We read of Paul speaking to the Ephesian elders, in Acts 20:24, of the ministry he had received from the Lord Jesus: “to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.”
The word “gospel” means “good news”, and “grace” means “unmerited favor.” Paul was given the ministry to proclaim the good news that God has provided a way of salvation for sinners and that He had done this without requiring any merit whatsoever on the part of sinners!
To truly appreciate why the grace of God is good news, we must understand the need for grace. Everyone needs grace.
The Bible very clearly describes man’s true condition:
“All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” - Romans 3:23
“For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all.” - James 2:10
“For the wages of sin is death...” - Romans 6:23
“But your iniquities have separated you from your God; and your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear.” - Isaiah 59:2
“But we are all like an unclean thing, and all our righteousness is like filthy rags;” - Isaiah 64:6.
What do these passages really mean to us?
First, we must all plead guilty! Every person has sinned. We could never demand entrance into heaven because we are somehow good enough – let me in – you are lucky to have me. There is nothing we have to offer. Even the very best of us is without merit in God’s sight!
Secondly, our sins have alienated us from God! By our transgressions, we lose that precious relationship with God. We experience “spiritual” death, or separation from God; which if left unchecked, will result in eternal separation from God, which is known as hell. While we are in this state of “spiritual” death, we are dead to God; our prayers are not heard - see 1 Peter 3:12
Thirdly, as sinners, we cannot bring about the removal of our guilt on our own. We cannot run away from this guilt. We cannot work our way out of this guilt. We must not be self-deceived by notions of our own goodness. There is no good in us. We are sinners in need of salvation.
Once we acknowledge our sinfulness, we are in a position to appreciate the provision of grace.
Not only do we need grace, but also God has provided grace. God has provided His Son because of His great love.
Because God loved us, He sent His Son to die that we might have eternal life. Because God loved us, He made His Son a “propitiation” for our sins. Propitiation is a sacrifice designed to appease. God has offered His Son as a sacrifice designed to appease Himself, which leads to a related truth.
Because of His justice, God has provided His Son. To satisfy His justice, God provided redemption through the blood of His Son. God offered appeasement – satisfaction – when we could not.
God’s grace operates in this way: God’s justice requires an appropriate sacrifice for sin, and because He loves us, He provided His Son as a sacrifice for sin. As a result, God recognizes the death of Jesus on the cross as a suitable ransom for our sins, paid in full. So to satisfy both His justice and His love, God has graciously provided salvation through His Son, Jesus Christ. What we cannot earn, God has provided.
But the provision of grace is not unconditional or automatic. We need to consider how we will receive God’s offer of grace. We must receive God’s grace. Receiving God’s saving grace requires obedience.
Jesus is “the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him.” Freedom from sin comes when one is willing to obey from the heart. We must obey Jesus. Obedience to Christ involves:
Trusting in Jesus as the Son of God who died for your sins.
Confessing your faith before men.
Repenting of your sins.
Believing in Christ as Savior and Lord.
We must also remember that obedience to Christ has nothing to do with earning Salvation! Grace is only and always about God’s favor toward us.
Salvation is by grace, and “not by works of righteousness which we have done.” Because God’s mercy, He saves us.
What is the nature of your relationship to God? Have you received the grace of God? Are you living in the grace of God? Are you giving grace?
Monday, April 30
Saturday, April 28
Sopwith Camel
The Sopwith Camel accounted for more aerial victories than any other Allied airplane during WWI. Called the camel because of the hump forward of the pilot and over the twin .303 Vickers machine guns, it was credited with shooting down 1,294 enemy aircraft. Due to a small 28 feet wingspan, this famous flying machine was also credited with nearly 400 non-combat deaths. Inexperienced pilots had to quickly master the difficult technique of low speed take-offs and landings in order to avoid the consequences of flipping the plane. Although the Sopwith Camel was undoubtedly a difficult plane to fly, its terrific agility made it very popular with the more experienced and talented fighter pilots.
