Temple Baptist Church - 6-2-2021
James 1:1-4
Introduction:
A. To understand the Book of James, we must keep in mind that the theme of the Book is “A Faith That Works!”
B. We live in days when professing Christians either know nothing about God and the Bible or are “walking at a guilty distance from God.” Paul said, “Having a form of godliness but denying the power thereof.” In the context of that verse, we find the worldliness and ungodliness of the perilous times or last days.
C. Since they are not here tonight nor will they be here on Sunday either, I choose to preach to you and me.
D. First, let me say that there is a difference between tribulations and temptations though both work patience in the believer.
1. Tribulation comes from a root work meaning “narrow” or “a tight place.” afflicted, (-tion), anguish, burdened, persecution, tribulation, trouble
2. Temptation is “putting to proof by the experiencing of evil and the implementation of doing good. To be enticed, tested, scrutinize, to discipline, and then to go about doing good.
Romans 12:21 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.
James 4:17 Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.
E. The temptations that are spoken of here are not temptations to sin but the trying of our faith according to verse 3. When I see this verse, I think of Abraham in Genesis, chapter 22.
Genesis 22:1-3 And it came to pass after these things, that God did tempt Abraham, and said unto him, Abraham: and he said, Behold, here I am. (2) And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of. (3) And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and saddled his ass, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son, and clave the wood for the burnt offering, and rose up, and went unto the place of which God had told him.
F. Tonight, I want to break down verse 2. James 1:2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;
Faith and Temptation
James 1:13-18
1) There is a difference between trials and temptations:
A) Trials James 1:2-3 & 1:12
1. To Test the Genuineness of our Faith… (is it real)
2. To Perfect our faith. James 1:3-4
1Pe 1: 6-7 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if
need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: That the
trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that
perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise
and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:
B)Temptation …. Entice to disobey God’s will.
1. Adam tempted to disobey God’s Will
Ge 2:16-17 And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of
every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the
knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that
thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.
2. The Lord Jesus tempted to disobey God’s Will
He was not tested by the Father to prove anything.
He was tempted by the devil so Christ could expose sin
for what it is.
2) Temptation are Common (Shared) to all People.
A) All are Tempted.
As long as we are in this flesh, temptations will come
B) Different Temptations will have different affect
3) The Steps of Temptation . Jas.1:14-15
A. Desire (Lust)
Mt 15:18-19 But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth
from the heart; and they defile the man. For out of the heart proceed evil
thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness,
blasphemies:
B. Deception
Drawn away… baiting a trap…. Allurement
Entice .. To bait a hook
The thought is as a hunter or fisherman puts a bait out to
allure a catch. Within that bait, there is a hidden hook.
There is a desire within… the right bait comes along…
We are tempted, will we take the bait or not.
C. Disobedience
1) If we are tempted and say no to it, we have not sinned.
Heb 4:15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with
the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we
are, yet without sin.
The Lord was tempted and did not yield…. No sin.
2) If we are tempted and say yield, then we have sinned
Desire of the heart and the bait of allurement come
together they produce a child, called sin.
D. Death
When sin has run its course… brings death
Ro 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
All these points can be seen in Gen. 3
Desire v.1-3 Deception v.4-5
Disobedience v.6 Death v.8-21
4) If we do Yield to temptation, there is Hope.
A. The Lord Jesus
1Jo 2:1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if
any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:
Advocate… one who pleads the cause of another.
Heb 2:16 -18 For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took
on him the seed of Abraham. Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be
made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high
priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the
people. For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to
succour them that are tempted.
Succour… to give help or support
If we will acknowledge to the Lord we have sinned. 1John 1:9
We can be forgiven by the Lord.
B. The New Nature. 1:18
At our physical birth we got the Adamic nature
At new birth we got our Godly nature.
C. The Bible 1:18 (The Word of Truth)
1) It will help us to identify the bait.
2) It will help us to remember the consequences of yielding
Desire… Deception … Disobedience… Death
a. In these verses, there are two things found in which we are to glory: our salvation and our tribulation. Most would totally agree with the first but have some difficulty with the second. We will look at them in the biblical order to get the mind of God on both subjects.
b. Last week, we looked at glorying in our salvation which glorifies God.
c. The second thing that we are to glory in are our tribulations. Verse 3. We who are older understand the hardness and brevity of life.
Job 14:1 Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble.
d. At this point, I doubt if any of us would raise our hands when asked, “Do you really like to suffer?” God answers that question for us in 1 Peter:
1 Peter 1:6 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:
e. I would say that the Apostle Paul was a spiritual man who loved God. Paul asked God thrice to remove the thorn in his flesh.
f. Going back to 1 Peter, the next verse shows the importance of trials in the life of God’s people.
1 Peter 1:7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:
g. Our text shows the reason for our glorying in tribulation. There is a progression that follows tribulation.
Romans 5:3-5 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; (4) And patience, experience; and experience, hope: (5) And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
1. Tribulation – this comes from a root word that means to “crowd or pressure.” This shows that tribulations are troubles which are both hard and lengthy in nature. Though we do not enjoy troubles, especially lengthy ones, they are the basis for our spiritual growth. Children grow into adults through hardship, not easy times.
2. Patience – to stay under or to persevere, to have fortitude or to bear with continuance, hopeful waiting. Patience is, though we want our troubles to come to an end, spiritual endurance or not quitting when things do not go our way.
3. Experience – to be properly approved or trustworthy. Experience cause one to know how to get something done. There is an old saying that “experience is the best teacher.” As we learn how to handle life, we can teach others who follow us.
4. Hope – expectation or confidence. As we learn to patiently endure our problems, we find the faithfulness of God which instills more confidence. Before our next trial begins, we know that everything will be alright. Proverbs 3:5-6 becomes a reality instead of just a memory verse.
5. Not ashamed – the word “not” is an absolute negative. It means never for any reason. “Ashamed” means to be disgraced. The ultimate sign of spirituality is to never be ashamed of our heavenly Father, our wonderful Saviour, or the precious Holy Spirit who indwells us. I had still rather be an old time Christian than anything that I know.
Conclusion: Life is as hard as it is short! Though our troubles may vary, it through the corporate trials of the members of the local church that we God in all our tribulations and can be an encouragement to others. If we suffer for Christ, we will reign with Christ.
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