Our Prayer

Our Prayer

Heavenly Father, I know that I have sinned against You and that my sins separate me from You. I am truly sorry. I now want to turn away from my sinful past and turn to You for forgiveness. Please forgive me, and help me avoid sinning again. I believe that Your Son, Jesus Christ, died for my sins, that He was raised from the dead, is alive, and hears my prayer. I invite Jesus to become my Savior and the Lord of my life, to rule and reign in my heart from this day forward. Please send Your Holy Spirit to help me obey You and to convict me when I sin. I pledge to grow in grace and knowledge of You. My greatest purpose in life is to follow Your example and do Your will for the rest of my life. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.

Wednesday, May 29, 2024

Class Lesson June 2, 2024

 Week 2 - James




There are two paths of life that every individual must decide to walk: the path that leads to death or the path that leads to life. This theme is repeated throughout the biblical narrative. As we face trials and temptation in this life, the choice is still ours to make: will we walk on the path leading to life or will we choose to succumb to the ways of this world? James teaches us that everyone must decide which path they will walk.



 

The Point: 

Every person must determine the path they will walk.

 

James 1:12-18

12 Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him. 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. 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. 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 first fruits of his creatures.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), James 1:12-18.

 



Study Notes

This week we’re continuing our study in the book of James. Again, James challenges how we handle trials and temptations. The temptation to sin has been present since the fall of man, when Eve gave in to Satan’s temptation in the garden. However, some of James’s readers were blaming God for the temptations they experienced. James stated emphatically that believers are responsible for any pulls to evil their trials bring. Temptations to evil don’t arise from God. No pull to evil can touch Him because He has no vulnerability. The morally perfect God who is, at heart, a loving Father doesn’t use temptations to evil to test His people.

James places the responsibility for temptations on the individual. Temptations arise from within the person but in themselves don’t constitute sin. Entertaining temptation, however, can set in motion a tragic process. First, the person is drawn away and enticed by his own evil desires. Then, joining one’s will with evil desire produces sin, and full-blown, unrepented sin leads to spiritual death.



 

Path of Death

The path of death is depicted as a journey filled with temptation and deception. It begins with desire, which, when conceived, gives birth to sin. Sin, once fully grown, leads to death. James warns against being misled by the allure of temptation. Sin lies to us. It promises good but never delivers. Instead of good, sin destroys the very things God created for us to enjoy. It lures us by lying to us, creating broken relationships with others and of course, with God. Our sinful nature gives in to our own selfish desires. This process leads us down a path that isn’t honoring to God. Oftentimes, the temptations that lead to sin create a slow fade away from the God who loves us and into a self-centered life filled with worldly desires, which ultimately leads to death.


Path of Life

To the contrary, the path of life is one that endures trials, resists temptation, and is dependent on God. Those who chose to endure and trust in the Lord will be rewarded with the crown of life promised by God. While walking with God we will be tempted in the deceptive nature of desires. James provides hope by reminding believers that every good and perfect gift comes from above, from the Father of lights. James highlights the importance of recognizing and embracing God’s gifts, rather than being swayed by fleeting desires that lead us astray.

During difficulties, God is good. His faithfulness is unwavering. His grace is abundant. In essence, James depicts life as a battleground between perseverance and temptation, urging readers to remain steadfast in their faith, trusting in God’s provision and rejecting the allure of sin.



 

Questions for Discussion

Is being tempted a sin? Does everyone experience temptations to do the same things and in the same ways? Explain your answers.

 

If temptations promise good but never deliver, why do we so often say yes to them?

 

Why do you think people try to blame God for the temptations they face, as James’s readers evidently were doing?

 

According to James in 1:13-15, who is the real culprit we’re to blame for our sins?

 

When we can endure the trials, what does James say God promises? What does the “crown of life” mean?

 

Why do you think some people choose to be deceived by sin and allow it to lead their life on the path of death?

 

What are some specific ways you’ve seen God’s power at work in your life when you’ve faced temptations? What role did prayer play in those situations?

