James 1:2-12, Faith that Stands the Test

# Faith that Stands the Test
## James 1:2-12

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# What does it mean to have **faith** in Jesus?

[###](#/outline "secret")

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[2](# "ref")
Consider it **pure joy**, my brothers and sisters, 
whenever you face **trials** of many kinds, 
[3](# "ref")
because you know that the 
**testing** of your faith produces **perseverance**.

[4](# "ref")
Let perseverance **finish** its work 
so that you may be **mature** and **complete**, 
not **lacking** anything.

[James 1:2-4 (NIV) (p.1/6)](# "ref")

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[5](# "ref")
If any of you lacks **wisdom**, 
you should **ask God**, who gives **generously** 
to all without finding fault, 
and it will be **given** to you.

[6](# "ref")
But when you ask, 
you must **believe** and not doubt,

[James 1:5-6 (NIV) (p.2/6)](# "ref")

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because the one who **doubts** 
is like a **wave** of the sea, 
**blown** and **tossed** by the wind.

[7](# "ref")
That person should not expect 
to receive anything from the Lord. 
[8](# "ref")
Such a person is **double-minded** 
and **unstable** in all they do.

[James 1:6-8 (NIV) (p.3/6)](# "ref")

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[9](# "ref")
Believers in **humble** circumstances 
ought to take **pride** in their **high** position.

[10](# "ref")
But the **rich** should take pride 
in their **humiliation** — 
since they will pass away like a **wild flower**.

[James 1:9-10 (NIV) (p.4/6)](# "ref")

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[11](# "ref")
For the sun rises with **scorching heat** 
and **withers** the plant; 
its **blossom** falls 
and its **beauty** is destroyed.

In the same way, the rich will **fade away** 
even while they go about their **business**.

[James 1:11 (NIV) (p.5/6)](# "ref")

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[12](# "ref")
Blessed is the one 
who **perseveres** under trial 
because, having **stood the test**,

that person will receive the **crown of life** 
that the Lord has promised 
to those who **love him**.

[James 1:12 (NIV) (p.6/6)](# "ref")

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## Faith that Stands the Test
1. **Joy** in Trials [(v2-4)](# "ref")
2. **Wisdom** Given Generously [(v5-8)](# "ref")
3. **Boasting** in Weakness [(v9-12)](# "ref")

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To the **twelve tribes** 
scattered among the **nations**

[James 1:1 (NIV)](# "ref")

>>>
+ audience: **Christians**
  + amid **persecution**
+ "scattered" (τῇ  Διασπορᾷ)
+ after **Stephen**'s stoning (Ac7):

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On that day a **great persecution** broke out 
against the **church** in Jerusalem,

and all except the apostles 
were **scattered** throughout Judea and Samaria.

Those who had been scattered 
**preached the word** wherever they went.

[Acts 8:1 (NIV)](# "ref")

>>>
+ **Saul** going door-to-door
  + prison, forfeiture, threat to family
+ But God used to spread **gospel**
+ trials: threat to **std of living**
  + **accustomed**: my life, school, work, time

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whenever you *face* **trials** of **many kinds**

[James 1:2 (NIV)](# "ref")

>>>
+ *face*: fall around: **encounter**
  + **innocently**: robbers, ship + rock
  + not due to own **sin**
  + not that we **pursue**
+ *trials* (πειρασμοῖς): **test**, tempt
  + v13: not **from** God, but allowed
+ *many kinds*: diverse sort

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**Consider** it pure **joy**

[James 1:2 (NIV)](# "ref")

>>>
+ *consider*: deem, lead: **assess** + **decide**
+ *pure*: **all**: of the trial
+ *joy*: Gr: inner happiness, pleasure
  + NT: **grace**, fruit of HS
  + from **trust** in God's **goodness**

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**testing** of your faith produces **perseverance**

[James 1:3 (NIV)](# "ref")

>>>
+ *testing* (δοκίμιον): not same as trial/tempt
  + **proof**, reliable, esteemed
+ *perseverance*: **remain** under
+ ⇒ **mature** + complete

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In this you **rejoice**, 
though now for a little while, if necessary, 
you have been **grieved** by various **trials**,

[1 Peter 1:6 (ESV) (p.1/2)](# "ref")

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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.

[1 Peter 1:7 (ESV) (p.2/2)](# "ref")

>>>
+ *tested genuineness*: δοκίμιον
  + testing of your faith
+ result in **praise** when Christ appears

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# Has my **faith** in Christ ever been **tested**?

