James 1:12

Ben Swapp

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The Crown Of Life

(ESV)

Greeting

1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ,

To the twelve tribes in the Dispersion:

Greetings.

Testing of Your Faith

2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. 6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

9 Let the lowly brother boast in his exaltation, 10 and the rich in his humiliation, because like a flower of the grass he will pass away. 11 For the sun rises with its scorching heat and withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beauty perishes. So also will the rich man fade away in the midst of his pursuits.

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. 13 Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. 14 But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. 15 Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.

-Prayer-

We will be focusing on verse 1:12, so I have titled this sermon, “the crown of life”

Lets dig into this text and see what God has for us.

Verse 12 Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial.

This word “blessed” is “Makarios” in the Greek this word is characterized by happiness and being highly favored or fortunate (as by divine grace) according to the Bible Sense Lexicon

(ESV)

2 “I consider myself fortunate that it is before you, King Agrippa, I am going to make my defense today against all the accusations of the Jews,

English Standard Version Chapter 26

2 “I consider myself fortunate that it is before you, King Agrippa, I am going to make my defense today against all the accusations of the Jews,

(KJV 1900)

(ESV)

2 I think myself happy, king Agrippa, because I shall answer for myself this day before thee touching all the things whereof I am accused of the Jews:

We have learned through our studies of James that trials are coming or are already here. When we studied out versus 2-4 we learned that God is going to put us through or allow trials to come upon us, because of the outcome that comes from our trials. We cannot be perfect and complete and lacking in nothing if we do not endure trials of various kinds. This is not my words— this is in the text.

Also

God puts us through trials so we can minister to others. Someone who is struggling with drugs or alcohol is best ministered to by someone that has gone thru that same trial. Someone who has lost a loved on in death, is best ministered to by someone who has gone through the same tragedy.

(ESV)

Testing of Your Faith

2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; 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.

And in verse 12. James tells us we are blessed when we remain steadfast when we are under trial.

10 Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.

Happy, Fortunate, Highly favored—blessed

Our Lord is not telling these Christians something to endure that He does not understand Himself. The devil took Jesus through sinful men and crucified Him. God allowed this, in fact it was the will of the LORD to have Jesus crucified. This is what Isaiah tells us in 53:10 it says, “…it was the will of the LORD to crush him; He has put Him to grief; when His soul makes an offering for guilt. This would be for the glory of God. That Jesus would take upon Himself— willingly the sins of all that would follow Him.

So James tells us, “Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life.

According to it will be Jesus Christ that gives this crown to them that are put through trials—at least the trials that lead to death, which may be the case for some of us. We don’t know what the future holds for us, we could be worshiping our Lord openly one day and in a death camp the next.

Let us not forget what the Lord told His disciples

Why are we blessed for enduring trials? It is in the text. “for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life” You are blessed when you endure trials because you will receive the crown of life.

(ESV)

28 And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.

though There will also be a crown of life for all those who endure to the end.

For those that remain steadfast under trial there will be a crown of life for all those who endure to the end.

We know that this crown of life is for the martyrs, but it is also for those who persevere under the trials that come that don’t lead to death. If we love Him through what ever the trials are that God allows us to go through. I don’t know who had it more difficult. James and the other apostles that were martyred, or John who was boiled in oil and then banished by the Roman authorities to the island of Patmos living to an old age. You decide for yourselves.

Trials are coming to us all, if you are a follower of the Lord Jesus, you will go through trials. This is what James through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit tells us in versus 2-4

The Bible talks of many crowns.

(ESV)

There are crowns in times of Joy crowns of gladness and rejoicing.

Testing of Your Faith

(ESV)

11 Go out, O daughters of Zion, and look upon King Solomon, with the crown with which his mother crowned him on the day of his wedding, on the day of the gladness of his heart.

Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial,

There are crowns that mark royalty

(ESV)

3 For you meet him with rich blessings; you set a crown of fine gold upon his head.

you set a crown of fine gold upon his head.

(ESV)

and look upon King Solomon,

According to the Bible Sense Lexicon Makarios (blessed): characterized by happiness and being highly favored (as by divine grace)

with the crown with which his mother crowned him

18 Say to the king and the queen mother: “Take a lowly seat, for your beautiful crown has come down from your head.”

on the day of his wedding,

“Take a lowly seat,

There are crowns that mark honor

for your beautiful crown

(ESV)

on the day of the gladness of his heart.

has come down from your head.”

5 Get wisdom; get insight; do not forget, and do not turn away from the words of my mouth.

do not forget, and do not turn away from the words of my mouth.

6 Do not forsake her, and she will keep you; love her, and she will guard you.

6 Do not forsake her, and she will keep you;

love her, and she will guard you.

7 The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom, and whatever you get, get insight.

and whatever you get, get insight.

8 Prize her highly, and she will exalt you;

she will honor you if you embrace her.

9 She will place on your head a graceful garland; she will bestow on you a beautiful crown.”

she will bestow on you a beautiful crown.”

there are crowns that were placed on athletes when they had finished the race or won the games.

(ESV)

6 For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.

(ESV)

24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. 25 Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. 26 So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. 27 But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.

And then we have the crown of life found in our text and in one other spot in all of the New Testament

(ESV)

This crown is for those that love the Lord it is promised to those who love the Lord according to our text in James and although it doesn't say it in these people love the LORD Jesus

It is easy to love the idea of a god that gives us good things and never gives us trials. It is easy to love a god that tells us we will never suffer. It is easy to love the god of prosperity that tells us if we follow him we will have all we ever wanted: money, power, respect. And although these are lies from the devil himself, many people follow this god of prosperity and lies. But this is not the God of the Bible.