 

What would you say are 3 important ways to help the believer endure temptation and trials?



 

END

Teacher's Notes




The Devil’s Advocate

In the beginning of the movie, Keanu Reeves is defending a child molester who he knows is guilty, and he begins to question his morals. The judge announces a break in the middle of cross examination, and Kevin goes to the washroom and wrestles with his choice. This “washroom scene” becomes a crossroad in Kevin’s life – he has two choices to make. His good intentions are outweighed by his vanity to maintain his perfect win-streak and he goes back into the courtroom defends his guilty client and wins the case. Kevin chooses sin – and the movie goes on to show how his sin leads to - The Path of Death for his wife and himself. At the end of the movie Kevin takes his own life, in an act of free will and he wakes up back in the “washroom scene” where he’s given a second chance to make the right choice.

But watch what happens…


Sorry I can't play this clip - I modified it to take out some bad language and it won't let me post it.



What do we learn about sin and the devil from this clip?

The path of death is depicted as a journey filled with temptation and deception. It begins with desire, which, when conceived, gives birth to sin. Sin, once fully grown, leads to death. James warns against being misled by the allure of temptation. Sin lies to us. It promises good but never delivers. Instead of good, sin destroys the very things God created for us to enjoy. It lures us by lying to us, creating broken relationships with others and of course, with God.

Would you say this “temptation” is at play in our world today?

 

When does doing the right thing become the wrong thing?

Vanity

excessive pride in or admiration of one's own appearance or achievements.

 

There are two paths of life that every individual must decide to walk: one leads to death, and one leads to life. The Point in our lesson this morning is that every person must determine the path they will walk.

 

James 1:12-18

12 Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him. 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. 15 Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.

Trials, Tests,

&

Temptations

 

Is Temptation a Sin?

What is it then?



 

Does God Ever Tempt Us to Sin?

Temptations to evil don’t arise from God. No pull to evil can touch Him because He has no vulnerability. The morally perfect God who is, at heart, a loving Father doesn’t use temptations to evil to test His people.

 

Why do you think people try to blame God for the temptations they face, as James’s readers evidently were doing?

It’s easy to blame others and make excuses for evil thoughts and wrong actions. (look at Adam & Eve) A person who makes excuses is trying to shift the blame from himself or herself to something or someone else. A Christian accepts responsibility for their wrongs, confesses them, and asks God for forgiveness.

 

 

Trials, Tests, Temptations

The Greek word for ”trials”, “tests”, and “temptations” is peirasmos.

 

Last week’s lesson:        James 1:2–4

“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”

 

Now we all agree that God tests us.

If the word for ‘temptation’ and the word for ‘test’ are the same in the Greek, peirasmos, how are we to understand the differences in meaning of the two words in passages where it talks about God testing us (James 1:3–4), and then in James 1:13, where it says, ‘God does not tempt anyone’?

How do we put these together?

 

If we step back and ask the question of why the New Testament would use the same word for testing and temptation, perhaps part of the answer is that every test really is a kind of temptation. And every temptation really is a kind of test.

 

“Our faith in God and our love for God are being tested

with every temptation.”

 

According to James, who is the real culprit to blame for our sins?

James places the responsibility for temptations on the individual. Temptations arise from within the person but in themselves don’t constitute sin. Entertaining temptation, however, can set in motion a tragic process. First, the person is drawn away and enticed by his own evil desires. Then, joining one’s will with evil desire produces sin, and full-blown, unrepented sin leads to spiritual death.

Our sinful nature gives in to our own selfish desires. This process leads us down a path that isn’t honoring to God. Oftentimes, the temptations that lead to sin create a slow fade away from the God who loves us and into a self-centered life filled with worldly desires, which ultimately leads to death. James stated emphatically that believers are responsible for any pulls to evil their trials bring.

 

If temptation promises good but never delivers, why do we so often say yes to them?


There is within us all a strong desire for the forbidden fruit.

“Most people want to be delivered from temptation, but they would like it to keep in touch.”


