Living Faith: Under Pressure (II)

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This message is the second sermon in a series of messages on the New Testament book of James. We continued our discussion about trials, tests and temptations by learning the process of temptations to evil. Such temptations do not come from God, but from our own desires and passions. God, on the other hand is the giver of every good and perfect gift.

Written Excerpts:

James 1:13 ^(NKJV) 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.

Introduction:

(Wayne Stiles, Insight for Living) More than [forty] years ago Flip Wilson kept America in stitches with his television characters “Reverend Leroy,” the friendly, pompous pastor of the “Church of What’s Happening Now,” and “Geraldine Jones,” the sassy African-American woman in a miniskirt. Whenever Geraldine would impulsively buy a dress—or do anything she shouldn’t—she excused her urge by uttering the line she made famous, “The Devil made me do it!”

America laughed at Geraldine for her obviously lame excuse. In fact, to say, “The Devil made me do it,” became the rage all over the country…. (https://insight.org/resources/article-library/individual/the-devil-made-me-do-it)

Well, it might have become very popular to lay the blame for sinful choices on the devil, but apparently there is someone else who has often been blamed as well. The passage of Scripture we are going to talk about today starts out with the statement, “Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am tempted by God.”

We’re going through the book of James and I mentioned last Sunday that we are naming this series of messages: “Living Faith.” James talks in chapter 2 about faith that is dead. So, I believe it is appropriate to look at his letter as a series of admonitions defining what living faith really looks like. Living faith is more than merely giving intellectual assent to certain facts or propositions, but it is letting those truths impact daily choices and actions in a way that conforms with the character of God.

Last Sunday we discussed verses 1-12 to learn several truths James offers about living with daily tests and trials. Now, in v.13, he continues his discussion about test and trials or temptations, but he seems to be writing more specifically about the temptation to do evil.

I.    Living Faith: Under Pressure (1:1-1:18)

A.    Living Under the Pressure of Daily Trials (1:1-12)

A week ago, we considered six truths that James provided about daily trials. With the help of the Holy Spirit I want to speak to you today about living under the pressure of evil temptations, and I want to discuss three important truths that James provides about evil temptations.

B.     Living Under the Pressure of Evil Temptations (1:13-18)

1. God is not the source of evil temptations. (v.13)

“let no man say” – Imperative verb. Do not accuse God.

Those who stress the sovereignty of God so that the free will of man is obscured may actually conclude God decrees everything that happens, even the temptations to do evil.

It has always been the tactic of men to blame someone else for their failures. Adam/Eve…

“God cannot be tempted with evil” – There is absolutely nothing in the nature and character of God that is enticed with evil. Even though Jesus was tempted by the devil after fasting 40 days in the wilderness. The age-old question among theologians is: “Could Jesus (God) sin?” 

“neither tempts he any man” – Satan, is the source of evil temptations. 1 Peter 5:8 ^(KJV) Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: 

God may give him liberty to tempt a person within defined boundaries. (e.g. Job) But God allows it for the purpose of strengthening us, while Satan does it for the purpose of destroying us.

God “tempted” Abraham to see if he would give up his son. God tested the Israelites by allowing some Canaanites to remain in the land. These and other cases indicate God putting people to the test to reveal their level of commitment to Him. They were not temptations to commit evil.

Someone has pointed out that these qualities, can’t be tempted and doesn’t tempt anyone, are in stark contrast to the pagan deities. In all probability the recipients of this letter lived among unbelievers who would naturally assume that the gods caused them to do evil.

2. The process of temptation is explained. (vv.14-15)

“drawn away” – lit. to draw/drag out; carried away; means that attention is caught. Something appealing to fleshly desires catches your attention.

“own lusts” – That is, human passions and desires. They are God-given desires, but the self-centered human heart seeks to satisfy those desires in a way that is contrary to God’s Word or will.

“enticed” – trapped or hooked. When we are in the middle of a temptation it can feel an awful lot like there is no escape from it. It can feel overwhelming.

