20161013 Thursday, October 13 2016
James 04: Friends Of The World, Enemies Of God

by Wayne Blank
See also 1 Year Holy Bible Reading Plan

"And the devil, taking Him up into an high mountain, shewed unto Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. And the devil said unto Him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it ... Ye adulterers and adulteresses, 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"

The "world," such as it has become, is not the world that the LORD created (see God, Who Created All Things By Jesus Christ). In the beginning, the Earth was a sinless, peaceful paradise. But humans chose to go the dead-end way of Satan (see also What Does Satan's Voice Sound Like?). The first murder was committed not long afterward (see Cain and Abel).

The famous "temptation of Christ" was an offer, from Satan, for the Messiah to become a "friend" of the world that Satan created. The Messiah rejected the offer, while not refuting that the world is still under the Devil's laws of lawlessness (see Iniquity In History And Prophecy).

"4:5 And the devil, taking him up into an high mountain, shewed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. 4:6 And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it. 4:7 If thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be thine.

4:8 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve." (Luke 4:5-8 KJV)

When the Messiah completed his task of Atonement for those who choose to repent (see The Christian Day Of Atonement), the Father gave Him the authority to return and to restore the world that was actually created (see What Happened When The Messiah Arrived In Heaven?). That return will begin with Satan being removed as "the god of this world" (see Putting Away Satan's Goat).

"4:3 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: 4:4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them." (2 Corinthians 4:3-4 KJV)

"12:31 Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out. 12:32 And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me." (John 12:31-32 KJV)

James (see Who Was James?) emphasized that the "world" (see the Fact Finder question below) is not the world of the righteous. He made the stark warning that "Ye adulterers and adulteresses, 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."

The LORD's people are nevertheless to live peaceful, righteous lives (while always maintaining the sovereign personal right of self defense) while awaiting the return of the world that was created peaceful and righteous (see Embassies In An Alien World and The Race Toward The Dawn Of The New World).

"4:1 From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members? 4:2 Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not. 4:3 Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.

4:4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, 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. 4:5 Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy? 4:6 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith,

God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.

4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 4:8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. 4:9 Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. 4:10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.

4:11 Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge. 4:12 There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy: who art thou that judgest another?

4:13 Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: 4:14 Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. 4:15 For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that. 4:16 But now ye rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil. 4:17 Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin." (James 4:1-17 KJV)

Fact Finder: What does "end of the world" actually mean?
See The Sign Of The Messiah's Coming And The End Of The World and When The World Is Going To Reject The Way Of Satan; also What Comes After The End Of The World?