 

What would you say are 3 important ways to help the believer endure temptation and trials?

The path of life is one that endures trials, resists temptation, and is dependent on God.

 

I’m going to give you 5 ways:







END


Bible Notes:

The crown of life is like a victory wreath given to winning athletes. God’s crown of life is not glory and honor here on earth, but the reward of eternal life – living with God forever. The way to be in God’s winner’s circle is by loving Him and staying faithful even under pressure.

Temptation comes from evil desires inside us, not from God. It begins with an evil thought and becomes sin when we dwell on the thought and allow it to become an action. Like a snowball rolling downhill, sin grows more destructive the more we let it have its way. The best time to stop a temptation is before it is too strong or moving too fast to control.

People who live for God often wonder why they still have temptations. Does God tempt them? God tests people, but He does not tempt them by trying to seduce them into sin. God allows Satan to tempt people, however, to refine their faith and to help them grow in their dependence on Christ. We can resist the temptation to sin by turning to God for strength and choosing to obey His Word.

First-century Christians were the first generation to believe in Jesus Christ as Messiah. James called them “a kind of firstfruits of all He created.” In 1 Corinthians 15:20, Paul refers to Christ as the firstfruits of those who have died.  

 

Is being tempted a sin?

(BG)

It is not a sin to be tempted, for everyone is tempted. The devil tempts, but he can tempt you only so far as God permits — and God always provides a way to escape (1 Corinthians 10:13). The sin is in yielding to temptation instead of seeking God’s power to escape.

Temptation is the same for us as it was for Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. And Satan also tempts us in the same way that he tempted Jesus — through “the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life” (1 John 2:16). Satan’s attempt failed.

When you face temptation, follow Jesus’ example. Satan will say, “For a moment’s bowing of your head to me, the money, the fame, the business, the success and the power will be yours.” But do what Jesus did. Jesus didn’t argue with Satan; Jesus didn’t debate with him; Jesus didn’t rationalize. Instead, He replied, “It is written … ” Jesus responded to the enemy’s temptation with the simple but strong truth of God’s Word, Scripture. Do the same today — and always.

The Bible tells us to be on the alert, for Satan is always looking for a way to trap us. “Sin lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it” (Genesis 4:7). How do we rule over it? By keeping our eyes on the Lord Jesus Christ. By keeping our hearts free from the things that can lead to temptation. Don’t be trapped but tap into the power that God grants to those whose hearts are bent toward Him. “Now set your heart and your soul to seek the Lord your God” (1 Chronicles 22:19).

 

What are the keys to resisting temptation?

Nelson’s Bible Dictionary defines temptation as “an enticement or invitation to sin, with the implied promise of greater good to be derived from following the way of disobedience.” Resisting temptation begins with knowing that Satan is the supreme “tempter” (Matthew 4:3; 1 Thessalonians 3:5) who has been tempting mankind since our Creator placed His first two children in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3; 1 John 3:8). Ultimately, however, we know that Satan’s power over Christians has been effectively destroyed as the war has already been won through our Savior’s death and resurrection which conquered the power of sin and death forever. Nonetheless, Satan still prowls the earth looking to drive a wedge between God and His children, and his temptations are unfortunately a daily part of our lives (1 Peter 5:8). Yet with the power of the Holy Spirit and the truth of God’s Word to help us, we will find ourselves effectively resisting temptations.

The apostle Paul encourages us with these words: “No temptation has seized you except what is common to man” (1 Corinthians 10:13). Indeed, every one of us faces temptations of some kind; even Jesus was not immune as He was “tempted in every way, just as we are” (Hebrews 4:15). Although Satan may be the dark force ultimately behind the tempting, it is our fallen and corrupted human nature that allows these temptations to take root and causes us to act on them, thereby “giving birth to sin” (James 1:15). But it is the power of the Holy Spirit that enables us to free ourselves from the sin and temptations we struggle with in our daily lives. Thus, if we have the Spirit of Christ residing in our hearts, we already have what it takes to resist the flaming arrows the devil sends our way. As Paul told the Galatians, “Live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature” (Galatians 5:16).

