Many scholars try to tell us that James was warning his readers about temptation to sin and that enduring such temptation brings us eternal life (James 1:12). However, if James is speaking about keeping the Law in verse-12, how is the sacrifice of Christ needed? In other words, if keeping the Law is what saves a man, then Christ is not needed (Galatians 2:21). Therefore, if James is speaking the truth (cp. John 10:35), he cannot be referring to the Law, when he writes of enduring temptation / trial and receiving the crown of life, which he claims comes to the believer by promise. While, theoretically, it is true that anyone may inherit eternal life, if he keeps the Law (cp. Luke 18:18; Matthew 19:17-20), all men are sinners (Romans 3:9-12), and, therefore, lawbreakers (James 2:10). So, practically speaking, no one is able to inherit life, because the Law condemns him (cp. Romans 7:9-10). On the other hand, if eternal life is a gift (Romans 6:23), how would it come by enduring persecution? So, what is James saying?
Keep in mind that James is still speaking about enduring the persecution that comes through those rich in themselves (James 1:2-4, cp. 10-11). After the believer has shown the rich man that he loves the Lord by enduring the trial, he, i.e. the persecuted believer will receive the crown of life. The crown of life, however, couldn’t mean eternal life, because that would contradict Romans 6:23, which cannot be done, if Scripture is to be read properly (John 10:35). The crown that James mentions is stephanos (G4735), which is mentioned once more in the Bible in Revelation 2:10. There, Jesus is also speaking of enduring persecution, and those who do so would receive the crown of life. If we interpret James and Jesus properly, without contradicting how one receives eternal life, James must be speaking of a crown, in the sense of it being life’s crown. In other words, it is the integrity the believer receives for living out the life of Christ, while enduring the persecution of those who hate him. The prophets under the Old Covenant were also misunderstood and hated, until after what they predicted came to pass, just as they had claimed. The crown of life, in this context would be the believer’s good name being restored and his being completely vindicated in the eyes of those who had been persecuting him for preaching Jesus is the Messiah, who was coming to judge Jerusalem and the Temple.
The one irrefutable fact about our trials is that they do not come from the Lord. That is, the Lord neither causes persecution, nor does he tempt us to be unfaithful to him (James 1:13). A good father who raises his son in the manner in which he thinks best, inevitably must let his son endure life, its rewards and its dangers, on his own. In this manner, what he taught his son could be proved and fulfilled and bring forth a strong character that will serve him throughout his life. Likewise, the Lord teaches his children, but then must allow them to live out what he has taught them, as they face the pleasures and dangers of the world. Both the good father and the Lord stand by to help when needed, awaiting the request of their children, but by and large both the physical and the spiritual son must live life on his own and prove those things which he had been given by his father / Father.
Therefore, just because the believer faces danger, it does not mean the Lord put that danger in his path. It is there, but the Lord didn’t cause it, but he will work it for the good of his son (Romans 8:28). The Lord is never tempted by anything evil. That is, his character is such that he does not desire to do evil. Therefore, if, indeed, God has made man in his image (Genesis 1:27), then it stands to reason to believe he would never tempt man to do anything that would not reflect his (the Lord’s) character.
In James 1:14-15 the author paints a picture of how a man commits sin. First, he is tempted to sin when he is drawn away by his own desire to acquire what he doesn’t possess. When his desire conceives or takes hold of what he doesn’t possess that process brings forth sin, and sin brings forth death. In the context of James’ letter, he is speaking of the persecuted brother who is enticed by his own desire to please or be on good terms with his persecutor. That is, he wants what is going on to stop, and he is tempted to make the effort on his own to stop it, rather than endure it, as he knows he should, if he is to prove his love for Christ (cp. James 1:2-4, 12). So, James isn’t speaking of temptation or sin in general terms at James 1:12-15. Rather, he is speaking of a particular trial / temptation and warning against a particular sin / failure. Apparently, the persecutors were having some success, and believers were abandoning Christ. James was warning such brethren that they would lose their crown of life, if they didn’t repent. They needed to reconsider Jesus and his teaching and endure life’s troubles in order to preserve their integrity in Christ.
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