The Holy Spirit Will Give Us Joy, During Trials Part I
James 1:1-4 James, a servant of God and of the Lord
Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes scattered among the nations: Greetings.
Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many
kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.
Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not
lacking anything.
James begins his letter with a greeting to the
twelve tribes scattered abroad. The word for greetings (Chairo, Strong's 5463)
carries additional meaning. It does not only mean "hello," but
"hello and be filled with all gladness." We can know joy because of
our salvation, joy because through Christ Jesus and our faith in Him, we have
become children of God and joint heirs with Jesus. Furthermore, we can know joy
because we will spend eternity with Christ, no matter what happens. The joy
spoken of here is supernatural, not one from us or the fallen world where we
live. Instead, it comes from God as one of the many gifts of our salvation,
which God gave us in and through the selfless sacrifice that our Lord and
Savior, Christ Jesus, made on the Cross of Calvary,
The phrase "twelve tribes scattered among the
nations" references the entire nation believing Israel. These were Jewish
believers in Christ Jesus living in all corners of the world, scattered by the
expulsion of the Assyrians and Babylonians and those recently scattered by
Stephen's martyrdom. And even more recently, the persecution started by Herod
Agrippa I related to Stephen's martyrdom. So, James is speaking to those Jewish
believers scattered abroad because of the persecution against Christians. God,
in turn, used the dispersion of the Children of Israel from their homeland to
spread the Gospel of Christ outside Israel to the surrounding nations.
Moreover, not only has Jesus promised us this, but
He has also guaranteed it to us with His resurrection. The resurrection of
Christ is the proof of our redemption, and His assurance to us is the
indwelling of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit takes up residence in every
believer who places their faith in Christ alone for salvation. The Holy Spirit
is our assurance and proof that we will see Jesus, face to face.
No matter what happens to us in this fallen world,
our eternity is secure in the arms of Christ, and we will live eternally with
Him. Moreover, until we go home to be with the Lord, the Holy Spirit will remain
with us to guide and direct our every step and carry on His work of
sanctification in our lives. Sanctification is God's process of spiritual
growth carried out in every believer's life through the work of the Holy
Spirit, who indwells in us. Moreover, the process of sanctification can be
either accelerated or hindered depending on our level of love for the Lord, our
study of scripture, our daily prayer life, and our submission to the leading of
God's Holy Spirit in our daily lives.
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