CRYSTALLIZATION-STUDY
of the Epistle of James

Message One

Its Stress—Christian Perfection

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Scripture Reading: James 1:1

OUTLINE

1. The virtues of Christian perfection stressed by James:
1. Counting it all joy whenever falling into trial and enduring it by faith with the hope of receiving the promised crown of life—1:2-4, 12.
2. Asking of God in faith for wisdom to know how to be perfect—1:5-8.
3. Rejoicing of the lowly brother in his exaltation and of the rich brother in his being brought low—1:9-12.
4. Resisting the temptation (which draws the believers away and entices the believers by their own lusts) by all good giving and every perfect gift from the Father of lights and by the virtue of being begotten by God with the word of truth to be the firstfruits of His creatures—1:13-18.
5. Receiving in meekness the implanted word to avoid wrath, bridle the tongue, take care of the orphans and widows, and keep oneself unspotted from the world, according to the (perfect) law (of freedom)—1:19-27.
6. Having no respect of persons by not dishonoring the poor, who are the heirs of the kingdom promised by God to His lovers, and by not regarding the rich, who oppress the believers and drag them to the courts and blaspheme the honorable name by which the believers are called; and loving one's neighbors as oneself to fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture that he may not be judged by the law of freedom without mercy—2:1-13.
7. Being justified by works, not by dead faith, in supplying the daily necessities of the needy ones, as both Abraham and Rahab were justified by their works after being justified by faith—2:14-26.
8. Not stumbling in word by bridling the tongue —3:1-12.
9. Not cursing man, whom God made according to His likeness, by the mouth with which one blesses the Lord— 3:9.
10. Behaving in wisdom, showing the good manner of life in meekness, mercy, purity, peace, forbearance, compliance, impartiality, without jealousy, selfish ambition, boasting, lying, and hypocrisy— 3:13-18.
11. Dealing with pleasures, the world, and the devil by loving God, by the indwelling Spirit given by God, and by the grace given to the humble—4:1-10.
12. Not speaking against the brothers by keeping the law—4:11-12.
13. Confiding not in self-will but in the Lord—4:13-17.
14. Awaiting the Lord's coming with long-suffering—5:7-9.
15. Taking the prophets and Job as examples in suffering evil with endurance—5:10-11.
16. Speaking honestly without swearing—5:12.
17. Praying according to the example of Elijah—5:13-18.
18. Turning back the brother led astray from the truth—5:19-20.
2. The items listed above imply:
1. The factors of which the Christian perfection stressed by James is produced:
1. All good giving and every perfect gift—1:17a, 5.
2. The begetting by God, the Father of lights, to be the firstfruits of His creatures—1:17b-18.
3. The word of truth—1:18.
4. The implanted word—1:21.
5. The Scripture—2:8.
6. The indwelling Spirit of God— 4:5.
7. Grace given by God— 4:6.
2. The means by which the Christian perfection stressed by James is carried out:
1. Faith—1:3, 6.
2. Wisdom given by God to know how to be perfect—1:5; 3:13, 15, 17.
3. The crown of life—1:12.
4. The (perfect) law (of freedom)—1:25; 2:8-12; 4:11.
5. The promised kingdom of God—2:5.
6. The judgments of God—2:12-13; 3:1; 4:11-12; 5:9.
7. The examples of the Old Testament: Abraham, Rahab, the prophets, Job, and Elijah—2:23-25; 5:10-11, 17-18.
8. The likeness of God according to which man was made—3:9.
9. Confiding in the Lord— 4:15.
10. The Lord's coming back—5:8.
11. Prayer—5:14-15.
12. Probably the cultivation of man's natural "bright virtue" created by God, thus becoming the cultivation of man's self.
3. The functions of the Christian perfection stressed by James:
1. Making oneself perfect in living a pious life but not in fulfilling God's eternal economy—1:4; 3:2.
2. Benefiting others.
3. Glorifying God.