Christian Publishing House Blog
Apologetic Defense of the faith, the Bible, and Christianity
Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. (James 4:8) NOTE: We have some very detailed powerful footnotes, so click those links, jump down, enjoy, click the link and jump back.
Therefore, submit yourselves to God. Resist[1] the devil and he will flee from you. (James 4:7)
According to Brazilian Catholic theologian Frei Betto says that liberation theology is a “critical reflection on the practice of liberating the poor, having as basis the Bible, Christian tradition, and the teachings of the ecclesiastical magisterium.”
But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” (James 4:6)
The Book of Isaiah is the first of the earlier Prophets in the Hebrew Bible and the first of the Major Prophets in the Christian Old Testament. Isaiah is a book that unveils the full dimensions of God's judgment and salvation. God is "the Holy One of Israel" (see 1:4; 6:1 and notes) who must punish his rebellious people (1:2) but will afterward redeem them (41:14,16).
Or do you think that the Scripture speaks to no purpose, “The spirit that dwells in us strongly desires to envy”? (James 4:5)
You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. (James 4:4)
You ask and do not receive because you ask with wrong motives so that you may spend it on your pleasures. (James 4:3)
The astonishment of the well-disposed hearers at these wonderful proceedings, and the mockery of the unbelievers, who ascribed the speaking with tongues to intoxication, called for an explanation and apology; and this first independent testimony of the apostles, poured forth from the fullness of the Spirit, was the effective signal for gathering in the first fruits of the new spiritual creation.
You lust and do not have, so you commit murder. You desire, and yet you do not have, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have because you do not ask. (James 4:2)