The power of old-time religion

“The power of old-time religion”

John 11:17-44, STBC–18/2/2018

The enduring power of ‘old time religion’ comes from the idea that everything we see, everything we touch, everything we feel, even everything we know, is not all there is. It comes from the feeling that is found deep within us, that beyond this very necessary and real-life lies something more, an eternal presence. The enduring power of ‘old-time religion’ comes from trusting that this eternal presence is someone who is within all things and above all things; someone in whom we live and move, and have our being; someone who sustains all things with His word of power. Someone in whom our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. The power of ‘old-time religion’ is trusting that neither death, nor life, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers political, financial or spiritual, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

This ‘old-time religion’ may be out of fashion in modern Britain but people can’t change who they are. We worry about the same things, life and death, the meaning and purpose of life, and so on. We can’t change how we are made. This country has a long and rich history of untold generations and countless lives dedicated to this one goal. Seeking first the ways of God and knowing the inner presence of God. The answers to all of life’s questions are still found here.

Our text for today is from John’s Gospel and it contains a beautiful, intimate picture of the power and character of God. If we read and meditate on this text, if we let the Holy Spirit kindle a fire inside us, He will reveal the character and nature of the Lord Jesus. In this Gospel account, we have an intimate and tragic story of two women and their dead brother. This should immediately tell us something about the nature of God. For our God is not unsympathetic and indifferent. Our God is not one who is only concerned with things beyond our understanding and comprehension, like sustaining the whole universe! No, unlike some people’s view of God, our God is one who personally comes a calling when we are struggling and suffering in this life.

17On his arrival, Jesus found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days. 18Now Bethany was less than two miles from Jerusalem,19 and many Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them in the loss of their brother.

We read of Mary and Martha, earlier on in Luke 10:38-42. We notice that the sisters Mary and Martha were quite different in their understanding of Jesus. Even though Martha was a kind and good person, one who was clearly devoted to Jesus, it appears that Mary had a more profound love for Jesus. Later in John’s Gospel 12, Mary anoints the feet of Jesus with expensive perfume and wipes his feet with her hair. It is possible that this is a parallel account of the one in Luke 7:36-50 when an unnamed sinful woman anointed the feet of Jesus with perfume and kisses. Traditionally, in the western church, this unnamed woman was considered to be Mary Magdalene, the Mary from whom seven demons were driven out, the Mary who was at the Cross of Jesus when all other disciples (save John) had abandoned Jesus, the Mary who was the first to see the risen Christ. This Mary Magdalene was, in all probability, Mary of Bethany, the sister of Lazarus and Martha. Even though they were sisters, Mary and Martha had very different life journeys.

20When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet him, but Mary stayed at home. 21“Lord,” Martha said to Jesus, “if you had been here, my brother would not have died.

Martha does many things well; in fact, it appears to me that to be like her is no bad thing. She goes straight to Jesus and with a declaration of great faith. Martha truly believed that Jesus was able to perform miraculous healings. “If you had been here, my brother would not have died”. But that “If ...”, that introduction of a conditional clause, that “If you had been here ...” says a lot about the limits of her understanding and faith. Why had Jesus come too late? She then says to Jesus a remarkable thing,

22But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask.”.

No truer words were ever spoken in the Gospel. However, true words and deep understanding of these words do not always go together. This is the problem of the Church today, we know how to say true words but too often we are satisfied with a superficial experience of these words. So Jesus enters into a theological dialogue with Martha to reveal to her and us the limited extent of our understanding.

23Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again”. 24Martha answered, “I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.”

Jesus, tells Martha that Lazarus will rise from the dead. Perhaps she is remembering some of the teachings of Jesus, like that found in John 14. Jesus says,

1“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. 2My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you?3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.

Jesus had told them of that future resurrection at the last day, of that heavenly father’s house where corruption and death are no more, where suffering and pain are no more, that home of perfect peace and love, where we shall live with our Lord Jesus.