Thursday, April 19
James's Directive to "Let Patience . . . "
Letting patience have its perfect work is not easy. It certainly requires wisdom, which enables us to see the value of our trials. We will talk about wisdom soon but first we should see the advantages of patience.
This letting patience have its perfect work imperative is necessary to turn trials into triumph that we read about is in verses five to eight. James wants the scattered saints is unswerving constancy. This characteristic will make us three things.
First. Unswerving constancy makes us perfect. It is related to being fit or appropriate.
The Greek word here is teleios – perfection toward a given end.
In the Old Testament, there were requirements for the sacrificial animal that made them fit for the offering. The animal was to be perfect. There could be no flaws, no discolorations in the skin, no broken limbs, no flesh wounds, etc. A perfect little lamb was necessary. The idea being that we do not offer something to God that is less that the best,
We are not perfect. We are not born perfect. We are each one born into sin as sinners. The way that we meet our life experiences will make us fit or unfit for the task which God has meant for us to do. Our life purpose.
Secondly. Unwavering faithfulness makes us complete.
Another Greek word here – holokleros – entire or perfect in every part.
This is also used in relation to the animal being offered to God. And also is regard to the priest in service to God. Again, it means that the animal or person has no disfiguring or disqualifying blemishes. The priest could not be crippled or maimed. Sin cripples us. We are disfigured by our sin nature, but faithfulness to God will perfect and complete us.
Gradually the unswerving constancy of the follower of God removes the weaknesses and the imperfections from the individual’s character.
Each day the individual conquers old sins, sheds old blemishes, gains new qualities, until in the end he or she is complete and entirely fit for service to and for God.
Thirdly. Steadfast faithfulness makes us deficient in nothing.
This Greek word is leipesthai. It is used to describe the army defeated, the giving up in a struggle, or the failure to reach a certain standard that should have been reached.
If the Christian meets his or her testing in the right way and doesn’t change direction, day by day he or she will live more victoriously and reach nearer to the model of Jesus Himself.
God’s goal for us is success. He wants us to be victorious. He desires that we remain faithful and true to the calling He has given to us.
Don’t quit now.
This letting patience have its perfect work imperative is necessary to turn trials into triumph that we read about is in verses five to eight. James wants the scattered saints is unswerving constancy. This characteristic will make us three things.
First. Unswerving constancy makes us perfect. It is related to being fit or appropriate.
The Greek word here is teleios – perfection toward a given end.
In the Old Testament, there were requirements for the sacrificial animal that made them fit for the offering. The animal was to be perfect. There could be no flaws, no discolorations in the skin, no broken limbs, no flesh wounds, etc. A perfect little lamb was necessary. The idea being that we do not offer something to God that is less that the best,
We are not perfect. We are not born perfect. We are each one born into sin as sinners. The way that we meet our life experiences will make us fit or unfit for the task which God has meant for us to do. Our life purpose.
Secondly. Unwavering faithfulness makes us complete.
Another Greek word here – holokleros – entire or perfect in every part.
This is also used in relation to the animal being offered to God. And also is regard to the priest in service to God. Again, it means that the animal or person has no disfiguring or disqualifying blemishes. The priest could not be crippled or maimed. Sin cripples us. We are disfigured by our sin nature, but faithfulness to God will perfect and complete us.
Gradually the unswerving constancy of the follower of God removes the weaknesses and the imperfections from the individual’s character.
Each day the individual conquers old sins, sheds old blemishes, gains new qualities, until in the end he or she is complete and entirely fit for service to and for God.
Thirdly. Steadfast faithfulness makes us deficient in nothing.
This Greek word is leipesthai. It is used to describe the army defeated, the giving up in a struggle, or the failure to reach a certain standard that should have been reached.
If the Christian meets his or her testing in the right way and doesn’t change direction, day by day he or she will live more victoriously and reach nearer to the model of Jesus Himself.
God’s goal for us is success. He wants us to be victorious. He desires that we remain faithful and true to the calling He has given to us.
Don’t quit now.
Saturday, April 7
Hupomone - say what?
