June 4, 2014

From Gary... A sign from your own lips

Is it just me, or has cursing become more prevalent than it was, say, 40 years ago? It seems that people just don't care what comes out their mouth, and if they do, it is only to outdo the level of filth of their associates. Well, I decided to define this topic a bit by consulting a dictionary....

Artha

curse ~ verb    uncommon
1. utter obscenities or profanities
      The drunken men were cursing loudly in the street
2. heap obscenities upon
      The taxi driver who felt he didn't get a high enough tip cursed the passenger
3. wish harm upon; invoke evil upon
      The bad witch cursed the child
4. exclude from a church or a religious community
     The gay priest was excommunicated when he married his partner

curse ~ noun    common
1. profane or obscene expression usually of surprise or anger
      expletives were deleted
2. an appeal to some supernatural power to inflict evil on someone or some group
3. an evil spell
      a witch put a curse on his whole family; he put the whammy on me
4. something causing misery or death
       the bane of my life
5. a severe affliction

So, cursing is the vocal expression of a negative wish upon something (or someone). Oh, I left out the enthusiasm that usually accompanies what is said. We become angry and curse the object of our hatred. Consider this passage...

Job (NASB)

Job 2:7 Then Satan went out from the presence of the LORD and smote Job with sore boils from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head.
Job 2:8 And he took a potsherd to scrape himself while he was sitting among the ashes.
Job 2:9 Then his wife said to him, "Do you still hold fast your integrity? Curse God and die!"
Job 2:10 But he said to her, "You speak as one of the foolish women speaks. Shall we indeed accept good from God and not accept adversity?" In all this Job did not sin with his lips.

That Job's wife could even consider that He say such things is a testament to the severity of the affliction (might we say - curse) of Job; an indication of his desperate straits. Verse 10 shows that Job realized that any such curse would be a sin and so chastised her for her foolishness. But, now that I think about it- isn't all cursing foolishness, because it is the expression of the evil intents within the heart. Frankly, I think we should all be careful about what we say and remember the Scripture found in the book of Jude...

Jude (NASB)

Jud 1:1 Jude, a bond-servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, To those who are the called, beloved in God the Father, and kept for Jesus Christ:
Jud 1:2 May mercy and peace and love be multiplied to you.
Jud 1:3 Beloved, while I was making every effort to write you about our common salvation, I felt the necessity to write to you appealing that you contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all handed down to the saints.
Jud 1:4 For certain persons have crept in unnoticed, those who were long beforehand marked out for this condemnation, ungodly persons who turn the grace of our God into licentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.
Jud 1:5 Now I desire to remind you, though you know all things once for all, that the Lord, after saving a people out of the land of Egypt, subsequently destroyed those who did not believe.
Jud 1:6 And angels who did not keep their own domain, but abandoned their proper abode, He has kept in eternal bonds under darkness for the judgment of the great day,
Jud 1:7 just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the cities around them, since they in the same way as these indulged in gross immorality and went after strange flesh, are exhibited as an example in undergoing the punishment of eternal fire.
Jud 1:8 Yet in the same way these men, also by dreaming, defile the flesh, and reject authority, and revile angelic majesties.
Jud 1:9 But Michael the archangel, when he disputed with the devil and argued about the body of Moses, did not dare pronounce against him a railing judgment, but said, "The Lord rebuke you!"

Leave judgment to God and do not take matters into your own hands by uttering a curse. Consider the actions of a "man after God's own heart"...

