I. Introduction
In our recent study of the Book of Galatians, Galatians taught us a lot about what it takes to become a believer, and all the misconceptions that people may have about what it takes to get into heaven. It’s not following certain rules, it’s not performing certain rituals, it’s not anything we do. All God asks of us is to believe in Christ Jesus, and even that ability to believe comes from God. Remember, it is faith alone, through Christ alone, by Grace alone. Nothing else.
We’re starting the book of James today and much of James talks about what is expected of us as Christians. In fact, it is so much about works that you may begin to wonder what our study of Galatians was all about. Are we contradicting ourselves, first by saying “faith alone” and then talking about works?
So before we actually start the book of James, let’s see if we can understand some of the differences between these books. Galatians, addressed to the church of ….
… that’s right, Galatia. Man, we are one smart group today. In Galatians, Paul was talking primarily to the Judaizers, those teaching a “Jesus plus Moses” philosophy. In other words, the Galatians were teaching that Jesus had done 95% of the work and we have to chip in the other 5%. We are saved, but we still have to be circumcised, follow Jewish festivals, follow all the Jewish rules, etc. These requirements were obstacles to new believers, and Paul was saying that circumcision, festivals and rules had nothing to do with obtaining salvation. Jesus did it all, 100%. Faith alone, through Christ alone, by grace alone.
The book of James is written to different audience – believers that are already saved. James 1:2 begins,
Consider it all joy, my brethren
Who are the brethren? Right, believers in the church, brothers and sisters in Christ. And James is talking to believers about the spiritual walk, how to understand trials and tribulations, how to grow closer to God.
II. Salvation vs Sanctification
So I want to bring this chart back up, I showed it briefly a few weeks back:
| Phase | Justification (a one time event) |
Sanctification (or progressive sanctification, spiritual walk, a process) |
Glorification (immediately after death or rapture) |
| Tense | Past (I have been saved) |
Present (I am being saved) Not sinless, but sinning less. |
Future (I will be saved) |
| Saved from sin’s: | Penalty | Power | Presence |
| Scripture | Eph 2:8-9; Titus 3:5 | Philip 2:12 | Rom 5:10 |
When we say, “faith alone, through Christ alone, by grace alone,” we are talking about what it means to be saved. It is a one time event at the moment we trust in Christ, with ongoing effect. But once we are a Christian, we become aware of God’s purpose for us, and aligning ourselves to that purpose is our spiritual walk. We grow in Christ. And this process continues until we die or are raptured. I have been saved, I am being saved, and I will be saved. All three tenses are true. And James is focusing in today’s lesson on our progressive sanctification and understanding the events in our lives.
The book of James contains 50 different commands for Christians, “Thou shalt” or “Thou shalt not.” Are these things we must do to be saved? It depends on which definition of “saved” we are talking about. It has nothing to do with going to heaven and spending eternity with Jesus, but it has everything to do with understanding the loving God that created us and how we as believers are to live our lives.
So with all that behind us, let’s begin.
III. Purpose of Testing
So far we nearly finished studying 6 words in James, so let’s look at them again,
Consider it all joy, my brethren
Of the 50 commands to Christians in the book of James, we’ve already discovered the first one. The word “consider” is an imperative, something we are commanded to do. Let’s read the entirety of our verses for today, and then go back and study them individually. James 1:2-15,
Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind. For that man ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord, being a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.But the brother of humble circumstances is to glory in his high position; and the rich man is to glory in his humiliation, because like flowering grass he will pass away. For the sun rises with a scorching wind and withers the grass; and its flower falls off and the beauty of its appearance is destroyed; so too the rich man in the midst of his pursuits will fade away.Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust. Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death.
Whew. Ok, this looks easy. James is teaching us about the purpose of trials in the life of a Christian.
A. Joyful Attitude
First of all, we are to have a joyful attitude. Verse 2,
Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials
Various trials are hard to define. Is James talking about running out of money? Getting sick? Dealing with people that mistreat you? And the answer to all of that is yes. Specifically, the Greek word for “trials” is peirasmós,
πειρασμός peirasmós, pi-ras-mos’; a putting to proof (by experiment (of good), experience (of evil), solicitation, discipline or provocation); by implication, adversity:—temptation, × try.
