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Truth for Gentiles who turn to God
How will the Jerusalem Council judge Gentiles according to the Jewish Law of Moses?

Acts 15

6 The apostles and the elders were gathered together to consider this matter.

Simon Peter has testified.

“Brothers, you know that in the early days God made a choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe.
Acts of the Apostles 15:7b ESV

And all the assembly fell silent, and they listened to Barnabas and Paul as they related what signs and wonders God had done through them among the Gentiles.
Acts of the Apostles 15:12 ESV

Response of Jerusalem’s Pastor James

¹³After they finished speaking, James replied,

“Brothers, listen to me. ¹⁴Simeon has related how God first visited the Gentiles, to take from them a people for his name.

Leaders and Witnesses of the Jerusalem council

Let’s be clear who is speaking and which leaders have witnessed the truth of events leading to a church meeting about the gentiles.

Simon Peter.

In verse 14 the King James and English Standard versions translate Συμεών from the Greek as Simeon; however the NKJV, NIV and other versions use “Simon” while the NLT uses the most familiar identification of the Apostle, “Peter.”

Barnabas and Paul

Their mission journey has brought about this council and clearly both are leaders in their testimony of the Holy Spirit to the Gentiles and leadership of the church at Antioch Syria.

James

And let’s not miss who now speaks a the representative pastor and leader of the local church at Jerusalem where the council meets.

It is none other than James brother of Jesus who was raised with the Lord, yet did not believe that his half-brother was the Christ, the prophesied Son of God until after Jesus’ resurrection at which time James became a faithful disciple called to lead the Jerusalem Church.

Witness of the Prophets

James refers to the Prophet Amos from ~760 BC and Samuel Prophet of David three hundred years before that.

“Brothers, listen to me. ¹⁴Simeon has related how God first visited the Gentiles, to take from them a people for his name. ¹⁵And with this the words of the prophets agree, just as it is written,

¹⁶“‘After this I will return,
and I will rebuild the tent of David that has fallen;
I will rebuild its ruins,
     and I will restore it,
¹⁷that the remnant^[a] of mankind may seek the Lord,
    and all the Gentiles who are called by my name,
     says the Lord, who makes these things ¹⁸known from of old.’

In A.D. 49, James witnesses the promises of God to David a thousand years before. Now it seems that the kingdom promised to David is all but defeated.

The Temple of Solomon was destroyed, the Jews were captured and taken to Babylon and Persia. The distant hope witnessed by Amos and the Prophets seems near to slipping away once more at the hand of Rome (which will again destroy Jerusalem and Herod’s temple in A.D. 70).

Yet Scripture is true and God’s word comforting to those faithful few who wait for the Lord to save — for the Lord to redeem the captives who hold to His Name — saving them from God’s judgment of sin and eternal punishment and granting His true worshipers the glory of the kingdom of the root and the son of David. Yes, even the Nations of the world beyond the hills of Jerusalem.

Amos 9:

I saw the Lord standing beside the altar, and he said:
“Strike the capitals until the thresholds shake,
and shatter them on the heads of all the people;
and those who are left of them I will kill with the sword;
not one of them shall flee away;
not one of them shall escape.

8 Behold, the eyes of the Lord GOD are upon the sinful kingdom,
and I will destroy it from the surface of the ground,
except that I will not utterly destroy the house of Jacob,”
declares the LORD.

“For behold, I will command,
and shake the house of Israel among all the nations
as one shakes with a sieve,
but no pebble shall fall to the earth.

All the sinners of my people shall die by the sword,
who say, ‘Disaster shall not overtake or meet us.’

This was just one judgment of Jerusalem!

Amos had prophesied it.

Twenty years earlier, the Sanhedrin of Herod which meets in this same Jerusalem as today’s council had crucified Jesus Christ, brother of James and Son of David. The leaders of a semi-captive Israel disregarded the revealed will and written word of the Lord God.

The Jewish council of Herod’s Temple had also slain the Apostle James by the sword, another politically expedient death which it thought would prevent the sword of Rome from overtaking their city of sin.

It didn’t. (For as most of us know Rome would destroy Jerusalem just twenty-one years from this time of the Christian Council in Jerusalem.)

Amos 9:11-12 (to which James refers)

“In that day I will raise up
the booth of David that is fallen
and repair its breaches,
and raise up its ruins
and rebuild it as in the days of old,

that they may possess the remnant of Edom
and all the nations who are called by my name,”
declares the LORD who does this.

