Favor and Reward
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Introduction
Introduction
What is perseverance? Persisting or enduring in spite of opposition. What produces perseverance? Joy and reward.
PRAY
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.
The Favor of Those Who Endure
The Favor of Those Who Endure
Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial -
James continues encouraging his audience with what is called a beatitude. This is similar to what we see in the Psalms and the teaching of in the Sermon on the Mount.
1 Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers;
3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. 5 “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. 6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. 7 “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. 8 “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. 9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. 10 “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
What does it mean that a person is blessed? First, it is important to note that this is not a wish or a description, it is a judgement or pronouncement. Blessed! Some have translated this as happy, which does have some problems for us. The word happy in modern English contains connotations of silliness and being being kind of like a clown. We cannot understand blessed in this manner. We should understand it has enjoying favorable circumstances or possessing the favor of God.
James writes blessed or favored by God is the man who remains steadfast under trial. Who is the favored one? The one we continues or perseveres. It is the one who remains. In short, it is the one who last. James further describes this blessed one. He is the one who is steadfast. He is firm. He is resolved.
In what context does the favored one remain steadfast?
James tells his readers the favored one is steadfast and continues when under trial. When circumstances are difficult, this person keeps on going. Trial is the same word as in verse two.
Moo, “This word and its relatives can denote either and outward trial or process of testing or they can denote that inner enticement to sin: temptation or to tempt.”
Satan fights us, the world opposes us, the flesh pulls at us. God is working to make us more like his precious Son. Therefore, life is full of battles and warfare. It is full of the fire and furnace.
James is describing the reality to truth faith. The one who is the possessor of truth faith will endure to the end and persevere. This true is reinforced by Peter is his first letter.
6 In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 8 Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory,
The Reward of Those Who Endure
The Reward of Those Who Endure
For when he has stood the test - Here James writes about after the trial. When he has stood the test. The language communicates the idea of being approved of, one who has passed the exam or the assessment.
NASB - “for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.”
He will receive the crown of life - The reward for those who endure is the crown of life. It is a promise. We will see more on that in a moment. The one who remains faithful through the testing and trials will receive, accept. They will be granted the crown of life. Some translators call this the reward the crown which is life. Some argue this is the victors crown,
25 Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable.
others it is the crown given to believers who rule with Christ in the new heavens and new earth.
28 Jesus said to them, “Truly, I say to you, in the new world, when the Son of Man will sit on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 29 And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands, for my name’s sake, will receive a hundredfold and will inherit eternal life. 30 But many who are first will be last, and the last first.
I do not necessarily think those are opposed. The concept is fairly simply. Those who persevere to the end will be rewarded with all the promises bound up in eternal life.
When faith is tested and surrounded by darkness, when the waves are rolling high and all seems lost, the child of God knows that this is not the end. It may be gloom now, but it will be glory later on. As the psalmist said, “… weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning” (Ps. 30:5). James says here, “He shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.”
How certain is the reception of this reward? Which God has promised to those who love him - As I mentioned this is a promise. God is guarantor. He is standing behind the promise as the one who is faithful. God’s word is behind the pronouncement and God’s character is behind his word.
4 From of old no one has heard or perceived by the ear, no eye has seen a God besides you, who acts for those who wait for him.
13 Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures throughout all generations. The Lord is faithful in all his words and kind in all his works.
The promise is to the one who is steadfast and those who are steadfast are the ones who love God. Just as trials test faith as we saw a couple of weeks ago, trials also test love. What is love? This love is to esteem God highly, it is the directing of the will toward God in order to find one’s joy in him.
18 “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 19 Yet a little while and the world will see me no more, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. 20 In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. 21 Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.” 22 Judas (not Iscariot) said to him, “Lord, how is it that you will manifest yourself to us, and not to the world?” 23 Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. 24 Whoever does not love me does not keep my words. And the word that you hear is not mine but the Father’s who sent me.
Practical Application
Practical Application
There is no promise of favor or reward to those who do not continue. There is no starter’s trophy. Have you begun? Then you must persevere.
1 Therefore let us leave the elementary doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, 2 and of instruction about washings, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. 3 And this we will do if God permits. 4 For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit, 5 and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, 6 and then have fallen away, to restore them again to repentance, since they are crucifying once again the Son of God to their own harm and holding him up to contempt. 7 For land that has drunk the rain that often falls on it, and produces a crop useful to those for whose sake it is cultivated, receives a blessing from God. 8 But if it bears thorns and thistles, it is worthless and near to being cursed, and its end is to be burned.
As believers, we must see trials and testing as opportunities to embrace Christ as our joy instead of obstacles for our joy. We are favored.
1 Simeon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who have obtained a faith of equal standing with ours by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ: 2 May grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. 3 His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, 4 by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. 5 For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, 6 and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, 7 and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. 8 For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins. 10 Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall. 11 For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Rejoice! You have been chosen for eternal life.
Richard Phillips talking about eternal life in Pilgrim’s Progress:
Bunyan's tale is so valuable because he understood the message of John 3:16 so well. Christian fled from destruction toward eternal life. And he ran not just anywhere, but to a narrow gate beyond which a light was shining. Beyond the gate, Christian came to a cross. As he looked at that cross—like Israel gazing to Moses' serpent lifted up—the burden on his back (the weight of his many sins) came sliding off and fell away forever. There he gained the right to enter the Celestial City. At the end of his journey, as Christian drew near to that city, the angels came and told him: "You are going now to the paradise of God, wherein you shall see the tree of life, and eat of the never-fading fruits thereof…. You shall have white robes given you, and your walk and talk shall be every day with the King, even all the days of eternity." Bunyan describes Christian and his companion, Hopeful, going into the heavenly city through the gates: "And lo, as they entered, they were transfigured, and they had raiment put on that shone like gold.... All the bells in the city rang again for joy, and it was said unto them, 'Enter ye into the joy of your Lord.'"