WEBVTT

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 Now if you have a Bible there, do you turn to James chapter 1.

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 The last couple of weeks I've had an experience that I'm sure many of us have had many times.

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 The phone rings, at a time you don't really want to answer the phone, you pick it up,

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 and you find a distant voice from the other side of the planet,

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 saying they want to speak to Mr Cashman.

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 I'm trying to deny my existence, but the ventures have come with curiosity,

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 and the voice announces they're calling from TalkTalk, my internet and phone supplier,

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 saying they notice that my internet service has slowed down.

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 And of course it's very plausible, isn't it?

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 Because my internet service is never fast as I think it should be,

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 as I think I pay them that money to make it.

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 And so on, it starts to get interested, they've latched into a genuine desire to make things work quickly.

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 But then part of me remembers the truth.

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 A, I don't really want to be speaking to this person, I've got other things I want to do,

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 and B, there are fraudsters out there.

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 The fact bolstered by the fact that TalkTalk have had all their data left in the last couple of weeks.

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 So I start to ask a few questions, and pretty soon the other person hangs up,

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 annoyed that I'm asking them questions.

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 The whole experience is a reminder, isn't it, of how easy it is to be deceived.

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 Someone calls promising something you want,

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 and you need to discern the truth, don't you?

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 What is real, what is not.

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 Well, James is writing because he doesn't want his readers deceived.

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 Look at verse 16, the middle of the section we're looking at.

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 So we're looking at verses 12 to 18, right in the middle there.

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 Verse 16, do not be deceived, my beloved brothers.

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 Now it's easy to be deceived about with prank calls or hoax calls,

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 but that's actually not terribly dangerous.

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 What was the worst thing to happen?

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 I might lose a bit of money, I might get my computer hacked.

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 But these people, and we indeed as Christians, are in danger of much bigger deception.

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 Turn over to the end of the letter.

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 See, this is the whole reason James is writing.

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 Look at chapter 5, verses 19 to 20.

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 My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth,

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 literally in the original language, is deceived.

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 It's the same word used back in chapter 1, verse 16.

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 If anyone is deceived and someone brings him back,

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 let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering,

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 from his deception,

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 will save his soul from death,

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 and will cover a multitude of signals.

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 See what's at stake in this deception?

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 What's at stake is more than a matter of life and death.

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 It's a matter of heaven and hell, James says.

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 And rather, he's writing to people who profess to be believers in the Lord Jesus Christ.

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 He calls them brothers.

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 Though the stakes are high, he does not want them to be deceived.

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 Now, what could deceive them?

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 Well, as you have heard from the whole section that Penny read to us,

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 many people were undergoing trials, having hard times.

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 And it's easy in hard times to be deceived, isn't it?

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 To be deceived that maybe God doesn't really love me.

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 To be deceived that maybe the gospel isn't really true.

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 To be deceived that maybe to give in to this temptation

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 would be an easier way out, an easier way to comfort.

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 Because that's why in verse 12, James reminds his readers of a greater truth.

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 There is a reason for enduring.

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 Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial.

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 For when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life

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 that God has promised to those who love him.

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 See, what's the hope at the end?

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 What's the reward for those who endure who don't give in?

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 It's this crown of life.

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 I think we hear the word crown and we think of the crown jewels, don't we?

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 Think of a big golden crown that a monarch would wear.

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 For James' reader, the usual crown they would think of

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 was more likely a laurel crown, a crown, a wreath

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 that would be placed on the victor's head after an athletic competition.

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 But here James said this crown isn't made of laurel wreaths.

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 It's made of something better.

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 It's made of life.

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 It's the crown of life.

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 It's the crown of real life.

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 The crown of eternal life.

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 Life in heaven with God when we die.

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 Life in a new creation.

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 When Christ comes back.

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 Real life.

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 But these trials and difficulties of life bring us temptations.

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 They can make us think there isn't a crown of life to inherit.

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 They can make us think that there are more to life now.

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 It's when the trial of unemployment comes

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 that the temptation to fill the tax returns can come, isn't it?

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 You might never think about that normally.

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 But suddenly the trial of financial hardship arises.

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 The temptation to just get something a little cheap,

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 get something a little quick.

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 That suddenly arises, isn't it?

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 James knew.

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 His readers were thinking like that.

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 They were thinking,

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 or maybe they were thinking that God was to blame for their trials.

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 Look at verse 13.

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 Let no one say when he is tempted,

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 I am being tempted by God.

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 For God cannot be tempted by evil,

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 and he himself tempts no one.

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 Perhaps they were considering blaming God for their temptations

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 because they knew that God is sovereign.

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 They knew the truth of Psalm 135 verse 6,

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 that the Lord does whatever he pleases.

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 Maybe they thought,

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 well, God is making us suffer,

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 so this is his way of tempting us.

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 Or maybe they were remembering the Old Testament.

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 Remember how the Lord tested Abraham,

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 or tested Hezekiah,

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 2 Chronicles chapter 32 verse 31.

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 They thought the Lord is testing,

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 tempting us.

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 It's the same word in the original language.

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 So how could they stand firm

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 under these temptations and trials?

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 Well, James wants them to know the truth.

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 Whatever they're thinking,

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 they're in danger of being deceived.

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 And he wants them to receive the crown of life.

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 So how can they stand firm?

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 Well, he wants them to make sure they're not deceived,

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 but they know the truth.

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 Two aspects of the truth in particular.

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 He wants them to know the truth about themselves,

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 and the truth about God.

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 Let's look at the truth about themselves,

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 the truth about ourselves, first of all.

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 So we can stand firm in our trials and temptations.

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 Verses 13 and 14.

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 And the truth about ourselves is not a popular truth, is it?

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 If you were to ask your neighbours,

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 or boys and girls,

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 if you were to ask someone at school,

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 are you a good person?

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 How would they normally reply?

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 I suspect they say,

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 I'm not perfect,

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 but I'm basically a good person.

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 I do my best.

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 I try to be nice to people.

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 I'm a good person.

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 And when they do make mistakes,

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 they look for excuses, don't they?

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 We live in a culture where everyone wants someone to blame,

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 don't they?

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 But James' point here is,

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 we don't really have something to blame.

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 Look at what he says in verse 13.

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 When we give in to temptation,

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 it's never God's fault,

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 it's always our fault.

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 We are not the good people we think we are.

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 We're slaves to our desires.

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 Look at verse 13.

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 Let no one say when he's tempted,

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 I'm being tempted by God,

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 for God cannot be tempted with evil,

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 and he himself tempts no one.

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 But each person is tempted

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 when he is lured and enticed by his own desire.

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 Then desire,

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 when it is conceived,

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 gives birth to sin,

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 and sin,

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 when it is fully grown,

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 brings forth to death.

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 See,

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 James' readers

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 were blaming God for their temptation.

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 That was a symptom

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 of an underlying problem with them.

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 Back in verse 8 of chapter 1,

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 James had said that,

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 had warned them not to be a double-minded person,

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 who's unstable in all their ways.

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 Over in chapter 4,

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 verse 4,

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 verse 8 as well,

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 he talks about people being double-minded.

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 In chapter 1,

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 verse 18,

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 double-minded is about

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 not really believing God.

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 It's about praying,

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 but not believing he will answer.

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 In chapter 4,

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 verse 8,

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 it's about

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 claiming to want to follow God,

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 but really desiring wealth

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 and prestige

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 on your own way

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 in this world.

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 See,

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 here's what we,

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 what double-mindedness is.

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 It's kind of saying one thing,

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 pretending,

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 claiming to believe one thing,

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 but actually living in another way.

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 And that's what we see going on here

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 in chapter 1,

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 verse 13.

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 This is probably a double-mindedness.

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 It's kind of,

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 it's God who's tempting me,

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 not grasping the truth

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 about God

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 in their own minds.

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 So James is showing them

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 the problem is not with God,

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 the problem is with them.

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 And we can be double-minded too,

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 can't we?

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 Maybe we don't go as far

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 as explicitly blaming God

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 for tempting us.

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 But how often do I find myself

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 saying something like,

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 I'm sorry I got cross with you,

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 but I'm very tired.

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 Or do you say,

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 I'm sorry I did this,

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 I'm sorry I reacted in this way,

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 but I'm under a lot of pressure

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 at work at the moment.

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 I'm sorry I did that,

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 but you provoked me.

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 I'm sorry,

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 but I wouldn't have done it

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 if such and such.

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 I'd fairly, quite easily,

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 blame our sin,

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 blame our failings,

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 blame doing something wrong,

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 not on ourselves,

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 but on something

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 in our circumstances.

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 Essentially,

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 that's like blaming God,

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 isn't it?

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 So it's not about me,

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 it's about something out there.

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 I'm really God's in charge

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 of all that.

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 If it hadn't been like this,

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 I wouldn't have behaved

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 in this way.

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 It's actually a bit of

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 double-mindedness,

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 isn't it?

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 And that's why James says

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 we need to know the truth

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 about ourselves.

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 The truth is not popular,

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 it's not comfortable,

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 but it's what we need to know.

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 That when we are tempted,

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 it is because,

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 verse 14,

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 we are enticed

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 by our own desires.

