Verse thirteen: God, Who cannot be tempted because He has no lust, tempts no one. If a man says God tempted him he is accusing God of what he cannot do, as well as calling Him a liar for He said He cannot be tempted.

We live in a society of victims. Turn on the television (if you have absolutely nothing else to do) and watch the daytime fiascos in which people are airing their grievances for the entire world to see. People’s private worlds are falling apart and it is always someone else’s fault. If it isn’t a particular individual that is causing the problem to the poor soul, it is the government, or the family, etc. No one claims responsibility for one’s own plight in life. There is a saying that sums life up extremely well: We pack our own parachute. In the majority of cases, this is true. Man, including religious man, disagrees. And his nemesis is often his Creator. God does put us through tough situations at times, but there is always a reason–He is either warning us, preparing us or punishing us. But most of the time we make our own nest. We just don’t want to sit in it.

Verse fourteen and fifteen: Where does man’s temptation to sin originate? Most of us think that it comes from without where the tempting item or circumstance is beaconing us to partake of its delicacies. However, God shows us that we actually cause our own fall by harboring a desire, or at least a willingness to be tempted. Let us look at exactly how temptation leads to sin and separation from God. “But every man (who gives in to temptation) is drawn away by his own lust and enticed.” Let us examine the temptation-to-sin chain of events to find out exactly how one can find himself separated from God. Step one: Have an evil thought. This happens to everyone. It just happens–a vision, an urge, a sound, etc. may be experienced without warning. This is not sin; this is temptation to sin. Step two: Being drawn away. It is not the first look, thought, etc. that starts the sin process, but the second look, thought, etc. This is where man’s imagination activates and the act begins to take shape in his mind. Step three: Lust means to take pleasure in imagining the act. Now one is on a slippery slope headed toward sin. This is the point of no return for most people, where one’s will asserts itself. This is the point where one either returns unto the Lord or continues forward unto Satan. Step four: One is enticed, meaning he allows his will to weaken by not taking himself out of the mental, visual or physical situation. This is where man’s pride can affect the outcome of the temptation. Prideful man, especially religious man, believes that he can continue on the temptation path and not go on into sin. Like the nicotine addict, he can quit any time he wants to. However, we all are capable of giving in to temptation and sinning. The problem is greatly enhanced when a man’s pride causes him to believe he can give into temptation and sin with impunity–GOD WILL OVERLOOK HIS SIN BECAUSE OF HIS (MAN’S) RELIGIOSITY. Many a preacher has been caught up in an adulterous or financial affair because believed that all his works for the Lord render him spiritually untouchable. King David believed that, due to his position as head of God’s chosen people, that He overlooked his relationship with Bathsheba (note that he did not repent until Nathan lowered the spiritual boom on him). Modern man is capable of the same error. This is a form of idolatry–exaltation of self. Step five: One allows his lust to conceive. This is the point at which man makes the decision to sin–egg meets sperm and conception takes place. Step six:  The act is committed. There is no turning back. Satan has won; God has lost. Step seven: Man dies spiritually as sin causes a separation between him and his Maker. This is spiritual death which, if not repented of and spiritual reparations are not made (obedience to God), physical death will ensue upon facing Christ on the Day of Judgment.

Verse sixteen: This tiny verse brings forth a Godly precept that is vehemently denied by the Institutional Church in that it rips the cover off the cause of human sin. Note the words: “Do not err, my beloved brethren.” “Do not err” reveals that MAN HAS A CHOICE–TO SIN OR NOT TO SIN. ADAM’S SIN DID NOT MIRACULOUSLY CONTAMINATE HIS DESCENDANTS’ SPIRITUAL DNA. There is no such thing as “Original Sin.” Cain and Abel each had a choice–to sin or not to sin. Cain chose to sin; Abel chose not to. I have been told to my face that, due to Adam’s sin injection, man must sin, and that Jesus died so that man could sin with impunity–HE COULD SIN AND GET AWAY WITH IT. Someone forgot to tell Abel. Man never loses the power of choice.

Man cannot be tempted to do something he does not want to do. If you are walking along a sidewalk and see a $100 bill lying inches inside a yard you can be tempted to pick it up. If, on the other hand, you see a pile of dog droppings there you cannot be tempted to pick it up. Every man has the capacity to obey or disobey God. L.J.