The Victory of Faith: Faith's Test through a Sovereign Savior

PREVIOUS LESSONS

A. Testing of Faith, vv2-4
B. Wisdom from Faith, vv5-8
C. Boast & Humility of Faith, vv9-11

PRACTICAL VICTORY BY FAITH IN CHRIST

A. Blessed Trials, v12

1. trials for growth (vv2-4)
2. trials for glory, v12 – crowns incorruptible, 1 Cor 9:25

• a. crown of life, Jas 1:12; Rev 2:10
• b. crown of rejoicing, 1 Thess 2:19
• c. crown of righteousness, 1 Tim 4:8
• d. crown of glory, 1 Pet 5:4
• e. crown of ministry, Phil 4:1
• f. crown of thorns, Matt 27:29; Mk 15:17; Jn 19:2
• g. crowns of gold & casting, Rev 4:4, 10

3. truth concerning crowns

• a. recognition by Christ, Matt 25:21
• b. reality of reward (why we cast crowns) 1 Cor 4:7; John 15:5

B. Basics of Temptation, vv13-15

1. temptation & God, v13

• a. God tempts no man (Satan, however, does)
• b. God cannot be tempted
  --- i. John MacArthur: "God by His holy nature has no capacity for evil, or vulnerability to it."
  --- ii. Jesus: peccability or impeccability?

2. temptation's formation, vv14-15

• a. dragged away (lured, drawn away), v14a
• b. deluded or beguiled (enticed), v14b
• c. conceived, v15a
• d. birth, v15b
• e. death, v15a

C. Bridge, v16

D. Building Ourselves Up in Our Most Holy Faith

1. responsible unto casting of crowns & not casting of blame,v12
2. remembering the blessing is for our benefit, not God's , v13
3. recognizing the weakness of our flesh apart from the grace of God in Jesus Christ, vv14-15
4. reflecting upon the consequence of sin is always death, v15