confidence that God's Word is true & a strong belief that if we act upon God's Word it will bring God's blessing.
1.Real Faith is not Dead faith
James 2:14-17
14'What good is it , my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such a faith save him? 15Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. 16If one of you says to him. "Go, I wish you well;keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? 17In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.'
2.Real faith is not Demonic Faith
James 2:18-19
But someone will say, "You have faith;I have deeds." Show me you faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do. 19You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that- and shudder.
What demons believe about God:
3.Real faith!
James 2:20-26
20"You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless? 21Was not our ancestor Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? 22You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. 23And the scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness," and he was called God's friend. 24You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone. 25In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction? As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead."
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4 Christian Beliefs that show in the way we care for People what we believe.
#1Jesus Christ truly is God.
James 2:1-4
1"my brothers, as believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, don't show favoritism.2Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in shabby clothes also comes in. 3If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, "Here is a good seat for you," but say to the poor man, “you stand there", "sit on the floor by my feet." 4Have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?"
#2The Grace of God
James 2:5-7
" 5Listen my dear brothers: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love Him? 6But you have insulted the poor. Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? 7Are they not the ones who are slandering the noble name of him to whom you belong?
*God ignores national differences.
Acts 10:34-35
34Then Peter began to speak: "I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism 35but accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right.
*God ignores social differences
Ephesians 6:9
And masters, treat your slaves in the same way. Do not threaten them, since you know that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no favoritism with him.
#3"Love you Neighbor” is the Royal Law. (neighbor is anyone who needs our help)
James 2:8-11
8'if you really keep the royal law found in scripture, "Love your neighbor as yourself," you are doing right. 9but if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers.10for whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.11for he who said , "Do not commit adultery," also said, "Do not murder." If you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker.
*Christian love does not mean that I must "like" a person and agree with him on everything. Christian love means treating others the way God has treated me.
#4-Live Knowing-"God Sees all".
James 2:12&13
"12Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom,13Because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgments"
Jesus assured us that Christian believers will never be judged for their sins. but works will be weighed and rewarded.
John5:24
"I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life.
Romans 8:1
Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,
Romans 14:10-13
10You, then, why do you judge your brother? Or why do you look down on your brother? For we will all stand before God's judgment seat. 11It is written:
" 'As surely as I live,' says the Lord,
'every knee will bow before me;
every tongue will confess to God.12So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God.
13Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother's way.
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James 1:19-27
3 Tools for helping God's Word mature you.
1.) How we take in God's Word (1:19-21)
19 My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, 20for man's anger does not bring about righteous life that God desires.21Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.
2.) How we "do" The Word-(1:22-25)
22Do not merely listen to the Word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.23Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in the mirror 24 and after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.25 But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it- he will be blessed in what he does
******* GAZE INTO GODS WORD WITH SERIOUS INTENT-*******
Example 1Cor.13:4-5
4Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.....
3.Share the Word (1:26-27)
26If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless.27Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the World.
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