Why Conflicts Arise in the Church

I. The Source of Quarrels and Fights in the Church 4:1-3

A.  The Structure of James Argument 

    Your passions (desires for pleasure) are at war
     hedone  --  appears 5 times in the NT – always in a negative context.

    See also 2 Peter 2:12-13 and Titus 3:3

B. The Implications of James Argument

C.  Wrong Motives and Wrong Prayers

    The question is, “What were they asking for?”
    
    

II. Friends and Enemies of God 4:4

A.  A Strongly Worded call to Repentance
    The term “adulteress” is important in this context.

This is a reoccurring theme in the OT, especially in the Prophetic books.
See Jeremiah 3:1, 6-10, 20, and the call to repentance 21-25.

B. Four ways they were being Unfaithful to God (from Douglas Moo)
1. They were discriminating against people – 2:1-13
2. They were speaking negatively about one another 3:1-12
3. They were exhibiting “bitter envy” and “selfish ambition” 3:13-18
4. They were pursuing their own destructive pleasure 4:1-3

III. He Gives more Grace 4:5-6

A.  He is a Jealous God – Exodus 20:3-6

B.  He Gives Grace to the Humble  -- 1 Peter 5:5-7