“Trials and Temptations” (James 1:12­–18)

“Trials and Temptations” (James 1:12­–18)
Cameron Jungels/Eastside Baptist Church/Sunday AM, June 14, 2015

James 1:12–18 (NIV)
       12 Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.
       13 When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; 14 but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. 15 Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.
       16 Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers and sisters. 17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. 18 He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.


1.    Trials require faith inspired endurance, which leads to God’s blessing (v. 12).
a.    Endurance in the midst of trials is an expression of joy (vv. 2–4)
b.    Endurance in the midst of trials requires wisdom (v. 5)
c.    Endurance in the midst of trials must be fueled by unwavering faith (vv. 6–8).
d.    Endurance in the midst of trials is an expression of our love for God (v. 12).
e.    Endurance in the midst of trials brings blessing in this life and in the life to come (v. 12).

2.    Trials enter our lives within God’s providence, but God always intends those trials for our good, never as a temptation to sin (vv. 13–18).
a.    Testing can become a temptation to sin, but this is never God’s intention or design.
b.    God is holy and is completely set apart from sin.
i.    He cannot be tempted with sin.
ii.    He never tempts anyone to sin.
c.    Trials become temptations when they come up against our own sinful desires.
d.    The power of temptation is internal not external.
e.    When temptation is acted upon it becomes sin, and sin leads to death.
f.    God is a good God who gives good gifts to his children.
i.    God is faithful and unchanging in his holy, righteous, loving character.
ii.    Trials are a part of God’s good gifts and are never intended for evil—only for good to make us holy.
iii.    God has given us new birth, by his grace through the gospel. His intention is to make us his own special, treasured possession, modeled after the holiness of Christ.

Main Idea: Trials are providential opportunities for us to receive God’s blessings; he never intends them to serve as a temptation to sin. Therefore, we have a responsibility to respond to trials with faith, joy, love, and endurance, not giving any opportunity to our sinful, selfish desires to lead us to sin.