STUDY NOTES FOR LETTER OF JAMES

Verse 1.  James confirms he is a servant of GOD and Christ.  In his greeting he writes to the 12 tribes scattered abroad.  This opens up vistas of knowledge and understanding to GODS people.  The 12 tribes is the complete church from righteous Able to whoever is the last elect to be called and chosen.  Tie together Hebrews 11,  Romans 11 and Revelation 7 & 14.  

Verses 2-4 James says trials should be a joy.  It’s taking up our own cross.  Example, Acts 5:40-41 Matthew 5:11,12   1 Peter 4:12-16  

Verses 5-8. James wrote about wisdom and faith.

Verses 9-11   The rich and the poor each should humble themselves.  

Verses 12. The conclusion of verses 2-11

Verses 13-15  The true cause of sin is lust or coveting.  Jesus said the same.  Evil thinking is sin. Hebrews 4:12

Verses 19-27  Hearing and doing,  Matthew 7:24-27  Romans 2:13  James later in chapter 4:17 says not doing good is sin.  This is the Christian definition of sin.  Sin is whatever is not of GODS love.

CHAPTER 2

Verses 1-13  Warning about favoritism.  Then, verses 14-26  faith without works 

CHAPTER 3

Taming the tongue, wisdom from above 

CHAPTER 4  Warning about pride, drawing near to GOD, no boasting

CHAPTER 5   Warning to the rich, patience in suffering, prayer of faith, restoring a sinning brother 

THE WAGES OF SIN IS DEATH BUT THERE ARE SINS THAT DO NOT LEAD TO DEATH - HOW CAN THAT BE ?

Romans 6:23 says “the wages of sin is death”, 1 Corinthians 15:56 says, “the sting of death is sin and the power of sin is the law”.  The Ten Commandments define sin for the carnal unconverted mind.  Everyone who thinks they need to keep the Ten Commandments will die because no one can keep them, all have sinned.  In order to escape this condemnation to death a person must be called and chosen by GOD and drawn by GOD to HIS son the messiah Jesus Christ.  This provides an escape from the laws just condemnation to death because grace provides forgiveness of sin where the Ten Commandments did not.  This is why John said, “there is sin not leading to death”.  1 John 2:1  explains that any true Christian that sins has “an advocate with the FATHER, Jesus Christ the righteous one”.  Baptism symbolizes the washing away of our sins we have committed up to our conversion but this forgiveness of sins will continue over our lifetime upon true and sincere repentance.  Romans 3:25   The saints, even though in Christ, can still sin but these sins are not to death like under the Ten Commandments but because of grace these sins are forgiven.  This is why John says, “he that says he has no sin is a liar and the truth is not in him” , 1 John 1:10  Even though we are saints of GOD we are not yet perfect but are growing towards perfection which is achieved when we enter the kingdom at the return of Jesus.  Philippians 1:6  It is sad that so many people think they need to keep the Ten Commandments, the very thing that Jesus gave his life for in order to save us from which is the just condemnation of the Ten Commandments.  If we are saved by forgiveness of our sins committed while under the law then why would we return to the law after we have been saved from it ?  True Christians have new commandments, the two Jesus gave us, love GOD and neighbor.  This love, this “agape”, is a gift from the spirit of GOD that empowers us to begin to conquer sin in our lives and develop the divine nature of GOD, a nature incapable of sin.  2 Peter 1:4  Yes we will truly be recreated to be in GODS image as Jesus was and Jesus is our example of this. The Ten Commandments could never do this but GOD did through Jesus.  Romans 8:3  Should we hate the Ten Commandments ?  No we should love GODS Ten Commandments because they were the schoolmaster that GOD used to draw us to Jesus, but once in Jesus they are no longer needed.  Galatians 3:24, 25  We saints actually fulfill the intent of the Ten Commandments which failed due to our fleshly weakness but we do this in the spirit not in the flesh.  We are in Genesis 2 and just as GOD had to recreate the Earth for man now HE recreates man for a new heavens and new Earth.  We are a new creation in Christ the second Adam, not of this creation, the church is the new Eve being pregnant with the future sons of GOD.  This new creation is what the ultimate goal and will of GOD has been in eternity.  Revelation 3:14  “the beginning of the creation of GOD” , is misunderstood by the carnal false churches to say that Jesus was the creator of Genesis 1 , but this verse is saying that GODS son Jesus is the beginning of Genesis II , the second Adam.  

There are many wonderful things for the saints to learn when they are taught by GOD through Jesus. 