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 We're tempted

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 by our own desires

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 lure us or entice us

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 and drag us away.

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 We're tempted,

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 we fall into temptation

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 when we let our feelings

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 run the show,

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 rather than our truth,

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 the truth,

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 God's truth,

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 dominate,

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 so that we think straight.

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 The language James uses here

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 is like the language

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 of catching a fish.

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 You know what it's like,

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 I don't have a go fishing,

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 I've never had any appeal to me,

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 but you know how it works,

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 don't you?

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 You get a bit of bait,

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 a fly,

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 or a worm,

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 or something,

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 put it on a hook,

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 cast your rod,

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 cast your line

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 into the river or the sea,

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 and the fish comes along,

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 and the fish is a fish.

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 So it sees the worm

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 or the fly there

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 and thinks,

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 oh,

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 that looks nice,

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 I want it.

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 And in its desires,

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 it bites on to the bait

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 and is hooked.

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 That's the language

00:10:22.639 --> 00:10:23.500
 James uses here.

00:10:23.860 --> 00:10:24.679
 We're enticed,

00:10:24.779 --> 00:10:25.539
 we see the bait,

00:10:25.860 --> 00:10:26.819
 we see the bait,

00:10:27.399 --> 00:10:30.159
 and we act on those desires

00:10:30.159 --> 00:10:31.439
 rather than submitting

00:10:31.440 --> 00:10:32.340
 to God's truth.

00:10:33.200 --> 00:10:33.780
 So for example,

00:10:33.900 --> 00:10:34.820
 boys and girls at school,

00:10:34.900 --> 00:10:35.740
 you know how this works out,

00:10:35.800 --> 00:10:36.120
 don't you?

00:10:36.540 --> 00:10:36.680
 Well,

00:10:36.700 --> 00:10:37.460
 how does it work out for you?

00:10:37.520 --> 00:10:38.400
 Think about it for a moment.

00:10:39.360 --> 00:10:41.300
 You desire to fit in

00:10:41.300 --> 00:10:41.880
 with your friends,

00:10:41.940 --> 00:10:43.140
 you desire to be popular.

00:10:44.480 --> 00:10:44.860
 And so,

00:10:45.360 --> 00:10:46.560
 someone suggests that you

00:10:46.560 --> 00:10:47.940
 stop talking to that girl

00:10:47.940 --> 00:10:48.360
 over there

00:10:48.360 --> 00:10:49.300
 because she's a bit nasty,

00:10:49.800 --> 00:10:50.760
 or whatever it is.

00:10:51.580 --> 00:10:52.700
 And so rather than letting

00:10:52.700 --> 00:10:54.040
 God's truth dictate,

00:10:54.900 --> 00:10:55.920
 it says you should love

00:10:55.920 --> 00:10:56.600
 your enemies

00:10:56.600 --> 00:10:57.320
 and pray for those

00:10:57.320 --> 00:10:58.080
 who persecute you,

00:10:58.360 --> 00:10:58.640
 you say,

00:10:58.700 --> 00:10:58.920
 you know what,

00:10:58.920 --> 00:10:59.880
 I'm going to go along with that.

00:11:00.280 --> 00:11:00.880
 So you give in

00:11:00.879 --> 00:11:01.539
 your desire,

00:11:02.279 --> 00:11:03.320
 and so you're being mean

00:11:03.320 --> 00:11:04.000
 and bullying along

00:11:04.000 --> 00:11:04.879
 with everyone else.

00:11:06.879 --> 00:11:07.539
 And we all know how

00:11:07.539 --> 00:11:08.379
 that works in our own lives,

00:11:08.439 --> 00:11:08.759
 don't we?

00:11:10.019 --> 00:11:11.620
 We all face choices daily,

00:11:11.679 --> 00:11:12.879
 whether we act on our own desires

00:11:12.879 --> 00:11:14.580
 or in line with God's truth.

00:11:15.240 --> 00:11:16.059
 So we desire

00:11:16.059 --> 00:11:17.539
 financial security.

00:11:18.840 --> 00:11:19.799
 So we hold on

00:11:19.799 --> 00:11:20.779
 to all the money we have

00:11:20.779 --> 00:11:21.460
 rather than giving

00:11:21.460 --> 00:11:22.820
 to gospel work.

00:11:23.379 --> 00:11:24.179
 Or we desire

00:11:24.179 --> 00:11:25.360
 for control.

00:11:26.559 --> 00:11:27.659
 And so we get angry,

00:11:27.659 --> 00:11:28.879
 or we manipulate

00:11:28.879 --> 00:11:29.679
 and dominate.

00:11:33.159 --> 00:11:34.860
 We desire for an easy life.

00:11:35.799 --> 00:11:36.899
 So we don't correct

00:11:36.899 --> 00:11:37.779
 a brother or sister

00:11:37.779 --> 00:11:38.799
 who's falling into sin.

00:11:40.719 --> 00:11:41.519
 So this is how

00:11:41.519 --> 00:11:42.600
 sin starts.

00:11:42.679 --> 00:11:44.059
 It begins with our desires.

00:11:44.539 --> 00:11:45.100
 It begins with how

00:11:45.100 --> 00:11:46.199
 we act on our feelings.

00:11:46.259 --> 00:11:47.059
 That's stage one.

00:11:47.620 --> 00:11:48.639
 Then look at stage two,

00:11:48.899 --> 00:11:49.579
 verse 15.

00:11:49.699 --> 00:11:51.019
 Then desire,

00:11:51.419 --> 00:11:52.480
 when it is conceived,

00:11:53.000 --> 00:11:54.019
 gives birth to sin.

00:11:54.019 --> 00:11:55.559
 In other words,

00:11:55.759 --> 00:11:56.899
 when we let our desires

00:11:56.899 --> 00:11:57.919
 control our will,

00:11:58.539 --> 00:11:59.460
 rather than God's truth

00:11:59.460 --> 00:12:00.399
 controlling our will,

00:12:00.860 --> 00:12:01.519
 then we give in

00:12:01.519 --> 00:12:02.059
 to that action,

00:12:02.240 --> 00:12:03.539
 it gives birth to sin.

00:12:04.360 --> 00:12:05.559
 We're guided by our feelings

00:12:05.559 --> 00:12:06.220
 rather than remembering

00:12:06.220 --> 00:12:06.899
 the truth.

00:12:10.480 --> 00:12:10.919
 Now,

00:12:11.259 --> 00:12:12.279
 a sin doesn't seem

00:12:12.279 --> 00:12:13.220
 that important to us,

00:12:13.220 --> 00:12:13.519
 does it?

00:12:14.039 --> 00:12:14.860
 Sin these days

00:12:14.860 --> 00:12:15.759
 is used as a kind of,

00:12:16.139 --> 00:12:17.139
 it's a marketing tool,

00:12:17.220 --> 00:12:17.519
 isn't it?

00:12:17.980 --> 00:12:18.720
 Magnum ice creams

00:12:18.720 --> 00:12:19.939
 had the seven deadly sins

00:12:19.939 --> 00:12:21.079
 flavours a few years ago.

00:12:21.600 --> 00:12:22.579
 Sin is often viewed as

00:12:22.579 --> 00:12:23.980
 eating too much sugar

00:12:23.980 --> 00:12:24.680
 or too much fat

00:12:24.680 --> 00:12:25.759
 or whatever is bad

00:12:25.759 --> 00:12:26.320
 at the moment.

00:12:27.519 --> 00:12:28.019
 James says,

00:12:28.080 --> 00:12:29.039
 don't be deceived

00:12:29.039 --> 00:12:29.519
 about that.

00:12:29.700 --> 00:12:31.139
 Sin is serious.

00:12:31.879 --> 00:12:32.500
 So stage one

00:12:32.500 --> 00:12:33.019
 is desire,

00:12:33.139 --> 00:12:33.639
 stage two

00:12:33.639 --> 00:12:35.060
 is acting on that desire

00:12:35.060 --> 00:12:35.860
 which leads to sin.

00:12:36.300 --> 00:12:37.159
 Look where that leads to,

00:12:37.200 --> 00:12:38.220
 verse 15,

00:12:38.360 --> 00:12:39.220
 the third stage.

00:12:39.639 --> 00:12:40.000
 Sin,

00:12:40.100 --> 00:12:41.159
 when it is fully grown,

00:12:41.840 --> 00:12:43.240
 brings forth death.

00:12:44.399 --> 00:12:44.580
 See,

00:12:44.659 --> 00:12:45.500
 sin is serious,

00:12:45.680 --> 00:12:45.940
 says James.

00:12:45.980 --> 00:12:46.580
 It's significant.

00:12:47.840 --> 00:12:48.700
 If this is the pattern

00:12:48.700 --> 00:12:49.320
 of our life,

00:12:49.360 --> 00:12:49.940
 that we constantly

00:12:49.940 --> 00:12:50.840
 follow our desires

00:12:50.840 --> 00:12:51.840
 and fall into sin,

00:12:52.360 --> 00:12:53.480
 and sin and sin

00:12:53.480 --> 00:12:54.440
 without ever letting

00:12:54.440 --> 00:12:55.600
 God's truth correct it.

