The Bible teaches that the worry of the Lord is the premise for true knowledge (Ps. 111:10; Prov. 1:7; 9:10). Fearing God is the pathway into knowledge, the gate by way of which we stroll to develop into sensible.
The nineteenth-century pastor Charles Bridges defines the worry of the Lord in these phrases: “It’s that affectionate reverence, by which the kid of God bends himself humble and punctiliously to his Father’s regulation” in “each train of the thoughts” and “each object of life.” In different phrases, there is no such thing as a data other than godliness. If we would like God’s knowledge, we should dwell God’s approach.
Little question, this strategy is counterintuitive to at the moment’s considering. Trendy knowledge says, “Simply look inside your self, and also you’ll discover what you want.” However the Christian, with a worldview based on biblical knowledge, says, “Till you come to know God, you’ll by no means know who you’re or what you’re to do.”
The knowledge God prescribes in His Phrase—what James calls “the knowledge from above” (3:17)—is in direct opposition to that so-called knowledge we muster up ourselves. And in reality, one of many methods we acknowledge heavenly knowledge is by analyzing its counterpart, or that which comes from earth.
Fearing God is the pathway into knowledge.
James 3:13–18, a passage that addresses the variations between worldly knowledge and godly knowledge, is a research in distinction. Earlier than defining true knowledge, James expounds false knowledge. Particularly, verses 14–16 describe three sides of earthly knowledge: its supply, its character, and its fruit.
Earthly Knowledge’s Supply
Regarding earthly knowledge’s supply, James paints an image for us utilizing three adjectives: such knowledge is “earthly, unspiritual, demonic” (3:15). It’s the antithesis of what comes from heaven.
First: “earthly.” The place heavenly knowledge begins from heaven, earthly knowledge begins from—nicely, earth. It sure is by its setting, its success measured by achievement within the right here and now. Earthly knowledge is from the mud and can ultimately return to mud (Gen. 3:19).
If we use earthly knowledge to consider heavenly knowledge, our view of the latter will at all times be skewed. We rely solely upon God to tug again the curtain, so to talk, and reveal Himself to us. We will’t perceive heavenly issues utilizing earthly means (1 Cor. 2:14).
Subsequent, earthly knowledge is “unspiritual,” inasmuch as it exists on a fabric airplane, devoid of God’s Spirit. As a substitute of addressing problems with the soul, it encourages preoccupation with the physique and its pleasures. In a way, then, earthly knowledge’s obvious unspirituality is an anti-God spirituality, bringing us to the ultimate adjective.
James lastly describes earthly knowledge as “demonic,” rooted within the religious forces of evil. It’s a well-known theme within the letter. Earlier in chapter 3, James blamed unrighteous speech on the “tongue” that’s “set on hearth by hell” (v. 6), and in chapter 4, he’ll tackle the difficulty of resisting the satan’s schemes (vv. 7–10). The one safeguard towards this false knowledge, which stems from Devil himself, is by taking “the sword of the Spirit, which is the phrase of God” (Eph. 6:17).
We ought to not be stunned. Jude warns of those that in each era struggle towards the religion. They’re “worldly folks, devoid of the Spirit” (v. 19). These are those that are earthly, unspiritual, and empowered by the work of the Evil One.
Earthly Knowledge’s Traits
This earthly knowledge, with its supply within the demonic, additionally bears the seals of “jealousy and egocentric ambition” (James 3:16). After we put earthly knowledge on the forefront of issues, we will count on to come across covetousness and delight.
“Jealousy” and “envy,” because the NIV has it, are two intently associated phrases. Jealousy is the intolerance of rivalry. There’s a godly jealousy: God is jealous for His kids, wanting to guard them from evil affect, like how dad and mom need to defend their kids. However in its sinful expressions, jealousy fears the prospect of somebody changing into equal to us or, worse nonetheless, superior to us.
Envy, the shut cousin of jealousy, is resentment for the benefits others take pleasure in. Describing the sinister nature of envy, Jerry Bridges observes that “we are inclined to envy these with whom we most intently establish.” For instance, the one that doesn’t care whether or not he has a lush garden received’t envy his neighbor who does—but when that individual does need a good garden, he’ll doubtless envy his neighbor who has a greater one.
Earthly knowledge is from the mud and can ultimately return to mud.
Egocentric ambition, James tells us, is the accompaniment to jealousy. We’d outline it because the inclination to make use of unworthy and divisive means to exalt self.
Aristotle as soon as spoke of the egocentric ambition that marked the civil leaders of his day, which Douglass Moo summarizes as “the slender partisan zeal of factional, grasping politicians.” Having set out on their political journeys with the need to be public servants, they ultimately turned inward, giving into the higher need to exalt themselves. In a phrase, they gave into the identical type of egocentric ambition towards which James warns.
The menace looms simply as prominently towards the folks within the pews because it does for politicians. This drift towards jealousy and egocentric ambition is harmful. Not solely is it opposite to the knowledge that comes from God, however it’s additionally the very antithesis of the Lord Jesus’ servanthood.
Earthly Knowledge’s Fruit
If earthly knowledge’s supply is within the satan and its traits are envy and delight, then we shouldn’t be stunned to study that its outcomes are “dysfunction and each vile observe” (James 3:16).
Jealousy and egocentric ambition are the antithesis of Jesus, who took the type of a servant.
In utilizing the time period “dysfunction,” James has in thoughts a type of anarchy—confused considering, disruptive choice making, unsettledness, and many others. At any time when we see these items in a household, in a enterprise, or in a church, we will hint them again to their supply: utterly counter to the character of God, earthly, not heavenly.
Left unchecked, earthly knowledge will produce evil. When the umbilical twine between God and His revelation and His folks has been lower, ungodliness is inevitable. Like a most cancers left untreated and as an alternative tolerated, it spreads and infects the entire physique. “Sin,” James writes in chapter 1, “when it’s totally grown brings forth dying” (v. 15).
“Jesus, Who Grew to become to Us Knowledge from God”
James is ready to write as he does neither due to some profound mind in himself nor on account of some distinctive perception into the character of relational dynamics. His instruction on true knowledge comes from the connection he loved with the Lord Jesus—the one who, as Paul writes, “grew to become to us knowledge from God” (1 Cor. 1:30). If we need to grasp knowledge, we should know God in Christ.
On one event, Jesus known as His divided disciples collectively and taught them concerning the counterintuitive nature of knowledge that begins with God, saying,
You realize that those that are thought of rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their nice ones train authority over them. But it surely shall not be so amongst you. However whoever can be nice amongst you should be your servant, and whoever can be first amongst you should be slave of all. For even the Son of Man got here to not be served however to serve, and to offer his life as a ransom for a lot of. (Mark 10:42–45)
The Bible comes each to warn and to encourage, at all times turning us to Christ. He’s true knowledge from above—the very embodiment of that pure and peaceful knowledge James commends (3:17).
This text was tailored from the sermon “Such ‘Knowledge’” by Alistair Begg.