It is a remnant of Edom. Yes even a remnant of Judah and Israel after these many centuries — only a remnant who remember the Lord their God and look for the redemption paid on the Cross for “all the nations who are called by my name, says the LORD.”

Judgment for the Gentiles

You have probably never thought of James, brother of Jesus, pastor of the Jerusalem church and author of a New Testament letter to the church as a Judge.

But this is his role here with the Council at Jerusalem.

The accusations (concerning circumcision) have been presented. Several witnesses have presented evidence about the truth of events where gentiles have interacted with Jewish witnesses (including the Apostles).

A defense of the truth by Barnabas and Paul recounts incidents for which some Jews have accused them of breaking the Law of Moses.

Pastor James, head of this Christian Sanhedrin gathering of Apostles and other leaders has even preceded his decision as Judge with Scriptural prophesy of their very actions concerning the gentiles. So here is his verdict speaking on behalf of this council at Jerusalem as its leader:

19 Therefore my judgment is that we should not trouble those of the Gentiles who turn to God
Acts of the Apostles 15:19 ESV – Verdict of the Council of Jerusalem pronounced by James

The verdict pronounced by James on behalf of the Council at Jerusalem, however, is conditional. Addressing the concerns of which Gentiles have turned to God by the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, he continues with clarification of what the Council must do to go into the Gentile world with the Gospel.
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NEXT, God-willing, we will join James and the Council of Jerusalem as they take action by way of a letter and messengers sent on another mission trip to the Gentile Nations.
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January 9, 2023
James – a Greater Thunder and a lesser king
We know this about Jesus’ Apostles: twelve followed the Lord Jesus for three years .. everywhere. One of the twelve betrayed Him, but three Apostles were closer to Jesus than any man or woman born of this world

Peter, James the Greater, and John

– an inner circle of the Twelve.

You probably already know this about James and John:

and James, the son of Zebedee, and John the brother of James (to them He gave the name Boanerges, which means, “Sons of Thunder”)
Gospel of Mark 3:17 Legacy Standard Bible

Thunder, Wild Horses & Swords

We know little about James the Greater, the older son of Zebedee, but as one of three leaders appointed by the Lord Christ Jesus, Herod will soon set his sights on all three of these Apostles.
- Peter led the Apostles and the Church after Jesus’ resurrection and ascension.
- John was the youngest Apostle and the younger brother of James; perhaps by a year, five years or maybe more; but John outlived them all until about A.D. 100.
- James and John had also both been disciples of John the Baptist before Christ took them in as part of His inner circle.
Now about that time Herod the king [Agrippa I] laid hands on some who belonged to the church in order to harm them.
Acts 12:1 :: Legacy Standard Bible (LSB)

Today we look back at a context of Acts 12 with an old connection to John the Baptist and Herod.

The Gospels, of course, proclaim the Good News that is to come out of all this conflict.

Ἡρῴδης – Herod – ‘a hero’
- †Ἡρώδης Hērṓdēs, hay-ro’-dace; compound of ἥρως hḗrōs (a “hero”) and G1491; heroic; Herod, the name of four Jewish kings:—Herod. – source: Lexicon :: Strong’s G2264 – hērōdēs
Let’s bring to mind some recent history etched in the minds of the Jews and the Herod’s; an awareness of John the Baptist and his disciples James and John, a relevance of national significance I will contemporize from this first century context.

Ἀγρίππας – [Herod] Agrippas – “Hero like”
- Apparently from ἄγριος (G66)
  - of men and animals in a moral sense, wild savage, fierce
- and ἵππος (G2462); a horse
To the Jews, Herod Agrippa is a ‘hero-like wild horse’, wielding a Jewish king’s sword against Rome (but also his enemies) with a desperate hope of restoring the glory of David’s kingdom a thousand years before, as his grandfather (Herod the Great) had begun to rebuild.

a 21st c. look at James the Greater
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Never forget that ALL Twelve of Jesus' Apostles (a Greek word of the common language of the Roman Empire) were Jews. Even in Galilee and Samaria Jews looked for a Messiah and hoped for a return of their kingdom. 

