Doc. of Production Righteousness; James
2:1
We need to recall a few
things about James. First of all, this epistle was written in order to teach
the believer some vital principles related to spiritual growth. This is outlined
in the first chapter where we learn that the believer grows through tests. In
verses 19 & 20 James gives us three commands so that we can learn how to go
through these tests of doctrine. Those three mandates are: quick to hear, slow
to speak, and slow to anger. Now through
In chapter two we are going
to see another example of the application of doctrine in the soul. At the end
of chapter one there was application in vv. 26, 27. There were two
prerequisites to taking in doctrine given in v. 21. The first had to do with confession
of sin, which had to do with cleansing. This is the concept in the command “putting
aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness.” The second has to do
with the means: “by means of humility.” We learn the Word in an attitude of
humility. Humility is equivalent to a) grace orientation; b) a mastery of the
details of life—these are secondary, they are not the source of happiness; c) a
relaxed mental attitude. All of this is under the category of humility and is a
lack of arrogance. When we are arrogant we are self-absorbed and we focus on
our own tests and trials and the adversities that we are going through.
The key word in this whole
section is POIES [poihj],
“practice, application.”
The doctrine of production righteousness
1)
The Greek phrase
that we are working with is KARPON
DIKAIOSUNES [karpon dikaiosunhj]. DIKAIOSUNE is our word for righteousness, and KARPON is the
accusative form of the noun KARPOS which means fruit. The ES ending to DIAKOSUNE
indicates that this noun is in the genitive case. This is literally translated “fruit
of righteousness.” Then we have to ask which classification of rhe genitive
this is (there are around 25). The most predominate kind is either a subjective
genitive or an objective genitive. A subjective genitive looks at the noun
(righteousness) in the genitive and says that that noun produces the action
that is implied by the head noun. So that would be the fruit righteousness
produces. Righteousness produces a certain fruit. If that is the meaning, then
what we are talking about is imputed righteousness. Imputed righteousness
provides us with a capacity for blessing. There are two categories of blessing
in the Christian life in time: a) logistics, the provision of supply to truth,
food, shelter, clothing, etc., and these are the same for every single believer
whether they are advancing or retreating in the spiritual life; b) advanced
grace blessings, i.e. contingent blessings in time. These are contingent because
they are waiting for growth in terms of production righteousness. The
subjective genitive says that this is the fruit that righteousness produces. But
that construction “fruit of righteousness” can also be understood as an objective
genitive. And objective genitive means that righteousness is the fruit
produced. So in a subjective genitive righteousness produces the fruit; in the
objective genitive it is the fruit that is produced that is righteousness.
There is a third category in the Greek, and that is a plenary genitive. Plenary
means full. What that means is that it functions as both a subjective and an objective
genitive at the same time; both are true; both are present. It is a fruit that
righteousness produces, the imputed righteousness that
we receive at the moment of salvation, but it is a righteousness that is
produced in the believer’s life. So as the believer takes in the Word of God
and applies it and grows, he produces a righteousness.
That righteousness gives him the capacity to handle the contingent blessings that
God has for the believer.
2)
Developing the
analogy, fruit is the production of a plant. With the plant, first you have a
seed. That seed is equivalent to the new life that you have that is produced by
the reception of the gospel message. That seed is placed in the soil plus water
and that provides the nutrients for that seed to germinate and grow. That is
equivalent to the Holy Spirit Bible doctrine, the principles and precepts in the
Word of God.
3)
As the seed soaks
of the nutrition, puts out the little bud and then produces more growth, it
then puts out buds which produce fruit. In that process, in order to increase
the fruit production, there is pruning. Pruning is equivalent to the testing
and the divine discipline in the belier’s life in order cull from the believer’s
life those things which distract the believer from making doctrine the number
one priority and advancing to spiritual maturity.
4)
Production in
phase two is called production righteousness. That production is fruit
displayed in the believer’s life, and there is vindication in phase two, or
phase two justification. But phase two is built on a different righteousness
than phase one justification.
5)
Scripture passages. Hebrews