Jehoshua is on the throne of David in New Jerusalem and He is the King of a New Israel
James is the brother of Jehoshua our King. His letters often get overlooked in Christianity because they echo the very ethics of Jehoshua and unfortunately the church has long ago left the teachings of the Son of God for a seeemingly easier road (Pauline gospel). Let's look at the holy Spirit inspired teachings of the Lord's brother who was the first Bishop of the Jersusalem church.
James 1:1 "James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jehoshua Messiah, to the twelve tribes which are of the Dispersion, greeting" James here is addressing the 12 tribes of Israel scattered abroad i.e. the dispersion. The church at the time of James was heavily Israelite. Some have interpreted this as describing the church and James using the phrase "twelve tribes" as referring to the believers in Messiah as a whole whether ethnic Israelite or Gentile. Some hold that James greeting is specific to the 12 ethnic tribes and that the Gentile believers were viewed as a seperate entity. The Northern tribes were scattered and for the most part lost at this point, however there were still traces of them and one of the functions of Jehoshua's ministry was to seek out the lost sheep. The apostles obviously would have had the same burden as Jehoshua to unite the 10 Northern tribes with the 2 Southern tribes as this was a part of prophecy for the Davidic King to fulfill. In Acts 15 we see James quote Amos, which is a prophecy that the Gentiles coming into the faith were a fufillment of the Davidic Kingdom being restored. It is likely that James is using the 12 tribes in both a literal and spiritual sense. Paul obviously considered believing Gentiles as grafted into the olive tree of Israel and fellow citizens in the Commonwealth of Israel. He also said that those who glory in the cross are the true Israel of God (Galatians 6:6-16). James letter was obviously intended for believers in the Son of God Jehoshua and those of the Northen tribes had already been ministered to by Jehoshua during His earthly ministry. In the greeting of this letter, James appears to consider the church the 12 tribes of Israel as they would obviously be people who believe in His brother as the Messiah. Combine this with His statement in Acts 15 about the restoration of the Davidic Kingdom, he likely considers the Messianic community as a reconstitution of the 12 tribes of Israel in which Gentiles are included. James 1:2-4 2 Count it all joy, my brethren, when ye fall into manifold temptations; 3 Knowing that the proving of your faith worketh patience.4 And let patience have its perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, lacking in nothing. James says we are to be joyful in the midst of various trials as they produce patience. If we let patience run it's course instead of reacting in the flesh then we will lack nothing and be perfect i.e. conformed to the image of Jehoshua. James 1:5 "But if any of you lacketh wisdom, let him ask of God, who giveth to all liberally and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him" Our heavenly Father desires to give us good gifts, all we need to do is ask. "Upraideth not" does not scold. We are to seek God's wisdom which is found in His law which makes the simple wise (Psalm 19:7). James 1:6-8 6But let him ask in faith, nothing doubting: for he that doubteth is like the surge of the sea driven by the wind and tossed.7For let not that man think that he shall receive anything of the Lord;8a doubleminded man, unstable in all his ways. We should never be content to have doubt in our lives concerning the promises of God. Those who ask God in doubt will not receive. We are to have faith which can move mountains. It is the faithful that God honors. Those who don't root doubt out of their hearts are unstable and doubleminded. For those struggling with walking in faith Hebrews chapter 11 is a good chapter to read and study. Also, Jehoshua is our ultimate example of faith. James 1:9-11 9But let the brother of low degree glory in his high estate:10and the rich, in that he is made low: because as the flower of the grass he shall pass away. 11 For the sun ariseth with the scorching wind, and withereth the grass: and the flower thereof falleth, and the grace of the fashion of it perisheth: so also shall the rich man fade away in his goings. Jehoshua came to preach the glad tidings of the gospel to the poor. With their reception of the gospel via repentance they now are exalted to be sons and daughters of God. The rich also are given oppurtunity to repent and believe in the gospel of the Kingdom. Because of the tendency to trust in one's riches the rich man or woman must humble themselves to realize they need a saviour. James emphasizes that rich man's wealth is temporary. James 1:12 "Blessed is the man that endureth temptation; for when he hath been approved, he shall receive the crown of life, which Jehovah promised to them that love him" This verse shows that James knows nothing of a once saved always saved scenario but to the contrary one must endure the temptations of life and overcome to be approved. Then and only then will he or she receive the crown of life. This echoes the very teachings of James brother Jehoshua who said we must endure to the end to be saved (Matt 24) and we must overcome to inherit New Jerusalem and all the other Kingdom blessings (Rev 2 and 3). Revelation 2:10 "... Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee the crown of life" To receive the crown of life one must be faithful unto death which requires overcoming unto the end. To rely on a prayer once said for an unconditional pass to the Kingdom is contrary to words of James and his brother our Messiah Jehoshua. James 1:13-14 13 Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God; for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempteth no man:14 but each man is tempted, when he is drawn away by his own lust, and enticed. Godis not the author of sin as some blasphemously teach but rather one sins when he is drawn away by his own lust. This statement by James shows that God is not a man. Those who fall into temptation do so by their own choice not by some mysterious sin nature. James 1:15-16 15Then the lust, when it hath conceived, beareth sin: and the sin, when it is fullgrown, bringeth forth death.16Be not deceived, my beloved brethren.17Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom can be no variation, neither shadow that is cast by turning The lust of a man draws him away to fall into temptation which is sin and then that sin grows to death. This can be both physical and spiritual death but definitely always spiritual death. This means being cast into the lake of fire. James wants to make sure the the brethren know that God is not the author of sin but rather every good and perfect gift comes from Him. James indicates that those who are decieved attribute sin and temptation to God. James refers to God as the Father of lights. Over and over again in the scriptures God is referred to as Father. In James saying that every good gift comes from the Father echoes Jehoshua's own statement regarding the Father: Matthew 7:11 "If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father who is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?" See, those who are decieved ascribe sin and evil to the Father but James says that every perfect gift comes from Him (the Father). James is in accord with his brother Jehoshua of whom John the apostle said: 1 John 1:5 "And this is the message which we have heard from him and announce unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all" James says that there can be no variation in the Father meaning His character does not change (Malachi 3:6). James 1:18 "Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures" It was the Father's will that we were brought forth (begotten from above) by the word of truth i.e. the gospel of the Kingdom. The word "firstfruits" denotes a harvest. The apostles, James and others were the fisrtfruits of the word of God. James 1:19-20 19 Ye know this, my beloved brethren. But let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: 20 for the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God. James counsel here is wise. How much of the worlds problems would be significantly reduced if people were to follow this? The current BLM/Antifa riots are a perfect example where the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God. When people work out wrath they are in disobedience to God and rebellion against our Creator is the spirit of witchcraft (1 Samuel 15:23). James 1:21 "Wherefore putting away all filthiness and overflowing of wickedness, receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls" Because the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God we are to put away all filthiness (moral dirtiness) and overflowing of wickedness (malignity, depravity). James says we are to receive the implanted word with humility (meekness). This is the same word James mentioned above that was able to beget us as children of God. He says the word is able to save our souls. Look at Psalm 19 says concerning what is able to save our souls: Psalm 19:7 "The law of Jehovah is perfect, restoring the soul: The testimony of Jehovah is sure, making wise the simple" "Restoring" comes from the Hebrew word "shuwb" (Strongs 7725) and means "convert, deliver, draw back, restore". The law of Jehovah God is able to convert our soul the Pslamist says and the law of God is eqauted with His word which is the very thing James says beget us to Sonship and daughterhood. We will see as we continue in this study that the law of God is in view. James says the implanted word is able to save us. The word "implanted" comes from the Greek word "emphutos" (Strongs 1721) and means "implanted, engrafted". This intimates that the word is to be on our heart. What are the terms of the new covenant? Hebrews 8:10 "For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel After those days, saith Jehovah; I will put my laws into their mind, And on their heart also will I write them: And I will be to them a God, And they shall be to me a people" The word that is to be engrafted in us that James refers to is exactly what is written on our hearts when we come into the new covenant which is the law. Let's continue in James 1 and see that James has the law in view: James 1:22-23 22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deluding your own selves. 