INTRODUCTION
1. Open your bibles to James 3:1&ff.
2. In our last lesson we discussed the warning that James gives to those who are teachers of God’s word.
(1) James warned that teachers that misuse their tongue in the teaching of God’s word will be judged with a much stricter judgment.
(2) James is not discouraging anyone from becoming a teacher, but he does want everyone who teaches to realize that all who teach must use their tongue correctly as they teach God’s precious word.
3. In the next few verses from James 3, James reminds Christians of many serious matters about the Christian life and the importance of controlling our tongue.
DISCUSSION
I. FIRST, JAMES 3:2 (the first part) REMINDS US THAT WE ALL FREQUENTLY COMMIT SIN.
1. James 3:2a says, “For we all stumble in many things”. The KJV says, “for in many things we offend all”.
(1) The word “stumble” refers to slipping and committing sin. The word “offend” refers to breaking God’s law and committing sin.
(1) The Greek word for the word “stumble” and “offend” is in a tense which refers to the fact that we frequently commit sin.
(2) The Greek is referring to continuous action. The best of Christians are frequently slipping and breaking God’s laws and committing sin.
2. Turn to 1 John 1:7. In this passage reference is made to the blood of Jesus continually cleansing the Christian of their sins.
(1) Let’s read 1 John 1:7, “But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.” “Walking in the light” refers to walking in the light of God’s word.
(2) “Cleanses” is also from a Greek word that refers to continues action.
(3) When we read 1 John 1:8&9 we learn that the continual cleansing of the blood of Jesus requires that the Christian to repent, confess their sins and pray to God for them to be forgiven and stay in a right relationship with God.
(4) Let’s read 1 John 1:7-10, “7 But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. 8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
(5) James and John are teaching Christians that as we fall and stumble into momentary lapses of sin, not intended or deliberate, and then strive to walk in the light of God’s word, repenting and making necessary corrections and praying for forgiveness, that the blood of Jesus will keep us acceptable in the sight of God.
3. Since James has brought up the fact that Christians stumble in many things we need to point out the fact that many of those sins are done in ignorance or momentary weakness, but then the bible also speaks of sins that are sometimes done deliberately and intentional.
(1) Turn in your bibles to Heb. 10:23-31. This passage warns us to understand that deliberate sins will not be automatically forgiven by the cleansing blood of Jesus. Punishment will be sure to come if we do not obediently & fully correct such sins.
(2) Let’s read Heb. 10:23-31. “23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, 25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching. 26 For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27 but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries. 28 Anyone who has rejected Moses’ law dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. 29 Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace? 30 For we know Him who said, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. And again, “The LORD will judge His people.” 31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.”
4. One other thing that this first little statement in James 3:2 brings to focus is the fact far took often and far too many Christians are guilty of committing many different types of sin. James says, “For in many things….”
(1) Turn to Galatians 5:19-21. This passage list many, many sins that Christians commit off and on. For right now we won’t discuss any of these.
(2) For this lesson we will discuss the sin that James gives warning about and that is the sin of the tongue.
II. SECOND, JAMES 3:2 (the second part) TEACHES THAT A CHRISTIAN MUST MAKE A BIG EFFORT TO CONTROL THE TONGUE AND UNDERSTAND THAT THE PERSON WHO CONTROLS THE TONGUE WILL HAVE A GREAT ADVANTAGE TOWARD CONTROLLING ALL THE LUST OF THE BODY.
1. Let’s read James 3:2, “For we all stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body.”
(1) The word “perfect” does not refer to being sinless and never committing sin. It refers to being spiritually mature and as spiritually complete as a human being can be.
(2) In this context, body seems to refer to the human being in general, to his whole being. In other words, if we can control our tongues—which respond so readily and limitlessly to sin—then controlling everything else will be much easier.
2. Let’s read a few passages that give examples of bible characters that are referred to as “perfect”. Again, not sinless, but human beings that tried their hardest to please God.
(1) Turn to Gen. 6:9. The word “perfect” is used to refer to the character of Noah and yet we know that the bible gives record of sins that he committed. Let’s read Gen. 6:9, “Noah was a just man, perfect in his generations. Noah walked with God.”
(2) Turn to Job 1:1. Again, Job was not sinless and still the word “perfect” is used to partly describe job. Let’s read Job 1:1. “There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was blameless (KJV “perfect”) and upright, and one who feared God and shunned evil.”
(3) Turn to Psalm 119:6. This passage doesn’t use the word perfect, but the words “not ashamed” carry the same idea. Let’s read Psalm 119:6, “Then I would not be ashamed,
When I look into all Your commandments.”
