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James 1:13-15
James tells us that we should not believe that when we are being tempted to sin that it is from God because as he states in James 1:13c-d (NKJV), “…for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone.” James tells us that we are drawn into temptation by our own sinful nature’s desires. This is what the Apostle Paul is speaking of when he states in Romans 7:15 (NIV), “I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.” This may be one of the most confusing verses in the Bible, but Paul is speaking of the sinful nature that is at work in each of us, and of the desire to do the good that is pleasing to the Lord but the sinful nature wages war against our spirit to prevent us from obeying God. Paul goes on in Romans 7:22-23 and states, “For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me.” This leaves us with a sense of hopelessness, but Paul goes on to tell us in Romans 8:1-4 (ESV), “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.” Once the desires of the flesh are born within one’s heart, sin is the active result which eventually leads to death (James 1:15).
This is a promise that God does not tempt us with evil as there is no evil in God.
This is a promise that temptation comes from our own sinful nature.
This is a promise that sin leads to death.
Satan wages war with God through our sinful nature in the quest for the death of us all, as he will be utterly destroyed and is on a quest to take as many of us as he can with him. Why, might we ask? It’s because of the birth of greed, self-centeredness, and arrogance which were all born through Lucifer when he launched a desire to be higher than the Almighty God of heaven. Many scholars, as do I, believe that Ezekiel 28 is not only the proclamation against the king of Tyre, but a description of Lucifer’s fall from heaven. Jesus states in Luke 10:18 (NKJV), “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.”
There is a battle going on inside of each of us for the eternal destination of our spirits. It is the war that Paul speaks of in Ephesians 6:10-13, “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.” I urge you all to stand tall in the name of Jesus, who has defeated sin, death, and Satan once for all that we might live through Him (Romans 6:10-11). There is victory in Jesus! Put your faith in Him and proclaim Him your Lord and Savior today, for there is no other name under heaven by which one may be saved (Acts 4:12).
Dear LORD,
Please help us to see that it is not You that tempts us but the work of the devil through the sinful nature that lives within us all. Please help us to see that it is only through Jesus that we may be set free from the grasp of the devil. Please give us strength to stand tall in Christ Jesus that we may claim victory over sin, death, and Satan by calling on the name of Jesus to set us free. The Apostle Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 10:13 (NKJV), “No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.” We know that the way of escape is through Jesus who died to redeem us from the sinful nature that we may be made right with You through our faith in Him. Thank You so much for salvation in Jesus. In Jesus name I pray, amen.