The God of the Bible is a God that will test us and build us through trials. That is what James is telling us. We are to love Yahweh the LORD with all our hearts, mind, and strength, even when we are being tested to the brink. Some might say, “No! God is a God of Love, He wouldn’t put us through a test that causes us anguish and pain.”

And yes I would say to you, God indeed is a God of Love, but In my studies, I see a good God that loves us and puts us through tests or allows things to happen that cause us pain and anguish.

If you don’t believe this open up your Bible to the book of Job.

Job was a God fearing man, that put God first in all that he did. He had integrity. It says in

(ESV)

Job’s Character and Wealth

1 There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job, and that man was blameless and upright, one who feared God and turned away from evil.

God blessed Job for this love that he had for the LORD. He had 7000 sheep, 3000 camels, 500 oxen, 500 female donkeys, and many servants, He was the greatest man of all the people of the east the Bible says.

And then God allowed Job to be tested to the brink of destruction.

Look at verse 6. and following

(ESV)

Satan Allowed to Test Job

6 Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them. 7 The Lord said to Satan, “From where have you come?” Satan answered the Lord and said, “From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and down on it.” 8 And the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil?” 9 Then Satan answered the Lord and said, “Does Job fear God for no reason? 10 Have you not put a hedge around him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. 11 But stretch out your hand and touch all that he has, and he will curse you to your face.” 12 And the Lord said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your hand. Only against him do not stretch out your hand.” So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord.

And Satan takes Job’s property and Children

(ESV)

Satan Takes Job’s Property and Children

13 Now there was a day when his sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house, 14 and there came a messenger to Job and said, “The oxen were plowing and the donkeys feeding beside them, 15 and the Sabeans fell upon them and took them and struck down the servants with the edge of the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you.” 16 While he was yet speaking, there came another and said, “The fire of God fell from heaven and burned up the sheep and the servants and consumed them, and I alone have escaped to tell you.” 17 While he was yet speaking, there came another and said, “The Chaldeans formed three groups and made a raid on the camels and took them and struck down the servants with the edge of the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you.” 18 While he was yet speaking, there came another and said, “Your sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house, 19 and behold, a great wind came across the wilderness and struck the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young people, and they are dead, and I alone have escaped to tell you.”

20 Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head and fell on the ground and worshiped. 21 And he said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.”

22 In all this Job did not sin or charge God with wrong.

Why do you think that Job did not sin against the LORD his God?

I will tell you it is because of what it tells us in verses 1

v.1 tells us Job was blameless and upright, one who feared God and turned away from evil. He loved God and feared God so much that in verse 5. it tells us he even offered burnt offerings in the morning for his children, just in case they sinned against God in their hearts.

He loved and feared Yahweh. He knew that God gives and God takes, so He blessed the name of the LORD.

That is one test of many that God allowed to take place in the Bible to one of His chosen peoples. If you read on in Job satan again strikes Job’s health.

In a situation like Jobs when disaster strikes, and even death may occur, we can rest in the fact that God has allowed this to happen in your life. God is in control of everything. It did not take God by surprise. Trials in our life are going to happen, things that we don’t understand.

James knew this that is why he put in verses 5-8

(ESV)

When we don’t understand why, when disaster strikes and we have been brought to the brink, ask God to help you understand.

As we continue to read the text in verse 13-15

(ESV)

13 Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. 14 But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. 15 Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.

We can see that we must not confuse “tempted” with “testing”. I went over this point a few weeks ago.

Through the testing that comes from the Lord or is allowed to happen by the Lord there will be temptation in it. Temptation to sin. Abraham was tested, when He was told to take his only son Issac and sacrifice him as a burnt offering. I am sure that the tempter was there trying to make Abraham doubt Gods goodness, and if he would have doubted Gods goodness and not done what God commanded, it would have been sin against a good God. but God tempts no one with evil because He cannot be tempted with evil.

Dictionary of Biblical Languages with Semantic Domains: Greek (New Testament) 1510 δοκίμιον

1510 δοκίμιον (dokimion), ου (ou), τό (to): n.neu.; ≡ Str 1383; TDNT 2.255—1. LN 27.45 testing (Jas 1:3+); 2. LN 73.3 a proved genuineness (1Pe 1:7+)

You can find this word in Knowing that the testing of your faith produces Patience.

(ESV)

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.

The Word tempted in the Greek language is “peirazo” meaning “trying to trap, attempt to catch in a mistake, or to test for the purposes of making one sin.

“ho peirazon” means “tempter”

God is not the “ho peirazon” or “the tempter”

that is the devil!

(ESV)

3 And the tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.”

(ESV)

5 For this reason, when I could bear it no longer, I sent to learn about your faith, for fear that somehow the tempter had tempted you and our labor would be in vain.

The devil is the tempter!

but the word of God is clear, God will test us.

And when He does and we don’t understand why. James lays out a road map of what we as believers should do.

ask God for the wisdom to understand what we are going through without doubt, and take heart and encourage one another for the trials that we will endure and have endured, because through these trials we will be made mature and complete, lacking in nothing, and after we have endured, like Job, because we have a fear and love for the Lord, we will receive the crown of life.

But when we come face to face with our LORD because we Love Him and we have recieved the crown of life, humbly put the crown at Jesus feet, because He did it all on the cross, because of the cross we got Gods Spirit within us.

(ESV)

The word here used for “test” in the Greek is “dokimion” meaning a proved genuineness.

26 And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. 27 And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules.

26 And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. .

Dokimion, as far as I could see is found only here and in .

Where are we in this equation. God does it all and we are simply the recipients of His gift. So lay the crown or crowns that you may get when you are battling the evils of this world at the feet of Jesus who made it all possible. .

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