Joy When Faith Is Tried

Minister:
Date: PM
Text: James 1:2-4
Psalters: 16, 31, 210, 64
Confession of Faith
  1. The occasion.
    1. “Diverse temptations.”
      1. This refers to situations which test or prove us, an occasion to test our fidelity, virtue, constancy, integrity.
      2. “Diverse” is manifold, various – a host of different forms and variations.
      3. “Fall” is to be encompassed or surrounded.
    2. “Count it all joy!” (would think that he would have said,
      1. When our lot is trials to our faith, then we have reason to rejoice.
      2. Before we respond in disgust at the apparent lack of understanding, remember that Jesus is saying this.
      3. Rejoice when you face temptations, not because of the temptations.
  2. The reason we can rejoice is because we know that the “trying of your faith worketh patience.”
    1. Faith is tried.
      1. Faith is the power which unites us to Christ and the activity of holding for truth God’s Word and trusting it truth for ourselves.
      2. When our faith is tried, it is called to be exercised, namely, to be conscious of God’s relationship with us.
    2. Second, a tried faith works patience.
      1. From our perspective the sufferings of this present time are temptations, but God sees them as trials.
      2. Patience is perseverance, staying power, faith bearing up and responding to severe trials.
  3. The “perfect work” of patience is faith being brought to completeness, lacking nothing.
    1. Patience works (it does not just sit and wait).
      1. Patience’ perfect work is to complete us, i.e., to bring us to spiritual maturity, molded into Christ’s image.
      2. Afflictions make us mature: more sympathetic, more humble, more grateful, more hopeful.
    2. Patience is faith in action during trials, enduring them by holding on to God’s promises.
      1. Patience feeds on the Word of God.
      2. In this way faith is brought to completion, i.e., to maturity.