Basically, anything with the potential to be drawn toward sin and away from God. While I was contemplating this and thinking of an example, I could hear my wife in the next room bawling her eyes out. She was ok, but she was watching a NOVA special on organ transplants, and an especially touching event where a mother had to let her son, traumatized by a brain injury, be released for organ transplant. The mother, obviously a Christian believer, was holding her son’s hand as they were wheeling him away so that his organs could be harvested to save somebody else’s life, and she was crying out, “I’ll see you soon!”
I can’t even imagine what this mother was going through. And is this verse from James telling her to be happy about it?
Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials
How does one “consider it all joy?” First by understanding that “all joy” is not the same thing as happiness. James isn’t a masochist. James is telling us to continually seek the mind of God and how God will be able to use the trial for His purpose. If we understand God is all good and in charge of all things, then all trials accomplish His purpose. And if we know that the trials are accomplishing the will of God, then we can have an attitude of joy even in the midst of pain or suffering. Chuck Swindoll put it this way –
“We cannot change our past… we cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way. We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude. I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% of how I react to it. And so it is with you… we are in charge of our Attitudes.”
― Charles R. Swindoll
We are to live our lives for the things that matter most. If we get to thinking that our suffering is more than others endure, or more than seems fair, we can remember our savior on the cross. Did Christ suffer pain? Yet Hebrews 12:2 says,
fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
If Jesus can have joy during His crucifixion, perhaps we can find joy in our trials.
B. Endurance
How do we find this joy? By seeking God’s purpose. Let’s continue with verse 3,
Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.
Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.
We are to know that God has a purpose to our trials. God always tests our faith. It doesn’t way “if” we encounter trials, but “when.” Christians are not sheltered and pampered. Some trials come because we are human – sickness, accidents, disappointments. Some trials come because we live in a fallen world – earthquakes, hurricanes, floods. And some just because we are Christians.
These trials work for us, not against us. Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians 4:17,
For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.
We tend to think trials are inflicted upon us, but this scripture says even the worst trials we endure are fulfilling a purpose that brings glory to God. Satan tempts us to bring out our worst, but God tests our faith to bring out our best. James says it produces endurance in us.
Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
Endurance leads to perfection? We’re to be perfect?
Trials help us mature. It’s easier to trust in God when things are going great, but I’m not sure that’s really trust. It’s when times are tough that we learn if our faith is genuine. Paul says the same thing in Romans 5:3-4,
And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
Perseverance. Endurance. Patience. Waiting on God. Patience is a foundation of our spiritual journey. Patience is the key to receiving God’s blessings. God told Abraham to be patient and God would give him a child. At some point, Abraham and Sarah decided God needed help, so Abraham produced a son with Hagar. It brought great difficulties in Abraham’s life, difficulties that have endured through the ages and affect us today. Eventually, Abraham and Sarah had a son of their own. How much more blessed their life would have been if they had been patient, endured, persevered.
Impatient children never learn, never mature. They want it now. And patience can only be learned by waiting.
Patience has been a hard lesson for me to learn, and I’m pretty sure it’s because of my pride. I thought I was patient. Meeting somebody at a restaurant and they’re an hour late? I can do that. Waiting for my birthday to arrive and it is months away? I can do that. Waiting on the Lord to answer prayers for my wife’s health or for salvation to come to some members of my family? What is taking Him so long?
But patience isn’t a specific length of time. Patience is waiting. Why hasn’t the rapture come yet? 2 Peter 3:8-9 says it’s because the Lord is patient –
But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
The Lord is patient for as long as it takes. I have prayers in my life I’ve been praying for decades. Unanswered prayers teach me what real patience is. So I keep praying, and I’m learning patience, perseverance, endurance. And there’s a purpose to learning this, James 1:4,
And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
To make me perfect. I certainly don’t feel perfect. But “perfect” here doesn’t mean without any flaws. The Greek phrase “perfect and complete” means one who fulfills the purpose for which God created him or her and are fully attaining their higher calling. In other words, we are content to be in Christ, we are fulfilling Christ’s will for our lives, and we need nothing else.
C. Wisdom
Am I perfect and complete? I don’t think so. I’m at the point in my life, though, where I see more and more how my own will for me sometimes stands in opposition to God. God wants me to have joy, patience, endurance, produce fruit in accordance with His will. But I want a boat.
See, my will for myself continually misdirects me from what God wants for me. I want a boat, I want to win an argument, I want to watch television, I want a raise, I want I want I want. If I am to be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing, then I want what God wants. How do I figure out what that is?
James 1: 5-7,
But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind. For that man ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord, being a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.
