1 June 24, 2020 COMMUNITY BIBLE STUDY The Book of James – 1:12-18

Introduction It is important to be reminded that the Book of James was written sometime between 45 and 50 AD. A second important historical waypoint was the Apostle Paul’s encounter with the risen Christ, around 35 AD. A final waypoint to consider is the date of the Council of Jerusalem, around 50 AD. Connecting these dates is important. Why is that? At the time James was written, the Jewish mission to the Gentile world, through the Apostle Paul, was expanding and growing. The numbers of Gentiles incorporated into the body of Christ were increasing, as was the tension with Jewish communities where Paul established new congregations. James, the Lord’s brother, was the recognized leader of the congregations of Jewish followers of Jesus, from Pentecost onward. Recall that it was James who, at that pivotal Jerusalem council, rendered the authoritative judgment that Gentile followers of Jesus were not subject to the requirements of the law of Moses (Acts 15.) Yet in his letter, he makes no mention of the council. Therefore, we have to assume the council had not yet taken place. The situation into which James writes is one in which many questions about life in Christ, for Jewish followers of Jesus, were unresolved. In writing to the scattered congregations of the ‘diaspora,’ he did not have access, either to extended conversations with, or to the letters of Paul. James’ sources were the teaching of his brother, the Lord Jesus, and the Hebrew Scriptures, the Scriptures that were inspired by God’s Spirit (2 Timothy 3:16.) Therefore, we need to have ‘Jewish eyes and ears’ to see and hear and understand what we read. Then having done so, as best we can, we can better apply this part of God’s Word to our lives.

Discover In the first segment of James, there were three themes: Testing producing joy (1:2-4); wisdom comes through prayer (1:5-8); and Poverty and wealth (1:9-11). Now in this second segment, like a symphony, each of these three themes are developed further in the letter. James develops the theme of testing (1:12-18); then, the theme that wisdom gained from prayer is applied through speech which contains no anger (1:19-21); and finally, that obedience requires generosity (1:22-25). Each of these in turn will be developed more fully in the body of the letter (2:1 – 5:6). So here is the outline of this section of the letter: • We experience blessings through testing and temptation – v. 12 • We cannot blame God when we fail the tests or succumb to temptation – vv.13-15 • God is the source of all good gifts, and our faith through the Gospel – vv.16-18

Dig In - We experience blessings through testing and temptation – v. 12 • Let’s read the text Blessed are those who persevere under trial, because when they have stood the test, they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. 2 • The very first word is ‘blessed,’ the Greek term – Makarios. It means to consider yourself fortunate. • The term Makarios is deeply rooted in the Hebrew Scriptures and in Jesus’ teaching. • Blessed characterizes the numerous benefits of one’s life lived in relationship to the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. It could be synonymous with the idea of flourishing. Blessed are those who dwell in your house; they are ever praising you. Blessed are those whose strength is in you, whose hearts are set on pilgrimage…. Lord Almighty, blessed are those who trust in you. Psalm 84:4-5, 12 • Jesus speaks of God’s blessing in the Beatitudes. It is used repeatedly in Matthew’s Gospel, as well as in Luke and Acts. We find it in the letters of Paul and Peter. • It should come as no surprise then, that James applies this word, Makarios, to those Jewish followers of Jesus, who are facing challenging times. • Under what circumstances does James say followers of Jesus ought to consider themselves fortunate? Is those circumstances what we consider to be fortunate? • James again uses the term ‘standing the test.’ Recall from James 1:2, that the word for ‘trial’ or ‘testing,’ is the same word, peirasmos. It can describe “external circumstances of adversity,” or, “an inner enticement to sin.” Context determines the meaning. • Which meaning do you think is indicated by James use in this opening verse? • What does God promise to followers of Jesus who persevere because of their love him? • We discover this theme of a crown is rooted in the Hebrew Scriptures. Blessings crown the head of the righteous… Proverbs 10:6

But only the redeemed will walk there, and those the Lord rescued will return. They will enter Zion with singing; everlasting joy will crown their heads. Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away. Isaiah 35:9b-10 • We also find the promise of a crown of life, given by the risen Christ, giving assurance to the church in Asia as it faced adversity late in the first century. How severe was it? Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life. Revelation 2:10 • The development then is that testing leads to standing the test which leads to life! • Would you find what James writes, words of encouragement? Why? Why not?