Last time we said that faith tested produces patience
Please read Romans 5:3-4
Through Him we also have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice on the hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only this, but we glory in afflictions also, knowing that afflictions work out patience, 4 and patience works out experience, and experience works out hope. 5 And hope does not make us ashamed, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit given to us.
In the Bible, patience is not a passive acceptance of whatever circumstances might come our way. The Greek word for patience is hupomone. It comes from the preposition HUPO (under), and MENO (to remain, to abide). It refers to the ability to show evidence of steadfastness and constancy in the face of the most formidable difficulty. This means to courageously persevere in the face of suffering. Further, this means to continue on, despite the circumstances, even when the going is rough. This level of excellence of steadfastness can come only through experiencing trials.
Having this understanding about what trials can accomplish helps us to have a joyful attitude toward these trials. But to really benefit from our trials, we must also obey the third imperative found in verse four.
“Let patience have its perfect work” (1:4)
To truly turn our trials into triumphs, we must let patience finish the job. Patience must be allowed to have its perfect work. Too often, we want to get our trials or difficulties over with quickly. Okay, maybe you don’t, but I sometimes do. But there are times when the best course of action is to bear up under the trial patiently. Hang on. Instead of grumbling and complaining, patiently endure the trial, doing good despite the trial. Oh, and it’s not patience if everyone around you knows you are being patient.
When patience has had the opportunity to work, it produces perfection. The word perfection does not mean sinlessness. It means completeness, wholeness, and maturity. In the New Testament, the word is used of those saints that have grown to spiritual adulthood in Christ and have reached full maturity and understanding in spiritual matters and also are no longer babes and immature persons in Christ. Yes, that’s a load. Maturity like this comes only when patience has had time to work.
Think about an endurance runner in his or her training. To be a mature runner requires letting patience do its work. That is patiently running mile after mile in training. If we want to run the race well spiritually speaking, we need to develop patience. This patience is going to come only through a form of spiritual “resistance training.” This means that we need the trials in which our faith is put to the test!
Letting patience have its perfect work is not easy. It certainly requires wisdom, which enables us to see the value of our trials.
This brings us to the fourth imperative necessary to turn trials into triumph, found in verses five to eight. We’ll write more on that later.
Please read Romans 5:3-4
Through Him we also have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice on the hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only this, but we glory in afflictions also, knowing that afflictions work out patience, 4 and patience works out experience, and experience works out hope. 5 And hope does not make us ashamed, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit given to us.
In the Bible, patience is not a passive acceptance of whatever circumstances might come our way. The Greek word for patience is hupomone. It comes from the preposition HUPO (under), and MENO (to remain, to abide). It refers to the ability to show evidence of steadfastness and constancy in the face of the most formidable difficulty. This means to courageously persevere in the face of suffering. Further, this means to continue on, despite the circumstances, even when the going is rough. This level of excellence of steadfastness can come only through experiencing trials.
Having this understanding about what trials can accomplish helps us to have a joyful attitude toward these trials. But to really benefit from our trials, we must also obey the third imperative found in verse four.
“Let patience have its perfect work” (1:4)
To truly turn our trials into triumphs, we must let patience finish the job. Patience must be allowed to have its perfect work. Too often, we want to get our trials or difficulties over with quickly. Okay, maybe you don’t, but I sometimes do. But there are times when the best course of action is to bear up under the trial patiently. Hang on. Instead of grumbling and complaining, patiently endure the trial, doing good despite the trial. Oh, and it’s not patience if everyone around you knows you are being patient.
When patience has had the opportunity to work, it produces perfection. The word perfection does not mean sinlessness. It means completeness, wholeness, and maturity. In the New Testament, the word is used of those saints that have grown to spiritual adulthood in Christ and have reached full maturity and understanding in spiritual matters and also are no longer babes and immature persons in Christ. Yes, that’s a load. Maturity like this comes only when patience has had time to work.
