On Dreams and "Anyone Can" and "Everyone Cannot"

This blurb just arrived in my inbox from a coworker (this is but a wee bit of it, Dr. M. twaddled on for much longer than this!):

5 Reasons Why Dreams Don't Take Flight, by Dr. John C. Maxwell:

Most of us never see our dreams come true. Instead of soaring through the clouds, our dreams languish like a broken-down airplane confined to its hangar. Through life, I have come to identify five common reasons why dreams don't take flight.

#1 We Have Been Discouraged from Dreaming by Others
We have to pilot our own dreams; we cannot entrust them to anyone else....We have to grasp the controls tightly to keep from being knocked off course.

#2 We Are Hindered by Past Disappointments and Hurts
....Disappointment is the gap that exists between expectation and reality, and all of us have encountered that gap. Failure is a necessary and natural part of life, but if we're going to attain our dreams, then...we have to summon the courage deal with past hurts.

#3 We Fall into the Habit of Settling for Average
Average is the norm for a reason. Being exceptional demands extra effort, sustained inspiration, and uncommon discipline....Through time, our lives become mundane, and our dreams slip away.

#4 We Lack the Confidence Needed to Pursue Our Dreams
....Amelia Earhart....confidently chased after her dream, and she was rewarded with both fulfillment and fame.

#5 We Lack the Imagination to Dream
For thousands of years, mankind traveled along the ground.... Thanks to the dreams of Orville and Wilbur Wright, we now hop across oceans....Imagination lifts us beyond average....Dreams infuse our spirit with energy and spur us on to greatness.

If we were to sum up this bit of Amway-speak in just two words, they would be: "Anyone Can!" This is the mantra today, across the entire "leadership" genre, is it not? "Anyone Can!" One can almost hear the voice on the tape, "You are a 'Go-Getter!'"

But there's a problem. Everyone Cannot. The lie residing just beneath the surface of every fine sounding "Anyone Can" is the fact that "Everyone Cannot." In fact, among certain people groups, past and present, literally Everyone Cannot.

Come with me on a little tour of some of the people groups who have experienced more "Cannot" than "Can."

Imagine, if you will, what it would be like to live as...

...a Javanese islander during Dutch colonialization?

...an Armenian under Turkish occupation in the decades leading up to the first great war?

...a Jew in 1939 Berlin or Warsaw or occupied Holland?

...a Tutsi in 1994 Rwanda?

...one of the non-Arab ethnic groups in Darfur today?

When pressed up against the truth of "Everyone Cannot," the twaddle of "Anyone Can" cannot help but come across as trite.

However...

(With apologies to Dr. King!) I too have a dream!

I dream of the day when those of us in Dr Maxwell's line of work stop talking so much about "leadership" and start talking more about "servant-ship!"

I dream of the day when those of us in Dr Maxwell's line of work aspire to the much higher, much more exciting, and far more rewarding calling of humility in the service of Jesus and the service of those who face their own "Cannots" of this life!

I dream of the day when those of us in Dr Maxwell's line of work truly live to serve and feed and build up those who, on account of those both over and around them, truly "Cannot!"

James says this, "Listen, folks, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him? But you have dishonored the poor man."

Lord Jesus, please give me the strength and courage to serve and to live my life on behalf of my "Cannot" friends!

Loyalty Tested, part 3

THE STORY



THE CORRUPTION OF THE GOSPEL STORY

Just how loyal are we to 'the truths of the faith' in the face of so many things that try to encroach upon them or add to them? Just how determined are we in making sure the Gospel message is not corrupted by addition or dilution today? Have we become enamored with mixing other things in with The Gospel? Are we perverting by dilution, in the guise of 'holistic' ministry, The Gospel that alone has the power to save?

At the heart of James' argument is a picture of what loyalty to The Gospel looks like. His core thesis is The Gospel itself: No anger (no drive, no impetus) of man's can attain to the Righteousness of God. But, by the humble and simple reception of the Word (The Gospel) which is implanted by God into our very lives, His righteousness IS attained (1:20-21). (Without question, this receiving necessarily includes a turning away from all (internal) 'moral filth' and from all (external) 'prevalent evil.' However, the turning away from evil is not what ultimately 'merits' the work of God or the righteousness of God - what is clearly seen in the humble act of freely receiving what God alone provides is that the 'merit' is Christ's alone!)