I can trust in this promise. Believers in Christ, if they ask for wisdom, they will receive wisdom.
I don’t think God is satisfied with the unfinished Christian. He has a purpose for us that starts with our character which is perfected through our joy in our trials, endurance through our patience, and wisdom through prayer and study of His Word.
Unanswered prayers teach us so much besides patience and endurance. God desires for us to trust in Him alone. What do we do when a prayer is unanswered? Are we patient and do we endure as God asks us to do?
I’ve experienced this in my life first-hand. When I was going through a particularly rough patch in my life, I felt like maybe God didn’t hear me. I listened, I waited, and there was no answer. And I decided on my own that I didn’t need to wait on God, I could fix the problem on my own. I could choose a course of action that I felt was best for me.
And I remembered how Abraham and Sarah didn’t wait on the Lord. They, too, felt the Lord had forgotten His promise.
And I remembered how Abraham and Sarah didn’t wait on the Lord. They, too, felt the Lord had forgotten His promise.
James says that if we aren’t patient and trust in the Lord’s promises, we get only the reward of our own effort. Trusting in the Lord gave me a foundation of solid stone. Trusting in myself gave me a foundation of shifting sand.
I still wrestle with this, trying to do things on my own instead of relying on God. And I learned that when I do things on my own, I fail. But when I rely on God, He never fails. I learn through these trials to endure, be patient, ask for wisdom, and listen for His still small voice. And every time I listed to Him instead of me, I know that He is perfecting me for His glory.
Why does God want all of this for us? God wants to build our Christian character so that He can use us according to His purpose. God works in us before He works through us. And at the end of the trials, what then? Let’s look at James 1:12.
IV. Crown of Life
James 1:12,
Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.
I mentioned a few months back about the 5 crowns available to believers, and I hope you will indulge a few minutes of exploring in more detail these crowns.
The Crown of Life is mentioned here as a reward to those who endure trials and are perfected by God. This same crown is also mentioned in Revelation 2:10 when Jesus talks to the church at Smyrna–
Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, so that you will be tested, and you will have tribulation for ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.
There are 5 crowns available to believers, each one as a reward for different aspects of the Christian character –
| Scripture’s Five Crowns | ||
| Crown | Scripture | Purpose |
| Life | James 1:12; Rev. 2:10 | Enduring trials |
| Incorruptible | 1 Cor. 9:24-27 | Gaining mastery over the flesh |
| Rejoicing | 1 Thess. 2:19-20 | Winning Souls |
| Glory | 1 Pet. 5:2-4 | Shepherding God’s people |
| Righteousness | 2 Tim. 4:8 | Longing for His appearing |
- The Crown of Life. Joy in our trials, knowing that God has a plan. Spiritual growth through our adversity.
- The incorruptible Crown. We have eternal life that can never be destroyed, we have life forever in Christ Jesus. Believers that endure to the end and pursue God-given ministry and triumph over sin are given an imperishable crown (1 Corinthians 9:25-27).
- The Crown of Rejoicing and Exultation. These crowns come from others we minister to in this life; those believers believer become “our glory and joy” before the Lord. We rejoice in heaven upon seeing and talking with our loved ones who we shared our spiritual growth. (1 Thess. 2:18-20)
- The Crown of Glory. Jesus promises that those who leave everything to follow Him receive a hundredfold reward in addition to eternal life. As Christ is our Great Shepherd, those who shepherd His flock while waiting for His return are given the Crown of Glory. (1 Peter 5:2-4, Mark 10:29-31)
- The Crown of Righteousness. The reward for living righteously and giving Christ the glory when facing temptation or hardship. (2 Timothy 4:6-8).
In heaven, what will we do with the crowns God has given us? We will cast them before Jesus’ feet (Revelation 4:10), laying them down as a tribute to the One who saved us, gifted us, equipped us, and lived in us. Everything good and right comes to us through the Lord, so He deserves our crowns.
V. Conclusion
So
Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.
Life is hard. It’s full of trials and difficulties. There’s pain and persecution and loss and suffering. But God has a purpose for each of us, and it starts with our sanctification, our spiritual walk. We can consider it all joy knowing that God is in control and He has a plan. Romans 8:28,
And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.
We can’t understand everything that God is doing, but He promises to provide wisdom if we trust in Him and pray to understand. In other words, when life is too hard to stand, then kneel.
To God be the glory. Amen.
Chasing the Wind 
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