Think about an endurance runner in his or her training. To be a mature runner requires letting patience do its work. That is patiently running mile after mile in training. If we want to run the race well spiritually speaking, we need to develop patience. This patience is going to come only through a form of spiritual “resistance training.” This means that we need the trials in which our faith is put to the test!
Letting patience have its perfect work is not easy. It certainly requires wisdom, which enables us to see the value of our trials.
This brings us to the fourth imperative necessary to turn trials into triumph, found in verses five to eight. We’ll write more on that later.
Le Penseur
“The Thinker” is a bronze sculpture by Auguste Rodin. It depicts a man in sober meditation battling with a powerful internal struggle. It’s sometimes used to represent philosophy.
I propose that this gentleman’s deep and emotive inner conflict has not been resolved due to the fact that he has not come to know that the trying of his faith works patience. Yep, that’s a real battle.
You can see the original sculpture at the Musée Rodin in Paris, France. There are many copies of the statue around the world including the Sakip Sanbanci Museum in Istanbul, Turkey, the Museo Soumaya in México City, México, The Detroit Institute of Arts in Michigan, or the Cleveland (Ohio) Museum of Art. Cleveland's statue was badly damaged by vandals and is currently deplayed in its unrepaired state.
The Imperative to Know
You remember we said that the Christian’s response to trials was supposed to be that of joy.
This was the attitude of the apostles in Acts 5:41
Then indeed they departed from the presence of the sanhedrin, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to be shamed for His name.
This was also Paul’s attitude when he wrote to the Romans 5:3 and Philippians 2:17-18
but we glory in afflictions also, knowing that afflictions work out patience,
And the early Christians were encouraged by the Apostle Peter in his first letter; 1 Peter 1:6-8; 4:12-14
Beloved, do not be astonished at the fiery trial which is to try you, as though a strange thing happened to you, 13 but rejoice according as you are partakers of Christ's suffering, so that when His glory shall be revealed, you may be glad also with exceeding joy. 14 If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of God and of glory rests on you. Truly according to them, He is blasphemed, but according to you He is glorified.
So the first step to turning trials into triumph is to immediately thank God and adopt a joyful attitude!
“But how is it possible to rejoice in the middle of a mess of trials?”
The second imperative in verse 3 explains how.
Remember, as redundant as it may seem, an imperative is a very important necessity. I know you probably don't need a vocabulary lesson, but I'll add that an imperative usually requires a response or some action to be taken.
“Knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience” (1:3)
Concerning the value of trials, having the right information or knowledge makes it possible to have a joyful attitude.
Our heavenly Father wants us to understand that trials test our faith. This is not temptation in the sense of enticement or inducement to do something wrong. This is a trial or a testing that is directed towards a positive end. God has a purpose. Trials and struggles are a means to an end. The end being that the one being tested or tried will emerge stronger and purer from the testing.
Trials are not a temptation or seduction into sin. Rather it is a strengthening and purifying of the one facing the trial.
The young bird is said to test his wings. He leaves the nest and learns to fly on wings that have never flown.
The Queen of Sheba came to test the wisdom of Solomon. She was impressed – I Kings 10. Hmmm, impressing the Queen. That's a good thing.
God tested Abraham, when He asked him to sacrifice Isaac – Genesis 22:1.
When Israel came into the Promised Land, God did not remove the people that were already there. He left them so that Israel might be tested in the struggle against them – Judges 2:22, 3:1, 4. The experiences in the land of Canaan – Israel – were tests that went to the making of the people of Israel – Deuteronomy 4:34; 7:19.
The follower of Jesus must expect to be run into trials on the Christian way. All kinds of experiences will come to us. There will be the tests that are sorrows and disappointments will be attempts to take away our faith. The tests we face are not to make us fall and fail. They are to make us stronger and more resilient in Christ. Faith tested can bring out the best in us, just as fire purifies gold – 1 Peter 1:7
so that the trial of your faith (being much more precious than that of gold that perishes, but being proven through fire) might be found to praise and honor and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ,
Just as training makes the athlete stronger
Trials are not meant to make us weaker, they are designed to make us stronger. When we know and understand this, we will not complain about our trials, we will rejoice in them.
