Also, I have added a couple of things to my sidebar: a Bible passage of the month, and a poll.
Anyway, on to our study of James:
Today we will be looking at James 1:13-18. (by the way, do you get the feeling we're going to be studying James for a while? =P )
James 1:13-18:
13When tempted, no one should say, "God is tempting me." For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; 14but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. 15Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.
16Don't be deceived, my dear brothers. 17Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. 18He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.
So... this is an interesting passage of scripture. Verses 13-15 are really interesting to me. When we are tempted, we should not say that God is tempting us. God *cannot* tempt us. The reason? God has nothing to do with evil. Now, there is a point I want to make: God *can* test us. But test and tempt are two totally different things.
The definition of test, according to Webster's 1828 dictionary is:
That with which any thing is compared for proof of its genuineness; a standard.
Now the definition of tempt is:
To incite or solicit to an evil act; to entice to something wrong by presenting arguments that are plausible or convincing, or by the offer of some pleasure or apparent advantage as the inducement.
Do you see a little bit of a difference between the two? ;-)
God does not*tempt* us, by means of enticing us with evil things, which Satan and his demons do. God, rather, *tests* us. When He tests us, He is finding out if we are genuine. He is refining us into pure gold when He tests us.
But at the same time, although God does not tempt us Himself, He allows Satan and his demons to tempt. Also in this way, God refines us. This is an example of God allowing Satan to tempt us:
Job 1:8-12
8 Then the LORD said to Satan, "Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil."
9 "Does Job fear God for nothing?" Satan replied. 10 "Have you not put a hedge around him and his household and everything he has? You have blessed the work of his hands, so that his flocks and herds are spread throughout the land. 11 But stretch out your hand and strike everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face."
12 The LORD said to Satan, "Very well, then, everything he has is in your hands, but on the man himself do not lay a finger."
Then Satan went out from the presence of the LORD.
God allowed Satan to go and tempt Job.
Verse 15 of James 1 is also very interesting. James is trying to show how sin works. Although he gives an unbelievably fast, upbeat pace. Read verse 15 again: "Then, after [evil] desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death."
So... first, evil desire is conceived. We have an evil desire. We have a sinful nature. We, as humans, naturally have evil desires. These evil desires, if we are not careful and do not ask God to help us, conceive into sin. These evil desires are temptations... "little" things that tempt us, and make us want to leave Christ. Things that sure do *look* enticing. Oh sure, they look fine. They look respectable. Surely that wouldn't be wrong! Well... check the Bible. Often, if we think things are fine, we should check the Bible and make sure. Is it really? Well, if we don't ask God to help us, and if we don't pay attention, and we fall into the trap of those little enticing things, well, then you've got yourself into sin. And let me tell you something: once you fall into sin, it takes a heap of a lot of trouble to get out of it. Because once you do something once, it immediately gets easier to do it again. And again. And again. And again. And again. And soon, as verse 15 says, "...when it is full-grown, gives birth to death." We really have to watch ourselves when we are tempted.
And again, let us review verses 16-18. "16Don't be deceived, my dear brothers. 17Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. 18He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created."
This is pretty flat out and plain. All good gifts are from above. I think this can count as two things: Gifts as in gifts that we are given; example: the gift of playing the piano, the gift of being able to draw, etc. Also, this can mean gifts as in things He gives us physically: food, clothing, homes, etc. I don't know the original Greek word, so I don't know what these "gifts" are implying. What does everyone else think?
I love the term "heavenly lights". Rather random, but I just really like that. Also notice, "...who does not change like shifting shadows." In other words, God doesn't change. He is holy and perfect, and He never, ever changes. He is forever the same: holy, just, perfect, and merciful.
In verse 18, we see the term "birth". I love this quote: "Those who are born twice die once, and those who are born once die twice." In other words: Those who are born physically, and then born again through Christ only die physically; and those who are only born physically die once physically, and die a second time in the second death in hell. Anyway, God has picked us out (isn't that an amazing thought?) to be His children, that we might live with Him forever. That we might be "firstfruits".
So... I hope you enjoyed the post!! =) Sorry if I was long and drawn out. =P
In Christ alone,
~Madison
1 comment:
Good post, and very true!
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