A Living Faith Evidenced in God-Dependence (James 4:13-17)

We have been outlining the book of James in relation to one key command found in James 1:22—be a doer of the Word, demonstrating a living faith. This command is then applied to several examples based on James 1:26–27. In James 4:1–12, James began addressing the last example of being a doer of the Word:…

Read More

A Living Faith Evidenced in Godly Affections: Part 2 (James 4:1-12)

James 4 begins by addressing the manifest problem of quarreling and fighting. James pinpoints the source of such a problem. Then he reveals the solution to that problem. The Source of the Problem: Worldly Passions (James 4:1–4) What are passions? And what makes them worldly? Passions are fleshly desires or lusts (desires misdirected). According to…

Read More

You Adulterers and Adulteresses … who?

James made a comparison of earthly wisdom to wisdom that is from above (James 3:17). It is understandable that James spoke of a wisdom that is “from above” when he described how Christians should live. After all, believers are in the world but are not to be of the world. Yet his audience was characterized…

Read More

Delivered From This Present Evil World

Paul wrote to the churches of Galatia that Christ “hath delivered us from this present evil world” (Galatians 1:4). He was not speaking to them of a future salvation, a home in heaven though that awaits every believer. Rather, the emphasis is on a deliverance that is both here and now. How are we to…

Read More

Openness & Holiness: Friends or Enemies?

Maybe it’s just me, but have you ever noticed that Christians who heavily emphasize holiness often lack openness and honesty? Have you ever noticed that Christians who heavily emphasize openness and honesty often lack holiness? One church seems to be filled with people who seem to have it all together, but who never bear the…

Read More

The Christian’s Dual Allegiance

This is a sermon with two texts. One text is from the Old Testament, the other from the New. One comes from the prophet Jeremiah, the other from the apostle Paul. Our two texts might seem contradictory, but taken together, they summarize the whole of the Christian’s life in the world. The first is this:…

Read More

What Is Worldliness?

A new look at 1 Jn 2.15-17 What is worldliness? The term is among many that seemingly defy precise definition. Many Christians know the “love not the world…” passage in 1 John very well. Many sermons address this passage; it’s a “go-to” passage for Bible-believers. Are we any further along in understanding worldliness today? Could…

Read More