Temptation & Sin

James 2:13-27
The nearer we live to God the more sensitive we become to sin. Things we once thought O.K. in the twilight fail to pass muster after sun-up.

I: Temptations Lose Their Power When:
1. The Holy Spirit takes control of the heart.
2. When the conscience is tender toward sin.
3. The ability to see sin for what it is in our life.
4. When we see God’s view of our sin, (Isaiah and Peter).
5. When we are dissatisfied with what we are and willing to do something real to change.

II: The Temptation to Sin:
When does Temptation turn to Sin?
a. “Every man is tempted when he is drawn a way of his own lust.” (The tempter catches our ear), 4:14.
b. The true origin of temptation lies burried in our heart.
c. Temptation begins with corrupt desires.
d. The Tempter finds response in our hearts by lying and deceiving.
e. Ripened temptation produces the fruit of Sin.

III: The place to stop temptation: vs 19.
1. At the ear — “swift to hear;” hear the Word of God the advice of good doctrine.
2. At the mouth — “slow to speak.” “A soft answer turneth away wrath.” Hasty, angry, bitter, thoughtless, cencurous, cutting words never stop short of sin.
3. “The words of the wise are heard in quiet, more than the cry of him that ruleth among fools.” Ecclesiastes 9:17.
4. At the very beginning of a filthy thought or a naughty word. vs. 21
5. By doing what we hear from God. vs. 22.

IV: Temptation Tests our Religion:
1. A saint will pass through vanity fair untouched, but a siner will find occasion to sin in Church.
2. What is vain religion?
a. “Something to be.” More concerned to outward show than inward control of the Holy Spirit.
b. The unbridled tongue. Sharp concurous gossiping tongue. It is a short road from the heart to the tongue.

“They thought him wise and good until he opened his mouth.”
“Pure religion” yields not to temptation, flees to the Rock of Refuge, hides behind the cross of Calvary.