Click Above to Listen!
A Sermon by Pastor Jim Garbutt, Elder at Sovereign Grace Church
James has a number of “tests” on the genuineness of a person’s faith. We’ve already seen tests of obedience to God’s Word, good works, love, and now the tongue
James 3:1-12 shows that any faith, if it does not transform the tongue, is not a saving faith. This includes not only the verbal words we speak, but what we “say” in writing, tweets, texts.
INTRODUCTION
UNDERSTANDING THE DUAL PREMISE OF THIS TEST
1. CAUSE
You must be genuinely regenerated (born again) II Cor 5:17-18
>New Heart
>New Behavior
>New Transformation
2. PROCESS
You must persevere in faith (I Cor 6:9-11)
>Trending to grow in grace
>Sanctification and more Christlike
>Reject “shortcuts” or “quick-fix” spirituality (emotionalism, shallow doctrine)
SEEING THE DANGERS OF THE TONGUE
1. CONDEMNS (3:1-2)
2. CONTROLS (3:3-5)
3. CORRUPTS (3:5-6)
4. COMBATS (3:7-8)
5. CONFOUNDS (3:8-11)
First Issue:
I. THE TONGUE CONDEMNS
Emphasis on the teacher, warning about such a teaching-elder in the church who will face scrutiny of every word to be sure it is GOD’S word, not his own.
Most influential position in the local church
I Tim 4:15 Care to take Divine thought/message and convey it to others
I Tim 4:16 Care to have a godly personal life to verify truth of message