ready disappeared from history. James understood this. He does not use the phrase in a technical sense, but in a general way, even as the term is used today. The focal point of James' interest in particularly those born again Jews who had come to know Jesus Christ as their own personal Saviour. He wanted to let them know what it really means to serve the Lord. All of us are scattered today in the sense that we are strangers and pilgrims down in this world (I Pet. 2:11). One of the key phrases of the book is found at the start of verse 2 where he says, "My brethren." This or its equivalent appears about 14 times in the book. It is one of several indications that James is writing to believers among the dis persed Jews. It is a salutation of strong affection and endearment. It binds the hearts of the hearers and the writer together in love. Not all of the trials of life that come to a Christian are always joyful. When testings come we are to have an attitude of the heart which is joyful. Present trials should be considered in the light of what might be best and beneficial for us in the end. Testings can result in the acquisition of knowledge and experience (vrs. 3). We ought to be exceedingly happy that Cod is working out His secret purposes for us and in us along life's way. The testings of life are Cod's way of cultivating and strengthening our faith which will produce pa tience. This is why we should al ways accept it in such an attitude and spirit. It is the outcome in which we find our joy, not in the trial itself which may be going on. Cod has a purpose in it. This is what we need to see. The Chris- Page 44
tian life demands constancy, ex pectancy, and perserverance under a multitude of circumstances and pressures. All of these situations tend to produce patience which will exhibit how genuine our faith really is. The final outcome is complete ness or spiritual maturity. The word "perfect" as in verse 4, referring to man is in the relative sense. It does not mean in the absolute such as sinless perfection. This could only be true of Cod. Patience under tri als will enable the believer to bear all the difficulties and gain every
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