Good
morning! In the verses we will study
today, James gives us one of the most penetrating discussions of the nature of
temptation in the whole Bible. But this raises many questions. Where do trials come from? Are some from God,
but not others? Are they from God at all? If not, how can we say He rules the
universe? Are all trials from God and therefore His goodness is
compromised? Let’s dig into the
Scriptures for the answers! In the end, we will find hope and security in the
unchanging character of our God.
As you
read today's passage, look for these words or phrases: tempted, lust,
sin, and death.
Passage
for the day: James 1:13-16 (NASB)
13 Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted
by
evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone.
14 But each one is tempted when he is carried
away and enticed by his own lust.
15 Then when lust has conceived, it gives
birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death.
16 Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren.
Questions
for thought: Take a few moments to answer these questions before you go
on to the next section.
According
to these verses, who or what actually tempts us to sin?
What
is the progression from being tempted with sin to actually committing the sin?
What
is the end result of sin?
What
is it that you are being tempted with that is causing you to sin?
Mediate on this:
There
are many examples in Scripture of God testing a person’s faith (Abraham
sacrificing his son Isaac, children of Israel in the wilderness, Gideon and the
Midianities, etc.). So, how are we to
understand this? First we need to
understand that the words for tempt and trial are two separate words in the
Greek text. The word for “trial” in
verse 2 is not an enticement to sin, but rather a test of faith. The word for “tempt” in verse 13 focuses on
being persuading or luring someone into sin.
James tells
us right from the beginning here that God is not the origin of temptation, for
“God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He tempt anyone.” No evil can have its way with God. He is immune to any of sin’s
enticements. Therefore there can be nothing evil about God’s ways with
His people. God does not lead us into
temptation, but He delivers us from evil.
Temptation to sin is the operation of evil forces and the devil. In this
case the believer himself is the source of temptation. There is already
something within the flesh by which any temptation can arise and become
activated. This is why we desperately
need God’s wisdom and should cry out for it as the previous verses tell us to
do!
In
this passage of James, we read that it is one’s own “evil desire” that is the
cause of temptation. Where we might expect the “devil, like a roaring lion” (1
Pet 5:8), to be dragging us off into sin, it is our flesh that drags us into sin.
Sure, the devil is tempting us, just like He did with Christ, appealing to
Christ’s desire for food, power, and prominence. But, it is our decision to choose to please
God or our flesh. Satan knows how to
tempt us in the areas that we are weak and remind us of past failures. However, the blame for temptation then can
never rest upon God, but entirely upon us. Temptation entices or lures us by
our own appetites.
In
Galatians 5:16-17, we find hope in a seemingly hopeless situation: “But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will
not carry out the desire of the flesh.
For the
flesh sets
its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are
in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things
that you please.” Life in the Holy Spirit is the antidote to
the power of evil desire! Temptation to
sin is the problem of the person’s own condition as a sinner. The personal struggle with evil desire is not
usually a confrontation with the devil, but rather a confrontation with our own
worst enemy – OURSELVES! The pain of temptation is a self-inflicted attack.
This is the sense of being “dragged away.” Desire gives birth to sin. Sin, the offspring of desire, grows
up, matures, and finally gives birth to death.
Our own desires are like a prowling beast that would consume us if not
for God’s powerful grace! James’s
“beloved brothers” were to hear his strongest appeal so as to develop whole-hearted
trust in God. They must be on their guard against self-deception. They should
accept trials from God, and realize that it is not God who tempts them to sin.
We all
struggle with sin, and many times we feel as if we are prisoners to the desires
and appetites that are within our flesh.
Let me encourage you and tell you that there is a way out! You do not have to be a slave to the flesh if
you are a child of God! Christ came to
set you free from the sin you are struggling with! He has given you new life and the Holy Spirit
dwells within you. He is guiding you,
giving you strength, and making intercession in heaven for you. And if that was not enough, God is at work
within us, giving us the desire and the ability to obey Him as we face
temptation (Phil. 2:13)!
Praying for that you would Love Christ
PASSIONATELY, Know Christ DEEPLY, and Enjoy Christ FULLY!!!
Pastor Stephen
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