God Gives Grace

Journey through James: 4:5-7

Or do you suppose it is to no purpose that the Scripture says, “He yearns jealously over the spirit that he has made to dwell in us”? But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.— James 4:5-7

James continues to build his case. And he does so by asking questions and referring to God’s Word. James just told us we cannot be friends with the devil’s system and also be friends with God. Then James cites something Paul wrote to the Corinthians:

Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, — 1 Corinthians 6:19

What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said,“I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. — 2 Corinthians 6:16

God is possessive of His people. When Paul wrote these things to the Corinthians, he was citing what Moses wrote in Leviticus. God has given us His Spirit to dwell in us, and that is not something we should take lightly. We will be tempted to think we can serve God and our own selfish desires. God didn’t give us His Spirit so we could live half-heartedly for Him. This can seem overwhelming at times because we still have sinful natures. Yet James gives us some encouragement. Not only does God give us His Spirit, but He also gives more grace. He knows our weakness and struggle, so He offers grace. 

However, God does not give grace to everyone. He is opposed to those who are proud. We cannot live a victorious Christian life in our own strength. If we are relying on our own goodness and effort, we will suffer disappointment and failure. We will not defeat the devil. We are not our own saviors. Jesus defeated the devil, we are merely beneficiaries of His work. Therefore, if we want to have victory over sin, we don’t need to do more, we need to submit. We need to admit our weakness, repent of our pride, and submit to Him. Once we have submitted ourselves to God, then, and only then, will we be able to successfully resist the devil. If we attempt to resist the devil in our own strength we will fail miserably. When we are dependent on God, then we will have the strength to resist the devil. Not only will we resist him, but he will flee. Satan is not scared of us or by us, but he knows he is no match for God or anyone who is humbly walking with God. 

Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.— Hebrews 4:14-16