Gospel Provisions for Suffering (James 1) Chris Peterson
In the book of James the main theme is the character of
saving faith. But faith is not seen in a vacuum. It is seen in the midst of
trials and suffering.
It is in the fires of trial that the true character of
saving faith comes to life. Faith is realized through trials.
5 divine provisions for suffering
Each provision is underlined with the word “let” (verses 4,
6, 9, 13, 19).
1. Persevering Faith (verses 2-4)
This persevering faith possesses trials and these trials
belong specifically to saving faith. In other words, these trials the world
knows nothing about. The trials are tested by God and they belong to believers
in Christ. Trials test the believer’s dependence. Trials show us where our
reliance is.
Genuine faith employs spiritual knowledge in the trial.
Faith receives the spiritual data called it “all” (verse 2). It adds spiritual
knowledge and receives the sum total= joy in God’s sovereign purpose. Therefore
joy is the attitude of resting in God’s sovereignty.
Genuine faith employs experimental
knowledge (verse 3). We can know a lot about the glory of God or the gospel,
but until we're thrown in the midst of the trial to apply our knowledge, we
really don't understand it.
As your faith grows, you need various trials to meet that
growing faith.
“It doesn't matter how great the pressure is, it only matters
where the pressure lies. See that it never comes between you and the Lord, then
the greater the pressure, the more it presses you to his heart.” Hudson Taylor
2. Pure Wisdom (verses 5-8)
We need wisdom to respond appropriately to trials. But this
wisdom is supplied by God. If you lack wisdom...and you do... then ask! If we do
not ask for wisdom, we will fall into the traps of doubt and double-mindedness
(verses 6-8).
Wisdom can be summed up in the person and work of Jesus
Christ.
Prayer is the gift of God through the work of Jesus Christ.
We can come boldly for wisdom because Christ has procured access for us. Jesus
fulfilled the royal law by loving God and neighbor perfectly. Then he went to
the cross and took the punishment that was required, so that through faith his
righteousness is credited to our account and our guilt is credited to his
account. And we have full access to the throne of grace,through Jesus Christ,
because he has purchased access!
3. Paradoxical Boasting (verses 9-11)
“Let the lowly brother boast (glory) in his exaltation.”
What is he boasting in? The gospel (James 2:5). The person in a humble
circumstance is treasuring the richness that he has in the promises of the
gospel. He is making an exchange or calculation by realizing that his humble
condition is not his eternal condition, which is settled in Christ.
The rich also boast. However, they don't boast in their
riches, but rather in their humiliation.
They understand that their riches can never get them to
heaven, rather it's a gift from God that they are broken over the cross by
grace, through faith in Christ Jesus.
4. Perfect Gifts (verses 13-18)
It's the goodness of God that is the promise to do battle
with the temptation of sin. The promise of our flesh looks attractive to us,
but it comes up empty. The goodness of God, however, is faithful.
5. Planted Word (verses 19-25)
Chris argues that the “royal law” (chapter 2:8) is the great
commandment to love God and others. The royal law is contrasted with the law of
liberty in verse 12. We have broke the royal law, so we look to the law of
liberty for mercy (chapter 2:13) which is the promise of the gospel-faith in
Christ Jesus.
James says look at the law of liberty in the midst of
trials. How do we get the law of liberty? We believe the gospel and it is
credited to us as righteousness (chapter 2:23). Christ provided righteousness
for us.
Some characteristics of the word in verses 19-25:
The word has a saving character (1:21).
The word has a liberating character (1:25). The word frees
us from sin's deception. We are to be on guard against the wickedness and
filthiness of sin.
When we need our eyes clean to see the trial, we need to run
to the promise of the gospel.
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