BiblicalInsights.net

In James 4:6, the Word of the God declares, “God resists the proud, but giveth grace to the humble.”  Several insights can be gained from this succinct statement of Scripture.
First, the word “resists” is from the Greek word antitasso which is a military term that depicts the orderly arrangement of troops to successfully wage combat against the enemy (non-compliant person).  It depicts an arrangement of military forces to crush the enemy.  God’s face is against them.  God has become an adversary to them.  The proud person is the arrogant person who refuses to submit to God’s Will.  This personal obstinacy against God is met with God’s response of “resistance.”  This means that God has become their foe.  Consider this important fact.  Satan is also an adversary to them.  Peter depicts Satan as a roaring lion walking about seeking whom he may devour (I Pet. 5:8).  Satan is an adversary and a destroyer (Rev. 9:11).  When the proud person, even if he or she is a Christian, sets himself against God, he has doubled his trouble!  Not only is Satan against him, but, now, God is against him.  James has already addressed this spiritual dilemma.  “Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that friendship with the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God” (James 4:4).  The height of human arrogance is manifested in disobedience to God.  The “world” is characterized by the works of the flesh.  “Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these: Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, reveling, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God” (Gal. 5:19-21).  It is one thing to have Satan as your enemy.  It is quite another to have God as your enemy.  When both Satan and God are against you, you have no hope of victory.
Second, the transition from a haughty spirit to a humble heart is an act of personal will.  God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.  The humble (tapeinos) person is contrite, exhibits lowliness of mind and heart, and has succeeded in slaying pride.  Pride is slain through repentance which affects a change of heart toward God.  “Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time” (I Pet. 5:6).  Humility is accomplished by self-denial (Matt. 16:24).  Our personal will must become one with the will of God.
Third, submission to God’s authority is essential to obtaining the grace of God.  The command is to “submit yourselves” (James 4:7, hupotasso) or willingly place ourselves under the authority of God.  This removes conflict between ourselves and God.  It avoids the chastening of God for Christians who disobey Him and it invites God’s grace.  God’s grace is conditional.  It is conditioned upon humble obedience to His commands.  God’s grace is appropriated through obedience which is accompanied by faith and love.  God’s grace involves the fullness of the blessings of the gospel of Christ (Rom. 15:29).  It involves our: forgiveness, sonship, heirship, fellowship with deity and with the saints, oneness with the triune God, and hope of everlasting life.
When we transgress God’s law, we exhibit a pride that God opposes.  We have doubled our trouble.  The only escape from this spiritual dilemma is humble obedience spurred by repentance.