1 Samuel, Chapter 24 (NASB)

1Sa 24:1 Now when Saul returned from pursuing the Philistines, he was told, saying, "Behold, David is in the wilderness of Engedi."
1Sa 24:2 Then Saul took three thousand chosen men from all Israel and went to seek David and his men in front of the Rocks of the Wild Goats.
1Sa 24:3 He came to the sheepfolds on the way, where there was a cave; and Saul went in to relieve himself. Now David and his men were sitting in the inner recesses of the cave.
1Sa 24:4 The men of David said to him, "Behold, this is the day of which the LORD said to you, 'Behold; I am about to give your enemy into your hand, and you shall do to him as it seems good to you.'" Then David arose and cut off the edge of Saul's robe secretly.
1Sa 24:5 It came about afterward that David's conscience bothered him because he had cut off the edge of Saul's robe.
1Sa 24:6 So he said to his men, "Far be it from me because of the LORD that I should do this thing to my lord, the LORD'S anointed, to stretch out my hand against him, since he is the LORD'S anointed."
1Sa 24:7 David persuaded his men with these words and did not allow them to rise up against Saul. And Saul arose, left the cave, and went on his way.
1Sa 24:8 Now afterward David arose and went out of the cave and called after Saul, saying, "My lord the king!" And when Saul looked behind him, David bowed with his face to the ground and prostrated himself.
1Sa 24:9 David said to Saul, "Why do you listen to the words of men, saying, 'Behold, David seeks to harm you'?
1Sa 24:10 "Behold, this day your eyes have seen that the LORD had given you today into my hand in the cave, and some said to kill you, but my eye had pity on you; and I said, 'I will not stretch out my hand against my lord, for he is the LORD'S anointed.'
1Sa 24:11 "Now, my father, see! Indeed, see the edge of your robe in my hand! For in that I cut off the edge of your robe and did not kill you, know and perceive that there is no evil or rebellion in my hands, and I have not sinned against you, though you are lying in wait for my life to take it.
1Sa 24:12 "May the LORD judge between you and me, and may the LORD avenge me on you; but my hand shall not be against you.
1Sa 24:13 "As the proverb of the ancients says, 'Out of the wicked comes forth wickedness'; but my hand shall not be against you.
1Sa 24:14 "After whom has the king of Israel come out? Whom are you pursuing? A dead dog, a single flea?
1Sa 24:15 "The LORD therefore be judge and decide between you and me; and may He see and plead my cause and deliver me from your hand."

I am going to think about these things today- and I hope you will as well!!!!

From Gary... Bible Reading June 4

Bible Reading

June 4

The World English Bible

June 4

1 Samuel 1, 2

1Sa 1:1 Now there was a certain man of Ramathaim Zophim, of the hill country of Ephraim, and his name was Elkanah, the son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephraimite:

1Sa 1:2 and he had two wives; the name of the one was Hannah, and the name of other Peninnah: and Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children.

1Sa 1:3 This man went up out of his city from year to year to worship and to sacrifice to Yahweh of Armies in Shiloh. The two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, priests to Yahweh, were there.

1Sa 1:4 When the day came that Elkanah sacrificed, he gave to Peninnah his wife, and to all her sons and her daughters, portions:

1Sa 1:5 but to Hannah he gave a double portion; for he loved Hannah, but Yahweh had shut up her womb.

1Sa 1:6 Her rival provoked her sore, to make her fret, because Yahweh had shut up her womb.

1Sa 1:7 as he did so year by year, when she went up to the house of Yahweh, so she provoked her; therefore she wept, and did not eat.

1Sa 1:8 Elkanah her husband said to her, Hannah, why do you weep? and why don't you eat? and why is your heart grieved? am I not better to you than ten sons?

1Sa 1:9 So Hannah rose up after they had eaten in Shiloh, and after they had drunk. Now Eli the priest was sitting on his seat by the doorpost of the temple of Yahweh.

1Sa 1:10 She was in bitterness of soul, and prayed to Yahweh, and wept sore.

1Sa 1:11 She vowed a vow, and said, Yahweh of Armies, if you will indeed look on the affliction of your handmaid, and remember me, and not forget your handmaid, but will give to your handmaid a boy, then I will give him to Yahweh all the days of his life, and there shall no razor come on his head.

