James H. Cagle 

The Bible says, “My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing” (James 1: 3, 4).

Because of our Bible (KJV) we have an understanding and know what a temptation is. We know everyone is tempted (James 1:14). We know there is nothing unique about any temptation, because they’re common to all (1 Cor. 10:13). And we know our Lord Jesus Christ was tempted in every way that we are tempted, and was without sin (Heb. 4:15). 

To be tempted to sin is not sin. If it were, then Jesus sinned. Yielding to temptation is sin.

To sin, is not an accident, but a choice, and the consquence are death (Ezek.18: 4; Rom.6:23; James 1:15). Death is not annihilation but separation, another condition of existence in which the lost sinner is eternally separated from God.

We know every temptation is a temptation to do wrong. Whether it’s to sin against one’s conscience and its sense of right and wrong, or whether it’s to sin against the Lord and one’s faith; that body of truthfulness about God that Jesus had (2:1), and that the Christian has, which endues them with a higher moral standard than the lost.

A temptation is an enticement, a seduction, that offers sin in such a way as to make it appear harmless and, often, as if it were the will of God (James 1:13). A temptation is a solicitation from the enemy that puts the idea of gratifying our sinful lust in a good light.

A temptation presents us with an opportunity to sin, but it does not show us the consequences that will come of our sinful choices. These consequences we find out for ourselves, either by experience or by studying the Word of God (KJV). A temptation also presents us with an opportunity to overcome the enemy, win a victory, glorify God, and win a crown.

A temptation is a means to an end. The means to our falling if we yield or the means for our rising up and growing up into Christian maturity if we resist.

A temptation puts the Christian’s faith on trial. And the trial may be long. The Christian is to endure the trial because they know that the trial will make them “perfect and entire, wanting (lacking) nothing.” Enduring the trial and maintaining a resistance to sin while obeying God, matures the Christian and brings about holiness.

Temptations come in many different forms. “Divers temptations” mean many different kinds. We’re tempted to lie, cheat, steal, commit adultery, and murder, etc.

A temptation puts to test what a Christian says they believe to find out if they really believe it.

A temptation in and of itself has no power. Power to become a greater sinner or a greater saint is activated according to our response to the temptation. “We make our choices and our choices make us.”

James H. Cagle  is a resident of Ray City.