Dig In - We cannot blame God when we fail the tests or succumb to temptation – vv.13-15 • Let’s read the text When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each of you is tempted when you are dragged away by your own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin, and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death. • In verse 12, we saw that trials lead to standing the test which leads to life. • Now, James shows that distorted desire leads to sin which leads to death. • An important point: Is desire in and of itself bad? Or is it distorted desire? • Have any of you struggled with ‘blame,’ either as the subject or the object? • Blame is attributing to someone other than ourselves the responsibility for our action or reaction. 3 • What is James suggesting about ‘blame,’ when someone either the fails a test or succumbs to temptation? It is something that is said. What is it? • Blaming God, putting him to the test, is deeply rooted in the Hebrew Scriptures. • Do not put the Lord your God to the test as you did at Massah. Deuteronomy 6:16 At Massah, the Israelites were complaining to Moses – they quarreled and grumbled with Moses about their lack of water. Their complaints were, at bottom, lack of trust. They asked of Moses, “Is the Lord among us or not?” Can we identify with them at times? (See Exodus 17:1-7 for the account) • What do you think it means to blame God when we fail? • Why does James say God cannot bear responsibility for our failing the test or succumbing to temptation? Can God’s character be tempted in anyway by evil? • What did Jesus teach us in the prayer he taught us? Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. I think, in light of James, that the best understanding of this part of the prayer would be, “Give us the necessary strength so that life’s trials do not become for us occasions of spiritual temptation.” (F.F. Bruce, The Gospel According to Matthew) • Do you agree, that at this point that James is speaking about periasmos as inner temptation, and less testing from outward circumstances? • According to James, who does bear responsibility when we succumb to temptation? • His teaching is taken from the world of fishing! Peirasmos as temptation, springs from an attractive force of desire that entices us. When we don’t resist strenuously, we become hooked. The importance of Hebb’s Axiom – neurons that fire together, wire together. (Curt Thompson, MD, The Soul of Shame) • Much of what James teaches his congregations about temptation and sin came from his brother, Jesus. Who or what does Jesus say is responsible for our responses to peirasmos? Let’s read the text. He went on: “What comes out of you is what defiles you. For from within, out of our hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. All these evils come from inside and defile you. Mark 7:20-23 • The Bible also teaches that temptation (peirasmos) is simply part of our human condition: No temptation (peirasmos) has overtaken you except what is common to us all. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it. 1 Corinthians 10:13 • So, we need to ask an important question. Is temptation the same thing as sin? • What has God provided for us when we are in the throes of temptation? Escape or endurance? • What are we then to do, “when” we succumb to temptation? If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just, and will forgive our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar, and his word is not in us. My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father – Jesus Christ, the Righteous 4 One. He is the atoning sacrifice for you sins, and not only for ours, but also for the sins of the whole world. 1 John 1:8-2:2

Dig In - God is the source of all good gifts, and our faith through the Gospel – vv.16-18 • Let’s read the text Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers and sisters. Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of first-fruits of all he created. • What is James referring to when he says, “Don’t be deceived?” • God, James says does not send the peirasmos. In contrast, what does God send? • Where do these gifts come from? What do you think that means? • James calls God the Father of lights. Again, this is rooted in the Hebrew Scriptures. Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good…who made the great lights – his love endures forever. Psalm 136:1,7

This is what the Lord says, he who appoints the sun to shine by day, who decrees the moon and starts to shine by night…the Lord Almighty is his name…. “Only if these decrees vanish from my sight,” declares the Lord, “will the descendants of Israel ever cease to be a nation before me.” Jeremiah 31:35-36 • What is the literal sense? What does the literal sense imply about God’s character? • What does James want us to understand when he says that God “does not change like shifting shadow?” • What does James tell us God chose to do? What does that imply? • The Word of Truth is the Gospel. Let’s turn to another text from a Jewish leader, Peter. Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. In his great mercy, he has given us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead…. For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. • What is the source of this life that has been “birthed” in us? • The word translated ‘first fruits’ originally referred to the foundations of a city. • Who might James be referring to when he speaks of “a kind of first fruits?” • Jewish followers of Jesus then become that part of creation first harvested by God as part of the new creation. The full harvest will follow the first-fruits. • How might this perspective encourage those facing either external adversity or an inner enticement to sin?

Discussion • What have you learned from the study today? • What do you want to understand further to strengthen your walk with Christ? • What has challenged you that we have studied? • What has encouraged you from what we have studied? • What will you apply to your life from this study?