TEMPTATION

Every person “is tempted …by his own evil desire” (James 1:14). Satan’s desire is that the temptation will lead you to commit sin. We must not accuse or blame God or any person for tempting us (James 1:11). Adam tried to put the blame on God and on his wife Eve (Gen 3:12).
Temptation and sin are universal (Rom 3:23). No one rises above the possibility of sin by removing evil tendency in himself. “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us” (I John
1:8). Even the Son of God was tempted in all points as we are (Heb 4:15), but He did not sin. Paul said he had to “beat” his body and “bring it into subjection” lest he should become “disqualified for the prize” (I Cor 9:27).
We are “drawn away” by our own lust, “dragged or taken in tow.” This strong word shows the intensity of lust or passion in us. The law of sin in our members leads us to do evil while our minds will to do what is good (Rom 7:5,
18-24). Lusts “war among our members” (James 4:1). Paul described himself as “a wretched man” (2 Tim 4:3). Satan has no power over us that we do not give him (I Cor 10:13; 2 Pet 3:3; Jude 18f).

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