Faithful worshipers of the LORD knew Scripture in an anticipatory sense. Jews chosen by the One God in every captive Roman outpost of the A.D. first century looked longingly for their Messiah (Christ, in Greek) who will finally establish the Kingdom of the Lord in all the heavens and earth.
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ANY man who might stand against ANY king Herod (who is NOT the Messiah) or Caesar (who faithful Jews would not call, Lord) is a threat to the Roman Peace attained by Judea’s first family.
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Once again we will look at events preceding ACTS 12 as if it is today's date, in the year of our Lord, A.D. 2022. 
[All first century dates are approximate from various sources.]- RH
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- 2022 – Beginning of Acts 12
  - AD 44
- 2018 – Peter shares the Gospel with gentiles in Caesarea (James & John presumably would have continued to lead the church in Jerusalem during Peter’s mission trip.)
  - AD 40
- 2017 – Herod Antipas of Galilee, who had John the Baptist beheaded about ten years earlier, died.
  - AD 39
- 2015 – Saul of Tarsus comes to the Apostles after his conversion.
  - AD 37
- 2010 – Stephen, a leading disciple of The Way, sentenced by the Sanhedrin to death by stoning, after which Herod and the Jews authorize relentless persecution of disciples of Jesus’ Apostles.
  - AD 33
14 Years ago + An Eventful Year.
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A.D. 30 would have been fourteen years ago and might linger in the collective memory of the church like these contemporary memories:
Actual Events of 2007: iPhone announced;  Mitt Romney, Rudi Giuliani, John McCain, Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, Joe Biden and many others are running for President of the U.S.; 
or Actual Events of 2008: President Bush signs the $700 billion bailout / Rescue package bill; Fidel Castro steps down as president of Cuba; Iraq war costs $3 trillion.
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- 2008 + Jesus Christ interrogated by the Sanhedrin and scourged by Romans, crucified on a Cross, raised from death, left a sealed tomb and appeared to the Apostles and hundreds of other disciples!
  - The risen Lord Jesus also sent the Holy Spirit to believers on Pentecost.
  - Peter and disciples of Jesus proclaimed the Gospel in the Temple and
  - Accompanying signs and miracles sent by the Lord confirmed their teaching.
  - Therefore many Jews follow the Apostles’ teachings and believe in Jesus as the Messiah of God.
  - ALL this in ~AD 30!
James the Greater, of course, was in town [Jerusalem] to witness all of this recent history along with the other Apostles.

During JESUS’ earthly ministry:
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~AD 2006-2008 in our contemporized scenario:
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- 2006 – A great new prophet John baptizes Jesus in the Jordan River. Then Jesus calls Twelve Apostles to “follow Him.” James and John, already disciples of John the Baptist, follow Jesus.
  - AD 28 {3 years before Jesus was crucified}
Luke 9:

And calling the twelve together, He gave them power and authority over all the demons and to heal diseases. And He sent them out to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. .. And departing, they were going from village to village, proclaiming the gospel and healing everywhere.

Now Herod the tetrarch heard of all that was happening, and he was greatly perplexed, because it was said by some that John had risen from the dead..

And Herod said, “I myself had John beheaded, but who is this man about whom I hear such things?” And he kept trying to see Him.
Gospel of Luke 9:9 LSB – Herod inquiring about miracles of the Messiah Jesus and his Apostles

JESUS was confrontational in the mind of Herod, just as John had been before the king had the Baptist beheaded.

James the Great vs. an unbelieving Samaritan village

[Some disciples of Jesus] ..entered a village of the Samaritans to make arrangements for Him. But they did not receive Him..

And when His disciples James and John saw this, they said, “Lord, do You want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them?” But He turned and rebuked them..
Gospel of Luke 9:54-55a LSB

Why would James the Greater believe that he could command such judgment on an entire village?

Because Peter, James and John had witnessed that Jesus IS God in flesh and blood!

James the Greater, like Peter or like King Herod for that matter, is the kind of imposing man who wants to take charge.

Gospel of the Apostle Matthew 20:

Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came to Him with her sons, bowing down and making a request of Him. And He said to her, “What do you wish?” She said to Him, “Command that in Your kingdom these two sons of mine may sit one on Your right and one on Your left.”
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Mark records in his Gospel:
Then James and John, the two sons of Zebedee, came up to Jesus, saying to Him, “Teacher, we want You to do for us whatever we ask of You.” - Mark 10:35
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But Jesus answered and said, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink?” They said to Him, “We are able.” He said to them, “My cup you shall drink; but to sit on My right and on My left, this is not Mine to give, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared by My Father.”
Matthew 20:22-23 LSB – Jesus’ answer to the sons of thunder..
Remember our Lord’s assurance to James the Greater and to John: “My cup you shall drink..”