The Word of God has always been our best defense against Satan’s temptations, and the better we know His Word, the easier it will be to claim victory over our daily struggles. The psalmist tells us, “I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you” (Psalm 119:11). When Christ was tempted by Satan in the desert, the first thing He did was to quote Scripture (Matthew 4:4–10), which eventually caused the devil to leave Him. Indeed, Christians need to be diligent in studying God’s Word. “Oh, how I love your law! I meditate on it all day long. Your commands make me wiser than my enemies” (Psalm 119:97–98).

In addition to God’s Word, prayer can help us to resist temptation. The night He was betrayed, Jesus prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane, and He told Peter to pray “so that you will not fall into temptation” (Mark 14:38). Also, in the “Lord’s Prayer,” Jesus taught us to pray that we would not be led into temptation (Matthew 6:13; Luke 11:4). Yet, when we do fall into temptation, we know that “God is faithful; He will not let us be tempted beyond what [we] can bear,” and that He will provide us with a way out (1 Corinthians 10:13). This is a promise from God, and like Abraham, Christians should be “fully persuaded” that God has the power to do what He has promised (Romans 4:21).

Another way to help us resist temptation is to remember what Jesus Christ did for us. Even though He never committed a sin, He willingly endured the torture of the cross for us while we were still sinners (Romans 5:8). Every sin we’ve ever committed, or will commit, played a part in nailing our Savior to the cross. How we respond to Satan’s worldly allurements is a great indicator as to just how much the love of Jesus Christ occupies our hearts.

Now, even though Christians already have the tools necessary for victory, we need to use our common sense and not place ourselves in situations that prey upon, or stimulate, our weaknesses. We are already bombarded every day with images and messages that tantalize our sinful lusts. We don’t need to make it more difficult than it already is. Even though Christ’s Spirit resides in our hearts, our flesh can be very weak at times (Matthew 26:41). When we know something is or can be sinful, Paul warns us to “flee from it.” Remember, the “tempter” is also the master of rationalization, and there is no limit to the arguments the devil can offer us to justify our sinful behavior.

Armed with God’s Spirit and the truth of His Word, we are well equipped to overcome Satan’s assaults (Ephesians 6). No matter what trials and temptations come our way, God’s Word and Spirit are infinitely more powerful than any of Satan’s schemes. When we walk with the Spirit we can look at temptations as opportunities for us to show God that He is indeed the Master of our lives.

 

What does it mean that God cannot be tempted

(James 1:13)?

James 1:13 says, “When tempted, no one should say, ‘God is tempting me.’ For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone.” James then goes on to explain where the temptation to sin comes from: “Each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed” (verse 14).

Earlier in this passage, James explains to believers the purpose for “trials of many kinds” and “the testing of your faith” (James 1:2–3). Trials are an inevitable part of living in a sin-cursed world (John 16:33), and we should welcome tests because they produce perseverance (James 1:3), which can make us “mature and complete, not lacking anything” (verse 4).

The way we respond to trials determines their effect upon us. “Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him” (James 1:12). James is not saying that remaining steadfast under trials will result in the crown of life; rather, he is assuring those who have received the crown of life through faith in Christ that they will not be so overwhelmed by trials that they blame God for tempting them to sin. God, who cannot be tempted, tempts no one.

If the trial we face involves an inducement to sin, James says that we should not regard the inducement to sin as coming from God. God does not will anyone to sin, and He does not tempt us to sin. The trial, not the sin, is His aim. Trials are designed to refine us as gold is refined by fire: “In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed” (1 Peter 1:6–7).

Unlike human beings, God cannot be tempted to sin because everything about God is the exact opposite of sin. Human beings are born with a sin nature inherited from Adam, and that nature is part of what entices us and drags us away from what is good. God has no sin nature; His nature is holy and righteous. He cannot sin or even be tempted to sin. The enticements that cause us to sin have no effect on God.

