4:7
We are to submit ourselves to God. This is the fundamental sin, we refused to submit to God. We said that we can manage without Him, and that we will decide for ourselves what is right and wrong. When we do this we are actually following the devil, submitting to him even. Instead we are to “resist the devil”. The devil does most of his work in mundane ways. “and he will flee”. The devil is to be taken seriously, but not in fear. If we submit to God and resist the devil, it is the devil who will flee.
4:8
We are to resist the devil and to come near to God. So many people seem to want to resist God and come near to the devil! This is a foolish way to live. If we come near to God He will come near to us. How do we do this? We wash our hands and purify our hearts. I.e. we repent of our sins and turn to God’s ways. This is the fundamental question everyone needs to ask themselves, are we turning to God’s ways, or are we continuing to follow the devil’s ways. “You double minded”. James has his very direct way of speaking!
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