1Sa 1:12 It happened, as she continued praying before Yahweh, that Eli marked her mouth.

1Sa 1:13 Now Hannah, she spoke in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard: therefore Eli thought she had been drunken.

1Sa 1:14 Eli said to her, How long will you be drunken? put away your wine from you.

1Sa 1:15 Hannah answered, No, my lord, I am a woman of a sorrowful spirit: I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but I poured out my soul before Yahweh.

1Sa 1:16 Don't count your handmaid for a wicked woman; for out of the abundance of my complaint and my provocation have I spoken hitherto.

1Sa 1:17 Then Eli answered, Go in peace; and the God of Israel grant your petition that you have asked of him.

1Sa 1:18 She said, Let your handmaid find favor in your sight. So the woman went her way, and ate; and her facial expression wasn't sad any more.

1Sa 1:19 They rose up in the morning early, and worshiped before Yahweh, and returned, and came to their house to Ramah: and Elkanah knew Hannah his wife; and Yahweh remembered her.

1Sa 1:20 It happened, when the time was come about, that Hannah conceived, and bore a son; and she named him Samuel, saying, Because I have asked him of Yahweh.

1Sa 1:21 The man Elkanah, and all his house, went up to offer to Yahweh the yearly sacrifice, and his vow.

1Sa 1:22 But Hannah didn't go up; for she said to her husband, I will not go up until the child be weaned; and then I will bring him, that he may appear before Yahweh, and there abide forever.

1Sa 1:23 Elkanah her husband said to her, Do what seems good to you; wait until you have weaned him; only Yahweh establish his word. So the woman waited and nursed her son, until she weaned him.

1Sa 1:24 When she had weaned him, she took him up with her, with three bulls, and one ephah of meal, and a bottle of wine, and brought him to the house of Yahweh in Shiloh: and the child was young.

1Sa 1:25 They killed the bull, and brought the child to Eli.

1Sa 1:26 She said, Oh, my lord, as your soul lives, my lord, I am the woman who stood by you here, praying to Yahweh.

1Sa 1:27 For this child I prayed; and Yahweh has given me my petition which I asked of him:

1Sa 1:28 therefore also I have granted him to Yahweh; as long as he lives he is granted to Yahweh. He worshiped Yahweh there.

1Sa 2:1 Hannah prayed, and said: My heart exults in Yahweh! My horn is exalted in Yahweh. My mouth is enlarged over my enemies, because I rejoice in your salvation.

1Sa 2:2 There is no one as holy as Yahweh, For there is no one besides you, nor is there any rock like our God.

1Sa 2:3 Talk no more so exceeding proudly. Don't let arrogance come out of your mouth, For Yahweh is a God of knowledge. By him actions are weighed.

1Sa 2:4 The bows of the mighty men are broken. Those who stumbled are girded with strength.

1Sa 2:5 Those who were full have hired themselves out for bread. Those who were hungry have ceased to hunger. Yes, the barren has borne seven. She who has many children languishes.

1Sa 2:6 Yahweh kills, and makes alive. He brings down to Sheol, and brings up.

1Sa 2:7 Yahweh makes poor, and makes rich. He brings low, he also lifts up.

1Sa 2:8 He raises up the poor out of the dust. He lifts up the needy from the dunghill, To make them sit with princes, and inherit the throne of glory, for the pillars of the earth are Yahweh's. He has set the world on them.

1Sa 2:9 He will keep the feet of his holy ones, but the wicked shall be put to silence in darkness; for no man shall prevail by strength.

1Sa 2:10 Those who strive with Yahweh shall be broken to pieces. He will thunder against them in the sky. Yahweh will judge the ends of the earth. He will give strength to his king, and exalt the horn of his anointed.

1Sa 2:11 Elkanah went to Ramah to his house. The child did minister to Yahweh before Eli the priest.

1Sa 2:12 Now the sons of Eli were base men; they didn't know Yahweh.

