The Pathway to Sin

Text: James 1:13-15

Intro

To be a Christian today means that you are going to face opposition on several different fronts

The unredeemed are increasingly becoming more and more hostile towards Christians, the church, and ultimately God Himself

In an ever-increasing, post-modern, mortal relativistic culture, the basic, foundational fundamentals of the Christian faith are attacked and ridiculed at a rapid pace

There are no doubt things on the outside, such as outside circumstances, outside forces, that oppress and attempt to dismantle us

However, there is another factor that wages war against Christians and it is found within each and every one of us

If there were no outward forces or circumstances that existed, the battle within would be more than enough to keep us from being effective in our daily walk with the Lord and ultimately in our witness for Christ

If left undealt with, the battle of temptation can be debilitating in the life of a Christian

(Q) Have you ever found yourself frustrated after doing something you know you shouldn’t have done and afterwards you tried to figure out what went wrong along the way?

Not long ago, I was reading through 2 Samuel in my daily devotional time and I came across a very family account - David and Bathsheba

David, at a time when kings were supposed to be at battle, stayed home

You know the story… David’s attention was caught by a woman who was bathing on the roof of her home Rather than removing himself from the situation, David took additional steps in satisfying the desires that arose in his heart and had an affair with Bathsheba

Time passed and David was informed that Bathsheba was pregnant

Now, David was in a predicament

Bathsheba’s husband was at war, so the baby could not have been his

So, to cover his sin, David had to commit another sin - he had Bathsheba’s husband killed

As I read on in 2 Samuel, I took note in chapter 12 of how the devastating and heartbreaking consequences of David’s sin…

We read that there would be chaos and division in David’s household

We also read of how the child that was conceived in David and Bathsheba’s adulteress act would eventually die

In the following chapter, (2 Sam 13), there is a continuation of the consequences of sin that unfold in David’s family

This time it is between Amnon and his step-sister Tamar

Amnon had a perverted, selfish, unnatural lustful attraction for his step-sister

Rather than addressing his sinful desires, Amnon tricked Tamar and raped her

These accounts paint a dark picture of temptation, acting upon temptation, and the consequences of sin

It is a vicious cycle

And one that if you’re honest, you have found yourself in before

Now, you don’t have to be battling with the same sin that David and Amnon dealt with

However, all of us deal with something

So, tonight, I want us to look at temptation, more specifically the pathway to sin

AIM: Upon understanding the pathway to sin, you and I can begin to address the source of the problem and implement God’s Word so that we can be victorious rather than live defeated and ineffective lives

~ Let’s begin by looking at James 1:13-15 (READ)…

Temptation defined

The Greek word used for temptations or trials throughout the book of James is peirazō

It means to tempt; to try; to test; to prove

The word is used in James, as well as throughout the NT in both a positive and negative sense

When used in a positive sense, it usually indicates God or Christ putting people to test, such as:

Ex: John 6:6 (READ) - Jesus tests Philip, even though Jesus knew what Philip was going to do

Ex: Hebrews 11:17 (READ) recounts the testing of Abraham regarding offering up his son Isaac

Ex: At the beginning of the book of James, in v. 2, the various trials referenced were a test of faith which ultimately builds endurance

They endured an outward testing that was allowed by God for the purpose of growing them

There are plenty of examples throughout the Bible that highlight how God brings trials into the lives of His people

God may test or prove his servants in order to strengthen their faith, but He never seeks to induce sin and destroy their faith

Peirazō (Tempted) is also used in a negative sense, such as:

Ex: In Matthew 16:1 (READ), the Pharisees and Sadducees tested Jesus with hostile intentions

Ex: John 8:6 (READ) - The sole purpose of testing Jesus was to have grounds for accusing Him

Now, when we come to James 1:13, the word “tempted” is used in a negative sense - that is, the testing referred to is something that would lead an individual to sin rather than spiritual growth

~ Knowing what temptation is, we need to now consider…

The Source of Temptation (v. 13-14a)

As James is writing to the believers regarding the temptation that they would face, he begins by clarifying who is not the author of temptation, followed by who is

(Q) What or who is the source from which temptation comes?

Let’s begin with where temptation does not come from

James is very quick to point out, in fact, he’s emphatic, that temptations do not come from God

Yes, ultimately everything is allowed by God, and it has already been determined that He allows circumstances to come about in our life for our spiritual growth

But God’s character makes it impossible for Him to be tempted by evil

God is holy, He rises above everything

He is distinct

God’s character results in a particular will that makes it impossible for Him to tempt anyone to sin

He cannot stand sin It was sin that separated mankind from Him

It was sin that brought Christ to earth and ultimately led Him to lay down His life

Therefore, to entice an individual to sin contradicts His very nature of love and grace

(Q) If temptation is not from God, then who is it from?