Yes, our Christian faith is one that trusts in the future resurrection from the dead. Martha believed in this future resurrection, but in the here and now, Martha was grieving for her lost Brother. The comfort of the future resurrection does not always mitigate the pain of current loss. But

25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life”

In John’s Gospel, we have the seven great “I am” passages that echo the old testament name of God in Exodus “I am whom I am”. This is one of the sevenfold New Testament names of God “I am the bread of life”,  “I am the light of the world”, “I am the door”, “I am the Good Shepherd”, “I am the resurrection and the life”, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life”, and “I am the true vine”. Jesus was telling Martha that He is not like one of the old prophets, but that He has the power over life and death; for He is God. Jesus tells Martha that there is a future resurrection at the last day and there is also a here and now resurrection and new life. He will prove it. That the future resurrection and the here and now resurrection flow from the same source, Jesus. The new life, that born-again life, Jesus begins in us is the true life that carries on to eternal life with God. Jesus tells Martha that all life and death is His to command; so she should believe and trust,  

“I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; 26and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?” 27“Yes, Lord,” she replied, “I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.”

Martha’s declaration is powerful and sound. At another time, in another place, we would say that this testimony was just what Jesus wants. And yet, here, we are left with the impression that she was missing something important. Martha goes back to her house to tell Mary that Jesus was here.

32 When Mary reached the place where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” 33When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. 34“Where have you laid him?” he asked. “Come and see, Lord,” they replied. 35Jesus wept.

Mary’s initial words to Jesus are the same as Martha’s words. But Mary’s first fell at Jesus’ feet. Mary does not struggle with theological and existential questions. She comes to Jesus in humble devotion. She doesn’t find solace in intellectual understanding. For she had been truly broken by past life experiences and had known the deep healing love of God. For her sins, which were many, were forgiven, so she loved much. And so, Mary comes to Jesus with tears.

Now, oh, look at the power of our tears on the almighty God. Our tears move God to tears! “Jesus wept.” Here we see the unfathomable depth of God’s love for us. Our Lord Jesus is not one who is unable to sympathise with our griefs. He has borne all our griefs and sufferings on the Cross. For this is who God is. He is a God who understands and shares our sorrows and griefs. “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles,”

Later on,

38 Jesus, once more deeply moved, came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance. 39“Take away the stone,” he said. “But, Lord,” said Martha, the sister of the dead man, “by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days.”

Ever practical, Martha’s common sense guides her understanding of God. With her natural thinking, she placed limits of what God would and could do. Who of us would, in a similar situation, run to believe that Jesus would raise Lazarus from the dead right in front of us? If I had to place myself in this passage as a Mary or a Martha, at my best I would only be a Martha. However, we should all aspire to be more like Mary.

40 Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?”
Jesus is saying to us, “if you have a faith that trusts me, you will see the glory of God”. There are countless sermons in this text alone.

43 ... Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” 44 The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face. Jesus said to them, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.”

With only three words of command, Jesus brings forth life out of death.
…
Epilogue

Let us think about what we have heard today, Our Lord Jesus, comes a calling in the most difficult times of our lives. He, who is the God of all comfort, is one who completely sympathizes with us. So let us come back to that “old-time religion”. He calls us to come home to enjoy life in all its fullness. For He is the way, the truth and the life. If we have a faith that trusts Jesus, we will see the glory of God. For God is able to do far more than we can ever dare to ask or imagine. So let us, like Mary, be firmly rooted in love. Let us grasp how wide and deep and long and high is the love of Christ and let us know for ourselves that love so far beyond our comprehension. May we be filled through all our being with God himself!


Prayer.

Mission

Clevedon – Evening Service : 1.12.2013

Our theme today is that of mission; and what a challenging subject this is for us in the west. In this church I think we need to have a whole series of teaching on this subject, for one sermon can not hope to do it justice. In fact I am coming to believe we may have to refocus some of our aims as people and as church. I confess to you that I feel that we need some renewal and reshaping of our thinking.

