Book of James - 3 - How to view Temptations

When we are tempted, we must not blame God, because God is not the author of our temptation, rather he is the author of every good thing we have.

1. God is not tempted and does not tempt

We have a tendency to shift blame. Often we don’t realize we are doing it, because we really, truly believe it is not our fault. Sometimes we are so convinced we are not at fault. I’ve played tennis with a guy who blamed his racket when I beat him! When it comes to blaming God for temptation, it might be grounded in some truth, such as God’s sovereignty. If the Lord is king and in control, then we might be justified in blaming him when bad things happen.

James counters this kind of thinking, with two statements: God cannot be tempted with evil, and he does not tempt anyone.

The question than generally comes up here is – was Jesus tempted then, if God cannot be tempted? Douglas Moo – God is omnipresent, Jesus is not. When we recognize Christ as a true human, he has put aside some of the divine prerogatives, it is not so much an issue.

2. This is how temptation works

Instead of believing our temptation comes from the outside, James explains the steps:

• We have desires
• Our Desires lure us. 
• At this point temptation comes
• When desire is conceived it leads to sin
• When Sin is fully developed it leads to death

An illustration Francis Chan uses, is like a fish who swims and is tempted by bate.

• The fish is hungry – that is a desire. 
• The fish sees the bait and his hunger drives him toward the fish. 
• The fish is determined to get the bate
• When the fish bites the bait it leads to its death. 

We generally have experienced first-hand that kind of cycle. We end up feeling terrible for failing. We knew we wanted to do the wrong thing, and chose to do it anyway. If our life is characterized by ongoing sin, with no repentance, we are leading a life that will lead to Spiritual death, which is eternal separation from God.

3. God is the author of all good things

Verses 16 to 18 end, with the opposite idea that God is behind our temptation. On the other hand he is behind everything that is good in our lives. This is how God is constantly, he does not sway from being the author of all good things.

Verse 18, refers to our salvation. The idea of being first fruit has a few implications:

• Douglas Moo, suggest that our salvation is not the only thing on the agenda, indeed God is renewing all things this will be evident, with the coming of the New Heaven and New Earth.
• The idea of first fruit is also used by Paul in 1 Cor 15:20 which has the significance of what was to be offered as a sacrifice 
• Also, we are the people God was going to redeem for himself (Jer. 2:3).

By being called firstfruits – we are associated with Christ, the firstfruit offer to the Lord as a sacrifice. We are his redeemed people dedicated to him and we are first in line in God’s redeeming purposes as there is a lot more to come.