The word temptation can be associated with words such as forbidden, sensual, or evil. While this may be true, there is another definition. The Greek word for temptation is peirasmos, which means ‘the trial of man’s fidelity, integrity, virtue, constancy’ (Blue Letter Bible, 2025).

The temptations that we face in our lives as Christians, often test our faithfulness and obedience to God. It’s during temptations that we can find ourselves either doubting God and His word, or it can cause us to cling to God more than ever.

James chapter 1 talks about trials and temptations of the Christian faith and how we should respond in such circumstances. In this blog, there are three biblical truths about temptation found in James 1:13-15.

Truth #1 – God does not tempt anyone

James 1:13
Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil and he himself tempts no one”

The sin that was committed in the garden of Eden started with temptation, but the root of it was a lack of trust in God’s character. Adam and Eve had everything they could ever need in God. He created all things for their enjoyment. He blessed them, gave them dominion over the earth and provided for them. They lived in continual fellowship with God, their Creator.   

One of the commands God gave them was to not eat the fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. One day, the serpent planted a seed in Eve’s mind, told her that they will not die (half-truth) and that she would be like God. After all, how could a tree that offers knowledge and wisdom be off limits? Unfortunately, Eve used her free will in disobedience to God.

Some may argue, why would a good God put a tree in the middle of the garden of Eden? Almost as if to suggest that God had set them up to fail from the very beginning. This train of thought can create a distorted image of God, that He is immoral, unkind and unjust. All of which are untrue.

James makes it very clear that God is not evil, nor did He create evil. When God created the earth, He said it was good and when He created mankind, it was very good (Genesis 1:31). What followed afterwards was man’s free will. The tree was never the problem, it was their heart posture. If they understood God’s character, His command wouldn’t have been seen as a restriction, but for their protection.

When we surrender our life to Jesus Christ, we are no longer slaves to sin but become slaves of righteousness (Romans 6:15-23). The only problem is, we still live in this earthly body, and its desires are hostile to God because of sin (Romans 8:7).

The struggle becomes real because we can’t claim ignorance anymore and neither can we use our freedom to please ourselves (Galatians 5:13). After knowing the truth (Jesus Christ), we have a choice to make every day – will we submit to God, or will we submit to the desires of our flesh?

Since there is already a wrestle between the spirit and the flesh and our end goal is to be conformed to the image of Christ, why would a good God, deliberately put a stumbling block before any of His children? God is holy, if He was to tempt His people, He would be sabotaging their sanctification, and what would He gain by doing that?

Can God help us to endure temptations when they arise? Yes, because He is faithful to provide the way out (1 Corinthians 10:13). But we should not believe the lie that “God is tempting me”. If there would be anyone that would try to hinder your walk with God, it would be the devil, not God.

Truth #2 – We are tempted by our desires.

James 1:14
But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire.

If we can be honest ourselves, the temptations that we experience in our lives, wouldn’t be a temptation if it didn’t appeal to our flesh. When Eve saw that the forbidden fruit was ‘good food, pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it.’ (Genesis 3:6).

I don’t want to assume that Eve desired in her heart to eat from that tree but what is certain is that she was lured by what she saw and heard. It seemed good to her. It seemed good according to her human understanding. Proverbs 14:12 says, ‘There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.’

It appeared good to her, and yet in the eyes of God, eating the fruit would lead to sin and death. If only Eve knew that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom (Proverbs 9:10) and the ability to discern good and evil can only come from trusting and obeying God.

Whether we realize this or not, our hearts can deceive us (Jeremiah 17:9). We can think that we know what is best or believe strongly that we heard from God without realizing that it’s our desires that are leading us in the decisions that we make.

King David writes in Psalm 139:1-2, ‘You have searched me, Lord, and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar.’ This means, nothing is hidden from God.

Practical tip – acknowledge your desires.

Rather than suppress your emotions, or sweep those desires under the rug, in hope that God doesn’t notice – be honest. Whether the desire is carnal or godly – confess it before the Lord. It’s not going to surprise Him, He already knows.

Some might say, what’s the point in telling God who is omniscient (all-knowing) what He already knows? The simple answer is, because it’s a relationship. Just because God knows things about us, doesn’t negate the fact that He still wants to have a relationship with us and desires for us to know Him. 

Other times, we don’t want to acknowledge the desires that we have because of pride, fear, shame, guilt or condemnation. Pride because we don’t want to be honest about our shortcomings, and instead of dealing with it, we would rather deflect. Fear, as in being afraid of God because we either view God as a tyrant ready to smite us or we haven’t experienced a facet of God as Father. Shame, because we feel unworthy and are embarrassed at such desires. Guilt because we’re aware that we’ve done something wrong. Lastly, condemnation from the devil which hinders us from coming to God and receiving the deliverance that we need.

Regardless of what our reasons may be for not acknowledging our desires, God doesn’t want us to hide or pretend in His presence. Temptation is a common experience that all of us share whether we’re a Christian or not.

Truth #3 – Desires unchecked, lead to sin

A common misconception about temptation is, if you’re tempted then you’ve already sinned. However, that’s not biblically correct. Jesus was tempted in every way but did not sin (Hebrews 4:15b). A good example of this, Jesus was tempted in the wilderness by the devil and overcame. Temptation doesn’t become sin until you give into it.

James 1:14
Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.

When the desire isn’t acknowledged in the presence of the Lord, and allowed to grow, it will eventually lead to sin. But it doesn’t just stop there, ‘…and sin when it is fully grown (mature) brings forth death’ (James 1:15b).

This is referring to a spiritual death, as a result of habitual sin and lack of repentance. Giving up or giving into temptation might seem like the easy way out and it may satisfy us for a short while, however, it doesn’t produce the righteousness that God desires for us to walk in as His children.

Sin grows best in the dark, in the absence of light. Something that I’ve learnt in my own life is this – to walk with God means to walk in the light and in the truth (1 John 1:5). If what I’m doing thrives in the dark, I will find it difficult to walk with God because light brings exposure.

Practical tip – bring it to the light (not just with God but with other Christians).

Having accountability does require humility, especially when being corrected. Please don’t have people that overlook your sin or tell you what you want to hear. True friends tell each other the truth because love doesn’t rejoice in wrongdoing (1 Corinthians 13:6). If you’re worried about who you should speak to, ask God and He will lead you to the right people.

Reminder: You have a high priest.

The high priest in the Old Testament didn’t just offer up a sacrifice on behalf of the congregation but also for himself (Hebrews 5:1-3). This was because the high priest was human and missed the mark too. In Hebrews, it talks about Jesus Christ being our high priest, who was born in the likeness of human flesh so that he would be able to experience what it was like to suffer and what it was like to be tempted (Hebrews 2:17-18).

The only difference between the high priests in the old covenant and Christ, is that Jesus did not sin, and is able to ‘help those who are being tempted’ (Hebrews 2:18). He intercedes for us and desires that our faith would be fortified. It’s because of his sacrifice and precious blood that was shed, that we can come to God and approach the throne of grace, obtain mercy and receive help in time of need (Hebrews 4:15).

God bless,
Susan.