THE SECOND PART: A BIRD’S-EYE VIEW OF THE NEW TESTAMENT
The Ministry of Peter
Message Five
Practical Virtues of Christian Perfection
Scripture Reading: James 1:2-27, 2:14-26, 3:13-18, 4:1-10, 5:12, 2 Tim. 3:16a, Exo. 30:34
I. The subject of the Epistle of James is practical Christian perfection; James writes not merely concerning Christian perfection, but concerning practical Christian perfection, that is, a perfection that is not theoretical but practical in our daily living—1:2-27; 2:14-26; 3:13-18; 4:1-10; 5:12: (Life-study of James, msg. 1)
A. Counting it all joy whenever falling into trial and enduring it by faith with the hope of receiving the promised crown of life; here we see that the first virtue related to practical Christian perfection covered by James that is the enduring trials by faith—1:2-4, 12. (CWWL, 1994-1997, vol. 2, “Crystallization-study of the Epistle of James,” msg. 1)
B. Although James may not have had a clear view concerning the distinction between grace and law, his Epistle is notable and remarkable concerning Christian conduct, emphasizing practical Christian perfection, that the believers should be “complete and entire, lacking in nothing” —1:4. (Life-study of James, msg. 2)
C. Ask God in faith for wisdom to know how to be perfect—1:5-8. (CWWL, 1994-1997, vol. 2, “Crystallization-study of the Epistle of James,” msg. 1)
D. Whether you are exalted as a poor one or brought low as a rich one, you need to rejoice; this kind of rejoicing is a virtue—vv. 9-12. (CWWL, 1994-1997, vol. 2, “Crystallization-study of the Epistle of James,” msg. 1)
E. 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)—vv. 9-27. (CWWL, 1994-1997, vol. 2, “Crystallization-study of the Epistle of James,” msg. 1)
F. This word about keeping oneself unspotted from the world is also a part of James’ God-fearing view of practical Christian perfection; to visit orphans and widows is to act according to God’s loving heart, a positive characteristic of the perfection; and to keep oneself unspotted from the world is to be separated from the world according to God’s holy nature, a negative characteristic of the perfection—v. 27. (Life-study of James, msg. 4)
G. 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. (CWWL, 1994-1997, vol. 2, “Crystallization-study of the Epistle of James,” msg. 1)
H. Behave in wisdom, showing a good manner of life in meekness, purity, peace, forbearance, compliance, mercy, impartiality, without jealousy, selfish ambition, boasting, lying, and hypocrisy—3:13-18. (CWWL, 1994-1997, vol. 2, “Crystallization-study of the Epistle of James,” msg. 1)
I. Dealing with the 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. (CWWL, 1994-1997, vol. 2, “Crystallization-study of the Epistle of James,” msg. 1)
J. Speaking honestly without swearing; speaking honestly and with restraint is a virtue of Christian perfection; but if we are loose in our speaking, we will fall short of much perfection—5:12. (Life-study of James, msg. 12)
II. The divine revelation in the Scriptures is progressive in different degrees, and its progression is according to the four different ages of the Scriptures; these four kinds of perfections according to history and the Bible—Job. 1:1, 8; Phil. 3:6; Matt. 5:48: (CWWL, 1994-1997, vol. 2, “Crystallization-study of the Epistle of James,” msg. 6; 1)
A. Job’s perfection was according to the divine revelation of the age before the law, which was Job’s goal in seeking after God and replaced God in Job’s satisfaction; thus, Job was stripped by God of his perfection—Job 1:1, 8. (CWWL, 1994-1997, vol. 2, “Crystallization-study of the Epistle of James,” msg. 6)
B. Saul of Tarsus’s perfection before his salvation was according to the divine revelation in the age of law, which was opposing God’s New Testament economy and was rejected by him after his salvation by receiving the vision of the divine revelation of the age of grace—Phil. 3:6. (CWWL, 1994-1997, vol. 2, “Crystallization-study of the Epistle of James,” msg. 6)
