Nor Does He Tempt Anyone

James 1:13-15 - When tempted, no one should say, "God is tempting me." For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.

Genesis 22:1 - Some time later God tested Abraham. He said to him, "Abraham!" "Here I am," he replied.

Genesis 3:6-7,15,22 - When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves…And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel."… And the LORD God said, "The man has now become like one of us, knowing good and evil. He must not be allowed to reach out his hand and take also from the tree of life and eat, and live forever."

Job 15:35 - They conceive trouble and give birth to evil; their womb fashions deceit."

Conclusions:

• Tempted refers to temptations that test one’s moral strength to resist sin
• Because God in His very nature is holy, there is nothing in Him for sin to appeal to
• Isaac had grown into adolescence or young manhood when Abraham was asked to sacrifice him
• God tested Abraham. God did not tempt Abraham, for God does not tempt
• Satan tempts us in order to make us fall; God tests us in order to confirm our faith or prove our commitment
• Abraham answered with the response of a servant, as did Moses and Samuel when God called them by name
• The three stages—desire, sin, death—are seen in the temptations of Eve and David
• Good, pleasing and desirable are three aspects of temptation
• Once initiated, sinful thoughts develop quickly into evil acts
• No longer innocent like children, Adam and Eve had a new awareness of themselves and of each other in their nakedness and shame
• The antagonism between people and snakes is used to symbolize the outcome of the titanic struggle between God and the evil one, a struggle played out in the hearts and history of mankind
• The offspring of the woman would eventually crush the serpent’s head, a promise fulfilled in Christ’s victory over Satan—a victory in which all believers will share
• In a terribly perverted way, Satan’s predictions came true
• Sin, which always results in death, cuts the sinner off from God’ gift of eternal life

Application:

• Do you accuse God of tempting you?
• Do you answer with the response of a servant?
• Do you conceive desire?
• Do you give in to temptation?
• Do you conceive sinful thoughts?
• Are you ashamed when you sin?
• Are you a believer?
• Have you been cut off from God's gift of eternal life?

All Scripture verses taken from NIV

Conclusions derived from NIV Study Bible.