James 1:13-8, June 21, 2014

June 21, 2014                James  1:13-8

 

Reminder, what we are doing is group study. We are here to help each other learn. We all have different experiences and backgrounds.  We can share with each other to build Godly character.  I think Proverbs covers this. 

Pro 27:17 ISV  Iron sharpens iron; so a man sharpens a friend's character.      (learn more from group study than someone preaching at me - Personal feeling, not right or wrong) 

James 1:13-18 NKJV  Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am tempted by God"; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone.  (14)  But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed.  (15)  Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.  (16)  Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren.  (17)  Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.  (18)  Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures.  

We are in the book of Jacob or as we know it, James.  James was very Jewish.  He was an unbeliever until after the resurrection, as we found out, he was the half-brother of Jesus, as was Jude.  He was a leader in Jerusalem.  We found out James was martyrs after 62 AD.  James emphasis Faith as the starting point of the Christian, but it should reflect itself in Deeds, a life of whole hearted obedience to the law as we have faith in Jesus.  And that leads to maturity, goal of perfection and wholeness of Christian Character. 

We covered 5 specific crowns last time and these are some of the rewards Christian will receive.  

Jesus said in:  

Rev 22:12 NKJV  "And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work. 

Can we lose our crowns?  Christ said this to the Church of Philadelphia. 

Rev 3:11 NKJV  Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown. 

We should not just carry away a list of do’s and don’ts from the book of James. The most precious thing from this Book of James is to guide us in the attitude towards or the way of regarding these lessons of life and the principles to live by. A whole new point of view, a different paradigm.   Let’s be sensitive to the real lessons here. 

Something I have observed is how James is an encourager. We all should be encourager.  He gives encouragement throughout this Epistle. James gives us instruction how to live, and then gives encouragement.  Watch for this as we go through these Scriptures. 

Example,  Jas vs 5  lacks wisdom, ask, will be given to you.

Jas vs. 12 endures temptation, receive crown of life. 

The focus of the chapter now turns from trials to temptation.        

James 1:13 NKJV  Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am tempted by God"; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. 

The word, tempted, refers to temptations that test one’s moral strength to resist sin. 

God will never deliberately lead a person to commit sin because that would not only go against His nature, but it would be opposed to His purpose of molding His creation into His holy image. Yet God does sometimes place His people in adverse circumstances for the purpose of building godly character. 

Isa 64:8 NKJV  But now, O LORD, You are our Father; We are the clay, and You our potter; And all we are the work of Your hand.

1Co 10:13 NKJV  No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it. 

When I am feeling fear or sorrow or pain, and a friend asks, “What danger or threat is there in your life, that I may pray for you?” I would probably answer, “Pray for my illness, or my financial needs to be met, or that people might stop doing the things they are doing to me,” etc.

I would think of the injuries being inflicted by the trial, and my foremost thought is for the trial to be stopped. 

But here James is insisting on a radical change in our attitude or thinking. Where are the real dangers in our life? The most serious danger is not what is being done to me, but the wrong that may be done “by” me.  Pray for me that I do not fail in this trial. 

Jesus said:

Mat 7:12 NKJV  Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets. 

Temptation is here in the sense of testing or trial. It is never correct to attribute temptation to the Father or to Jesus, who has called us to holiness of life. Jesus would rather for us to flee from temptation and take the path of His instruction, the Way of Life.  

Notice how James asserts the facts of God’s nature and God’s will, and answers the questions these facts raise about the temptation. 

Jesus taught us to pray, “Lead us not into temptation.”  

Mat 6:13 NKJV  And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. 

That is, don’t leave us to go our own dangerous way which would expose us to pressures from the enemy of our souls, which is Satan way of death. 

We know God cannot be the author of evil behavior in us, since Jesus does not desire evil behavior.  

Here James  answers the question about temptation. 

James 1:14 NKJV  But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. 

James tells us we are tempted by our own desires and enticed. 

We find the concept of testing or temptation is expressed in both the OT and NT, also by the words rendered: provoke, entice, snare, etc.  

We are tempted, not by God, but by the strength of our own lustful desires, which comes from within ourselves. We are deceived by our craving for self-gratification and allows our strong desire to take control.  

“Drawn away”: a hunting term, as dragged away by an enemy. There is real danger in a temptation. The real effect of the temptation is a sin leading to death. 

Paul tells us:  

Romans 6:11-12 NKJV  Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.  (12)  Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts.  