The picture that James uses to illustrate his thesis is particularly applicable today. It is especially so for us, in light of what is so prevalent in our society today. There is no doubting the popularity (even among Christians) of self-help programs of every kind. We live in a 'how-to' world. A myriad of cable channels, books, and seminars are happy to teach you how to decorate the house, how to design a dinner setting or a backyard garden or a dining room carpet, how to fix the plumbing or the computer, how to make and spend your money, how to fix your marriage or your spouse or your children, how to 'manage' your stress, how to attain your 'next level' of spirituality, how to fix your emotions, how to find your god, how to achieve his favor -- good grief, it's endless! And God's people are leading the way in beating a path to this stuff! If we're having to ask, "How do I do [fill-in-the-blank] ?" then James asks us if we're looking into the right 'mirror!'

James makes it clear to us that we must choose which 'mirror' we will look into for the help we need. One is the 'mirror' of our introspective self-help effort. It is the 'mirror' of the knowledge of good and evil. It is the effort to effect in ourselves the changes required to achieve the blessings of God. The result is that we walk away frustrated at our utter inability to change anything, much less remember what it was we'd glimpsed, in that moment of introspection, that needed changing!

ENDURING LOYALTY TO THE GOSPEL STORY ALONE

In stark contrast, James strongly commends to us a different 'mirror.' The other 'mirror' is the 'completed law that gives us liberty.' It is The Gospel alone, The Gospel of the finished righteousness, The Story of the completed work of Christ in fulfilling God's law, that has the power to free us from the endless, introspective, self-help cycle of forgetfulness, frustration, and fruitlessness that is found looking in the other 'mirror.'

It reminds me of Brad's (not his real name) story. Brad came forward in response to the message one morning. The message was very typical of those prevalent today, full of the how-you-can-be-what-you're-not and how-you-can-get-to-where-you're-not kind of stuff. As Brad began to divulge his heart's desires, he soon began asking the predictable series of "how" questions, each "how" leading to the next. "How do I do that?" followed by, "and then, how do I do THAT?" Fortunately for Brad, his prayer partner interrupted by telling him that "how" might be the wrong question to ask. He showed Brad this scripture from James and pointed out that "how" is the 'mirror' of our own powerlessness and frustration. As he began to show Brad the other 'mirror,' the Tree of Life, the perfected work of Christ, the 'completed law which gives us liberty,' suddenly the lights started coming on in Brad's heart and mind. He began to get his focus off of himself, and began to look outside of himself for the help he was longing for. He began to look upon the One lifted up on a cross; He began to see Him who had already accomplished what all the "how" questions in Brad's mind could not. It was a glance that effected so much more than Brad could have ever hoped or dreamed that morning! Suddenly the heaviness of "how?" was gone, and in its place was a newly implanted seed of peace of mind given from above!

We are called by James, and by Paul, and by Jesus' Spirit still today, to reignite our passion for, and our single-minded loyalty to, The Gospel alone. The Gospel alone, not mixed with the latest self-help therapy, has the power to save! For the Christian, loyalty to the truths (dare I say doctrines) of The Gospel is THE defining moral issue of the ages! Our loyalty to our Savior is measured in, as Paul instructs Timothy, our "closely watching ourself and The Teaching!" (1Tim 4:16) The Gospel Story alone must have our single-minded and enduring loyalty!

[ I'd like to make a final recommendation: a series on First Timothy by Joshua Harris entitled, "Entrusted With The Gospel." He brilliantly develops the theme of enduring loyalty to the Gospel. I highly recommend that you visit this site and download a copy for yourself. Here is the link:

http://www.covlife.org/tools/sermons.php

It is a worthwhile listen! ]

Royce Douglas

Two Trees, Two Mirrors, Two Births

A Story told in Twos

TWO TREES

"Once upon a time there were two trees. There was a good tree and an evil tree. And the man and the woman decided to eat from the evil tree..."

Wait, there's something wrong here; this isn't how the story goes. Yet, how often do we tell the story this way, allowing wrong impressions to form in our minds.

There indeed were two trees, but they were not the "good tree" and the "evil tree." Only one of the trees has a name that refers to "good and evil." That tree was called the tree of the "Knowledge of Good and Evil." Therefore, man's choice that fateful day was, in large measure, the choice to define good and evil for himself. He was attempting to ascend to a place of judging good from evil in his own abilities and understandings.

James writes the same thing centuries later. He warns us that to ascend to judge YHWH's standards is to fail to live under them. To do so is to fail to humbly allow them to govern our lives. In choosing the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, we are rejecting the Tree of Life; we are rejecting the provision of God offered to us for our eternal well-being; we are rejecting the choice to come into Christ and there find the abundance of life made available to us from our Creator.

