【Bible Study】

The following is a summary of the live broadcast recording. Please refer to the audio recording for accuracy in case of errors or omissions.

Reading the Bible Requires Rigorous Examination

When reading the Bible, one must have a rigorous attitude, that is, scrutinize it carefully to see if what is said is true. The Book of James is a letter written by James. The content he wrote seems somewhat disordered, and there is no way to verify his learning ability. The entire Book of James has one characteristic: it talks the talk but does not walk the walk. Has he put what he wrote into practice? How well has he done? There is no way to verify!

Erroneous Statements Regarding Patience

If a person falls into various trials and his faith is on the verge of dying, what he needs most is the power of the Holy Spirit, not relying on physical endurance. Who can consider it a great joy in various trials? Who can achieve successful endurance? Our God is one who will not break a bruised reed, and he will not extinguish a smoldering wick. Our God does not want us to endure, but to add strength to us so that we may overcome! Because the road we walk in this life requires much strength, and this strength comes from being filled with the Holy Spirit, but James rarely talks about being filled with the Holy Spirit.

Erroneous Statements Regarding Poverty and Riches

After James finished talking about trials and patience, he went on to talk about poverty and riches, but what is the relationship between the two? It is unknown. But similarly, it leaves people feeling hopeless after reading it. Those who become rich will eventually fade away, and both the rich and the poor feel despair after reading this passage. Only those who love money and have a poor mindset fixate on the rich all day long. A hatred of the rich is essentially a mindset of poverty. Implementing the Book of James often leads to only one result, which is poverty.

Erroneous Arguments Regarding Temptation

James' discourse on temptation is inconsistent with Jesus' experience of being tempted. If each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed, was Jesus tempted because of his own evil desires? Evil desire and temptation are completely unrelated! James' arguments are all skewed towards the negative, explaining what temptation is, but without releasing faith. Those in despair will only become more despairing upon hearing this.

Erroneous Arguments Regarding Anger

James says that human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. When Jesus drove the merchants out of the temple with a whip, did Jesus have anger? He was very angry! Was Jesus acting like a drunken man? The word is able to save you. What exactly is this word? It is not clearly stated. We need to carefully examine the scriptures, precisely because we cannot understand the meaning of the Bible through mere fragments.

Erroneous Arguments Regarding The Law

James describes the law as perfect, the law that gives freedom, but the law itself cannot liberate people! The law is to make you aware that you cannot fulfill it, and you can only be freed by the grace of Jesus Christ! The law that James summarizes seems like 100 Christian behavioral guidelines, like a moral code, but it cannot give people faith and hope, which directly contradicts the gospel preached by Jesus Christ.

If he had summarized that the summation of the law is Christ, then he could have concluded that it is imperative to build up the body of Jesus Christ, which is the church. The Book of James was written to the twelve tribes of Israel. However, Paul's epistles, as well as Revelation, are written to the church. The summation of the law is Christ, and the gospel of Christ is the word we have received.

Restoring a Complete System of Faith

God's intention is to give us an examination, allowing us to carefully examine which is the true way through reading the Book of James. God will sift out those who earnestly seek. Therefore, we must begin to restore the system of faith within us, abstractly summarize the words in the Bible. Clarify the truth in order of importance, know what we believe in, and we will surely see the great power of the gospel solve all our problems!