Friendship of the world is enmity with God

April 11, 2020 1:13 pm  2:13 pm
Updated: 5:44 pm

I'm looking at James 4.4 KJV. When we look at the book of James we might wonder is this the half-brother of the Lord Jesus Christ. Well, there is discrepancy that it might be but there were two other James that were in the chosen Apostles of the Lord. So it is said that Jesus had two Apostles named James. James, the son of Zebedee and James,  the son of Alphaeus. It is unlikely that either of these James here wrote the letter as it is said being the Epistle of James, or simply James, is one of the 21 epistles (didactic letters) in the New Testament. According to the book of Acts, James, the brother of John, was killed by Harold Agrippa I Acts 12 1-2

If and when I/we look at James 4:4 particularly in the King James Bible it is written "you adulteresses and adulterers know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God. Whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God."

Now we're going to go to the actual scripture the see and read what James was talking about. Why? Because it's easy to take things out of context. We can draw a conclusion with logic that we can befriend the world in other sinful ways and "still" be a friend of the world and perish if we die in our sins.

So in James 4:4 1st lets read/go-to James 4:12.  Usually I would read the whole verse from (1 to 12) but I want to get to the climax/last no: 2 in this case first. What he says is that there is one lawgiver who is able to save you or destroy you. What does that mean? That you don't control where you go/even after this life but God does. Then he concludes "who art thou that judge-st another?" Henceforth we can speak about forgiving others or God will not forgive us. Just thought I would throw that in there to remind you and me of such as it is written.

So now people can use this scripture to say many things in which many things could be drawn and even true in retrospect. The just of the matter is to draw close to God. To draw near to God. If you look at the verses he starts off by saying there are "wars among you and fighting" and he mentions "lusts" that wars in your "members".  "If your hand causes you to sin cut it off" (Jesus)! Matthew 5:30 He is talking about fornication. Most likely sexual fornication. Henceforth again when Christ said even if you look at a woman with lust you've already committed adultery in your heart with that person. You were thinking in such a manner that leads you into possible temptation and fornication. This is how sin is born and wars in your members. Put your mind on the gospel and on God and not on the worldly sinful ways. No one is perfect and at some point some of us have committed these grave sins. See he goes on to say that you want things from God. People asked even in prayer for many things but they don't receive these desires because he knows it will be used for the wrong purposes or wicked ways of the world. Many people squander what they have and many people die in their sins only to perish unsaved. Life is but a fuse here today and gone tomorrow. A vapor! 

You know even Jesus said that a sinful an adulterous generation would come forth seeking a sign and none would be giving it but the sign of Jonas who was in the belly of the fish for 3 days and 3 nights. Matthew 12:40 Friendship of the world is enmity with God. That is the truth. Have you seen the sexually desires of the flesh and how in the 19th & 20th centuries they have been glorified in movies, TV, concerts and the sunshine girl, even sunshine weather girls and dirty magazines. Sin has been glorified. Magnified with glory. God is not too happy.

Now then if you/I look at James 4.5 it is written "Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, the spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy?" We see and are tempted. We envy those we think have something so appealing to our eyes. Remember even King David sinned with Bathsheba. Ever hear kids say "I want". We want many times for the lust of the eyes makes it look tasty but it can lead us into a sin ridden life and destruction. Then you see even in our families when they come about these children repeat the sinful process many times because this worldly way is embedded even in their parents lifestyle/past. Why would the worldly way that men/woman highly esteem be an abomination to God. Lets put it this way he/God set life and death before you and has said in the written word of God and by Christ himself chose life. Sin is death. Repent or perish! 

Now to move on James goes on to tell us that God gives more grace to certain people and he resists the proud. But he gives more grace to the humble. So James tells us to resist the devil and that he will flee from us but be submitted to God. Interesting enough James tells us to draw close to God and he will draw close to us. He tells us to "cleanse our hands and purify our hearts" and calls such people that are perpetual sinners double-minded. See such people as some of us might have been at one time or another don't draw close to the true God but have been lost as a sheep gone astray to embrace and love the worldly sinful deceiving ways of this fallen world. Such sinners don't realize that they are now God's enemies and they are deceived to do those things that are wicked and sinful. The Lord Jesus Christ said narrow is the way that leads to life and broad is the way that leads to destruction. Only the truth can set you free. In the beginning God. The devil is the father of all lies. Many people resists even the truth but embrace the deception that hardens their hearts and in the end they become God's enemies. 

The wonderful thing is John 3:16 as there is hope because the lord Jesus Christ died for the sins of the world but such a sinful rebellious lost person needs to repent of that sinful lifestyle and make a change towards that narrow way and chose the lord Jesus Christ as their lord/savor if not already their savor. 