00:12:56.580 --> 00:12:57.440
 And what's the result

00:12:57.440 --> 00:12:58.279
 when it's fully grown?

00:12:59.139 --> 00:12:59.620
 Death.

00:13:00.740 --> 00:13:01.960
 And what James says here

00:13:01.960 --> 00:13:02.680
 is mirrored by

00:13:02.680 --> 00:13:03.940
 the very first sin

00:13:03.940 --> 00:13:04.720
 in human history.

00:13:05.360 --> 00:13:05.899
 It's mirrored by

00:13:05.899 --> 00:13:06.340
 what happened

00:13:06.340 --> 00:13:07.320
 in the Garden of Eden

00:13:07.320 --> 00:13:08.759
 when Adam and Eve

00:13:08.759 --> 00:13:09.580
 fell.

00:13:10.159 --> 00:13:10.800
 It began

00:13:10.800 --> 00:13:12.180
 with forgetting

00:13:12.180 --> 00:13:12.980
 God's truth

00:13:12.980 --> 00:13:13.620
 or God's truth

00:13:13.620 --> 00:13:14.480
 being distorted

00:13:14.480 --> 00:13:15.779
 and then just acting

00:13:15.779 --> 00:13:16.480
 on their desires,

00:13:16.580 --> 00:13:16.920
 didn't it?

00:13:17.840 --> 00:13:18.259
 Remember,

00:13:18.360 --> 00:13:19.120
 God had told them,

00:13:19.440 --> 00:13:20.039
 do not eat

00:13:20.039 --> 00:13:20.899
 the fruit

00:13:20.899 --> 00:13:21.379
 from the tree

00:13:21.379 --> 00:13:21.839
 of the knowledge

00:13:21.839 --> 00:13:22.480
 of good and evil.

00:13:23.079 --> 00:13:23.620
 For in the day

00:13:23.620 --> 00:13:24.079
 you eat of it

00:13:24.079 --> 00:13:25.179
 you will surely die.

00:13:26.219 --> 00:13:26.879
 And Satan,

00:13:27.259 --> 00:13:28.919
 disguised as a snake,

00:13:29.039 --> 00:13:29.959
 creeps into the garden

00:13:29.959 --> 00:13:31.519
 and starts to

00:13:31.519 --> 00:13:32.679
 get them to doubt

00:13:32.679 --> 00:13:33.299
 God's truth,

00:13:33.379 --> 00:13:34.659
 to distort God's word.

00:13:35.159 --> 00:13:35.319
 He says,

00:13:35.379 --> 00:13:35.959
 you're not sure

00:13:35.959 --> 00:13:36.559
 they die.

00:13:37.699 --> 00:13:38.519
 And then he distorts

00:13:38.519 --> 00:13:39.279
 God's character.

00:13:39.480 --> 00:13:39.599
 He says,

00:13:39.679 --> 00:13:39.860
 hey,

00:13:40.339 --> 00:13:40.980
 God doesn't want

00:13:40.980 --> 00:13:41.799
 what's best for you,

00:13:41.839 --> 00:13:42.219
 does he?

00:13:42.980 --> 00:13:44.299
 God's trying to limit you.

00:13:44.759 --> 00:13:45.539
 He knows if you eat

00:13:45.539 --> 00:13:45.959
 that fruit

00:13:45.959 --> 00:13:46.919
 you'll be like him.

00:13:47.879 --> 00:13:48.259
 That's what,

00:13:48.419 --> 00:13:49.120
 God doesn't have

00:13:49.120 --> 00:13:49.979
 your best interest

00:13:49.979 --> 00:13:50.559
 in heart.

00:13:52.079 --> 00:13:52.799
 And Eve looks

00:13:52.799 --> 00:13:53.339
 at the fruit.

00:13:53.879 --> 00:13:55.019
 Genesis 3 verse 6

00:13:55.019 --> 00:13:55.299
 says,

00:13:55.719 --> 00:13:56.419
 when a woman saw

00:13:56.419 --> 00:13:57.259
 the tree was good

00:13:57.259 --> 00:13:57.839
 for food

00:13:57.839 --> 00:13:58.679
 and that it was

00:13:58.679 --> 00:14:00.059
 a delight to the eyes

00:14:00.059 --> 00:14:01.159
 and that the tree

00:14:01.159 --> 00:14:02.419
 was to be desired

00:14:02.419 --> 00:14:03.579
 to make one wise,

00:14:04.299 --> 00:14:05.399
 she took its fruit

00:14:05.399 --> 00:14:06.279
 and ate

00:14:06.279 --> 00:14:07.399
 and gave some

00:14:07.399 --> 00:14:07.919
 to her husband.

00:14:09.199 --> 00:14:09.620
 Do you see?

00:14:10.559 --> 00:14:11.299
 God's truth

00:14:11.299 --> 00:14:11.860
 ignored,

00:14:11.980 --> 00:14:12.759
 the truth of God's

00:14:12.759 --> 00:14:13.679
 character denied,

00:14:14.719 --> 00:14:16.079
 desires acted upon.

00:14:16.919 --> 00:14:18.299
 That's how sin begins.

00:14:19.539 --> 00:14:20.559
 Begins with desire,

00:14:21.079 --> 00:14:21.979
 leads to sin,

00:14:22.799 --> 00:14:24.039
 ends in death.

00:14:25.120 --> 00:14:25.419
 And remember,

00:14:25.519 --> 00:14:26.439
 just as James'

00:14:26.620 --> 00:14:27.339
 readers are evidently

00:14:27.339 --> 00:14:28.120
 blaming God,

00:14:28.379 --> 00:14:28.759
 it's essentially

00:14:28.759 --> 00:14:29.719
 what Adam and Eve did.

00:14:30.219 --> 00:14:30.699
 It's a pattern

00:14:30.699 --> 00:14:31.319
 for humanity.

00:14:31.439 --> 00:14:31.759
 We always want

00:14:31.759 --> 00:14:32.459
 to make excuses,

00:14:32.579 --> 00:14:32.860
 don't we?

00:14:33.159 --> 00:14:33.699
 So when God

00:14:33.699 --> 00:14:34.399
 walked in the garden

00:14:34.399 --> 00:14:35.259
 in the cool of the evening

00:14:35.259 --> 00:14:36.299
 and said to Adam,

00:14:36.479 --> 00:14:36.719
 Adam,

00:14:36.799 --> 00:14:37.539
 what have you done?

00:14:38.139 --> 00:14:38.959
 What did Adam do?

00:14:39.639 --> 00:14:39.860
 He said,

00:14:39.899 --> 00:14:40.500
 it wasn't me,

00:14:40.599 --> 00:14:41.179
 it was this woman

00:14:41.179 --> 00:14:41.980
 you gave me.

00:14:42.699 --> 00:14:43.019
 Basically,

00:14:43.159 --> 00:14:43.399
 God,

00:14:43.480 --> 00:14:43.980
 it's your fault,

00:14:44.019 --> 00:14:44.659
 you made her.

00:14:45.219 --> 00:14:45.959
 What does Eve do?

00:14:46.280 --> 00:14:47.540
 That wasn't my fault,

00:14:47.600 --> 00:14:48.340
 it was this serpent

00:14:48.340 --> 00:14:49.580
 that you made in the garden.

00:14:50.139 --> 00:14:50.820
 It was your fault,

00:14:50.879 --> 00:14:51.480
 really God?

00:14:52.300 --> 00:14:53.379
 As the old gag has it,

00:14:53.840 --> 00:14:54.680
 Adam blamed the woman,

00:14:54.840 --> 00:14:55.720
 the woman blamed the snake

00:14:55.720 --> 00:14:56.120
 and the snake

00:14:56.120 --> 00:14:57.139
 didn't have a leg to stand on.

00:14:57.920 --> 00:14:58.740
 It's an old joke

00:14:58.740 --> 00:14:59.540
 and it's actually not true

00:14:59.540 --> 00:15:00.019
 because none of them

00:15:00.019 --> 00:15:00.900
 have a leg to stand on.

00:15:01.500 --> 00:15:02.340
 It was a sinful desire

00:15:02.340 --> 00:15:02.840
 all the way,

00:15:02.879 --> 00:15:03.300
 wasn't it?

00:15:04.460 --> 00:15:05.620
 Ignoring God's truth,

00:15:05.840 --> 00:15:07.320
 acting on our own desires,

00:15:07.840 --> 00:15:08.740
 it leads to death.

00:15:09.700 --> 00:15:09.840
 See,

00:15:09.840 --> 00:15:11.080
 James says there's no excuse

00:15:11.080 --> 00:15:12.519
 when you're tempted.

00:15:12.519 --> 00:15:13.740
 We need to know

00:15:13.740 --> 00:15:15.059
 the truth about ourselves

00:15:15.059 --> 00:15:15.679
 if we're to remain

00:15:15.679 --> 00:15:17.199
 steadfast under trial.

00:15:18.120 --> 00:15:18.659
 We need to keep

00:15:18.659 --> 00:15:20.019
 that truth about ourselves

00:15:20.019 --> 00:15:20.939
 in mind.

