Weekly Sermon
 
James 2:8-13 reads, “If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well: but if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors.  For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.  For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill.  Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law.  So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty.  For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.”
 
James 2:8-13 presents the conclusion to the lengthy paragraph that began with verse 1.  As we have noted, this paragraph directly confronts those who are showing sinful partiality against the poor and needy in favor of the rich and prestigious.  James 2:8-13 concludes the paragraph by providing Biblical admonition and instruction concerning the relationship between the law of God and the practice of showing partiality.  First, in verse 8 there is a commendation for loving behavior toward our neighbor – “If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well.”  Second, in verse 9 there is a condemnation for practicing partiality in our relationships – “But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors.”  Third, in verses 10-11 there is the conviction of God’s law against practicing partiality – “For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.  For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill.  Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law.”  Fourth, in verse 12 there is the charge to obey God’s law of love – “So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty.”  Fifth and finally, in verse 13 there is the consequence for not obeying God’s law of love – “For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.”

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.”

Weekly Sermon

James 1:12-18 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.  Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: but every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.  Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.  Do not err, my beloved brethren.  Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.  Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.”

With James 1:12-18 we come to the third paragraph of this epistle.  Again we remember that the Holy Spirit inspired purpose for this epistle is to provide pastoral counsel for a spiritually mature walk in the believer’s life.  Even so, this third paragraph gives counsel concerning a right motivation for endurance in godliness, concerning a right attitude toward the Lord our God, and concerning a right understanding of temptation to sin. 

The first sentence of the paragraph (verse 12) immediately promises a sure blessing upon those who are faithful to endure the trials of life through an obedient love unto the Lord.  Then the remainder of the paragraph extensively presents a serious warning for those who fall away at sinful temptation through the enticement of their own selfish desires.  Primarily, this paragraph is intended to motivate us unto faithful endurance in godliness through love for our Lord.  Yet because we so often fall into sin under life’s trials, this paragraph adds a warning against blaming the Lord our God for the temptation unto which we yielded.  Thus the admonition is pronounced in the midst of the paragraph, “Do not err, my beloved brethren” (verse 16).

Overall, this paragraph presents five truths for our consideration.  These five truths are arraigned in order to move our understanding from the outside toward the center.  Thus the first and fifth of these truths speak concerning our motivation for endurance in godliness.  Then the second and fourth of these truths speak concerning our attitude toward the Lord our God.  Finally, the third and central truth speaks concerning our understanding of temptations to sin.

Weekly Sermon

James 1:9-10 reads, “Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted: but the rich, in that he is made low: because as the flower of the grass he shall pass away.”

The Holy Spirit inspired purpose for this epistle is to provide pastoral counsel for a spiritually mature walk in the believer’s life.  James 1:9-11 presents the second paragraph of the epistle.  This paragraph gives counsel concerning the contrasting subjects of humble maturity and worldly materialism.  The contextual situation and setting for the paragraph is established through the closing line of the paragraph at the end of verse 11 -- “So also shall the rich man fade away in his ways.”  This contextual situation primarily concerns the materialistic ways of the rich. 

In the three verses of James 1:9-11, only two sentences are delivered.  The first sentence of this paragraph is a compound sentence, encompassing both verse 9 and verse 10.  The second sentence of the paragraph encompasses verse 11.  Grammatically, the compound sentence of verses 9-10 can be divided into three parts.  The first two parts of this sentence present two connected, yet contrasting instructions.  The first instruction, found in verse 9, serves as an encouragement to the lowly believer.  The second instruction, found in the opening portion of verse 10, serves as an exhortation to the wealthy believer.  Finally, the third part of the sentence, found in the closing portion of verse 10, serves as an explanatory warning to the wealthy believer.

Now, the two instructions of verses 9-10 are governed by a single verb of command.  This verb of command is the word “rejoice” found in verse 9.  This word “rejoice” is translated from a Greek word that means, not simply to express joy and gladness, but to express exultation and glory.  Through this single verb of command, the entire sentence emphasizes our Lord’s desire for us to glory in three particular matters.

Weekly Sermon

Matthew 16:27 reads, “For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.”  What a wonderful promise is given to us in this verse – Our Lord Jesus Christ is coming again.  As the song written by John W. Peterson proclaims:

     Marvelous message we bring, Glorious carol we sing, 
          Wonderful word of the King: Jesus is coming again!
     Coming again, Coming again; 
          Maybe morning, maybe noon, Maybe evening and maybe soon.
     Coming again, Coming again;
          O what a wonderful day it will be – Jesus is coming again!

Let us then consider three important truths out of Matthew 16:27 concerning this great and glorious promise of our Lord’s Second Coming.