(4) Turn to Luke 1:6. This passage refers to the parents of John the Baptist as being “blameless”. Again, they were not sinless, but they did their best to be faithful and obedient to God. Let’s read Luke 1:6, “And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.”
(4) Turn to Phil. 3:12-15. Here, Paul makes reference to himself as striving and reaching forward to “perfection”. Not to becoming sinless, but doing like each Christian should do in a daily effort to grow toward spiritual maturity. Let’s read Phil. 3:12-15, “12 Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. 13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, 14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. 15 Therefore let us, as many as are mature (KJV “perfect”), have this mind; and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you.”
(5) The reason that we have looked at these examples of biblical perfection is to let ourself know that human beings like our selves can become and be what James and God challenge us to be.
3. The key to controlling the tongue is to control what is allowed to reside in the heart—to control the tongue we must control what we think and meditate upon.
(1) In Proverbs 4:23 we read, “Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life.”
(2) Turn to Psalm 39:1. This verse records David saying something similar to James’ challenge to bridle our tongue. Let’s read Psalm 39:1, I said, “I will guard my ways, Lest I sin with my tongue; I will restrain my mouth with a muzzle (KJV “bridle”), While the wicked are before me.”
(3) Turn to Col. 4:6. In this verse Paul challenges Christians to bridle their speech. Let’s read Col. 4:6, “Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.”
4. Turn to 1 Pet. 2:21-23. This passage gives us a report of Jesus bridling his tongue and doing so when it would have been extremely difficult to do so.
(1) Let’s read 1 Pet. 2:21-23, 21 For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: 22 “ Who committed no sin, Nor was deceit found in His mouth”; 23 who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously;
(2) In this passage Peter challenges every Christian “follow Jesus’ steps”. A Christian is to follow Jesus in every example that Jesus has left us. Jesus was perfect from the standpoint of being sinless and Peter point that out.
(3) The main tribute that Peter gives Jesus in this passage, relating to Jesus being sinless, is that he did not sin with his mouth.
(4) Peter declared , “nor was deceit (no lying) found in His mouth; 23 who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return (to not revile means that Jesus did not scream and get harsh with others) ; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously;
(5) Jesus provides a magnificent example for us, in the bridling of his tongue.
5. Let’s spend our remaining few moments observing some passages from the book of Proverbs that direct God’s people in the right ways to use their tongue.
(1) Turn to Proverbs 10:19-21. 19 In the multitude of words sin is not lacking [in other words don’t just talk all the time and not listen], But he who restrains his lips is wise. 20 The tongue of the righteous is choice silver; The heart of the wicked is worth little [in other words words from the righteous profit another like silver does, but words from the wicked have hardly not profit at all] 21 The lips of the righteous feed many, But fools die for lack of wisdom.”
(2) Drop down to Proverbs 10:31&32. “31 The mouth of the righteous brings forth wisdom, But the perverse tongue will be cut out. 32 The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable, But the mouth of the wicked what is perverse.” These few statements about bridling and using our tongues wisely help us to understand that James is correct when he teaches that the ability to control the tongue is a step in the right direction toward controlling the whole body.
(3) Drop down to Proverbs 11:11. This passage speaks of the right use of the tongue bringing blessings to an entire city and not just limiting the good influence of the tongue to just our body. “By the blessing of the upright the city is exalted, But it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked.”
(4) Drop down to Proverbs 14:25. This passage teaches that the correct use of the tongue brings not only blessings to the individual, but also to the souls of others. “25 A true witness delivers souls, But a deceitful witness speaks lies.”
(5) Drop down to Proverbs 15:1-4. This passage encourages us to control our tongue and learn how to give soft answers and keep wrath from erupting. On many occasions I have prayed before meeting up with someone that I had had a problem with that I could speak softly and help keep the conversation from getting out of control and both of us getting angry.
1 A soft answer turns away wrath, But a harsh word stirs up anger. 2 The tongue of the wise uses knowledge rightly, But the mouth of fools pours forth foolishness. 3 The eyes of the LORD are in every place, Keeping watch on the evil and the good. 4 A wholesome tongue is a tree of life, But perverseness in it breaks the spirit.”
(6) Drop down to Proverbs 15:28&29. This passage refers to one that “studieth” before they speak words with their tongue. This certainly is a good example bridling and bringing the whole body into control. Promise is also made of God answering the prayers of those who seek to control their tongue. Let’s read Proverbs 15:28&29. “28 The heart of the righteous studies how to answer, But the mouth of the wicked pours forth evil. 29 The LORD is far from the wicked, But He hears the prayer of the righteous.”