You see worship and mission are, and should be, the two fundamental activities of the church of Jesus Christ. They are the embodiment of two great commandment of God for his people, listen

28 One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?” 29“The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 30Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ 31 The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.”

The first command is to love God, by living lives of worship. The second command is to Love our neighbors, by being an active part of God’s mission to a troubled and broken world.

So the primary task of the Church and for us as true believer is to worship the one and true God; Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Even before the obvious evangelism and missionary work, God’s people are called to come to him. Before all else we are called to trust God and to love God ‘with all our heart and with all our soul and with all our mind and with all our strength’^[1]. We are called as Christians to place our lives in His hands; for He is always good, He is always reliable and He is always trustworthy. In everything we do, through all life’s ups and downs, we are to believe and trust in Jesus Christ. So the first command of God is this “Come to me”. Simply this

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.^[2]

This is the call of God to salvation and personal renewal. God is calling all who are poor and downtrodden, all who are weak and weary, all who are burdened and broken in this life to come. He calls rich and poor alike, but it is those in need, the poor who tend to listen more eagerly. As his church we must take seriously Jesus’ call to be more like the poor. We are to be like poor ones who turn to God because they have nothing else^[3]. In the west many have received the consolations of their riches and do not comprehend their need for God^[4]. In general the richer the church in the west becomes the weaker is its proclamation of the Gospel. Let us be more like the poor than the rich. Let us turn to him, and complete rely on God. This is the work of salvation in our hearts, it is power of God. The apostle Paul reminds us of this ‘we are to be confident that God who began that good work in us will carry it on to completion ...’^[5].

It is always God who begins that good work. Our God, our missionary God, is calling out. He goes out seeking those who have lost their way in this life. Like an eternal good shepherd He is earnestly seeking His lost sheep, and we are all like sheep who have gone astray. God goes out into the world and is calling us back to Him. The Holy Spirit speaks into our hearts and minds and souls and strengths if we will hear him.  

The first step is always the same. When we hear Jesus says “Come” what do we do? We must say “Yes Lord, I come”. In our hearts when we say  “Yes Lord, I trust you Jesus, I come” we find salvation. This is what “being saved” means - we humbly acknowledge God and His call on our lives. Jesus, says that in doing this we are like someone born anew, born a second time. But this first and most important step is not all we need to do, it is just the beginning. We need to continual listen to God, we need to hear this call of God to “Come”. For God doesn’t change, like a perfect loving father He opens up His arms to us and says “Come” and in response we should let our answer resonate each day “Yes Lord, I come”. Our God is calling out to us, even now - do you hear him, are you listening to him in your heart? This simple dialog, Father to daughter, Father to son, is at the heart worship. If we are faithful in this we will be giving our lives to God, this is the true way to worship him.

We are not to copy our former way of life, or copy the behaviour and customs of this world. We are not to seek personal riches, or status or pleasures in this life. But we are to let God transform us into new people who think complete differently^[6]. This deep work of the Holy Spirit, this work of personal renewal, this transformation of our thinking is something that is absolutely indispensable if we are to heed the second command of God, “Go”. For cannot effectively “Go” if we have not first “Come”.

The first command to “Come” is obviously for our benefit. This is because we receive forgiveness for sins committed, peace of heart and the blessings of the presence of God. The second command “Go” is not primarily for our benefit. We all tend to gravitate towards actions that will directly benefit us rather than those that will benefit others. Before Pentecost the disciples of Jesus thought a little like this. Their thoughts revolved around what they would get out of following Jesus; “what is in it for me?” they thought.

In Matthew 20 we read they were concerned with achieving personal status and honour, they argued amongst themselves who would be first.  But Jesus reminds them “For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many”^[7] It was out of a compassionate heart that Jesus laid down His life for people in need. If we are to follow him we must try and be like him; having a servant heart, a compassionate heart. This is the core of the Gospel. Would you rather be first or last? Do you want to be served or will you compassionately serve others? Let us read from Matthew 28:17-20

17 When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

When we worship without doubting, in obedience to the God’s command to “Come” we will hear the Lord Jesus command us to “Go”, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations ..” In the book of Acts Jesus says to us “Go be my witnesses...”

