1 James Class Schedule

2 Greetings and Intro to testing of your Faith 1 James, a bond-servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes who are dispersed abroad: Greetings. 2 Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. 4 And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. 1.How can we consider it joyful when we encounter trials in our lives ? 2.What is the Greek word for “trials”* in v:2 ? 3.What is the Greek word for “testing”* in v:3 ? 4.Why is it important to know that God’s plan for testing is to produce endurance ? 5.What does it mean to be perfect and complete ? * NASB translation

3 Observe the good the Lord performs with your temptations His desire is for you to “count it all joy” (He has a purpose) He wants you to know (completely understand) His purpose He will use the temptation (view toward failure) as a test (view toward approval) of your faith He expects & desires you to abide by faith in His truth He then produces His patience in you His patience matures you spiritually His patience stabilizes you & supplies all your needs in your temptations TEMPTATIONS 14 MAR HAL MOLLOY

4 Temptation in the Christian Life 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 carried away and enticed by his own lust. 15 Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death. 1.Why cannot God be tempted by evil ? 2.What tells us that God does not tempt anyone ? 3.What are the two aspects of temptation from v:14 ? 4. What is the source of our temptation ? 5.What happens when lust has conceived ? 6.What kind of death is spoken of in v:15 ?

5 “But each one is tempted when he is carried (drawn) away and enticed by his own lust (desire).” Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death.” THE PROCESS OF BEING TEMPTED : (passive voice - we are acted upon) Desire - out from one’s sin nature Drawn away - “to draw or induce” (a believer away from abiding in Christ) Enticed - “to lure by bait” (a fishing term) in the process of “drawing away” Conception - “becoming pregnant” (by taking the bait) – it’s irreversible Birth - the baby is sin (missing the mark of God’s glory) Death - “Separation” or loss of fellowship with Christ (not loss of salvation) TEMPTATION - JAMES 1: MAR HAL MOLLOY

6 TRIALS AND SUFFERING THE TEMPTATION PROCESS 7 MAR HAL MOLLOY

7 TRIALS AND SUFFERING THE TEMPTATION PROCESS 7 MAR HAL MOLLOY

8 THE TEMPTATION PROCESS Rom 6:11; Col 3:25; Gal 5:24 7 MAR HAL MOLLOY

9 “tempted” (peirasmos) = A solicitation to sin with a view toward failure What is the source of our temptations (solicitations to sin) ? Answer: The text says: “ his own lust” –“lust” ( epithymia) - means desire or longing –“lust” (desire) is used two ways in scripture: In a good sense - e.g. Paul’s “desire to be with Christ” - Phil 1:23 In a bad sense (most usages in NT) - e.g. “evil desire” - Col 3:5 –“lust” (desire) in James 1:14 is used in a bad sense –the source of our desires (bad) are from our sin nature - Gal 5:17 –Therefore the ultimate source of temptations is our sin nature - there are many external influences (solicitations to sin) - it is not the external thing itself that tempts us-it is our reaction to it - external things do not become personal temptations unless the sin nature desires to pursue them TEMPTATION - JAMES 1: MAR HAL MOLLOY

10 Temptation: peirasmos verses dokimos * (trials/temptations) (testing) * 13 NOV 1994 Hal Molloy

11 TRIALS AND SUFFERING 14 MAR HAL MOLLOY God’s Work Uses the temptation (peirasmos) as a test (dokimos) of your faith TEST OF YOUR FAITH YOUR RESPONSE RESULT GOD’S WORK TAKE THE BAIT OR FAITH REST IN THE TRUTH SIN LOSS OF FELLOWSHIP UNREST COUNT IT ALL JOY YOU KNOW HIS PURPOSE REST IMPARTS PATIENCE MATURES YOU SUPPLIES NEEDS CONVICTION

12 TEMPTATION - JAMES 1:2- 4 YOU YOUR RESPONSE : Her Problems Financial Demanding Bad Attitude (Fill in the blank) You React = temptation (peirasmos) Upset Impatient Discouraged Anger TAKE THE BAIT OR FAITH REST IN THE TRUTH God’s Work Uses the temptation as a test (dokimos) of your faith test 7 MAR HAL MOLLOY

13 God’s provision in testing of your Faith 5 But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him. 6 But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For that man ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord, 8 being a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. 1.Is there any doubt that you lack wisdom ? 2.What does it mean to ask in faith ? 3.Why should the man in v:7 not expect to receive anything from the Lord ?

14 The value in the testing of your Faith 9 But the brother of humble circumstances is to glory in his high position; 10 and the rich man is to glory in his humiliation, because like flowering grass he will pass away. 11 For the sun rises with a scorching wind and withers the grass; and its flower falls off and the beauty of its appearance is destroyed; so too the rich man in the midst of his pursuits will fade away. 12 Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. 1.Why does the brother of humble circumstances have a high position ? 2.Why is the rich man in humiliation and his pursuits fading away ? 3.Why is a person persevering under trials considered blessed ? 4. What does it mean to receive the crown of life ?

15 Every perfect gift is from above 16 Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren. 17 Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow. 18 In the exercise of His will He brought us forth by the word of truth, so that we would be a kind of first fruits among His creatures. 1.What are we not to be deceived about ? 2.What is the source of the good thing given and the perfect gift? 3.What does the Father of lights tell us about God ? 4. What is being talked about when he says He brought us forth by the word of truth ?

16 Hearing, speaking and anger in a Christian life 19 This you know, my beloved brethren. But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger; 20 for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God. 21 Therefore, putting aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls. 1.Why should we be quick to hear and slow to speak or anger ? 2.What is the typical result of man’s anger ? 3.Why put aside filthiness and wickedness ? 4. Why do we need humility to receive the word ?

17 Doers of the Word 22 But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror; 24 for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was. 1.What is another word that could be used for “prove” in V:22 ? 2.How am I to accomplish being a “doer of the word” ? 3.How does a hearer of the word delude himself ? 4. What does the mirror represent in v:23 ? 5. Why is it important to know the kind of person you are ?

18 Looking to God’s word and religion 25 But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in what he does. 26 If anyone thinks himself to be religious, and yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this man's religion is worthless. 27 Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world. 1.What does it mean to “look intently” ? 2.What is the perfect law – the law of liberty ? 3.What are the characteristics of a religious person in v:26 ? 4.What are the characteristics of a pure and undefiled religion ? 5. What is visiting orphans and widows characteristic of in the Christian life? 6. What is keeping ourselves unstained by the world characteristic of in the Christian life ?