In Verse 12 James puts the finishing touches on the thought he began in [v.2] where he called on believers to assign difficult times as joyful for two reasons:
ONE…because our faith only grows stronger when tested by trials.
SECONDLY…because God blesses those who go through trials.
Blessed is the man who endures…for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. (v12)
TWO THINGS
First…Something we fail to recognize is that God rewards us here on earth… it’s referred to in the Bible as being blessed…God can’t help Himself…there are 79 verses in the Bible about God’s blessings.
Problem is we get so caught up and focused on the rewards and promises of Heaven that we overlook the blessings He gives us while still on earth.
‘Blessing’ in the Greek means more than simply being happy…a ‘blessed’ person is a privileged recipient of God’s favor…that’s why God blesses us…it is God’s plan to bless people so that they will bless others.
Just looking at your individual gifts…skills…experiences…or resources…that God has blessed you with in your life so that you could help others.
For when he has been approved…stating the purpose of God in allowing trials and temptations…it’s to approve us…that through testing we would be found to be genuine and strong in our faith.
These blessings are not only for the distant future but also for the here and now…it’s the inner joy that is undisturbed by outward circumstances.
When we embrace problems and truly search for the reason we are experiencing them…afterwards we see they were opportunities for personal growth and spiritual enrichment which they produced in us.
Secondly…something that goes along with the blessing we receive here on earth…are the rewards God has prepared for us in Heaven.
When we trust God in the midst of our everyday trials and difficulties, we have the promise we will receive the ‘crown of life’.
The Bible mentions rewards in heaven multiple times (Matthew 5:12; Luke 6:23, 35; 1 Corinthians 3:14; 9:18)…but why…won’t being in heaven with God be good enough?
…experiencing Him…and His glory…it’s hard to understand why rewards would be needed…really…what have I done during my time on earth that would merit additional rewards?
God will give rewards in heaven at the judgment seat of Christ to Christians based on our faithfulness in service to Him.
For a few minutes I want to talk about the rewards awaiting us in Heaven.
The treasures and rewards God has waiting for us are not like the rewards we think of on earth…we tend to think in material terms…like mansions…but the rewards we receive in heaven will be based on:
1) our faithfulness in service to God [2 Cor. 5:10] and 2) it’s God making good on His promise that our labor was not in vain ]1 Cor. 15:58].
The Bible mentions five heavenly crowns that will be awarded to believers… crowns that will be given to SOME of God’s people when they enter into heaven.
These crowns are given in addition to other treasures that believers will be given on that ‘day.’
The crown James is referring to in [12] is the ‘Crown of Life’ which at first glance appears to be referring to eternal life…BUT…eternal life is not earned…it comes by faith in Jesus.
SO…what is the purpose of the crown of life…it is given to those who faithfully and patiently trusted in God during hardships…who not only persevered in trials…but most notably for those who were persecuted for Jesus even to the point of death.
Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life. [Rev. 2:10]
Then there’s the Crown of Victory or as Paul refers to it…the incorruptible crown …that is given to those who have strived to be obedient in their Christian walk.
Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever [1 Cor. 9:25].
Being obedient means holding fast without wavering in our profession of faith.
Doesn’t mean they’re sin-free…no one is…here Paul is talking about self-control.
I discipline my body and make it my slave [1 Cor. 9:25]…emphasizing the need that we should make use of all possible means to subdue our carnal urges …our faith must be kept pure and incorrupt against all opposition.
It might be what we refer to as a genuine Christian…who is that person:
…it’s someone who has made a profession of faith in Jesus
…who demonstrates true faith by an ongoing love for God
…a love that cannot be damaged…destroyed…or compromised by troubles…or afflictions
Then there’s the Crown of Rejoicing. It is given to those who engage in evangelism…who have witnessed to others and who have built up the church.
What will be our proud reward and crown as we stand before Jesus when he returns? It is you! [1 Thessalonians 2:19].
In addition is the Crown of Righteousness that is given to every person who is rejoicing in the anticipation of Jesus’ return.
there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness which the Lord will give to all who have loved His appearing.” [2 Tim. 4:8]
Then there’s a Crown of Glory given to those in the Church who have been placed there to be in service to God …pastors… prophets… evangelists… teachers … ministers… every person who has shepherd the flock of God properly.
When the Chief Shepherd appears you will receive the unfading crown of glory [1 Peter 5:4].
These crowns collectively represent our tangible rewards which we will receive in the Kingdom.
BUT…Jesus also said that there are degrees of rewards in Heaven…Jesus clearly told His followers they would be rewarded according to their deeds.
If you do a lot with what God has given you, you will get a greater reward in Heaven…
For the Son of Man is going to come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and will repay every man according to what he has done (Matt 16:27).
We see this emphasized in Jesus’ Parable of the Talents…a story that reveals the importance of using what God has gifted us with to further God’s kingdom on earth.
Each person from the time of creation has been entrusted with a gift…as such we will be held responsible for how we used that gift.