INSANE THINKING

There have been stories in the news for quite some time now that if you seriously think about them you realize how insane many people seem to be.  Recently comments have been made by main stream news and political figures about the destruction of boats Carrying drugs by the U.S. military.  The insane idea is that if one missile is fired but the target has not been completely destroyed another missile cannot be fired because this is considered by the insane people as a war crime.  These insane people promise to bring charges against all those involved once they regain power in the federal government.  Now, if any of you have ever been in any type of combat situation and you shoot an enemy soldier once but he is not killed then by this way of thinking you should not fire again because that would be a war crime and you would be prosecuted for it.  Anyone thinking this way would be dead before the battle was over.  Civil war general William T. Sherman said, “war is hell” ,  he is right and if it were fought with this insane idea the war would be lost.  This is why the U.S. hasn’t won a war since World War Two.  This has been one reason why nations have been conquered or destroyed in history.

Another insane idea involves illegal immigration. To allow millions of illegal aliens to remain in a nation will destroy that nation from within.  This is exactly what is happening in the U.S. and European countries.  Many nations took in refugees from Islamic countries in large numbers and now are paying the price for it and the price will be high.  Anyone familiar with Islamic beliefs should know this.  No kind of people should ever be allowed in any nation that refuses to be assimilated into that nation’s culture.  The negative impact of this has been felt in any nation that has made this mistake.  

I am addressing the people of the world, not the people of GOD in this article.  If you do not correct your insane way of thinking soon your nation is doomed.  I do not think you will until it is to late.  This has been the way things always played out as recorded in the history books.  You are being led by people who are idiots and they will destroy you with their insanity, but hey, you voted them in didn’t you. This means you only have yourselves to blame.

The carnal world is in very bad shape and soon events are going to lead to catastrophe.  There is a huge price to pay for being stupid so get ready to pay it.  There is only one answer to all the world’s problems but they haven’t a clue about what it is.  

We, GODS  elect saints, know the answer.  We have made a commitment and have dedicated ourselves to it.  We will escape the horrible times ahead but we sigh and cry for all the abominations we see being committed in this world.  The saints take no pleasure in the pain, suffering and death that is coming upon the carnal world but they have no excuse, they have brought it upon themselves.  The saints also know that even for the carnal world there is hope, a hope they know nothing about.  This insane thinking will continue only for a time but the time will come when sanity will be restored.  That will be some day.

THE CONFUSION CHAOS AND EVIL OF POLITICS AND RELIGION

 I am aware that the U.S. has had times in the past where there has been civil unrest; the civil war, organized crime, the 1960’s and others but today we have for the first time a divided government in all three branches.  What we have witnessed over the last decade has been an escalation of outright violence and hatred by the democrats against the republicans.  It has reached a point of ridiculousness when the democrats blame the republicans for things that the democrats are actually guilty of.  The democrats have lost all credibility along with the mainstream media for the abundance of lies they have been telling. The scary thing is that they have no intention of stopping and that many follow them. It is as if they have lost their minds and are driven by hatred and devastated by the loss of power.  If something doesn’t change soon we may find ourselves in another civil war.  

I do my best to see both sides of any issue and reach my conclusions after careful consideration and analysis.  I am apolitical, not interested in being involved in politics, but I do keep myself informed.  An honest unbiased appraisal of the situation leads me to conclude that the democrat party has become unhinged.  There are also some republicans who are no better.  I see Satans claw prints all over this insanity within the government.  It is not just the Federal but also State and Local governments that have lost their minds.   

I have also observed that the constitution that defines the government contains no provisions for the current violence involving Illegal immigrants and antisemitism which is escalating because violent protestors are not punished.  There are governors and mayors of blue cities and states that no only refuse to cooperate but are breaking federal law by aiding and abetting the criminals.  Response to this by federal authorities is limited because the U.S. constitution ties their hands.  The federal district court judges appointed by Obama, Clinton and Biden have made rulings that are obviously partisan favoring the democratic left.  

When evil people are not quickly punished they will be emboldened to do even more evil.  Ecclesiastes 8:11  Isaiah 26:10   The people involved in all of this from both sides are carnal evil unconverted people, children of the devil.  They are all under the law, the Ten Commandments , and should be punished for their actions by death.  Under the Ten Commandments the wages of sin is death.  The government if they enforced the Ten Commandments should kill all these people but the nation’s constitution will not permit this.  The very laws of this nation that were to guarantee freedom will lead to slavery and slaughter.  This has happened to many other nations in history.  Every great nation of the past has fallen and the U.S. will too.  Eventually all nations will fall when Christ returns and conquers them to set up the kingdom of GOD.  As politics is confusion and chaos so is religion, both are controlled by Satan.  Satan is the father of lies, chaos and confusion.  This is exactly what history has recorded about both.  The only hope the world has, that they know nothing about, is the return of Jesus and his GODS kingdom here on Earth.  

WERE YOU TOLD THE WHOLE TRUTH ?

