Faith Turns Temptation into Transformation
Scripture: James 1:13-18
Faith refuses to blame God
“Let no one say when he is tempted, ‘I am being tempted by God.’ For God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one.” (v13)
(The serpent) “said to the woman, ‘Did God actually say, You shall not eat of any tree in the garden?’ . . . But the serpent said to the woman, ‘You will not surely die. For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.’” (Genesis 3:1-5)
“And the tempter came and said to (Jesus), ‘If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” (Matthew 4:3)
Faith recognizes the destructive power of sin
“But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.” (v14-15)
“Then the Lord God said to the woman, ‘What is this that you have done?’ The woman said, ‘The serpent deceived me, and I ate.’” (Genesis 3:13)
“(the devil) said to (Jesus) ‘If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down.” (Matthew 4:6)
Faith remembers the transformative power of God
“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.” (v17-18)
(the devil) said, All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.” Then Jesus said to him, Be gone, Satan! For it is written,’ ‘You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.’”(Matthew 4:9-10)
“For as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous.” (Romans 5:19)