James 1:13-16

January 25, 2008

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?


Chew on this:

In these verses, 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? 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. The old excuse that “the devil made me do it,” no longer holds water. 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, sin 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.

Let me tell you a story to put this in perspective…

Back in medieval times, there were two brothers who were dukes of Belgium in separate provinces. They never really got along and would often quarrel and fight between themselves. After an argument between them, the older brother led a successful revolt against the younger brother and captured him. Instead of putting him to death, the older brother decided a different kind of punishment. He built a room around his brother in his castle and promised him he could regain his title and property as soon as he was able to leave the room. This would not have been difficult for most people since the room had several windows and a door of near-normal size. None of the windows or doors were locked or barred. The problem was that the younger brother was too fat and could not fit through the windows or the doorways. To regain his freedom, all he needed to do was lose weight, so he could leave the room. But that was not going to be easy, because the older brother sent him a variety of delicious foods every day. Instead of dieting his way out of prison, he grew fatter. When the older brother was accused of cruelty, he had a ready answer: "My brother is not a prisoner. He may leave when he so wills." The brother stayed in that room for ten years and eventually died because of his poor health. He was a prisoner of his own appetite.

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)!

If you like to learn more about this freedom that we have in Christ, see “Stop Living In Your Old Cell!” on our website (www.timberlakesm.blogspot.com).

For His Name,



Pastor Stephen