STUDIES IN THE EPISTLE OF
LESSON 1
INTRODUCTION
It is thought by some that the epistle of
It should not be hard to understand any such relationship:
1. Both epistles are inspired writings of New Testament Scripture.
2.
3. There is no actual physical relationship between the two epistles, but they are addressed to the same people who have the same situation facing them.
4. Either one of the two men could have read each other’s epistles before writing their own but this is merely conjecture, and does not add or take away anything from either epistle.
5. The epistle
states explicitly that the author at first intended to write “concerning our
common salvation.” However, it appears that his purpose was suddenly changed by
some new stimulus that prompted an apologetic rather than a theological or
devotional work. (
6.
The author of the Epistle of James is no doubt the
brother of
“Is not this the carpenter, the son of
Like
There is
no clear indication within the epistle itself as to when or from where it was
written. It is thought that if
The reason for
It sounds like this error was a type of antinomianism, which made license out of liberty and which repudiated the Lordship of Jesus Christ. This heresy had gone so far from legalism that it observed no restraints and posed no fixed moral standards. It was idle intellectual speculation, accompanied by fancy oratory, with no duties attached.
In the heart of
Apostates enter upon a wrong way, rush headlong down that way, and perish at its end. The wrong way starts with wandering, ends with open rebellion (Vs 11.) The way of Cain contrasts with the way of Christ, the error of Balaam with Christ the truth, the perishing of Core (Korah) with Christ the life (John 14:6.)
The fourfold rule for
There is a threefold classification of unsaved persons (Vs 22-23) –
1. Some need compassionate tenderness because they have sincere doubts.
2. Some demand urgent boldness because they are close to the fire.
3. Some require cautious ministration lest their form of sin contaminate the believer and the church.
1. Introduction – Salutation Vs 1-2
2. Exhortation to Contend for the Faith. Vs 3-4
3.
The Necessity of Contending
for the Faith-Illustrated – Vs 5-16
4.
Charge to True Christians –
How to Contend for the Faith – Vs 17-23
5.
A
LESSON 2
1.
THE SERVANT OF
A. Servant:
“
1.
Whether or not
2.
3. The word servant is thus translated from several Greek words. Two of these are “doulos” which is an adjective signifying “in bondage.” Another word is “diakonos”, which is also translated as servant as well as “deacon” and minister.
Here it is interesting to note
that
4. I
believe he mentions his relationship to
B. Sanctified Ones:
“To them that are sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in
1.
2 Thessalonians 2:13
“But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:”
1
“Elect according to the foreknowledge of
God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and
sprinkling of the blood of
2. Sanctification begins with conversion where
one is set apart in
Acts 26:18
“To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.”
Romans 15:16
“That I should be the minister of
1 Corinthians 6:11
“And such were some of you: but ye are
washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the
Hebrews 10:10
“By the which
will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of
Hebrews 10:14
“For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.”
3. Not only are God’s elect set apart in
The word “preserved” is the Greek word
“tereo”, which is used in 1 Thessalonians 5:23 –
“And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Here
4. Here are some Scriptures that show our
preservation or security in
“And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.”
“He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.”
“And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.”
“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.”
“No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.”
“Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.”
Psalms 37:28
“For the LORD loveth judgment, and forsaketh not his saints; they are preserved for ever: but the seed of the wicked shall be cut off.”
5. The elect are sanctified in
The Greek word here translated called is
“kletos”, and means invited as in the “call of the gospel”
Romans 1:1
“Called to be an apostle”
Romans 1:6
“Among whom are ye also the called of
Romans 1:7
“…Called to be saints.”
Romans 8:28
“…The called according to his purpose.”
1 Corinthians 1:2
“…Called to be saints.”
1 Corinthians 1:24
“…Unto them, which are called”
Revelation 17:14
“They that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.”
The Meaning of the Word-CALL:
Concerning the use of the word “call” –
“The Scripture clearly speaks of two
different calls. The first one in order of occurrence is known generally as the
outward call or external call. The following Scriptures refer to this call Isaiah
45:22; 55:6;
The other usage of the
word call is known as the inward call. Some theologians have different names
for these two calls, such as the general call and the efficient call. The
efficient call is the inward call where the sinner is regenerated, made alive
and enabled to trust
The following scriptures refer to the inward call-
Acts 2:39; Romans 1:6; 8:28,30; 9:11,24; 1 Corinthians 1:1,26; 7:15; Galatians 1:15; 5:8; Ephesians 4:4; Colossians 3:15; 1 Thessalonians 5:24; 2 Thessalonians 2:14; 2 Timothy 1:9; Hebrews 9:15; 1 Peter 1:15; 2:9; 3:9; 5:10; 2 Peter 1:3,10; Jude 1. Some of these scriptures, as has been indicated already, seem to allude to both the inward and outward call.