00:15:21.480 --> 00:15:22.240
 Our desires,

00:15:22.399 --> 00:15:22.980
 our feelings

00:15:22.980 --> 00:15:24.519
 are not reliable.

00:15:24.799 --> 00:15:25.279
 It's not that they're

00:15:25.279 --> 00:15:25.840
 unimportant,

00:15:26.939 --> 00:15:28.079
 it's that they're unreliable.

00:15:28.740 --> 00:15:30.199
 And left unrestrained,

00:15:30.960 --> 00:15:32.059
 they lead to sin

00:15:32.059 --> 00:15:33.159
 and death.

00:15:34.220 --> 00:15:35.419
 So we need to realise

00:15:35.419 --> 00:15:36.139
 how weak we are.

00:15:36.139 --> 00:15:37.779
 That's the first truth

00:15:37.779 --> 00:15:38.679
 James wants us

00:15:38.679 --> 00:15:39.419
 to get our head around.

00:15:40.080 --> 00:15:40.899
 We are weak.

00:15:41.319 --> 00:15:42.059
 That's why the Lord Jesus

00:15:42.059 --> 00:15:43.080
 teaches us to pray,

00:15:43.460 --> 00:15:44.879
 lead us not into temptation.

00:15:45.879 --> 00:15:47.159
 Not that God tempts us,

00:15:47.240 --> 00:15:48.279
 but that our desires

00:15:48.279 --> 00:15:50.299
 and the world around us,

00:15:51.159 --> 00:15:52.399
 our own natures,

00:15:52.500 --> 00:15:53.819
 can so easily entice us

00:15:53.819 --> 00:15:54.480
 and trap us.

00:15:54.819 --> 00:15:55.980
 So we need God's help

00:15:55.980 --> 00:15:58.159
 to remember his truth

00:15:58.159 --> 00:15:59.439
 and act in accordance to it

00:15:59.439 --> 00:16:00.580
 and not cave in

00:16:00.580 --> 00:16:01.539
 to our own desires.

00:16:02.899 --> 00:16:03.720
 So that's the first thing

00:16:03.720 --> 00:16:05.019
 James wants us to be clear about,

00:16:05.019 --> 00:16:06.480
 the truth about ourselves.

00:16:08.159 --> 00:16:09.559
 Our desires will lead us

00:16:09.559 --> 00:16:10.759
 to trouble.

00:16:11.579 --> 00:16:12.220
 But secondly,

00:16:12.319 --> 00:16:13.079
 if we're to stand firm

00:16:13.079 --> 00:16:13.720
 under trials

00:16:13.720 --> 00:16:14.759
 and we can resist temptation,

00:16:15.199 --> 00:16:15.799
 we need to know

00:16:15.799 --> 00:16:17.399
 the truth about God.

00:16:17.819 --> 00:16:18.579
 We need to avoid

00:16:18.579 --> 00:16:19.159
 the deception

00:16:19.159 --> 00:16:20.399
 that Adam and Eve fell into.

00:16:21.159 --> 00:16:22.199
 And there are five facts,

00:16:22.799 --> 00:16:23.600
 I'll go through them quickly,

00:16:23.720 --> 00:16:24.000
 don't worry,

00:16:24.199 --> 00:16:25.059
 there are five facts

00:16:25.059 --> 00:16:26.259
 that James wants them to know,

00:16:26.379 --> 00:16:27.179
 wants us to know

00:16:27.179 --> 00:16:28.199
 about God's truth.

00:16:28.259 --> 00:16:29.220
 The first we've already seen

00:16:29.220 --> 00:16:30.360
 in verse 13,

00:16:30.639 --> 00:16:31.939
 he does not tempt anyone

00:16:31.939 --> 00:16:33.399
 because he is pure.

00:16:33.399 --> 00:16:35.199
 God is pure

00:16:35.199 --> 00:16:36.199
 so he doesn't tempt anyone

00:16:36.199 --> 00:16:37.019
 and is not tempted.

00:16:37.799 --> 00:16:39.000
 Evil and sin in the world

00:16:39.000 --> 00:16:40.480
 is not God's fault.

00:16:40.600 --> 00:16:41.539
 He tempts no one.

00:16:42.500 --> 00:16:43.159
 But secondly,

00:16:43.759 --> 00:16:44.360
 positively,

00:16:44.759 --> 00:16:45.600
 he is the source

00:16:45.600 --> 00:16:46.720
 of all that is good.

00:16:46.799 --> 00:16:47.399
 Look at verse 17.

00:16:49.500 --> 00:16:50.740
 Every good gift

00:16:50.740 --> 00:16:52.679
 and every perfect gift

00:16:52.679 --> 00:16:53.939
 is from above,

00:16:54.360 --> 00:16:54.879
 coming down

00:16:54.879 --> 00:16:56.199
 from the Father of lights.

00:16:57.179 --> 00:16:57.720
 That means

00:16:57.720 --> 00:16:59.399
 every good gift.

00:17:00.419 --> 00:17:01.439
 What good gifts

00:17:01.439 --> 00:17:02.579
 do you have in your life?

00:17:02.580 --> 00:17:04.500
 Family,

00:17:05.100 --> 00:17:05.680
 friends,

00:17:06.640 --> 00:17:07.980
 the beauty of the autumn colours

00:17:07.980 --> 00:17:08.500
 yesterday,

00:17:10.400 --> 00:17:11.299
 stable government

00:17:11.299 --> 00:17:12.640
 to allow us to meet like this,

00:17:14.160 --> 00:17:15.380
 the enjoyment of sport

00:17:15.380 --> 00:17:16.100
 and art,

00:17:16.519 --> 00:17:17.000
 of science,

00:17:17.120 --> 00:17:17.579
 of technology.

00:17:17.700 --> 00:17:18.579
 These are all good gifts.

00:17:19.420 --> 00:17:20.120
 They all come from

00:17:20.120 --> 00:17:21.019
 one good giver.

00:17:22.440 --> 00:17:23.420
 Every good gift

00:17:23.420 --> 00:17:24.079
 comes from him.

00:17:24.460 --> 00:17:25.019
 And even,

00:17:25.340 --> 00:17:26.059
 in the context

00:17:26.059 --> 00:17:27.160
 that James is writing in,

00:17:27.160 --> 00:17:28.660
 even trials

00:17:28.660 --> 00:17:29.840
 and hard times,

00:17:30.259 --> 00:17:32.720
 even they come

00:17:32.720 --> 00:17:33.400
 from God

00:17:33.400 --> 00:17:34.100
 to make us

00:17:34.100 --> 00:17:35.600
 perfect and complete,

00:17:35.980 --> 00:17:36.820
 lacking in nothing,

00:17:37.240 --> 00:17:37.980
 as James says

00:17:37.980 --> 00:17:38.900
 back in verse 4.

00:17:39.519 --> 00:17:40.560
 Every good gift

00:17:40.560 --> 00:17:41.300
 comes from him.

00:17:42.580 --> 00:17:43.259
 So he's pure,

00:17:43.400 --> 00:17:44.200
 it doesn't tempt everyone,

00:17:44.480 --> 00:17:45.279
 he is the source

00:17:45.279 --> 00:17:46.220
 of every good thing,

00:17:46.220 --> 00:17:46.940
 and thirdly,

00:17:47.000 --> 00:17:47.779
 he's the creator

00:17:47.779 --> 00:17:48.579
 of everything.

00:17:49.059 --> 00:17:49.640
 Verse 17

00:17:49.640 --> 00:17:50.400
 is the father

00:17:50.400 --> 00:17:51.059
 of the light,

00:17:51.140 --> 00:17:52.039
 of the heavenly lights.

00:17:52.400 --> 00:17:53.319
 The father of lights.

00:17:53.600 --> 00:17:53.880
 In other words,

00:17:54.039 --> 00:17:54.680
 he's the God

00:17:54.680 --> 00:17:55.799
 who created

00:17:55.799 --> 00:17:56.640
 the stars

00:17:56.640 --> 00:17:57.240
 and the sun

00:17:57.240 --> 00:17:57.740
 and the moon.

00:17:58.339 --> 00:17:59.140
 He created this

00:17:59.140 --> 00:17:59.860
 whole universe.

00:18:00.680 --> 00:18:02.259
 He is that powerful.

00:18:03.079 --> 00:18:03.660
 And maybe James

00:18:03.660 --> 00:18:04.180
 particularly

00:18:04.180 --> 00:18:05.039
 calls him

00:18:05.039 --> 00:18:06.059
 the father of lights,

00:18:06.460 --> 00:18:06.860
 because perhaps

00:18:06.860 --> 00:18:07.400
 some people

00:18:07.400 --> 00:18:08.380
 were kind of

00:18:08.380 --> 00:18:09.000
 resorting to

00:18:09.000 --> 00:18:09.860
 blaming the stars

00:18:09.860 --> 00:18:10.480
 for their behaviour.

00:18:11.240 --> 00:18:12.319
 Oh, it wasn't my fault,

00:18:12.420 --> 00:18:13.720
 but I'm a Leo

00:18:13.720 --> 00:18:14.519
 or a Capricorn

00:18:14.519 --> 00:18:15.400
 or whatever they all are.