TWO MIRRORS

Now let's complete our fast forward to James' letter. In the following passage, we find the two trees replaced with two mirrors.

"1:20 ....for man's anger does not bring about the righteousness of God. 21 Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the Word Implanted in you, which can save you. 22 Do not merely listen to the Word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 23 Anyone who listens to the Word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a 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 Perfected Law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it—he will be blessed in all he does."

Notice that the same choice reappears; notice the similarities between the two trees in the garden and the two mirrors.

One mirror reflects the poor soul who is trying his hardest, in himself, to be righteous. He is straining with all the drive and "anger" he can muster to do good and conquer evil. In his attempt to ascend to the seat of judging what is right and wrong for himself, he must intently inspect himself in this mirror; he must do so with the most brutal introspection he can muster in order to detect the least flaw in his character. But alas, he is living out this kind of life under the auspices of his own Knowledge of Good and Evil. The harder he tries, the more forgetful, deluded, and self-righteous he becomes, all the while unable to attain the very righteousness of God that his own "anger" so desperately strives after.

The other mirror reflects to us the Tree of Life; it reveals the true provision of God offered to us for our eternal well-being; it reveals to us the Finished Work of Jesus' righteousness; it reveals to us the Completed Law - completed by Jesus at the cross - that gives Freedom; it reveals the abundance of life made available to us from our Creator. Humbly accepting this Implanted Word, and continuing to do so - that is, continuing to humbly accept this Implanted Word and thereby rejecting the inherent self-focus and pride revealed in the first mirror - results in God's blessing!

TWO BIRTHS

Earlier in the same chapter, James describes two birth cycles: the birth cycle of death and the birth cycle of life. The two births correspond to the two trees and the two mirrors; they point to the very same realities.

The first birth cycle is the very poignant and graphic picture of death's pregnancy and birth:

"14 But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire (attraction, temptation). 15 Then desire when it has conceived ("entertaining" the desire, conception) bears sin (pregnancy, as in 'she bore him a son'), and sin when it is full-term delivers (births) death."

The human condition is certainly in a bad way when left to its own desires and its own definitions of good and evil. The result, unavoidably, is death, eternal death.

Just as it was man's own desires that "saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise," so man's desires still continue to engender death in him as he chooses his own desires and his own definitions of good and evil over a humble receptivity, by faith, of God's provided Life, the Implanted Word.

But - and here is the great "But" of the Gospel! - again the Tree of Life appears: the Provision of God for man's well-being, the abundance of life made available to him from his Creator. This Life appears in the form of a New Birth given from above by God Himself.

"17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father... 18 He chose to give us birth through the Word of Truth...."

The beautiful thing here is that the choice to engender and birth this New Life within us begins with God's choice and determination to give us re-birth through the power of the Gospel's Word. My prayer for you and for me is that we would exhibit the same humble receptivity, by faith, of this Implanted Word of God, the Gospel concerning His Son Jesus, that was shown by Mary:

"Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your Word."

-Royce Douglas

The Structure and Outline of James

For all students of God's Word, I offer here this possible outline of James' letter that attempts to recognize its unity of theme and purpose.

With Bible in hand, please read, meditate upon, and consider James' call to perseverance in faith in God's Gospel. I truly hope you find this outline helpful and that it serves you in your pursuit of understanding the scriptures.


The Letter From James (that great friend of evangelicals and protestants!):

1:1 letter greeting


I. 1:2-9 introduction

A. (1:2-4) opening frame:
"Perseverance (of fidelity) must finish its work..."

B. (1:5-8) the content of perseverance previewed:
(Wisdom from above) "If any of you lacks wisdom..."

C. (1:9-11) the application of perseverance previewed:
(the eschatological view of life) "...pride in...high/low position..."

D. (1:12) closing frame:
"Blessed is the one who perseveres..."


II. 1:13-27 James' thesis: the Gospel itself

A. (1:13-15) the human condition:
"...when, by his own desire;...gives birth to death."

B. (1:16-18) the Divine remedy:
"...gift is from above;...He chose to give us birth through the [Gospel]."

C. (1:19-25) the Gospel’s call:
"humbly accept the word implanted;...look intently into the completed law"
- because: "man’s anger does not attain..."
...and looking to self (in the mirror) cannot either!
- abiding in the completed work of Christ CAN save and bless you


III. 1:26-3:18 James' core argument
[background note: in James' day it was said that a whole life consisted of one's heart attitudes, actions, and speech]

The Call to Persevere in Fidelity to the Gospel in...
A. (2:1-13) ...the church's heart attitudes:
"...don’t show favoritism....Mercy triumphs over judgment!"

