#BibleStudy Thoughts on the Questions from James Ch 1 on 04-19-2020
For as many Sundays as needed, my Sunday school class will explore the context and content of the practical content of the Letter from James.
This is Wednesday. What follows are bits and pieces of the discussion in class on the questions posted two days ago.
If you miss getting the questions on Mondays, I invite you to go back. Copy, and paste the questions from those posts into a word.docx and fill in blanks or answer questions on your own. You can compare your thoughts to those of my class members each Wednesday. If your answers don’t match my class’s answers, that doesn’t make your answers wrong. If you like more information about what was said in class, email me at the address at the end of this post.
I hope you enjoy exploring this practical book along with us. Each Sunday's discussion ends at the last question in black print. Photos included are of the "whiteboard" list I generated during the discussion and are nothing but time savers for me.
Questions in this print were answered in previous weeks.
I invite you to check this blog site on Friday when my Expressions of Faith posts are from James. Here's last week's link's URL.
I also invite you back to these "Questions" blogs next week!
Chapter 1
Verses 13-18
Where does temptation come from?
Why can’t God be tempted?
What is it about God’s nature that makes it impossible for Him to tempt us for evil?
Vv2-4 describe a progression. What is the progression described in vv14-15?
In v14 is James saying that temptation is not from Satan either?
- Yes. People follow their own fallen nature (evil desires)
- This is our responsibility.
- Look at David and Bathsheba for a "model of temptation and yielding to it. (2 Samuel 11)
- A temptation is an opportunity to choose
- A temptation presents the option to do good or evil.
How does this progression compare with Eve’s life in Gen 3:6-22?
- The key is in Genesis 3:22a: 22 And the Lord God said, “The man has now become like one of us, knowing good and evil.
- This means that we know when we're being tempted.
- Temptation is desirable.
- Eve: wanted so she looked for an excuse. She was beguiled by the serpent.
- Adam: blames "the woman" and God.
- Satan: suggests by twisting the truth, causing doubt.
- Doubt should lead us close to God.
Why must desiring evil lead to death?
- It separates us from God, and separation from God always leads to death.
- 17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows
- There is only one way: God.
- Each person has their own desires.
- The difference between desire-->coception-->sin is the Holy Spirit.
- Holy Spirit helps us not to let natural tendencies lead to sin.
- Being tempted IS NOT SIN.
- Allowing conception is where sin begins.
- 6 Then the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? 7 If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.” Genesis 4:6-7
- God tells Cain to master sin.
Why does James insert vv16-18?
- He includes this truth to remind us of God's positive actions.
- James would be a great motivational speaker today. He shows the wrong but ends with "you can do better."
WE GOT THIS FAR THIS WEEK.
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