James the Greater – a closeness to Jesus

Peter and James and John all held close their friendship of Jesus, their Lord and Master Teacher, during those three years of Christ’s earthly incarnation.

The Gospel of Luke 9:

Now it happened.. that taking along Peter and John and James, He went up on the mountain to pray.
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Mark adds some detail in his Gospel: *brought them up on a high mountain alone by themselves. 
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And it happened that while He was praying, the appearance of His face became different, and His clothing became white and [flashing like lightning].
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James, John and Simon Peter were the only mortal men on that mountain with the Lord.
But then:
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And behold, two men were talking with Him, and they were Moses and Elijah, who, appearing in [splendor], were speaking of His [exodus] which He was about to fulfill at Jerusalem.
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Note here a similar failing of the flesh of Jesus' three closest friends, their inattention to the prayers of this Son of Man even as they would later fall asleep in Gethsemane. After the Lord's death and resurrection the three Apostles would confess their mortal limitations on both occasions.
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Now Peter and his companions had been overcome with sleep, but when they were fully awake, they saw His glory and the two men standing with Him.
Gospel of Luke 9:32 LSB
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Jesus, with a face like lightning! The Prophet Elijah and Moses the LORD's shepherd of the Hebrews during their forty year exodus from slavery in Egypt appear with Jesus! 
All witnessed by Peter, John and James.

As if that wasn't enough GOOD NEWS on the mountaintop, similar to the sign at Jesus' baptism by John the Baptist, the LORD speaks!
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.. a cloud [occurred] and began to overshadow them; and they were afraid as they entered the cloud.
Then a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is My Son, My Chosen One; listen to Him!”
Gospel of Luke 9:34b-35 LSB
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James the Greater, along with his brother and Simon, kept silent about this in those days, Luke records later. 
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Fulfillment of Fourteen Years in Jerusalem

In the minds of the Jews (including Herod) James was a likely successor to Jesus.

Ἰάκωβος – James

Did you know that James is a common name in Israel? i.e. James the Great AND James the Less are both Apostles

It’s the same as Ἰακώβ, which even in Greek looks like the name of its Hebrew root:: יַעֲקֹב

Jacob, who the LORD renamed, Israel.

Along with Simon Peter (when he was not on a journey of his own) and his brother John, James the Greater proclaimed the Gospel of the risen Christ Jesus in Jerusalem.

James proclaimed the Gospel in the Temple courtyards and streets of Jerusalem and led the daily lives of so many new followers of The Way. He worked in the leadership of the Twelve, which now included Mathias in place of Judas Iscariot.

“Lord, do You want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them?”
Luke 9:54b – [likely the words of James the Greater]

And this Greater Apostle of the inner circle of the Messiah of Israel would have recalled the rebuke of the Lord in a newfound daily humility in serving his risen Lord, the Christ Jesus.

But He turned and rebuked them, and said,

“You do not know what kind of spirit you are of,

for the Son of Man did not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them.”

And they went on to another village.

.. whoever receives Me receives Him who sent Me;
for the one who is least among all of you, this is the one who is great.”
Gospel of Luke 9:48b – invitation of Jesus Christ & humility in following Him

Acts of the Apostles 12:

Now about that time Herod the king laid hands on some who belonged to the church in order to harm them.

And he had James the brother of John put to death with a sword.
Acts of the Apostles 12:2 LSB – Herod Agrippa I executes James the Greater

To be continued…
August 9, 2022
The Tongue is a Fire! – Speaking of Christians
If anyone thinks he is religious without controlling his tongue, his religion is useless and he deceives himself.
James 1:26 CSB

Contents of 3-part series

We began this forum for freely speaking whatever is on your mind with the substance and consequences of speaking out in POLITICS. November in the U.S. is always a contentious time and the approaching year of Presidential politics will offer more intense variations on the themes of hypocrisy and hatred.

As the politically correct and often biased words of media might suggest, RELIGION has no say so in these arguments. The movie scene depicted in the photo for this series suggests a time when all of this correctness fails for all of us, including media.

