Articles and Notes
James 1:12-15
Day 1
[Jas 1:12-15 NKJV] 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.
2. Look up the definitions of the following words in a concordance or an expository dictionary so that you have a deeper understanding of their meaning.
a. Endures - perseveres
b. Tried
c. Drawn away
d. Lust
e. Sin
3. What do we learn from Psalm 119:133 that will keep us from being dominated by the power of sin?
As the Holy Spirit indwells, the domination of sin will subside.
[Psa 119:133 NKJV] 133 Direct my steps by Your word, And let no iniquity have dominion over me.
[Gal 5:16 NKJV] 16 I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.
4. Choose a verse to memorize this week. (like James 1:13-15)
James 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.
Day 2
2. James 1:12 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.
3. In this verse we are given an awesome incentive for perseverance and a guaranteed promise to those who love Him. The rewards of the testing of our faith are both present and future. The man who endures the trying of his faith will see fruit now and in eternity. What more do we learn about the present and future outcome of victorious endurance through testing?
a. [Mar 10:29-30 NKJV] 29 So Jesus answered and said, "Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My sake and the gospel's, 30 "who shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time--houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions--and in the age to come, eternal life.
b. [Rom 8:16-18 NKJV] 16 The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs--heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with [Him], that we may also be glorified together. 18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy [to be compared] with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
c. [1Pe 1:6-9 NKJV] 6 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 that the genuineness of your faith, [being] much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, 8 whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see [Him], yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, 9 receiving the end of your faith--the salvation of [your] souls.
d. [Jas 1:2-4 NKJV] 2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have [its] perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.
4. According to James 1:12 the blessed person is the one who endures. What does the word endure signify to you? Suffer patiently.
What do the following Scriptures teach us about endurance?
a. [Mat 24:9-13 NKJV] 9 "Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name's sake. 10 "And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another. 11 "Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. 12 "And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. 13 "But he who endures to the end shall be saved.
b. [2Ti 2:3-5 NKJV] 3 You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. 4 No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of [this] life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier. 5 And also if anyone competes in athletics, he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules.
c. [Heb 11:24-27 NKJV] 24 By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, 25 choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, 26 esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward. 27 By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured as seeing Him who is invisible.
By faith, though it may be painful, in the invisible God rather than earthly riches.
d. [Heb 12:1-4 NKJV] 1 Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares [us], and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of [our] faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls. 4 You have not yet resisted to bloodshed, striving against sin.
If you become discouraged, think of what Jesus endured.
5. The term 'crown of life' is used symbolically here meaning eternal life with the Lord. What is the motivating factor that causes the believer to endure or persevere under trials?
Eternal life with God.
What will be the obvious outward proof in your daily life that you will be receiving the crown of life?
Your actions will be more like Jesus than the old man.
a. [Jhn 14:15 NKJV] 15 "If you love Me, keep My commandments. ...
b. John 14:21 "He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him."
c. [Jhn 15:10-12 NKJV] 10 "If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love. 11 "These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and [that] your joy may be full. 12 "This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.
d. [1Jo 2:3-6 NKJV] 3 Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. 4 He who says, "I know Him," and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 5 But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him. 6 He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.
6.
Day 3
3. 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.
In verses 13-15, James used the same basic Greek word for tempted that he used for trials in verses 2 and 12. But this time he moves from the noun, peirasmos, to the verb, peirazo. When he does this, it seems that he changes the use of peiramos from external trials or testing (vs. 2,12) to inward temptations or solicitations to do evil (vs. 13-17). What is the natural tendency of man when faced with sin?
Not to resist it. Enjoy it.
Blaming began very early in the history of mankind. Record the details of the first recorded blame-shifting incident from Genesis 3:11-13. Have you been guilty of this common practice of sin today?
[Gen 3:11-13 NKJV] 11 And He said, "Who told you that you [were] naked? Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you that you should not eat?" 12 Then the man said, "The woman whom You gave [to be] with me, she gave me of the tree, and I ate." 13 And the LORD God said to the woman, "What [is] this you have done?" The woman said, "The serpent deceived me, and I ate."
4. We must never say, or even imagine, that God is tempting us. He never has and He never will. What do the following Scriptures teach us about the character of God and how do they remind you that God cannot tempt you to evil?
a. [Lev 11:45 NKJV] 45 'For I [am] the LORD who brings you up out of the land of Egypt, to be your God. You shall therefore be holy, for I [am] holy.
b. [Deu 32:4 NKJV] 4 [He is] the Rock, His work [is] perfect; For all His ways [are] justice, A God of truth and without injustice; Righteous and upright [is] He.
c. [Rev 15:3-4 NKJV] 3 They sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying: "Great and marvelous [are] Your works, Lord God Almighty! Just and true [are] Your ways, O King of the saints! 4 Who shall not fear You, O Lord, and glorify Your name? For [You] alone [are] holy. For all nations shall come and worship before You, For Your judgments have been manifested."
5. It is important we see that we have the responsibility to choose how we react to every circumstance in our lives. A particular circumstance that God allows to test our faith (approve, reveal) may be turned into a temptation to sin depending on how we react to that circumstance. We have been given a promise of escape and all the needed provision to do so. What powerful reminders do we find in these promises?
a. [1Co 10:13 NKJV] 13 No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God [is] faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear [it].
b. [Eph 6:12-13 NKJV] 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual [hosts] of wickedness in the heavenly [places]. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
c. [Phl 2:13 NKJV] 13 for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for [His] good pleasure.
6.
Day 4
2. [Jas 1:14 NKJV] 14 But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed.
3.