At a particular church, I preached a series on the Spirit-filled life and noticed a lady who was listening intently. One night after the service, she spoke with me and mentioned being blessed by the truth. However, she also added that during the day, the actions of another driver had threatened to trigger in her a measure of road rage, and now she was feeling like she stepped out of blessing because of it. I reminded her that temptation itself is not sin. This sparked her interest and after a discussion she left relieved and free.
Is temptation sin? It can’t be for at least two scriptural reasons. First, we read of Jesus, in His humanity, “For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin” (Heb. 4:15). Jesus felt our infirmities and was actually tempted, yet without sin. Therefore, temptation itself cannot be sin.
Second, Jesus said, “Pray that ye enter not into temptation” (Luke 22:40). This wording indicates that temptation itself is not sin. Sin occurs only if we enter into temptation. That we are tempted is out of our control. Entering or rejecting temptation is within our responsibility.
Temptation is not sin. Praise the Lord for that because that is out of our control! But what should we do to keep from entering into temptation? The very Jesus who was tempted on earth yet without sin lives in you as a believer. Thanks be unto God who is giving us the victory—Jesus Christ (1 Cor. 15:57). So, take what God is giving—the victorious life Himself. As you take the provision of Jesus and act with confidence in Him, the Spirit imparts to you the victorious life of Jesus. This applies to both Christ in you to overcome the world and flesh temptations and you in Christ to overrule temptations directly from the enemy.
John Van Gelderen
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John, thank you for sharing this post. Do you think it is valid to distinguish between temptation that originates from within our old man and temptation that originates from Satan or other demons? With reference to Heb. 4:15, it seems correct to limit Jesus’ temptation only to that temptation which originates from Satan and other demons since he has no old man/sinful aspect to his humanity. This matters because of the topic of the sinfulness of concupiscence and covetousness. If all temptation is not sinful, then merely desiring something sinful is not sinful either. Yet, covetousness by its very nature… Read more »
With Christ, there was no sinful flesh. Therefore the temptation was external, perhaps similar to the case of Adam. For us we have the flesh. Our flesh, or more specifically, indwelling sin in our flesh responds to outside triggers. But even though we may feel the pull, there is a window of opportunity to take the way of escape (1 Cor. 10:13). Therefore feeling that pull is not sin unless we ignore the way of escape and enter into the temptation.