Next and finally, today we will take a look at what the Bible has to say about such things. Examine your heart further along with me as our tongues speak up (sometimes inappropriately) for Jesus Christ.

Don’t be deceived

Paul preaches to the church in Ephesus:

Let no one deceive you with empty arguments, for God’s wrath is coming on the disobedient because of these things. Ephesians 5:6

James suggests early in his letter how easily we deceive ourselves.

James 1:19 So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; 20 for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God…

He offers a remedy to hypocrisy, of which we will quickly be accused. And James illustrates our self-examination in the mirror.

22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.

23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; 24 for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was.

Swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath!

It’s just not our nature (Christian or not).

Because we speak out so quickly, we show how easily we are deceived. It is the same deception of our own hearts mentioned in Genesis 3:13

And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, H5377 and I did eat.

Disobedience Brings God’s Judgment

This has always been the warning of the LORD’s true prophets to a people who claim religious favor while displaying hypocritical sin.

The Lord will judge and many have warned us throughout the millennia in scripture given by Almighty God.

In order that you may anticipate my outline from the Lord’s word, we will examine four of these chronologically:
1. Jeremiah ~687-520 B.C.
2. John the Baptist ~A.D. 30
3. Jesus Christ
4. James, brother of Jesus, leader of the church at Jerusalem ~A.D. 50
Jeremiah 9:

3 “They bend their tongue like their bow;
Lies and not truth prevail in the land;
For they proceed from evil to evil,
And they do not know Me,” declares the Lord.

The LORD, through the Prophet Jeremiah, condemns the tongue of the religious leaders of Judah.

5 “Everyone deceives his neighbor
And does not speak the truth,
They have taught their tongue to speak lies;
They weary themselves committing iniquity.
6 “Your dwelling is in the midst of deceit;
Through deceit they refuse to know Me,” declares the Lord.

The Tongue that Answers Hypocrisy

How is this any different than the hypocrisy of some who claim God today?

Though this condemnation is directed toward Jews around 627 Before Christ, the Lord could well convict so-called christians of this 21st century in the year of our Lord.

For what else can I do, because of the daughter of My people?
8 “Their tongue is a deadly arrow;
It speaks deceit;
With his mouth one speaks peace to his neighbor,
But inwardly he sets an ambush for him.
9 “Shall I not punish them for these things?” declares the Lord.
“On a nation such as this
Shall I not avenge Myself?

The Lord does not condemn the nations for the fire of their accusations against God, but those who claim the Name of the Lord whose tongue deceives their neighbor and speaks deceit.

How are we not like those condemned here, where our tongues of fire shout against the evils of the world, “I’m mad and hell and I’m not going to take this anymore!”

John the Baptist

In a captive Israel (and Judah) after centuries of silence from the Lord, many recognized John as a Prophet of God. Jesus confirms it.

“And if you’re willing to accept it, he is the Elijah who is to come.
The testimony of Jesus Christ about John the Baptist – Matthew 11:14

REPENT! you religious hypocrites

John never said this in so many words, but repentance of sins and hypocrisy of the tongue by religious leaders held center-stage in his ministry to the crowds in the wilderness.

Matthew 3:

4 Now John himself was clothed in camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist; and his food was locusts and wild honey. 5 Then Jerusalem, all Judea, and all the region around the Jordan went out to him 6 and were baptized by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins.

Although the son of a priest, John followed the Lord’s leading away from the Temple limelight into the wilderness. And his raiment reminded all of the great Prophet Elijah. John’s fiery calls for repentance he directed not to idolatrous followers of other religions, but to the Jews.

Our most enduring impression of John may be his public accusation of the leaders of religion who came to hear him in the wilderness.

What the crowds witnessed

But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them,
“You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bear fruit in keeping with repentance.
Matthew 3:7-8 ESV

I could easily say more about John’s tongue of fire as it also applies to Christians, but I’ll save it for a more detailed look at John the Baptist, greatest of the prophets who the Lord sent before the Messiah Jesus.

Proverbs for the Tongue

There is that speaketh like the piercings of a sword: but the tongue of the wise is health.
The lip of truth shall be established for ever: but a lying tongue is but for a moment.
Proverbs 12:18-19 KJV

Christ Jesus

As John and the Spirit testified, Jesus is more than a man who speaks truth. He IS the Perfect truth established before time for all time, the Son of God the Father!

