Spring 1996
Thoughts on Temptation
Paul Sexton

BLESSED is the man who endures temptation,
because having been approved, he will receive
the crown of life, which the Lord has promised
to those who love Him" James 1:12.

It is inevitable that we as Christians shall encounter temptations, for this is a means of perfecting our lives, and of strengthening and purifying our faith.

"So that the trial of your faith, being much
more precious than that of gold that perishes,
but being proven though fire, might be found
to praise and honour and glory at the revelation
of Jesus Christ" I Peter 1:7.

Temptation is a part of the process that brings about our development and conformity to the Lord Jesus Christ. The term temptation is interchangeable with the word "testing," and indeed God has subjected all of His people to testing, even as He tested Abraham..

In His omniscience, God knows what is necessary to accomplish our perfection. The fire and the circumstances that seemingly take us unawares may appear to be unjustifiable as far as we are concerned, but nonetheless, God permits them.

The Scripture says that God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all. Light refers to the immaculate, moral character of God. He cannot be tempted; but we are tempted because there is yet darkness within us. Through people, circumstances, and all the various and alternating frames of life, God is seeking to expose this darkness that is within us.

"Let no one being tempted say, I am tempted from God.
For God is not tempted by evils, and He tempts no one.
But each one is tempted by his lusts, being drawn away
and seduced by them. Then when lust has conceived, it
brings forth sin. And sin, when it is fully formed,
brings forth death" James 1:13-15.

God is not the author of temptation; He does not initiate it; He is not responsible for it. It is what lies within us that makes us susceptible to temptation. But God permits, monitors, and regulates the temptation. Thus, Paul wrote in I Corinthians 10:13,

"No temptation has taken you but what is common to
man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to
be tempted above what you are able, but with the
temptation also will make a way to escape, so that
you may be able to bear it."

The Word of God tells us that "all things work together for good to those ... who are called according to His purpose" Rom 8:28. Thus, every factor, either favorable or adverse, works together for good to those who are God's called people. The "good" that we can expect is in our being conformed to the image of His Son.

If Jesus was subjected to temptation, then certainly those of us who are His sons shall likewise be subjected to the discipline of temptation.

Jesus came as the representative of humanity and passed through all the vicissitudes of human existence. He entered into human history and lived out all the experiences of man. He was tempted in all points like as we are, yet without sin.

There is a distinction between the temptations of Christ and our temptations, for indeed there is a distinction between Jesus and us, in the regard that Christ was without sin, and possessed no fallen nature.

We are fallen creatures, and although we receive salvation and have become a new creation of God, this new life must be wrought out in us by the process of the cross unto ever increasing measures of life. The Apostle Paul's cry, after he had lived a lifetime was,

"That I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection,
and the fellowship of His sufferings, being made
conformable to His death" Phil 3:10.

The measure of His resurrection life within us is in exact proportion to our being made conformable to his death. This process involves us in trials and in testings.

The degree to which He allows us to be tested, is determined by His omnicious awareness of our makeup. He monitors these temptations. Knowing us as He does, He does not allow us to be tempted above that which we are able to bear. Temptation is not meant to drive us from God; rather He intends it to draw us toward Him.

"... but with the temptation also will make a
way to escape, so that you may be able to bear
it" I Cor 10:13b.

It is important that we realize the importance of temptations, for they are responsible for our being elevated and conformed to the image of Jesus Christ. We are not catapulted into heavenly places in Christ, rather, we become airborne and gain altitude as we rise against the currents of adversity.