00:18:15.480 --> 00:18:16.360
 That's why I behave

00:18:16.360 --> 00:18:17.000
 like this.

00:18:18.220 --> 00:18:18.779
 And that's a

00:18:18.779 --> 00:18:19.480
 contemporary problem,

00:18:19.539 --> 00:18:19.860
 isn't it?

00:18:20.720 --> 00:18:21.700
 I'm sure you have friends,

00:18:21.740 --> 00:18:22.299
 I have friends,

00:18:22.380 --> 00:18:23.740
 who check their horoscopes

00:18:23.740 --> 00:18:24.860
 and seem to know

00:18:24.860 --> 00:18:25.860
 what their star sign is,

00:18:25.900 --> 00:18:26.799
 as if that excuses

00:18:26.799 --> 00:18:27.700
 anything they do

00:18:27.700 --> 00:18:29.279
 or constrains

00:18:29.279 --> 00:18:30.099
 anything they do.

00:18:31.680 --> 00:18:32.200
 James says,

00:18:32.279 --> 00:18:32.380
 no,

00:18:32.440 --> 00:18:33.160
 the stars

00:18:33.160 --> 00:18:34.319
 come and go,

00:18:34.400 --> 00:18:35.079
 the moon waxes

00:18:35.079 --> 00:18:35.460
 and wanes.

00:18:35.759 --> 00:18:36.640
 Those things shift

00:18:36.640 --> 00:18:37.160
 and change

00:18:37.160 --> 00:18:37.660
 in their orbits

00:18:37.660 --> 00:18:38.440
 around the world.

00:18:38.440 --> 00:18:41.240
 Our father does not.

00:18:41.559 --> 00:18:42.400
 Which is the fourth thing.

00:18:42.440 --> 00:18:43.660
 He does not change.

00:18:44.140 --> 00:18:45.019
 The father of lights

00:18:45.019 --> 00:18:46.100
 with whom there is

00:18:46.100 --> 00:18:46.980
 no variation

00:18:46.980 --> 00:18:48.120
 or shadow

00:18:48.120 --> 00:18:49.100
 due to change.

00:18:51.380 --> 00:18:52.039
 These people

00:18:52.039 --> 00:18:52.799
 were double-minded.

00:18:53.140 --> 00:18:53.500
 We're often

00:18:53.500 --> 00:18:54.019
 double-minded,

00:18:54.140 --> 00:18:54.380
 aren't we?

00:18:54.400 --> 00:18:55.100
 We can say one thing

00:18:55.100 --> 00:18:55.500
 on Sunday

00:18:55.500 --> 00:18:56.740
 and just live differently

00:18:56.740 --> 00:18:57.519
 at various points

00:18:57.519 --> 00:18:58.000
 of the week.

00:18:58.799 --> 00:18:59.180
 James says,

00:18:59.220 --> 00:18:59.960
 God is not like that.

00:19:00.019 --> 00:19:00.960
 He is unchanging.

00:19:01.539 --> 00:19:02.080
 He doesn't shift

00:19:02.080 --> 00:19:02.480
 and change

00:19:02.480 --> 00:19:02.980
 like the shadows.

00:19:04.259 --> 00:19:05.640
 He is single-minded

00:19:05.640 --> 00:19:06.140
 and single

00:19:06.140 --> 00:19:07.279
 in his purpose.

00:19:07.279 --> 00:19:08.220
 In fact,

00:19:08.259 --> 00:19:08.660
 earlier on,

00:19:08.720 --> 00:19:09.460
 back in chapter 1

00:19:09.460 --> 00:19:10.240
 verse 5,

00:19:11.420 --> 00:19:12.599
 James had said

00:19:12.599 --> 00:19:13.000
 that if anyone

00:19:13.000 --> 00:19:14.000
 if he lacks wisdom,

00:19:14.339 --> 00:19:15.220
 let him ask God

00:19:15.220 --> 00:19:16.559
 he gives generously

00:19:16.559 --> 00:19:17.879
 without reproach.

00:19:17.940 --> 00:19:18.059
 Now,

00:19:18.200 --> 00:19:18.899
 wisdom is another

00:19:18.899 --> 00:19:19.859
 of God's good gifts.

00:19:20.399 --> 00:19:20.859
 But that word

00:19:20.859 --> 00:19:21.720
 generously there,

00:19:21.819 --> 00:19:22.960
 the original language,

00:19:23.240 --> 00:19:23.740
 has the idea

00:19:23.740 --> 00:19:24.700
 of simply,

00:19:24.899 --> 00:19:25.819
 single-mindedly.

00:19:26.579 --> 00:19:27.180
 This is the way

00:19:27.180 --> 00:19:27.720
 God is.

00:19:27.879 --> 00:19:28.859
 He doesn't change.

00:19:28.899 --> 00:19:29.700
 There's no variation.

00:19:30.299 --> 00:19:31.960
 No alterations

00:19:31.960 --> 00:19:32.279
 with him.

00:19:32.339 --> 00:19:33.480
 He is unchangeable.

00:19:33.720 --> 00:19:34.599
 Utterly reliable.

00:19:35.619 --> 00:19:35.980
 So here are the

00:19:35.980 --> 00:19:36.700
 first four things

00:19:36.700 --> 00:19:37.480
 that he is pure.

00:19:37.799 --> 00:19:38.759
 He does not tempt anyone.

00:19:39.160 --> 00:19:40.480
 He is the source of good,

00:19:40.880 --> 00:19:42.019
 of every good thing.

00:19:42.580 --> 00:19:43.620
 He is the creator

00:19:43.620 --> 00:19:44.980
 who is in control

00:19:44.980 --> 00:19:46.920
 and he does not change.

00:19:47.960 --> 00:19:48.840
 And if God's character

00:19:48.840 --> 00:19:49.460
 never changes,

00:19:49.559 --> 00:19:50.160
 then his purposes

00:19:50.160 --> 00:19:50.960
 and intentions

00:19:50.960 --> 00:19:51.299
 for people

00:19:51.299 --> 00:19:52.160
 never change either.

00:19:53.160 --> 00:19:53.840
 And that takes us

00:19:53.840 --> 00:19:54.980
 on to the fourth truth

00:19:54.980 --> 00:19:55.700
 about God

00:19:55.700 --> 00:19:57.100
 that James wants us to know.

00:19:57.180 --> 00:19:57.620
 Look at the end

00:19:57.620 --> 00:19:58.420
 of verse 18.

00:19:58.759 --> 00:19:59.640
 Look at verse 18.

00:19:59.640 --> 00:20:01.040
 Of his own will

00:20:01.040 --> 00:20:02.280
 he brought us forth

00:20:02.280 --> 00:20:03.560
 by the word of truth

00:20:03.560 --> 00:20:04.700
 that we should be

00:20:04.700 --> 00:20:06.000
 a kind of firstfruits

00:20:06.000 --> 00:20:06.800
 of his creatures.

00:20:07.759 --> 00:20:08.800
 Here's the fifth thing.

00:20:09.360 --> 00:20:10.360
 God is gracious

00:20:10.360 --> 00:20:11.740
 and makes us

00:20:11.740 --> 00:20:12.580
 into new people.

00:20:13.200 --> 00:20:13.920
 He is gracious

00:20:13.920 --> 00:20:15.080
 and makes us

00:20:15.080 --> 00:20:15.820
 into new people.

00:20:16.780 --> 00:20:17.540
 There's a lot in this

00:20:17.540 --> 00:20:18.140
 verse 18.

00:20:18.680 --> 00:20:19.740
 We'll speed through it

00:20:19.740 --> 00:20:20.200
 very quickly.

00:20:20.520 --> 00:20:21.800
 What does James say

00:20:21.800 --> 00:20:22.660
 God has done?

00:20:23.120 --> 00:20:24.680
 He has brought us forth.

00:20:25.460 --> 00:20:25.740
 Do you notice

00:20:25.740 --> 00:20:27.059
 that's the same language

00:20:27.059 --> 00:20:32.000
 he used back in verse 15.

00:20:33.000 --> 00:20:33.640
 There he says

00:20:33.640 --> 00:20:35.480
 sin, when it is fully grown

00:20:35.480 --> 00:20:37.099
 it brings forth death.

00:20:37.819 --> 00:20:38.980
 Our desires ultimately

00:20:38.980 --> 00:20:40.039
 bring forth death.

00:20:40.259 --> 00:20:41.240
 What does God's will,

00:20:41.380 --> 00:20:42.319
 God's desire do?

00:20:42.759 --> 00:20:44.500
 Ultimately it brings forth life.

00:20:44.940 --> 00:20:45.819
 Makes us new people.

00:20:45.900 --> 00:20:46.680
 That's what he's done.

00:20:49.039 --> 00:20:50.319
 He's brought us forth.

00:20:50.460 --> 00:20:51.519
 It's new birth

00:20:51.519 --> 00:20:52.579
 to use the language

00:20:52.579 --> 00:20:53.359
 Jesus has given

00:20:53.359 --> 00:20:54.599
 in John 3.