Previously in this series I mentioned Jesus’ caution about the tongue of one saying “raca” or “you fool” being liable to hell. Although this ought to be caution enough for those claiming Christ, here I will add an additional insight from Jesus about hell.

Jews, Messianic Jews and Christians may differ on our views of hell; its punishments, certainly who is condemned and the nature of eternal life after death. Nevertheless, considering not the illustrative nature of the parable, but the truth of what the Messiah Jesus must witness by His very word, take just this one scene to heart.

Luke 16:

Jesus’ parable follows three more familiar parables about the lost followers of the LORD, Shepherd of Israel.

Most hearers compare Jesus’ two main characters, a rich earthly master and his poor servant by identifying Jesus’ parable as The Rich Man and Lazarus. For many this may confuse the issues of resurrection (identified with the name of this other Lazarus) and salvation for the wealthy (which Jesus seems to oppose on many occasions).

Neither wealth nor resurrection are at issue in this parable.

Prior to this parable, Jesus categorically states:

“Until John the Baptist, the law of Moses and the messages of the prophets were your guides. But now the Good News of the Kingdom of God is preached, and everyone is eager to get in.
Luke 16:16 NLT

Jesus on Social Injustice

J.B. Phillips focuses our attention more to the issue of how we act toward others during this mortal life, introducing this parable: Jesus shows the fearful consequence of social injustice.

It’s a tragic tale describing the inequities of this life, followed by a scene of the rich man gazing upon heaven from hell. The rich master and faithful servant have died, their fates having rewarded each justly.

And from among the dead he looked up and saw Abraham a long way away, and Lazarus in his arms.
‘Father Abraham!’ he cried out, ‘please pity me.
Send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in agony in these flames.’
Luke 16 excerpt J.B. PHILLIPS

This follower of the LORD who had every blessing in life pleads to Abraham to intercede for him while he suffers the agony of hell! It would be like asking a saint of old or mother of our Lord to help you. Just cool my tongue from the agony in these flames.

Jesus has already separated the sheep from the goats. This is no intermittent place of punishment where relief through others may take place.

Dear brother or sister in Christ,

Therefore, watch your tongue and actions in this mortal life. For we must now be perfect in Him before a world hearing us as Christ, named ‘Christians.’

James

Earlier this year I addressed the turmoil of religion and politics which preceded the appearance of John the Baptist and Jesus Christ. If you would like to read more follow this link to James and Jerusalem’s Controversy.

The applications of James to Christian contemporary thought may be helpful to each of us personally, particularly what I taught previously on this in James – Preaching to a Worldly Church.

Even though I recently covered the entire book of James, his application to Christians is worth repeating as a brief conclusion to this 3-part series: The Tongue is a Fire!

FOR CHRISTIANS ONLY:

DISCLAIMER: IF you do not believe in God, no need to read further. As Jeremiah aimed his tongue of rebuke to the Jews and as John the Baptist also called God’s chosen to repentance, this is not for those who refuse the Lord’s grace.

And so, you who claim Christ consider this:

Your contemporary issue of how God can use your tongue of fire to save the world may not agree with scripture.
Roger Harned – TalkofJesus.com

Which issue excites your tongue to cry out, “you brood of vipers?” Abortion? Equal rights for women? Helping poor migrants trying to come to America? Healthcare, food and shelter for the poor? Fair elections? Tolerance for other religions?

All of these causes may excite your witness to others, but the leaders of the church will warn you and me to watch our tongue and act like Jesus.

You cannot go wrong by keeping the love of Jesus on your lips and the fruit of love in the harvest of your relationships with others. But look more closely at nearly every New Testament writer and the sayings of Jesus:

Our words of refinement and love are for each other – brothers and sisters in Christ. If our actions match the love of Jesus, only then will the world take note of our words.

James 3:

2 For in many things we offend all. – KJV

Christians excel in this, but the world should not be offended by you. Rather, the world is offended by Christ Jesus and will not accept the grace of His love.

2-6 [PHILLIPS] We all make mistakes in all kinds of ways, but the man who can claim that he never says the wrong thing can consider himself perfect, for if he can control his tongue he can control every other part of his personality!