Just as James quickly dismisses God as the author of temptation, he points his finger at the culprit - It is man himself

Now this is a hard pill to swallow It is difficult to accept It is much easier to point our finger at someone else and blame them for our own sinful actions, but that’s not what James said we’re to do

People are often reluctant to take personal responsibility for their actions - they always have been

In the Garden of Eden, after Adam and Eve succumbed to temptation and sinned, God was looking for Adam and He found Adam hiding

He was hiding due to the consequences of his sin Adam was ashamed because he was naked

When asked whether or not he ate of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, Adam immediately began blame-shifting Adam told God, “The woman whom You gave to be with me, she gave me from the tree, and I ate.”

Here’s what Adam was saying to the Lord, “Lord, that woman you created for me…she cause me to do it.” Adam did not want to take personal responsibility for his own actions

Today, people blame others, their parents, their circumstances, and so on

Although people may be reluctant to take responsibility for their own actions, James makes it clear in v. 14 who is to blame (READ)

James explains that you and I are tempted when we are drawn away by our own lust

He said “each one is tempted”

This speaks to every one…it is all-inclusive

No one is excluded from temptation

Listen to what Paul said to the believers in Corinth (READ 1 Cor. 10:13)

“But such as is common to man…”

In other words, it is not uncommon that you or anyone faces temptation

Satan, although he is deserving of such an accusation as, “the devil made me do it,” is not the source of our temptation

Look again at v. 14…”But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust”

It’s interesting how Satan’s name is not even mentioned here

And so the starting point for you and I to understand the pathway to sin is to acknowledge who is the culprit of our temptation, and its you..and me…ourselves

~ We looked at the source of temptation, let’s now look at…

The process of temptation (v. 14b)

Now, knowing that we are the ones to blame when it comes to temptation, let’s consider the process or path that we go down that ultimately leads to sin

James uses metaphorical language here to help us grasp who this truth

The first metaphor is found in the phrase ”when he is drawn away…”

The metaphor used here is one regarding hunting or fishing as game is lured from its hiding place

Anyone who is familiar with hunting knows that a hunter does things to lure out animals from their hiding place/same with fishermen

Ex: Deer corn/food plots in deer hunting

Ex: Turkey calls

Ex: Bait Etc.

Just as game is lured in using bait, man is lured from the safety of self-restraint to sin

The “bait” for man, if you will, can be a number of things…

However, what pulls us so strongly is our fallen nature…

it naturally has a desire for evil

The second metaphor in v. 14b is the word “enticed”

This word has the idea of being caught by bait

ILLUST: To go back to the hunting/fishing metaphor

A hunter uses something that is attractive to the senses of the animal…it is enticing

The same can be said about fishing

A fisherman uses bait that is attractive to the senses of the fish

Sometimes a fish may nibble on the bait without even taking a bite

But, note this, the more they sniff, the more they listen, the more they observe, the more they bite, the more prone they are to taking the bait

APPLY: This is a serious matter, toying around with whatever it is that lures you and that you lust after is dangerous

It’s only a matter of time What starts out as what one perceives to be an innocent nibble, very soon escalates into a bite, then once you bite down, you are hooked

Suddenly the pleasure is now painful Before you know it, you’re caught in a bind Or, as James said in v. 15, “desire is conceived,” and when this happens, sin is born

The final phrase to consider here that completes the process of temptation is “his own lust”

The word “lust” has the idea of desire, craving, or longing for something that is forbidden

Everyone has their own lusts

Lust therefore is personalized

What one individual may struggle with, another may not be affected by at all

You see, we don’t need Satan, we don’t need demons, we don’t even need the world…

All we need is the resident passion of the flesh and it will move out toward the baited hooks

So, God is not responsible for our temptation and our sin

Rather, it is the nature of evil within us because that nature is at war with the Spirit

Paul put it this way in Galatians 5:17, “For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please.”