 

Were You Told the Whole Truth?

SRB 30 November 2025​

Christianity, as described in local churches, is free, painless, and a solution to all problems – costing nothing.

And that is totally inaccurate. The message is presented in scripture, but rarely does anyone pay attention to the whole message given in scripture. They have their proof-texts, and that is where the “search for truth” stops.

Yeshua, the Son of Yahweh, told his followers that there is a cost to be carried as a result of being a disciple.

Lk 14:25–27 Now great crowds accompanied him, and he turned and said to them, “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.

When have any of us Westerners seen churches paying a price for their salvation? Are not all our local churches focusing all their attention on décor, sound and video systems, children’s playgrounds, and banquets – and tithes ?   They are marketing themselves for popularity instead. Don’t they appear to ensure that there is little cost for their tickets to heaven ? Are their seats filled with true disciples?

I imagine that if any local church was filled with believers who endure the cost of discipleship as described by Yeshua, their doors would close. That is why I believe that those who truly are disciples meet in small group assemblies away from local churches that would not accept them because of doctrinal conflict. (To be sure, a true disciple would not willingly attend the local church which does not speak only God’s truth.)

Speaking only of we who have modern day viewpoints - and a serious culture shift from that of the Jews 2000 years ago – are easily deceived by our preachers and teachers who provide the comfort that we, the people, want. We are gullible.

I think it is important at this point to admit that there are those who have benefited from the church community. Their social programs have helped people handle their problems in life. That is not the subject of this post.

1 John 5:13: write this to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have everlasting life.

We should consider all that was taught in the scriptures regarding salvation, everlasting life, and all the conditions attached to being one with the Father and with His Son. It will shake our confidence – and it should.  There is one word in English that we tend to skip over that needs to be large font and bold: “if.”

1 John 1:8–9: If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

1 John 2:23–25: Let what you heard from the beginning abide in you. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, then you too will abide in the Son and in the Father. And this is the promise that he made to us—everlasting life.

1 Corinthians 15:1-2: Now I would remind you, brethren, in what terms I preached to you the gospel, which you received, in which you stand, by which you are saved, if you hold it fast—unless you believed in vain.

Colossians 1:21-23: And you, who once were estranged and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and irreproachable before him, provided that you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel which you heard . . .

2 Peter 2:20-22: For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overpowered, the last state has become worse for them than the first . . . It has happened to them according to the true proverb, the dog turns back to his own vomit, and the sow is washed only to wallow in the mire.

Heb 10:26–27: For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries

AT this point, one should wonder just who is being addressed in those verses. After all, did not your church teach you “Once saved; always saved ?” There would be no “if” statements if that were true.

Phil 2:12–15: Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. Do all things without grumbling or disputing, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world

Now this is the tough part of this message. What should we think about the “if statements’ and the admonition to “work out our salvation ?” These things appear very complex for those who came to Yeshua without being called by His Father. My opinion is that many, who call themselves “Christians,” fit into that category. They liked the message, enjoyed the security offered by their local church message and now have confidence in their everlasting destiny.

So, I hope to stir some thought here.

If these quotes from scripture are valid, should we not question ourselves according to those “if” words ? If we have been chosen by Yahweh to come to His Son Yeshua and have submitted to the life changing baptism in “Jesus’ name,” then we should truly have God’s spirit within. We don’t need anyone to tell us that we do. Yahweh’s spirit tells us that we do. God will change us over time.

Our understanding of scripture will eventually change. Some of our beliefs will change. We will not fit into the community of the local church any longer because we are no longer of that fold. We will hear the scriptures calling us – the shepherd’s voice.  John 10:27

And now the difficult part – you may not soon find another true disciple to bond with. There are not many in this world. Pray for one and wait. We are out there hoping to find you, too.

And that is when Luke 14:25–27 becomes real. Then, you will understand. Relationships will change and not necessarily because you chose it. You may find that the others will choose it for you, as you become unacceptable to them. That is the cost you can count. It is well worth it.

If you are reading this and wonder about your status with the Only True God, then seek Him with all your heart.

MY PERSONAL MESSAGE TO ALL OF GODS ELECT SAINTS AROUND THE WORLD

It has been about a month since I wrote this article.  I haven’t had even one response.  I find it difficult to believe that there are no others of GODS saints out there.  Whatever reason you may have must be a valid one.  This article will remain here on the blog if you change your mind.

