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Please explain James Chapter One? James Chapter One Exposition


There are so many teachings on this chapter alone. Topics on the Temptation, Wisdom, Danger of not following the word of God, True religion etc. But for the sake of what you asked, let me just try to link them up around one topic.

OVERCOMING TEMPTATION

James stated this chapter by talking about our response to temptation. He said be joyful when you FALL into temptation. The word fall here draw so much attention. He didn't say when we are trying to overcome or when we had overcome temptation.
One may be wondering, how can I possibly rejoice when I fall knowing what vs 15 says:
Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. James 1:15 KJV

How could God possibly say we should rejoice when we are suppose to be afraid of death the final judgement for falling into temptation?

Vs 12-14 explained to us that temptation is pursuit of self desire against God's will. Anytime we prefer to do what we want we are tending toward temptation. Vs 12 said whosoever can overcome such urge will receive crown of glory because he love God.

Please know! evidence that we love God is ability not to fall into sin because we want self satisfaction. And it has great reward.

Back to the first question. The only reason why God could possible say we should rejoice after falling into temptation is because of our advocate Jesus Christ. Even if sometimes our self desire made us to go against God's will. God is saying to you and me "we are lucky because Jesus had paid the price". That is the grace that unbelievers don't have until they surrender to Jesus.

Notice what vs 3-4 says: whenever flesh prevailed, God see it as test of our faith i.e confirmation of how much love we have for God. Patiently; God uses such moment to train us for perfection.
The training will continues until we develop wisdom to overcome. Then we can fulfill vs 12.

Vs 5-8 explain to us how we can connect unto wisdom for total victory over temptation and other issues of life. It is when we approach all our actions and decision with wisdom of God that not falling into temptation becomes our testimony. Then our patience will produce perfection.
The verses further clarify how to get such wisdom. By asking in faith not doubting. By this the scripture is saying; we should not doubt God's ability to fulfill His promises to us. As well as not doubtful about His power to deliver from sin and devil. Power to overcome temptation is found in Jesus.

When faith delivered wisdom to overcome temptation, vs 9-11 make more meaning. That no matter what affliction we face from been rich to poverty or elevation we get from low level to the top. All will be to the glory of God. Self will be humiliated when we have been empowered through wisdom and we are made perfect in peace of God.

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.
James 1:16‭-‬18 KJV

The above verses and vs 19-20 encourage us not to get offended because we may not always do what we want, get what we feel we deserve. But it also give us assurance that the best that can ever happen to us is that that comes from God. He made us, He knows our beginning, our journey in life and our ending. If we constantly follow God's will for our lives, we shall be above temptation and whatever devil through at us.

The final verses. 21-25 Talk more about our attitude to God's word. I can also infers that God's word is also His Will.
Our ability to overcome temptation is rooted in not just hearing the word of God but faithfully doing His will. The scripture say we are deceptive whenever we abandon God's word to do what pleases us. Most time that happen to be our reason for falling into temptation and sinning. We are quick to say the teaching is good, the bible says, quoted verses upon verses. But because there is no willingness to follow the word we end up living like sinners.

In conclusion James give final charge which is very important for us to follow:

If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain.  Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.
 James 1:26‭-‬27 KJV

It is a life of deception to think we are Christ followers when deep in our heart we are not doing His words. James emphatically says Christianity is about controlling our tongues to speak grace always, empathize with afflicted and keeping ourselves above temptation; without wrinkle and spot. Failure to do this will constantly make Christlike life difficult to live.

Shalom.

Note: I centred my thought around Temptation and how to overcome it. There are other application of the verses in the chapter.

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