The nature of man tells us where the problem is…it’s in us…

Lust is the culprit

Sure, the hook may be baited by Satan, it may be baited by the world, or by any number of things, but the culprit behind temptation and sin is us

The process of being drawn away by your own lust, by your own desire, and taking the bait is a matter of fact - its not an if, but when…

Now to complicate matters, we hear the complete opposite message in virtually every outlet in the world…

They say that it’s okay for you to take the bait…no worries…it’s your life…do with it was you will Life is all about pleasure and you should be able to indulge in it as you see fit

The idea of temptation and sin is a killjoy for them

So, rather than calling sin what it is, they justify their position by downplaying sin or trying to eliminate it altogether by tossing out the source and standard of truth You see, without any absolute truth, there are no boundaries

As Christians, however, we can’t allow the philosophy of the world to rewrite the source of truth of God’s Word

By failing to acknowledge sin, and taking the bait, James reveals to us that there are consequences to pay…

~ We looked at the source of temptation and the process of temptation; let’s wrap up this section by looking at…

The Consequences of Yielding to Temptation (v. 15)

The first consequence is that sin is born

Rather than dealing with the lustful thoughts when they arose, that lust was acted upon, resulting in sin

There was a moral violation of a divine command

Now, accompanying sin for the believer are additional consequences, or you can say side effects (sadness, regret, anger, worry loss of joy, loss of power, and so on)

The second and ultimate consequence of yielding to temptation is death

Once sin is brought to completion - when you have committed the act, death is the consequence

Sin can in fact bring physical death to a believer

Ex: Think of the individual who gives into the temptation of drinking or doing drugs

One could, in their inebriated state wreck their car of unintentionally end their life Sin can also lead to another type of death - a death that makes us counterproductive in our Christian lives - spiritual death

You see, when we sin, we fail to live our lives in the power of God’s grace This will in turn rob you of the joy of your salvation and the fullness of life that James spoke of in v. 12 As a believer, your sin will not cause you to lose your salvation…

Your salvation is secure - you may doubt your salvation, but it is secure

But sin will rob you of the joy of your salvation Sin will also rob you of your effectiveness for Christ

The result of this is a defeated and unfruitful life

Conclusion/Application

This is what the pathway to sin looks like in our lives

Oftentimes, you and I start out by allowing our minds to wonder, then we begin to entertain a desire, which is then followed by the urge to indulge upon that desire, which then ultimately leads to the act that gives birth to sin

While this may seem like a hopeless situation, thankfully it doesn’t have to be - there’s good news - you don’t have to remain on this cycle…

(Q) The question is, how can you remove yourself from this pathway to sin? Let me quickly give you six steps:

First: You have to acknowledge what sin is

(Q) How do you do so?

You acknowledge sin by evaluating it through the lens of Scripture

God’s Word reveals what sin is

You also have a God-given conscience that will serve as a means of warning against sin

In addition to God’s Word, and the conscience, God has also given those who are saved His Holy Spirit

One of the roles the Holy Spirit plays in our life is to bring conviction

Therefore, be sensitive to the conviction of the Holy Spirit

You see, God has given us warning mechanisms, if you will, to warn us of sin is and also to show us how to avoid falling into sin

Second: Identify what lures you/draws you in

There are all forms of “bait” that exist Some of that “bait” is enticing to you while others are not You and God know which “bait” is attractive to you

Therefore, know what it is, then…

Third: When temptation arises, resist it

You see, if a person welcomes rather than resists temptation, desire is conceived and if that desire is not turned away immediately, it will produce sin James implies that temptation, in and of itself, is not sinful It is only when desire is conceived that it is allowed to produce the offspring of sin

Therefore, you should fight temptation with a vengeance

ILLUST: You can’t stop a bird from landing in your hair, but you can stop it from building a nest

In Romans 6:12-14, Paul talks about not yielding the instruments of our body to sin, but instead we are to give them to God

However, before you think this is a purely physical battle, its important to keep in mind that we are in a spiritual battle

Therefore, as Paul said in Ephesians 6:10-17, we need to equip ourselves with spiritual armor - the armor of God

Fourth: Fight the temptation with the Word of God

Immerse yourself in and trust in the promises God gave you in His Word

An example of such a promise is found in a passage I already referred to - 1 Corinthians 10:13 (READ)

Psalms 119:11 is another well-known passage that communicates not only the right tool that we should use in time of temptation (God’s Word), but the right action (hiding God’s Word in our hearts), and for the right reason (that we might not sin against God)

Fifth: Fight the temptation with prayer

Ask God to give you the power you need to overcome the very thing that is tempting you Ask God to help you remember His Word, and that it would guard your heart and mind

Sixth: Rely upon the Holy Spirit

As you confront the temptation, trust in the Holy Spirit to do what Christ said He would do - empower you

All of us deal with various temptations that lead to sin, but now that you are familiar with the pathway that leads to sin, with God’s help, you can remove yourself from that vicious cycle

I trust this will be an encouragement and help to you

VIII.Pray