In Be Mature, Wiersbe has three ideas on resisting temptation from James 1:13-18. The first two are to beware of God's judgment and his goodness. Now we consider God's divine nature within (James 1:18). The big idea remains that the mature person is patient in trials.
- Love is patient and kind (1 Cor 13:4). Love is the spiritual force behind the imperative James gave us.
- We face trials with a joyful attitude, an understanding mind, surrendered will and believing heart because of our Love to Christ (James 1:2-12)
3. Consider God's divine nature within (James 1:18)
The first barrier God says, "look ahead and beware of judgment", the second says "look around and see how good God's been to you." Now God says, "Look within and realize that you have been born from above and possess the divine nature."
- James used birth to picture desires leading to sin and death (James 1:15), now he shows birth by the word of truth (James 1:18, 1 John 3:9, John 3:1-7). It is the work of God. Just as we did not generate our own human birth, we cannot generate our own spiritual birth. When we put our faith in Jesus Christ, it was God who performed the miracle (Eph 2:8-9).
- Our divine nature is gracious and the finest birth possible.
who were born, not of blood [natural conception], nor of the will of the flesh [physical impulse], nor of the will of man [that of a natural father], but of God [that is, a divine and supernatural birth—they are born of God—spiritually transformed, renewed, sanctified]. John 1:13 AMP
Just as every human birth has two parents, so divine birth has two parents: the Word of God and the Spirit of God. "That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit (John 3:6)."
The Word of God is living and powerful (Heb 4:12). Never underestimate the power of God’s Word to change a person’s heart.
- Love is patient and kind (1 Cor 13:4). Love is the spiritual force behind the imperative James gave us.
- We face trials with a joyful attitude, an understanding mind, surrendered will and believing heart because of our Love to Christ (James 1:2-12)
3. Consider God's divine nature within (James 1:18)
The first barrier God says, "look ahead and beware of judgment", the second says "look around and see how good God's been to you." Now God says, "Look within and realize that you have been born from above and possess the divine nature."
- James used birth to picture desires leading to sin and death (James 1:15), now he shows birth by the word of truth (James 1:18, 1 John 3:9, John 3:1-7). It is the work of God. Just as we did not generate our own human birth, we cannot generate our own spiritual birth. When we put our faith in Jesus Christ, it was God who performed the miracle (Eph 2:8-9).
- Our divine nature is gracious and the finest birth possible.
It was of His own will that He gave us birth [as His children] by the word of truth, so that we would be a kind of first fruits of His creatures [a prime example of what He created to be set apart to Himself—sanctified, made holy for His divine purposes]. James 1:18 AMP
who were born, not of blood [natural conception], nor of the will of the flesh [physical impulse], nor of the will of man [that of a natural father], but of God [that is, a divine and supernatural birth—they are born of God—spiritually transformed, renewed, sanctified]. John 1:13 AMP
Just as every human birth has two parents, so divine birth has two parents: the Word of God and the Spirit of God. "That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit (John 3:6)."
for you have been born again [that is, reborn from above—spiritually transformed, renewed, and set apart for His purpose] not of seed which is perishable but [from that which is] imperishable and immortal, that is, through the living and everlasting word of God. 1 Peter 1:23 AMP
The Word of God is living and powerful (Heb 4:12). Never underestimate the power of God’s Word to change a person’s heart.
Granting us new birth, God declares that He cannot accept the old birth. Throughout the Bible, God rejects the firstborn and accepts the secondborn. He accepted Abel, not Cain; Isaac, not Ishmael; Jacob, not Esau. He rejects our first birth (no matter how noble it might have been in the eyes of men), and He announces that you need a second birth. - Wiersbe
It's the experience of the new birth that helps us overcome temptation. If we let the old nature (from the first birth) take over, we will fail. We received our old nature (the flesh) from Adam, and he was a failure. But if we yield to the new nature, we will succeed, for that new nature comes from Christ, and He is the Victor. - Wiersbe
The new nature must be fed the Word of God daily, that it might be strong to fight the battle. Just as the Holy Spirit used the Word of God to give you spiritual birth, He uses the Word to give you spiritual strength. "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God (Matt 4:4)." WiersbeIf we heed the barriers we win a crown (James 1:12), break through the barriers we find a coffin (James 1:15). Which will it be?
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