Learning To Be Complete In Faith

My brethren, count it all joy when ye 

fall into divers temptations; knowing

this, that the trying of your faith 

worketh patience. but let patience

have her perfect work, that ye may be

perfect and entire wanting nothing.

James 1:2-4

      A little more knowledge about James and the writing of this book is important so that false teaching may be thwarted and the truth remain. It was established in the last blog that this writer of James was the half-brother to Jesus Christ and that in the beginning he did not care much about his brother and came to believe in time but did know much about Jesus leading to his conversion. There has been some discussion among theologians as to the authenticity of this book and its belonging in the canon. We must be reminded that this book is referred to by several early Church fathers and is inserted in the early syriac version of the New Testament  which was written around 61 A.D. to warn the Christians against vices and to set them right as to justification by faith, that it was not mere assent to the truths of the Bible but a living, fruitful, evangelical faith, which worketh love. By the time of the writing of this epistle, in the 60's many of the Jews had converted to Christianity and by this time by local persecutions of the Christians and the Jews many have become dispersed throughout the Egypt and Grecian lands. 

     This epistle is in part doctrinal, and has many spiritual views and sentiments which are particular to this epistle. The author's main was to enforce the necessity of those practical duties which are essential to a justifying faith. Therefore this epistle teaches us about practical living and there is a strong appeal to one's heart. 

     First, I want to clear up the word "perfect" as in our idiom about this word we have a loose understanding that it refers to that which has no blemish. The Greek word: τελέω, means more, it means to be complete, to execute, to conclude, or to discharge as in a debt, to accomplish, to carry a thing out to the full. James is not teaching the heresy as to Christian perfection, meaning to become sinless and unable to sin. 

     Faith, tried in afflictions, and many of us have had our share of affliction as I just have had about my Melanoma cancer and the surgeries, etc., all that accompanied my recovery. This faith tried should consist in belief of the power and promise of God, and in fidelity and constancy to the Lord Jesus Christ. It is during a trial that must take care, that patience, and not passion, are set to work in us, not matter whatever is said of done, it is this patience that becomes a witness even to those you might never know that they watched you during your trial(s). We must bear all that comes against us, God will not necessarily take away from you your trials. It is in this time of testing that our faith in God is proved, now I am speaking not of your sinful thing you might have done that brought on this trial, no, it is that which is outside your control and is appointed, or by Providence, allowed to come into your life. It is in this time that with humble obedience to God, to our Savior Jesus Christ we can bear our troubles, and even rejoice in them, for it in this that our patience is complete and by this will furnish all that you need that is necessary for our Christian race and warfare and will enable us to remain faithful to the end, and then when finished this patience and faith well end with a crown of glory in heaven.

     Cultural Christians fail to remain faithful or will turn to superstitious theologies, or even worldly superstitions to find help. Authentic Christians have Jesus Christ as the priority to their lives and do not listen to anything other than the truthful teachings of the Bible. The Bible gives us the foundation for our faith, (Romans 10:17) and by this foundation we stand firm in any circumstance. Hard? Yes! Possible? Yes! God has promised to take us through whatever this world throws at us: "Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be,ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: that the trail of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ" (1Peter 1:6-7). 

I am the LORD your God;

     walk in my statutes,

and keep my judgments,

     and do them:

                 Ezekiel 20:19

Hold fast to the promises of God

Richard L. Crumb