Temptation-Sin-Death
“Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: but every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death” (Jms. 1:13-15).
Sin is defined as “the transgression of the law” (1 Jn. 3: 4), and, “All unrighteousness is sin” (1 Jn. 5: 17). Sin is obviously no accident. Sin is a choice to disobey God, that we make as we yield to a temptation.
A temptation is a difficult situation, a pressure that brings a reaction through which the character or commitment of the Christian is revealed. The Christian’s response to a test reveals where they are in their relationship with God. To be tempted to sin is not sin, if it were then Jesus sinned, for He was tempted to sin, or disobey God, and His temptation came directly from the devil (Mt. 4; Heb. 2: 18).
James makes it clear that our temptation to sin does not come from God. God is holy, and would not tempt us to disobey Him, for which disobedience He would ultimately hold us accountable and judge us. And, every man, regardless of how spiritual or high they may be is tempted.
Temptation most readily comes from the Christian’s enemy Satan. He uses the things of the world that are most appealing to our sinful nature in hopes that we will choose to yield to the temptation, and disobey God, and hopefully never recover from our sinful choice and gain the victory over our sin.
The word “drawn” in the text means to draw away, to carry away, to pull, and stretch. And we feel that way when we’re being tempted. There’s a constant attraction, a longing for that which is tempting us.
The word “enticed” means to set on fire. So when in a temptation our passion or lust or burning desire is urging us to meet fulfillment with that which God strictly forbids. And yet, thus far, we still haven’t sinned.
The word “conceived” means to come together, to hold, take to one self. At the moment of yielding to sinful temptation sin is conceived and brought forth. It comes into existence in our personal life and begins working havoc. The final consequence of sin is death (Rom. 6: 23). Death is separation. The choice to sin is a choice to gratify our natural appetites (lusts) in a way that is contrary to God’s revealed will and separate ourselves from God and His fellowship. The sinner whose sins are not put under the blood of Jesus will experience the “second death” and will be eternally separated from God in Hell (Rev. 20: 11-15).
The word “abstain” means to hold off, to refrain from. We get the victory over temptations when we “abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul” (1 Pet. 2: 11; 1 Cor. 10: 13).
