Temptation's Source, Course, and Cure

James warns, “Let no one say when he is tempted I am being tempted by God” (James 1:13). Your initial reaction might be, “I would never blame God.”

Have you ever excused your sin by saying, “I am just a born worrier”, or “I have a short fuse because I am from a family of angry people”, or “I would be a better wife if my husband were more Christlike.” If so, you are guilty of blaming God by saying that He made you that way, or He put you in circumstances which tempted you beyond what you can bear.

James explains that because God is perfectly good He does not tempt people to do evil. Instead, you are tempted by your own lust which leads you to sin which results in death.

James also teaches us how we can overcome temptation as we understand how sin operates, and through the new nature we received in our new birth.

I encourage you to read James 1:12-18 before coming to church.