WALKING BY GRACE

JAMES 4:6-10

JUNE 25, 2000

(An annotated outline)

 

Farmers utilize plows to cut through soil that has been hardened by the elements. The pounding rain and scorching sun packs the soil so that it must be loosened and exposed for growth and maturity.

 

James offers a similar instrument to cut through areas of hardness, callousness, and barrenness in our spiritual lives. His aim is not to bring futility but to help us to receive grace and help for our spiritual walks into maturity.

 

Perhaps there is some misunderstanding of grace as though it operated in a realm of passivity. Some have even espoused the idea that we are to "Let go and let God," which suggests a passive approach to sanctification. The series of imperatives in our text, offered in staccato fashion, enable us to see that walking by grace does not mean inactivity on the believer's part. Rather the believer is to be very much involved in his sanctification and in the midst of his action, grace is given. If you are spiritually dry and are waiting for God to act first (as though he was not working in the secret places of the heart), then find yourself rebuked by James. It is time to take action to press forward into a walk of grace.

 

As we have noted previously, the conflict believers have with one another is symptomatic of conflict with God. So James offers clear actions every Christian is to take to walk by God's grace. Let us consider what James has set forth.

 

I. The assurance of grace

 

Theologians speak of three types of grace:

 

(1) Common grace, that which is given to everyone, e.g., air to breathe, warmth of the sun, etc.;

(2) Saving grace, that which is the sovereign work of God in regenerating and calling sinners to himself that they might believe the gospel and be saved;

(3) Sanctifying or sustaining or "walking" grace, that which is given by God to assist the believer in his spiritual maturity.

 

John Blanchard has written, "The essence of the doctrine of grace is that God is for us," a truth that Paul makes abundantly clear in Romans 8:31-32 (Truth for Life, 263).

 

1. Incomparable grace

 

What is meant by grace? Thomas Manton stated, "Grace is nothing but an introduction of the virtues of God into the soul" (quoted by Blanchard, 267). By this we think of God's power, love, kindness, strength, wisdom, might, patience, gentleness being made known to the believer:

            --Grace speaks of divine action

            --Grace stands in contrast to the works of both the human nature and the devil (vv. 4-5).

            --Here is the promise of grace for our need. The world may pull but God gives grace to resist: in our daily need he gives daily grace, in our sudden need he gives sudden grace, in our overwhelming need he gives overwhelming grace.

            --Grace stands "greater" that all that opposes us.

 

An art gallery was sent a painting of Niagara Falls shortly before it was to open. With no title to the work the gallery gave it a name, "More to follow." That aptly describes the abundance of God's grace given to us: there is always more to follow (Kent Hughes, Faith that Works, 179).

 

2. Grace Governed   vv. 6b, 10

 

We do not dispense grace nor manipulate it. It is not ours to demand of God but by its very nature, a gift of God.

 

Multitudes of examples are found in the Old Testament of Israelites attempting to presume upon God's grace: e.g., manna given by grace but this grace presumed upon by those who failed to heed God's command to gather on Fridays enough for that day and the Sabbath.

 

Why do we need grace? We are limited by our own weakness, sinfulness, and imperfections. We struggle with the pride that asserts our own strength, our own ability, and our own wisdom to the neglect of trusting the Lord. This does not mean that we are to fail to utilize all that God has entrusted to us by way of mind, personality, resources, and abilities. But it does mean that there is a difference between leaning upon ourselves and learning to lean upon the resources of our Lord.

 

Pride meets with God's opposition: "God is opposed to the proud." Literally it means "God stands against the proud." So he frustrates the proud person's plans, wisdom, and ambitions (e.g., Peter in denying Christ first declared proudly, "Though all the others fall away, I will not!").

 

Thomas Manton wrote, "The proud man hath his tactics, and God his anti-tactics" (Blanchard, 269). The proud are "those who arrogantly defy God and refuse to admit His sovereignty over their lives" (Curtis Vaughan, Bible Study Commentary: James, 88).

 

God requires humility: "God is opposed to the proud but gives grace to the humble."

            --Humility recognizes our own spiritual poverty (cf. Matt. 5:3).

            --Humility acknowledges consequently our desperate need of God's help.

            --Humility submits to His commanding will for all our lives (Doug Moo, TDNT, 150).

 

The assurance of grace, "but gives grace to the humble," is offered to the humble.

 

II. The principle required for grace

 

Here is an over-arching principle with two facets: submission and humility. They contain both attitude and action on the part of the believer.

 

1. Submission to God   v. 7

 

"Therefore" draws a conclusion. Ancillary to submission to God is the requisite: "resist the devil and he will flee from you."

            --What is implied by the command to submit to God? Some view this as being in a POW status in which God holds them captive against their wills. Others view this as a need to check your brain at the door since God thinks for you, etc. Still others would consider this to be a life of passivity. All of this is far from the truth!

            --The implication of submission is "to place yourself under, to give unfeigned obedience." Alec Motyer writes that submission is "taking up of allegiance to a great Superior in order to engage in the fight under his banner" (The Bible Speaks Today, 151).

            --What does this involve? Jesus gave us the perfect example of submission:

            (1) Develop the attitude of Christ (Philip. 2:5-8).