‘you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.’ ^[8]

The word ‘witness’ in the New Testament Greek means simply this: ‘one who says what they have seen or heard’. We are true Christians, when (i) we have heard His call to ‘come’, (ii) when we have trusted Jesus, and (iii) when we have been born anew by the Spirit of God. Then, we are to ‘Go’ and simply tell of what we know of God, by our words and by our actions, in season and out of season. So Christ’s first call is to “Come”, his second is “Go, Go your way, Go preach the good news about me, Go and witness to what you understand of me in your hearts, Go and make disciples, so that the love of God would cover the earth as the waters cover the sea”

It is so simple and yet as frail and weak people it hard because we fear what people will think and say. Consider the disciples of Jesus they were initial like us. ‘They did not become powerful evangelists without some training. Jesus had to help them let go of their fears and overcome their inertia, to see the urgency of the harvest, to watch and pray. He had to inspire them with a vision of the kingdom of God; that place there is no male or female, no black or white, no Jew or Gentile, only one people of the living God.This beautiful kingdom where faith, hope and love rule. At times he had to strip them of their pride and self-confidence. At times he had to show them in a humbling and painful way that they could do nothing on their own. For only with the help of God could they hope to accomplish anything; only by prayer and fasting could the expect to see the power of God at work.

At times Jesus had to test the reality of their love, challenge their commitment. He warned them of hard times ahead but also promised them the power of the Holy Spirit that would help them inwardly and enable them to go and be a witness to him in this fallen and broken world’^[9]. And we are no different from the disciple, we must ‘come’ learn from Jesus. We must let him teach us through his word and be continually filled with the Holy Spirit, that we may understand his word more deeply and truly.  

In Luke chapter 10:1-20 we see an example of Jesus’ basic missionary strategy,

1 After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them on ahead of him, two by two, into every town and place where he himself was about to go. 2 And he said to them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few.Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest. 3 Go your way; behold, I am sending you out as lambs in the midst of wolves. 4 Carry no moneybag, no knapsack, no sandals, and greet no one on the road. …  8 Whenever you enter a town and they receive you, eat what is set before you. 9 Heal the sick in it and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’

In verse 1 it says they were to go out two by two. Jesus sends them out with some support. Witnessing on your own is not God’s first plan. In verse 2 he says the ‘The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few.Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.’ So if you are on your own you are are to earnestly pray that God would send someone to help you in the work of mission. The ‘harvest is plentiful’, there are many people out there that know that there is something missing in their lives; they have taken many wrong turns in this life; they are struggling with many troubles and worries, and for them it seems no-one is around to help. Do we believe this is true? Do we believe that God can help them?

In verse 1 Jesus ‘sent them on ahead of him, two by two, into every town and place where he himself was about to go.’  Jesus, sends us out ahead of himself. We are to be ambassadors of the coming Lord. Wherever we go, whomsoever we speak, in this life, Jesus comes with us. When we have gone, Jesus comes after and speaks into the hearts and minds of those who have heard our words. God has a great mission and we are but a small part of this mission. You see when we speak, how we speak, and what we speak reflects on Jesus. So be wise and sensitive ambassadors. We are to trust him, trust God, and not worry about provisions and plans.

We are to simply talk to the people we meet, when an opportunity arises, about God’s blessings, about our hope in God, about God’s love for us. This may be at work, this may be in ordinary conversations with neighbours here in Clevedon. We are to go in poverty, in humility not in personal strength, with clever evangelical plans and strategies. We are to complete rely of God. We don’t need to manufacture or force conversations towards the subject of faith and God. Let us be wise and sensitive ambassadors. Prayerfully, let us be ready and willing to take the opportunities that will naturally arise if we are seeking to do God’s will. For I believe God will provide opportunities for the Gospel. It is just this, in all our ways let us acknowledge him.  