C. The perfection stressed by James was according to his vague view of God’s divine revelation and was a mixture of the divine revelation according to the age of the law with the divine revelation according to the age of grace—James 1:1, 18, 25. (CWWL, 1994-1997, vol. 2, “Crystallization-study of the Epistle of James,” msg. 6)
D. The genuine perfection is according to the pure vision of God’s highest divine revelation of the age of grace and is brought forth by the fullness of the riches of the consummated Triune God and through the crucifixion of the cross of Christ for the bringing forth of the Body of Christ to consummate in the New Jerusalem as God’s eternal enlargement and expression—Gal. 2:20; Eph. 2:15; 4:12, 16; Rev. 21:2, 9-10. (CWWL, 1994-1997, vol. 2, “Crystallization-study of the Epistle of James,” msg. 6)
III. It is only fair to point out that in the book of James, we have both a balance and a warning; we need this book; otherwise, there would be a gap, a lack in the holy Word—2 Tim. 3:16a; Exo. 30:34; Hosea 7:8: (Life-study of James, msg. 3)
A. We need the balancing word found in the book of James—1:2-27; 2:14-26; 3:13-18: (Life-study of James, msg. 3)
1. After studying Paul’s writings and all the Life-study Messages on these writings, we shall no doubt be influenced to receive the light concerning God’s economy and to be strongly for it; but there is the possibility that we may be careless in our behavior or that we may neglect the matter of practical Christian perfection; therefore, we need the balance provided by the book of James—1:2-27; 2:14-26; 3:13-18. (Life-study of James, msg. 3)
2. A striking characteristics of the Epistle of James is that it indicates that we may be very strong in God’s economy, yet may not be complete and entire in our Christian behavior in our personal daily life—1:2-27; 2:14-26; 3:13-18. (Life-study of James, msg. 3)
B. In addition to providing balance, the Epistle of James also serves as a strong warning that it is possible to be very godly and yet not be clear concerning the vision of God’s New Testament economy—1 Tim. 1:4; Eph. 1:10: (Life-study of James, msg. 3)
1. James certainly was a godly man, a man of prayer, and prayer is emphasized in his Epistle; nevertheless, James may not have had a clear view concerning the distinction between grace and the law; that is, he may not have had a clear view regarding God’s economy—James 1:1, 18, 25. (Life-study of James, msg. 3)
2. James was outstanding in the matter of practical Christian perfection; he was a godly man who knew God, who loved God, and who prayed to God; but James was hindered by his godliness and veiled by his religion from seeing a thorough vision concerning God’s New Testament economy—vv. 1, 18, 25. (Life-study of James, msg. 3)
C. The place of the book of James is indicated by its position in the arrangement of the books of the New Testament: it comes immediately after the fourteen Epistles of Paul; regarding this book, we need to be fair, recognizing that the “entrance” of Paul’s Epistles still needs the help of the “door” of the book of James. (Life-study of James, msg. 3)
IV. The book of James is a balance to those who are unbalanced in their Christian life; therefore, I am burdened to emphasize the importance of being balanced in our Christian life—1 Chron. 28:14; cf. 2 Thes. 3:6-15; Exo. 30:34; Hosea 7:8: (Life-study of James, msg. 3)
A. Perhaps in your Christian life, you are wholly for God’s economy; however, in your daily personal life, you may be very short in the way you speak and handle matters—James 1:4, 1 Tim. 1:4, Eph. 1:10: (Life-study of James, msg. 3)
1. Concerning a number of things you may lack wisdom; although you are a good soldier fighting for God’s economy, in your daily life you may not be complete and entire—James 1:2-27; 2:14-26; 3:13-18. (Life-study of James, msg. 3)
2. You may not trust in God very much, and you may not pray to Him concerning your needs; because you are good in the major things but lacking in certain practical things, you need balance in your Christian life—vv. 1, 18, 25. (Life-study of James, msg. 3)
B. We need to see God’s economy, and we need to be perfected in our daily personal life so that we may be complete and entire. (Life-study of James, msg. 3)