JAM 1:12 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.

>>Our text begins with a very expressive declairation—"Blessed is the man," so who is that man? "Blessed is the man that… love him."

>>David tells us who the "blessed" are, and the evidence of their love in his beatitudes of

PSA 119:1-3 Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the LORD.

2 Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart.

3 They also do no iniquity: they walk in his ways.

>>This expression "blessed" speaks in the present tense—They are already blessed—they are not miserable though they suffer persecutions and afflictions— as the world would judge them.

JOB 5:17-18 Behold, happy is the man whom God correcteth: therefore despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty:

18 For he maketh sore, and bindeth up: he woundeth, and his hands make whole.

>>This word "Behold," which calls the world to witness— is a paradox to the world—they cannot understand how a man can be happy under God’s correction by affliction— but out text says, JAM 1:12 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.

>>What the world does not understand is the word "endureth" as it is used in our text—It comes from the Greek word "hupomeno {hoop-om-en’-o} which means "to take patiently, to bear ill treatment bravely and calmly—to hold fast one’s faith in Christ under misfortunes and trials."

>>A natural man suffers, but he does not endure: they suffer grudgingly—with murmuring and blasphemy—The man who loves the Lord Jesus Christ endures.

>>Our Lord’s purpose for sending the trial is to test or prove our endurance— Our faith will be tested whether we will hold fast our faith in Christ under these circumstances in God’s providence— misfortunes and trials

>>Endurance in the furnace is what separates the gold from the dross— i.e., which evidences we are sons of God.

HEB 12:7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?

>>But our text says, "Blessed is the man that endureth temptation," so what is meant by this word "temptation" in our text?

>>It comes from the Greek word "peirasmos {pi-ras-mos’}" which means "an experiment, attempt, trial, or proving as a test of love." Would it not be synonymous with

GEN 22:1-3 And it came to pass after these things, that God did tempt Abraham, and said unto him, Abraham: and he said, Behold, here I am.

2 And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of.

3 And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and saddled his ass, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son, and clave the wood for the burnt offering, and rose up, and went unto the place of which God had told him.

>>Our text speaks of how our lovely Lord tests where our first love is by these "temptations" or trials and tests as He did with Abraham

JAM 1:12 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.

>>See the crown of life Abraham received—after he had endured

GEN 22:16-18 And said, By myself have I sworn, saith the LORD, for because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son:

17 That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies;

18 And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice [or because thou hast endured the temptation—or test of his love].

>>The next word in our text which needs very careful examination is the word "tried." It comes from the Greek word "dokimos {dok’-ee-mos}" which means, "accepted, pleasing, or approved after testing."

>>What our text is saying is that the man who cheerfully endures the test of his first love—without murmuring shall be accepted by his Lord, he it is who is truly happy, and "…he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him."

>>This same Greek word that is translated as "tried" in our text is also translated to mean "accepted of God—and approved after testing" in ROM 14:17-19 For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.

18 For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men.

19 Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.

>>This term, "shall receive" also needs very special attention to rightly understand our text—The best way to explain it is to see how the same Greek word is used in another Scripture.

1CO 4:7 For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it?

>>This clearly teaches not only the Sovereignty of God who freely gives all good and perfect gifts.—The Greek word "lambano {lam-ban’-o}" also implies the act of faith whereby we "claim, or take hold of Christ by the hand of faith, to associate one’s self with—or come into fellowship with Christ."

>>This term, "shall receive," with reference to the "crown of life," in our text clearly teaches receiving freely—i.e., without merit—yet not without effort-

2TI 2:4-5 No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.

5 And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully.

>>This does not imply merit— They are not crowned for striving—but by striving because thereby their first love is tested or proved.

PSA 62:12Also unto thee, O Lord, belongeth mercy: for thou renderest to every man according to his work.

>>Again the Lord renders "according to" not "for" his work—

>>Such Scriptures clearly teach that evil works will not go without their due reward—neither will our labors of love be forgotten.

HEB 6:12-15 That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

13 For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he sware by himself,

14 Saying, Surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee.

15 And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained [or received] the promise.

>>So what is the reward promised in our text to those who pass the test of their first love?

JAM 1:12 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.

>>It is quite common for God’s gifts—or rewards referenced in Scripture to be called crowns—God honors those who honor Him.

PSA 8:4-6 What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?

5 For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour.

6 Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet:

>>Sometimes the all-sufficiency of the reward of God’s love is referred to as a crown—

PSA 103:1-5 Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.

2 Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:

3 Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;

4 Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies [the experience of His love encircles on every side as a crown;

5 Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's.

>>The crown is especially with reference to our eternal state.

LUK 22:28-30 Ye are they which have continued with me in my temptations.

29 And I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me;

30 That ye may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

>>Our Lord and Saviour was our forerunner—not only in temptation—but also in receiving His crown of Life and Glory after enduring His test of love, "…which the Lord hath promised to them that love him."

JAM 1:12 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.

>>Our Saviour said, JOH 13:15-17 For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.

16 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him.

17 If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.

>>The example our Saviour set when "…for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame" must be followed first as the test of our love.

>>It is after this test of love that we can receive the reward, and follow Him where He "is set down at the right hand of the throne of God," HEB 12:2.

>>The "crown of life" spoken of in our text is the symbol of the fullness in it. Christ endured for the joy that was set before Him—and so it is for you and I— "the crown of life [spoken of in our text is the eternal joy], which the Lord hath promised to them that love him."

PSA 16:11 Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.

>>This is the crown of eternal life spoken of in our text—which is also referenced in 1PE 5:4 And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.

>>These promises of the crown of life in our text—are for those who have endured the test of their first love—our text says JAM 1:12 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.

>>Why is the reference to those who love Him—instead of those who serve Him—or those who obey Him?

>>Because, these graces are but the evidences or fruits of love! Love is the sum of all the law and inspired teachings—it is the very hinge upon which all the promises turn—and all the commandments hang.

ROM 13:8-10 Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.

9 For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

10 Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.

>>Love is the great hinge to our interest in Christ—it is our evidence of that interest—

JAM 2:5 Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?

>>Therefore, our text does not speak of the promises to them that obey—or serve the Lord Jesus Christ—because all graces are implied in the term—"them which love Him."

ROM 8:28-29 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.

>>No enduring is acceptable unto our Lord unless love is the motive.

1CO 13:3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.

>>There are many who would die for Christ if put to the test—yet will not resist a lust for Him—It is noteworthy that in conclusion of the beatitudes our Saviour said

MAT 5:10-11 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.