Temptation—Sin

Temptation—Sin

“But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin . . . .” Jas. 1:14-15.

“Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts.” Rom. 6:12.

“Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been proved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.” Jas. 1:12.

Temptation—being drawn and enticed by one’s own sinful lust—is therefore not sin! It is so far removed from being sin that I shall even receive the crown of life for enduring in these temptations if only I do not consent to the lust by obeying it, if only I do not say “Yes” to the temptation with the result that sin is conceived and born!!!

What a unique and clear instruction for which James has received grace to pass on to us! How could something be born if it was not conceived first? That is out of the question!

We do not receive the crown of life as a reward for sin, but for enduring in saying “No” as we are being tempted, whether it is a rare occurrence or often, regardless of what we are tempted to—whether it is one thing or another! It doesn’t matter at all to what we are tempted (various trials—1 Pet. 1:6) if only we stand firm and say “No!”

We will not lose the crown of life because we are drawn and enticed by our sinful lust, because we are tempted to much evil—even if we are tempted to the most vile and terrible things that are in existence—but rather because—after we have been tempted, we also say “Yes” to its suggestion so that we are obedient to the lust.

James, who was a teacher in the church, defines this as desire having conceived, making it possible for sin to be born. Only then have I committed sin; I have not gone over the line one moment before; only then have I fallen in temptation!!!

To remain standing in temptation—enduring in saying “No!”—is obviously praiseworthy! That is what it is to be victorious!!! Another kind of victory over sin does not exist! But it is also glorious! If I say “No” over and over again to each temptation all day long, then Psalm 149:5 will be fulfilled in my life when I go to bed in the evening!

If I thus endure all the days of my life, then I will be crowned on that day together with Jesus Christ and thus be honored together with Him in all eternity!!! Then James 1:12 and Revelation 3:21 will be fulfilled in me.

Therefore: Is it a bad sign when you feel all kinds of desires to think, speak and do bad things? Not in any way whatsoever! But because of ignorance we are unnecessarily troubled about it! There is nothing wrong with it! On the contrary!!! They are only golden opportunities for victory and honor and a crown!!! The Lord be highly praised!

We have truly enough to do with the grief and judgment that are a necessary consequence of having crossed the line, let alone burdening ourselves unnecessarily with guilt just because we are tempted.

What would we have to overcome if there were no enemies??? Then all talk about victory would be only completely empty talk!

We have been born into the world with the law of sin in our members; and God, who is righteous and reasonable, does not in the least blame us for it. We are only entirely blameworthy if we obey its lusts.

There is therefore a vast difference between temptation and sin! It is as different as night is from day! It is an honor to be tempted (Job 1:8 and 12) as long as we say “No!” However, it is a shame when we agree with the temptation, when we give in to it!

What we have to do is say “No” continually whether we are tempted to one thing or another, whether we are rarely tempted or often—all that makes no difference! It is totally irrelevant!!! It is a matter between God and Satan. Job, Chapter 1 and 2. Satan tempts us by appealing to our own desires (Jas. 1:14), hoping that we will fall. God permits him to do that in part in order to test us—hoping that we will use the opportunity to overcome!!! Think about this, and be awake!

“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.” 1 Cor. 10:13.

The thing that concerns us is to be faithful to the light, saying “No, No!” indefinitely to all temptations, to everything that we know is against God’s will and law. If I have thus rejected all evil—every such thought all day long—then I have also reason to rejoice on my bed in the evening, for then I am blessed. If, on the other hand, I have given my “Yes” to temptation, then lust has conceived, and I have good reason to be grieved.

When I say “No,” I overcome. This is what Paul calls serving the law of God with my mind. Rom. 7:25. This is what it means to be perfect according to one’s conscience. Heb. 9:10. It is also the same as knowing nothing against myself. 1 Cor. 4:4.

When desire conceives by my enlightened “I” saying “Yes” to it, I serve the law of sin with my mind; then I commit sin and must therefore ask for forgiveness. God’s will for us is that we do not sin (1 John 2:1) and that we as a result have nothing to ask forgiveness for. However, if we should still sin, we can be glad and not lose courage, for there is forgiveness to be had. Jesus Christ defends us instead of accusing us. Only Satan accuses, and he is a liar who has nothing to say.

If I commit a sin, I know about it, I know what I am doing—I was tempted and I have consciously agreed to the temptation. Nevertheless, even if we never commit an evil deed in this way all year round, we still commit evil that we do not want to do in those instances where we do not have light, where we lack knowledge, where we do not know God’s will and law—then we do not know what we are doing. Rom. 7:15, first line.

Precisely because my enlightened “I” has not agreed to it, Paul expresses it so aptly through the exceeding wisdom that was given to him, by saying, “But now, it is no longer I who do it, but sin [the sin of which I am not aware] that dwells in me.” Rom. 7:17. It goes without saying that since I have not done it, I cannot possibly be blamed for it!!!

Instead of calling it sin (or the works of the flesh—Galatians 5:19-21) for which we have to ask for forgiveness, the apostle calls it deeds of the body that we are to put to death by the Spirit (Rom. 8:13). This means that I must be in agreement with the judgment of these deeds which God’s greater light brings.

We did not agree to these deeds with our mind, therefore it cannot possibly be rightfully said that we have served the law of sin with our mind; conversely, our great apostle and teacher calls this in faith and truth serving the law of sin with our flesh, for which there is no condemnation. Rom. 7:25 and 8:1. In such cases one cannot possibly speak about committing sin (Jas. 1:14 and 15), for my “I” was not even asked and has therefore nothing to which it can agree. Conception, and therefore birth, is thereby excluded.

The evil that does not pass through our consciousness (“Who knows how often he has erred?”) is not imputed to us in any way whatsoever.

God is not unreasonable and unjust!!! This is very clearly described in Romans 5:13: “But sin is not imputed when there is no law.” Also in Romans 4:15: “For where there is no law there is no transgression.” Isn’t this as clear as day, as when the sun shines at its brightest!?

Isn’t there always a law for every single little thought we think, for every word that proceeds from our mouth and pen and for every mentionable movement we make? Far from it! That would be the same as if we had all the light that is in the entire fullness of the Godhead.

There are two things that are part of a perfectly victorious life: