A Living Faith Evidenced in Godly Affections: Part 3 (James 4:1-12)
Click here for previous posts on James 4: part 1 and part 2.
James has addressed the manifest problem of quarreling and fighting. Then he pinpointed the source of such a problem. Finally, he reveals the solution to that problem. But before the solution, he discusses the need to be convicted of the problem, driving one to seek the solution.
The Conviction: The Holy Spirit’s Jealousy (James 4:5)
If a truly saved person has betrayed what should be foundational to his covenant relationship with God (an affection for God and God’s ways) by becoming friends with the world (a godless system hostile to God), then the Holy Spirit within will respond with jealousy against such a rival.
James 4:5 is one of the most difficult verses to interpret in the book of James. But I believe the above summary captures the meaning well.
James begins verse five with a question: “Do ye think that the Scripture saith in vain…?” Obviously, one should not treat the Scripture as if what it says is worthless or purposeless. One ought to embrace what it says as true and reflective of reality. However, the implication is that some professing believers were living as if Scripture was of no account to their actual lives.
What is it exactly that they were ignoring about what Scripture says? “The Spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy.” Two things make this difficult to interpret: the phraseology is unclear and the Scripture passage that this comes from is not known.
First, let’s address the options regarding the Scripture passage.
- This is a quotation of a specific verse—but it’s very difficult to identify which one since the wording doesn’t match closely with any verses.
- No one OT passage is in view; the quotation is a theological summary of the teachings of Scripture—referring to the next phrase in verse five.
- No one OT passage is in view; the quotation is a theological summary of the teaching of Scripture—referring to the previous content in verse four. (See the ASV)
Determining which option is best also requires an interpretation of what the phrase at the end of verse five means and how it relates in context. There are at least four major interpretations of this phrase (see Hiebert’s commentary on James 4:5). Without getting into all the details, I’m most persuaded that James is only generally citing the theological teaching/conclusion that follows from a broader reading of Scripture rather than a specific quotation of a specific verse or passage. I’m not sure whether this refers back to verse four or forward to the end of verse five, but I lean towards the phrase at the end of verse five (as do most translations). I also know that Scripture teaches in general on both matters: (1) If you are a friend of the world, you are hostile toward God; and (2) the Holy Spirit dwells in regenerated believers and will not countenance rivals. He will convict us of sinful idolatry. Thus, one test of a living faith is whether you are convicted of lust-driven fighting and will pursue the biblical solution to this problem.
The Solution to the Problem (James 4:6–10)
The solution to the problem of worldly passions and coveting, resulting in fighting, is repentance. And the means of embracing that repentance comes through God’s grace and our humility. The result is holiness, which causes the Devil to flee and God to draw near. Let’s focus on three main parts of this repentance: Grace, Humility, and Holiness.
Grace
Grace is an act of God’s working in our lives to overcome our sinful desires. We can draw from the Holy Spirit’s enablement and empowerment to motivate us to put sin to death. Rather than grace allowing us to countenance sin in our lives, it drives us to root sin out of our lives (cf. Titus 2:11–12; Phil 2:12–13). Everything that the believer is commanded to do in James 4:7–10 is by God’s grace.
God’s free grace is never intended to make men think lightly of sin. The promise of grace is the basis for the injunctions that follow (vv. 7–12).1
Receiving such grace will resolve the Holy Spirit’s jealousy/God setting himself against us as an enemy. We can be reconciled by His grace. If we have received His grace, we will no longer be a friend of the world/embrace worldliness by living according to its values. God’s grace transforms us so that we will embrace antithesis to the spirit of the age.
Humility
Receiving God’s grace in repentance can only come by means of humility and submission. One must set aside pride and admit to the worldly passions that can only be condemned as wrong rather than justified or excused. The emphasis on humble submission to God as Lord both in verses 6 and 10 frame the entire pursuit of holiness detailed in verses 8–9. The pursuit of holiness requires humility. Beginning with this humble submission to God as Lord, the Devil will flee. This results from one’s commitment to God’s rule over one’s life (cf. Col. 1:13). The Devil has no sway over someone humbly submitted to Christ’s lordship. We have been released from an obligation to serve sin any longer (cf. Rom 6). The sin that brought us down will no longer be destructive, and the Lord will lift us up (Ps 40:1–2; Phil 2:9).
Holiness
God’s grace and our humility will be demonstrated in our lives by means of demonstrable repentance:
- Drawing near to God: no longer being drawn to friendship with the world but being drawn to close friendship with God.
- Cleansing hands: the external pollution of worldliness that must be purged from one’s life.
- Purifying hearts: the internal cleansing of desires and delights that once coveted (cf. Ps 24:3–4).
- No longer being double-minded: the divided affections that didn’t wholeheartedly embrace a love for God as it was drawn to worldliness.
- Weeping over sin instead of taking it lightly: an external emotional expression of a deep-seated internal change in heart toward sin and its effects; no longer presuming upon grace or liking sin but hating it.
Not until we truly love God and hate sin will we humbly embrace God’s grace and pursue such holiness. One must come to his senses (Luke 15:17; 18:13). Those who have turned from worldliness will no longer enjoy sinful pleasures but will soberly and vigilantly guard against worldliness taking hold and causing fights. The proof is in the pudding in person’s lives and in ministries. Are fights due to standing up against worldliness or defending or even simply accommodating worldliness?
In the next post, we’ll wrap up this section by applying this solution to the problem James began addressing in James 3:1–4:4.
Kevin Collins has served as a junior high youth leader in Michigan, a missionary in Singapore, a Christian School teacher in Utah, and a Bible writer for the BJU Press. He currently works for American Church Group of South Carolina.
Photo by Ben White on Unsplash
- Hiebert, James, 235. [↩]