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## Faith that Stands the Test
1. Joy in Trials [(v2-4)](# "ref")
2. **Wisdom Given Generously** [(v5-8)](# "ref")
3. Boasting in Weakness [(v9-12)](# "ref")

---

If any of you lacks **wisdom**, 
you should **ask God**, who gives **generously** 
to all without **finding fault**

[James 1:5 (NIV)](# "ref")

>>>
+ *wisdom*: not just calc exam
  + **respond** w/grace+truth to scoffers
+ *ask God*: simple enough, but
  + we turn **elsewhere**:
  + self, friends, books, Google
  + ⇒ **ack** I lack wisdom
  + ⇒ **trust** God will give
+ *generously* (ἁπλῶς): whole, open heart
+ *finding fault* (διακρινόμενος): judge back/forth
  + **reproach** (NAS/ESV), upbraid (KJV)
  + discrimination, **partiality**
  + **hesitation**, wavering
+ ⇒ **character** of God

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the one who **doubts** 
is like a **wave** of the sea, 
**blown** and **tossed** by the wind.

[7](# "ref")
... Such a person is **double-minded** 
and **unstable** in all they do.

[James 1:6-7 (NIV)](# "ref")

>>>
+ *doubt* (διακρινόμενος): v5 "finding fault"
  + **judge**/reproach God
+ *blown/tossed*: stir by wind
+ *double-minded* (δίψυχος): two psyches
  + vs God's **generosity** (whole)
+ *unstable* (ἀκατάστατος):
  + unable to **stand** firm
  + in all his **roads** (ways)

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"**If** you can do anything, 
**take pity** on us and **help us**."

“'If you can?'” said Jesus. 
“**Everything** is possible for one who **believes**.”

Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, 
“I **do** believe; **help me** overcome my **unbelief**!”

[Mark 9:22-24 (NIV)](# "ref")

>>>
+ boy possessed
+ not **strength** of our belief
  + but **object** of our faith
+ faith in God's **generosity** means
  + trusting God does what He **promises**
  + **obeying** what God asks of us
+ esp when it seems He **isn't** answering!

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# Do I **believe** God is **generous**?

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## Faith that Stands the Test
1. Joy in Trials [(v2-4)](# "ref")
2. Wisdom Given Generously [(v5-8)](# "ref")
3. **Boasting in Weakness** [(v9-12)](# "ref")

---

Believers in **humble** circumstances 
ought to take **pride** in their **high** position.

[10](# "ref")
But the **rich** should take pride 
in their **humiliation**

[James 1:9-10 (NIV)](# "ref")

>>>
+ *pride*: boast
+ *humiliation*: lowness

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“My **grace** is **sufficient** for you, 
for **my power** is made perfect in **weakness**.”

Therefore I will **boast** all the more gladly 
about my **weaknesses**, 
so that **Christ’s power** may rest on me.

[2 Corinthians 12:9 (NIV) (p.1/2)](# "ref")

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That is why, for **Christ’s sake**, 
I delight in **weaknesses**, in insults, 
in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties.

For when I am **weak**, then I am **strong**.

[2 Corinthians 12:10 (NIV) (p.2/2)](# "ref")

>>>
+ the **stronger** we are
  + i.e., reliant on self
+ the **weaker** we deem God to be
+ **humble** ourselves (4:10)
  + He will lift us up

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Blessed is the one who 
**perseveres** under **trial**

because, having **stood** the test, 
that person will receive the **crown of life**

[James 1:12 (NIV)](# "ref")

>>>
+ promised to those who **love** Him
+ **Faith** in Christ means
  + yielding **control**
  + enduring **suffering** for Christ
  + boasting in our **weaknesses**
+ But there is a **reward**
  + Not just later in **heaven**:

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We also **glory** in our **sufferings**,

because we know that 
suffering produces **perseverance**; 
perseverance, **character**; 
and character, **hope**.

[Romans 5:3-4 (NIV) (p.1/2)](# "ref")

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And hope does not put us to **shame**,

because **God’s love** has been poured out 
into our hearts through the **Holy Spirit**, 
who has been given to us.

[Romans 5:5 (NIV) (p.2/2)](# "ref")

>>>
+ HS as **down-payment**

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# Do I **boast** in my own **weaknesses**?

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Blessed is the one 
who **perseveres** under trial 
because, having **stood the test**,

that person will receive the **crown of life** 
that the Lord has promised 
to those who **love him**.

[James 1:12 (NIV)](# "ref")

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