Does the group owner know that they can delete posts? I'd rather see Sarah's thoughts on verses in James than spammy ads for other groups. 😁
hello everyone I am inviting everyone in this group who is active to my group I just made named Active members ONLY. I am hoping to make a very active group. I am a very active person and I go on multiple times a day. I wan to have this active group to be able to share stuff and get answers quickly and that when questions are asked they get answered too. we can memorize together in a healthy environment of people from all around the globe!! I would gladly promote anyone who has verses to add or just them for you if you tell me which ones. thankyou for your consideration for joining my group!! may the Lord bless you all!!
join my group named JOINusANYone
James 1:16 is rather short, but it has a lot of meaning. "Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers." The word used for deceived is planao and means "to cause to go astray or lead astray from the right way, to lead away from the truth, to be led away into error and sin, to sever and fall away from the truth". This is the word used in Matthew 18:12 to describe the one sheep who wandered away from the ninety nine. It's used later on in James 5:19: "My brothers, if anyone among you wanders away from the truth," and in 2 Peter 2:15: "Forsaking the right way, they have gone astray". Jesus warns against this many times, such as in Mat 24:4: "See that no one leads you astray." So not only is James warning about being deceived (as in 1 John 1:8, "If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us."), he is also warning about being led astray from the truth.
did you go the bible bee?
James 1:13 may seem confusing. "Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am being tempted by God", for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one." Wait--didn't verse 3 say, "For you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness"? Although in English we sometimes use the word "testing" or "tested" to speak of faith in the same way we speak of "tempting", the Greek word is different. Remember, the Greek word for testing was dokimion (that by which something is tested or proved). However, the word for tempt used in verse 13 is the word peirazo, which means "to solicit to sin, used of the temptations of the devil". This is the word used when Satan tempted Jesus in the wilderness at the beginning of His ministry. It is also used to describe how the Pharisees tried to trick or trip up Jesus with questions. So while they may see the same, remember that Scripture is never contradictory. While testing our faith makes it refined and is sent by God, tempting is from the devil and is only evil. Take heart, though: as 1 Corinthians 10:13 says, "God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation He will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it."
James 1:12 begins, "Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial". That word "trial" is the Greek word "peirasmos". It means, "the trial of man's fidelity, integrity, virtue, constancy" or "adversity, affliction, trouble; sent by God and serving to test or prove one's character, faith, holiness". It's used in Matthew 6:13: "And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.", and in Mark 14:38: "Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak." So we see that this testing is from God to try us--and wonderful results come if we pass. The last part of verse 12 says, "for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him". That crown of life is the Greek word "stephanos". It means "a crown" to show rank or is a metaphor for the prize given to genuine servants of God and Christ, which is the reward of righteousness. It's used in 1 Peter 5:4 "And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.", and again in Revelations 2:10 "Do not fear what some of you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life." It comes after testing, but that life is eternal and well worth it. Not only that, but God has promised it to us (Greek "epaggellomai", "to promise of one's own accord to engage voluntarily"), and as stated in Titus 1:2b "God, who never lies, promised before the ages began". Once again in Hebrews 10:23 we read "Let us hold fast the confession of our faith without wavering, for he who promised is faithful." So remember that when we stand firm through testing we are promised the crown of life, by our amazing God who never lies. "And this is the promise that he made to us--eternal life." (1 John 2:25).
James 1:5 is specially comforting to me. It says, "If anyone lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him." (emphasis mine). That word generously ("haplos" in Greek) is used only in this verse in James, and means that God is "led solely by His desire to bless". In addition, God gives it "without reproach". That word reproach ("oneidizo") means to upbraid or give reproach (either deservedly or undeservedly). It's used in Mark 16:14: "Afterward He appeared to the eleven themselves as they were reclining at table, and He rebuked them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they had not believed those who saw Him after He had risen." and again in Matt 11:20 "Then He began to denounce the cities where most of His mighty works had been done, because they did not repent." Although used in these verses to show Jesus reproaching or rebuking someone for disbelief, James 1:5 says God will not reproach us for asking, but will give generously! Not only that, but the wisdom that He gives is wonderful too. The Greek word used here is sophia. It has a long but all-encompassing meaning: "wisdom: broad and full of intelligence, used of the knowledge of very diverse matters, skill in the management of affairs, knowledge and practice of the requisites for godly and upright living, devout and proper prudence in intercourse with men not disciples of Christ, skill and discretion in imparting Christian truth". Isn't that the kind of wisdom everyone wants? That's the kind of wisdom being talked about in James. Not the wisdom of the world (1 Co 1:20 "Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?"), but the wisdom of God! "Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!" (Romans 11:33). Later on in James we learn some attributes of this wisdom: "But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere." (James 3:17). Remember, then, to always ask for wisdom from God. He will always give generously, so be assured that you will receive it! He will always give without reproach, so don't be afraid to ask! And remember: "Yet among the mature do we impart wisdom, although it is not a wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are doomed to pass away. But we impart a secret and hidden wisdom of God, which God decreeed before the ages for our glory. (1 Cor. 2:6-7). What a wonderful thought!
hi all hope you have had a good time memorizing!
Testing, found in James 1:3--the Greek word dokimion, "that by which something is tried or proved"--is what produces steadfastness. This Greek word is only used one other place in the NT: 1 Peter 1:7. "so that the tested genuineness of your faith--more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire--may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ." The English word "testing" is used in the OT in three places to tell of God testing the Israelites as to whether they would obey him (Deut 8:2, 13:3, and Judges 3:4). It's also used in Luke 8:13 (the parable of the sower), where those in rocky soil fall away during time of testing. The reward of testing as found in James (steadfastness) may seem hard to attain, especially when looking at the pass rate of the nation of Israel (they failed many times) but Romans 12:2 gives another perspective. "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect." Testing isn't fun, but we can use it to discover God's good and perfect will for us--which makes it worth it.
James 1:3-4 speaks about steadfastness. The Greek word used there is "hypomone". Translated as "patience, enduring, patient continuance, patient waiting" (notice the reiteration of patience!). In the NT, it means characteristic of a man who isn't turned from his deliberate purpose and his loyalty to faith and piety even by the greatest trials and sufferings. Not only is it talking about something to aspire to, but it also tells how to live it out! Hypomone is also used in Luke 8:15: "As for that in the good soil, they are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with perseverance." And again in Romans 15:5: "May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus,". Note that the NASB translates the marked phrase as "the God who gives perseverance". One last time (although there are many others) is in Revelations 14:12 "Here is a call for the endurance of the saints, those who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus.". So endure! Persevere! Even when the goal of memorizing James seems endless and huge, remember that it is God who gives perseverance (along with the ability to memorize) and that according to Hebrews 10:36 "you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God [hiding His word in your heart] you may receive what is promised [life]." (Psalm 119:96).