(
2.
THE SALUTATION OF THE
SERVANT: Vs 2
“Mercy unto you, and peace, and love, be multiplied.”
A. Mercy of God:
1.
The
2. The word “mercy” is translated from the Greek word “eleos”, which means the outward manifestation of pity; it assumes need on the part of the recipient. And resources adequate to meet the need on the part of him who shows it.
It is used of God who is rich in mercy-
Ephesians 2:4
“But God who is rich in mercy, for His great love wherewith He loved us.”
The extent of the resource of God’s love
is seen in the depth to which He went to provide salvation for his elect. (See
“Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and the renewing of the Holy Spirit.”
The verb “to be merciful” is seen in such scriptures as-
“And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation.”
God’s mercy is rooted in his attribute of love, and extended to us by His grace.
1
“Unto
3. “And peace” – This is soul-peace, the inward peace that all men lack who are not regenerated. This peace is given to us as we walk with the Lord in trust and commitment to the leadership of His Spirit.
The Greek word here is “eirene” which
occurs in each of the books of the New Testament except 1st
The meaning of the word-
a) It describes harmonious relationships between men-
“Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.”
“Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.”
b) Harmonious relationships between nations-
“Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace.”
“And
“And there went out another horse that was red: and power was given to him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another: and there was given unto him a great sword.”
c) Friendliness-
“And after they had tarried there a space, they were let go in peace from the brethren unto the apostles.”
“Let no man therefore despise him: but conduct him forth in peace, that he may come unto me: for I look for him with the brethren.”
“By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace.”
d) Freedom from molestation-
“When a strong man armed keepeth his palace, his goods are in peace:”
“Saying, If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes.”
Acts 9:31 (RV- peace KJV-rest)
“Then had the churches rest (peace) throughout all Judaea and
Galilee and
“And the keeper of the prison told this saying to
e) Order in the State –
Acts 24:2 (RV peace – KJV quietness.)
“And when he was called forth, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying, Seeing that by thee we enjoy great quietness, (peace) and that very worthy deeds are done unto this nation by thy providence,
Order in the churches- 1 Corinthians 14:33
“For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.”
f) The harmonized relationships between God and man, accomplished through the gospel- Acts 10:36
“The word which God sent unto the children of
“And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.”
g) The sense of rest and contentment consequent thereon-
“And if the house be worthy, let your peace come upon it: but if it be not worthy, let your peace return to you.”
“And he said unto her, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague.”
“To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.”
“Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word:”
“Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”
“To all that be in
“And the way of peace have they not known:”
“For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.”
In certain passages this idea is not distinguishable from the last.
(From
4. “And love be multiplied”-
It should be noted that the word multiplied used here is not restricted to love but to the whole phrase, “mercy, peace and love.”
The word for love from the Greek as used here is, “agape” used in
the New Testament for the love of God. It shows God’s attitude towards His Son
and that of such as believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. As well it is used to
convey His will to His children concerning their attitude one toward another
“A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.”
1 Thessalonians 3:12
“And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you:”
I Corinthians 16:14
“Let all your things be done with charity (love.)
2 Peter 1:7
“And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity (love.)
Agape is used to express the essential nature of God-
1
“He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.”
God’s love is first displayed in the elect when the Holy Spirit- regenerates them
1
“In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.
Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.
No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.”
My friend do you know this love personally for yourself? Is
1
“And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.”
STUDIES IN THE EPISTLE OF
LESSON 3
EXHORTATION TO CONTEND FOR THE FAITH
Packed within this small letter is a keg of
spiritual dynamite. Here is a powerful exhortation for contending for the faith
once delivered unto the saints. The Christian faith needs no defense but it certainly
needs contending for. The basic difference being that to defend it is to take a
negative stand for it. To contend for the faith, we take its precepts to the
front lines and charge the enemies of God and
1. PURPOSE IN WRITING: Vs 3
“Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.”