There is absolutely nothing in God’s nature that would make Him tend to do wrong, and there can be absolutely nothing offered to Him that would cause Him to do wrong. Internally and externally, God is immune to temptation. It follows, then, that God would not tempt any person to sin and thus make Himself the author of sin. The Holy One will not justify sin or excuse it, and He will not prompt it.

Because of this truth about God — that He cannot be tempted to sin — we can have confidence that the universe is in good hands. God cannot be persuaded, bribed, or in any way swayed from His perfect purpose and plan. He does not vacillate. No matter what, He remains Perfection.

 

 

Does God Ever Tempt Us to Sin?

We end our week together talking about trials and temptations. It’s a sobering topic, but one relevant to each of us at some point, maybe with some of you right now. We start with what we know for sure. God tests us. He does. That’s clear in texts like James 1:3–4 and 1 Peter 1:7. But then comes the question: Does God ever tempt us? James 1:13 says no, God never tempts us. But what really is the difference between being tested and being tempted? Here’s a sharp Bible question from a listener named Mike: “Dear Pastor John, in APJ 694 you said that the word for ‘temptation’ and the word for ‘test’ are the same word in the Greek, peirasmos. So how are we to understand the differences in meaning of the two words in passages where it talks about God testing us (James 1:3–4; 1 Peter 1:7), and then in James 1:13, where it says, ‘God does not tempt anyone’? How do we put those together?”

That is an utterly crucial question. We so need to get that clear, for God’s honor and for our own peace of mind. So let me set the stage as best I can so that everybody can get on board with what the problem really is as Mike has presented it here.

 

Trials, Tests, Temptations

In 1 Peter 1:6–7, it says, “Now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials [and the word there, peirasmos in Greek, could be translated ‘temptations’ or ‘testings’], so that the tested genuineness of your faith — more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire — may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”

And then, similarly, in James 1:2–4, it says, “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet [testings or temptations or] trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”

And then in James 1:12, he adds this amazing promise about the outcome of tested faith. He says, “Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial [same word], for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.”

Now, all these testings are merciful trials from the hand of God in the way he disciplines and purifies and stabilizes and preserves his children. We know that Jesus tested his disciples (John 6:6). We know that God tested Abraham (Hebrews 11:17). So, we set the stage for this problem first by establishing from 1 Peter and James that God does indeed test people. He does. He “tests” people — and the word there, peirasmos or peirazō, is the same as the word for “tempt.” There’s the problem. He puts us through trials.

 

Double Problem

Now, the second part of setting the stage for the problem is to observe that in James 1:13, James uses the same word for testing, peirazomai, and we translate it “tempt.” He says, “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.” It’s the same word as the word for “test.” So, that’s the setting of the stage.

 

Here’s the double problem: When James says, “God tempts no one,” the word tempt is the very same word in Greek for test, and we know God does test people.

He says that God cannot be tempted, and yet we know that Jesus was tempted (same word) in the Gospels in the wilderness. In Matthew 4:1, the Holy Spirit drove him out to be tempted. And Jesus is God in the flesh.

So, James expects us to make a distinction in the meaning between the testing that God in fact does bring into our lives righteously, and the tempting that God never does, even though he uses the same word for both. He expects us to make that same distinction to show that God is never tempted Himself and yet Jesus, who was God, was in some sense tempted.

Now that’s the challenge that Mike sees in these verses and is asking about, and he’s right to see them. I’ve seen them for years and wrestled repeatedly with how to understand this. James is not tripping up here. He knows exactly what he’s doing, since he puts the two words together back-to-back in two sentences. It’s not like he forgot that ten years ago he used the word one way.

 

Four Steps of Temptation

I think the key to solving both problems is found in the next two verses (James 1:14–15) and the way James carefully defines temptation. It’s probably the nearest thing we have to an analysis of temptation in the Bible. He is talking about our experience of it and how God doesn’t experience it and doesn’t perform it. Here’s what he says in James 1:14–15: “Each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.”

