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Sermon: Effectuate [ih-fek-choo-eyt] Effectuate means, "to bring about." You have entered into the salvation process; now effectuate it by bringing it to a successful conclusion. Bring about your salvation. Notice a key verse as we begin to immerse ourselves into the subject.
James 1:12 Going now to the Barnes Notes commentary. Blessed is the man that endureth temptation - The apostle seems here to use the word “temptation” in the most general sense, as denoting anything that will try the reality of religion, whether affliction, or persecution, or a direct inducement to sin placed before the mind. The word temptation appears in this chapter to be used in two senses; and the question may arise, why the apostle so employs it. Compare James 1:2, James 1:13. But, in fact, the word “temptation” is in itself of so general a character as to cover the whole usage, and to justify the manner in which it is employed. It denotes anything that will try or test the reality of our religion; and it may be applied, therefore, either to afflictions or to direct solicitations to sin - the latter being the sense in which it is now commonly employed. In another respect, also, essentially the same idea enters into both the ways in which the word is employed.
Quoted verses:
James 1:13 Continuing now with the commentary for, "Blesses is the man that endureth temptation.” Affliction, persecution, sickness, etc., may be regarded as, in a certain sense, temptations to sin; that is, the question comes before us whether we will adhere to the religion on account of which we are persecuted, or apostatize from it, and escape these sufferings; whether in sickness and losses we will be patient and submissive to that God who lays his hand upon us, or revolt and murmur. In each and every case, whether by affliction, or by direct allurements to do wrong, the question comes before the mind whether we have religion enough to keep us, or whether we will yield to murmuring, to rebellion, and to sin. In these respects, in a general sense, all forms of trial may be regarded as temptation. Yet in the following verse James 1:13 [quoted above] the apostle would guard this from abuse. So far as the form of trial involved an allurement or inducement to sin, he says that no man should regard it as from God. That cannot be his [the firstfruit's] design. The trial is what he [the firstfruit] aims at, not the sin. In the verse before us he says, that whatever may be the form of the trial, a Christian should rejoice in it, for it will furnish an evidence that he is a child of God. Note: Did you see that in the commentary? It says that the trial or temptation will furnish an evidence that the firstfruit is a child of God. Isn't this what was going on with the trial of Abraham when God told him to sacrifice his son, Isaac? Let us take a side trip and look at this account:
Genesis 22:1-12 Notice that phrase in verse 12, "for now I know that thou fearest God." Does anyone here think that God did not know what was going to happen? Notice the Barnes Notes Commentary: Genesis 22:11-14 At this critical moment the angel of the Lord interposes to prevent the actual sacrifice. “Lay not thy hand upon the lad.” Here we have the evidence of a voice from heaven that God does not accept of human victims. Man is morally unclean, and therefore unfit for a sacrifice. He is, moreover, not in any sense a victim, but a doomed culprit, for whom the victim has to be provided. And for a typical sacrifice that cannot take away, but only shadow forth, the efficacious [effective] sacrifice, man is neither fit nor necessary. The lamb without blemish, that has no penal [punishment] or protracted suffering, is sufficient for a symbol of the real atonement. The intention, therefore, in this case was enough, and that was now seen to be real. “Now I know that thou fearest God.” This was known to God antecedent [an-tuh-seed-nt] [prior] to the event that demonstrated it. But the original “I have known” denotes an eventual knowing, a discovering by actual experiment; and this observable probation [character test] of Abraham was necessary for the judicial eye of God, who is to govern the world, and for the conscience of man, who is to be instructed by practice as well as principle. “Thou hast not withheld thy son from me.” This voluntary surrender of all that was dear to him, of all that he could in any sense call his own, forms the keystone of Abraham’s spiritual experience. He is henceforth a tried man. ~Barnes Notes with emphasis mine The John Gill says, "he knew full well beforehand what would be the consequence of such a trial of him; but this is said after the manner of men, who know things with certainty when they come to pass, and appear plain and evident: or this may be understood of a knowledge of approbation [approval], that the Lord now knew, and approved of the faith, fear, love, and obedience of Abraham, which were so conspicuous in this affair." ~John Gill with emphasis mine This all goes along with the Barnes Notes commentary on James 1:12 and furnishing an evidence that the firstfruit is a child of God. Now let us continue with the commentary on James 1:12. I will read that verse again:
James 1:12 For when he is tried - In any way - if he bears the trial. He shall receive the crown of life - See the notes at 2 Timothy 4:8. It is possible that James had that passage in his eye.
