Having laid a solid foundation to this glorious and yet very challenging Epistle, we begin now to examine its great truths.
James, being a converted Jew and knowing much about the persecutions and afflictions which come from following Christ (he himself being the half brother of Christ and the Bishop over the church at Jerusalem), would open this great Epistle be reminding those scattered and persecuted Jewish believers the importance and necessity of their faith being tried.
He immediately addresses that which was first and utmost upon their minds, namely the severe persecutions they were presently suffering. They had been scattered abroad because of their faith in Jesus Christ. Many being separated from their homes and families, many being tortured and even put to death.
Unlike this generation where the majority of us know nothing about real persecution (though there are many throughout the world that truly know of such things), these converted Jews were suffering severely for thier faith in Christ.
James would immediately open this most challenging Epistle by reminding them of the importance and value of such temptations, or testing of their faith. Yet, they must learn to "count it, reckon them, use spiritual discernment," concerning such temptations if they were to know the joy of which James speaks.
"Knowing this"(vers 2), James knows that they cannot "count such temptations as all joy," unless they "know" some things. God would have the believer use spiritual discenment and judgment when it comes to living the christian life and facing such temptations. We must "know" if we are to be able to "count" such temptations as "all joy."
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Pastor Audey Shepard came to Coleman Baptist Church in May 2007 after spending over 28 years in Germany (17 years as Pastor of Freie Baptisten Gemeinde Heilbronn Germany, an English & German speaking church). Born in Grand Junction Colorado and raised in San Diego California,...