 Soon it will be 15 years that this blog has been online.  In that time I have received very little feedback or response in the way of comments.  This blog is my effort to communicate with others who are GODS elect saints.  According to my blog statistics there are people reading the articles from over 20 nations but the vast majority never respond in any way.  I am at this time asking everyone in this world who reads this blog to please respond.  Just tap the word comment at the bottom of each article and follow the directions.  Many biblical subjects are written about on this blog but if there is any subject that you would like to explore please let me know.  This blog is an attempt to fellowship with GODS scattered elect saints that I know are out there among the nations.  Fellowship is very important because the same spirit of GOD works in all of us and by communicating electronically we can share with each other what GOD has taught us.  Scripture says that the bride of Christ must make herself ready but since we are so scattered the only way to do this is by the internet.  It has been in this manner that I have found two more of GODS elect and I hope to find even more.  I am well aware that we are all at different stages of spiritual growth and the goal is for us all to be in the unity of the faith and that those among us who have been in the faith longer than others can and will by fellowship  help all grown to the same level.  When reading the experiences of the first century Christians this was a common thing. Paul phrased it as the strong bearing the weak with the goal being for all to measure up to the stature and fullness of Christ.   Some of you may or may not know that of all the people that have ever existed from Adam until just before the great tribulation, only 144,000, will be called and chosen by GOD to be HIS elect saints.  This is the time of the barley harvest but the great harvest will be in the future in which we will be kings and priests and reign on Earth with Christ.  Considering this great calling and election we all have been given wouldn’t you want to reach out to your brothers and sisters who are scattered to the four winds ?  I do hope that all of you out there are healthy and happy and growing in the spirit, that you will consider commenting if only just to let me know that you are there. 

Thank you, Lee

A CHRISTIAN USING FORCE TO SHOW LOVE TO BOTH THE VICTIM AND THE PERPETRATOR

This is a question that has been debated among GODS elect saints.  There have been extremes in both directions as to how a true Christian should respond to the violence of an evil person.  Some have thought to take no action at all except praying for GOD to do something while others take action of some kind to help the victim.  

James 2:15,16,17   James is saying that if anyone has any kind of need it is a Christians obligation out of love to help, if they are able,  rather than do nothing or faith without love, which is GODS work in you, is dead if it is not applied in any or all circumstances.  Love is a verb , it requires action to be proven.  Just saying you love is cheap talk, it’s hearing but not doing.

John says the same thing in 1 John 3:17,18  

The scriptures say that GOD knows the thoughts and intents of our human spirits.   Hebrews 4:12 HE will know what your true motivations are and HIS judgment is based on this criteria.  If you use violence it must only be used when all other options are exhausted and your frame of mind must be love for both the victim and the perpetrator. Use only enough force needed to stop the violence you have encountered and then call the proper authorities to report the incident.  If you happen to take the life of the perpetrator this is not murder, it is killing, there is a huge difference between the two.  Murder is done with evil intent killing is not.  Even the 6th commandment in the law should be interpreted, “thou shalt not do murder”.  

How can we be showing GODS love in us if we see an evil person hurting someone but do nothing ?  Even if the victim is ourselves we have options.  Once I was involved in a situation where a man was threatening me with bodily harm.  The first thing I did was silently pray asking GOD what should I do.  I heard a voice in my mind say, “tell him to go back into his house and stay there”, and so I spoke those words then to my surprise he did just that.  I had often wondered what would have happened if this man had actually attacked me.  I believe that GOD in that event would have given me the strength and ability to overcome the man without causing any serious injury to him.  

At the return of Jesus the then glorified saints will meet him in the air and a two edged sword placed in their hands to inflict vengeance on the nations, to execute the judgment written against them and this honor is for all GODS saints.  Psalm 149  In the future we will be given a major role, an honor, to be used as weapons in HIS vengeance.  When GOD said, “vengeance is mine, I will repay” this is how HE does it.  We need to have patience now and not seek vengeance before the time appointed and in this current life, even in defense of self or others, never do so with hatred or vengeance in our heart.  

Regardless of the specifics of any violent incident we must always call upon GOD for help. Never get yourself into something or anything alone, have GOD go with you.  Cast all your cares and needs upon HIM because HE cares for you.

Our prayers to GOD should include our sincere desire to never be in a situation where we would have to use violence but if it did happen that GOD would give us the victory.  Even Jesus used a whip to drive the money changers out of the temple showing that he used violence to promote good.  Abraham, Moses, king David and Elijah literally killed people as scriptures show but were never condemned for it by GOD.  There was one incident where king David murdered Uriah the Hittite and this was indeed a sin and when confronted with his sin repented. Psalm 51 is an account of David’s repentance.

This sort of issue is one requiring deep spiritual understanding but even if you happen to make a mistake and sin we yet have the ability to repent and be forgiven.  Taking a life is a very serious thing because you take everything away that a person is, good or evil.  This also has the potential to cause within us severe depression for quite some time but GOD will help us through this.

Just as for myself I pray for all of GODS elect saints that they never are faced with this situation but if they are GOD will be with them.