Read vv. 12-18 [As I was studying these verses, I found it helpful to read Ephesians 1:1-14 and 2:1-10]
Look at verses 13 – 15.
Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted by evil and he himself tempts no one. But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.
Since God cannot be tempted by evil and does not tempt anyone himself, how then are we tempted? James explains. Look at verses 14 and 15.
But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.
When we are tempted, it is our own desire which is making sin look so appealing and rewarding. James uses the analogy of conception and birth to show us the process: desire conceives, and sin is born; sin when fully grown produces death.
What else does the Bible teach us about our desire?
The primary desire of sinful man is to set himself against God, exchanging the truth of God for a lie and suppressing the truth. Worshiping the created (ourselves included) rather than the Creator. We do this in our own foolish, darkened hearts and God gives us over to this (Romans 1:18-25). No one is righteous (Romans 3:10). Everyone is guilty (Romans 3:23). Sin came through one man, Adam. We all sin so death has spread to everyone (Romans 5:12).
God is blameless when we are tempted to sin as David in Psalm 51 affirms (verses 3-6):
For I know my transgressions,
and my sin is ever before me.
Against you, you only, have I sinned
and done what is evil in your sight,
So that you may justified in your words
and blameless in your judgment.
Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity,
and in sin did my mother conceive me.
Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being,
and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart.
The blame lies with us not with God. We are tempted by our own desire. What we want in our sin is in opposition to God in his holiness, who delights in truth and teaches wisdom.
Read verses 16-18 again.
Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers.
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.
In verse 16, James gives another negative command with a warning:
Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers.
In the testing of our faith (specifically here in the context of when we are tempted to sin) we must not be deceived by our own sinful desires and accuse God of evil or even to think that we are without sin (1 John 1:8).
Notice how he speaks the truth in love as he calls them, my beloved brothers. Reminded that they are loved by him surely, but even more that they are loved by God. To be commanded and warned by God in this way is evidence of the great love God has for us who are in Christ.
In verses 17 and 18, by God’s grace so that we are not deceived, James continues to remind us of the truth about God: who he is, how he works, and who we are in Christ. This is the light, the wisdom, by which we see how we are to live out our faith. The truth we must hold fast to and the wisdom we must rely on to rightly understand the testing of our faith, especially when we are tempted.
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.
All good gifts come from God, the Father of lights, creator of the sun, the moon, and the stars (Genesis 1:14,15). His gifts are completely good since he alone is good (Mark 10:18). In him there is no darkness, only light (Isaiah 9:2; Matthew 4:15,16; John 8:12; 2 Corinthians 4:6; 1 John 1:5). He is not like “the lights” which appear to change with the seasons. God does not change, and he does not lie. He does not say one thing and then turn and do another (Titus 1:2; Hebrews 13:8). [Isn’t this wonderful to know?]
Earlier in James 1:5, we are commanded to ask God for wisdom. A good gift that is necessary for us to endure temptation and not be deceived. A gift that he promises to give generously to those who have true faith, not holding our sins against us. Later in James 3:17, this wisdom is described for us: But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. We receive this wisdom from Christ through his word. God’s word which is able to make us wise unto salvation, teach, correct, rebuke, train in righteousness, and show us the sin we have in our hearts in order that we live in obedience to God (2 Timothy 3:15-17; Hebrews 4:11-13). And we are to keep his word in our hearts that we might not sin against him when we are tempted (Psalm 119:11). [More good news!]
The greatest good gift that he gives is the gift of eternal life.
Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.
Of his own will…
It is God’s will to do this for all those who are his in Christ and it is his work alone (Ezekiel 34:11-16; John 1:12,13; Ephesians 1:3-6, 11-14).
…he brought us forth by the word of truth…
God brings those he saves to eternal life through the death of Christ (2 Thessalonians 2:13). We are saved by the Father through the Son, the word of truth (John 14:6; Romans 5:15, 17; Ephesians 1:13). The Holy Spirit changing our hearts, taking us from death to life, and making us new (Ezekiel 36:22-28; John 3:5,6; John 6:63; Titus 3:4-7).
…that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.
For the Jews, the firstfruits was the first of the harvest to mature and be collected. This was given to God as an offering (Numbers 28:26). James refers to himself and the believers as a kind of firstfruits of his creatures: the first of the Lord’s harvest; those who are his creatures in Christ Jesus (2 Corinthians 5:17; Ephesians 2:10). [The greatest news!]
Looking again at verses 13-18, we see this contrast:
- Man’s desire leads to sin and death.
- God’s desire leads to holiness and life.
It’s helpful to see this as we are reminded that God does not tempt us to sin but in his holiness saves us and then preserves us in order to present us holy and glorify us in Christ (John 17: 17-18; Ephesians 2:8-10; James 1:4; James 1:12). What he has begun in us, he will complete (John 6:37-40; Philippians 1:6). His will is that we resist temptation and walk in righteousness and in the new life he has given us (Romans 6). God provides every good and perfect gift that is needed for us to live out our faith that we may remain steadfast under trial (John 6:65;1 Corinthians 10:6, 13; Philippians 2:12,13; 2 Peter 1:3-11).
Read again James 1:12-18. [As I consider all these verses together, I am thankful that God, along with his righteous command to turn from the deceitfulness of my own desires and acknowledge my sin, he provides assurance of his good will towards me as one he loves. And by this good will I am blessed along with all who have faith in Christ.]
Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen [Hebrews 13:20-21]