James 1:13-17
Why Can’t We Blame
God When We Are Tempted?
A. What is the difference between a “trial” (or test) and a “temptation”? V 12-13
1. Does God allow trials (or difficult things) to come into our lives? Why? (spiritual growth)
2. Can a trial become a temptation? Is this true of every trial? What makes the difference?
a. What are the two ways we can respond to a trial? (faith or doubt)
b. How do the results (on us spiritually) differ according to our response?
Conclusion - Trial is external and temptation is an internal struggle.
B. If we face a trial that becomes a temptation and we fall into sin, whose fault is it?
1. How could people think God is responsible for the temptation they experience? V. 13
a. Didn’t God create us with the capacity to be tempted? Didn’t God create all the objects of our temptation?
b. Doesn’t God permit the situation that leads to temptation?
2. What does James write in verse 13?
a. What if God were responsible for tempting us?
Are victims accountable for their behavior?
b. God cannot be tempted. V. 13 He has no capacity to be tempted or to tempt people to sin.
c. God actually limits the temptations. He will not let us be tempted beyond our capacity to bear it. 1 Cor. 10:13 He also provides a way of escape.
Conclusion: God is not responsible for the temptation of sin in our lives because…
C. What is the cause of temptation that leads to sin?
1. What is within “every man” (and woman) that repeatedly draws us away? V. 14
2. What does it mean to be “drawn away”? (enticed, beguiled, allured)
a. What is involved in catching fish? (Hungry fish, bait looks good, a little time)
b. What does temptation promise the victim? (tasty indulgence) It’s a deadly trap!
3. What pulls us so strongly to the bait? (Not God, Satan?, the world system of evil)
a. What does “his own” tell us? V. 14 It’s personal and individual? (sin to me/sin to you)
b. What is lust? (Strong desire within us to enjoy or acquire something)
c. We know Jesus was tempted. (Heb. 4:15) Did Jesus have lust within Him? (no sin)
d. So who is the enemy that is causing temptation to sin? (The enemy is us)
e. Does lust go away when we are born again as “new creatures” in Christ?
D. What is the process leads to sin? (Eye sees it and the hand grabs it?)
1. What is lust? (A strong desire to be satisfied by acquiring something)
2. What event can trigger lust to begin its work in us? (seeing something we want)
3. How does temptation deceive us? (rationalize or believe we will be satisfied)
4. When does our will get involved? (thinking - how can we get it)
a. Conceived - “grasped together.” A woman taking hold of a man’s seed.
b. How is this like having a child? (For lust to conceive must have a partner)
5. Once the mind has convinced the will it’s okay, then sinful behavior is delivered.
Conclusion - Our temptation problem is caused by…
E. When is the best time to kill sinful desires?
1. Can a person that has good control over their emotions deal more effectively with sin?
2. Does a sanctified Christian have an advantage in dealing with lustful desires?
3. Is it easier to stop sinful lust before or after the will is captured by it?
4. How do we deal with lustful emotions?
a. How can we control our emotional response the “bait” the world has to offer?
1) Can we continue to expose ourselves to the things that lure us into temptation?
2) Should we fill our mind with other things? What? Phil. 4:8 (Think about your thoughts)
b. What does the last part of 2 Cor. 10:5 mean? How do we do this? (recognize and capture it the emotional responses or thoughts)
1) Say to self “Looks like my lust wants to get together with my will again.”
2) What do we teach our daughters to say when a boyfriend is coming on too strong?
c. Does this mean that emotions are a bad thing? (They’re neutral)
5. When is sin “full grown”? v. 15
6. What kind of death is James talking about in verse 15?
a. How important is it that we deal with sin often and early? (Matt. 18:8)
b. Is God on our side in this struggle?
Conclusion - The best time to kill sin is…
F. How is it that we can “err” or be deceived in our understanding of temptation and sin? V.16
1. “Err” (deceived - NIV) - means to roam or wander from safety, truth or virtue.
2. If we think God is the source of our temptation, then what will we do about the strong emotional desires in our hearts?
a. If sin is God’s fault, are there consequences?
b. Are we accountable if God is to blame?
Conclusion - We are deceived when w think…
G. How is it that we can only expect good things from God? 17
1. God is pure goodness - Ps. 92:15, 1 John 1:5
2. Will God give us good things only? Matt. 7:8-10
3. Does God hold out on us sometimes? (The serpent and Eve example)
4. How is the true God different than the false Gods that men dream up?
Conclusion - A fish that has eaten takes no bait. So
if you're feeding on the divine resources available to every believer, you'll
find that the baited hook of temptation holds very little attraction for you.
Fill up on divine gifts.