When we look at the New Testament church we see all its failings and weakness. They were in a much more difficult environment than we are in this country. Being a witness to Jesus was, at a certain point in time, extremely dangerous, personally. It was at this time that the Greek word for witness which is ‘martyr’ came to take on another deeper meaning. There is always a cost in serving God and loving others. Some of these witnesses proved the genuineness of their faith in Christ by undergoing a violent death. As a church they listened to the call to “come” and were truly alive with the Spirit of God.

So when the persecution came on Jerusalem, they spread out and carried the news of Christ to the surrounding gentile areas. They went out and gossiped the gospel. They simply obeyed the command to ‘Go, and be my witnesses’ And it was not the professional evangelists in the main, but the simple folk going out two by two who carried the gospel from Jerusalem. It was the whole church, active and bold in evangelism, that dramatically changed to world of their day.

In our day, it is tragic that many people in western churches think that missionary activity is something special, for a Christian with exceptional gifts and a rare dedication to God. They think mission activity is quite different from the normal, run of the mill, activity of the Church. Our holding of mission sundays, when we focus on overseas mission, just highlights the belief in the minds of some that it is a special calling for the few. It is an activity the occurs overseas is some distant lands and so we can feel safe to hold it at arms length. But do we hold mission sundays that focus on Clevedon and our personal witnessing?

In summary, the two great commands are to love God, draw near to God and the love the people we meet. Jesus, calls us all to first ‘Come to him’ and then all to ‘Go ahead of him’. Are we ready to follow the example of our missionary Lord, and be messengers of the good news of God’s forgiveness and love? Jesus calls us all to this personal witness.Listen again to the word of God

‘you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.’  

The indispensable person in mission is God, the Holy Spirit. With the presence of God, with the anointing and filling of the Holy Spirit we can be witnesses in Clevedon, in all Bristol and Somerset, and to ends of the earth. Listen to words of Jesus from John 20:20-22 for I believe it is a message for all Christians, for all time.

Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit”.

Jesus is saying to you and me “As the Father has sent me, so I send you”.Let us follow our Lord's example and command.

 Amen.

---

[1] Mark 12:30

[2] Matt 11:28-29

[3] Luke 6:20

[4]  Luke 6:24

[5] Philippians 1:5-7

[6] Romans 12:1-3

[7] Math 20:28

[8] Act 1:8

[9] from Discipleship. p188 David Watson partially reworded.

A warning for the rich of this world

Part of series on James, 4:13-5:12

Clevedon Baptist Church  – 30/jun/2013

 

The book of James was, most probably, written by the James the brother of Jesus, and leader of the pre-eminent first century church in Jerusalem. It is sent out to the “twelve tribes which are scattered abroad” (chapter 1:1). Some argue that the Apostle James is mainly writing to Jewish Christians, as he mentions them meeting in synagogues in chapter 2:2 (in the Greek). However, I take this prophetic term to refer to all the Christians who are scattered across the world. In scripture “twelve” signifying completeness. The Apostle Paul in the book of Romans (11:16-18) comments on how the Gentiles (thats you and me) are grafted into the people of God.

The Apostle James is clearly concerned that we understand that the way we act matters, what we say matters, what we do and don’t do matters.  Our Christian faith is not just some abstracted intellectual ideology. It has a very practical component that is not an optional extra. And what is this practical component? … Love, Love in action, real and true selfless, self sacrificing Love. (Agape).

In the first chapter James talks about having the right mindset, patience , and faith (verse 3, 4) , poverty and humility (verse 9,10), endurance (verse 12). And this kind of character or as the Apostle Paul put it “fruit of the Spirit” grows from a true and living relationship with God. True faith is God breathed, it comes from God and we if we truly believe will know this. Our Christian faith is not some abstract intellectual ideology, it is an expression of a relationship with the living God.