A. Emergency: Vs 3
1. This letter is written to Christians, said to
be “beloved.” The people of
This love, if it is the agape love of God is binding. The New Testament gives a strong emphasis on the need to love one another. -
“A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.”
“This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.”
“These things I command you, that ye love one another.
Romans
13:8
“Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.
1
Thessalonians 4:9
“But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another.”
1
“Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:”
1
“For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.”
1
“And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.”
1
“Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.”
1
“Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.”
1
“No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.”
2
“And now I beseech thee, lady, not as though I wrote a new commandment unto thee, but that which we had from the beginning, that we love one another.”
2. “When I gave all diligence to write unto you”-
My whole concern to write unto you is what
God’s word has much to say about our diligence. –
“He becometh poor that dealeth with a slack hand: but the diligent maketh rich.”
“The soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing: but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat.”
“Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men.”
“Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found in him in peace without spot, and blameless.”
See also Romans 12:8; Hebrews 6:11; 2
3.
In writing,
4. “Of the common salvation”-
The word “common” is the Greek word “koinos”, which means basically,
“belonging to several.” It has a reference to the ordinary or basic faith,
which they all had in
“To
5. The
common salvation then is what we have in
B. Exhortation:
“It was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you” –
1. While
first intending to write only of the common experience of salvation,
By the word “needful” we see a necessity, but one that was urgently
needed. This was an emergency! There was a strong need for what
2. The word “exhortation” used here is the Greek word “paraklesis” which means, an appeal or entreaty, it is in fact a type of preaching -
“Praying us with much entreaty that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints.”
It is used of encouragement- Romans 12:8-
“Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.”
“And
“And
3. There are two forms of exhortation; one is negative, that is, concerning things we do that are wrong and sinful. The other is more positive, in that we may mention the sin, but we put the emphasis upon the answer to the problem. Our exhortation ought to be beneficial, not to the ego of the exhorter but the life and soul of the one being exhorted.
4. There is a need today that will exhort believers to look to the Lamb of God, and that our God is able to deliver us. As well, sinners usually do not need to be told they are sinful or how sinful they are. They need to be told of the one who is the Savior of all who believe. The Great Shepherd of the sheep left the ninety-nine safely in the fold, and went out in search of that one lost sheep. After he had found him wounded in the thicket he picked him up in his tender loving arms and brought him back to the fold.
5. “That ye should earnestly contend for the faith once delivered unto the
saints” – That is “in all earnest stand up for the faith”
The faith does not need to be defended, but it certainly needs
contending for. The faith is the embodiment of truth that makes up the
doctrines of God and
6. “Once delivered unto the saints” –
Once delivered (an no more added to by others) the faith is
complete. The faith was once for all handed down to the saints. Such writings
as the Book of Mormon, and the Keys to Scripture and all such writings depart
from this gospel faith and therefore are not to be considered as a part of it.
7.
2. PERSUADERS OF FALSE DOCTRINE: Vs 4
A. Disclosure:
“For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.”
1.
“certain men” – Greek- “tis” –
particular men. The use of this indefinite pronoun “tis” signifies anyone,
someone, a certain one.
2. “Have crept”- They are already there in the midst with all of their malicious teaching. The Greek word is “pareisduno”, to enter in by the side (para, beside, eis, in) to insinuate oneself into, by stealth, to creep stealthily as used in Jed 4. (W.E. Vine.)
3. “unawares” unawares, without ones realizing they were there. Gaining entrance secretly by a side door.
4. The application here for us today is this: We need to be careful whom we allow into the membership of our churches. Usually these do not come in the front door by baptism. They come either by letter (erringly) from a church that is not of like faith and order, or in similar fashion by Statement of Faith. These are the three ways that Baptists permit or receive new members into their churches.
5. A third route could be through participation in ecumenism and pulpit affiliation. These avenues are dangerous to the faith and open a door to false doctrine and practice. That is how many churches got away from Baptist distinctives. It was in a strong adherence to interdenominational missions and mission boards. This is a solid reason for a strong emphasis on both Baptist distinctives and LOCAL CHURCH MISSIONS. It helps to keep out the doctrines that will lead us from being true churches and from a pure gospel to one that is false. This is not the only route to error but it is one that is prominent today.
6. “Who were before of old ordained to this condemnation”-
Their doom was predicted long ago.
The Greek word for “ordained” here is “prographo” and means, “were set forth or written of before.” This is not a reference to foreordination, although I believe they showed by their malicious ways that they were. They certainly could not be sheep gone astray. Secondly, all things are foreordained as God’s overall plan or purpose.
