Digging Deeper – Who Am I, Really?

No one is quite sure who actually wrote the book of James. Well, we know it was JAMES, but which James? Most scholars believe that it was the half-brother of Jesus who penned the letter because he was the most Jewish of the church leadership in Jerusalem, and it was written to all of the Jewish believers scattered throughout the known world. Jesus’ half-brother did not believe that He was the Messiah during Jesus’ earthly life. James grew up with Jesus and probably did not like Him very much because Jesus never got in trouble. He was “the perfect child,” and no one likes the parent’s pet, do they? No, James did not come to a saving knowledge of Jesus as Savior and Lord until after Jesus arose from the grave. James had always been known as the brother of Jesus, but at the forefront of this very important letter, James introduces himself in a totally different way, and this introduction is important for me and for you in our own lives. WHO ARE WE, REALLY?

Are we “saved,” meaning one who trusts in Jesus for our eternal security? Someone who the Holy Spirit has made alive in Christ? Are we simply born again and have newness of life? All good things; all amazing ways to describe ourselves if we have actually been saved by the blood of Jesus! But is just being saved God’s plan for us?

James was/is the half-brother of the Savior of the world, yet he does not say that when he introduces himself to believing Jews all over the known world. No, James does not name-drop, as he certainly could have. After all, it was true! Instead, James introduces himself as: JAMES, A BOND-SERVANT OF GOD, AND OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST,…

James introduces himself as a SLAVE! The word in the Greek is: doulos, which is translated: bond-servant, slave. It denotes one whose debt has been paid in full and is now in willful subjection to the one who paid the debt. James is introducing himself as an indentured servant, and he is happy about it.

So here is the question for me and the question for you: ARE YOU SIMPLY SAVED…OR ARE YOU SLAVED?

Our answers are important to how we read and interpret the next seven verses, the Bible as a whole, and ultimately how we live out our calling. The answer to this question determines how we face life’s trials!

So hang tight over the next four days as we discuss the trials of life and what to do about them from the perspective of whether we consider ourselves saved or we consider ourselves slaves of Christ, our Lord and Savior!

He loves you so much, forever!