FAITH WORKS KNOWLEDGABLY
James 1:9-12
FAITH WORKS KNOWLEDGABLY
FAITH WORKS #4
The word the King James Version translates as
“temptation” is used with two different meanings in James 1. It can mean “trials” as in verses 2-12 and it
can mean “solicitation to do evil” or being tempted to sin as it does in verses
13-17.
Tonight we see that FAITH WORKS KNOWLEDGABLY.
If we are going to overcome temptation we must have
working knowledge of what temptation is, how it acts, and how to avoid it.
FAITH UNDERSTANDS THE NEED TO COMPREHEND
James 1:16 - Do
not err, my beloved brethren.
“Do not err” means “DON’T BE DECEIVED!”
We might say,
“Don’t be fooled!”
When it comes to temptation it is important that we
not be deceived by the temptation. We
can’t afford to be tricked!
In light of verses Vss. 13-15, it would seem
that James is saying, “Don’t be fooled!”
God is not to blame when you are tempted.
Satan is not to blame when you are tempted.
Another person is not to blame when you are tempted.
Your environment is not to blame when you are tempted.
Satan, people, and environment may be contributing
factors, but it is your own lusts that allow you to be tempted.
Our faith needs to be knowledgeable. We need to
understand that we will be tempted and that when we are tempted it is our own
fault.
FAITH UNDERSTANDS THE NATURE OF GOD
James 1:13 - 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:
Who was the first person to blame God for his or her
own sin?
The answer is “Adam”. Genesis 3:9-12
James is telling us here not to blame God when we are
tempted to do what is wrong.
The reason we shouldn’t blame God is because God can
not be tempted to do evil.
Why can not God be tempted to do evil?
God can not be tempted to do evil, because he is holy!
1 Samuel 2:2, Isaiah 6:1-5, Psalm 145:17
Allow me to make a clarification before we move on
here.
God tests us, but He does not tempt us.
God allows testing so that we will be strong. Psalm
66:10, James 1:2-4
By faith we need to understand that God is holy, and
that because He is holy, He could never be tempted to do evil. And because He
can not be tempted to do evil, the last thing He would do is to tempt someone
else to do what He himself is opposed to and doesn’t do himself.
FAITH UNDERSTANDS THE NASTINESS OF TEMPTATION
James 1:14-15 - But
every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. [15]
Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is
finished, bringeth forth death.
First please notice that every man is tempted.
There is no exception to the rule.
The person who seems to be the holiest person you’ve
ever met is still tempted to sin.
There is no such thing as a “Get out of temptation
free” card.
We are tempted because each one of us has lusts or
desires.
Lust in itself is not bad.
It’s a good thing that you desire to eat or else you
might starve.
It’s a good thing that you desire to sleep or you
might wear yourself out.
It’s a good thing that you desire to work because work
is good for you.
The problem is that from within we let our lusts get
carried away and they become sinful. Our
lusts center around ourselves so that we want to satisfy our own desires even
at the expense of others and in rebellion against God.
It is good to desire to eat but our lusts might lead
us to gluttony.
It is good to desire to work, but lusts might lead us
to become “workaholics”.
It is good to desire to sleep, but lusts might lead us
to being lazy.
Every man is drawn or dragged away by his own lust.
It is our own lusts that allow us to be lured away.
They drag us away when the temptation is placed in front of us.
Some one is enticed by “bait” that is set in front of
them.
It looks just too good to pass up. We succumb to temptation when we are lured
away and take the bait.
In verse 15 there is reference to lust conceiving.
Think of our lust joining together with what we have
been lured away to and what we have been enticed to do.
Lust and luring and enticement join together and the
baby that is born to this union is named “sin”.
This is the nastiness of temptation.
We have our own lusts.
We are lured or drawn away.
We take the bait. We are enticed.
Sin is the result!
If sin continues or becomes full blown or finished the
result is death. Romans 6:23, Ezekiel 18:4
Of course, the unsaved person is headed for eternal
death or separation from God.
And every time a Christian sins, in a sense, there is
death involved, because sin separates us from our Heavenly Father. Isaiah 59:2
There is good news for us as Christians, however.
There is a promise for relief!
In Christ, we no longer have to give in to temptation,
because has provided a way to escape!
1 Corinthians 10:13-14
FAITH UNDERSTANDS THE NURTURE OF GOD
James 1:17 - Every
good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father
of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.
Every good gift comes from God.
Every perfect gift comes from God.
Salvation is a good and perfect gift which we couldn’t
earn. It came from God by His grace.
Ephesians 2:8-9
Answered prayer is a good and perfect gift from God
that comes by his grace. John 14:13-14
Peace is a good and perfect gift from God that comes
by His grace. John 14:27
My wife and children are good and perfect gifts from
God that have come to me by His grace.
Proverbs 18:22, Psalm 127:3
These are just a few of God’s good and perfect gifts.
He is their source as the “Father of lights”.
And with God there is never any variation or turning
as a shadow does on a sundial.
God never changes, therefore His gifts are always
good!
So, God nurtures us with good and perfect gifts.
How does this relate to our temptations?
God only gives us good things, so when we are tempted,
we know that if it is not good, it doesn’t come from God.
FAITH WORKS KNOWLEDGABLY:
FAITH UNDERSTANDS THE NEED TO COMPREHEND – Vs. 16
FAITH UNDERSTANDS THE NATURE OF GOD – Vs. 13
FAITH UNDERSTANDS THE NASTINESS OF TEMPTATION – Vss.
14-15
FAITH UNDERSTANDS THE NURTURE OF GOD - Vs. 17
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