When we have this understanding, we can have joy in trials because we know that:
Testing works for us, not against us; read 2 Corinthians 4:17
For the lightness of our present affliction works out for us a far more excellent eternal weight of glory, 18 we not considering the things which are seen, but the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are not lasting, but the things which are not seen are everlasting.
Trials rightly used help us to mature
There is a result to testing that is good for us and not bad.
James describes this process of testing with a word that describes the minting of sterling coinage. This is a pure metal coin from which all alloys have been removed.
If we meet this test in the proper way, it will produce in us steadfastness – unswerving constancy – which is also translated patience.
We will continue talking about patience in our next writing.
This was the attitude of the apostles in Acts 5:41
Then indeed they departed from the presence of the sanhedrin, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to be shamed for His name.
This was also Paul’s attitude when he wrote to the Romans 5:3 and Philippians 2:17-18
but we glory in afflictions also, knowing that afflictions work out patience,
And the early Christians were encouraged by the Apostle Peter in his first letter; 1 Peter 1:6-8; 4:12-14
Beloved, do not be astonished at the fiery trial which is to try you, as though a strange thing happened to you, 13 but rejoice according as you are partakers of Christ's suffering, so that when His glory shall be revealed, you may be glad also with exceeding joy. 14 If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of God and of glory rests on you. Truly according to them, He is blasphemed, but according to you He is glorified.
So the first step to turning trials into triumph is to immediately thank God and adopt a joyful attitude!
“But how is it possible to rejoice in the middle of a mess of trials?”
The second imperative in verse 3 explains how.
Remember, as redundant as it may seem, an imperative is a very important necessity. I know you probably don't need a vocabulary lesson, but I'll add that an imperative usually requires a response or some action to be taken.
“Knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience” (1:3)
Concerning the value of trials, having the right information or knowledge makes it possible to have a joyful attitude.
Our heavenly Father wants us to understand that trials test our faith. This is not temptation in the sense of enticement or inducement to do something wrong. This is a trial or a testing that is directed towards a positive end. God has a purpose. Trials and struggles are a means to an end. The end being that the one being tested or tried will emerge stronger and purer from the testing.
Trials are not a temptation or seduction into sin. Rather it is a strengthening and purifying of the one facing the trial.
The young bird is said to test his wings. He leaves the nest and learns to fly on wings that have never flown.
The Queen of Sheba came to test the wisdom of Solomon. She was impressed – I Kings 10. Hmmm, impressing the Queen. That's a good thing.
God tested Abraham, when He asked him to sacrifice Isaac – Genesis 22:1.
When Israel came into the Promised Land, God did not remove the people that were already there. He left them so that Israel might be tested in the struggle against them – Judges 2:22, 3:1, 4. The experiences in the land of Canaan – Israel – were tests that went to the making of the people of Israel – Deuteronomy 4:34; 7:19.
The follower of Jesus must expect to be run into trials on the Christian way. All kinds of experiences will come to us. There will be the tests that are sorrows and disappointments will be attempts to take away our faith. The tests we face are not to make us fall and fail. They are to make us stronger and more resilient in Christ. Faith tested can bring out the best in us, just as fire purifies gold – 1 Peter 1:7
so that the trial of your faith (being much more precious than that of gold that perishes, but being proven through fire) might be found to praise and honor and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ,
Just as training makes the athlete stronger
Trials are not meant to make us weaker, they are designed to make us stronger. When we know and understand this, we will not complain about our trials, we will rejoice in them.
When we have this understanding, we can have joy in trials because we know that:
Testing works for us, not against us; read 2 Corinthians 4:17
For the lightness of our present affliction works out for us a far more excellent eternal weight of glory, 18 we not considering the things which are seen, but the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are not lasting, but the things which are not seen are everlasting.
Trials rightly used help us to mature
There is a result to testing that is good for us and not bad.
