Gtcotr/ws010919
This evening we are going to be discussing the elemental aspects of temptation and sin. Pastor James has been leading the same congregation for perhaps 30 years. He has no doubt seen people sin and has probably heard people make every excuse for why they did what they did. I am glad we have this seasoned Pastor writing such a direct admonition to us. He feels no need to sugar coat the truth but imagines we will benefit more if he just says what the Holy Ghost has given him in an upfront way.
James makes no apologies for telling us the truth … I like this man. Although I don’t necessarily want to be this guy nonetheless, that’s the kind of Pastor I’d like to have.
James 1 NKJV
13 ¶ Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone.
In the context of these verses, verse one begins: “Let no one say …”
• Say = Speak, teach or maintain
o Greek – Lego > To describe or to put together words in an attempt to build or create an image or maintain an imagination.
o Lego is different than the common Greek word – Epo – which is also translated into the English word “say”, which in many verses indicates more of command type of speech.
o In many cases, Lego is descriptive while Epo is more directive.
Mark 11:23 “For assuredly, I say (lego) to you, whoever says (epo) to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says (lego) will be done, he will have whatever he says (epo).”
o I imagine “lego” in this verse to be likesomeone trying to put something together that would not exist unless they spoke it and maintained it and attempt to get others to believe it.
o In the sense and context of this verse, James is admonishing believers to not build a victim story blaming God for their sin.
o This runs parallel with Adam and his reference as to why he sinned. “It was the woman You gave me …” (Genesis 3:12)
• Tempted = To maliciously entice someone in an effort to get them to believe, say or do what is wrong.
James 1
14 But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed.
• Drawn away =
• Desires = a carnal craving for what is forbidden
What we have trouble controlling are our desires … our fleshly carnal appetites which the Bible calls lusts.
James 1
15 Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.
Temptation offers us opportunity to hear, see or imagine something we want. Then when our want becomes bigger than our good sense and our godly commitments, and we act in some way to pursue that desire and that act gives birth to sin.
Let’s look again at the original sin in the Garden of Eden:
Genesis 3
1 ¶ Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?
3 But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.
4 And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:
5 For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.
6 ¶ And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.
Sin loves a partner and loves to include others. Sin has seed in itself and attempts to reproduce in our lives and the lives of others. Sin cannot live unless we let it reproduce in our lives or spread it to others.
The serpent never asked Eve to eat of the forbidden fruit
• Satan had plausible deniability
• But everyone knows what satan was trying to do …
• Satan tempted Eve and we all know it
James 1
16 Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren.
17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.
Our conclusion for this evening is simple:
Let no one say when he is tempted that it is God’s fault. Rather, we should realize that temptations are only temptations when we already have a carnal weakness in that area of life. In light of this truth, we should:
Pastor James is asking us to:
• Not make excuses for our sin.
• Develop and embrace principles before we have problems.
• Realize that recurring failures or repetitive sins are indicators that we need help.
• Don’t be deceived – God is good and perfect and absolute light … So should we be that light of God in a dark and confused world.
