James 1:1-4; 12-15 How to keep Temptation Temptation.
In these verses we see
I. The Fact that we Exist in a world of
sin.
Being born again
we are saved from the penalty of sin.
We are saved
from the power of sin, (we will repeat this).
We are not yet
saved from
the presence of sin, it is everywhere.
And we are tempted. We are
not only tempted to sin, we are guilty of sin, (1 John 1:8-10, If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and
the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to
forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and His Word is
not in us.)
What is sin?
Therefore to him that knoweth to do good and doeth it not, to him it is
sin. (James 4:17)
We could have a list of sin, but
the final truth is, you know what sin is.
Every sin
begins with temptation, (v.14-15) It is what we do with these temptations that
makes all the difference in our Christian walk.
When we feed these temptations, no
doubt they will grow.
If we treated temptations like a
rattlesnake, there would be less sin.
(Preacher tempted to steal the
pewter salt and pepper shakers…)
If we nip it in the bud, what a
blessed life we could live.
We have all sinned and fallen short
of the glory of God.
Yet, God, in His infinite mercy has
rescued us from the penalty, from the power, and soon the presence.
But, until then?
Keep the devil at bay.
(Old parable of the house for sale
with the one nail belonging to the original owner.)
The greater the man, the more
dearer the price he pays for one small season of pleasure.
We as Christians will pay a large price.
II. The Fall that
will Entangle us in sin.
This phrase is used in the
Jerico road experience, and the shipwreck in Acts 27.
Neither were planned.
They could have been avoided if proper measures were taken, but who is to
know.
We don’t plan
on falling, we plan on standing.
One thing is for sure, you better
plan on being tempted, because it is going to happen.
Opportunity knocks once, temptation
beats on my door every day.
v.13-15
It is our old flesh, our carnal nature that drives this passion.
(Vending machine experience.)
(Beautiful girl at Lakawana)
We are to count it all a joy?
For it is here that we can show our
Christian maturity.
III.The Faith that
allows us to Escape from Sin.
1.
Faith in Jesus Christ.
Salvation takes care of most problems when it comes to falling into sin.
What Christ did for us can not be denied.
2.
Faith in the ability to have enough strength to
say, “no.”
Romans 6:6
Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the
body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.
3. Faith that we will be far better off after refraining than if we indulge. James. 1:15 compared to 1:12