The Epistle of
James
Lesson 2
“The Testing of Your Faith”
(Continued)
James 1:12-27
1
“The Christian’s Problem-Solving Process”
Problem--- (One of the various trials of life)
Faith in Word--- (Trust in God’s Word)
Pray for Wisdom--- (Ask God without doubting)
Seek Wisdom--- (Study His Word)
Act/React--- (Apply His solution)
Solution (Righteous ending)
“Patience” (endurance) must be present in all of
these steps
3
The Man Who Endures Temptation…
 …is blessed
 “When he has been approved, he will receive the
crown of life” (1:12)
 The only worthwhile goal for the rich or the poor
is God’s “crown of life”
 “The Lord has promised [the crown of life] to
those who love Him”
4
Question
5. Describe the process of sin that results in
spiritual death. (vs. 14,15)
14 But
each one is tempted when he is drawn away
by his own desires and enticed. 15 Then, when
desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin,
when it is full-grown, brings forth death.
5
Question
6. Does God use trials in our lives to lead us into
sin? (vs. 13)
13 Let
no one say when he is tempted, “I am
tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by
evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone.
6
Let no one say…
 “…I am tempted by God” (1:13)
 Some might plead the inability to overcome
trials by charging God as their source
 God is not in the business of condemning
souls, but of saving souls!
 The devil “tempts” (Matt. 4:1); God “proves”
(tests)
7
Question
6b. Give three reasons why this would be impossible.
(vs. 13, 17, 18)
13 Let
no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted
by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does
He Himself tempt anyone.
17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above,
and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom
there is no variation or shadow of turning. 18 Of His
own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that
we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures.
8
The Cycle of Sin (1:14, 15)
 “Each one is tempted when he is drawn away
by his own desires and enticed” (14)
 “Drawn away…and enticed [seduced by
promises or persuasions] ” –
 Satan baits his traps with allurements to draw us
into sin
 Our sinful desires draw us into sinful conduct
 Sinful conduct, if unrepented of and allowed to
spread its influence over our lives, will soon draw
us down into spiritual separation from a God.
9
The Cycle of Sin (1:14, 15)
 All sin stems from human selfishness –
 What pleases them, what they desire, what they
crave, what gratifies them,
 That lust causes the fulfillment of all evil desire
10
The Cycle of Sin (1:14, 15)
“Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to
sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth
death [separation from God].” (15)
 “Lust [evil desire]” – When conceived, bears sin;
when grown, bears death [metaphor of animal
reproduction].
 This is in direct conflict with spiritual living.
 “Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren.” (16)
11
The Cycle of Sin (1:14, 15)
Tempted
Drawn Away
Enticed
Desire Conceived
Gives Birth to Sin
Sin becomes full-grown
Death
“For the wages of sin is death [separation from
God].” (Rom. 6:23)
12
The Father of Lights…
 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from
above (17)
 There is no variation or shadow of turning
 Of His own will He brought us forth by the
word of truth (18)
 We are a kind of firstfruits [best] of His creatures
 This plan can be accomplished only when we
follow His word
 Any negative outcomes to our problems spring
from within ourselves – not from God
13
Question
7. What negative response to trials do men often
make? (vs. 20)
Instead, what three responses should we make
in an effort to overcome our trials? (vs. 19)
20 for
the wrath of man does not produce the
righteousness of God.
19 So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be
swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath;
14
Let Every Man Be… (1:19)
 Swift to hear
 What God’s wisdom (word) advises in each
situation
 Slow to speak
 (Determine) solutions based on our own wisdom
 Slow to wrath
 Against God or man because of frustration,
anxiety, or disappointment
 For the wrath of man does not produce the
righteousness of God (1:20)
15
Question
filthiness and
8. Sinners must reject ____________
wickedness
_______________
and receive the
implanted
word in order to overcome
____________
________
sin (vs. 21; also, see Luke 8:11,15)
21 Therefore
lay aside all filthiness and overflow of
wickedness, and receive with meekness the
implanted word, which is able to save your souls.
16
The Implanted Word… (1:21)
 Is able to save your soul
 God’s truth is the sole remedy for all our
problems
 It can do its work in us only when we use it
properly in the problem-solving process:
1. We must receive it with meekness.
a. Sins and problems must be acknowledged;
2. We must be proactive in applying God’s wisdom
to our problems
a.
Work is involved in applying heavenly wisdom!
17
Question
9. What illustration is used by James to emphasize
the necessity of obeying God’s word? (vs. 23-25)
23 For
if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a
doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a
mirror; 24 for he observes himself, goes away, and
immediately forgets what kind of man he was.
25 But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty
and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but
a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what
he does.
18
Not Hearers Only… (1:22)
 He deceives himself
 He is like a man observing his natural face in a
mirror
 He observes himself, goes away, and immediately
forgets what kind of man he was
 God’s “mirror” will not resolve problems if its
solutions are not applied to those problems
19
Be Doers of the Word… (1:25)
 He who looks into the perfect law of liberty
 Continues in it, and
 Is not a forgetful hearer
 A doer of the work will be blessed in what he
does
20
Question
10. What connection might there be between
trials and the tongue? (vs. 26,13)
26 If
anyone among you thinks he is religious, and
does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own
heart, this one’s religion is useless.
13 Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am
tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by
evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone.
21
Two Classes of “Religious” People… (1:26)
1. Those who think they are religiously
acceptable to God
 An uncontrolled tongue [unbridled], especially in
those who encourage human solutions to men’s
problems
 He deceives his own heart
 Characteristic of teachers whose guidance offers no
truly “religious” solutions to men’s trials
 (We will study more about the tongue in chapter 3)
2. Those who are acceptable
22
Pure and Undefiled Religion Before God…
 Action to give assistance to the underprivileged
[widows and orphans] (1:27)
 These are doers of the work and really religious
 Action to keep oneself unspotted from the
world
 “Pure religion” involves personal morality
 Do we “think” we are religious [hearers only] or
are we really religious [hearers and doers]?
23
Question
10b. Between obedience and the tongue? (vs. 27)
26 If
anyone among you thinks he is religious, and
does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own
heart, this one’s religion is useless.
27 Pure
and undefiled religion before God and the
Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their
trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the
world.
24
James 1:12-15 (NKJ)
Motivation to endure temptation
12 Blessed
is the man who endures temptation; for when he has
been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord
has promised to those who love Him. 13 Let no one say when he
is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted
by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. 14 But each one is
tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and
enticed. 15 Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to
sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.
25
James 1:16-18 (NKJ)
God is NOT the source of temptations
16 Do
not be deceived, my beloved brethren. 17 Every good gift
and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the
Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of
turning. 18 Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of
truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures.
26
James 1:19-21 (NKJ)
Three attitudes to cultivate
19 So
then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear,
slow to speak, slow to wrath; 20 for the wrath of man does not
produce the righteousness of God.
Implant the word to save your souls
21 Therefore
lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness,
and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to
save your souls.
27
James 1:22-25 (NKJ)
Be doers of the word
22 But
be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving
yourselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer,
he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; 24 for he
observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind
of man he was. 25 But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty
and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the
work, this one will be blessed in what he does.
28
James 1:26-27 (NKJ)
Pure and undefiled religion
26 If
anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not
bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one’s
religion is useless. 27 Pure and undefiled religion before God
and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their
trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.
29