Summary: What do James and Peter teach about growing in Christ and living for Him? We look at the letters of James and 1 Peter to see how they characterize character development for disciples of Jesus.

Introduction

In my last post, I described growing in Christian character from the book of Hebrews. In this post, we see how James and Peter describe Christian character development.

Disciples of Jesus need wisdom to face trials and suffering in the world. We are examples of Jesus in everything we do. How do we deal with one another and this world? James and Peter wrote to their audiences to help them with these issues. We benefit from their wisdom.

James wrote his letter to the diaspora, the scattered Jewish Christians around the Roman Empire. After they faced persecution in Jerusalem and Judea, they fled to the provinces throughout the empire. They were suffering great persecutions and trials, and they wanted to hear from their pastor. James wrote this letter to help them deal with these trials. His letter is about the various trials Christians face.

Peter wrote his first letter to Christians who were suffering through persecution. He reminded them of their inheritance in Jesus, hope in His return, and that suffering is expected and temporary for Christians. He encouraged them to stand strong in the face of persecution and suffering for Jesus. We can learn much from these leaders of the faith from the first century. Let’s get started.

Trials and Suffering

James opens by talking about trials of various kinds (James 1:2-4). These trials of various kinds range from lack of wisdom to controlling the tongue. He gives God’s wisdom on these matters to guide his flock. He tells us to have joy in our trials because God works through them to make us mature and complete, just the way He made us. When you suffer trials, keep in mind that all things work together for good, but it is God’s holy good He is working in you (Romans 8:28-30).

Toward the end of his letter, James talks about suffering (James 5:7-12). He calls us to endure suffering with patience, realizing Jesus is coming soon. He gives examples of the prophets and Job, whose suffering they did not understand then, but God is working in their suffering to bring a greater outcome. We must be patient and not take it out on others. Trust that the Lord is working His greater purpose is in you and your situation.

Peter addresses suffering throughout his letter. He first addresses suffering for righteousness’ sake (1 Peter 3:8-23). He says we should not be afraid when we do good. God will bless us for doing good. But when people call us out for doing good and suffering for righteousness, we should give a defense of our faith (often used in apologetics and evangelism) and gentleness and respect (1 Peter 3:15).

Jesus is our example in suffering. We need to have a good conscience about how we approach people. Next, Peter speaks about suffering as a Christian (1 Peter 4:12-19). Don’t be surprised when people persecute you for Jesus’s sake. Instead, make sure you do not suffer because of criminal acts. That does not represent Jesus. He tells us God blesses us in suffering as a Christian because we share in Christ’s suffering.

We must distinguish between suffering for Jesus and suffering because of wrongdoing or our own personality or mistakes. Not all suffering we do is for the sake of Christ. As long as you understand this, you will suffer for Jesus, but with the best of spirits.

Hearing and Doing God’s Word

Our first step is to hear God’s Word. But hearing it is not good enough, as James points out (James 1:22-25). We must do what it says. If we listen to the Word, memorize, and meditate on it, that is only half the battle. We must do God’s Word and act on what it says. We cannot act if we don’t know it. But we can’t just know it. Knowledge brings forth action.

We deceive ourselves if we think we will automatically do what the Bible tells us to do. James uses the imagery of a man who looks into a mirror, turns around, and forgets what he looks like. We all know what we look like because we have mirrors. The Word of God is a mirror that shows us the truth about ourselves. Then it prescribes what to do. But if we don’t do it, we forget what we really look like. People around you know what you look like in morals and representing Jesus.

James approaches doing as more effective than just hearing when he talks about faith and works (James 2:14-26). Many Christians misunderstand James’s discussion because of Paul’s approach to works that save. But James is saying that others see our faith by what we do. These are works we do after salvation that glorify Jesus. We do no good if we don’t help people when Jesus has taught us how. We have dead faith if we don’t do works that prove it.

Combating Worldliness

James deals extensively with worldliness. Every church has growing Christians, but it seems many Christians in the Jerusalem church were still grasping Jesus’s teachings. James starts with the trial of being poor (James 1:9-11). The world ignores the poor and exalts the rich. But poor Christians have a rich inheritance. Money does not buy salvation and means nothing in heaven. It is only useful to live and to use toward the works of God.

He also talks about speech in his letter (James 1:19-21, 26; 3:1-12). He prizes hearing above speaking because it helps us avoid mistakes (James 1:19-22). Speech is kindling for anger. Instead, we look to receive the implanted word, for it holds our salvation. We can’t consider ourselves religious if we cannot control what we say (James 1:26).

He warns teachers about what they say, and anyone who teaches wrongly teaches their students the same wrong things (James 3:1-12). They are responsible for their speech and teaching because those they teach will make the same mistakes. Our tongue gets us into trouble. The tongue causes us to stumble.

