"Binding Contract"
Notes
Transcript
What does it mean to sign a contract?
What does it mean to sign a contract?
It basically means we will do our part or face the consequences.
Why is a contract necessary?
Why is a contract necessary?
Because there is nothing in our human nature that guarantees we will do what we say.
In fact, just the opposite is true (Ephesians 2:1–3; John 8:44).
1 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins
2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience—
3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.
44 You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.
Our word should be our contract.
Our word should be our contract.
James is telling his readers that they should be different.
Why? Because believers should be different in every area of their life.
Including the area that most people are likely to sin in (James 3:2; Ephesians 4:25).
2 For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body.
25 Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another.
James has a lot to say about what we say.
James has a lot to say about what we say.
James 1:19
James 1:26
James 2:12
James 2:14
James 3:1–12
James 4:11
James 5:9
“But above all”
“But above all”
James give this a certain prominence. Why?
Maybe this was a more significant problem with his audience.
It seems unlikely that this is more important than other parts of the letter. But, maybe this point takes precedence in the immediate context.
Maybe this is a way of topping off what James has said recently or throughout or what he’s about to say.
We can't be sure why he says, “above all.” But we can be sure that this is important and applicable.
Two Questions:
What does it mean to swear an oath?
Why is it wrong to swear an oath?
What does it mean to swear an oath?
What does it mean to swear an oath?
It was basically a pledge/promise invoking the name of God resigning/submitting to His punishment/judgment if the promise/pledge is not kept.
It was kind of like an ancient form of signing a contract or confession, but far more serious.
Because God was considered the witness and the judge.
It was a way of motivating or stirring an individual to keep a promise or to speak the truth. It wouldn’t be necessary in a perfect world. But we don’t live in a perfect world. So...
In the OT...
It was a common practice. Time and time again OT saints swore oaths.
Even God swore oaths (Numbers 14:21–23; Deuteronomy 1:34–35; Psalm 95:11; Hebrews 6:13–14; Genesis 22:16–18).
It was very serious/sacred, for solemn occasions.
It was for important and limited decisions or confessions.
It was considered foolish to swear a rash oath and to be bound to the consequences.
It was legitimate, even honorable.
It was to be in the name of God alone.
Oaths were never considered optional in any way. They were binding. They were to be kept (Leviticus 19:11–12; Numbers 30:2; Deuteronomy 23:21–23; Exodus 20:7; Psalm 15:1–4).
11 “You shall not steal; you shall not deal falsely; you shall not lie to one another.
12 You shall not swear by my name falsely, and so profane the name of your God: I am the Lord.
2 If a man vows a vow to the Lord, or swears an oath to bind himself by a pledge, he shall not break his word. He shall do according to all that proceeds out of his mouth.
21 “If you make a vow to the Lord your God, you shall not delay fulfilling it, for the Lord your God will surely require it of you, and you will be guilty of sin.
22 But if you refrain from vowing, you will not be guilty of sin.
23 You shall be careful to do what has passed your lips, for you have voluntarily vowed to the Lord your God what you have promised with your mouth.
7 “You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain.
1 O Lord, who shall sojourn in your tent? Who shall dwell on your holy hill?
2 He who walks blamelessly and does what is right and speaks truth in his heart;
3 who does not slander with his tongue and does no evil to his neighbor, nor takes up a reproach against his friend;
4 in whose eyes a vile person is despised, but who honors those who fear the Lord; who swears to his own hurt and does not change;
In Jesus’ day...
The practice of swearing oaths had come a long way, not for the better.
In fact, the Jews had developed their own system that abused the honorable OT practice.
Matthew 23:16–22
Matthew 5:33–37
For them it had become a way of appearing religious while actually deceiving and manipulating
and defrauding people for personal gain. They could commit to something and not keep it.
It seems silly to us, but our dishonesty, deception, ways of impressing people, or exaggerations are no more mature.
In James’ day...
Believing Jews were probably accustomed to it.
But they were to be different, just as Jesus had taught.
In our day...
We probably will not be doing a lot of oath taking like was done in Bible times.
But, there is a deeper application for us when considering why it was wrong.
Why was it wrong to swear an oath?
Why was it wrong to swear an oath?
There should be no need for it in the everyday yes’s and no’s.
While James/Jesus may not be eliminating a place for honorable oath taking altogether...
In essence, there should be no need for it.
Why did they swear and why are our yes’s and no’s skewed?
Why do we twist things and exaggerate? Why do we lie?
To look good. To appear a certain way. To protect an image of ourselves. To promote ourselves.
This is how Jesus’ teaching fits with James’ teaching (James 2:14).
For James, there should be no discrepancies between our speaking and our living.
What we say should flow from what we are.
We should be truth speakers.
Restricting oaths was like saying to them avoid dishonesty and speak only the truth?
How can we avoid dishonesty and speak the truth?
How can we avoid dishonesty and speak the truth?
By avoiding condemnation for what we say.
Condemnation/judgment from who? God
He is the one to be mindful of in what we say.
Benediction: 1 Thessalonians 5:23
Scripture Reading: Psalm 15