James 1:13-14

Jesus is the reason why we celebrate this day!

Jesus is the foundation of our faith.

Hebrews said that He is the author and finisher of our faith…

He is the truth and the life…

Jesus became sin, so we can be free from sin…

Jesus rose again so we can be in relationship with Him!

James chapter one commandments recap

#1 Count it all joy (Verse 1)

#2 Let steadfastness have its full effect (Verse 4)

#3 Ask God for wisdom (Verse 5)

#4 Ask in Faith, with no doubting (Verse 6)

#5 Let the lowly brother boast in his exaltation (Spiritual standing)

#6 Let the rich in his humiliation

The Bible Knowledge Commentary C. Resist in Deadly Temptation (1:13–18)

Believers are in danger of falling before the attacks and pressures of trials. But they are also subject to falling before the attractions and pleasures of temptation.

The Bible Knowledge Commentary C. Resist in Deadly Temptation (1:13–18)

Just as a wrong reaction to testing will obstruct spiritual growth and maturity, so will a wrong response to temptation.

James 1:13 ESV

Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one.

Command #7 “Let no one say when he is tempted, I am being tempted by God”

Testing Vs. Tempted

James 1:3 ESV

for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.

Testing: genuineness n. — the state of not being fake or counterfeit.

“Your faith” - Faith produces steadfastness

My faith is connected to my belief in Jesus…

steadfast endurance n. — the power to withstand hardship or stress; especially the inward fortitude necessary.

“Let no one say when he is tempted”

to be tested v. — to be put to the test in order to ascertain the nature of someone, including imperfections, faults, or other qualities.

Ascertain: find (something) out for certain; make sure of.

God does not need to tempt us because He already knows us!

He knows my imperfections and my faults…

You can not blame God for your desire to sin

The Bible Knowledge Commentary 1:13

James made it abundantly clear God cannot be tempted. There is nothing in God to which evil can make an appeal. He is literally “untemptable” (apeirastos; cf. comments on Heb. 4:15). Furthermore, He tempts no one. God often tests, but He never tempts.

God is not the reason why…

I like things that I shouldn’t like

Or Go places I shouldn’t go…

Or say things I shouldn’t say…

Or look at things that I shouldn’t look at…

The temptations said it like this

Each day through my window I watch her as she passes by I say to myself, "You're such a lucky guy" To have a girl like her is truly a dream come true Out of all the fellows in the world, she belongs to me

But it was just my imagination Runnin' away with me It was just my imagination Runnin' away with me

My desire can play tricks on me!

James 1:14 ESV

But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire.

James wants us to know…

Each person.... Everyone in this room is tempted…

When he is “lured” and “enticed”

to be enticed ⇔ be dragged away v. — to be or become enticed, conceived of as a heavy object being drawn out of something with great effort.

to be baited v. — to be or become lured, enticed, or entrapped with or as if with bait.

The Bible Knowledge Commentary 1:14

This inner craving draws a person out (exelkomenos) like a fish drawn from its hiding place, and then entices him (deleazomenos, from the verb deleazō “to bait, to catch a fish with bait, or hunt with snares”). So a person both builds and baits his own trap.

James 1:15 ESV

Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.

craving n. — an intense desire for some particular thing.

to conceive v. — to become pregnant; undergo conception.

Fully: to be executed (action) v. — to be or become performed (to completion or to the fullest extent); used of actions.

death (event) n. — the event of dying or departure from life.

The Bible Knowledge Commentary 1:15–16

Just as a right response to trials can result in growth to full spiritual maturity, so a wrong response to lust will result in decline to abject spiritual poverty and ultimately to death itself.

evil (behavior) n. — morally objectionable behavior.

Objectionable: arousing distaste or opposition; unpleasant or offensive