What is the Bible definition of sin 

1John 3:4 KJV  Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law. 

Lust dwelt upon brings forth sin; 

Pro 23:7 NKJV  For as he thinks in his heart, so is he. 

Having a thought isn’t the problem, it’s what you do with it. 

James 1:15 NKJV  Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death. 

James speaks of sin in general, whether in the heart or in the life. Sin may be developed in the heart as well as in the conduct. 

The idea here is that sin has reached its maturity and has possessed the very character of the individual. Death here refers to physical death

Pro 11:19 NKJV  As righteousness leads to life, So he who pursues evil pursues it to his own death. 

How much do we hate sin.  

Sin indulged upon leads to death, we see this in 

Ezekiel 18:4 NKJV  "Behold, all souls are Mine; The soul of the father As well as the soul of the son is Mine; The soul who sins shall die. 

The principle being established here is the minding of the flesh (“carnally minded”) is death. 

Rom 8:6 NKJV  For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 

Rom 6:23 NKJV  For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. 

It is never safe to fool around with sin.  We need to pray for protection from sin and keep me pure.  We do not think that way. 

James 1:16 NKJV  Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren. 

Be not deceived in this matter, in supposing that temptation to evil comes from God. 

A warning given to Christians.  Who is trying to deceive us. 

1Peter 5:8-9 NKJV  Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.  (9)  Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. 

John 8:44 NKJV  You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it. 

2Timothy 2:24-26 NKJV  And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient,  (25)  in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth,  (26)  and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will. 

2Corinthians 11:13-15 NKJV  For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ.  (14)  And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light.  (15)  Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works. 

Don’t be deceived about temptation; but don’t be deceived about good gifts either. 

Good and Perfect Gifts 

James 1:17 NKJV  Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning. 

Notice the word “every”—not just some, or most. But every perfect gift to fit each of us.  The grateful heart receives all as from God.  God sends only good and perfect gifts to those who He has called. 

Father of lights — Creator of the lights in heaven 

As “God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all” 

1John 1:5-7 NKJV  This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all.  (6)  If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.  (7)  But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. 

He cannot in any way be the Author of sin, which is darkness 

John 3:19 NKJV  And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 

No variation or shadow of turning. 

James uses this as a metaphor: for the sun by his many and various kinds of turning, makes hours, days, months, years, light and darkness.  Shadow of turning means the dark “shadow-mark” cast from one of the heavenly bodies, arising from its “turning” or revolution, for example, when the moon is eclipsed by the shadow of the earth, and the sun by the body of the moon.  These things change, God does not. 

God is constant, dependable and not double minded as we discussed before.  God is unchangeable.  We do not talk about it much, but we should.  God does not change. 

Mal 3:6 NKJV  "For I am the LORD, I do not change; Therefore you are not consumed, O sons of Jacob. 

The God of the Old Testament makes and keeps His promises and is faithful, otherwise we would be most miserable individuals. 

Deut 7:9 NKJV  "Therefore know that the LORD your God, He is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and mercy for a thousand generations with those who love Him and keep His commandments; 

1Cor 1:9 NKJV  God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. 

1Th 5:24 NKJV  He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it. 

2Ti 2:13 NKJV  If we are faithless, He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself. 

God regards faithfulness as one of His characteristics throughout the Scriptures.  

Jas 1:18 NKJV  Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures.

(Encouragement)  

Here Jesus is talking about the Father. about the Word is truth. 

John 17:17 NKJV  Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.

Our new birth itself was the expression of His grace and goodwill. He brought the Word of truth to bear upon our consciences, leading to confess our sins and trust the Savior He provided.  

Remember:   

Eph 2:8-9 NKJV  For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,  (9)  not of works, lest anyone should boast. 

The faith that saves us is a gift, so not anyone should boast. 

So we become an offering of First Fruits, the pledge of the great harvest to be reaped in due time.  Jesus was our Firstfruits, the First of the Firstfruits and we are to be his Firstfruits.  We just celebrated this during Passover and Pentecost. 

His creatures, a new creation: 

Rom 8:21 NKJV  because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. 

This is the conclusion of the introduction of James (vv. 2-18) is that enduring trials leads to a crown of life (v. 12) and yielding to temptation can lead to physical death (v. 15). The next section , since this is the case, the believer in the midst of a trial needs to be swift to hear, slow to speak, and slow to wrath.