B. (2:14-26) ...the church's actions:
"...faith without deeds is dead."

C. (3:1-13) ...the church's speech
"Become not 'many masters'"
"If one is never at fault in [logos], he is...able to keep...in check."

D. (3:13-18) the Gospel’s call, revisited:
"But the wisdom that comes from above..."
"And the fruit of righteousness is sown [by God] in peace in them that make peace."
[in typical Jewish fashion, God is the understood subject of this passive grammar.]


IV. 4:1-5:11 James' life application

it's a question of loyalty:
A. (4:1-3) Loyalty to God v your desires

B. (4:4-6) Loyalty to God v the world

C. (4:7-10) Loyalty to God v the devil

D. (4:11-12) Loyalty to one another

E. (4:13-17) Loyalty to God v Mammon/'Business(?)'

F. (5:1-11) Loyalty with the end in view
"stand firm, because the Lord's coming is near..."


5:12-20 letter closing

(5:12) oath formula

(5:13-18) health and well-wishes

(5:19-20) summary: loyalty restored

Loyalty Tested, part 2

LOYALTY TO GOD MUST MANIFEST IN LOYALTY TO HIS GOSPEL

James opens with these exhortations to steadfastly maintain fidelity to God, to His Son, and to His Gospel:
'The testing of your faith (through all kind of trials) produces steadfastness...that you may be mature and complete...'
'Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial...'

He closes his letter with even stronger appeals for steadfast fidelity:
'Be patient...until the coming of the Lord.'
'You also, be patient.'
'Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.'
'We consider those blessed who remained steadfast, and [we have] seen [the Lord's Result]...how the Lord is compassionate and merciful.'

[And James looks beyond the believer's own fidelity to that of others, as well:]

'...if anyone...wanders from the truth and someone brings him back...
whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering (infidelity) will save his soul...'

We cannot rightly understand James unless we understand that this is the governing theme of the entire letter. It is about faithful, steadfast, unwavering, maturing, tested, proven, persevering fidelity and loyalty to God and to His Gospel Story! The entire letter must be understood with this theme as its context! If not, grave misunderstanding will take the reader captive! The letter is not a loose collection of wisdom sayings as has long been thought in Christendom - even though the letter fits well within the 'wisdom' tradition. The letter is a single, relentless call to God's people to remain steadfast in faith (trust AND loyalty) through all trials and circumstances! Its likeness to Paul's letter to the Galatians is remarkable in this respect!

THE SPECIFIC CONTENT OF LOYALTY

With that in mind, we must now begin to look at the content of our loyalty. To what, exactly, are we to remain loyal? Certainly, we must remain loyal to God, Himself. And yet, James wants to define further what is included in that loyalty to God. There is a certain and specific content to that loyalty. There is a Truth - from which one may potentially wander - that requires specific definition. Here are just a few facets of this Truth:

1. Loyalty includes the right understanding of who God is and what His character is like:
'God, who gives generously to all without reproach..."
Later also, James will tell us that God, in His goodness, may TEST our fidelity, but he never TEMPTS our infidelity. This same good God, writes James, is the only source of every 'good and complete gift.'

2. Loyalty includes following God's revealed wisdom for navigating the trials of life, the tests of fidelity:
'If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God...'
This theme is also developed later by James in his appeal to follow through and to do that which is revealed and not just be a hearer of it.

3. Loyalty includes a right understanding of man and his situation apart from God:
'that person (wavering from trust and dependance upon Jesus alone) must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord...'
This doctrine plays huge in James' thesis! He goes on to describe our total inability to attain the righteousness of God or to save ourselves or even to change things in ourselves that we might momentarily view in the mirror of introspection.

4. Loyalty includes a right understanding of the trial itself:
'Let the lowly brother boast in his exaltation...'
Again, James will later develop for us a right understanding about the purpose of the trial, about the source of temptation toward disloyalty in the trial, and Who can (God), and who cannot (ourselves, or any other human help), deliver us through the trial.

LOYALTY TO A RIGHT UNDERSTANDING

You will notice that James places a great deal of emphasis on the right understanding of several things - dare we say 'doctrine?'

YES! Loyalty to sound teaching about God, about man, and about the appropriate navigation of life's tests (that is, doctrines of faith, salvation, and sanctification) are a core component of loyalty to God Himself! Loyalty to God is defined, in large part, by loyalty to a right understanding (sound doctrine) of His Gospel Story!

