Hebrews 4:15 says, "For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin."
Once a man came to me for counseling and was very upset because of some great sins he had committed. The more he talked, the more I began to realize that he hadn't actually sinned, he had just been tempted to sin.
He somehow thought that temptation itself was sin, but we can see from the Bible that temptation is not a sin. Hebrews 4:15 tells us that Jesus was tempted just like we are, but He was without sin. How can this be? Well, actually the answer is quite simple.
Temptation is not a sin. It's sin when we yield to temptation.
Now, don't take me wrong. Even though temptation is not a sin, we can not dwell on these temptations or they will quickly become sin, even if we don't take action on them. Imaginations will come into our mind, but we must cast them down. Playing with explosives is not safe.
James 1:14-16 says, "But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire, or lust, has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death. Do not be deceived."
Over the years, I've heard many people who have yielded to temptation say that they had no choice. The have said that the pressures of the temptation were just too great. They couldn't help it. They had to yield because they had no other option.
Well, let me say this. That's a lie. These statements are contrary to God's Word. God's Word says just the opposite.
First Corinthians 10:13 says, "No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it."
If you have been tempted by greed, lust, adultery, hatred or any other evil thing, then today I have good news. God's Word has clearly given us a method to overcome temptation. We know by the example of Jesus Himself how to defeat it.
In Luke chapter four, Satan tempted Jesus three times. All three times Jesus overcame the temptation using one weapon. That weapon was the Word of God. The first two times, Jesus spoke to Satan, the tempter, and said, "It is written." The third time He told Satan, "It has been said…."
Satan with all his temptation could not overpower the Word of God. He finally had to leave. But according to Luke 4:13, Satan did not give up completely. He simply left for a while and waited for a more opportune time.
As Christians, we are to be like Jesus. When Satan comes against us with temptation we say, "It is written," and he will flee.
For example, if you are tempted to hate someone who has hurt you, say, "It is written, you shall love your brother as yourself." If you are tempted by Satan to be unfaithful in your marriage, then say out loud, "It is written, thou shall not commit adultery."
Whatever the temptation, find the scripture that stops it. Quote it out loud. Speak the Word and the tempter will flee.
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