James 4:4-10 Faith that Mourns Sin

# Faith that Mourns Sin
## James 4:4-10

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# How do I react to **conflict**?

[###](#/outline "secret")

>>>

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## James: **Keep the Faith**
+ Stands the **Test** [(1:2-12)](# "ref")
+ Demands a **Change** of Heart [(1:19-25)](# "ref")
+ Loves **Impartially** [(2:5-9)](# "ref")
+ **Acts** [(2:15-24)](# "ref")
+ Tames the **Tongue** [(3:6-10)](# "ref")
+ Demonstrates **Wisdom** [(3:13-18)](# "ref")
+ **Mourns** Sin [(4:4-10)](# "ref")

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[4](# "ref")
You **adulterous** people, don’t you know that 
**friendship** with the **world** 
means enmity against God?

Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a 
friend of the world becomes an **enemy of God**.

[5](# "ref")
Or do you think Scripture says without reason 
that he **jealously longs** for the **spirit** 
he has caused to dwell in us?

[James 4:4-5 (NIV) (p.1/3)](# "ref")

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[6](# "ref")
But he gives us more **grace**. 
That is why Scripture says: 
“God **opposes** the **proud** 
but shows **favor** to the **humble**.”

[7](# "ref")
**Submit** yourselves, then, to God. 
**Resist** the devil, and he will **flee** from you. 
[8](# "ref")
Come **near** to God and he will come near to you.

[James 4:6-8 (NIV) (p.2/3)](# "ref")

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**Wash** your hands, you **sinners**, and 
**purify** your hearts, you **double-minded**.

[9](# "ref")
**Grieve**, mourn and wail. 
Change your laughter to **mourning** 
and your joy to **gloom**.

[10](# "ref")
**Humble** yourselves before the Lord, 
and he will **lift** you up.

[James 4:8-10 (NIV) (p.3/3)](# "ref")

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## Faith that Mourns Sin [(James 4b)](# "ref")
1. **Adultery** [(v4-6)](# "ref")
2. A New **Direction** [(v7-8)](# "ref")
2. Good **Grief** [(v9-10)](# "ref")

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You **adulterous** people

[James 4:4 (NIV)](# "ref")

>>>
+ **why** adultery?
+ look at context:

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What causes **fights** and **quarrels** among you?

Don’t they come from your **desires** 
that battle within you?

[James 4:1 (NIV)](# "ref")

>>>
+ fights (πόλεμοι): war, battle
+ quarrel (μάχαι): hand-to-hand combat
+ desires (ἡδονῶν): selfish pleasures, passions

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You ask with **wrong motives**, 
that you may spend what you get on your **pleasures**.

[James 4:3 (NIV)](# "ref")

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Then I **passed by** and saw you 
**kicking about** in your **blood**, 
and as you **lay** there in your blood 
I said to you, “**Live!**”

[Ezekiel 16:6 (NIV)](# "ref")

>>>
+ all of chapter 16
+ also see Hosea 2

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anyone who chooses to be 
a **friend** of the **world** 
becomes an **enemy** of **God**.

[James 4:4 (NIV)](# "ref")

>>>
+ 4 friendship (φιλία): kiss, affection, kinship
  + chooses (βουληθῇ): intend, desire
+ becomes (καθίσταται): stands (position, stance)

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For the **flesh** desires 
what is contrary to the **Spirit**, 
and the Spirit what is **contrary** to the flesh.

They are in **conflict** with each other, 
so that you are not to do whatever you **want**.

[Galatians 5:17 (NIV)](# "ref")

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Or do you think Scripture says without reason

that he **jealously longs** for the **spirit** 
he has caused to dwell in us?

[6](# "ref")
But he gives us more **grace**.

[James 4:5-6 (NIV)](# "ref")

>>>
+ Scripture says: not in OT, no specific ref
  + themes present in Paul
+ 5 jealous (φθόνον): envy
  + bitterness toward another's good
  + to action: tear other down
  + cf zeal
+ longs (ἐπιποθεῖ): yearn, strive
+ the Spirit that dwells in us yearns toward jealousy
  + for the purpose of jealousy
+ ... but even more He gives us grace

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## What **quarrels** have I had?
## What selfish **desires** of mine caused them?

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## Faith that Mourns Sin [(James 4b)](# "ref")
1. Adultery [(v4-6)](# "ref")
2. **A New Direction** [(v7-8)](# "ref")
2. Good Grief [(v9-10)](# "ref")

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That is why Scripture says:

“God **opposes** the **proud** 
but shows **favor** to the **humble**.”

[James 4:6 (NIV)](# "ref")

>>>
+ 6 proud (ὑπερηφάνοις): puffed up beyond
  + oppose (ἀντιτάσσεται): arrange position against
  + humble (ταπεινοῖς): low, reliant on God

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**Submit** yourselves, then, to God.

**Resist** the devil, and he will **flee** from you. 
[8](# "ref")
Come **near** to God and he will come near to you.

[James 4:7-8 (NIV)](# "ref")

>>>
+ 7 submit (ὑποτάγητε): position below
  + resist (ἀντίστητε): stand against

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My **sacrifice**, O God, is a **broken spirit**; 
a broken and **contrite heart** 
you, God, will not despise.

[Psalm 51:17 (NIV)](# "ref")

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**Wash** your hands, you **sinners**, and 
**purify** your hearts, you **double-minded**.

>>>
+ 8 wash (καθαρίσατε): make clean
  + purify (ἁγνίσατε): make holy
  + double-mind (δίψυχοι): two souls, schiz

[James 4:8 (NIV)](# "ref")

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# Have I been **proud** before God
# and unwilling to **submit** to Him?

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## Faith that Mourns Sin [(James 4b)](# "ref")
1. Adultery [(v4-6)](# "ref")
2. A New Direction [(v7-8)](# "ref")
2. **Good Grief** [(v9-10)](# "ref")

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**Grieve**, mourn and wail. 
Change your laughter to **mourning** 
and your joy to **gloom**.

[James 4:9 (NIV)](# "ref")

>>>
+ 9 grieve (ταλαιπωρήσατε): intense affliction
  + bear/carry/endure distress/callouses
+ mourn (πενθήσατε): grief, esp of death
  + death of relationship, of hope
  + cannot be hid
  + also in v9b
+ wail (κλαύσατε): audible wailing of grief
+ gloom (κατήφειαν): eyes downcast
+ **public** ack that sin was wrong
  + e.g., say "sorry" // "what for?" // "dunno"

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Godly sorrow brings **repentance** 
that leads to **salvation** and leaves **no regret**, 
but worldly sorrow brings **death**.

[2 Corinthians 7:10 (NIV)](# "ref")

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Look! God’s **dwelling place** 
is now **among** the people, 
and he will **dwell** with them.

They will be **his people**, 
and God himself will be **with them** 
and be **their God**.

[Revelation 21:3 (NIV) (p.1/2)](# "ref")

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He will wipe every **tear** from their eyes. 
There will be no more **death** 
or **mourning** or crying or pain,

for the old **order** of things has passed away.

[Revelation 21:4 (NIV) (p.2/2)](# "ref")

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# Has my **sorrow** over sin led to **repentance**, or to **regret**?

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**Humble** yourselves before the Lord, 
and he will **lift** you up.

[James 4:10 (NIV)](# "ref")

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