00:20:54.599 --> 00:20:56.199
 We are born again

00:20:56.199 --> 00:20:57.539
 James says.

00:20:58.379 --> 00:20:59.199
 That's why God

00:20:59.199 --> 00:20:59.839
 makes believers

00:20:59.839 --> 00:21:00.719
 into new people.

00:21:00.859 --> 00:21:01.619
 That's what he's done.

00:21:02.039 --> 00:21:02.799
 Why has he done it?

00:21:02.839 --> 00:21:03.459
 What's the purpose?

00:21:05.139 --> 00:21:06.319
 Look at the end of the verse.

00:21:07.139 --> 00:21:07.719
 That we should be

00:21:07.719 --> 00:21:08.919
 a kind of firstfruits

00:21:08.919 --> 00:21:09.539
 of his creatures.

00:21:10.559 --> 00:21:11.379
 In the Old Testament

00:21:11.379 --> 00:21:12.599
 the firstfruits

00:21:12.599 --> 00:21:13.679
 were the part of the harvest

00:21:13.679 --> 00:21:15.099
 that were given to God

00:21:15.099 --> 00:21:16.319
 that were devoted to God

00:21:16.319 --> 00:21:17.139
 but they also

00:21:17.139 --> 00:21:18.199
 were kind of representative

00:21:18.199 --> 00:21:20.039
 of what was going to come.

00:21:20.480 --> 00:21:21.240
 The guarantee,

00:21:21.419 --> 00:21:22.079
 the down payment

00:21:22.079 --> 00:21:22.919
 of what was to come.

00:21:23.619 --> 00:21:24.339
 So James is saying

00:21:24.339 --> 00:21:25.119
 God has made us

00:21:25.119 --> 00:21:25.879
 the firstfruits.

00:21:25.939 --> 00:21:26.899
 He's given us new life.

00:21:26.980 --> 00:21:28.199
 He's made us Christians

00:21:28.199 --> 00:21:28.759
 in Christ.

00:21:28.879 --> 00:21:29.539
 New people.

00:21:30.699 --> 00:21:31.119
 And that means

00:21:31.119 --> 00:21:32.159
 we belong to him

00:21:32.159 --> 00:21:32.579
 firstly

00:21:32.579 --> 00:21:33.500
 but secondly

00:21:33.500 --> 00:21:34.459
 we're the beginning

00:21:34.459 --> 00:21:35.199
 we're the guarantee

00:21:35.199 --> 00:21:35.899
 the deposit

00:21:35.899 --> 00:21:37.379
 of what is going to come next.

00:21:38.039 --> 00:21:38.439
 But ultimately

00:21:38.439 --> 00:21:39.059
 God is going to make

00:21:39.059 --> 00:21:40.199
 the whole creation new.

00:21:40.699 --> 00:21:42.039
 That starts with us.

00:21:43.379 --> 00:21:44.599
 That starts with us

00:21:44.599 --> 00:21:45.199
 in Christ

00:21:45.199 --> 00:21:45.819
 that one day

00:21:45.819 --> 00:21:47.259
 everything will be made new.

00:21:48.859 --> 00:21:50.199
 Now how has he done that?

00:21:50.939 --> 00:21:51.740
 Verse 18.

00:21:51.740 --> 00:21:53.500
 He brought us forth

00:21:53.500 --> 00:21:56.240
 by the word of truth.

00:21:57.279 --> 00:21:58.400
 The word of truth.

00:21:58.519 --> 00:21:59.079
 The gospel.

00:21:59.620 --> 00:22:00.420
 That's what Paul calls it

00:22:00.420 --> 00:22:01.180
 in Colossians 1.

00:22:01.460 --> 00:22:01.960
 The gospel.

00:22:02.099 --> 00:22:03.000
 The word of truth.

00:22:03.339 --> 00:22:04.319
 This good news message

00:22:04.319 --> 00:22:05.579
 about what Jesus has done.

00:22:06.460 --> 00:22:06.680
 And do you know

00:22:06.680 --> 00:22:07.920
 just look down to verse 21

00:22:07.920 --> 00:22:08.359
 for a second.

00:22:08.440 --> 00:22:09.099
 It's not just a message

00:22:09.099 --> 00:22:10.380
 that's out there somewhere.

00:22:11.000 --> 00:22:11.660
 It's not a truth

00:22:11.660 --> 00:22:13.140
 we've had access out there.

00:22:13.240 --> 00:22:13.500
 Rather

00:22:13.500 --> 00:22:14.640
 verse 21

00:22:14.640 --> 00:22:15.759
 it is

00:22:15.759 --> 00:22:17.839
 the implanted word

00:22:17.839 --> 00:22:19.200
 James goes on to say.

00:22:19.200 --> 00:22:20.440
 It is this truth

00:22:20.440 --> 00:22:21.340
 God has planted

00:22:21.340 --> 00:22:22.380
 deep in us

00:22:22.380 --> 00:22:23.480
 to use the language

00:22:23.480 --> 00:22:24.480
 of the hymn we just sang.

00:22:25.539 --> 00:22:26.380
 As this gospel

00:22:26.380 --> 00:22:27.519
 is planted into us

00:22:27.519 --> 00:22:28.420
 as you plant a seed

00:22:28.420 --> 00:22:29.080
 into the ground

00:22:29.080 --> 00:22:30.380
 you hope it will grow

00:22:30.380 --> 00:22:31.220
 and bear fruit

00:22:31.220 --> 00:22:32.039
 and change.

00:22:32.799 --> 00:22:33.319
 So it is

00:22:33.319 --> 00:22:34.200
 as God has planted

00:22:34.200 --> 00:22:34.819
 his word

00:22:34.819 --> 00:22:35.980
 of truth in us

00:22:35.980 --> 00:22:37.220
 so it bears fruit

00:22:37.220 --> 00:22:38.960
 and changes us

00:22:38.960 --> 00:22:40.400
 from the inside out.

00:22:42.140 --> 00:22:43.759
 This word of truth

00:22:43.759 --> 00:22:44.900
 is the announcement

00:22:44.900 --> 00:22:46.200
 of what God

00:22:46.200 --> 00:22:47.140
 has done in Christ.

00:22:47.140 --> 00:22:49.420
 James calls it

00:22:49.420 --> 00:22:50.200
 the word of truth

00:22:50.200 --> 00:22:50.700
 specifically

00:22:50.700 --> 00:22:51.380
 because it's to answer

00:22:51.380 --> 00:22:52.120
 the deception

00:22:52.120 --> 00:22:53.520
 that they are otherwise

00:22:53.520 --> 00:22:54.560
 likely to believe.

00:22:55.840 --> 00:22:56.680
 That deception

00:22:56.680 --> 00:22:57.660
 is really the great lie

00:22:57.660 --> 00:22:58.740
 that Satan whispered

00:22:58.740 --> 00:22:59.680
 right back in the

00:22:59.680 --> 00:23:00.320
 garden of Eden.

00:23:01.120 --> 00:23:01.840
 The lie that God

00:23:01.840 --> 00:23:02.700
 is not good.

00:23:03.160 --> 00:23:03.740
 The lie that God

00:23:03.740 --> 00:23:04.880
 doesn't really love us.

00:23:05.180 --> 00:23:05.800
 The lie that God

00:23:05.800 --> 00:23:06.540
 doesn't really want

00:23:06.540 --> 00:23:07.640
 the best thing for us.

00:23:08.940 --> 00:23:09.480
 And that's the lie

00:23:09.480 --> 00:23:10.380
 that always trumps us up

00:23:10.380 --> 00:23:10.800
 doesn't it?

00:23:11.640 --> 00:23:12.220
 Whereas what does

00:23:12.220 --> 00:23:12.960
 the word of truth

00:23:12.960 --> 00:23:13.460
 tell us?

00:23:14.560 --> 00:23:15.420
 Oh yes it tells us

00:23:15.420 --> 00:23:16.780
 God is incredibly holy.

00:23:17.700 --> 00:23:18.240
 But it tells us

00:23:18.240 --> 00:23:19.220
 God is incredibly

00:23:19.220 --> 00:23:19.940
 compassionate.

00:23:20.880 --> 00:23:21.740
 That having seen

00:23:21.740 --> 00:23:22.560
 Adam and Eve

00:23:22.560 --> 00:23:23.540
 reject him

00:23:23.540 --> 00:23:24.220
 and walk away

00:23:24.220 --> 00:23:25.220
 God didn't then

00:23:25.220 --> 00:23:26.500
 walk away from the creation.

00:23:26.800 --> 00:23:27.460
 Didn't walk away

00:23:27.460 --> 00:23:28.860
 from us as human beings.

00:23:29.520 --> 00:23:30.800
 Rather he set

00:23:30.800 --> 00:23:31.740
 a new start.

00:23:32.420 --> 00:23:33.560
 He sent his own son

00:23:33.560 --> 00:23:36.060
 the Lord Jesus Christ

00:23:36.060 --> 00:23:37.220
 to be a new beginning

00:23:37.220 --> 00:23:38.440
 a new humanity.

