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7. The Grace Given by God

The seventh and final factor of which the Christian perfection stressed by James is produced is the grace given by God (4:6). James mentions grace only in an elementary way by saying that the Lord gives grace to the humble.

B. The Means by Which the Christian Perfection
Stressed by James Is Carried Out

1. Faith

Faith is one of the means of Christian perfection stressed by James (1:3, 6), but in the entire New Testament the means is much higher than this.

2. Wisdom Given by God to Know
How to Be Perfect

James speaks of the wisdom given by God, not to know how to fulfill God's eternal economy but to know how to be perfect (1:5; 3:13, 15, 17). James said that if we are not wise in our behavior, we should pray for God to give us the wisdom. He did not speak of a high wisdom according to God's New Testament economy but of a low wisdom according to perfection in behavior.

3. The Crown of Life

The crown of life is used in James as a kind of incentive for us to endure trials (1:12). This may be the highest among the means stressed by James for Christian perfection.


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Crystallization-Study of the Epistle of James   pg 9