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And God cannot be tempted either.
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Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil . . . (NASB) James 1:13 |
He cannot be tempted because He is infinitely holy. God is an infinite being. Everything about Him is infinite. He is "in the extreme" - omniscience, omnipotence, omnipresence, holiness for example. How can a God who is infinitely holy respond to evil? It is not possible. We are talking about His character.
Humanity and Deity. Now we need to ask, "How could Jesus be tempted if God cannot be tempted to sin?" The answer is that Jesus, the man, was tempted but Jesus in His divine nature could not be tempted. Jesus' humanity was greatly tested, but He could not sin, because He was divine. His divinity could not yield to sin. Jesus was both man and God. Jesus struggled! Imagine being tempted to sin and never giving in.
Conclusion: God has given us the key to victory over sin in our life. It is called being filled with His Holy Spirit (Eph. 5:17-18). One of the benefits of being filled is walking in the Spirit. When we walk in the Spirit, we have victory over sin as we confess our sins, spend time in His Word, pray, and submit to God.
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But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law. Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you just as I have forewarned you that those who practice such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. (NASB) Galatians 5:16-21 |
Notice that we will not be carrying the desire of the flesh as we walk in the Spirit. The desires of the flesh are listed - sins. Do you desire victory over sin? Here is the key!
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Dwight L. Moody illustrated this truth to his audience one day. "Tell me, he said, "How can I get the air out this glass?" One man answered, "Suck it out with a pump." Moody replied, "That would create a vacuum and shatter the glass." After many suggestions, Moody smiled, picked up a pitcher of water, and filled the glass with water. "There," he said, "all the air is now removed." He then went on to explain that victory in the Christian life is not by "sucking out a sin here and there," but rather by being filled with the Spirit. |
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Mrs. Ruby Miller |
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