1Sa 2:13 The custom of the priests with the people was that when any man offered sacrifice, the priest's servant came, while the flesh was boiling, with a fork of three teeth in his hand;

1Sa 2:14 and he struck it into the pan, or kettle, or caldron, or pot; all that the fork brought up the priest took therewith. So they did in Shiloh to all the Israelites who came there.

1Sa 2:15 Yes, before they burnt the fat, the priest's servant came, and said to the man who sacrificed, Give flesh to roast for the priest; for he will not have boiled flesh of you, but raw.

1Sa 2:16 If the man said to him, They will surely burn the fat first, and then take as much as your soul desires; then he would say, No, but you shall give it to me now: and if not, I will take it by force.

1Sa 2:17 The sin of the young men was very great before Yahweh; for the men despised the offering of Yahweh.

1Sa 2:18 But Samuel ministered before Yahweh, being a child, girded with a linen ephod.

1Sa 2:19 Moreover his mother made him a little robe, and brought it to him from year to year, when she came up with her husband to offer the yearly sacrifice.

1Sa 2:20 Eli blessed Elkanah and his wife, and said, Yahweh give you seed of this woman for the petition which was asked of Yahweh. They went to their own home.

1Sa 2:21 Yahweh visited Hannah, and she conceived, and bore three sons and two daughters. The child Samuel grew before Yahweh.

1Sa 2:22 Now Eli was very old; and he heard all that his sons did to all Israel, and how that they lay with the women who served at the door of the Tent of Meeting.

1Sa 2:23 He said to them, Why do you do such things? for I hear of your evil dealings from all this people.

1Sa 2:24 No, my sons; for it is no good report that I hear: you make Yahweh's people disobey.

1Sa 2:25 If one man sin against another, God shall judge him; but if a man sin against Yahweh, who shall entreat for him? Notwithstanding, they didn't listen to the voice of their father, because Yahweh was minded to kill them.

1Sa 2:26 The child Samuel grew on, and increased in favor both with Yahweh, and also with men.

1Sa 2:27 There came a man of God to Eli, and said to him, Thus says Yahweh, Did I reveal myself to the house of your father, when they were in Egypt in bondage to Pharaoh's house?

1Sa 2:28 and did I choose him out of all the tribes of Israel to be my priest, to go up to my altar, to burn incense, to wear an ephod before me? and did I give to the house of your father all the offerings of the children of Israel made by fire?

1Sa 2:29 Why do you kick at my sacrifice and at my offering, which I have commanded in my habitation, and honor your sons above me, to make yourselves fat with the best of all the offerings of Israel my people?

1Sa 2:30 Therefore Yahweh, the God of Israel, says, I said indeed that your house, and the house of your father, should walk before me forever: but now Yahweh says, Be it far from me; for those who honor me I will honor, and those who despise me shall be lightly esteemed.

1Sa 2:31 Behold, the days come, that I will cut off your arm, and the arm of your father's house, that there shall not be an old man in your house.

1Sa 2:32 You shall see the affliction of my habitation, in all the wealth which God shall give Israel; and there shall not be an old man in your house forever.

1Sa 2:33 The man of yours, whom I shall not cut off from my altar, shall be to consume your eyes, and to grieve your heart; and all the increase of your house shall die in the flower of their age.

1Sa 2:34 This shall be the sign to you, that shall come on your two sons, on Hophni and Phinehas: in one day they shall die both of them.

1Sa 2:35 I will raise me up a faithful priest, that shall do according to that which is in my heart and in my mind: and I will build him a sure house; and he shall walk before my anointed forever.

1Sa 2:36 It shall happen, that everyone who is left in your house shall come and bow down to him for a piece of silver and a loaf of bread, and shall say, Please put me into one of the priests' offices, that I may eat a morsel of bread.

