Do Not Be Deceived

Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.  Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers.
James 1:13–16
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Do Not Be Deceived
“God tempts no one.” We confess this in the explanation to the sixth petition of the Lord’s Prayer. And here in James, he tells us the same message. Temptation comes to us all, and when it does, we are to turn to Christ Jesus. For in Him alone is there rescue from these temptations. The world, the devil, and our own sinful flesh want to convince us that God is tempting us and leading us to sin. The truth though is that it is us, it is our old Adam who rears his ugly head daily in an attempt to have us choose sin and reject God’s grace. James wants us to see that these temptations are not from God but with God’s help can be overcome. For when we give into temptation, we give ourselves over to death. We become deceived that sin doesn’t matter, that what we are doing is not that bad. The tempter’s lies are powerful, yet God’s truth reigns supreme.  In Christ, the temper has been defeated. We are set free from the shackles of death as our lives are now lived in and for Christ. We are freed from sin, death, and the devil by the blood of the Lamb, and in this truth, there is no deception!