So, there are four steps in this process of what James is calling temptation.

1.   There’s desire, which may at first be innocent. In fact, I think, at first, most of them are innocent.

2.   There’s the desire becoming an enticement and an allurement across a line into sinfulness and sinful craving and sinful desire: like the desire of hunger, which is innocent, crossing the line into gluttony; or the desire of natural sexual appetite, which is innocent, crossing the line into lust; or the desire of your paycheck — it’s not wrong to want to be paid so you can pay your bill — crossing the line into greed. That’s the second step.

3.   Then there’s the act of sinning itself, in which the sinful desire is put into action.

4.   And then finally, when that pattern of sin goes on without repentance, it results in eternal death.

 

God Is Not Tempted

Now, I think the reason that James says God is not tempted, even though Jesus was tempted, is that the innocent desires like hunger, or the desire for sex, or the desire for our paycheck are the beginnings of being drawn toward what could be a sinful desire of gluttony, lust, or greed. And in that sense, the awakening of that desire is a kind of temptation, but it has not become a full-blown temptation. For example, in the life of Jesus, he hungered (an objective allurement toward bread) when he was fasting, but it didn’t cross the line into an evil desire of rebellion or disobedience or undue craving for what God had told him not to have. In fact, none of Jesus’s desires in his whole life ever crosses the line into evil desire, and therefore never gives birth to sin.

“None of Jesus’s desires in his whole life ever crosses the line into evil desire, and therefore never gives birth to sin.”

So, we can speak of him being tested or tempted in the sense that he’s presented with objective allurements, like bread when he is hungry, so that he experiences hunger or desire, and in that sense, temptation, but it’s never taking him captive by allurements and enticements that cross the line into sinful desires.

 

God Does Not Tempt

And in the same way, I would say, God does not tempt, because — now this is really delicate, so listen carefully — at that point in the human life where we cross the line from experiencing objective allurements (say, like food: you smell a steak or see an ice cream cone), at that point of a legitimate desire crossing the line into sinful desire (like the second helping, or something the doctor told you shouldn’t have, or something that’s really part of gluttony or lust), at the point of crossing that line, the Bible ordinarily describes God’s action as handing us over or giving us up (Romans 1:24, 26, 28) — giving us up to our lust, giving us up to a debased mind.

In other words, God is not described as the positive, creative, active agent at the point where our desires become sinful. If you’re going to involve God by providence here, which I do, his action is a negative action, in the sense that he hands us over, he lets us go, he gives us up to our sinning at that point.

 

Crucial Distinction

So, I don’t think James is contradicting himself. I think he expects us to make a distinction between temptation understood, on the one hand, as objective allurement that need not involve sin, and temptation understood, on the other hand, as the movement of that allurement across a line so that the desire becomes sinful. And the line between desire as a thankful, God-dependent desire and desire as an assertive, self-indulgent desire is crossed when the temptation happens, which he is saying God never experiences and God never performs.

 

“Our faith in God and our love for God are being tested with every temptation.”

 

And if we step back and ask the question of why the New Testament would use the same word for testing and temptation, perhaps part of the answer is that every test really is a kind of temptation. And every temptation really is a kind of test. Our faith in God and our love for God are being tested with every temptation. And every test, if we do not act in faith, can result in our falling into temptation. So, when James says, “Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life” (James 1:12), that same promise applies to resisting every temptation as well.

John Piper (@JohnPiper) is founder and teacher of desiringGod.org and chancellor of Bethlehem College & Seminary.

 

Why did Jesus need to be led into the wilderness by the Spirit to be tempted (Matthew 4:1)?

The idea that Jesus was intentionally directed by the Spirit of God into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil is a theologically challenging concept. Yet that is precisely what the Gospels indicate: “Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil” (Matthew 4:1; cp. Mark 1:12–13; Luke 4:1–2).