We may believe in many things. I believe that electricity is real even though I can’t often see it; but Christian faith is not like believing in electricity. I believe that England will one day win the world cup again, but Christian faith is not like believing in some wild hope. Christian faith is like trusting a friend. True faith expresses the presence of a relationship. Listen to the words of Jesus in  John’s Gospel (15:9-12)

9As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. 10 If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.

11 “These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full. 12This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. …  14 You are My friends if you do whatever I command you. 15No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends

True Christian faith in God not only expresses a belief that He exists; for you can believe God exists and not be a Christian. You can believe that He is good, loving and forgiving, and still not know Him within your heart. You can even be like the Muslims who believe that He is, that He is mighty and merciful, but never know His close abiding presence inside. Its like holding onto the photo of a loved one rather than holding onto loved one themselves.

You see true faith in Jesus is “abiding in His love”, it is living and staying with Jesus. It is being at home with Jesus. Its like going around to His house and moving in! Christian faith is being rooted in a mystical relationship with the eternal and loving God. It begins with the breath of God in our souls, it follows on with a trusting heart that submits to His will above our own. With a heart that trusts Jesus we receive, from God, peace and forgiveness for everything we have done wrong.

Now this forgiveness of God is not based on anything we do, as the Apostle Paul makes clear in Romans and Galatians. If it was based on doing good who would measure up to God’s high standards, who is perfect and completely without fault? We are all frail and weak people who often follow the wrong paths. We still make mistakes, consciously and unconsciously, by commission and omission. We need the undeserved forgiveness of a loving friend and we have this in Jesus.

But as relationships are not static, friendships hopefully grow and deepen. Through all of lifes ups and downs Jesus leads us and asks us to listen to His words, and obey His commands. And His primary command is this ‘express your love for me by loving one another’  

And this takes us back to James (1:22), “be doers of the word not just hearers only, deceiving yourselves” James is pointing out that true love is not just singing a few hymns in Church and placing a few pounds in the offering. Its actually about relationships with the rich and the poor alike, its helping the weak and needy, and having true wisdom that is based on the love of God.

The world has its own agenda and hierarchy. Rich, beautiful, powerful people on top, and the weak and poor ones at the bottom; it was ever thus. Some say ‘If you want to get on in the world grab all you can, and with both hands. If you have to push past a few weak ones well it is survival of the fittest isn’t it?’ This is the way of the world, but it is not the true and living way.

But Jesus has shown us a completely different paradigm, one where the rich and powerful God becomes weak and poor. Jesus who is God became human for a season. He, God,  became vulnerable and was victim to all injustice, ultimate He was considered by the ruling powerful people of this world to be like some rubbish to be disposed of on a cross.

But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. 28 God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things – and the things that are not – to nullify the things that are. (1 Corinthians 1:27-28).

And the truth of this was made manifest by Jesus rising from the dead.

But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. 22 For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. 23 But each in turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him. 24 Then the end will come, (1 Corinthians 15:20-24)

Now which view is true; the world’s or God’s? Worldly success in this life, will not get you into God’s good books. It will not see you obtaining eternal life. God values things that the world does not. God values poverty, humility, compassion, peace, forgiveness, faithfulness and above all self sacrificial loving.

and Apostle James put it (James 2:5)

Listen, my dear brothers and sisters: 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?

The Apostle James says the way we treat people matters; what we say and do matters. It matters to others, it matters to God and ultimately is matters in defining the kind of people we are. If we are angry or proud or rude or inconsiderate it matters. If we are selfish and unkind, riding roughshod over others it matters. If we harbor bitterness towards others, if we talk behind their backs gossiping half truths about them, out of envy or spite,  it matters to God. And all these actions are not right and are not of God.

