James commands a change of mind and a change of actions regarding worldly desire and worldly ways - sins that estrange from God.

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Change Your Outer Actions

James 4:8 "... Cleanse your hands, you sinners; ..."

"Hands" are representative of actions or works - deeds done in the body of Christ. The command is not for ceremonial cleansing (Exodus 30:19; 40:31 ). It is cleansing by the Word, from involvement in works or deeds of the sort that will not endure the fire test (1 Corinthians 3:10-15 ), which will take place in the day when Christ returns - and there will be the judgment of our works (2 Corinthians 5:10 ). Works for the pleasing of self and with selfish aims instead of to please the Lord and fulfill His purposes will not survive the fire. James would have those who are missing the mark (sinning), evaluate their actions by the Scriptures, and bring their deeds in line with the Word, that with cleansed hands they may perform good deeds that will evoke the response of praise from God (1 Corinthians 4:5 ), and the return of good from the Lord (Ephesians 6:7-8 ).

The old ceremonial cleansing of the hands of the working priests in the laver provided, represents the water of the Scriptures in which we can cleanse our hands and get involved in holy and God-glorifying actions. Even after the washing of regeneration (Ephesians 5:26; Titus 3:5 ). There is need of continual cleansing on this pilgrim journey (Psalm 119:9 ). Application of the water of the Word cleanses our hands and walk.

John 15:3 "... are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you."

John 13:10 "Jesus said to him, 'He who is bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean; and you are clean, but not all of you.'"

Not to cleanse our hands in the Word will mean having unclean, sinful hands. The Scripture is clear - works acceptable to God are performed by people submitted to God and His Word, people who have been cleansed by the blood and continue daily to be cleansed by the Word. The Word is made effective by the convincing work of the Holy Spirit. Repentance means a changing of actions from sinning actions to deeds that line up with God's Word.

	Cleansed hands are submitted hands: 1 Peter 5:6 "Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:"
	Cleansed hands are led hands: Psalm 139:10 "Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me."
	Cleansed hands are prosperous hands: Job 17:9 "The righteous also shall hold on his way, and he that hath clean hands shall be stronger and stronger."
	Cleansed hands are diligent hands: Ecclesiastes 9:10 "Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; ..."
	Cleansed hands are productive hands: Acts 20:34 "... these hands have ministered unto my necessities, and to them that were with me."
	Cleansed hands are prevailing hands: 1 Timothy 2:8 "I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting."
	Cleansed hands are healing hands: Mark 16:18 "... lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover."
	Cleansed hands are imparting hands: 1 Timothy 4:14 "Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you by prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the eldership."

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Change Your Inner Intentions

James 4:8 "... and purify your hearts, you double-minded."

Repentance also includes a change of heart, thought and motives. The pure heart of love for God will issue forth the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23 ). A heart taken up with worldliness will involve that person in worldly attitudes and actions. To be "double-minded" - 'dipsuchos' - is to be a doubter or waverer between motivation by love for God, or friendship with the world. It is the state of instability. Such a person is vacillating in intention and purpose (James 1:6,8 ). "Purify" - 'hagnizo' - means to consecrate, to purify, here it has the meaning of cleansing inner motivation, and the heart's consecration to God and His intentions.

	Consecrate your heart to the Lord: Deuteronomy 6:5 "You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, ..."
	Consecrate your body to the Lord: Romans 12:1 "... present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service."
	Consecrate your service to the Lord: Deuteronomy 10:12 "... and to love him, and to serve the LORD thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul, "
	Consecrate your heart to His Word: Psalm 119:11 "Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. "
	Consecrate your willingness to His fullness: Ephesians 3:19 "... might be filled with all the fulness of God. "

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Change Your Emotional Responses

James 4:9 "Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness."

Repentance deeply affects the human emotions. True repentance means not only regret for the sin that stumbled and the damaged relationship - it is sorrow that tears and pours forth lamentation, mourning, grieving, weeping with the wretched miserable feeling. James did not want, from those who had laughed and had joy in their sin of selfish estrangement from God, to treat such actions with light concern. Rather, they must be all out in their turning from that which is so grieving to God and so damaging their spiritual life.

	Repent like Peter did: Mark 14:72 "... And when he thought thereon, he wept."
	Repent with godly sorrow: 2 Corinthians 7:10 "For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death."
	Repent with specific words: Hosea 14:2 "Take with you words, and turn to the LORD: say unto him, Take away all iniquity, ..."
	Repent with wholehearted seriousness: Joel 2:12 "... turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning: "
	Repent, not ceremonially, but actually: Joel 2:13 "And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for he is gracious and merciful, ..."

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Change Your Wrong Self-view

James 4:10 "Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up."

Repentance changes our view of ourselves and changes our understanding of God. Humbling ourselves is taking our rightful place at the Lord's feet. There we see how worthless we are apart from Him (John 15:5 ). Self exaltation magnifies our nothingness. Humility makes us recipients of His favour, and we become channels of His sufficiency (Philippians 4:13 ). Getting down puts us where God can lift us up (Philippians 2:7-11 ).

	He lifts the humble to prosperity: Proverbs 22:4 "By humility and the fear of the LORD are riches, and honour, and life."
	He lifts the humble to favour (Psalm 138:6; 147:6 ): Psalm 10:17 "... thou hast heard the desire of the humble: ..."
	He lifts the humble to fellowship: Micah 6:8 "... and to walk humbly with thy God?"
	He lifts the humble to service: 1 Peter 5:5 "... be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: ..."
	He lifts the humble to kingdom life: Matthew 5:3 "Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. "

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QUESTIONS FOR GROUP INTERACTION

What are the commands that acted upon by you ensure a total break with the old life? (James 4:7-10 ). Can you explain why you are finding it difficult to obey any one of them?