Temptation To Sin

by S. J. HILL | Category: General | Jun 1944

In James 4.14 we read "Each man is tempted when he is drawn away by his own lust and enticed Then the lust when it hath conceived, beareth sin and the sin when it is full grown bringeth forth death." We further read in Hebrews 4 15 that Christ is One that hath been in all points tempted like as we are yet without sin and again in Hebrews 2. 1 " In that He Himself hath suffered being tempted, He is able to succour them that are tempted".

These scriptures are of very great importance in connection with the subject of temptation and in considering them we shall receive much help from other portions

A consideration of the scene in Eden's garden will reveal three particulars in which the temptation was presented, and also that these three particulars are of the nature of lust or desire We read that when the woman saw (1) that the tree was good for food (2) that it was a delight to the eyes and (3) that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, "she took of the fruit thereof and did eat and she gave also unto her husband with her and he did eat" (Genesis 3. 6)

That these three classes of temptation are alluded to in 1 John 2.16 is self-evident in the words, the lust of the flesh, ad the lust of the eyes, and the vainglory of life all of which relate to the things of this world which are not of the Father.

Man's desires spring from the needs of his spirit soul and body to his body, he needed such things as food and drink, as to his soul, he saw and contemplated everything that was beautiful and excellent in the world and as to his spirit he sought that proper dignity and glory which belonged to him as a man.

These things in themselves were right and proper the evil comes in when the proper limits belonging to each are passed. So the scripture quoted from James says Every man is tempted when he is drawn away."

The tempter came to Eve and led her to set her heart upon that which God had forbidden. First he sought to weaken her faith by casting doubt upon God's word " Hath God said"" his he followed up by. a positive denial of that word and then he sought to stimulate her desire for that which had been withheld Much had been given abundance for every requirement but the word of God came in at a certain point with a prohibition and beyond this they may not go they were not to eat of the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

True it is that " belief cometh of hearing and hearing by the word of Christ " (Romans 10. 17) so we may say that unbelief cometh by hearing, and that by the word of the evil one Eve takes of that which she considers will meet her desires in their threefold character, that which she fondly hopes will satisfy body and soul and spirit, but what woeful deception! What a sad awakening to dread fact! Such intercourse with the adversary can have one result-sin is its awful fruit, with death following at its heels. Is it not the same now with men? Does not Satan tempt in the same particulars? Does he not operate in those same things? He increases and inflames man's desires, in things which are good and necessary, beyond the limitations set by God.

(1)First, as to the lust of the flesh, the right and proper desire for food and drink is carried beyond limits, and some men become gluttons and drunkards, and others approach more or less to these9 things.

(2)Next, as to the lust of the eyes, the appreciation of, many beautiful things - in this world in nature and art lead men to desire their possession, and men live according to the sight of their eyes, which is the opposite of living by faith.

(3)Then, as to the pride of life, man's true appreciation of his. own original dignity is not enough for him, so he seeks to aggrandise himself by robbing God of those attributes which belong to Him alone. We may say that these three classes of sin are to be observed in a specially marked way in different classes of men. The first will be seen more in a low class, more nearly allied to the lower creation, and whose whole life seems to be comprised in eating and drinking and leaping, and the pleasures of the body.

The second will be observed more in men of considerable mental activity, men of superior powers, business men, worldly-minded men, who, not from necessity, but from the mere love of getting, will bereave their souls of good. The third will be seen more in the religious man, and will be particularly marked in the various ecclesiastical dignitaries in the religious organisations around, from the Church of Rome downwards.

It may be further remarked that as the soul transcends the body, and the spirit transcends the soul in -importance so the sins allied to each are of corresponding gravity in God's sight.

The only thing which will rightly keep from sin will be the recognition of the limitations which God has imposed on man in these particulars, and we need hardly say that, while broad principles may suffice for, some, the man of God, in order to walk in a straight path, requires to take constant heed to God's word, according to the scripture, "As for the works of men, by the word of Thy lips, I have kept me from the ways of the violent. My steps have held fast to Thy paths, my feet have not slipped" (Psalm 17. 4, 5).

To be partakers of Christ's sufferings calls for rejoicing. After being beaten the apostles rejoiced "that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonour for the Name" (1 Peter 4.18; Acts 5.40, 41).

He who suffers us to be tempted also makes the way of escape.

(1 Corinthians 10. 13).

S. J. HILL | Jun 1944
General