The Truest Test (2 of 8)
Series: Real Religion
Craig Smith
James 1:19-27
Big Idea: Real religion pours heaven's righteousness in our hardest relationships.
I. Introduction
Before we get started, I want you to think of someone who really makes you mad...
...because God is going to give you a scalpel, but you need to know where to do the surgery...
II. Main Body
A. The Goal
19 My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, 20 because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. (James 1:19-20)
Now, some translations of the Bible keep it very literal here and talk about ''the righteousness of God'' instead of ''the righteousness that God desires'', but I think the NIV has nailed the meaning here. James isn't talking about God's righteousness as an abstract theory, but God's righteousness put into practice in our lives.
And one of the clear themes of the book of James is that real religion affects the way we relate to others. So what God is looking for is relationships that model his righteousness. Let's say it this way: God desires heavenly righteousness expressed in earthly relationships. That's what God desires, and that's what James is talking about here.
The problem is that heavenly righteousness isn't the default setting in our relationships. Instead, we have injustice, cruelty, selfishness and exploitation. And James' original audience was facing a lot of that kind of thing, so they were asking the question ''how do we make it on earth as it is in heaven? How do we get heavenly righteousness into these earthly relationships?'' And the first thing that James does is say ''well, you're not going to make it happen by getting mad.'' He says ''human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.''
Now, it's important to understand that James is talking here about anger directed at people who are treating you unjustly. A ...
Series: Real Religion
Craig Smith
James 1:19-27
Big Idea: Real religion pours heaven's righteousness in our hardest relationships.
I. Introduction
Before we get started, I want you to think of someone who really makes you mad...
...because God is going to give you a scalpel, but you need to know where to do the surgery...
II. Main Body
A. The Goal
19 My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, 20 because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. (James 1:19-20)
Now, some translations of the Bible keep it very literal here and talk about ''the righteousness of God'' instead of ''the righteousness that God desires'', but I think the NIV has nailed the meaning here. James isn't talking about God's righteousness as an abstract theory, but God's righteousness put into practice in our lives.
And one of the clear themes of the book of James is that real religion affects the way we relate to others. So what God is looking for is relationships that model his righteousness. Let's say it this way: God desires heavenly righteousness expressed in earthly relationships. That's what God desires, and that's what James is talking about here.
The problem is that heavenly righteousness isn't the default setting in our relationships. Instead, we have injustice, cruelty, selfishness and exploitation. And James' original audience was facing a lot of that kind of thing, so they were asking the question ''how do we make it on earth as it is in heaven? How do we get heavenly righteousness into these earthly relationships?'' And the first thing that James does is say ''well, you're not going to make it happen by getting mad.'' He says ''human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.''
Now, it's important to understand that James is talking here about anger directed at people who are treating you unjustly. A ...
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