TEMPTATION

TEMPTATION

Many people confuse temptation with sin, as if it were sin to be tempted. We know from reading (Matt 4:1-11) that Jesus was tempted by the devil in the wilderness immediately after being baptized by John in the Jordan River, and receiving the Holy Spirit from heaven. But we know that even though He was tempted in all ways such as we might be, He remained "sinless"! So we know beyond any shadow of a doubt that temptation and sin is not the same thing. If Jesus had accepted any one of Satan's suggestions, He would have disqualified Himself from being the Savior we know Him to be! The devil offered Him three chances to short circuit going to the cross, but He answered every one with "it is written". In other words, He defeated every attempt by Satan to temp Him to disobey the Father's plan of redemption.

James, the half-brother of Jesus, addresses this subject in his letter. (James 1:13-15). He makes a clear statement that God is never involved in temping us, but "Temptation comes from our own desires which entice us and drag us away. These desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death." NLT. So temptation always starts with an evil desire, followed by yielding to that desire, both of which involve a choice on our part. We can never claim "the devil made me do it", like some comedian made famous. Even though he might have been involved in tempting us like he tempted Jesus, we can choose not to listen to him! The same answer Jesus used is the best, providing we know enough scriptures to use it effectively at the right time!

We must remember that if we are a born again follower of Jesus, we have the same Holy Spirit living in our redeemed life that Jesus had. He never did any ministry until after receiving the Holy Spirit at His baptism, so we are in the same position. If the Spirit has come upon us, as He did on the disciples on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 1:8), then we have the same power source as Jesus had. This is hard for us to believe, because Jesus was the Son of God, and we have a hard time believing that we too are "children of God", and "joint heirs" with Jesus. (Rom 8:12-17). Don't let the devil tell you that you are just a "sinner saved by grace". God's Word says you are now a "saint that sometimes sins", but He has made provision for that! (1 John 1:9)!

Sincerely submitted.
Dave Jamer