Sermon Tone Analysis

Today we are talking about Temptations, not the singing group.

Historical/Cultural Context -

The book of James was written by the half-brother of Jesus.

The Son of Joseph and Mary.

Written in the early 40s.

He wrote to primarily Jews who were Christians, as at this time it was so early in the spread of Christianity that it had not been widely adopted by non-jews, also known as Gentiles.

James encouraged his readers to live consistent Christian lives in the midst of persecution for their faith in Christ.

He says he writes to the “12 tribes in dispersion” which is likely due to the fact that Christians in and around Jerusalem were being persecuted for their faith in Jesus and were being driven out of the area and were settling in farther and farther regions.

Biblical Text -

-[Prayer]-

Life Principle -

Life Point- Temptation Must Be Endured

Exegetical -

Homiletical -

Last week we studied about trials.

This week we are looking at temptations.

James continues his thoughts from trials and brings up temptations with this little section tucked in between

This section is to show that trials and temptations come to us all.

From our trials in this life we may be financially poor, or we may be financially rich.

The temptation for the poor is to lament in their circumstances, while the temptation for the rich is to trust in their circumstances.

Both of these are wrong in the face of a super natural God.

Why?

Because in the face of eternity, what is temporary circumstances?

It is nothing.

It means nothing.

The poor should glory in his exaltation.

His sins have been forgiven.

We have access that no one since the fall of mankind has ever had.

That is to have fellowship, communion, friendship and worship directly with God.

This splitting of the curtain in the temple was of massive significance and indeed is to this day.

This was no Walmart brand curtain.

This was no flimsy curtain that someone would hang around a window.

The veil that is referred to here was thick and heavy.

it would not have been easy to move, there is no way this thing would flutter in the breeze.

It stretched from wall to wall as you were going into the Holy of Holies before God.

This is where God was said to dwell, and nothing unholy could come before Him.

As a matter of fact it is said that when the High priest went in to make sacrifice for the people once a year, he would wear bells on his robes and a rope around his ankles.

If the people didn’t hear the bells for a long period of time.

They would know that he entered unclean and had been struck dead before a Holy God.

The rope was there to pull his body out of the Holy Holies if that were to happen.

So you see, this curtain had to be absolutely heavy, thick and nowhere near able to be torn.

Otherwise the people run the risk of God’s glory spilling out and killing them because of their sin.

When Jesus died, the veil was literally torn in two from top to bottom.

This signified that there no longer need be a mediator between God and man, because of Jesus’ sacrifice on that cross and the work that was finished.

To die once and for all time to make us, not just ceremonially clean, but truly clean for all time.

Through the sacrifice of one, many are made clean.

Seeing what was at stake, for Paul to be so certain that we can come to God directly, through the son, is absolute shock and awe.

Yet we take this privilege for granted.

We flippantly talk to God, and forgot about His majesty and awe.

Nor should the rich man put his faith in this world’s economic system or be tempted by wealth.

To be boastful in his riches.

To be prideful or arrogant.

Or like we used to say growing up.

“To be snooty.”

“To be a stuck up snob.”

As it were.

Look at what James says.

Verse 11

Just as quickly as riches come, so they can go.

How many people during the .com

surge lost everything they had in tech startups.

How many people went bankrupt during the housing boom.

Many.

Many people went from being really wealthy to paupers.

Many people lost their retirements in these fiascos.

Many people had to start all over again.

They had a salary of $25,000 -$50,000 and put what little they could afford in the stock market and quadrupled their money, only to lose it all.

During the housing burst my neighbor bought a new house for his land because he was contractor and making really good money.

Only when it burst he had no work, couldn’t pay his mortgage and lost everything.

He had a paid off mobile home, the housing bubble started and he started making money.

Then, just as quickly he lost it all.

He told before he moved he wished he had never taken that mobile home off of his property.

It was paid off, now he had to move.

Riches come, and riches go.

I hope that I can be as Paul.

The temptation for the poor man is to look at his current circumstances and wallow in negativity.

The temptation for the rich man is to look at his current circumstances and wallow in his great gain.

The sin here is to look at the temporary and not to the eternal for the circumstances that await the Christian.

Life Point - Temptations Do Not Come From God

Exegetical -

Homiletical -

James has set the stage for the general realities of temptation and that it affects poor, rich and everything in-between.

Now he goes on to enlighten us about where temptations come from.

While trials can come from God and not generally in our control, temptations come from another source.

While trials are an exterior force, our response to them comes from the inside.

How we behave and react to things is our morality being proven.

For example, you can lose everything you own.

Your temptation may be to blame God, become bitter, react badly and generally lead to sin.

Even Adam in the book of Genesis fell to temptation when he blamed God for his own disobedience.

Well you see God, YOU gave me this woman, and she did this thing.

So really it is your fault God, because if you had not made this woman none of this would have ever happened.

James makes it clear here that our natural bent toward sin, also called iniquity, is what makes temptation possible.

God cannot be tempted because nothing evil resides in him.

He cannot sin.

Therefore He does not tempt anyone.

Look at verse 14 & 15 again.

desire is conceived in the mind.

Jesus taught on the same concept when dealing with lust.

The thought when dwelled upon, whatever the temptation may be, will move you to commit the sin.

Sin brings forth death.