Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom.Remember, this is directed at the sinner (the one who continues to live a habitual life of sin) and the double-minded (the one of two minds, two psyches, two souls). James' advice to these people is to grieve, to mourn, to wail. The laughing that has been going on, needs to cease and be turned to crying and gloom. Why? Without repentance, there is no salvation. Without a change of mind, and a change of action, there is no hope. All of the good times that these people are having and all of the waffling and floundering that is going on will only lead to imminent doom.
(NIV)
Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. (NIV) This verse might be best served with some definitions. Bitterness - Just what it says, bitterness. It is a bitter root that produces a bitter fruit. Rage - Usually translated as Wrath. It has to do with a passionate anger. This is the person who is fuming. They are bubbling over with anger. Anger - This word has also been translated as wrath. It is most definitely referring to the actions associated with anger. It doesn't have to mean this, but their can also be the association with violence. This is the person who is acting out on their anger, in a sinful way. Brawling - Ok, I just learned something new, this word has to do with making an outcry, or a crying. After I read the definitions, what immediately jumped into my mind was the person who yells when they are angry. He may not do something violent, but he is letting everyone know exactly how angry he is. He is a ye...
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