In this first sermon in our series on the book of James, Greg Boyd calls our attention to the radical meaning of announcing Jesus is Lord. He then explains what it means to be a part of the twelve tribes of Israel, giving us tips on being faithful to this identity.
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Foreigners in a Strange Land
• Greg Boyd
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Greg Boyd opens our new series on the book of James by unpacking the first verse and its meaning for us today.
First, Greg explains who James was. James was the younger brother of Jesus and one of the primary leaders of the early church after Jesus’ resurrection (See Acts 15 and Galatians 2). The identity of James is significant because he gives Jesus the title of “Lord.” This word was the translation for the Old Testament world Yahweh, the Hebrew name for God. As a Hebrew, James would have been aware of how he was using this title. Because it was not meant to be given to any human, this is astonishing and scandalous. First century, monotheistic Jews considered it blasphemous to blur the lines between divinity and humanity. Yet, this is exactly what James and other first century Christians did. He was placing Jesus in the position of God. Secondly, and even of more significance, James gave this title to his brother. This was someone he witnessed growing up, living a normal life as a son of a peasant. During the ministry of Jesus, James was not a follower. But now he is calling Jesus Lord. There must have been a significant encounter between the brothers after Jesus’ resurrection (as stated in 1 Corinthians 15) for him to change his mind like this. This person, James, saw Jesus from a different point of view and his instructions in this book are worth our time.
Greg then moves through the verse and talks about who this letter is addressed to. It says that it is “to the twelve tribes scattered among the nations.” The “12 tribes” is associated with the 12 tribes of Israel, who were scattered or dispersed throughout the middle eastern nations of the time. They were not settled in a land of their own. The Old Testament refers to this scattered experience as exile. They were waiting to be gathered by the promised Messiah to be restored as the nation of Israel. Those reading this letter were an extension of the tradition of Israel, but now the promised Messiah has come in Jesus.
Greg invites us to recognize two key points. First, we are foreigners and strangers in this world. We are a people in exile, living away from our true home. Our true home is not a particular geographic plot of land. Our home lies beyond this world, outside any geographic markers. It’s a future home in which humans are finally transformed into followers of the slain Lamb and where we will reflect and live in God’s agape love. Because we belong to another country, we are strangers and foreigners in the present land. This is a good thing because it frees us from depending upon this world to give us life.
Second, we are Christ’s ambassadors. An ambassador is one who represents the interests of their own country in a foreign land (2 Corinthians 5). As we live in this foreign land, we demonstrate and mirror the ways of our Lord. We thus show a contrasting pattern of life that will fully manifest in the future. We are ambassadors in exile, bringing the hope of the future into the present, making real what is truly real in a foreign land.
Hide Extended SummaryTopics: Defense of Christian Faith, Discipleship, Resurrection
Sermon Series: Louder Than Words, Faith Unshakeable
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The MuseCast: September 15
Focus Scripture:
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James 1:1
James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes scattered among the nations: Greetings.