Think of it. If you control your tongue, you can be perfect; that is, Christ-like. Your actions will finally become perfect, because you mirror our Lord.

5b [NASB] See how great a forest is set aflame by such a small fire! 6 And the tongue is a fire, the very world of iniquity; the tongue is set among our members as that which defiles the entire body, and sets on fire the course of our life, and is set on fire by hell.

The Not So Good NEWS of Today

Can you think of some in the public eye whose tongues easily set social media on fire?

Sadly, Christians participate in the hot debates of those worldly things which have little or nothing to do with Christ. I admit it. My speech before others sparks debate. Yet is it for Christ?

Are you a disciple of your political party? Of your particular issue? Do you show religion as condemnation and faith as opposition to the value of others?

8 [NASB] But no one can tame the tongue; it is a restless evil and full of deadly poison. 9 With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the likeness of God; 10 from the same mouth come both blessing and cursing.

Again, the hypocrisy of ‘christians’

As we pointed a finger toward ourselves in an earlier post in this series, this is hypocrisy. James tells us that it must not be. He asks the church to direct our teaching first to ourselves.

[PHILLIPS] … your lives will be an example of the humility that is born of true wisdom… —don’t deny the truth that you must recognise in your inmost heart… For wherever you find jealousy and rivalry you also find disharmony and all other kinds of evil.

TRUE. True in the world and true in the church. Jealousy and rivalry lead to disharmony and many kinds of evil. Don’t get caught up in it all.

Listen to this: James’ instruction to Christians in how to be perfect can be found in two verses of his letter. Consider them before your tongue turns your life off course in the next storm of public opinion.

Wisdom from Above

17-18 [PHILLIPS] The wisdom that comes from God is first utterly pure, then peace-loving, gentle, approachable, full of tolerant thoughts and kindly actions, with no breath of favouritism or hint of hypocrisy. And the wise are peace-makers who go on quietly sowing for a harvest of righteousness—in other people and in themselves.

Would a list help?

From the KJV, But the wisdom that is from above is:
- pure,
- peaceable,
- gentle,
- easy to be intreated,
- full of mercy
- good fruits,
- without partiality,
- without hypocrisy.
We cannot be pure while leavened by the hatred of the world. And the world’s peace looks much different than the peace of Jesus.

Can you imagine any more gentle example than our Lord Jesus Christ?

Easy to be intreated would be advice from more obedient times meaning compliant or easily obeying. Modern translations sweeten it a bit calling this trait, ‘reasonable.’ Are you reasonable or compliant in your conversation with others?

Full of mercy: there’s a trait we wish to encounter. Compassion, true compassion for others; not claims of a nice ‘christian’ to treat others with mercy, but Christ-like compassion for another.

Jesus said:

“But go and learn what this means: ‘I DESIRE COMPASSION AND NOT SACRIFICE,’ for I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”
the words of Jesus to religious leaders – Matthew 9:13

Are you a Pharisee of this 21st century in the eyes of those you encounter? You with ears to hear, hold your tongue until your heart finds mercy.

We know many parables of Jesus about the fruit of righteousness. Do you show others how you, a sinner, have changed? Like John the Baptist scorned the Pharisees and Scribes coming for baptism:

“Therefore bear fruit in keeping with repentance.
Matthew 3:8 NASB

Has Jesus changed you? Did your tongue receive Christ’s bridle of restraint of your words of witness to the world?

Is your witness for a cause OR for Christ Jesus? What do your words say?

Show no partiality or favoritism in your faith. Be unwavering for Jesus rather than swayed to the right or to the left by the crowds.

NO Hypocrisy

Hypocrisy is the mask of appearances, the make-up of our image. It is the false face of the world and their accusation of masked ‘christians.’

The fire of our tongue will betray our motives. And our fruit of hypocrisy is witness against Jesus.

Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good. – Romans 12:9 NASB

It is the genuine love of Jesus Christ, sincere faith in our Lord. The world must see Jesus in your actions, but first the world will hear your words.

Are the words of your mouth witness that Jesus IS your LORD?

OR

Do you just have something more to say back to the world from your fiery tongue?

Remember the love and grace of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, dear saint and fellow sinner. For you would not want to hear the Lord say,

“I never knew you.”
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May the grace, mercy and peace of our Lord Jesus Christ help you to hold your tongue from evil and witness His love through the Holy Spirit.
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November 14, 2019