Grace of God: God’s grace is so immense that He forgives and reconciles His enemies. He shows us a “grace greater than our sin” as we often sing. Paul affirms the same truth in Rom. 5:20, “where sin increased, grace abounded all the more.” Even as the father of the prodigal ran and embraced his repentant son, so our heavenly Father is glad to receive sinners who come to Him in repentance.[1] Scripture is replete in its affirmation that grace is the experience of those who repent and trust in Christ.[2] Those who are stubborn and do not bend to the word of God receive no divine grace but have God as their enemy.[3]
Humility: James states in no uncertain terms that the grace of God is for those who humble themselves before Him.[4] He then elaborates on this humility with 5 set of actions: submit to God (order ourselves under His authority[5]), resist the Devil (no longer welcome the influence of God’s enemy but withstand it[6]), draw near to God (love God and be devoted to Him), cleanse the hands and purify the heart (repent of selfishness and worldliness), and mourn our sins before the Lord. “Humble and contrite of spirit” (Isa. 66:2) is what God wants.
[1] This is seen in all three parables of the lost sheep, the lost coin and the lost son. Cf. Luke 15:7, 10, 20, 22, 32.
[2] Cf. John 1:16-17; Acts 13:43; 15:11; 20:24; Rom. 3:24; 5:2, 15, 17; 6:14; 2 Cor. 8:9; Eph. 2:7-8; Col. 1:5-6; 2 Tim. 1:8-9; Tit. 2:11-12; Heb. 4:16; 2 Pet. 3:14-18; Rev. 22:21.
[3] Scripture attests to this hostility between sinners and God: Rom. 8:7; Col. 1:21; 1 Pet. 5:5; Heb. 10:26-27.
[4] As the NT often does, so James calls professing believers in the church to repentance and reconciliation with God. This is because not everyone who confesses Jesus or is baptized is a true believer (2:14). As it was in the days of our Lord (John 2:23-25; 6:66; 8:30-32), so it is today. Not everyone who calls himself a disciple is truly one. Those who evidence their faith by obedience to the word of God are truly saved (1:21; 2:14; 1 Jn. 2:3-5).
[5] This is the meaning of “submit [hu-po-ta-ssō (ὑποτάσσω)],” a military term that describes subordination under one’s superior. All believers submit to and obey Christ (Luke 6:46; 8:21; John 14:15, 21; 15:10; Rom. 6:17-18, 22; 1 Cor. 7:22; Col. 3:24). Afterall, He is the Lord (Rom. 10:9; 1 Cor. 12:3; Col. 2:6).
[6] The verb is anthistēmi (ἀνθίστημι), which is to stand against, resist, set against. This is the opposite of the previous submission to God. Repentance from sin and submission to God are a sure way to resist the Devil (1 John 3:7-10). Believers have an ultimate protection against the Devil (Luke 22:31-32; John 17:15; Rom. 16:20; 2 Thess. 3:3; 1 John 5:18-19), but not without a struggle in their lifetime (Eph. 6:11-13; 1 Pet. 5:8-10).