James describes this process of testing with a word that describes the minting of sterling coinage. This is a pure metal coin from which all alloys have been removed.
If we meet this test in the proper way, it will produce in us steadfastness – unswerving constancy – which is also translated patience.
We will continue talking about patience in our next writing.
Thursday, April 5
Check Out This Bad Boy
It's a Camel Spider. Shown actual size.
Also known as Wind Spiders, Wind Scorpions, Sun Spiders and Sun Scorpions, they are actually neither scorpions nor spiders. They're called Solifugid.
The urban legend is that they are called camel spiders because they can jump a few feet into the air, and attach themselves to the bellies of camels at an oasis, well, or other desert drinking hole. Then they consume the camels' bellies by first envenomating them with a paralyzing bite.
They're said to be the size of a dinner plate and scream as they chase their prey at 25 mph.
In reality, they have a leg length of about five to six inches, which is still puking big. But they don't make any noise and they only run about 10 mph. Which is still honking fast. Fasting than a speeding bullet? Nah. Nor a can of RAID.
They do not, I repeat, do not, have venom with which to paralyze their prey. However, they do bite and the bite is painful.
I really do not know about the jumping thing. But they are nervous, aggressive and energetic. So keep your arms and legs inside the vehicle at all times.
They're common in arid environments, such as the Middle East and the American Southwest. Texas has about 25 different species of these critters.
Isn't that more than you needed to know?
They’re ugly too.
Also known as Wind Spiders, Wind Scorpions, Sun Spiders and Sun Scorpions, they are actually neither scorpions nor spiders. They're called Solifugid.
The urban legend is that they are called camel spiders because they can jump a few feet into the air, and attach themselves to the bellies of camels at an oasis, well, or other desert drinking hole. Then they consume the camels' bellies by first envenomating them with a paralyzing bite.
They're said to be the size of a dinner plate and scream as they chase their prey at 25 mph.
In reality, they have a leg length of about five to six inches, which is still puking big. But they don't make any noise and they only run about 10 mph. Which is still honking fast. Fasting than a speeding bullet? Nah. Nor a can of RAID.
They do not, I repeat, do not, have venom with which to paralyze their prey. However, they do bite and the bite is painful.
I really do not know about the jumping thing. But they are nervous, aggressive and energetic. So keep your arms and legs inside the vehicle at all times.
They're common in arid environments, such as the Middle East and the American Southwest. Texas has about 25 different species of these critters.
Isn't that more than you needed to know?
They’re ugly too.
Lemonade
I'll stick this picture in here for those of you that cannot read. You'll wonder what we're writing about.
Perhaps you have seen the bumper sticker: “When life hands you a lemon, make lemonade!” It is easier to smile (or snarl) at that statement than to practice it, but the basic philosophy is sound. I’ll even go so far as to say that it is rooted in a Biblical principle. Throughout the Bible are people who, with the help of the Lord, turned defeat into victory and trials into triumph and suffering into success. Instead of being victims, they became victors.
The Epistle of James tells us that we can have this same experience today. Whether we are dealing with trials on the outside or temptations on the inside through faith in God and Jesus Christ we can experience victory!
The key to turning trials into triumph is to obey four imperatives that James lays out in the opening paragraphs of his letter.
An imperative is a very important necessity. Sounds repetitious. James’s four imperatives are:
1. Count (or consider) - 1:2
2. Know - 1:3
3. Let - 1:4
4. Ask - 1:5-8
Starting with verse two, then, let’s look at the first imperative.
“Count it all joy when you fall into various trials”
Notice that James assumes that we will experience trials. He doesn’t say “if” but “when.” This is because Christians must expect trials. Plan on it.
Jesus said the same thing only different in John 16:33. “I have spoken these things to you so that you might have peace in Me. In the world you shall have tribulation, but be of good cheer. I have overcome the world.”
Paul said something similar too in Acts 14:22. "They returned to Lystra and Iconium and Antioch, confirming the souls of the disciples, calling on them to continue in the faith and that through much tribulation we must enter into the kingdom of God."
