Category: Sunday Extra

Introduction to James

On Sunday, October 6th, we began our walk through the Epistle of James.  This is a very practical and in-your-face letter to the early church.  When we consider possible authors there are three poSeries on James Fall 2019 1 (2)ssible men named James in the New Testament.  There is James, the son of Zebedee and the brother of the Apostle John. He was one of the earliest Christian martyrs (Acts 12). His early martyrdom removes him as an option as an author.  There is James, the son of Alphaeus. He is the least well-know of the men named James. It would be highly improbable that this James could simply state his name and people would know who he was. This leaves the best and most practical answer.  The author of James is none other than Jesus’ half-brother the son of Mary and Joseph. 

During Jesus’ lifetime, James was not a believer. The Gospel of John reads, “Even His brothers did not believe” (7:5).  However, it seems as if a visit from the resurrected Jesus completely changed James’ life (1 Corinthians 15:7). In fact, the Apostle Paul called Peters, John and James “pillars” of the church (Galatians 2:9).   Throughout the Book of Acts, we see James acting as an elder of the church and a primary leader of the Jerusalem church. During the Jerusalem Council in Acts 15, we see James speaking as one in authority for the church. Certainly, he was a pillar of the church. 

James must have been a very interesting person.  In some ways, he reminds me of John the Baptist. One of our early Church Fathers, Eusebius writes this about James: “James, the brother of our Lord, who, as there were many of this name, was surnamed the Just by all from the days of our Lord until now, received the government of the church with the apostles. He drank neither wine nor strong drink and abstained from animal food.  A razor never came upon his head; he never anointed himself with oil and never used a bath. He never wore woolen but only fine garments. He was in the habit of entering into the temple alone and was often found upon his bended knees asking for the forgiveness of the people. So that his knees became hard like a camel’s knees” [1] James was martyred in AD 62.  

The Epistle of James is an extremely powerful and vivid portrayal of a Christian’s duty to live an active life of faith. James will teach us about suffering, character, the power of our words, overcoming sin, and wisdom to name a few.  As you read James, you will begin to see practical ways to live a holy life in front of your family and friends in order to make much of Jesus and to be salt and light in a very dark and gloomy world. He will use vivid illustrations and powerful commands.  The letter has 108 verses and within those verses, James writes 50 imperatives. 

The letter of James also comes under scrutiny.  As you read this letter, the name Jesus and Christ are rarely if ever used.  There is no mention of the resurrection and nothing on our tenet of salvation through faith alone in Jesus Christ.  In fact, the great Reformer, Martin Luther did not believe James should be considered a part of the cannon of the New Testament.  Luther called James, “an epistle of straw.” I for one, enjoy this book so much. It is both a challenging book and an absolutely beautiful treatise on faith and the importance of loving your neighbor as yourself.

Enjoy this journey through James. I’ve called this series, “Be About It.”  Stated simply, let’s stop talking about faith and let’s be about it. This week we will look at the importance of overcoming sin in your life.  Join us as we observe the Lord’s Supper and learn how to be an overcomer.

 

 

[1] “Explore the Book Volume 6” J.Sidlow Baxter 

Jonah: Fact or Fiction

sunday-extra

It is one of the earliest stories I remember learning.  While running from God, Jonah was swallowed by a whale, or was it a fish?  Either way, it was dark and slimy.  As a 50 some odd adult male, do I still believe in Jonah and his encounter inside a giant fish?   Surely I don’t believe in something so outrageous as that?  Before proceeding, there’s something you need to know about me.  I believe in something even crazier.  I believe a man died for my sin, was buried, and on the third day, He was raised to life.  That’s not all; I also believe He is coming back, now get this, riding a white flying horse (See Revelation 19:11-16). If I believe in the works of Jesus, it’s not hard for me to believe a man was swallowed by a fish.  Is the story of Jonah real and historical?  For me, this is at the heart of inspiration.  Jonah is historical and authentic.  Despite what I believe, there are some who believe Jonah is a myth or an allegory about a prophet swallowed by a fish.  Is Jonah a real and historical character?  Does it even matter?  As you read, you will find the historical reference in scripture confirms it’s historicity, the inspiration of Scripture demands Jonah’s authenticity and the “Sign of Jonah” in Matthew 12 seals the deal.

First, Scripture treats Jonah as a historical figure.  In 2 Kings 14:25, we find this phrase, “in accordance with the word of the Lord, the God of Israel, spoken through the servant Jonah, son of Amittai, the prophet from Gath Hepher.”  As you can see, the Jonah we find in the book bearing his name, is the same Jonah, son of Amittai, we see in 2 Kings.  Scripture treats Jonah as a real historical prophet just as it does with Elijah and Elisha. The historicity of Jonah is not in question.

Secondly, this is a matter of biblical inspiration.  Can I trust the Bible?  Did God inspire men to write the Bible or was it simply words put down in writing?  When Paul writes, “All Scripture is God-breathed …”(2 Timothy 3:16) “All” means all.  If Scripture talks about a man named Noah who built an ark, it means a man named Noah built an ark.  If a crowd of over 5000 men was fed with five loaves and two fish, a large crowd was filled to the brim with fives loaves and two fish.  If Jonah is simply a legendary tale like King Arthur or Robin Hood, what other parts of scripture might be legendary or fictitious? If all of scripture is trustworthy and accurate, then I can read believing every word as it is, the inspired and infallible word of God.

Finally, in Matthew 12 Jesus clearly and convincingly confirms the historicity of Jonah.  In verses 39-42, Jesus used the men of Nineveh has a group of changed men who would one day stand in judgment of the generation of Jesus’ day. Consider J Silow Baxter’s words, “Will anyone dare to maintain that the Son of God was here teaching that ‘imaginary persons who at the imaginary preaching of an imaginary prophet repented in imagination, shall rise up in that day and condemn the actual impenitence of those, his actual hearers, that the fictitious characters of a parable shall be arraigned at the same bar with the living men of that generation?’” (Explore the Bible Vol 4 page 150).  The words of Christ confirm the story of Jonah is both true and historical.

If Jonah is historical and factual, there is woven through the story of the Bible a beautiful thread of God’s wonderful grace expressed toward humanity. If it is true, God’s grace can reach even me; there is no one beyond the reach of our relentless God.  If it is a mere fable, it is a nice story too fanciful to believe and having about as much significance in my life as Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast.”  Furthermore, if the book is fiction, the very integrity of inspired Scripture is compromised.  However, the true answer to the authenticity and historicity of the Book of Jonah is both clear and convincing to the thinking mind. Jonah was a true historical figure who was miraculously swallowed by a giant fish and preached the good news to a difficult and dangerous people to the glory of God. So, is it important that Jonah is a real historical figure?  Yes, it is! In fact, it is imperative to my faith.