Paul reinforces this idea by stating that Jesus…will render to every man according to his deeds [Rom. 2:5] …here’s the warning…if you squander what God has given you; don’t be surprised to find that your rewards are few.
Need to remember that God does not render salvation according to our deeds or anything that we do…so what is He repaying? ….He’s rendering rewards and treasures according to our deeds…as our deeds increase our rewards increase.
After stressing the importance of enduring trials…beginning in [13] James directs his readers towards something that as a Christian…will stunt our spiritual growth if you do not learn this Biblical truth.
13 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. 14 But each one is tempted when he is drawn away and enticed by his own lust. 15 Then when lust has conceived, it brings forth sin; and sin, when it is accomplished brings forth death. 16 Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers.
Allow me to state the obvious.
You cannot enjoy blessings from God if you do not learn to overcome temptation.
The excuse is …’God, you know I’m weak in that area of my life…just can’t help myself’…that won’t cut it…we can’t blame God for our temptations…because the source of sin is not God.
Notice how James is eliminating the possibilities of who could be responsible for temptations and sin…he doesn’t even mention Satan…the Flip Wilson excuse of ‘the Devil made me do it’ doesn’t apply…he’s also excluded as the source of sin.
Since God cannot be responsible for making me sin…and Satan is not even mentioned…James reveals the origin of evil and temptations…it’s our own hearts… so…the only one left on the list for being responsible for sin is us [14].
Each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust.
Bible does not say that God punished the human race for man’s sin but the nature of sin.
It’s the sin nature in man that makes us rebel against God…we have a natural inclination to sin…the Bible speaks of ‘sinful flesh’ …it’s our ‘earthly nature’ that produces sin…SO…what was…and what is…the single ‘sin’ that causes us to rebel?
It’s my claim to my right to control myself…the nature of self-sufficiency which leads me to say—I am my own god—Sin is deliberate and determined independence from God.
Given the choice to do God’s will or our own…because of our sin nature… we will naturally choose to do our own will.
With devastating results…
and sin, when accomplished brings forth death. 6 Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers.
By supposing that God is the author of sin, people can justify their evil actions… James here is stating the source of sin…that sin originates in the heart and in the mind…by pointing out the origin of sin he’s established that sin is not to be traced to God…but to man himself…as a result we are not to be deceived.
We see the downward spiral that is the result of sin…
when lust has conceived, it brings forth sin; and sin when it is accomplished brings forth death. (v15)
Death… I hate it…death is the result of sin…Bible says so… ‘for the wages of sin is death’ [Rom. 6:23] …that in a nutshell is the reason that we all will someday die…unless Jesus comes back…and just looking at Scripture…I think that is in the distant future.
So…until then the whole world is subject to death…God gave clear warning to Adam that the penalty for disobedience would be death… ‘you will surely die’ [Gen 2:17]…here’s where things become complicated.
Did Adam immediately die?…Yes and No.
Adam immediately experienced spiritual death which caused him to hide from God…some people spend their entire lives hiding from God…later Adam experienced physical death [Gen 5:5] and because we are all descendants of Adam we all will experience death as well.
It’s something I allude to in every funeral I preach…because we have received from Adam the inherent propensity to defy God and His commandments as a result of being Adam’s descendants, we all will experience death.
Here’s the key…16 Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers.
That is the problem…the world has been deceived by Satan since Adam and Eve…a deception that has been to convince the world that ‘you will not surely die’ [Gen. 3:4].
BUT… Jesus Himself discussed a time when He will separate the ‘sheep from the goats’ …referring to those who have been declared righteous by their faith in Him as Savior will spend eternity with Him—the sheep—and those who have rejected Him –the goats—who will be eternally separated from Him.
Well how mean is that…it’s not…God takes no pleasure in the death of anyone [Ezekiel 33:11] not wanting anyone to perish [2 Peter 3:9] …and because He is not the author of sin…what comes as a result of sin…which is death…is people’s own fault.
For the unsaved person…death brings to an end the chance to accept God’s gracious offer of salvation [Heb. 9:27] …BUT for the saved death ushers us into the presence of Jesus [2 Cor. 5:8 / Phil. 1:23] and the promise of going to a time when ‘there shall be no more death’ [Rev. 21:4].
James has shared the blessings that come from enduring trials…and the harsh reality that accompanies sin…not that that God wills it…desires it…or takes pleasure in it…but it is a revelation of God’s character and His strong feelings of hostility…disgust…and utter dislike for sin. WHY…
God hates sin because sin separates us from Him.
God hates sin because of its deceitfulness to focus on worldly pleasure.
God hates sin because it blinds us to the truth.
God hates sin because it enslaves us and will eventually destroy us.
God hates sin because it lessens our love for Him.
That is why God is so desirous that all men come to a saving knowledge of Jesus for salvation…coupled with the importance of enduring in faith so one day He can reward us for our effort.