The only way to avoid that is to learn to detect and recognize the slightest beginning of the “drawing away” and immediately focus thoughts and attention on something else.

“lust has conceived” – having conceived; lit. take with, clasp together, conceive

“brings forth” – gives birth; produces; 

“finished” – lit. a compound word meaning “from” and “finish, fulfill, accomplish,” thus to complete entirely; consummate.

“brings forth” – gives birth; begets; breed forth; generate

A.T. Robertson – the first word translated “brings forth” (KJV), is a literary term, while the second word that is translated the same is a medical term. Both words depict the act of giving birth.

James has painted a clear picture here concerning the process of sin. No sin is God’s fault. Sin is purely the result of our own passions and desires consummating with our willful choice to satisfy them illicitly. Emphasize the fact that, according to James, there is no sin until the will becomes involved and gives consent for the desire.

As Jesus explained, the consent of the will with the desire is still sin even though it may not progress to full-blown action. 

Matthew 5:28 ^(KJV) But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart. 

When we are tempted, we make a willful choice whether we will reject the thought and temptation, or dwell on it and imagine how it can be experienced/enjoyed.

3. God is the source of everything good. (vv.16-18)

“do not err” – imperative verb, “stop being deceived!” “Stop being misled / going astray!”

Do not “swallow” the lies about God’s participation in your sin, which implies an evil component of His nature.

“gift… gift” – (Robertson, Word Pictures…) Dosis [the first word for gift] is the act of giving (ending -sis), but sometimes [used] for the thing given …. But dōrēma [the second word for gift] … only means a gift, a benefaction (Romans 5:16). 

“good…perfect” – first word: (Thayer) “useful, wholesome.” Second word: “complete, lacking nothing.”

“from above” – heavenly realm

“Father of lights” – Creator of heavenly luminaries.

“no variableness” – changeableness; fickleness

“shadow of turning” – perhaps a reference to the shadow on the sundial caused by the moving of heavenly light.

God is completely reliable. He is not fickle. We do not have to worry about what kind of mood He is in. He provides every good and wholesome gift and every perfect/complete gift that we need.

v. 18 – proof of this earlier statement in v. 16. 

Rather than tempting us to sin or do evil, God has brought about our own re-birth by the Word of truth.

“begat he us” (KJV) – (NKJV) “brought us forth;” (NIV) “Give us birth.”

It is the same word used in v.15 “sin…brings forth death.”

Seems to be a deliberate contrast to the devastation sin produces in us. Rather than “giving birth to death” God has “birthed us to life by the word of truth.” (Tyndale) It is a birth to spiritual life rather than spiritual death.

It is a spiritual rebirth, just like Jesus said to Nicodemus in John 3. It happens when we receive and accept the word of truth. Jesus said, "You shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free."

Sometimes truth is difficult to hear, but when we hear it and accept it, it becomes liberating and transforming. 

“be firstfruits of his creatures” – (Tyndale New Testament Commentaries) … first fruits (aparchē) is a customary New Testament designation of Christians …. And the idea of Christians as the first fruits of a redeemed creation is paralleled in Romans 8. 

Romans 8:22-23 ^(NKJV) For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now. ²³ Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body.

Conclusion:

Living under the pressure of evil temptations must include a correct understanding of its cause. Sin is the result when we willfully choose to satisfy some fleshly, self-centered desire by attitudes and actions that are not consistent with the nature of God.

The consequence of sin is spiritual death, and ultimately eternal death.

But God, who is the giver of every good and perfect gift and blessing we could ever have, has provided the means for us to be born again spiritually by the word of truth.

Truth about our sin; truth about its consequences; truth about His forgiveness and grace; and truth about living according to His will. Truth is both disturbing and liberating. It is both condemning and consoling. 

The song I have chosen to use for our closing hymn today is all about God’s gracious gifts that He lovingly provides for His children.

God of Grace and God of Glory