James 1:13 "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."

Let these facts about our God fill us with thankfulness:

	He cannot be used as an excuse for evil.
	He is never involved in enticement to evil.
	He has no dealings with evil.
	He should never be tempted by evil men.
	He can be counted on to deliver from the evil one (Matthew 6:13; Luke 22:40 ).

His human family are faithfully presented with His example. What the sinner or fallen Christian needs to do, is accept personal responsibility for his or her wrongs - confess them to God and seek forgiveness (1 John 1:9 ).

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James Exposes The Tempter Within

James 1:14 "But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed."

He is not ignorant of the devil's devices, or his role in causing us to fall into sin. Later in chapter 4:7 he tells us to resist the devil, but his intent in these verses is to confront us with personal responsibility in wrongdoing. His argument goes - you cannot blame God - and you must blame yourself even before the devil. If it were not for the traitor within, the devil's appeals would fail, and the worldly seduction would be unattractive.

The term "own desire" means the same as Paul's term "sin" or "flesh". He teaches that when sin, that is, own desire, is in control it is not possible to succeed in keeping the law (Romans 7:15-20 ). It is the flesh or own desire nourished and uncontrolled that brings capitulation to sin (Romans 7:23,25 ). There is victory over the power of the flesh, the inner tempter - that is why Paul says:

Romans 7:25 "I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. ..."

The first step into enjoyment of deliverance from sin's power is recognition of the inner traitor and an acknowledgement of personal responsibility before God.

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James Explains The Tragic Willingness

James 1:14 "... drawn away ... and enticed."

Ryrie, in his study Bible says: "The picture behind these words is that of the hunter; or fisherman luring his prey from its safe retreat."

The sin, "bait" is so alluring to the fallen nature that the enticement is willingly responded to - even when the dangerous consequences are known. Our way of conduct before coming to Christ was dictated by what was acceptable to a world that rejected God's standards. We were driven by our sinful nature's desires, and expressed its thoughts, willingly and actively sinning (Ephesians 2:1-3 ).

Regrettably Christians can be "overtaken" by sin (Galatians 6:1 ). The word "overtaken" means to be apprehended or taken by surprise - and caught red-handed they are surprised at the easy willingness of their yielding to sin. The way back to victory should be taken with greater swiftness. Peter wept bitterly over his fall (Matthew 26:75; Luke 22:62 ). He was shaken, and moved with godly sorrow unto repentance (2 Corinthians 7:9-10 ). Such sorrow is a change of mind that can affect the emotions, and will bring change of attitudes. When expressed in the confessing of sin it clears the life from guilt and claims victory in Christ over sin (1 John 1:9 ).

The Greek word "confess" is 'homologeo' which means "speak the same thing." Real repentance brings our thinking into agreement with God's thinking about sin, and agreement with God that a particular act is sin, which means taking God's side against yourself. This opens the way to forgiveness and cleansing by the blood of Jesus, and the transforming power of the Holy Spirit.

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James Epitomizes The Terrible Warning

Those who allow their evil desires to be encouraged and nourished, become pregnant with sin, and give birth to actual sin. The tragic consequence is death. There is a terrible logic about this warning.

James 1:15 "Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death."

Sin brought physical death (Genesis 2:17 ), spiritual death (Ephesians 2:1 ), and it will bring, for those whose names are not written in the Lamb's book of Life, the second death (Revelation 20:14-15 ).

The graphic sin chain picture that James paints should affect us as believers in at least two ways.

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We should welcome and accept the searching of our hearts by God

Like David we should ask God to search out any lurking sin and even test our thought life.

Psalm 139:23,24 "Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: ²⁴ And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting."

Respond quickly to what the Lord points out. Readily repent and receive forgiveness. Boldly follow your heavenly guide and walk the path of everlasting life.

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We should witness - the good news is for everyone

Knowing what is to be the final state of those whose names are not in the Lamb's book of Life should urge prayerful and compassionate witness. No one should be written off as being too wicked or beyond salvation. Even the wicked Ninevites were open to God's message and responded with immediate repentance (Jonah 3:4-5 ). At times we may be reluctant to witness, like Jonah, but obedient anyway. Our effectiveness as God's channels will surprise us. God will send us to witness to some, others will come to us. But always be prepared to tell the good news.

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James Envisions The Triumphant Winner

James 1:16 "Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren."

A triumphant winner as seen by James is not as a believer who is devil-deceived about the character of God. He wins because he trusts God wholly, and relies on the unchanging integrity and holiness of God. Neither is the winner self-deceived, he knows where temptation comes from, and how to overcome the flesh with its evil desire. What James envisions, Paul fully develops in his teaching.

	The winner believer knows that he has been freed from the power of sin by the death Christ (Romans 5:6-12 ).
	The winner believer, freed by Christ, is no longer under the controlling rule of sin so that he has to obey its evil desire.
	The winner over sin considers himself to be positionally dead to sin and alive to God. Romans 6:11 "... dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. "
	The winner over sin refuses to let evil desire take control of his life. Romans 6:12 "Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts."
	The winner over sin actively offers himself to God. Romans 6:13 "And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God."
	The winner over sin demonstrates sin is no longer his master, he is victorious being under enabling grace. Romans 6:14 "For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace." The law condemned but provided no enablement to overcome sin - grace brings from under condemnation and to the walk that is not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit ( Romans 8:1 ).
	The winner believer triumphantly testifies by his life: Romans 8:2 "For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death."
	The winner believer, living under the control of the indwelling Holy Spirit walks free from the control of sin and death.

For God's winning people obligation to the flesh has been nullified. They now live by the Holy Spirit unto God and are controlled and led by the Spirit (Romans 8:13-14 ). James calls God's people to the overcoming life, urging them not to be "deceived" knowing that deception ends in failure. He describes God's people as "my beloved brethren." (James 1:16 KJV). He recognised that those in the spiritual family of Jesus were marked in their relationship to Jesus by their obedience to God the Father.

Matthew 12:50 "For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother."

Every member of God's family, the Church, is loved by Jesus Christ and loves in Christ.

Ephesians 5:2 "... Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us ..."

Dearly loved brethren have Christ's love poured in their heart (Romans 5:5 ) which causes them to unconditionally pour out their lives into others (Romans 12:9-10 ). They live out the new commandment of Jesus (John 13:34-35 ). Because of their surrender to the baptism of His love James envisions undeceived, loved brothers, not just as candidates for victorious living, but actual winners in Christ, who face all tests with real joy.

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QUESTIONS FOR GROUP INTERACTION

You cannot say "I am tempted of God" - then what power draws you into the downward spiral of sin? (James 1:13-14 ).