The nature of these trials are “various” – all different kinds, many different types.
Some trials come simply because we are human: trials such as sickness, accidents, disappointments, death, and so on. Other trials come because we are Christians; read 1 Peter 4:12 and 2 Timothy 3:12.
"What persecutions I endured! But the Lord delivered me out of all. Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted."
But because Satan fights us, and the world opposes us, and we live in fleshly bodies on this earth, we can expect trials!
What is supposed to be the Christian’s response? “Consider it all joy!”
Chew on that for a while. I’ll be back later.
Perhaps you have seen the bumper sticker: “When life hands you a lemon, make lemonade!” It is easier to smile (or snarl) at that statement than to practice it, but the basic philosophy is sound. I’ll even go so far as to say that it is rooted in a Biblical principle. Throughout the Bible are people who, with the help of the Lord, turned defeat into victory and trials into triumph and suffering into success. Instead of being victims, they became victors.
The Epistle of James tells us that we can have this same experience today. Whether we are dealing with trials on the outside or temptations on the inside through faith in God and Jesus Christ we can experience victory!
The key to turning trials into triumph is to obey four imperatives that James lays out in the opening paragraphs of his letter.
An imperative is a very important necessity. Sounds repetitious. James’s four imperatives are:
1. Count (or consider) - 1:2
2. Know - 1:3
3. Let - 1:4
4. Ask - 1:5-8
Starting with verse two, then, let’s look at the first imperative.
“Count it all joy when you fall into various trials”
Notice that James assumes that we will experience trials. He doesn’t say “if” but “when.” This is because Christians must expect trials. Plan on it.
Jesus said the same thing only different in John 16:33. “I have spoken these things to you so that you might have peace in Me. In the world you shall have tribulation, but be of good cheer. I have overcome the world.”
Paul said something similar too in Acts 14:22. "They returned to Lystra and Iconium and Antioch, confirming the souls of the disciples, calling on them to continue in the faith and that through much tribulation we must enter into the kingdom of God."
The nature of these trials are “various” – all different kinds, many different types.
Some trials come simply because we are human: trials such as sickness, accidents, disappointments, death, and so on. Other trials come because we are Christians; read 1 Peter 4:12 and 2 Timothy 3:12.
"What persecutions I endured! But the Lord delivered me out of all. Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted."
But because Satan fights us, and the world opposes us, and we live in fleshly bodies on this earth, we can expect trials!
What is supposed to be the Christian’s response? “Consider it all joy!”
Chew on that for a while. I’ll be back later.
Chapter One
2 My brothers, count it all joy when you fall into different kinds of temptations,
3 knowing that the trying of your faith works patience.
4 But let patience have its perfect work, so that you may be perfect and entire, lacking nothing.
5 But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and with no reproach, and it shall be given to him.
6 But let him ask in faith, doubting nothing. For he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, driven by the wind and tossed.
7 For do not let that man think that he shall receive anything from the Lord;
8 he is a double-minded man, not dependable in all his ways.
Verse one is: James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes in the Dispersion, greeting:
3 knowing that the trying of your faith works patience.
4 But let patience have its perfect work, so that you may be perfect and entire, lacking nothing.
5 But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and with no reproach, and it shall be given to him.
6 But let him ask in faith, doubting nothing. For he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, driven by the wind and tossed.
7 For do not let that man think that he shall receive anything from the Lord;
8 he is a double-minded man, not dependable in all his ways.
Verse one is: James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes in the Dispersion, greeting:
Background and Introduction
The author of this little book is James, who identifies himself as “a bondservant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ” (1:1).
In the New Testament there are four men recorded with this same name:
First there was James, son of Zebedee and brother of John - A fisherman called by Christ (Matthew 4:17-22) who later became an apostle (Matthew 10:2). He and his brother John were called the “Sons of Thunder” apparently because of their recklessness (cf. Mark 3:17 with Luke 9:51-56). Herod killed this James in 44 A.D. (Acts 12:1-2). This James’ mother requested priority kingdom seating for her boys. More on this later. Maybe.
Our second James is the son of Alphaeus - another of the apostles (Matthew 10:3; Acts 1:12). Very little is known about him. He may or may not be “James the younger,” whose mother, Mary, was one of the women at Jesus’ crucifixion and tomb (Matthew 27:56; Mark 15:40; 16:1; Luke 24:10). In John 19: 25, this Mary is called the wife of Cleophas, perhaps to be identified with Alphaeus.
Third is James, father of Judas the apostle – he is even more indistinct and obscure. One of the few references to him is Luke 6:16.
Fourth, and finally, we look at James, the brother of our Lord. He was a half-brother of our Lord (Matthew 13:55), who apparently did not believe in his brother Jesus at the start (John 7:5). This James became a disciple following Christ’s resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:7; Acts 1:14). This James grew in importance in leadership in the church at Jerusalem (Galatians 2:9). As specific verification of his leadership role, Peter sent him an individual message subsequent to his own miraculous release from prison (Acts 12:17). James also played a key role in the conference at Jerusalem (Acts 15:13-33), and Paul brought him greetings upon arriving at Jerusalem (Acts 21:18-19).
“James, the Lord’s brother” (Galatians 1:19) is most likely the author of this short book. Tradition describes James as a man of prayer, which may explain the emphasis on prayer in his letter. It was said that he prayed so much; his knees were as hard as those on a camel – camel knees. He was martyred in 62 A.D., either by being thrown down from the temple, or by being beaten to death with clubs – some say the “fuller’s club.”* The account is that as he was dying, he prayed as did his Lord Jesus, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”
The epistle is addressed to “the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad” (1:1). This logically leads the reader to think of Jews (Acts 26:6-7) living outside the land of Palestine. After the Assyrian and Babylonian captivities, many Jews were scattered throughout different nations (Acts 2:5-11). While they were Jews by birth and heritage, this writing makes it clear that they were also brothers in the Lord. Therefore, they were Jewish Christians. A total of nineteen times James calls them “brethren” and at least one time he certainly means those who were brethren “in the Lord” (2:1).
It seems as if many, if not most, of these Jewish Christians were materially poor and therefore exploited. Being Jews, they would likely be rejected by the Gentiles. To compound this situation, as Jewish Christians, they would also be ostracized by many of their own countrymen. The epistle suggests that most of these Christians were being oppressed by the rich (2:6-7). As the letter is not addressed to a distinct church or certain individual, it has been categorized a “General” epistle as are the letters of 1 and 2 Peter, 1 John, and Jude.
As there is no mention of the Jerusalem conference recorded in Acts 15 (A.D. 49), and there is the use of the word “synagogue” (assembly, 2:2), A.D. 48-50 is the date commonly given for this epistle. This would make it the first book of the New Testament written. If James, the Lord’s brother, is the author, then he in all probability wrote it at Jerusalem. Most Biblical scholars generally agree upon these last two statements as factual.
The epistle deals with a diversity of themes. An emphasis is placed upon the practical aspects of the Christian life. Some of the themes include the behavior of the Christian during trials and temptations, practicing pure religion, perceiving and accepting the relationship between faith and works, the proper use of the tongue (speech) and demonstration of true wisdom, being a friend of God rather than a friend of the world, and the value of the virtues of humility, patience and the practice of prayer.
While these many themes may appear on the surface to be unrelated and disconnected, they are in fact central to the growth and development of the Christian. Therefore, it is thought that James’ over-arching purpose in writing was to instruct the Christians concerning true and practical religion.
In this epistle is a loud and clear call for the saints to be doers of the Word. James makes an appeal to display a living faith through the Christian’s works. In 108 verses, there are 54 specific commands, causing some scholars to identify James as “the Amos of the New Testament.”*
The key verse of the book is commonly accepted to be James 1:22: “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.”
These are my findings from my own study. I am not writing a scholarly treatment of the epistle, just some hopefully practical observations that can be used by this blog's readers.
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