Now if I look at James 4.9 he says be afflicted in the mourn and weep and let your laughter be turned into mourning and your joy to heaviness. (Those who laugh today cry tomorrow). What do you suppose he's talking about? He is talking about those who are lost in their sins and refuse to obey the word of the lord. Those of the world that are lost in the lust of the flesh and commit fornication are God's enemies. He's talking about sexual fornication. He's talking about those people that are ruled by their flesh and not God. They don't submit their-selves onto God but unto the world. That is the sinful, ungodly, unrepentant world is their ruler and their master. Such people we're probably given over to a reprobate mind. In a sense let God's wrath come forth is what James is saying. Wicked generation of sinners. Its true we reap what we sow.

Henceforth in James 4.11 he tells us to speak not evil one of another and he says "brethren." (fellow Christians/your brother and sisters or members of a religious order.)  Because if we do such then we speak evil of the law and then we are not a doer of the law but a judge. Oh some will say we are not under the law and saved by grace so don't be so hyped as everything was nailed to the cross. Now then back to James 4.12 where he tells us that there is one lawgiver and that is God who in the end judges people if they have not been forgiven and saved. We have to forgive others but that doesn't mean we're not to preach the word of God. In the end we're not to condemn them because they already have somebody who judges them and that is the creator. Don't condemn but judge righteously. Don't confuse this with lukewarm preaching. You see the Lord Jesus Christ told the prostitute to go and sin no more. Yes! he said no more! When he drew a line in the sand and he said he without sin throw the first stone "they" all put their stones down and walked away. Then he said to her "where are your accusers?" So he forgave her. So preachers are to preach the word but not condemn. We can rebuke as Paul wrote but for the proper purposes only. God is the ultimate judge. Humans are to preach if that is what they are called to do but not condemn. 

When preaching to the lost many are rebellious and even Apostle Peter said they wallow in their mire/their shame. They react! Wickedly many times, and they use their tongues and body language to do so. They boast about their sin like the LGBT community when they protest their shame that is really an abomination to the true God in the cities & streets of the world. As the word of God tells us boasting is evil. And it's funny even if I jump to James 3.2 it tells me "in many things we offend all." Then it goes on to say that if any man offend not in word, the same is as a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body. So a man that will be careful to not offend also is careful with his mouth not to sin or hurt others. There is a difference in speech between a debate or preaching the word of God. There is a time a preacher must use the word of God for the lords purposes. There is time for debate where many words are spoken and offensive come forth such in politics. Sinners cannot "all" control their whole bodies. Even so the tongue boast of great things. Such a thing as a tongue which is small and it's a fire and a world of iniquity. So why did I jump to this scripture? Because the just of the matter is that it tells me that every kind of beast and of birds including serpent's and of things in the sea is tamed and has been tamed of mankind. Not tamed of God!!!! But the tongue no man can tame. It is an unruly evil full of deadly poison. People use it to bless the Lord and also curse other people. You know Jesus Christ said that man will not live on bread and water alone but by every idle word that precedes fourth from the mouth of God. As we are created in his/God's image. So people will use their tongue to lead YOU into fornication. i:e "Look at that chick/guy isn't she/he HOT!" LUST! Young men.woman??! Do you want people to look at your daughters/sons in such an evil lustful wicked way that you may have one day or even now? No! (THE PROUD) God resists these type of stubborn people. Wake up! 

So in conclusion humans need to follow/seek the righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ and not seek their own righteousness as there is not even one good according to Jesus himself. Obviously in marriage two become one flesh and if it is sanctified by the Lord Jesus Christ/God and that marriage is to remain holy in the sight of the Lord than it better not be lustful and remain/be submitted/sanctified in Christ Jesus the lord. Their marriage bed is not to be defiled. So all acts of sexual sin are wicked and will lead you into fornication. You don't believe it so why is the abortion rate in the millions worldwide every year? People are sinful, lustful and commit spiritual fornication/adultery. How could you submit yourself unto God if you're a friend of the world and you are a partaker in it's fallen sinful and lustful ways. Some people that have been saved and come to the cross, repented and turned their lives around lost their friends which were really not their friends. Christ loved you even before the foundations of the earth were laid. The world loves its own. Those who identify with its sinful ways and are willing partakers in it evil & rebellious ways against the true and holy God himself. Don't be a friend of the world. If the lord Jesus Christ/God is not your master than who is? Repent or perish! 

Listen to the preaching and turn to the lord Jesus Christ..

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