3 ways to resist temptation. The biblical response to temptation.
- Refinery Church
- Jun 20, 2024
- 3 min read
How do we resist temptation? As a believer, we understand that we live in a corrupted world, and with a corrupted world comes temptation to live into the corruption. We call this sin. Sin is anything that goes against God's eternal plan for the world. When you rebel against God, you are sinning against God. But how do you handle temptation? If this is a common part of life, how does the Christian fight temptation and stay away from the corruption of this world? In the book of James, we see a few details about how the believer reacts and responds to temptation. Here are a few things all Christians should know from James 1:13-18.
TEMPTATION DOES NOT COME FROM GOD...OR SATAN
13 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. 14 But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire.
Before you can fight temptation, you have to know where temptation comes from. Without an understanding of the origin of our temptation, we can place the blame in the wrong the direction. Here in James 1:13-14 James explains that we cannot blame God for our temptation. He says that "God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one."
It might seem obvious that God does not tempt us but we often blame God for our sinful actions. Often, we say things like, "God, why did you give me this anger problem?" or "God, please take away my lust problem." In these moments, we take the blame and place it at the feet of God. James is explaining that the blame does not belong there.
Even when we don't blame God for our temptation, we find ourselves blaming Satan for our temptation. Often we say things like, "Satan is really coming after me and my family right now." This is not right either. James makes it clear that the blame does not belong to God or Satan, but rather, with us. He says in verse 14 that "...each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire."
Temptation comes from from our own desire. It is our heart that tempts us because we live in a corrupted world and our heart was born into that world. We must put the blame where it belongs because it helps us to truly fight it when we know where it truly belongs.
TEMPTATION IS NOT A SIN...BUT IT LEADS TO SIN
15 Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death. 16 Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers.
Temptation alone is not an issue. Even Jesus was tempted. But when we indulge in temptation, it gives birth to sin. As James explains in verse 15, “and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.” Sin is the issue. When temptation is not managed well, it breeds sin in our lives.
TEMPTATION IS POWERLESS WHEN OUR EYES ARE FOCUSED ON WHATS ABOVE
17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. 18 Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.
We don’t fight temptation with a 10-point plan or some new mind strategy, we fight temptation by focusing on what is better. James tells us that every good and perfect gift comes from God. If you spend your time meditating on the good and perfect things from above, you don’t need to worry about temptation. At that point, you are sober to the trap set before you.
Want to learn more about temptation? Check out these additional resources!
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