(iii) The wheel is circular; it is always turning back upon itself in exactly the same circle; therefore, the wheel came to stand for the cyclical repetition of life, the weary round of an existence which is ever repeating itself without advancing. I hope it will not be contended that these were persons born of God. It was used even by those who were clothed with miraculous power. But there is a careful abstinence from urging confession to the elders, I cannot doubt, in the far-seeing wisdom of God, who loves souls and hates superstition. - ESVSB, first pure -- literally, chaste, sanctified: pure from all that is earthly, sensual (animal), devilish (James 3:15). It is perfectly plain from the early portion of the Acts of the Apostles, and confirmed too by the latest glimpses which the Holy Ghost gives us of the church in Jerusalem, that there was still a great and decided cleaving to that which was properly Jewish on the part of the early Christians there. No, but as the hand kills, so the tongue. "The tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Every teacher runs the risk of becoming "Sir Oracle." This does not refer to the doctrines of religion, but to its spirit. The traditions of Protestants and Evangelicals are no better than those of Roman Catholics, any more than of Jews who were before them all. James first of all warns against a desire to teach the Word of God that would stem or emanate just from your own desire to be in front of people or whatever. Waco | 92 views, 3 likes, 1 loves, 3 comments, 2 shares, Facebook Watch Videos from Waco First Assembly of God: We are studying Genesis chapters 18-21 this evening. The current spirit in America is that of selfishness and a "me first attitude." "Honour and shame is in talk; and the tongue of man is his fall. Observe he does not speak of himself as the brother of the Lord, although he was, and is so styled "the Lord's brother" in the epistle to the Galatians. Instead of a friend become not an enemy; for thereby thou shalt inherit an ill name, shame and reproach; even so shall a sinner that hath a double tongue" ( Sir_5:13 through Sir_6:1 ). Two constant demands of a child of God are a positive attitude and appropriate action. James 3:17 That is dangerous. Never reverse this order; it is not only that this wisdom is pure and peaceable, but it is first pure, then peaceable. When the apostles were sent forth of our Lord, they were directed by Him to anoint the sick with oil. I then feel the necessity of somehow explaining away those scriptures. "I have a particular doctrine that I have embraced, I adhere to, and though there are scriptures that would seemingly contradict the position that I believe in. Instead of ever giving battle for its rights supposed or real, there is clearly the yieldingness of grace about it. There is a kind of depraved wisdom which seduces men away from their loyalty to God. Clearly he has God in view, and has His word before him, and that which would make His word understood. if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him; let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins." Let us look to the grace of the Lord to understand the scripture. Oh, what a difference. "[41] This is the very opposite of the cold, haughty and unyielding hardness of some religious teachers. It becomes very confusing, especially to new Christians, to see other Christians wavering or being uncertain about certain issues on which they once stood firm. It is bad enough to heap treasure at any time; but to heap it up in the last days was to add not a little to the evil in the Lord's eyes. Ronny Marriott nominee for BGCT first vice president. However, it is an application of "wisdom from above" that drives these The moment we bring into view God and His will and His purposes, it is needless to say that these two memorable acts stand out clothed with the light of heaven. (b) In Christian thought eleos ( G1656) means mercy which issues in good fruits, that is, which issues in practical help. But here the apostle is exposing the absence of an internal work where intelligence is severed from conscience, and this he illustrates, as we have seen, by the man that gets a glance in a glass, and then all is gone directly his back is turned. It is not the salutation that the Epistles of Paul and the other apostles have made so familiar to us, but exactly the form of salutation that was used in the famous epistle of Acts 15:1-41 from the apostles and elders in Jerusalem, who wrote to the Gentile assemblies to guard them from yielding to legalism.