Genuine Faith Tested by Trial PT 1 (The Purpose of Trials) Text: James 1:1 ¶ James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting. 2 ¶ My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; {temptation: or, trials} 3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. 4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. Intro: I began preaching a sermon on the tongue from James Chapter three and it went so well that I just continued to the end of the book verse by verse. So tonight I want to back up and begin to look at Chapters one and two verse by verse. Tonight we will look at chapter one verses 1-4. We will look at The Author (Verse 1), and His Message (Verse 2-4). Body: The Author (Verse 1) Verse 1. James, a servant of God. On the meaning of the word servant is that which the Lord Jesus himself directed his disciples to use, as their general designation. The proper meaning of this word servant-- is slave, one who is not free. We are not our own! It expresses the condition of one who has a master, or who is at the control of another. It is often, however, applied to officers that serve under a king; because in an eastern monarchy the relation of an absolute king to his courtiers corresponded nearly to that of a master and a slave. Thus the word is expressive of dignity and honor; and the servants of a king indicate officers of a high rank and station. It is applied to the prophets as those who were honored by God. The name is also given to the Messiah, Isa 42:1, Behold my servant in whom my soul delighteth, etc.; Isa 53:11, Shall righteous servant justify many. James could have said James, the apostle, James, the brother of Jesus but he chooses to be listed as a servant! This shows that James was a man known for his integrity. Above all things that he was known for James was a servant of God. And of the Lord Jesus Christ. The servant of the Lord Jesus is a title which is often given to Christians, and particularly to the ministers of Christ. They are his servants, not in the sense that they are slaves, but in the sense that they voluntarily obey his will, and labor for him, and not for themselves. To the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad. Gr., The twelve tribes which are in the dispersion, This word occurs only here and in 1Pe 1:1, and John 7:35. It refers to those who lived out of Palestine, or who were scattered among the Gentiles. There were two great dispersions --the eastern and the western. The first had its origin about the time when the ten tribes were carried away to Assyria, and in the time of the Babylonian captivity. Because of these events, and of the fact that large numbers of the Jews went to Babylon, and other eastern countries, for purposes of travel, commerce, etc., there were many Jews in the east in the times of the apostles. The other was the western dispersion, which commenced about the time of Alexander the Great, and which was promoted by various causes, until there were large numbers of Jews in Egypt and along Northern Africa, in Asia Minor, in Greece Proper, and even in Rome. James was speaking about the eastern dispersion. The phrase the twelve tribes, was the common term by which the Jewish people were designated, and was in use long after the ten tribes were carried away--leaving, in fact, but two of the twelve in Palestine. The phrase the twelve tribes became also a sort of technical expression to denote the people of God--the church. Greeting. A customary form of salutation, meaning, in Greek, to joy, to rejoice; and implying that he cared for their welfare. His Message (Verse 2-4) Verse 2. My brethren. Not brethren as Jews, but as Christians. Consider it as a matter to rejoice in; a matter which should give you great joy! You are not to consider it as a punishment, a curse, or a disaster, but as a thing count it all joy. When ye fall into divers temptations. To be tempted. The word in the original, means to try, to make an effort, to attempt to do a thing; then, to test the nature of a thing, as metals by fire; then, to test moral qualities by trying them, to see how they will endure; then, we are called to count it great joy to suffer for Christ’s sake. Here, however, the word is used in the sense of trials, by persecution, poverty, calamity of any kind. These are to try the faith, and they show whether he who is tried is willing to adhere to his faith in God, or whether he will recant his profession. The word divers here refer to the various kinds of trials which they might experience--sickness, poverty, bereavement, persecution, etc. They were to count it a matter of joy that their religion was subjected to anything that tried it. It is well for us to have the reality of our salvation tested, in whatever way it may be done. Verse 3. Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. Patience is one of the fruits of such a trial, and the grace of patience is worth the cost of the trial. This is one of the passages which show that James was acquainted with the writings of Paul. See the Introduction to James chapter 5, Jas 5:1. The sentiment expressed here is found in Romans 5:3-5 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; and patience, experience; and experience, hope: 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. But we glory. The meaning is, that we rejoice not only in hope; not only in the direct results of justification, in the immediate effect which salvation itself produces; but we carry our joy and triumph even into the midst of trials. In accordance with this, our Savior directed His followers to rejoice in persecutions, In tribulations, in afflictions and the various persecutions and trials which we were called to endure as Christians. Knowing. Being assured of that trials tend to produce peace within. Paul had found it to be so. Worketh. Trials produce the fruit of patience in the Christian who perseveres through the trials. Many unsaved people are irritated and troubled by trials; they murmur, and become more and more obstinate and rebellious. They have no sources of comfort; they deem God a hard master; and they become fretful and rebellious. But in the mind of a Christian, who sees his Fathers hand in it; who sees that he deserves no mercy; who has confidence in the wisdom and goodness of God; who feels that it is necessary for his own good to be afflicted; so he can ho experience God’s peace and patience. Year after year of suffering produces increased peace and calmness of soul; and at the end of his course the Christian is more willing to be afflicted, and bears his afflictions more calmly, than at the beginning. He who on earth was most afflicted was the most patient of all sufferers; and not less patient when he was led as a lamb to the slaughter, than when he experienced the first trial in his great work. Patience. A calm temper, which suffers evils without murmuring or discontent.-- Webster. Paul has carried the sentiment out farther, and shows that tribulation produces other effects than patience. James only asks that patience may have its perfect work! Verse 4. But let patience have her perfect work. Let patience develop its work! Let it produce its appropriate effect in your life without being hindered. Let it not be obstructed in its fair influence on the soul, by murmurings, complaining, or rebellion. Patience under trials is fitted to produce important effects on the soul, and we are not to get in the way of what God wants done! That ye may be perfect and entire. The meaning of this is explained in the following phrase--wanting nothing; that is, that there may be nothing lacking to complete your Christian character. Afflictions, perhaps, more than anything else, will do this; and we should therefore allow them to do all that they are meant to do what is best for us! On the word perfect, as used in the Scriptures, the word rendered entire, means, whole in every part. Wanting nothing means everything being complete, or fully carried out. Conclusion: I want to ask you a few questions by way of my conclusion. 1. Are you a servant of God and the Lord Jesus Christ? 2. Do you really care for others welfare more than your own? 3. Do you count it all joy when you experience trials and persecutions? 4. Are you hindering the work God is doing by letting trials and persecutions into your life?
Posted on: Sun, 17 Aug 2014 07:34:39 +0000
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