The Tests of God (1) James 1:2-5,12-18

Tribulation, testing, produces patience.  The Greek term peirazo we have always found to be one of the most important words in the Bible.  It is used both of the trials of life and of the temptations of Satan our adversary.  In three blogs we want to talk about this, and you will see that God indeed tests His people.  We say this knowing that we have the passage in James 1:12-18 which says: Let no one say when he is tempted, ‘I am tempted by God’; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone.  So we must first set to rest the thought of any conflict in the Scriptures.

First, the meaning of peirazo is important.  It speaks of a situation that is not necessarily good or bad.  The test itself is merely an experience which becomes good or bad according to how we handle it.  Thus we know that Jesus Himself was tempted (tested, tried, proven; any of those words are accurate translations) in the desert (Matt. 4:1ff).  The devil brought upon Him, as he does upon us, a strong deception trying to get Him (and us) to fail the test, to sin.  The strong deception is the test; Jesus proved Himself true.

Second, when you read the James passage, it is clear that the test is an attempt to cause someone to do evil.  That is what it says!  In v13: God cannot be tempted by evil.  When the next phrase simply says nor does He Himself tempt anyone we maintain the context and understand it is saying He does not tempt anyone to evil.  In v14-16 we see as well that evil is the issue in the progression (regression) that is described: it is temptation mixed with selfish desires by which we are enticed which results in sin which always leads to death.  On the contrary what comes from God is described as every good gift and every perfect gift (v17).  God is all about making us into His own holy people (v18).  Thus our various trials (v2) are a cause for joy because they produce something that cannot be produces without these trials (v3-4).  And our good God even invites us to ask Him for the wisdom we need to navigate these times (v5).

Some may yet have a problem with the idea of a God who tests, who makes perfect use of suffering for our own good.  They may think this is a bit heavy-handed for God to do this.  To you who may have a thought like this there is only one thing we can do and that is to remind you that there is an eternal difference between God and mankind.  One is the Creator; the other is the creation.  That alone is sufficient reason to understand why God tests us for good while the Scriptures are clear that you shall not tempt the Lord your God (Deut. 6:16).  We say this is clear because Jesus quoted this verse at Satan (Luke 4:12) when Satan tried to get Jesus to take a shortcut through His affliction.  

 God is God!  By ownership He has a right to the devotion of our heart and soul.  The tests of life presented by God will always bring us to this conclusion: God is always right(eous) and always good!

Accessing the Grace of God (2) Psalm 113

By justification we stand in grace.  But continuing grace is accessed by humility.  There is not a story in Scripture nor a hero of the faith that does not illustrate this.  Heroes of the faith are heroes because God has exalted them; and God only exalts the humble.  It is a universal principle (Matthew 23:12).  Consider a few familiar stories.

·        2 Corinthians 12:7-8: Paul was afflicted by God but humbled himself in the situation and thus found sufficient grace to live an abundant life.

·        1 Samuel 1:2:1-11: Hannah was afflicted, longing for a child.  She humbled herself before God, praying earnestly, and was exalted.

·        Luke 1:46-55: Likewise Mary understood that this was exactly what was going to happen with her, that God used a woman with no great expectations of glory or prominence (a lowly woman) and exalted her to be the mother of our Lord.  Her soul magnified the Lord.

·        Philippians 2:5-11: Christ humbled Himself, even to the experience of death on a cross; but He was highly exalted.

It would do us well to understand how pervasive this principle is in life.  Submission is called for in every situation in life if we are to properly the Sovereign God who created us.  Consider:

Ø Submission is called for when we gather in fellowship with our church family (1 Peter 5:5; Eph. 4:1-3; 5:21; Phil. 1:7).  What this means is that if we refuse to engage in a church family we are demonstrating the very scorn or pride by which God will resist.

Ø We are to be submission in society (1 Peter 2:13f,18f; 3:1f; Titus 2:5,9).  Yes, submission to governmental authorities, to less than perfect bosses and spouses is submission to God and will thus access His grace that we might thrive in those situations.

Ø Our prayer life must be characterized by humility (Heb. 4:16; 1 Peter 5:5-6).  We do not come demanding our will but His.

Ø And likewise our time in God’s word (James 1:21-25; Acts 20:34).  We come to the Word to hear from God, not to instruct Him.

Ø In the end our entire relationship with Christ is characterized by humility.  That is why we are called to abide in Christ (John 15:5).  

Here’s is what we are saying.  Our need is to maintain an abiding relationship with our Lord.  Every day!  Because as we go through our day, this submission to Him will be the means by which we receive grace for whatever that day brings.  Each day, as Jesus said, has enough trouble of its own.  But there is always sufficient grace available from God if we access it. 

Accessing the Grace of God (1) 1 Peter 5:5-7

Christians are commanded to continue in the grace of God (Acts 13:23).  They live under grace and not under law (Rom. 6:14).  Christians are strengthened in their lives by grace (2 Timothy 2:1).  Thus the question as to how we access the grace of God on a continuing basis is important.

Many in what we might call Christendom (or the professing Church) would answer this question with references to various religious practices.  For Catholics and many Orthodox there are seven rites that dispense grace, these being baptism, confirmation, the Eucharist, penance, the anointing of the sick, ordination and matrimony.  There is argument as to what attitude the one who is engaged in these practices must have or if the grace comes to him simply in the doing of the ceremony.

But to be quite honest, the thought that grace is accessed by a work of some sort, no matter how religious or sincere, simply cannot be true for those who, from the very beginning of life in Christ, understand that grace and works are by definition at odds with each other.  And it’s really hard (actually impossible) to be a Biblical Christian and not understand that if something is grace, then it is no longer of works; otherwise grace is no longer grace.  And if it is of works, it is no longer grace; otherwise work is no longer work (Romans 11:6).  As in Ephesians 2:8-9, for by grace by definition means not of works.  

The same Ephesians passage tells us grace saves us through faith.  Thus you can say accurately that grace is accessed by faith.  But further study of Scripture tells us that it is faith with a particular nuance and thus another term is regularly used.  Grace is accessed by submission or humility.  There is a passage from the Proverbs of all places (we only say that because we don’t expect to find great theological truths in the Proverbs) that says God scorns the scornful, but gives grace to the humble (3:34).  It is quoted twice in the general epistles (James 4:6; 1 Peter 5:6).  And then it is amplified and illustrated all over the Scriptures.

Let us understand that this humility or submission is not an act, although it will characterize our actions.  It is simply faith in God in the particular context in which we need grace.  Grace is needed in affliction.  Thus faith, in times of duress, will bow before the One who is trustworthy, doing what it has always done, which is to reach out the empty hand to receive provision of grace.

Consider this in your present context.  If, as is quite common, God has led you to a place in the desert, consider your response.  Is it anger? Frustration? Bewilderment?  Grace is not found in those.  It is found in acquiescence, in adaptation, in submission to God and His will.  Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you (1 Peter 5:6-7).