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James 1:14-15
14 But [de] every man [hekastos] is tempted [peirazo], when
he is drawn away [exelko] of [hupo] his own [idios] lust [epithumia], and [kai] enticed [deleazo].
15 Then [eita] when lust [epithumia] hath conceived [sullambano],
it bringeth forth [tikto] sin [hamartia]: and [de] sin [hamartia], when it is finished [apoteleo], bringeth forth [apokueo]
death [thanatos]. KJV-Interlinear
14 But each one is tempted when
he is carried away and enticed by his own lust. 15 Then when lust has conceived, it gives
birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death.NASB
God is not able to sin, and God is able to, not sin.
Therefore, God is not the source of sin, nor even of temptation.
And here James teaches us that man is the source of
his own flaws, and failures, and of sin itself.But there are levels man has to pass before being committed to sin.Mans thoughts are not automatically sin
unless he passes by these various levels of commitment to his wants and
desires.
Man is born with many natural wants, and needs and
desires.These in themselves are not
sin.They are innocent levels of
consciousness.
Whether in hunger or pleasure, whether in need or
entertainment, even Adam and Eve had driving forces withintheir nature which were not counted as sin.They had only one restriction, and that was
to not eat of the forbidden fruit.
But after the fall in the Garden, then a second
category of desires came onto the sin scene, and that was in response to mans
attempt to cover up his flaws and drive his own destiny himself.Thus, evil was fully evolved at that point,
leaving only its development to be carried out during human history.
Man can look at members of the opposite sex and enjoy
their beauty.Man can look at scenic
views and enjoy its beauty.Man can look
at the possessions of another and enjoy their beauty.Man can do all of these and more, and still
not reach the point of lust and then sin.
Here James teaches us that there is the look, then the
temptation, then combined with lust, and finally the going beyond the point of
temptation when the thought or desire or act becomes transformed into sin.
The look or thought may not be sin.It may simply be appreciation of something
seen.But when combined with lust, or
the abnormal desire, then temptation enters into the picture. This still may
not be the point of sin, but man is a weak creature by his very nature, and
when lust or temptation is entertained within ones mind, the line to cross for sin
is almost immediate.
Within himself, man does not have the power with which
to prevent himself from crossing the line of sin.Don't fool yourself.And don't be stupid and try to fool
others.Life is not a game of chicken,
that you can play dodge with Gods mandates.
God forbids sin, but man is up to his eyeballs in it.Adam could not resist a bite of fruit.How can you resist far greater lusts or
temptations?
Quite simply, James tells us that temptation is found
within us, and does not come from any outside source.It does not comes from God, and it does not
come from anyone or anything else.
A beautiful person is not the source of
temptation.Gold is not the source of
temptation.
But when your normal desires cross the line of the
abnormal, producing lust, then temptation evolves within your own soul.Persistence in that course produces sin.
Verse 14 produces an image of a double metaphor.The first is that of dragging a fish caught
by a hook.The hook was concealed with
bait, but the bait was so desirable the fish took the bait, thus was caught by
the hidden hook and led to his ultimate demise when pulled out of the
water.
The second is that of the enticements of a
prostitute.The enticements entertain
the desires of the young man, who becomes hooked by the bait, and thus led to
his demise.
Death is the ultimate result of sin.But this is not physical death for we all sin
and we do not fall down dead immediately.
Verse 15 produces a another metaphor, which is that of
a spider who spins but a single strand of its web.It is thin and imperceptible and can be
broken easily, but with repeated spinning's, the single thread can become a
mighty cord that is not so easily broken.Thus the commitment to the disregard of truth, means the commitment to
sin, and sooner or later it will be so strong in ones life that getting away
from sin will be extremely difficult.
Now remember that sin is not limited to some act, but
more often is that of an entire mind set which drives your pattern of life.
Death is the result.And this death is ones spiritual death, or your eviction from
fellowship.
In order to get back into fellowship, you have to
confess your sins.That detailed study
is in 1, 2, 3 Jn.
Truth through the study of Bible doctrine, while in
fellowship, is your only, repeat, your only defense against sin and a life of
evil.
In life, you have growth and productivity.But in death, well a dead thing produces
nothing and has nothing.And that is the
ultimate reality that you must face in life.In Christ there is life, otherwise you have nothing.And the end of your life will reveal all of that
to you once and for all.But why wait
until it is too late to learn the truth.
Now is the time to post a prayer.
End Of Lesson
Study to show thyself approved (mature) unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing (studying/discerning), the Word of truth.
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