Having said this, I agree with the Apostle Paul and believe truly in my heart of hearts that even if I run up all kinds of sins and misdeeds I am still forgiven when I trust Jesus. It not about trying to achieve some good account with God, no. I can never do enough good, love enough to be like God who is perfect in all ways. You see we have reasons to feel guilty, if we truly reflect on how we live our lives. We have guilt because even though we know that we should do good, we do not. We have guilt and have no excuse. But our acceptance by God is not about achieving a good account, it not about balancing the bad things we have done with more good things. Our acceptance by God is because of who He is, and what He has done for us. It was He who loves us, it was He who chose us first; and then we trusted Him. Have you fully grasped this yet? Do you feel the freedom of guilt here. Listen to John (1 John 1:8-9)

If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

So it not about me trying to achieve a good balance sheet by doing good. Its always about accepting and trusting that there is enough forgiveness in the loving heart of Jesus to cleanse me from all things that I have done wrong, all guilty weight of sin.

So when the Apostle James say that you must show love, he is assuming that you have understood that it is the free gift of a loving God that you have been completely forgiven. James is speaking to some people on the edges of the fellowship, saying ‘if you never show Christian love maybe you never really got it in the first place’. “Got it, got what?” you say. Maybe you never entered into a living relationship with God, never found a home with Him, never became a friend of God.  

In chapter 4 we see warnings about this division between the world and God, “anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God” (James 4:4) . He encourages us to “Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded” (James 4:8). Stop sitting on the fence between God and the world. Come to God, draw near to God, confess your sins, humble yourself and He will lift you up.

This leads us onto the section 4:13-17 where James gives a warning about seeking riches in this world. We may think that we have plenty of time in this life to do what we like. We may be like that man that Jesus talks about in Luke’s Gospel (Luke 12:16-21)

16 ‘The ground of a certain rich man yielded an abundant harvest. 17 He thought to himself, “What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.” 18 ‘Then he said, “This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store my surplus grain. 19 And I’ll say to myself, ‘You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.’” 20 ‘But God said to him, “You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?”21 ‘This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich towards God.’

“Every good gift comes from above” (James 1:17) . Any wealth we have come from God, any health we have comes from God, each and every day we have comes from God. We need to have our minds transformed by these thoughts. We need to reflect of the truth of these thoughts. “For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away” (James 4:17). And so we should understand that all life is by the grace of God. James says we should think, in everything we plan, “if God is willing …” . In Cyprus some Greeks, even today, lace the speech with phrases like, “syn Theou” which means with God’s blessing, and “Kyrie eleison”, which means Lord have mercy. But not many really understand what they are saying. James wants our hearts and our words to be together; free from hypocrisy, loving and trusting Jesus.  

In chapter 5:1-6 James continues his attack on the world and especially the rich. “Come now, you rich, weep and howl for your miseries that are coming upon you!”. Some preachers preach a prosperity gospel, and they seem to be very successful for a season. They preach that God can and will bless you materially in this life if, you have faith, enough faith! Their focus is on material blessings in this life, the riches of this world. But not many come to the letter of James for a warning. You see it is all about where you place your trust. Is it in wealth and health, and the pleasures of this life, or is it in the arms of a loving God? Wealth and health will fade away, but the true gifts of God last forever.

The blessings of God are peace of heart, forgiveness for all wrongs we have done, healing of the wounds of this life, true joy in His eternal presence and friendship with eternal loving God. These are riches beyond anything we can find in this life apart from Him.

And so James encourages us to be patient, to wait patiently for the fruit of life, to wait for “the early and latter rain”. James exhorts us to wait for all the good gifts that God has promised to us. Like the soil need rain to grow the crops, we need God’s Spirit to establish in our hearts the love of God. We need God in everything. Even though at times things in our lives may be hard and tough, with many struggles, God alone is enough. The abiding presence of God is all we shall ever need.

In summary, James is urging us to be truly followers of Christ Jesus, not seeking after worldly treasures. James is urging us to have a transformed mind and heart that knows God as friend. James urges us and encourages us to express our love for God by loving one another. And this is the Gospel “express your love for God by loving one another”.