Faith is Resilient in Trials

8/14/2019 Faith is Resilient in Trials

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Faith Is Resilient in Trials

James 1:1-12 Page 1

Introduction:

James, a bondservant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve

tribes which are scattered abroad: Greetings.

Verse 1 is like an envelope

o From whomo To whomo The brief salutation: Greetings

Order of the 1st

phrase is literally: James, of God and of the Lord Jesus

Christ, a bondservant -

Name James is literally Jacob, James being theAnglicizedform

Jewish nature of the epistle:

o to the twelve tribeso Cf 2:2, if there should come into your assembly () a man

with gold rings ..

Where are these recipients? scattered abroad

The salutation:

o = Greetingso A joyous salute!o Matthew 5:12, Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your

reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were

before you

o Luke 1:28, And having come in, the angel said to her, Rejoice,highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among

women! (KJV: Hail, thou that art highly favoured )

Outline:

1. The Purpose of Adversity (1:2-4)2. The Prayer of Adversity (1:5-8)3. The Perspective of Adversity (1:9-11)4. The Promise of Adversity (1:12)


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Detail:

Intro: The Christian and trials:

Job 5:7, Yet man is born to trouble, As the sparks fly upward

Acts 14:22, We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God

Dr. R.T. Ketcham: "We have a Heavenly Father who is too wise ever to make

a mistake, and too good ever to be unkind

1) The Purpose of Adversity (1:2-4)a) Text: My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3

knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.

b) Trials: . Peirasmosi) In James 1:2 & 12, Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for

when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the

Lord has promised to those who love Him

ii) The construct of various trials also in 1 Peter 1:6, In this you greatlyrejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved

by various trials

c) A trial or a temptation? Context dictatesi) trial, proving: the trial made of you by my bodily condition, since

condition served as to test the love of the Galatians toward Paul (Gal.

4:14)

ii) the trial of man's fidelity, integrity, virtue, constancy(1)an enticement to sin, temptation, whether arising from the desires or

from the outward circumstances

(2)an internal temptation to sin - of the temptation by which the devilsought to divert Jesus the Messiah from his divine errand

(3)of the condition of things, or a mental state, by which we are enticedto sin, or to a lapse from the faith and holiness

(4)adversity, affliction, trouble: sent by God and serving to test or proveone's character, faith, holiness


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iii)temptation (i.e. trial) of God by men - rebellion against God, by whichhis power and justice are, as it were, put to the proof and challenged to

show themselves

d) The NKJV inconsistently translates in James 1James 1:2 James 1:12

NKJVMy brethren, count it all joy when

you fall into various trials

Blessed is the man who endures

temptation

KJVMy brethren, count it all joy when

ye fall into divers temptations

Blessed is the man that endureth

temptation

NASBConsider it all joy, my brethren,

when you encounter various trials

Blessed is a man who perseveres

under trial

ESVCount it all joy, my brothers, when

you meet trials of various kinds

Blessed is the man who remains

steadfast under trial

NIV

Consider it pure joy, my brothers,

whenever you face trials of many

kinds

Blessed is the man who perseveres

under trial

e) Other details:i) Brothers! Addressed to Christiansii) count it all joy

(1)Greek, All joy, count it!(a)to consider, deem, account, think(b)Greek imperative(c)Middle voice: Eg The boy washes himself(d)Cf. Phil 3:7, But what things were gain to me, these I have

counted loss for Christ

(e)Acts 236:2, I think myself happy, King Agrippa, because today Ishall answer for myself before you concerning all the things of

which I am accused by the Jews

(2)Completely a counter-intuitive response to trials!


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James 1:1-12 Page 4

iii)when you fall. Trials are a certainty of life!iv)Fall:

(1)to fall into as to be encompassed(2)Eg, Luke 10:30, Then Jesus answered and said:A certain man went

down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, who

stripped him of his clothing, wounded him, and departed, leaving him

half dead.

v) into various trials(1)Matthew 4:24, Then His fame went throughout all Syria; and they

brought to Him all sick people who were afflicted with various

diseases and torments, and those who were demon-possessed,

epileptics, and paralytics; and He healed them(2)1 Peter 1:6, In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while,

if need be, you have been grieved by various trials

vi)knowing that(a)T o know, understand, perceive, have knowledge of

vii)produces patience(1): accomplishes, achieves, works out, fashions(2)Romans 5:3,4, And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations,

knowing that tribulation produces perseverance;4

and perseverance,character; and character, hope.

f) The proper attitude (2-3)i) The attitude commandedcount it all joy when you fall into various

trials

ii) The reason indicatedknowing that the testing of your faith producespatience


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g) The outcome to be realized (4)i) But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and

complete, lacking nothing.

ii) Literally Persecution must finish its work!iii)Identify processes that take time:

(1)Grilling meat(2)Baking a cake(3)Growing up(4)Healing

iv)Perfect work ( ) not identified(1)Probably Christian maturity / Christ-likeness(2)

Ephesians 4:13, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of theknowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of

the stature of the fullness of Christ

(3)Not as a result of the trials BUT(4)By the right response (patient) to trials!

v) Both stated positively and negatively(1)Positively: that you may be perfect and complete(2)Negatively: lacking nothing

2) The Prayer of Adversity (1:5-8)a) Text: If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all

liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.6

But let him ask

in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea

driven and tossed by the wind.7

For let not that man suppose that he will

receive anything from the Lord;8he is a double-minded man, unstable in all

his ways.