Was it not sound doctrine that sent Jan Hus to be burned at the stake? And was it not sound doctrine which defined Martin Luther's loyalty to Christ at the Diet of Worms?

We live in a day in which sound doctrine must once again take its place at the front lines of faith and Christian living! I am thankful for those who are leading the way, such as those gathering under the banner of 'Together for the Gospel,' as well as others who are proclaiming with clarity the Gospel message!

Thank you, CJ Mahaney! Thank you, Josh Harris! Thank you, John Piper! Thank you, Gary, my friend! Without each of you, and the input into my life that each of you has given, my own loyalty would not have survived the tests that have come into my own life recent months! Without each of you, discouragement would have given way to despair, and for this I am eternally grateful!

My prayer is that 'my people' - those of my denomination - would likewise put aside other infatuations with all sorts of pragmatisms and therapeutic programs that have encroached upon and diluted - thereby distorting - the Gospel within our communities.

-Royce Douglas

Loyalty Tested, part 1

LIFE IS A TRIAL!

One way life can be a trial is in the sense that it is trying or difficult. And very often it is!

But James tells us that life is a trial in the sense of its being a test. You and I, if we are followers of Jesus, are being tried, tested, and proven by the things that are allowed to come into our lives.

Like two hearty slices of bread, the following calls for perseverance and loyalty hold together the sandwich which is James' introduction:

[an opening frame] (1:2-4) Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face 'motley varieties' of trials, because you know that the proving of your fidelity develops perseverance. Perseverance must complete its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

[a closing frame] (1:12) Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him.

This testing, this 'proving' of fidelity, this completing of perseverance, is a constant reality for the Christian. We may as well reconcile ourselves to this fact! James is deliberate in using the phrase 'many kinds' or 'motley varieties' because he wants us to know that these tests cover the full spectrum of human experience.

Life, then, IS a trial. It is a trial of our faith. What is being tested is our 'fide' [Latin], meaning our trust IN Christ and in the Gospel, as well as our fidelity or loyalty TO Christ and TO His Gospel. Completed perseverance of fidelity produces completed Christians. The matured, completed, and ultimately 'crowned' Christian is one whose enduring loyalty TO Jesus and TO His Gospel does not 'waver' like the 'waves.' And, if we are brutally honest, we readily admit that only God can sovereignly produce such enduring loyalty in us, as we keep our gaze fixed ON Jesus and ON His completed work, the completed law that gives us liberty.

THE CONTENT OF LOYALTY

Between these slices are, first, a brief preliminary thesis statement about the content of our loyalty and, second, a particularly relevant application of our loyalty.

[content] (1:5-8) If any of you lacks Wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But when he asks, he must trust and not waver, because he who wavers is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.

The content of our loyalty includes two things. First, it includes our right understanding of the character of God, along with our right understanding of the content of the Gospel. Secondly, it includes our being led and resourced by Wisdom from above - the leading and directing of the Holy Spirit of God - and not led by anything or anyone less! Our unwavering fidelity in both of these is essential to the loyal, faith-filled navigation of life's tests!

APPLYING LOYALTY TO LIFE

[illustration] (1:9-11) The brother in humble circumstances ought to take pride in his high position. But the rich person should take pride in his low position, because he will pass away like a wild flower. For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed. In the same way, the rich man will fade away even while he goes about his business.

First off, this illustration is singular; it is one illustration, not two. Yes, we see two people in this one illustration: a humbled 'brother' and a rich person. But in James, these are not two believers in different circumstances. Rather, the rich person is the wealthy patron, oppressor, and potential persecutor, who is always spoken of, in James, as the object of ultimate destruction, as is depicted here in the language of scorching, withering, falling, destroying, and fading away.

The primary relationship in this illustration is that between a liberally generous and ungrudging, forgiving God and His 'humbled-exalted' son or daughter. God's liberality and sovereignty are contrasted with the potential rich patron's oppression and impermanence. The believer, then, will show his loyalty and faith to his God and Savior by exalting in his honored position given by such a lavish God. The believer will then come boldly to Him for both that which he lacks as well as for the Wisdom to navigate his or her life's trials.

Such believers, sought out by such a God, and for such high favor as this, are blessed indeed! James, obviously reflecting Jesus' beatitudes, describes the high position of the lowly! Such believers can indeed know that the Proving of Loyalty is to be counted as ALL JOY!

