Troublesome Times
Part 5
The Temptation to Sin
Right up front let me say that temptation itself is not sin—giving into it is sin.
The victory is realized when the Christian responds to temptation with God’s truth, faith, prayer, and obedience.
The Temptation to Sin is reality, but so is the Way of Escape
- 1 Corinthians 10:13, “No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.”
Every Christian Faces Temptation: Being a Christian does not mean we will never be tempted. It means we are empowered by the Spirit so that we do not have to surrender to temptation.
Jesus Himself was tempted.
- “For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.” (Heb. 4:15)
- Notice the difference between the right Spirit of God and the wrong spirit of this world:
- When the spirit of this world presents Temptation. Sin is chosen.
- James made this clear showing how temptation develops. James 1:14–15, “14 But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. 15 Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.”
- The spirit of temptation in this world says, “Yes, Go and do it.”
- The Spirit of God, i.e., of faith says, “Stop, you must not do it.”
Yes, there are two spirits…