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b) The need for wisdom (5a)If any of you lacks wisdomi) There is a connection between this section and what proceeds!ii) The believer needs wisdom to see trials in their true light and to profit

spiritually from them!

iii)Trials often overwhelm(1)Job!(2)Psalm 73:2, But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled; My steps

had nearly slipped

iv)Broader application of wisdom later in epistle - James 3:13-17c) The request for wisdom (5b)let him ask of God

i) True source of wisdom = God!ii)

Ask =

(a)Present imperative(b)Tested believers commanded to practice prayerfulness as a

Christian duty!

(c)Matthew 7:7, Ask (), and it will be given to you; seek, andyou will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.

d) The bestowal of wisdom (5c-8)i) Divine response (5c)who gives to all liberally and without reproach,

and it will be given to him(1)He will respond favorably(2)Echoes Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 7:7-11)


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ii) Human obligation (6-8)(1)Necessary attitude (6a)But let him ask in faith, with no doubting

(a)Stated both positively and negatively(b)A wholehearted attitude of committal to ones sovereign Lord!(c)Need to avoid the danger of waffling in dependence. Either God is

sovereign or He is not! Either He can be trusted or not!

(2)The rejected character: (6b-8)(a)The evil of doubting is portrayed!(b)Picture of constant unrest(c)Because James had himself been a doubter he understood the

nature of doubt (Cf 1 Cor 15:7, After that He was seen by James,

then by all the apostles)(d)double-minded. - - dipsychos

(i) Only here and(ii)James 4:8, Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.

Cleanse yourhands, you sinners; and purify yourhearts, you

double-minded.

3) The Perspective of Adversity (1:9-11)a) Text: Let the lowly brother glory in his exaltation, 10 but the rich in his

humiliation, because as a flower of the field he will pass away.11

For nosooner has the sun risen with a burning heat than it withers the grass; its

flower falls, and its beautiful appearance perishes. So the rich man also will

fade away in his pursuits

b) The attitude of the lowly brother (9), Let the lowly brother glory in hisexaltation

i) Here poverty (contrasted with wealth) is seen as a trial!ii) A.T. Robertson, The pessimist is not a representative of Christianity

(Hiebert p 76)


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iii)glory = literally glory boast rejoice take pride(1)A favorite Pauline term (36 times)(2)James here and James 4:16 where boasting is seen as evil But

now you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil.

iv)So there is godly boasting and ungodly!v) To accept trials as in the providence of God is godly boasting!

c) Attitude of the richi) The wealthy Christian? Or unsaved one? I take it as the former!ii) Hiebert, the rich brother has come to realize that at the cross he stands

on a level with the poor brother. Both have been given new status in

Christ, and it is their true ground for glorying (p 79)

d)

Perspectives on poverty and wealth:i) Proverbs 30:8. Give me neither poverty nor riches Feed me with the

food allotted to me;

ii) Prov 27:4, For riches are not foreveriii)Prov 10:15, The rich mans wealth is his strong city; The destruction of

the poor is their poverty

iv)2 Peter 3:9-11, the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earthand the works that are in it will be burned up.

11Therefore, since all

these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to bein holy conduct and godliness

v) 1 Timothy 6:17, Command those who are rich in this present age not tobe haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who

gives us richly all things to enjoy

4) The Promise of Adversity (1:12)a) Text: Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been

approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to

those who love Him


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b) Is this the correct section break?i) Think so because of same word for trials in verse 2ii) ESV: (2), Count it all joy, my brothers,when you meet trials of various

kinds (12), Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for

when he has stood the test he will receivethe crown of life,

which God

has promised to those who love him

c) The blessedness of endurance (12a)i) Note: NOT escapes trials!ii) When trials are endured it is pure joy!iii)I made it! I survived! The lessons I learned. The closeness with the

Savior!

d)

The reward for endurance (12b)i) The crown of lifeii) This is not eternal life because eternal life is not earned!iii)Meaning?

(1)A higher quality of life?(2)A purer devotion to the Savior?(3)Symbolic? Metaphorical? A real crown at the judgment?

e) Word study = crowni) Matthew 27:29, crown of thornsii) 1 Corinthians 9:25, And everyone who competesfor the prize is

temperate in all things. Now they do itto obtain a perishable crown, but

weforan imperishable crown

iii)I Thess 2:19, For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Is itnoteven you in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming?

iv)2 Timothy 4:8, Finally, there is laid up for me the crown ofrighteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on

that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved Hisappearing

v) 1 Peter 5:4, and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive thecrown of glory that does not fade away


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vi)Revelation 2:10, (the church in Smyrna), Do not fear any of those thingswhich you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some

of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation

ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life

vii)Revelation 4:4, Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and onthe thrones I saw twenty-four elders sitting, clothed in white robes; and

they had crownsof gold on their heads

viii) Revelation 4:10-11, the twenty-four elders fall down before Himwho sits on the throne and worship Him who lives forever and ever, and

cast their crowns before the throne, saying:11

You are worthy, O Lord,

To receive glory and honor and power;

Faith is Resilient in Trials

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