It doesn’t take long in the Christian Walk to discover that temptations frequently come. We might wonder, does God deliberately orchestrate such tests, or was the wilderness temptation of Jesus an exclusive experience only for the Son of Man? As we consider these questions, we’ll see that God allows His followers to be tested for a good purpose. Christ’s experience in the wilderness serves as an example for Christian disciples. But as we study the account, an even deeper meaning is revealed. The Spirit led Jesus into the wilderness to be tempted because God wanted His Son and His followers to understand the Lord’s messianic mission clearly — that Christ had not come to earth as Israel’s Conquering King but as her Suffering Servant.

Temptation itself is not a sin. Jesus was “tempted in every way, just as we are — yet he did not sin” (Hebrews. 4:15; see also 2 Corinthians 5:21). The Lord was not tested to see if He would fail. Jesus was led into the wilderness by the Spirit to be tempted to demonstrate how we can resist the temptation to sin, and how, through Christ’s power, we, too, can overcome (Hebrews 2:18).

Many Bible scholars suggest that the specific temptations Jesus faced in the wilderness represent three main categories of all human temptation. The apostle John labeled these as “the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life” (1 John 2:16).

With the first test, Jesus was tempted to depend on His own independent provision of food rather than rely on God. After forty days of fasting, Christ was hungry, so Satan tried to persuade Him to turn desert rocks into bread. But Jesus was determined to do His Father’s will alone (John 4:34; 5:30; Luke 22:42; Hebrews 10:5–7). It was not the Father telling Jesus to transform the rocks, and so our Lord resisted the temptation with the truth of God’s Word (Matthew 4:4). Our Lord’s example shows us that the Word of God is our best defense against Satan’s schemes. At the same time, Jesus affirmed His messianic mission, submissively entrusting Himself to the Father’s plan rather than forcefully paving His own way and meeting His own needs.

The second temptation involved performing a miracle that would show off Christ’s supernatural power and draw attention to Himself. It was the temptation to abuse His power for His own benefit. Again, Jesus voiced God’s Word in response to the temptation (Matthew 4:7). Satan deceptively portrays sin as acceptable and desirable. The solution is to counter his lies with the truth.

In the third test, Jesus was tempted to secure an earthly crown and bypass the suffering and sacrifice He would endure on the cross. Satan offered “all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor” (Matthew 4:8). It was the kingship that Christ was ultimately destined for, minus the suffering. “All this I will give you,” Satan told Jesus, “if you will bow down and worship me” (Matthew 4:9). The tempter repeatedly offers what seems like a better plan or an easy way out. But the liar fled when Jesus stabbed him with “the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” (Ephesians 6:17), declaring that only the Lord God is to be worshiped and served (Matthew 4:10).

The fact that the Spirit led the Son of Man into the wilderness to be tempted creates an interesting contrast with another event in Scripture. Adam, the first man, was in a lush and fruitful garden when he was tempted. He failed the test, plunging all of humanity into sin and death (see Romans 5:12). In contrast, Jesus, the Second Adam, was tempted in a dry and barren wilderness—our paradise having been lost. Jesus passed the test, thrice over, and it is in Him that the Adamic curse is reversed and we have eternal life. “For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ!” (Romans 5:17).

The backdrop to Jesus being led into the wilderness by the Spirit to be tempted is found in Deuteronomy 8:1–5. Moses remembered how the Lord God led the people of Israel in the wilderness for forty years “to humble and test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands. He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your ancestors had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.”

It’s important to understand that God does not tempt anyone to sin (James 1:13). But He does allow us to be tested and evaluated (Hebrews 11:17–19; 2 Corinthians 13:5; James 1:12; Psalm 17:3; 139:23; Malachi 3:3). God tested our Savior’s character through adversity in the wilderness, and He applies the same initiative in our lives today. Through trials and temptations, we grow in faith and understanding of our mission as servants of His kingdom (Deuteronomy 13:3; 2 Chronicles 32:31; James 1:3; 1 Peter 1:6–7). Through every test, we develop spiritual muscle memory, helping us to depend on Him and His Word to overcome life’s difficulties and challenges.

End of Notes




No comments:

Post a Comment