            (2) Pursue Christ's rule first (Matt. 6:33).

            (3) Yield the individual "members" of your body to the Lord (Rom. 6:12ff.).

            (4) Give yourself passionately to obedience (Jas. 1:22).

 

Richard Baxter's last words are appropriate: "Lord, what thou wilt, where thou wilt, and when thou wilt" (quoted by K. Hughes, 185).

 

"The God who says, 'Here is My grace to receive' says in the same breath, 'here are my commands to obey'" (Alec Motyer, 151).

            --Such consecration does not take us out of the conflict, therefore "resist the devil and he will flee from you." The best model for this is the picture and direction given in Ephesians 6:10-20 where we are counseled to "Put on the whole armor of God that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil."

            (1) Arm yourselves for battle: note the particulars of the armor of God found in the work of Christ in the gospel as well as his embodiment of each part of the armor.

            (2) Take your stand: note the 3-fold repetition of "stand firm."

            (3) Do not give up ground: note that the Christian is in a defensive position, patiently living the Christian life, yet regularly assaulted by the adversary. He is to stand firm rather than give in to temptation.

 

2. Humility before God    v. 10

 

The emphasis in humility is on recognizing the Lord's presence: "Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you." Why is this so? Consider the many times we see humility taking place in Scripture. It seems that there is a pattern of God's people recognizing the Lord's presence or something of his attributes, and then the response is humility (e.g., Isaiah, Joshua, David, Moses, Peter, John).

            (1) They caught a glimpse of God, as they had never had before; they saw and experienced something of the divine character before them.

            (2) Consequently, each responded by seeing his own weakness, unworthiness, and helplessness (Matt. 5:3). This is the very opposite of the pastor from another generation of whom it was said he could "strut sitting down."

 

So, think upon the Lord; get a clear view of your own selfishness with time, money, conversation, and interests; acknowledge God's worth above all.

 

III. The practice of grace   vv. 8-9

 

There is an unusual order in the sequence; you would obviously think that cleansing would precede worship. "James' logic is otherwise, for it is when we know the reality of his presence and come under its holy influence that we are at last in a position to face the demands of holiness, and find ourselves motivated by the desire to be like our God" (Motyer, 153)

 

1. Worship

 

"Draw near to God," is a command that demands we take deliberate action to worship. There is none of the mindless, idle waiting that some have fallen into. Rather there is a promised attached to the command.

 

Just how do we draw near? It is indeed a battle for us so that we must discipline ourselves to spend regular time in Bible reading (both for general knowledge and specific study of various truths), prayer, private and public worship, joining the body at the Lord's Table as we did last Sunday night, and being devoted to Christian fellowship (Motyer, 152).

 

Are you drawing near?

 

Do you avail yourself of the means God has given you to draw near?

 

As we draw near,

            ...we see more clearly God's holiness,

            ...we feel more deeply our own sinfulness,

            ...and we take more resolute action in response.

 

2. Cleansing

 

James reproves the Christians to whom he writes, calling them "sinners" and "double-minded." The latter term refers to one who is "two-souled," or "marked by doubting and instability" (Moo, 148). Bunyan had the character called, "Mr. Facing-both-ways," that helps us to see this looking on one hand to the world that is opposed to God and then to the celestial city.

 

We must "cleanse your hands...purify your hearts" in obedience to the command for submitting to the Lord. The image pictured is that of the priests who came before the holy place in preparation for sacred duties. They went through a process of cleansing and purifying to remind themselves that only in the Lord were they fit for sacred work; and that it was the Lord God to whom they belonged, served, and must one day answer to.

            --"Hands" focuses on the external behavior, e.g., the believer and his money, his eyes, his ears. Will he arrogantly demand that all that he is and has belongs in his own power to discharge? That is the opposite of submission.

            --"Hearts" refers to the inward attitude; even as the priests offered sacrifices for their own sins before offering them for others, this reminds us of our own sinfulness and God's provisions.

 

We must work on attitudes that can be soured over time or embittered or calloused.

 

3. Repentance   v. 9

 

Here James takes on the voice of the prophet: "Be miserable and mourn and weep; let your laughter be turned into mourning and your joy to gloom." James is no killjoy who thinks that laughter is sinful. He has already called for the exuberance of joy by the Christian. Now he is addressing the serious nature of believers making light of their sin or being casual in dealing with sin or procrastinating over addressing their sin.

 

The intensity of the language shows the gravity of the situation. "Laughter" is more of a scornful laughter that lacks seriousness about sin. It is an "earthbound" attitude and spirit that possesses an over-concern for entertainment, "pleasure," and personal enjoyment above giving attention to the spiritual life.

 

In light of God's presence, Christ's work, and the judgment to come, the believer is to "mourn and weep."

 

Conclusion

 

Grace to walk is available. And we are told to take action in light of this grace by submitting to God, humbling ourselves before the Lord, and resisting the devil. We are helped in this as we worship, cleanse ourselves from defilement, and repent of those sins the Lord brings to our attention.

 

Some people wait for something to "hit" them before taking spiritual action. James, meanwhile, digs deeply with his plow and calls for an immediate response. Are there areas exposed in your life that need action today?

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