DO NOT BE DECEIVED
James 1: 13-18
If you would, look at verse 16 again. James says: “Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren.”
It can happen can’t it?
- Christians can be deceived.
- In fact, there is nothing that Satan wants more.
- It is satisfying to Satan when he can deceive the man who is not a Christian and hold him captive.
- But it is especially gratifying to Satan when he can deceive a Christian.
If Satan can deceive a Christian he has taken him captive again.
- And if he can deceive a Christian he can neutralize that Christian’s influence.
- More than that, if he can deceive a Christian, he can use that Christian to his benefit.
- He can use that Christian to deceive other Christians and cause them to sin and turn away from God.
- There is nothing that Satan wants more than to deceive a Christian.
And that is especially true in reference to what James speaks of here in these verses.
In these verses some of these Christians were being persuaded to believe some things about God that weren’t true.
- And James is going to set them straight.
- And in doing so, James possibly sets some things straight for some of us as well…because today, people believe these same things, and because they do, some of us have been persuaded to believe them too.
So let’s look at this passage and learn some things that will help us NOT TO BE DECEIVED.
Look at verse 13. James says: Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone.
Now, let me explain what was apparently happening.
- These brethren were experiencing some difficult hardships or trials.
- In verse 1 James says these people were “dispersed.”
- The reason they were “dispersed” was because of severe persecution.
- So these people were enduring some serious trials.
Now, with every “trial”…comes a “temptation.”
- In fact, in this passage the Greek word for “trial” and “temptation” is one and the same.
- God allows us to be “tried” in order to “test” or prove our faith.
- But at the same time that God is allowing us to be “tested” Satan is tempting us to do wrong.
We see this several times in scripture.
During the Exodus, when Israel went into the wilderness, they faced many “tests” of their faith in God.
- And with each “test” came a “temptation” to go back to Egypt.
Job’s faith was “tested”…and with each “test” Satan “tempted” him to “curse God and die.”
When the Holy Spirit led our Lord into the wilderness His faith was “tested” and with each “test” Satan “tempted” Him to disobey God.
With every trial or hardship there is a “test or proving” of our faith; and with every hardship that “tests” our faith…comes a “temptation” to sin.
Now, the people that James is writing to knew that God sometimes “tests” our faith….and allows our faith to be “tested.”
- And because He does, they were concluding that God also “tempts” us to sin too.
Now, I suppose there are many ramifications (consequences) to this idea, but I want to show you just one. Look with me at Genesis 3.
- Here in Genesis 3, you know the story, Adam and Eve have eaten from the forbidden tree…and they have lost their innocence.
- And God comes walking in the garden…and they hide from God.
- And God says, “Where are you?’
And the man says in verse10, “I heard the sound of Thee in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked, so I hid myself.”
And God says, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?”
Now, notice verse 12. “And the man said, “The woman who Thou gavest to be with me, she gave me from the tree, and I ate it.”
Do you see what Adam is saying? “God, it is your fault! It’s not my fault!”
- By believing that God tempted them…they could make excuse for anything they wanted to.
If it is God’s fault then I am not the one to blame and I am not guilty and I don’t need Christ!
- “Lord, I wouldn’t have lied if you weren’t allowing me to go through this test.”
- “It is your fault Lord.”
“Lord, I wouldn’t have abandoned my wife and kids if you hadn’t allowed me to go through this hardship.”
If it is God’s fault…then we can excuse anything we do.
- “It is God’s fault that he is homosexual.”
- “It is God’s fault that he is bitter and angry…after all, look what happened to his family.”
If God is the source of the temptation, we can excuse anything we want too.
And, if it is God’s fault that we commit sin; and then God turns around and punishes us for the sin we commit; that isn’t fair; and that isn’t right; and that isn’t just.
- And by making God “unfair, and unjust, and unrighteous”; by making God out to be the “bad guy” the whole foundation of Christianity is destroyed because Christianity is built on the righteousness and goodness of God.
So in verse 13 James says, “Don’t you do this!”
- “Don’t you lay your sins at God’s door.”
- “Don’t you blame your sins on Him!”
Do you want to know where temptation comes from? Look at verse 14 and 15.
“But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust. Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death.”
That is where temptation comes from.
- You want to blame temptation and sin on someone, look at yourself!
Don’t blame God…don’t undermine His good nature…don’t accuse Him of being the “bad guy.”
In fact, notice the end of verse 15 again. James says that “sin brings forth death.”
- Now, you want to accuse God of being the “bad guy”…well, watch what James says; Verse 16 again.
“Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren. Every good thing bestowed and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation, or shifting shadow.”
- Every thing good…no matter what it is…comes from God.
- And many of the good things He gives us are not dependent on us returning our love back to Him.
Paul says in Acts 17 that God gives to all “life, breath, and all things“…even when some people stand and curse Him.
- Jesus says in Matthew 5:45 that God blesses us with rain and sun…even though some are evil and unrighteous.
And notice this. James says that He is the “Father of lights.”
- He sends us the lights of the heavenly bodies as well as the spiritual lights to guide us.
- But unlike the light of day that creates shadows…and then dims…God is ever constant in sending forth his love and blessings on us.
- Even when we don’t always love Him in return.
Everything good comes from God…and it just keeps coming and coming…even when we don’t appreciate it.
- The greatest example of this is Christ!
- God poured out His goodness on us through His Son…and people killed Him.
- And even today people deny Him…curse Him…reject Him.
- Even some of us who claim to be His disciples and devoted to Him…often don’t have time for Him.
- And yet, He still makes Himself available to us every day.
Don’t tell me that God is the “bad guy”, that He is unjust, unrighteous, and unfair.
And that is not all…look at verse 18.
In the exercise of His will He brought us forth by the word of truth, so that we might be, as it were, the first fruits among His creatures.
- You want me to tell you how “bad” God is.
- He is so “bad” and mean that in verse 15…you were dead in your sins.
- But because of Him…here in verse 18…you are given “life!”
Don’t tell me that God is “the bad guy”…and don’t you be telling others that God is the “bad guy.”
- He sends only good things and sends them constantly.
And we say, “I would never tell anyone that God is bad.”
- Oh, but wait a minute.
- We may not intentionally do it, but never the less…we sometimes do.
Someone’s baby dies and we say, “God wanted another little angel…so He took yours.”
- Someone’s husband dies and we say, “God needed a good man…so He took him.”
Do you understand what we are saying in that situation?
- When that baby dies that is a horrible experience for that mother.
- And when we say, “God took your baby”…we are telling that mother that God doesn’t care about you…and that God is selfish, and cruel.
Let me tell you who took that baby.
- Death took that baby…and death took that husband……whether it took them by cancer…or heart attack…or SID’s…death stole them away.
- And in 1 Corinthians 15 Paul says that death is an enemy.
- And it is only because God is good…and because of God’s love, and mercy and grace…that we have any hope at all in the face of death!
Death stole them away…but it is God who can give them life again!.
- And we have got to quit, even in an innocent way, telling people that God is the “bad guy.”
Maybe that is why James says what he does in verse 19. “This you know, my beloved brethren. But let everyone be quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger.”
When we are confronted with a situation where death has come in…maybe we need to think before we speak.
Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren. Every good thing bestowed and every perfect gift is from above.”
Let’s sing a song…and if you have a need that we can help you with…we want you to come as we stand and sing.