THE BOOK OF JAMES
(The Christian and Trials (Part 1) - February 26, 2023)
Series Big Idea: "Genuine Christian faith is proven true through testing and trial "
Sermon Big Idea: “God's process of making us like Christ must happen"
Key Scripture (James 1:1-4)
James is one of the earliest written books of the NT and possibly the first to be written. After the murder of Stephen, who was a Greek-speaking Jew and one of the first appointed Christian deacons, the religious leaders in Jerusalem began persecuting anyone who followed Christ, especially Jewish Christians. The persecution intensified, and this caused them to scatter and seek protection. These persecuted Jewish believers did not have the support of locally established congregations such as we have today. James, who was the half-brother of Jesus, was the leader of the Jerusalem church at this time and was concerned with their well-being and attempted to encourage them in their faith during this time of persecution.
(James 1:1-4)
1 James, a slave of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ: To the 12 tribes in the Dispersion. Greetings. 2 Consider it a great joy, my brothers, whenever you experience various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. 4 But endurance must do its complete work, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing.
James opens this letter with humility (James 1:1) by calling himself a slave or bondservant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ. Without humility it would be difficult to accept some of the things James discussed in this book such as tongues, favoritism, conflicts, and quarrels. He shows us in the very first verse that the most important thing in his life was his faith in Christ. To him, nothing else matters.
We too should have this attitude. We need Jesus. The Bible is very clear on this subject. We enter this world as sinners at birth (Romans 3:23). Because of our sin we are unworthy to enter Father God's presence. There must be something that cleanses us and presents us as worthy. That something is the blood of Christ that washes away our sin (1 John 1:7) (1 Peter 1:19). We shouldn’t put our faith and allegiance in anything or anyone else. If you have been saved by His precious blood, Jesus washed away your sin. He washed away your past. He does this by placing the debt of sin we owe on His only Son and at that moment declares us righteous in His sight (Colossians 2:14) (2 Corinthians 5:21). Doesn’t it make you thankful that although he knows your past, he still wants us as His sons and daughters.
After laying the foundation of salvation in no one else but Jesus in verse 1, James addresses the trials that these new Christians are experiencing. He begins to encourage them in verse 2. As we examine this text, I believe the first question that needs to be answered is, “What is the reason for test or trials?” Why does God allow it?
We find out that God wants to make us less like us and more like Jesus. Think about John the Baptist and the torture he endured and yet he said, “He must increase, and I must decrease” (John 3:30). Think about the Apostle Paul who endured possibly more mistreatment than anyone besides Jesus in the New Testament. Paul had been saved and called to be an Apostle for Christ (Acts 9:1-22) and through his lifetime would experience beatings, shipwrecks, stonings, and many other horrible things (2 Corinthians 11:16-33). We can’t and never should paint Christianity as a rosey picture. We will endure suffering. When you accept Christ, you are accepting the invitation for a new master in your life. He is going to be the boss. He is not just going to be a Mr. fixit or handy man. Jesus came down to be the Lord of your life! Paul said he died to Christ every day.
Coming to Christ doesn’t guarantee a happy life on earth, but it does guarantee His presence with you all the way (Acts 5:32). James says in these verse that tests and trials are necessary for us to be complete and mature, lacking nothing. God’s plan is not to make us happy but to make us holy.
Conclusion:
This is a tough section of Scripture, isn’t it? How are we supposed to be joyful when trials come our way? I will be honest with you, I’m not going to be the first one to raise my hand and say pick me, pick me Lord. I’m not going to say please Lord send me a storm. But the fact of the matter is that I know it is going to be a part of my life as a Christian.
He is not allowing it because He has an axe to grind with you. He is not allowing it to make fun of us. He doesn’t get a thrill out of seeing us stumble around. He loves us! He knows the only way to mature us and make us complete as Christians is to strip us down in the flesh and to use spiritual sandpaper and a chisel and a hammer to chip away who I am and to fill me with who Christ is.
The Book of James is meant for Christians. Sure, it is a very practical book and anyone including non- Christians could benefit from its words. But remember what I said earlier in the sermon. We enter this world as sinners at birth (Romans 3:23). Because of our sin we are unworthy to enter Father God's presence. There must be something that cleanses us and presents us as worthy. It is the blood of Christ that washes away our sin (1 John 1:7) (1 Peter 1:19). He does this by placing the debt of sin we owe on His only Son and at that moment declares us righteous in His sight (Colossians 2:14) (2 Corinthians 5:21). My prayer is that when God’s Holy Spirit convicts you of your sin (John 16:8-15), you accept the forgivness of your sins and repent. (Romans 10:13) “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
Pastor Beaver's thoughts and ideas are inspired by:
Holman Christian Standard Bible
English Standard Version Bible
King James Version Bible
Christian Standard Bible
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