-Royce Douglas

The Gospel Reflected In James' Vocabulary

VALUES VIEWED VIA VOCABULARY

The claim is made that every society values highest those things for which it uses the broadest vocabulary. That is, they use the most words to describe the things which that society most treasures.

This can help give us insight into the New Testament. In its pages we discover a brand-new society of people with an extensive new vocabulary. If we pay attention to this fledgeling and expansive vocabulary, we learn a great deal about them as a people and about the things they most valued.

Consider this sampling of words and phrases used synonymously for The Gospel, The Good News Story about Jesus and His atoning work:

The Faith,
God's Work (which is by Faith),
The Sound Doctrine,
The Glorious Gospel Of The Blessed God,
The Grace Of Our Lord,
The Faith And Love (that are in Christ Jesus),
A Trustworthy Saying That Deserves Full Acceptance,
The Good Fight,
The Truth,
The Testimony,
The True Faith,
The Deep Truths Of The Faith,
Their/Our Faith (in Christ Jesus),
The Mystery Of Godliness,
The Word Of God,
The Truths Of The Faith,
The Good Teaching,
A Trustworthy Saying,
Our First Pledge,
Our Teaching,
The Sound Instruction Of Our Lord Jesus Christ,
The Eternal Life,
The Good Confession,
This Command,
The Life That Is Truly Life.

Take time to meditate on these expressions. Consider them with renewed wonder for the work of Christ!

LOYALTY TO A STORY

Remarkably, this entire selection comes from just one short letter, I Timothy. In this letter, Paul uses this wide range of words and phrases to describe The Gospel Story. Further, in nearly every context, Paul is pleading with Timothy to remain loyal to his Savior BY remaining loyal to The Gospel Story itself. Paul is strident in his challenge to defend The Gospel from all forms of corruption by addition, subtraction, or perversion!

Remember also how, in the letter to the Galatians, Paul is even more adamant about loyalty to The Gospel alone. We must not add to, or pervert The Gospel by looking outside The Gospel for the capacity to do what only The Gospel can do! The Gospel alone is able to save. The Gospel alone continues transforming us into the image of Jesus. The Gospel alone sets us apart to God's Work! The Gospel alone produces faith, both for salvation and for sanctification!

This is why the 'Preaching of the Word' (to use the historic phrase) is not an expendable part of the Christian community's gathering, but is rather the most critical element of our meetings!

Now, take time to think about the words and phrases that James uses in his letter. James reflects this same set of values in the vocabulary he chooses! Think about these by way of comparison to Paul's:

The Word,
The Truth,
The Word Of Truth,
The Implanted Word,
The Seed Of Righteousness,
The Righteousness Of God,
The Perfected (Completed) Law (that gives us Liberty),
The Law Of Liberty,
The Royal (the King's) Law,
Your Faith,
The Faith In Our Lord Jesus Christ,
The Wisdom From Above,
Mercy,
More Grace

Reflect on how so very similar James’ vocabulary is to Paul's. Their very essences are the same.

All of these words, phrases and expressions were a vital part of the new community of Jesus' people. Their very breadth and vastness ought to speak volumes to us about the values of these believers and about their relationship to The Gospel. Indeed, The Gospel defined their very identity as a people.


JAMES' PLEA FOR LOYALTY TO THE STORY

Taking it a step further, James' letter's single, dominant theme is about loyalty to The Gospel, every bit as much as Paul's theme in Galatians is about loyalty to The Gospel and to The Gospel alone.

James pleads with his readers and with us for our unwavering devotion to Jesus and our single-minded loyalty to The Gospel alone. Consider what James says about The Gospel.

The Gospel is that 'Word Implanted' which, when humbly received, has the power to save (James 1:21)! It is our perseverance in loyalty to The Gospel alone which is tested through life's trials and which results in maturity and, ultimately, the crown of life (1:2-4,12)! The Gospel alone is the Seed of Righteousness that is sown into us in peace, by God from above (3:18 - more on this verse in coming segments)! It is The Gospel alone by which God births new life into us (1:18)! It is The Gospel alone that must be adamantly preserved from the corruption that comes through mixing it with: human desires (1:14; 4:1), human drives or anger (1:20), human ambitions (3:14), or any other of this world's prevalent evils or ideologies (1:21; 4:4)!

James' is the plea to remain loyal to The Gospel alone, the plea to restore loyalty to The Gospel alone, and the plea recover others from wandering from The Truth (5:19-20) of The Gospel.

Come along to explore this amazing letter from James!

-Royce Douglas