Temptation - A Triad (2)

Continuing to contemplate a triad of Scripture passages that may help us to better understand temptation; 1 Corinthians 10:1 – 22; James 1:2 – 8; 2 Peter 2:4 – 10:

“Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials [temptations], knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” James 1:2 – 3 NASB.

James begins his letter by addressing the dynamics of the trial of temptations; this introductory focus (1:2 – 1:18) is the setup for the balance of the epistle. He begins by pointing out that the Divine purpose in temptation is that we “may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing,” and later makes the point that on the other side of temptation is “the crown of life” (James 1:12).

The trial which temptation brings is the “testing” of our faith. This testing should produce “endurance” (steadfastness, perseverance). Consider Peter’s words (1 Peter 1:6 – 7 NASB):

“In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, so that the proof [genuineness] of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ…”

Temptation is an opportunity for us to be transformed into the image of Jesus Christ, being made perfect and complete in Him, as our faith is tested to the glory and honor of Jesus Christ. We can either primarily view temptation as a struggle against potential sin, or we can view temptation primarily as an opportunity to be conformed into the image of Jesus Christ as our faith in Him is being purged of impurities and strengthened. Temptation and trials have a purpose¸ and when we understand that purpose to be our transformation into the image of Jesus Christ we have a Biblical context within which to negotiate the trials of life.

We’ve all heard that “all things work together for good to those who love God” (Romans 8:28), but most of us hear it and read it out of context. Paul is not writing of some nebulous indefinable “good”; consider what follows in 8:29:

“For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified.” (NASB).

The ”good” of verse 28 is the transformation into the image of Jesus Christ in verse 29. This in turn means that during temptations that we ought to “fix our minds on things above, where Christ sits at the right hand of God” (Colossians 3:1) and that we should be “looking unto Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith” (Hebrews 12:2).

Why then does James write that we are to “count it (consider it) all joy” when we face temptations? It is because Christ is working in us for His glory, to conform us to His very own image.

This suggests that our first response to temptation ought to be thanksgiving and rejoicing. At any rate, it should be part of the fabric of our attitude when we are in trials, and yes, it does have a sacrificial nature to it (Hebrews 13:15).

James teaches that we are to “let (allow) endurance have its perfect result.” The thought that we are to “allow” endurance to work in us means that we are to cooperate with it, and even submit to its working – for it is indeed the working of God “to will and to work for His good pleasure” (Philippians 2:13). We are to live in obedience to Jesus Christ and we are to submit to the Holy Spirit and God’s Word working in us and through us. We resist temptation as we submit to Jesus Christ.

Notice James 1:5, a verse often quoted but, much like Romans 8:28, usually quoted out of context:

“But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God…”

The context of this is temptation. When we are faced with trials and temptations and endurance is doing its work within us we need wisdom to traverse the treacherous landscape. Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 10:13 that when we are tempted, God will “make a way of escape so, so that you will be able to endure it.” We need wisdom, and often common sense, to identify and utilize the “way of escape”. We cannot endure temptation in our own strength or in our own wisdom – we need the life and strength and wisdom of Jesus Christ.

This brings us to a curious thought in James 1:6 - 8:

“But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind. For that man ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord, being a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.” (NASB)

If we are to honor the context of these verses, then we must ask, “What does this have to do with temptation?”

I suggest that, at least in part, what we have here is the question of whether we really want to be delivered from temptation. Are we single-minded in our belief that God wants to deliver us, and do we really want to be delivered – or are we going back and forth in deciding what we really want? Are we singled-minded in our belief that God wants to deliver us, that giving into temptation results in sin, and that sin results in death – or are we attempting to justify giving into temptation? Do we believe that God is holy and hates sin, and that we are to be holy as He is holy (1 Peter 1:14 – 16), or do we think that somehow God will make an exception for us if we dance with temptation and consummate it with sin?

A promiscuous church is a double-minded church, teaching double-mindedness to its people; teaching its people to give into temptation, to accommodate sin, to live outside the holiness of the holy God of the Bible. A promiscuous church teaches people strategies and tactics to embrace temptation and sin, to rationalize it. Such a church, and such a people, ought not to think that it will receive anything of the Lord without repentance.

But, let us leave that thought and remind ourselves that God desires to use temptation to perfect us and complete us in our Lord Jesus Christ, that He desires that we be conformed to the image of His Son, so that Jesus will be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.

No matter what our trials, Jesus says, “Come to me. I will perfect you through them. Allow Me to work within you, producing endurance, completeness, and giving you My wisdom.”

“These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.” John 16:33 NASB.

“For whoever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world – our faith.” 1 John 5:4 NASB.