He gives three illustrations as examples of the small thing driving the bigger thing: the bit in a horse’s mouth, the writer of the ship, and a flame that starts a fire. We must also not speak blessing and cursing with the same tongue (James 3:10) with two illustrations of a spring and a fig tree.

James takes worldliness head on in chapter 4 (James 4:1-12). It appears there were fights in James’s church. They may have been verbal instead of physical. He first characterizes worldly thinking and actions before he tells the church how to respond in a holy way.

People don’t get what they want, so they lash out in worldliness from giving in to passions, murdering, coveting, fighting, evil speech, wrong motives, and adultery against God. Worldliness is friendship with the world. When we allow anything to have our heart before Jesus, we are worldly and allow these things to become idols. The Spirit is jealous for us. God doesn’t want  competitors. The solution is to draw near to God, submit to Him, resist the devil, purify our hearts, and put away sin, humble ourselves, and mind our speech. We must not judge one another harshly.

He touches on wealth again (James 5:1-6). Earthly riches don’t last. Frauding others and enjoying luxury while you slaughter other people (figurative), and that will bring judgment on you. Don’t treat people with evil. We must not seek wealth for wealth’s sake. It can only harm us and put our soul in jeopardy.

Salvation and Godly Wisdom

James talks about godly wisdom (James 1:5-8). He tells us God generously gives His wisdom to us when we ask. Yet we are afraid to ask. God does not hoard His wisdom or any of His blessings. Good religion is concerning ourselves with God’s concerns (James 1:27). We look after those whom the world scorns: widows and orphans. We keep from worldliness.

James says we must look to the wisdom that comes from above (James 3:13-18). God’s wisdom is the opposite of the world’s wisdom. When we do what God desires, like making peace, we reap a harvest of righteousness.

Peter addresses salvation as God’s mercy (1 Peter 1:3-12). Our response to God’s salvation is different than this world, yielding up a treasure in heaven rather than on earth. God guides our inheritance. Trials strengthen our faith and test it. It is greater than pure gold. The prophets prophesied about it and wanted it, and angels long to look into salvation.

He describes the results of our salvation that we suffer in our flesh because we have ceased from sin (1 Peter 4:1-6). Worldly people want us to join in their revelry, and they are surprised when we don’t. But Jesus has taught us a better way and a greater joy. He calls us to love and serve one another because of our salvation.

Called to Be Holy

Jesus calls us to be holy, and both James and Peter address holiness. James talks about how temptation distorts our view of God (James 1:13-18). We must not blame God for temptation because no one tempts Him by evil, and He doesn’t tempt people with evil. It’s our desires that drive us into temptation. We deceive ourselves. Instead, God is a good Father who gives only good gifts to us. He does not change, but brought us forth by His Word of truth.

Peter sites the Old Testament where God called Israel to be holy as He is holy (1 Peter 1:13-25). We don’t conform to the world. Jesus ransomed us from this world. We must love one another and be kind. He describes us as living stones because Jesus is the Living Stone (1 Peter 2:1-12). God shows us in Jesus. We are God’s people and have received His mercy. We have honorable conduct that others see, and glorify God because of us.

He continues to describe holy Christians as those who submit to earthly authorities (1 Peter 2:13-25). We live as free people because of Jesus. We are subject to human institutions for now. Jesus lived a holy life, and as our example, we must live to Him in a holy living. Holiness also must take place in our marriage (1 Peter 3:1-7). He gives instructions to wives and husbands for dwelling together in holy living.

Prayer of Faith

James addresses the prayer of faith when we face suffering and sickness (James 5:13-20). The sick can call on the elders of the church to pray for them. Anointing the sick shows the Holy Spirit at work in prayer. To pray in faith is to ask God for healing and expect Him to do it.

The prayer of faith not only heals the sick but also cleanses the sinner. He calls us to confess to one another and pray for one another. He describes this prayer of faith as having great power as it is working. God’s power is behind our prayers.

Shepherding the Flock

Peter speaks of the life of a pastor, how he shepherds God’s flock (1 Peter 5:1-21). Anyone in leadership falls under this description. Be willing to serve, not abusing your power, and being humble before God.

We need to be sober minded people because the devil seeks to pick us off and destroy us. We cast our anxieties on Jesus because He cares for us. We suffer, but Jesus will raise us up in the end.

Finally, James addresses the sin of partiality (James 2:1-13). He talks about being partial toward rich people or those with worldly power. The poor and the rich, and everyone in between, all belong to God’s household. We should not be partial as the world is. We all gain salvation and an inheritance in heaven.

Growth Challenge

As with the letters we have discussed, if anything in James’s or Peter’s first letter are something the Holy Spirit is dealing with in you, take it to Him. If not, seek to live up to the high standard set by these godly men.

Up Next

We have observed Christian character development in James and 1 Peter. Next, we will look at Christian character development in the books of 2 Peter and Jude.

Image by Bela Geletneky from Pixabay