The Battle of the Wills: Gaining and keeping the Crown
Series JAMES
James 1:12 refers to "the crown of life."
D.E. Hiebert points out,"The genitive 'of life' is best taken as an appositional genitive, the crown which consists of life..." is the idea. The emphasis includes a future reward and recognition no doubt, but the emphasis is also, perhaps more--A QUALITY OF LIFE NOW--for those who pass their tests. On a scale of 1-10, 10 being the highest what quality of life were the three Hebrews experiencing after passing their tests in the fiery furnace? This passage in James 1:13-16 sets forth the proposition that regenerate people are threatened first of all and foremost by residual corruption, indwelling sin (the flesh): every man is tempted when he is drawn away of HIS OWN LUST (residual corrupt desire) and enticed. The verbs before, "drawn" and after "enticed" the noun "lusts" dramatically show us what is going on inside believers--"beloved brethren." As James 1:2-4 set before us a goal (perfect and entire" and a pathway to that goal (divers testings) and a believing attitude while on that path (count it all joy)--just so James 1;13-15 sets before us a sinister antithetical replica of a path leading to death, not life. Love welcomes warnings from beloved brothers and sisters.
Sermon ID | 8251521915 |
Duration | 51:04 |
Date | Aug 25, 2015 |
Category | Sunday Service |
Bible Text | James 1:12-17 |