When Temptation Becomes Sin

WHEN TEMPTATION BECOMES A SIN?

1st Corinthians 10:13

(13) There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

Our scripture tells us that God will not allow us to be “…tempted above that ye are able…”

So then, temptation itself must not be a sin.

Where does Temptation come from? “Satan”

James 1:13 says;

(13) Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:

So then we know temptation comes from the Devil.

Satan can tempt us in many different ways.

For some:

 MONEY

 POWER

 MATERIAL THINGS

 SEX

 FOOD

Any temptation that would bring harm to us is of the devil.

But the temptation itself is not sin.

So then you ask, “When does temptation become sin?”

Well let’s look closer at the Word and find out what the bible says.

FIRST OF ALL, EVERY MAN IS TEMPTED.

From our text;

“There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man:”

Each of us has at sometime had a thought of evil.

Just because we have had an evil thought, it does not mean we have sinned.

Jesus Christ himself was tempted.

Satan tempted him by offering (tempting) him to have all the kingdoms of the world.

So then it crossed his mind;

Jesus had an evil thought.

Yet he sinned not!

Just because we have evil thoughts that doesn’t mean we have to sin.

If Jesus had thoughts of evil things, so will we.

So then the “thought of evil,” is not a sin.

TEMPTATION BRINGS STRONG IMAGINATIONS

(EVERYMAN IS DRAWNAWAY)

Anything that tempts us will sharpen our imagination.

If I told you I had a Red-Velvet cake here tonight;

1. And showed you just how good it looked; (think of the Color, Pecans, White Icing)

2. And explained to you just how good it taste; (Moist, Sweet)

How many of you have already imagined in your mind how good it would be?

Anything that tempts us will raise our imagination.

If it didn’t, it really wasn’t a temptation to begin with, right?

Just because we have a strong imagination of doing that in which we are tempted,

It in itself is not a sin.

If it were, that Red-Velvet cake would have us all in trouble!

So then, being tempted, or having a strong imagination is not a sin.

TO LOOK UPON SOMETHING WITH DELIGHT

IS NOT YET SIN

When you are tempted, then given strong imaginations, and delighted upon something, you still have not yet sinned. (Close, but not yet)

To look upon something & to find delight in that which you are looking, is not yet sin.

Let’s go back to that Red-Velvet cake.

You were first of all tempted by it.

You then had strong imaginations of eating it.

If I had it in my hand, you may have delighted in viewing it.

But that would not yet bring sin.

There are many of us who are tempted; given’ to strong imaginations; delight in them;

yet do not sin.

My wife and I recently passed by a place where I seen a beautiful thing.

I said to myself;

 boy, that sure is nice.

 I like the way that looks

 That looks really hot

But I knew I better leave it alone.

I knew it would get me in trouble.

I knew I couldn’t afford to pay the price..,

of that “Ford Mustang.”

What did y’all think I was talking about?

To look upon something and to delight in it is not yet the sin.

If it were, I would be in trouble!

To be tempted;

To have a strong imagination;

To find delight in viewing is not yet sin.

Hold on now, were getting there.

BEING ENTICED IS NOT SIN

When one is enticed, his/her will is weakened.

When you get to this point you are so close to sin, it is next to impossible to stop.

But you haven’t yet sinned.

James 1:14 says;

(14) But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.

Or you could read it like this;

But every man has thought of evil, when he has imagined strongly his delight in viewing and his will has been weakened.

Yes, this is close, but not yet sin.

Who is tempted? (Every Man)

When he is what? (Drawn Away) or you could say, (Strong Imaginations)

Of what? (Lust) or you could say, (Delight In Viewing)

And what? (Enticed) (That is Weakening Of The Will)