James was he under Law?

James, the Lord’s brother, had seen in a vision of the risen Jesus and because he had seen the risen Jesus he was regarded as an apostle. [1] After the ascension he joined the believers in the house at Jerusalem.  “All these with one accord devoted themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.” [2]

James’ Royal law advocated: circumcision for Jewish Christians and to love God and to observe the Laws of Moses fulfilled in love. He occupied a prominent if not the chief place in the church at Jerusalem, being the president of the first council.  [4]

James’ teaching: James taught the ‘Royal Law.’ Jesus’ words in his conversation with the lawyer, “And one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question, to test him. “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?” And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment.  And a second is like it, You shall love your neighbour as yourself. On these two commandments depend, all the law and the prophets.”[5]   

James advised Jewish Christians to show good works in meekness and wisdom, that reflect the nature of the righteousness of God. To show no partiality between rich and poor as the royal law was to “Love your neighbour as yourself.” James said, “”But if you show partiality, you commit sin, and are convicted by the law as transgressors.” James continues to say that the law penalises whether sin is great or small. James taught that the law was fulfilled in loving God. God’s mercy and love fulfilled the law. James taught that Christians should confess their sins to one another and God would forgive them. The early church held ‘Communion Services, the breaking of bread and prayers in their homes. They attended the temple to meet with other Christians and to listen to the apostles preach and teach the words of Jesus. James 8-13. Acts 2: 42-46.

Secondly, James taught that the most important lessons a Christian can learn, faith without works does not reflect Christ. If someone is hungry then we should feed them as kind words are not enough.

He gave the example of Abraham who put his faith into practice when he offered Isaac as a sacrifice, but God intervened, a ram was provided by God and was sacrificed instead of Isaac. Abraham believed in the resurrection he believed that he would have raised Isaac in order to fulfil his promise to him that through his heir a great nation would be brought into being by God. [6]

Also, Rahab the prostitute whose faith was justified by works when she hid the Israelite spies from the king of Jericho’s men. [7]

The prayer of faith will raise up a person from the depths to which they have sunk doubts, fears, divisions and sickness. ^“Is any one among you suffering? Let him pray. Is any cheerful? Let him sing praise. Is any among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord; and the prayer of faith will save the sick man, and the Lord will raise him up; and if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man has great power in its effects.” [8]

Paul’s teaching on the New Covenant: circumcision of the heart, “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than a two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and spirit, of joints and marrow, and discerning thoughts and intentions of the heart.” [9] A person Jew or Gentile whose nature has been transformed by being a new creation in Christ. [10] Convicted of sin through feeling how God feels about sin. Jesus’ baptism: dying to sin with Christ and being raised up in the likeness of his resurrection.[11] To live by faith and to be dependant of God’s grace. For example: the disciples were sent out with the kingdom message and heal the sick. Jesus instructed them to take nothing with them, to rely on God’s grace to supply their needs. The people who received the good news from them out of love and gratitude supplying meals and a bed for the night. [12]

James wrote that a person showing partiality between rich and poor commits a sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors. Whereas under grace the law written in the heart a person is convicted by the heart and Spirit.

Paul taught his disciples to have prayer conversations with the Lord before stepping out in faith. Listening to the Holy Spirit guidance and not to be reliant on a person’s own strength, but to be strengthened with the might of the Holy Spirit, [13] which was essential to fulfil their commission.

Paul and Silas were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia. Paul saw in a vision a man from Macedonia beckoning him to go and help them. Paul interpreted the vision to mean that they were called by God to go to Macedonia and preach the gospel to them.[14]

Some years later Paul felt led by the Spirit go to Jerusalem, he was accompanied by Luke. When they arrived at Caesarea they stayed at Philip the evangelist’s home. While they were there Agabus dropped by, Agabus’ prophecy that Paul would be bound imprisoned at Rome. Paul said that he was prepared to die for his faith in Jesus.

The day after Paul and those with him had arrived at Jerusalem, James and the elders of the Jerusalem Church greeted Paul and his companions. Paul shared with James and the elders what the Lord had been accomplishing among the Gentile Churches and everyone present glorified God.

However, James expressed his concern for the Christian Jews who had complained to the Church at Jerusalem that the Jews among the Gentiles were being taught not to circumcise their children and not to observe the laws of Moses. James told Paul to comply with the law by making a special vow, that of the Nazarite along with four other men This vow included the shaving their heads, he was asked to pay the costs of the four men.[15] James then said, “Thus all will know that there is nothing in what they have been told about you but you yourself live in observance of the law.” Paul did as he was instructed, he took the vow.

We might ask ourselves why did Paul not insist on teaching the New Covenant message to both Jews and Gentiles?

Paul taught that a Christian should respect those who are in authority over us. [16]But what would Jesus have done?

I am reminded of Paul’s words, “For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a slave to all, that I might win the more. To the Jews I became a Jew, in order to win Jews; to those under law I became as one under law- I though not being myself under law-in order to win the Jews. I might win those under law. To those outside the law – I became as one outside the law-not being without the law toward God but under the law of Christ- that I might win those outside the law.”[17]

But did he win the Jewish Christian Apostles to his view of the New Covenant?

Peter wrote that some of Paul’s teachings were hard to understand.[18]

Also, in Paul’s letter to the Ephesians he stressed the importance of keeping the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. “I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called,  with all lowliness and meekness, with patience, forbearing one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”[19]

After Paul completed  the vow, some Asian Jews saw him and stirred up the crowd, accusing him of taking a Greek man into the Temple, which was not true. The crowd seized Paul and began to beat him. The disturbance came to the notice of Tribune and soldiers and centurions where sent and rescued Paul. They brought Paul to the barracks. Paul asked if he could address the crowd. Paul spoke in Hebrew and shared with them his testimony: from when he arrested Christians to himself becoming a Christian. The crowd erupted and shouted against Paul. They tied him up, he spoke to the centurion saying, “Is it lawful for you to scourge a man who is a Roman citizen, and un-condemned?”  Paul was held in the barracks.[20]

Agabus’ prophecy was fulfilled because Paul chose to do what he believed was God’s will for him.

[1] 1 Corinthians 15: 7.

[2] Acts 1: 14.

[3] James 2: 8.

[4] Acts 15: 13, 19.

[5] Matthew 22: 35-40.

[6] Genesis 22: 1-18. Hebrews 11: 17-19.

[7] Joshua 2: 1-7

[8] James 5:13-16.

[9] Hebrews 4: 12.

[10] Ephesians 4:24.

[11] Ephesians 2: 5-10. Colossians 2: 8-12.

[12] Matthew 10: 1-15.

[13] Ephesians 3: 16, 17.

[14] Acts 16: 6-10.

[15] Acts 21: 17-26.  Numbers 6: 2

[16] Romans 13: 1.

[17] 1 Corinthians 9: 19-23.

[18] 2 Peter 3: 16.

[19] Ephesians 4: 1-3.

[20] Acts 22.