23 For if any one is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a mirror: 24 for he beholdeth himself, and goeth away, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. If the word that is engrafted into us is the law of Jehovah then James is saying here that we are to be doers of the perfect law which is able to restore (convert) us. Modern Evangelicalism teaches that you will be saved by just hearing the word but both Jehoshua and James say those who just hear but dont do are foolish. James says that these that just hear and dont do the word are as those who immediately forget what he looks like basically he is saying they are confused. James 1:25 "But he that looketh into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and so continueth, being not a hearer that forgetteth but a doer that worketh, this man shall be blessed in his doing" This is exactly what James means when he refers to the implanted word as he eqautes it with the perfect law of liberty: Psalm 119:1 "Blessed are they that are perfect in the way, Who walk in the law of Jehovah" Proof that James has the law of God in view in verse 24. The perfect law of liberty is the very law of Jehovah God that David refers to in Psalm 119. We are to look into the perfect law of Jehovah and continue in it and not be like the faith alone cult and just be hearers. If we continue in the law of liberty then we will be blessed. This is consistent with the whole testimony of scripture which says that those who keep God's commandments will be blessed. Deuteronomy 32:1-3 1 Give ear, ye heavens, and I will speak; And let the earth hear the words of my mouth.2 My doctrine shall drop as the rain; My speech shall distil as the dew, As the small rain upon the tender grass, And as the showers upon the herb.3 For I will proclaim the name of Jehovah: Ascribe ye greatness unto our God. Jehovah's doctrine that drops as the dew and rain is His law. It is the perfect gift that comes from above. "I will proclaim the name of Jehovah". A name represents one's character, authority and identity. In the context of this statement about proclaiming the name of Jehovah God is His (Jehovah's) doctrine (instructions, teachings). "Proclaim" means to publish. What are we to publish? Jehovah's name. What represents His name (character)? Exactly the very thing in view which is His doctrine. James 1:26-27 26If any man thinketh himself to be religious, while he bridleth not his tongue but deceiveth his heart, this man`s religion is vain.27Pure religion and undefiled before our God and Father is this, to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world. One must control his tongue in order to pleasing to God. Religion that is pure is a controlled tongue, giving widows and orphans their right and keeping oneself unspotted from the world. To keep oneself unspotted from the world means to abstain from sin. The bible clearly teaches that sin is the transgression of the law: 1 John 3:4-5 4 Every one that doeth sin doeth also lawlessness; and sin is lawlessness.5 And ye know that he was manifested to take away sins; and in him is no sin. Sin is the transgression of the law, that is the only definition of sin that we find in the bible. The express purpose of the Son of God's first advent was to take sin away yet the modern Christian church says that we can never stop sinning and they even label those who teach that you are to forsake sin as legalists. The Protestant/Evangelical churches teach a sin gospel rather than a righteousness gospel as they teach that are identity as believers in the Son of God is as "sinners" and that we can't stop sinning until we go to heaven. The true gospel teaches that we are kings and priests and that only those who keep God's commandments will eat of the tree of life and have access to the paradise of God: Revelation 22:14-15 14 Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.15 For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie. You have Christians in the fallen churches that will actually ignore this verse and tell those who believe this verse that they are taking it out of context. These people are decieved by their father the devil as they love and believe a lie. The call to take care of widows and orphans actually comes from Jehovah's law. Christians today blasphemy deride God's law yet is affirmed over and over again in the new testament. It should come as no surprise that James holds Jehovah's law in great esteem as Jehoshua His brother said this: Matthew 5:17-19 17 Think not that I came to destroy the law or the prophets: I came not to destroy, but to fulfil.18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass away from the law, till all things be accomplished.19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. Jehoshua could not make it any more clear, His Father's law is eternal and those who break and teach the breaking of even a little of it will be shut out of the Kingdom of God. Either we listen to the Messiah and James His brother or we listen to the theories of man who teach that the law is a bondage. James, the renown Bishop of the Jersusalem church, refers to the law as one of liberty.
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