Lesson for July 29, 2026

The Book of James

Chapter 1:12-16

Verse 12

The Greek word for blessed is “makarios,” meaning happy. In this context, both the rich and the poor can be happy. God has provided happiness for all circumstances of life through the study and application of Bible doctrine. Happiness is something you can have in prosperity or adversity. For believers who are sharing the happiness of God, no circumstance of life can remove it.

Perseveres comes from two Greek words meaning to abide under. So, perseveres means to endure under unpleasant circumstances. The Greek word for trial is “periasmos,” which means testing. This passage says that you can have happiness during the greatest pressures of life. Happiness is a condition of the soul, and you can be very happy under great pressure. God has designed it this way for your life, if you are an advancing believer.

For once he has been approved is a reference to being tested for the purpose of approval. This is referring to someone who has passed the test. He will receive the crown of life refers to something that happens at the Judgment Seat of Christ. The reward is stated by the word crown, which is the Greek word “stefanos,” referring to a crown given to an athlete who wins an event at the games, as an analogy of eternal rewards. The Crown of Life is given for the production of divine good. The production of divine good is motivated by a believer’s love for God under the filling of the Holy Spirit and through the application of Bible doctrine. All divine rewards are based upon a believer’s attitude and response toward God and His Word.

Verse 13

The Greek word for tempted is “peirazo,” which means enticed to sin. It refers to a believer who is under the pressure to succumb to temptation. Temptation comes from Satan’s world system or from our own sin nature. It is not wrong to be tempted. It is wrong to say that you are being tempted by God. That would be a false statement. Because of the character of God, He cannot be tempted by evil, and He never tempts anyone to commit evil. God is never the source of temptation or sin under any circumstances.

Verse 14

There are three sources of temptation, and because you are under temptation it does not mean that you have sinned.

The first source of temptation is called “the world (system)” in Romans 12:2 and I John 2:15-16. Temptation is personal and individual. No two people are alike and therefore no two people are tempted in the same way. Each one of us has his own lust pattern, with all of its variations. Temptation is never a sin until you choose to succumb to it. If you are spiritually weak at any given moment, then you will find yourself under the power of your sin nature, which means you will most likely produce sin.

The second source of temptation is the sin nature, mentioned in Romans 7:15 and in Galatians 5:16-21. Generally speaking, most of our temptations come from sources one or two, and sometimes a combination. The source of sin is the sin nature’s area of weakness. There is nothing wrong with being tempted but there is something wrong when you say yes to the temptation. When you succumb to the temptation, that immediately puts you under the power of your sin nature, and then you express the sin through your area of weakness. It will fall into one of three categories: mental attitude sins, sins of the tongue, or overt sins. The only way you ever break out of the power of the sin nature is by means of Rebound and the application of Bible doctrine.

The Bible makes it very clear that we are going to continue to sin as long as we live on this earth. It is important to understand that we do not have a “license to sin.” But as long as we have a sin nature, and as long as we live in Satan’s world system, there are going to be times when we are going to sin. You are going to have a sin nature until the day you die or until the Rapture, whichever occurs first. That means that as long as you live you are going to be tempted.

The third area of temptation is Satan and his demon army. (Matthew 4:1; James 4:7-8) Satan does not generally solicit people to evil. Satan’s world system is evil, but we have to remember that he uses both human good and evil to distract and destroy. Therefore, the devil tempts you to become religious, to become legalistic. Religion is the devil’s ace trump, and the devil tries to get you to be self-righteous, legalistic, and anti-grace. Satan does not personally tempt many people.

Verse 15

Conceived is the Greek word “sullambano,” meaning to give birth or as a metaphor, an impulse of lust or desire. So, it means all categories of sin come out of lust. Sin begins temporal death to your spiritual life if not dealt with through Rebound. It is called temporal death because it does not affect a believer’s eternal relationship with God, only their fellowship with God.

The first time Eve and Adam sinned they were spiritually dead to God. Eve sinned first and then Adam followed her. They both did exactly the same thing; they ate the forbidden fruit. There was a difference, of course. Adam deliberately sinned; Eve was deceived. But lust was the cause. The woman longed for the fruit, thinking it would make her as wise as God. Therefore, she took the fruit and ate it. Lust became “pregnant” and gave birth to sin, resulting in spiritual death. Adam deliberately sinned and the human race came under spiritual death as a result. (Ephesians 2:1; Romans 5:12; 6:23; Proverbs 14:12; Genesis 2:17; I Corinthians 15:22; Romans 8:6, 13; Ephesians 5:14; I Timothy 5:6; James 1:15; Revelation 3:1)

Verse 16

The devil is smarter than any human being. One way or another he can dupe, deceive us, or trick us, unless we know Bible doctrine. Our defense against him is applying Bible doctrine. So, the command to stop being deceived is a command to study, learn, and apply Bible doctrine. Our protection in the Angelic Conflict comes from the consistent study and application of Bible doctrine.

The word beloved refers to every believer in Christ. Brethren means that every believer is a member of the Royal Family of God.