James 1:13-15 - Knowing Yourself And Knowing Your Enemy Will Lead You To Victory

"When tempted, no one should say,'God is tempting me.' For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; 14 but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. 15 Then after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death."

Part 1 verse 13
Here in the bible, James offered a rebuke to the believers of God when they think that they sin because the Lord gave them a test by tempting them and therefore they fall. James felt that this is a wrong and irresponsible way of thinking and is clarifying this here.

It is said very clearly and directly that God cannot be tempted by evil nor does he tempts. Evil cannot even make an appeal to God because God is untemptable (Greek:apeirastos). God oftens tests a believer to mould and strengthen the person's faith but he does not tempts.

Part 2 verse 14
James made it clear that the source of temptation lies within the person; it is his/her own evil dsire and cravings of the flesh that allows him/her to be pulled away and enticed. It is like a fish that is lured out of its place of hiding and enticed by the bait. The Greek word 'deleazomenos' means to bait, to catch a fish with a bait or hunt with snares. The Devil lies in wait to enticed believers into sin and away from God's will for their lives.

Part 3 verse 15
The cycle of sin is that a person is first being dragged away and enticed, then the desire comes and it's offspring is sin, and then it results in ultimate death.

The key here is for a believer not to be enticed by his/her own evil desires but to flee from it and keep it in check.

The wrong choice to allow oneself to be enticed and ultimately have a desire to sin will lead to death.

The right choice of fleeing away and going to God will result in blessings. It can be tough at times, but when one consider the consequences that sin can bring and believe the Lord who says that we will reap what we sow (Galatians 6:7), it helps us choose to flee from sin.

Important Note :
I have chosen based on my study from 'The Bible Knowledge Commentary' by John F.Walvoord and Roy B.Zack and selectively re-typed some of the more important parts, together with some of my own additional explanation to make this study simpler to digest and understand. My re-phrasing does not show a different meaning to what was originally written.