James 1:1-4
This letter is from James, a slave of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ. I am writing to the “twelve tribes”—Jewish believers scattered abroad. Greetings! Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.
God's ultimate goal for each of us is that we'll become more like Jesus day by day. God isn't content with just saving us; He has some pretty incredible restoration plans for you and me (see 2 Cor. 3:18; Rom 8:29. God's restoration plans for all of creation; see Acts 3:21). As this happens, we begin to think, see and love people like Jesus does. We take on God's values, attitudes and character.
God's goal for us is being brought about through His work of 'Sanctification' or better 'Christ-formation'.
The central theme for the book of James is Spiritual Maturity. God wants us to grow up in our faith, become 'perfect' (mature) in our faith. It's the Father's delight to guide us in the process of becoming spiritually mature.
Rick Warren has said it well when he writes: 'God’s ultimate goal for your life on earth is not comfort, but character development. He wants you to grow up spiritually and become like Christ. Becoming like Christ does not mean losing your personality or becoming a mindless clone. God created your uniqueness, so he certainly doesn’t want to destroy it!'
The book of James belongs to the wisdom literature of the Bible... (to read on click 'read more' below)
This letter is from James, a slave of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ. I am writing to the “twelve tribes”—Jewish believers scattered abroad. Greetings! Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.
God's ultimate goal for each of us is that we'll become more like Jesus day by day. God isn't content with just saving us; He has some pretty incredible restoration plans for you and me (see 2 Cor. 3:18; Rom 8:29. God's restoration plans for all of creation; see Acts 3:21). As this happens, we begin to think, see and love people like Jesus does. We take on God's values, attitudes and character.
God's goal for us is being brought about through His work of 'Sanctification' or better 'Christ-formation'.
The central theme for the book of James is Spiritual Maturity. God wants us to grow up in our faith, become 'perfect' (mature) in our faith. It's the Father's delight to guide us in the process of becoming spiritually mature.
Rick Warren has said it well when he writes: 'God’s ultimate goal for your life on earth is not comfort, but character development. He wants you to grow up spiritually and become like Christ. Becoming like Christ does not mean losing your personality or becoming a mindless clone. God created your uniqueness, so he certainly doesn’t want to destroy it!'
The book of James belongs to the wisdom literature of the Bible... (to read on click 'read more' below)
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