The same Greek word “prographo” is used in Galatians 3:1 as “set forth”-
“O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not
obey the truth, before whose eyes
“who were before of old ordained
to this condemnation; or judgment; meaning either judicial blindness of heart, they
were given up to, in embracing and spreading errors and heresies; so that these
are not casual things, but fall under the ordination and decree of God, which
does not make God the author of them, nor excuse the men that hold them; and
they are ordained and ordered for many valuable ends; on the part of God, to
show his power and wisdom; and on the part of truth, that it might be tried and
appear the brighter, and to manifest his people and their graces: or else
punishment is designed, even everlasting condemnation, to which some are
preordained of God; for this act of preordination respects persons, and not
mere actions and events; and is not a naked prescience, but a real decree, and
which is sure, certain, and irrevocable; is God's act, and springs from his
sovereignty, is agreeably to his justice and holiness; nor is it contrary to
his goodness, and is for his glory: the date of this act is "of old";
or as the Syriac version renders it, ayrwv Nm, "from the beginning";
that is, from eternity; see #2Th 2:13 Pr 8:22; for reprobation is of the
same date with election; if the one is from eternity, the other must be so too,
since there cannot be one without the other: if some were chosen before the
foundation of the world, others must be left or passed by as early; and if some
were appointed unto salvation from the beginning, others must be foreordained
to condemnation from the beginning also; for these words cannot be understood
of any prophecy of old, in which it was fore written, or prophesied of these
men, that they should be condemned for their ungodliness; not in #Mt 24:1-51,
in which no such persons are described as here, nor any mention made of their
punishment or condemnation; nor in #2Pe 2:1-3; for then the apostle
would never have said that they were "of old", a long while ago,
before written, or prophesied of, since according to the common calculation,
that epistle of Peter's, and this of Jude's, were written in the same year; nor
in the prophecy of Enoch, #Jude 1:14; for Enoch's prophecy was not
written, as we know of; and therefore these men could not be said to be before
written in it; besides, that prophecy is spoken of as something distinct from
these persons being before written, to condemnation; and after all, was a
prophecy referred to, the sense would be the same, since such a prophecy
concerning them must be founded upon an antecedent ordination and appointment of
God; the word here used does not intend their being fore written in any book of
the Scriptures, but in the book of God's eternal purposes and decrees; and the
justice of such a preordination appears by the following characters of them,” –
(John Gill Expositor.)
7.
“Ungodly men” – Men void of
God. Obviously the context warrants that we regard them as unsaved men, yet
outwardly religious and claiming to be
2
“Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
“Ungodly”- Greek “asebes” – meaning, without reverence for God, not merely irreligious, but acting in contravention of God’s demands. (Vine)
An example of the use of the word ungodly is seen in-
“But to him that worketh not, but
believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for
righteousness.”
8.
These ungodly men are seen in their perversion of the Word of God
especially as pertaining to His grace.
B. Denial of Fundamental Truth:
“Turning the grace of God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.”
1. To say the least these men that crept into the churches were extremely liberal in their theology.
2. Turning the grace of God, making it something that it is not nor was intended to be. The grace of God is basically “unmerited favor.” These men were indeed evil and did not merely add to the grace of God, nor did they subtract from it. They completely obliterated it; they made it into something that was evil and sinful in its practice.
3. They turned the grace of God into “lasciviousness” – The Greek word is “aselgeia” which is to say, “excess, the absence of restraint, indecency, or wantonness. It also refers to lawlessness and immorality.
This is one of the evils of which the Church in
“And lest when I come again, my God will humble me among you, and that I shall bewail many which have sinned already, and have not repented of the uncleanness and fornication and lasciviousness which they have committed.”
In Galatians 5:19 this word is classified among the works of the flesh-
“Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness…”
See 2
4. “And denying the only Lord God” – This is much more than a verbal action, but rather is based upon their ways of lascivious living. In their living, they denied the only Lord God.
5. This verse says five things-
a) By their living they were in a state of denial.
b) There is only one Lord God, no other beside Him.
c) They denied the Lordship of Christ by their actions.
d) In denying the Lordship of Christ they denied God.
e) This denial was also of our Lord Jesus Christ.
6.
One cannot deny the deity of
7.
This then is the faith that
8. Make sure your life is contending for this faith, for there is no other.