00:23:39.320 --> 00:23:40.160
 When Jesus came

00:23:40.160 --> 00:23:40.940
 he didn't give in

00:23:40.940 --> 00:23:41.980
 to his own desires.

00:23:42.540 --> 00:23:43.680
 He didn't make bread

00:23:43.680 --> 00:23:44.520
 when Satan said

00:23:44.520 --> 00:23:45.000
 you're hungry

00:23:45.000 --> 00:23:45.620
 make some bread

00:23:45.619 --> 00:23:46.000
 for yourself.

00:23:46.079 --> 00:23:46.739
 You're powerful enough

00:23:46.739 --> 00:23:47.179
 to do that.

00:23:47.839 --> 00:23:48.919
 Jesus didn't do that.

00:23:49.559 --> 00:23:50.159
 Rather he lived

00:23:50.159 --> 00:23:51.359
 by his Father's word.

00:23:51.479 --> 00:23:52.279
 He brought his Father's

00:23:52.279 --> 00:23:53.099
 truth to mind.

00:23:53.699 --> 00:23:54.979
 In the garden of Gethsemane

00:23:54.979 --> 00:23:56.379
 before the night

00:23:56.379 --> 00:23:57.119
 he was betrayed

00:23:57.119 --> 00:23:58.559
 how did he pray?

00:23:59.839 --> 00:24:01.019
 Father take this cup

00:24:01.019 --> 00:24:01.559
 from me

00:24:01.559 --> 00:24:03.719
 but not my will

00:24:03.719 --> 00:24:05.000
 but your will

00:24:05.000 --> 00:24:05.539
 be done.

00:24:06.000 --> 00:24:06.699
 He resisted

00:24:06.699 --> 00:24:07.339
 his natural

00:24:07.339 --> 00:24:08.399
 human desire

00:24:08.399 --> 00:24:09.419
 to preserve his life.

00:24:10.119 --> 00:24:10.459
 He said

00:24:10.459 --> 00:24:11.019
 remember his

00:24:11.019 --> 00:24:11.859
 Father's truth

00:24:11.859 --> 00:24:12.639
 followed his

00:24:12.640 --> 00:24:13.440
 Father's way.

00:24:14.560 --> 00:24:15.060
 He died

00:24:15.060 --> 00:24:15.980
 the death

00:24:15.980 --> 00:24:17.140
 we deserve to die.

00:24:18.060 --> 00:24:18.620
 He was raised

00:24:18.620 --> 00:24:19.400
 to life again.

00:24:21.220 --> 00:24:22.740
 As a beginning

00:24:22.740 --> 00:24:23.840
 of the new creation.

00:24:24.800 --> 00:24:25.560
 So that in him

00:24:25.560 --> 00:24:26.380
 we too

00:24:26.380 --> 00:24:27.400
 can be new people.

00:24:27.520 --> 00:24:28.060
 We too

00:24:28.060 --> 00:24:29.080
 through faith

00:24:29.080 --> 00:24:29.600
 in Christ

00:24:29.600 --> 00:24:30.280
 are raised

00:24:30.280 --> 00:24:31.040
 to new life.

00:24:33.420 --> 00:24:33.920
 See when God

00:24:33.920 --> 00:24:34.720
 when Jesus

00:24:34.720 --> 00:24:35.880
 walked out that tomb

00:24:35.880 --> 00:24:37.380
 that first Easter Sunday

00:24:37.380 --> 00:24:38.980
 it wasn't just

00:24:38.980 --> 00:24:40.020
 guaranteeing

00:24:40.020 --> 00:24:41.800
 heaven one day

00:24:41.799 --> 00:24:42.899
 or the new creation

00:24:42.899 --> 00:24:43.319
 one day

00:24:43.319 --> 00:24:44.460
 as gloriously true

00:24:44.460 --> 00:24:45.339
 as those things are.

00:24:46.579 --> 00:24:47.639
 God is guaranteeing

00:24:47.639 --> 00:24:49.180
 new life for us now.

00:24:49.619 --> 00:24:50.119
 Guaranteeing

00:24:50.119 --> 00:24:50.639
 that we can

00:24:50.639 --> 00:24:52.000
 be born again.

00:24:52.559 --> 00:24:53.180
 We can be

00:24:53.180 --> 00:24:54.259
 brought forth

00:24:54.259 --> 00:24:54.940
 to new life

00:24:54.940 --> 00:24:56.019
 by the word of truth.

00:24:56.720 --> 00:24:57.200
 See naturally

00:24:57.200 --> 00:24:57.700
 as we're born

00:24:57.700 --> 00:24:58.440
 as human beings

00:24:58.440 --> 00:24:59.639
 it is impossible

00:24:59.639 --> 00:25:00.440
 for us

00:25:00.440 --> 00:25:01.720
 not to sin.

00:25:02.700 --> 00:25:03.220
 Naturally

00:25:03.220 --> 00:25:04.240
 we just cave in

00:25:04.240 --> 00:25:05.039
 to our desires

00:25:05.039 --> 00:25:06.079
 the way we are.

00:25:07.279 --> 00:25:08.079
 But when we are

00:25:08.079 --> 00:25:08.919
 born again

00:25:08.919 --> 00:25:10.720
 we no longer

00:25:10.720 --> 00:25:11.700
 need to sin.

00:25:12.460 --> 00:25:12.879
 Of course

00:25:12.879 --> 00:25:13.379
 we're not yet

00:25:13.379 --> 00:25:13.759
 perfect.

00:25:14.079 --> 00:25:14.460
 That's why

00:25:14.460 --> 00:25:15.339
 Sunday by Sunday

00:25:15.339 --> 00:25:15.899
 we confess

00:25:15.899 --> 00:25:16.779
 our sins together.

00:25:17.319 --> 00:25:18.059
 We know that.

00:25:18.460 --> 00:25:19.379
 Sunday by Sunday

00:25:19.379 --> 00:25:20.220
 the Lord forgives

00:25:20.220 --> 00:25:21.079
 in accordance

00:25:21.079 --> 00:25:21.759
 with his promises.

00:25:22.740 --> 00:25:23.379
 We do still

00:25:23.379 --> 00:25:24.019
 give in to our

00:25:24.019 --> 00:25:24.859
 wrong desires.

00:25:26.119 --> 00:25:26.919
 Yet the Holy Spirit

00:25:26.919 --> 00:25:27.419
 is working

00:25:27.419 --> 00:25:28.579
 new desires in us.

00:25:29.500 --> 00:25:30.279
 So what has God

00:25:30.279 --> 00:25:30.599
 done?

00:25:31.200 --> 00:25:31.839
 How do we see

00:25:31.839 --> 00:25:32.460
 God's goodness?

00:25:33.379 --> 00:25:34.059
 He's caused us

00:25:34.059 --> 00:25:34.839
 to be born again

00:25:34.839 --> 00:25:35.220
 to be made

00:25:35.220 --> 00:25:36.019
 into new people.

00:25:37.079 --> 00:25:37.940
 Why has he done it?

00:25:38.879 --> 00:25:39.720
 So we can be

00:25:39.720 --> 00:25:40.319
 first fruits.

00:25:40.460 --> 00:25:40.960
 Part of his

00:25:40.960 --> 00:25:41.619
 new creation.

00:25:41.799 --> 00:25:42.839
 How has he done it?

00:25:43.379 --> 00:25:44.159
 Through the word

00:25:44.159 --> 00:25:44.700
 of truth.

00:25:45.119 --> 00:25:45.579
 The gospel

00:25:45.579 --> 00:25:46.000
 of the Lord

00:25:46.000 --> 00:25:46.759
 Jesus Christ.

00:25:47.240 --> 00:25:47.740
 And finally

00:25:47.740 --> 00:25:48.859
 why did he do it?

00:25:50.240 --> 00:25:51.059
 Why did he go

00:25:51.059 --> 00:25:51.859
 to those lengths?

00:25:52.559 --> 00:25:53.319
 Why did he bother?

00:25:54.799 --> 00:25:55.720
 What does verse 18

00:25:55.720 --> 00:25:56.220
 tell us?

00:25:57.539 --> 00:25:59.039
 Of his own will.

00:26:00.500 --> 00:26:01.079
 It wasn't because

00:26:01.079 --> 00:26:01.740
 we asked him.

00:26:02.279 --> 00:26:02.819
 It wasn't because

00:26:02.819 --> 00:26:03.639
 he saw potentially

00:26:03.639 --> 00:26:04.259
 we would be good

00:26:04.259 --> 00:26:04.759
 one day.

00:26:06.000 --> 00:26:07.480
 It was of his own will.

00:26:07.559 --> 00:26:07.919
 There was one

00:26:07.920 --> 00:26:08.960
 translation puts it

00:26:08.960 --> 00:26:10.560
 by his sovereign

00:26:10.560 --> 00:26:11.720
 plan he gave us

00:26:11.720 --> 00:26:12.060
 God.

00:26:13.360 --> 00:26:14.320
 That's the truth

00:26:14.320 --> 00:26:15.700
 James wants his

00:26:15.700 --> 00:26:16.460
 readers and wants

00:26:16.460 --> 00:26:17.200
 us to be clear

00:26:17.200 --> 00:26:17.360
 on.

