Weekly Sermon
James 1:12 reads, “Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.”
As we have previously noted, the third paragraph of the epistle begins in verse 12 by pronouncing a sure blessing upon those who endure the trials of life aright. Grammatically, this verse is a compound sentence. The first independent clause of this compound sentence presents an expression of a blessed position -- “Blessed is the man that endureth temptation.” Then the second independent clause of this compound sentence provides an explanation of this blessed position -- “For when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.” Furthermore, the second independent clause itself can be divided grammatically into three parts. First, there is the conditional prospect of the adverb clause -- “When he is tried.” Second, there is the certain provision of the main clause -- “He shall receive the crown of life.” Finally, there is the confident promise of the adjective clause -- “Which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.”
James 1:12 reads, “Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.”
As we have previously noted, the third paragraph of the epistle begins in verse 12 by pronouncing a sure blessing upon those who endure the trials of life aright. Grammatically, this verse is a compound sentence. The first independent clause of this compound sentence presents an expression of a blessed position -- “Blessed is the man that endureth temptation.” Then the second independent clause of this compound sentence provides an explanation of this blessed position -- “For when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.” Furthermore, the second independent clause itself can be divided grammatically into three parts. First, there is the conditional prospect of the adverb clause -- “When he is tried.” Second, there is the certain provision of the main clause -- “He shall receive the crown of life.” Finally, there is the confident promise of the adjective clause -- “Which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.”
The Record of this Blessed Position
Brethren, the blessing of the Lord our God from the Lord our God is available to us who are His own. Indeed, there is a position of blessing upon which we may establish ourselves throughout our daily walk. The opening four words of James 1:12 presents the record of this blessed position, saying, “Blessed is the man.” This is the eternal, absolute record of God’s own Word. Yea, the ringing declaration of God’s own Word is that there is a position of blessing for God’s own people. Yet in this context the word “blessed” does not refer to the circumstantial happiness of a favorable and pleasurable life without trials, troubles, and tribulations. Rather, this word “blessed” refers to the spiritual joy, peace, hope, confidence, and strength of our Lord’s favor and pleasure upon a godly, faithful life. The experience of this blessed position begins even now and shall find its full glory in the life to come. Even so, the opening line of this verse focuses our attention upon the blessed position in this present life; even as the remainder of the verse focuses our attention upon that blessed position in the life to come. Each and every one of God’s children who meets the requirement shall experience this blessed position.
The Requirement for this Blessed Position
So then, what is the requirement for this blessed position? The answer is revealed as the opening line continues, saying, “Blessed is the man that endureth temptation.” Again in this context, as in the context of verses 2-3, the word “temptation” refers to the trying of our faith through the trials, troubles, and tribulations of life. Herein the individual who is described as enduring temptation is also described as one who “is tried.” Thus the requirement for this blessed position is that we must patiently and faithfully endure the trying of our faith. This blessed position is not promised to those who experience the trying of their faith. We have not choice in this matter. We all experience the trying of our faith. It cannot be avoided. Rather, this blessed position is promised to those who endure the trying of their faith in a righteous manner. This is where we make our choice, choosing how we will respond to the trying of our faith. This is where we have personal responsibility in this matter.
What then does it mean to endure the trying of our faith in a righteous manner? It means that we do not become faint in our minds toward the Lord our God (Hebrews 12:3). It means that we do not despise the training and chastening work of our Lord (Hebrews 12:5). It means that we do not become weary in well doing (Galatians 6:9). It means that we do not turn aside from the way of righteousness through sinful temptation, either in attitude, word, or action. On the other hand, it means that we do maintain our confident trust in our Lord, ever waiting patiently upon Him (Psalm 27:14; Isaiah 40:31). It means that we do “let patience have her perfect work,” in order that we might grow in spiritual maturity (James 1:4). It means that we do remain “stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord” (1 Corinthians 15:58). It means that we do resist sinful temptation that we might faithfully continue in the way of righteousness in attitude, word, and action. It means that we do “run with patience the race that is set before us,” fighting the good fight unto the end, finishing our course with faithfulness, and keeping the faith without wavering (Hebrews 13:1; 2 Timothy 4:7). This is the requirement for this blessed position -- a daily walk that is faithfully characterized by righteous endurance. This does not mean that such an individual will never fail in sinful attitude, word, or action. Rather, this means that such an individual will consistently pursue a daily walk of righteous endurance, and that such an individual will quickly repent of any failure in sinful behavior and will quickly return to a walk of righteous endurance.
