James Expounds on Faith Volume 1

 Greetings to the Saints Then and Now

James 1:1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the Twelve Tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting. KJV

This Apostle James is thought to be the brother (in the flesh, born to Joseph and Mary our Lord Jesus' Earthly Parents) of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, that being true, he refers to himself simply, sweetly, and solely as a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ. James recognized that the Brother he knew and loved from his childhood whom he had played countless games with for many years was not only his brother, but the Savior of the 🗺 World and the very God who created him and everyone else on the 🌏 planet, therefore, we find this greeting and description of himself opening up his ✉ letter to all the believers from the Twelve Tribes of Israel scattered 💭 throughout various other countries in the 🗺 world, "James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting." (James 1:1) (KJV). In like manner to every individual Hebrew of the Twelve Tribes of Israel who had come to faith in our Lord Jesus Christ and were persecuted by their fellow Hebrews who had rejected Christ as the Son of God and their Messiah, so are most of we true Christians in this ⌚ time and of every era and generation persecuted by non-believers, even those of their/our same 🏡 household, as it is said by our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, "Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. And a man's foes shall be they of his own household." (Matthew 10:34-36) (KJV) and scattered in various places around the 🗺 world, for the true ⛪ Church of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is not visible in one 🏢 building over another or in one Denomination or Non-Denomination over another. We the true children of God adopted in His family by way of the 'new birth', as it is written, "Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the Word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever." (1 Peter 1:23) (KJV) are all over this 🌏 planet in the above places and in 🏡 house Churches or other places, some of us are together with other true brothers and sisters and some of us are separated from our true brothers and sisters 'in Christ' not by choice, but by the providence, purpose, and plan of our Father in Heaven. Where ever we are, we are the Temple of the Living God just as the Apostle Paul wrote with these words to the Church @ Corinth, "Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty." (2 Corinthians 6:14-18) (KJV). This should be the direction, the determination, and the desire of every single one of us who belong to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. The English word 'servant' used here by the Apostle James to describe himself is translated by the Greek word doulos meaning a slave (literally and figuratively, voluntarily; frequently therefore in a qualified sense of subjection or subserviency to our Lord and Savior Jesus Chist); we are His servants/slaves.

Here is what Matthew Henry had to say of James 1:1, "We have here the inscription of this epistle, which consists of three principal parts. I. The character by which our author desires to be known: James, a servant of God, and of the Lord Jesus Christ. Though he was a prime-minister in Christ's kingdom, yet he styles himself only a servant. Note hence, Those who are highest in office or attainments in the church of Christ are but servants. They should not therefore act as masters, but as ministers. Further, Though James is called by the evangelist the brother of our Lord, yet it was his glory to serve Christ in the spirit, rather than to boast of his being akin according to the flesh. Hence let us learn to prize this title above all others in the world - the servants of God and of Christ. Again, it is to be observed that James professes himself a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ; to teach us that in all services we should have an eye to the Son as well as the Father. We cannot acceptably serve the Father, unless we are also servants of the Son. God will have all men to honour the Son as they honour the Father (John 5:23), looking for acceptance in Christ and assistance from him, and yielding all obedience to him, thus confessing that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. II. The Apostle here mentions the condition of those to whom he writes: The twelve tribes which are scattered abroad. Some understand this of the dispersion upon the persecution of Stephen, Acts 8. But that only reached to Judea and Samaria. Others by the Jews of the dispersion understand those who were in Assyria, Babylon, Egypt, and other kingdoms into which their wars had driven them. The greatest part indeed of ten of the twelve tribes were lost in captivity; but yet some of every tribe were preserved and they are still honoured with the ancient style of twelve tribes. These however were scattered and dispersed. 1. They were dispersed in mercy. Having the scriptures of the Old Testament, the providence of God so ordered it that they were scattered in several countries for the diffusing of the light of divine revelation. 2. They began now to be scattered in wrath. The Jewish nation was crumbling into parties and factions, and many were forced to leave their own country, as having now grown too hot for them. Even good people among them shared in the common calamity. 3. These Jews of the dispersion were those who had embraced the Christian faith. They were persecuted and forced to seek for shelter in other countries, the Gentiles being kinder to Christians than the Jews were. Note here, It is often the lot even of God's own tribes to be scattered abroad. The gathering day is reserved for the end of time; when all the dispersed children of God shall be gathered together to Christ their head. In the mean time, while God's tribes are scattered abroad, he will send to look after them. Here is an apostle writing to the scattered; an epistle from God to them, when driven away from his temple, and seemingly neglected by him. Apply here that of the prophet Ezekiel, Thus saith the Lord God, Although I have cast them far off among the heathen, and although I have scattered them among the countries, yet will I be to them as a little sanctuary in the countries where they shall come, Ezekiel 11:16. God has a particular care of his outcasts. Let my outcasts dwell with thee, Moab, Isaiah 16:3-4. God's tribes may be scattered; therefore we should not value ourselves too much on outward privileges. And, on the other hand, we should not despond and think ourselves rejected, under outward calamities, because God remembers and sends comfort to his scattered people. III. James here shows the respect he had even for the dispersed: greeting, saluting them, wishing peace and salvation to them. True Christians should not be the less valued for their hardships. It was the desire of this Apostle's heart that those who were scattered might be comforted - that they might do well and fare well, and be enabled to rejoice even in their distresses. God's people have reason to rejoice in all places, and at all times; as will abundantly appear from what follows."

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...


Sincerely in Christ,


Clifford D. Tate, Sr.


Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…