January 27, 2019
James 1:2-4 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
Hebrews 12:1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
Hebrews 12:28 Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:
Heb 6:17- 20 Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath: That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us: Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil; Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec. (Side note: the two immutable things are His Word and His Oath)
These verses are all connected by Grace and Faith. In fact, Faith and Grace are always connected. And our life operates by Grace through Faith. Romans 10:16-17. But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report? So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. But I say, Have they not heard? Yes verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world. It is not the sound of the words but the message the words contained that is to be believed and not be rejected, "So then faith is by hearing, and hearing by the word of God"
To welcome our trials with all joy is not humanly possible. [1]How unnatural this is to the human heart is obvious. We usually greet troubles with distress and complaining! Clearly James is exhorting these believers to view these hard times with the eye of faith and remembering they have been brought into grace. And since he is writing to his brethren, he is writing to us for we are his brethren by faith in Christ.
The trials and difficult times in our life have a divine purpose. They cause us to seek help from the LORD. You do not overcome trials! You are to be an overcomer in trials. You submit to the LORD in trials. How? By asking God for wisdom: Jas 1:5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
As a Child of God, we have been by the Gift of Grace brought into Grace, Romans 5:2. I call it Standing in Grace. "By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God." 2Co_9:8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:
James 1:18 and James 1:21 are teaching two different truths about salvation. 1:18 is about the gift of Eternal Salvation. Saved by Grace through Faith, James 1:18, Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures. 1 Peter 1:23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. Man, by his own will cannot create the Gift of Eternal Life, saving faith is a faith that receives the truth spoken in His Word, "Romans 4:21 And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform. Christ made this promise, Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life. Joh 6:47
He guarantees the promise because He did the work. John 19:30 "….It is finished…." See Romans 5:15. Notice it is called, "……. the free gift…", "…..the grace of God…" "… and the gift by grace", "…..by the one man Jesus Christ" Rom 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
1:21 Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. "engrafted word," It is implanted; divinely given, not acquired by human means, It is the divine work of the Holy Spirit as given in 1 Peter 1:23 and continues in our life as seen in Col.2:11
In our temptations, trials, our testing we are standing in grace and by Christ we have access into this grace. We have grace to run the race, Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: let us have grace" is not saying we do not have grace but rather since we are in an endless ocean of grace let us live from it in our lives. See Titus 3:1-8
Access to the throne of grace, Heb.4:16. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
The purpose of the testing is to produce patient/endurance, Pro.24:10. If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small. Why does He do this? Eph.2:10. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. 2 Tim. 2:3 Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. 2Ti 2:4 No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.
It is the LORD's desire that we receive the "Crown of Life" Heb_10:38 Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.
- There is no other way to live, Heb. 10:38 establishes our manner of life in trials and testing. Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.
- Trials and testing come from the Love of God, James 1:12, Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.
- He wants you to receive the crown of life. Crown of life speaks to a quality of life in heaven!
- Read the verse carefully, , Blessed (supremely blest or fortunate) is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried (approved by the trial) (After you have been approved you get the crown of life), he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.
Loving Christ is the secret to standing up under testing and trials for the "Crown of Life",
which the Lord hath promised to them that love him. [2] God knew His Son was going to be beaten beyond recognition and crucified for our sins yet He still gave His Son. What kind of love is this? It is an amazing and unconditional love for you and for me that can only come from the heart of God.
Yes, affirm constantly this faithful saying and these things I will that thou affirm constantly: the truth about the kindness and love of God and the grace of God as given in Titus 3: 4,5 and 6. That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. Tit 3:7, e.g. v 8) This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that (in order or the result of v-4-6) they which have believed in God might be careful ( [3]might have a thought approach to maintaining good works) to maintain good works. These things (good works) are good and profitable unto men.
The grace and Love of God is the motivation to live for Him.
Yes, affirm constantly this faithful saying and these things I will that thou affirm constantly: the truth about the kindness and love of God and the grace of God as given in Titus 3: 4,5 and 6. That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. Tit 3:7, e.g. v 8) This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that (in order or the result of v-4-6) they which have believed in God might be careful ( [4]might have a thought approach to maintaining good works) to maintain good works. These things (good works) are good and profitable unto men.
The grace and Love of God is the motivation to live for Him.
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