The Result in this Blessed Position
The record of and the requirement for this blessed position are both expressed in the first independent clause of verse 12. The explanation for that expression is then delivered in the second independent clause of this compound sentence. This explanation begins with the result in this blessed position, saying, “For when he is tried.” Employing a past tense verb, this phrase refers to that time when the trying of our faith is complete. Even more, it refers to the approval of our Lord upon a completed life of faithful endurance. The word “tried” in this phrase was often used concerning gold that had been tried by fire and had been found genuinely pure. Such gold would be found “tried and true.” Even so, the result of a daily walk in righteous endurance will be that we are found “tried and true” as the faithful servants of our Lord. As the Lord’s faithful servants, our spiritual character will not only have been proved by the trying of our faith, but will also have been found approved through the trying of our faith. Through the trying of our faith, our spiritual character will be “found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 1:7). At the Judgment Seat of Christ, our spiritual character will be as the gold, silver, and precious stones that shall abide our Lord’s revealing fire and that shall be approved in our Lord’s righteous sight (1 Corinthians 3:12-14). Thus we understand that the true objective of our Christian lives is to obtain our Lord’s approval on judgment day.
The Reward through this Blessed Position
The reward through this blessed position, to those who walk in this blessed position through a faithful walk of righteous endurance, shall be “the crown of life.” The explanatory clause of James 1:12 continues, saying, “For when he is tried [found approved through trying], he shall receive the crown of life.” This crown does not represent the eternal life that an individual receives at the moment of eternal redemption and eternal salvation through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior. Rather, this crown is the reward that the Lord our God graciously grants to a believer for a life of faithful endurance and faithful service. This incorruptible crown is a symbol of glory and honor received from the hand of the Lord our God Himself. For eternity it shall represent the victorious glory of a life that is lived faithfully in righteous endurance. For eternity it shall reveal the great honor of our Lord upon such a faithful life of righteous endurance. In this life, which is only for a season, we must endure the heaviness of the cross in fellowship with our Lord’s sufferings. Yet in the life to come, which is for all eternity, if we have faithfully endured in righteousness, we shall receive the honor of the crown in fellowship with our Lord’s glory. “For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory” (2 Corinthians 4:17). This is the eternal reward that our Lord shall give to those who lose their life for His sake, denying themselves, taking up their cross daily, and following Him (Matthew 16:24-27). This is the eternal reward that our Lord shall give to those who faithfully keep themselves in submission to His righteous will (1 Corinthians 9:24-27). This is the eternal reward that our Lord shall give to those who fight the good fight, finish their course, and keep the faith (2 Timothy 4:8). This is the eternal reward that our Lord shall give to those who faithfully endure tribulation and persecution for His sake (Matthew 5:11-12; Revelation 2:10). This is the eternal reward that our Lord shall give to those who cast not away their confidence in Him (Hebrews 10:35-36).
The Reassurance concerning this Blessed Position
Indeed, this “crown of life” is a sure reward unto every faithful servant of our Lord; for it is founded upon the promise of our Lord Himself. Yet again the explanatory clause of James 1:12 continues, saying, “For when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them.” Yea, the promise of the Lord our God is our reassurance concerning this blessed position. This eternal, incorruptible “crown of life” shall certainly be given by our Lord unto every one of His faithful servants; for He cannot be unfaithful to His Word. He has graciously promised this eternal reward by His own will, and He shall graciously give this eternal reward by His own hand. Even so, in Revelation 3:11 He gives us the instruction and warning, “Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.”
The Reason behind this Blessed Position
Now, the closing phrase of James 1:12 indicates that our Lord’s promise concerning “the crown of life” is delivered “to them that love him.” This reveals the reason behind this blessed position. By the flow of thought in this verse, those who are characterized by love for the Lord are exactly the same as those who are characterized by a walk in righteous endurance. In fact, our love for the Lord is that which will motivate our walk in righteous endurance. The specific reason that we will maintain our confident trust in our Lord is because we love our Lord. The specific reason that we will “let patience have her perfect work” is because we love our Lord. The specific reason that we will remain “stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord” is because we love our Lord. The specific reason that we will endure the trying of our faith without becoming faint in our minds and without becoming “weary in well doing” is because we love our Lord. Our love for our Lord will be the foundation for our endurance in righteousness. Furthermore, the reason that our Lord honors our faithful walk in righteous endurance is because it demonstrates our love for Him. “We love him, because he first loved us” (1 John 4:19). If we love Him, we will keep His commandments with faithful, steadfast endurance (John 14:15, 21, 23). Indeed, this loving obedience and loving endurance will bring honor unto the Lord our God; and the Lord our God honors those who honor Him (1 Samuel 2:30).
Posted in Weekly Sermon, James, Blessing of the Lord, Faithfulness, Walk in Righteousness, Heavenly Reward, Faithfulness of Our Lord, Godly Love
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