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Understanding Temptation

by Chris Simmons

In concluding his points about the mistakes that the nation of Israel made after being delivered from Egyptian captivity, Paul wrote in I Corinthians 10:11-13, “Now these things happened to them as an example, and they were written for our instruction, upon whom the ends of the ages have come. Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, that you may be able to endure it.” The point is that as children of God, like the Israelites, we who “stand” can “fall” and temptation is the vehicle that Satan uses to lead the one from a standing to a fallen position, spiritually speaking. We are therefore exhorted to “take heed” to the temptations we face and to understand what God has to say about temptation.

The first thing we need to understand about temptation is that it’s universal. Paul described temptation as something that is “common to man.” That is, all who live life in the flesh must face temptation and fight to overcome it. Even the Son of God, who left the glory of God to live life in the flesh faced the same temptations that you and I face. We read of Satan tempting Jesus in Matthew 4:1-11 and we are to be reminded that if the Father allowed His Son to be tempted, we will be also. We also need to understand that if the Son of God faced (and overcame) every temptation that you and I face, that He can understand the great struggles and challenges that temptation offers to us and can offer to us the help we need. We read in Hebrews 4:15-16, “For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and may find grace to help in time of need.”

Another thing we need to understand and remember is that temptation doesn’t come from God but originates with Satan and it always involves our own lusts. We read in James 1:13-15, “Let no one say when he is tempted, ‘I am being tempted by God’; for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust. Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death.” This passage also makes the important point that being tempted is not the same thing as committing sin. Sin occurs when we yield to the temptation and follow after our lusts.

We need to understand that the goal of Satan’s temptations is to focus on the temporal rather than the eternal. God’s word clearly teaches that the consequences of failing to take heed to temptation are eternal and not just temporal. Satan uses temptation to promise us something better now (temporal) than any good that may come by resisting. Think of Esau who we read of in Exodus 25:27-34 and in Hebrews 12:15-17 who could only see the immediate gratification that food would provide and failed to understand the eternal blessings of a birthright.

We need to understand that temptation involves not only the urge to do what we shouldn’t but the neglect of doing what we should. Sin is not only doing what we know isn’t right but failing to do what we know is right. James writes in James 4:17, “Therefore, to one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, to him it is sin.” Perhaps Satan’s greatest temptation is this: do nothing!

We need to understand the ultimate end of temptation. The quotation from James 1:13-15 above notes that the end point of the temptation that is not resisted and overcome is death. Peter writes in I Peter 5:8 that the author of temptation, “prowls about like a roaring lion seeking someone to devour.” Again, don’t be deceived into thinking that the consequences of yielding to temptation are temporary. The fact is the consequences will last forever.

More importantly, we need to understand that temptation can be avoided. Jesus taught that we ought to pray “that you may not enter into temptation” (Luke 22:40). We must learn the lesson of Romans 13:13-14 and don’t go where we know temptation will be and don’t provide fuel for the fire of our lusts! There Paul exhorts us to “put on the Lord Jesus Christ and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts.” In Ephesians 4:27 Paul plainly states, “Do not give the devil an opportunity.” Rather, we’re taught to “flee” the sources of temptation (I Timothy 6:11; II Timothy 2:22) rather than see how close we can get to it. Is it not true that it’s easier to avoid temptation than resist it?

Finally, when temptation is faced, we must understand that it can be overcome. Paul in I Corinthians 10:13 does make the point that there is a “way of escape” for every temptation encountered and that we are able to resist. Paul promised in Ephesians 6:13, “Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.” We read in James 4:7, “Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.” Through the example of Jesus in Matthew chapter 4, we know that the word of God is our primary weapon in fighting off the assault of temptations Satan brings against us. We need to believe in the power of the gospel to not only teach us about salvation but how to defend our faith and “extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one” (Ephesians 6:16).

We can resist. We can overcome. But thanks be to God who has given each of us hope through the forgiveness of our sins in Christ when we have given in to temptation.


For more on the subject of temptation, please visit our website at www.fifthstreeteast.com and look for an article published on December 3, 2006 by Micky Galloway entitled, “When We Are Tempted”; or a sermon presented on January 11, 2009 by James Hicks entitled “Temptation”; or a sermon presented on February 21 & 28, 2010 by Micky Galloway entitled “The Way Of Escape.”

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