Faith Is Resilient in Trials

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 whom
o To whom
o The brief salutation: “Greetings”
Order of the 1st phrase is literally: “James, of God and of the Lord Jesus
Christ, a bondservant” - ιακωβοσ θεου και κυριου ιηςου χριςτου δουλοσ
Name James is literally “Jacob”, James being the Anglicized form
Jewish nature of the epistle:
o “to the twelve tribes”
o Cf 2:2, “if there should come into your assembly (ςυναγωγή) a man
with gold rings .. ”
Where are these recipients? “scattered abroad”
The salutation:
o “χαίρω” = Greetings
o 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: πειραςμόσ. Peirasmos
i) 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 greatly
rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved
by various trials”
c) A trial or a temptation? Context dictates
i) 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 devil
sought to divert Jesus the Messiah from his divine errand
(3) of the condition of things, or a mental state, by which we are enticed
to sin, or to a lapse from the faith and holiness
(4) adversity, affliction, trouble: sent by God and serving to test or prove
one's character, faith, holiness

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iii) temptation (i.e. trial) of God by men - rebellion against God, by which
his power and justice are, as it were, put to the proof and challenged to
show themselves
d) The NKJV inconsistently translates πειραςμόσ in James 1

James 1:2 James 1:12

My brethren, count it all joy when Blessed is the man who endures
NKJV
you fall into various trials temptation

My brethren, count it all joy when Blessed is the man that endureth
KJV
ye fall into divers temptations temptation

Consider it all joy, my brethren, Blessed is a man who perseveres

NASB
when you encounter various trials under trial

Count it all joy, my brothers, when Blessed is the man who remains
ESV
you meet trials of various kinds steadfast under trial

Consider it pure joy, my brothers,

Blessed is the man who perseveres
NIV whenever you face trials of many
under trial
kinds

e) Other details:
i) “Brothers”! Addressed to Christians
ii) “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 I
shall 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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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) “κατεργάζομαι”: 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 commanded – “count it all joy when you fall into various
trials”
ii) The reason indicated – “knowing that the testing of your faith produces
patience”

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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” (ἔργον τέλειον) – not identified
(1) Probably Christian maturity / Christ-likeness
(2) Ephesians 4:13, “till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the
knowledge 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; 8 he 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 wisdom”
i) 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 3:13-17
c) The request for wisdom (5b) – “let him ask of God”
i) True source of wisdom = God!
ii) Ask = αἰτέω
(a) Present imperative
(b) Tested believers commanded to practice prayerfulness as a
Christian duty!
(c) Matthew 7:7, “Ask (αἰτέω), and it will be given to you; seek, and
you 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”. - δίψυχοσ - dipsychos
(i) Only here and
(ii) James 4:8, “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.
Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, 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 no
sooner 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 his
exaltation”
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” = καυχάομαι 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 rich
i) 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 forever”
iii) Prov 10:15, “The rich man’s 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 earth
and the works that are in it will be burned up. 11 Therefore, since all
these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be
in holy conduct and godliness”
v) 1 Timothy 6:17, “Command those who are rich in this present age not to
be 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 2
ii) 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 receive the 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 life”
ii) 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 = “crown”
i) Matthew 27:29, “crown of thorns”
ii) 1 Corinthians 9:25, “And everyone who competes for the prize is
temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but
we for an imperishable crown”
iii) I Thess 2:19, “For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Is it not
even 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 of
righteousness, 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 His
appearing”
v) 1 Peter 5:4, “and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the
crown 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 things
which 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 on
the thrones I saw twenty-four elders sitting, clothed in white robes; and
they had crowns of gold on their heads”
viii) Revelation 4:10-11, “the twenty-four elders fall down before Him
who 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;”

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