James 1

The author of James is generally accepted as James, the half-brother of Jesus Christ.  Now, why would he be the half-brother of Jesus?  They had the same mother but James was born of Joseph and Jesus was of the Holy Ghost.  James was the leader of the Jerusalem church born on the Day of Pentecost.  Due to persecution of the church, the saints were scattered abroad as James in verse one addresses the book to the twelve tribes, thus a general epistle.  

The book written approximately 40 A.D. was to encourage the Jewish believers who were suffering various trials that were testing their faith.  He also addresses the nature of saving faith.

The last verse of chapter one pretty well sums up the purpose of enduring temptations and holding to the saving faith.

27Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.

We hear the word "temptations" and we immediately think of enticements but the Greek word "peirasmoi" refers to trials, persecutions, and afflictions from the world or from Satan. 

James said to count it all joy when we face temptations as the end result is a pure religion as in verse 27.  Religion is man's giving back to God for the precious gift of the Holy Ghost and salvation.  These temptations that are faced do a perfect work in us.  Through trials and persecutions we gain patience, wisdom and a stable mind. 

God wants man to not be double-minded thus man will stand in time of temptation.  True faith obeys the Word of God therefore man is not just a hearer of the word but also a doer of the word.  Being a doer of the word is where religion comes in play in an individual's life. 

Men, we are God's workmanship therefore let us count it all joy when we fall into divers temptations for through them we will have "true" religion.

Side note:  Verse 17 says that in God, the source of light, there is no variableness nor shadow of turning.  If we are standing directly under the source of light there are not shadows cast and no change in the amount of light shed on us.  No matter which way you turn if you stay directly under the light, no shadows will be cast.  Men, let us stay directly under the light of the word of God and the direction of the Holy Ghost.

Bob Gougler