Quoted verse: Which the Lord hath promised - The sacred writers often speak of such a crown as promised, or as in reserve for the children of God. 2 Timothy 4:8; 1 Peter 5:4; Revelation 2:10; Revelation 3:11; Revelation 4:4.
Quoted verses:
1 Peter 5:4
Revelation 2:10
Revelation 3:11
Revelation 4:4 Them that love him - A common expression to denote those who are truly pious, or who are his friends. It is sufficiently distinctive to characterize them, for the great mass of men do not love God. Compare Romans 1:30. ~Barnes Notes
Quoted verse: Let us now use the Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge to explore James 1:12. Once again I will give you that verse.
James 1:12
He shall receive the crown of life:
Luke 22:28-30 Notice the commentary on this one: Ye are they which have continued with me - From the beginning of his ministry, to that very time, they abode by him, and never departed from him, when others withdrew and walked no more with him: In my temptations - not in the wilderness by Satan; for they were not with him then, not being as yet called to be his disciples and followers: but in his afflictions, by the reproaches, and cavils, and ensnaring questions of the Scribes and Pharisees, and their attempts upon him to take away his life by stoning, &c. which were trials and temptations to him. So the Ethiopic version renders it, "in my affliction": now, since they had stood their ground, and firmly adhered to him in all his trials, he would have them still continue with him, and in his interest, though they should not have that temporal glory and grandeur they expected; but, on the contrary, fresh troubles and exercises, reproach, persecution, and death itself; and, for their encouragement, he promises both pleasure and honour, though of another sort, than what they were seeking after. ~John Gill Question: How does a firstfruit seek for glory, honor and eternal life?
Romans 2:7-10 Question: How does a firstfruit attain an incorruptible crown?
1 Corinthians 9:25 Question: In the sermon, Ascendency we learn how Jesus overcame temptation. Are we to partake in those temptations?
1 Peter 4:13 Question: Jesus overcame temptation and therefore sin. In doing so, He is setting down with God the Father on His throne. Is there a way for you to sit on that throne?
Revelation 3:21 Bring about your salvation.
Let us look at another key verse. It is very close to James 1:12. Turn
to James 1 and verse 2 Notice the John Gill on this verse. It makes reference to the account of Abraham's test with Isaac. In this commentary we encounter a single sentence with no less than 302 words. Bear with me. Count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations - not the temptations of Satan, or temptations to sin; for these cannot be matter of joy, but grief; these are fiery darts, and give a great deal of uneasiness and trouble; but afflictions and persecutions for the sake of the Gospel, which are so called here and elsewhere, because they are trials of the faith of God's people, and of other graces of the Spirit of God. God by these tempts [tests] his people, as he did Abraham, when he called him to sacrifice his son; he thereby tried his faith, fear, love, and obedience; so by afflictions, God tries the graces of his people; not that he might know them, for he is not ignorant of them, but that they might be made manifest to others; and these are "divers": many are the afflictions of the righteous; through much tribulation they must enter the kingdom; it is a great fight of afflictions which they endure, as these believers did; their trials came from different quarters; they were persecuted by their countrymen the Jews, and were distressed by the Gentiles, among whom they lived; and their indignities and reproaches were many; and their sufferings of different sorts, as confiscation of goods, imprisonment of body, banishment, scourgings, and death in various shapes: and these they "fall" into; not by chance, nor altogether at an unawares, or unexpectedly; but they fell into them through the wickedness and malice of their enemies, and did not bring them upon themselves through any crime or enormity they were guilty of: and when this was their case, the apostle exhorts them to count it all joy, or matter of joy, of exceeding great joy, even of the greatest joy; not that these afflictions were joyous in themselves, but in their circumstances, effects, and consequences; as they tried, and exercised, and improved the graces of the Spirit, and worked for their good, spiritual and eternal, and produced in them the peaceable fruit of righteousness; and as they were attended with the presence and Spirit of God, and of glory; and as they made for, and issued in the glory of God; and because of that great reward in heaven which would follow them; see Matthew 5:11. The Jews have a saying: "whoever rejoices in afflictions that come upon him, brings salvation to the world.'' ~John Gill
Quoted verse: Let us close with some scriptures that link the sermon of the first Holy Day with this one.
Psalm 119:67
Psalm 119:71
Psalm 119:75
Hebrews 10:32
1 Peter 1:6-7 So go now and Effectuate [ih-fek-choo-eyt] your salvation. |
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