00:26:17.500 --> 00:26:18.440
 The truth about

00:26:18.440 --> 00:26:18.940
 God.

00:26:19.640 --> 00:26:20.580
 He is good.

00:26:21.420 --> 00:26:21.840
 So how do we

00:26:21.840 --> 00:26:22.720
 remain steadfast in

00:26:22.720 --> 00:26:23.060
 trials?

00:26:23.440 --> 00:26:24.000
 How do we remain

00:26:24.000 --> 00:26:25.080
 steadfast under

00:26:25.080 --> 00:26:25.560
 temptation?

00:26:27.000 --> 00:26:27.460
 Now we need to

00:26:27.460 --> 00:26:27.880
 know the truth

00:26:27.880 --> 00:26:28.759
 about ourselves.

00:26:29.560 --> 00:26:30.060
 On the left

00:26:30.060 --> 00:26:30.680
 of ourselves we

00:26:30.680 --> 00:26:31.340
 will not remain

00:26:31.340 --> 00:26:31.980
 steadfast.

00:26:32.440 --> 00:26:33.440
 We will cave in.

00:26:33.820 --> 00:26:34.420
 We will act on

00:26:34.420 --> 00:26:35.160
 our desires.

00:26:35.900 --> 00:26:36.640
 Our desires will

00:26:36.640 --> 00:26:37.560
 give birth to sin

00:26:37.560 --> 00:26:39.019
 and sin to death.

00:26:39.539 --> 00:26:40.100
 That's the truth

00:26:40.100 --> 00:26:40.720
 about ourselves.

00:26:40.820 --> 00:26:41.320
 We are worse

00:26:41.320 --> 00:26:41.759
 than we ever

00:26:41.759 --> 00:26:42.180
 imagined.

00:26:43.039 --> 00:26:43.600
 We are not the

00:26:43.600 --> 00:26:45.920
 nice people that

00:26:45.920 --> 00:26:46.820
 society tells us

00:26:46.820 --> 00:26:47.259
 we are.

00:26:49.140 --> 00:26:49.920
 The truth about

00:26:49.920 --> 00:26:51.360
 us is worse

00:26:51.360 --> 00:26:51.740
 than we ever

00:26:51.740 --> 00:26:52.080
 imagined.

00:26:52.200 --> 00:26:52.700
 The truth about

00:26:52.700 --> 00:26:53.320
 God is better

00:26:53.320 --> 00:26:53.640
 than we could

00:26:53.640 --> 00:26:54.100
 ever dream.

00:26:54.840 --> 00:26:55.539
 He has chosen

00:26:55.539 --> 00:26:56.800
 to make us new

00:26:56.800 --> 00:26:57.140
 people.

00:26:57.519 --> 00:26:58.180
 He has chosen

00:26:58.180 --> 00:26:58.860
 to redeem.

00:26:59.080 --> 00:27:00.039
 Chosen to rescue.

00:27:00.779 --> 00:27:01.900
 He is unchanging,

00:27:02.100 --> 00:27:02.960
 perfect in all his

00:27:02.960 --> 00:27:03.380
 ways.

00:27:03.380 --> 00:27:04.620
 He has done

00:27:04.620 --> 00:27:05.600
 everything possible

00:27:05.600 --> 00:27:06.880
 for us through

00:27:06.880 --> 00:27:07.420
 the Lord Jesus

00:27:07.420 --> 00:27:07.980
 Christ.

00:27:09.200 --> 00:27:09.560
 That should

00:27:09.560 --> 00:27:10.180
 reassure us.

00:27:10.280 --> 00:27:10.500
 I hope it

00:27:10.500 --> 00:27:11.060
 reassures you.

00:27:11.160 --> 00:27:11.880
 It reassures me.

00:27:13.940 --> 00:27:14.520
 If it is of

00:27:14.520 --> 00:27:15.240
 God's own will

00:27:15.240 --> 00:27:15.780
 to bring me

00:27:15.780 --> 00:27:17.080
 forth to make

00:27:17.080 --> 00:27:17.800
 us new people

00:27:17.800 --> 00:27:19.480
 then that gives

00:27:19.480 --> 00:27:20.220
 me courage to

00:27:20.220 --> 00:27:20.860
 face up to the

00:27:20.860 --> 00:27:21.500
 desires of my

00:27:21.500 --> 00:27:21.880
 heart.

00:27:23.000 --> 00:27:23.580
 It gives me

00:27:23.580 --> 00:27:24.240
 confidence that

00:27:24.240 --> 00:27:24.820
 God will not

00:27:24.820 --> 00:27:26.300
 let me go no

00:27:26.300 --> 00:27:26.980
 matter how I

00:27:26.980 --> 00:27:27.400
 stray.

00:27:28.740 --> 00:27:29.380
 It means that

00:27:29.380 --> 00:27:30.040
 no matter what

00:27:30.040 --> 00:27:30.940
 the trials are

00:27:30.940 --> 00:27:32.280
 he will hold us

00:27:32.280 --> 00:27:33.140
 and keep us

00:27:33.140 --> 00:27:35.220
 nothing in the

00:27:35.220 --> 00:27:36.580
 world, nothing

00:27:36.580 --> 00:27:37.080
 the world can

00:27:37.080 --> 00:27:38.440
 offer can be

00:27:38.440 --> 00:27:38.880
 as good as

00:27:38.880 --> 00:27:39.460
 that crown of

00:27:39.460 --> 00:27:40.060
 life that he

00:27:40.060 --> 00:27:40.780
 holds out to

00:27:40.780 --> 00:27:41.340
 those whom he

00:27:41.340 --> 00:27:42.480
 loves, who he

00:27:42.480 --> 00:27:42.840
 keeps.

00:27:43.600 --> 00:27:44.140
 So because the

00:27:44.140 --> 00:27:45.100
 unchanging creator

00:27:45.100 --> 00:27:45.740
 God has brought

00:27:45.740 --> 00:27:47.259
 us forth, brought

00:27:47.259 --> 00:27:48.100
 us to life by the

00:27:48.100 --> 00:27:48.780
 word of truth,

00:27:49.580 --> 00:27:50.060
 those who are

00:27:50.060 --> 00:27:50.680
 Christians will

00:27:50.680 --> 00:27:51.640
 single-mindedly

00:27:51.640 --> 00:27:52.960
 believe and

00:27:52.960 --> 00:27:53.900
 practice the truth

00:27:53.900 --> 00:27:55.060
 about ourselves

00:27:55.060 --> 00:27:56.280
 and about God.

00:27:56.279 --> 00:27:58.180
 John Newton, the

00:27:58.180 --> 00:27:58.759
 former slave

00:27:58.759 --> 00:28:00.220
 trader, as he

00:28:00.220 --> 00:28:01.139
 was dying in

00:28:01.139 --> 00:28:02.779
 December 1807

00:28:02.779 --> 00:28:03.440
 was visited by

00:28:03.440 --> 00:28:03.779
 a friend,

00:28:03.899 --> 00:28:04.359
 William J.

00:28:05.319 --> 00:28:06.139
 And he was a

00:28:06.139 --> 00:28:07.539
 very old man by

00:28:07.539 --> 00:28:07.899
 this day.

00:28:08.019 --> 00:28:09.099
 And J.

00:28:09.200 --> 00:28:09.619
 wrote these

00:28:09.619 --> 00:28:10.139
 words in his

00:28:10.139 --> 00:28:10.740
 diary about the

00:28:10.740 --> 00:28:11.059
 visit.

00:28:11.720 --> 00:28:12.660
 I saw Mr.

00:28:12.740 --> 00:28:13.359
 Newton near the

00:28:13.359 --> 00:28:14.139
 closing scene.

00:28:15.059 --> 00:28:15.639
 He was hardly

00:28:15.639 --> 00:28:16.920
 able to talk and

00:28:16.920 --> 00:28:17.759
 all I find I had

00:28:17.759 --> 00:28:18.500
 noted down upon

00:28:18.500 --> 00:28:19.220
 my leaving him

00:28:19.220 --> 00:28:19.859
 was this.

00:28:20.460 --> 00:28:20.960
 And he quotes

00:28:20.960 --> 00:28:21.379
 what Newton

00:28:21.379 --> 00:28:21.859
 had said.

00:28:21.859 --> 00:28:23.179
 My memory is

00:28:23.179 --> 00:28:24.619
 nearly gone, but

00:28:24.619 --> 00:28:25.339
 I remember two

00:28:25.339 --> 00:28:27.139
 things, that I am

00:28:27.139 --> 00:28:29.419
 a great sinner, and

00:28:29.419 --> 00:28:30.599
 that Christ is a

00:28:30.599 --> 00:28:31.339
 great saviour.

00:28:32.559 --> 00:28:33.419
 Those are the two

00:28:33.419 --> 00:28:34.399
 truths about

00:28:34.399 --> 00:28:35.179
 ourselves and about

00:28:35.179 --> 00:28:36.519
 God that James

00:28:36.519 --> 00:28:37.259
 wants us to know

00:28:37.259 --> 00:28:37.519
 too.

00:28:38.000 --> 00:28:38.719
 Let's pray.