From Mark Copeland... The Call Of Barnabas And Saul (Acts 13:1-3)

                          "THE BOOK OF ACTS"

                The Call Of Barnabas And Saul (13:1-3)

INTRODUCTION

1. In Acts 1:8, Luke described the commission Jesus gave to His 
   apostles...
   a. To be witnesses to Him
   b. In Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth

2. Thus far in his historical account, Luke has described how the
   commission was fulfilled...
   a. In Jerusalem - Ac 1:1-8:3
   b. In all Judea and Samaria - Ac 8:4-12:25

3. The rest of Luke's account focuses on the ministry of the apostle
   Paul...
   a. Saul of Tarsus, former persecutor of the church, now apostle to the
      Gentiles
   b. Whose missionary journeys illustrated how the gospel was taken "to
      the end of the earth"

[His first journey began soon after returning to Antioch of Syria with
Barnabas and John Mark (Ac 12:25), with a special call by the Holy
Spirit...]

I. THE CALL OF BARNABAS AND SAUL

   A.  THE CHURCH IN ANTIOCH...
      1. Started by men from Cyprus and Cyrene, by way of Jerusalem - Ac 11:19-21
      2. Strengthened by Barnabas, then later together with Paul - Ac 11:22-26
      3. Blessed with a number of prophets and teachers - Ac 13:1
         a. Barnabas, a Levite from Cyprus - Ac 4:36
         b. Simeon called Niger ("black"), presumably a black African,
            possibly Simon of Cyrene who carried Jesus' cross - cf. Lk 23:26; Mk 15:21
         c. Lucius of Cyrene, also from North Africa - cf. Ro 16:21
         d. Manaen, brought up with Herod the tetrarch (Herod Antipas, 
            who killed John the Baptist and tried Jesus) - Mt 14:1-10;
            Lk 23:7-11
         e. Saul, from Tarsus in Cilicia - Ac 11:25; 22:3 

   B. THE CALL OF THE HOLY SPIRIT...
      1. As they ministered (worshiped) to the Lord and fasted - Ac 13:2
      2. The Spirit told them to separate Barnabas and Saul for the work
         He had for them - Ac 13:2
      3. With fasting, prayer, and the laying on of hands, they are sent
         on their way - Ac 13:3

[And so Barnabas and Saul are "sent out by the Holy Spirit" (Ac 13:4). 
Our next study will follow them as they make their way to the island of
Cyprus.  But for the rest of this study, allow me to share...]

II. SOME OBSERVATIONS

   A. THE DIVERSITY OF THE CHURCH...
      1. Note the racial, cultural and social diversity of the five
         prophets and teachers
      2. Two from North Africa, one from Cyprus, one from Cilicia, one
         from Palestine
      3. One was raised with royalty, another was wealthy, another a
         rabbi
      4. Isn't this the way churches should be? - cf. Ro 10:12; Ga 3:26-28; Col 3:11
      5. Churches should reflect our oneness in Christ, not our society's
         divisions (e.g., white churches, black churches, Hispanic 
         churches); unless language differences are too great

   B. THE PRINCIPLE OF SYNERGY...
      1. Synergy:  the working together of two things to produce a result
         greater than the sum of their individual effects
      2. Two (or more) working together can accomplish more than their 
         working separately
      3. Jesus believed in the principle of synergy - Mk 6:7; Lk 10:1
      4. Barnabas believed in the principle of synergy - Ac 11:25-26
      5. The Holy Spirit believed in the principle of synergy - Ac 13:2,4
      6. We do well to support teams of two or more, not just individuals
         working alone

   C. THE PRACTICE OF FASTING...
      1. Jesus said His disciples would fast, and taught them how to fast
         - Mt 9:14-17; 6:16-18
      2. The church at Antioch fasted - Ac 13:2-3
      3. Elders were appointed with prayer and fasting - Ac 14:21-23
      4. Paul wrote of spouses fasting and prayer during periods of
         separation - 1Co 7:5  
      5. Fasting in conjunction with prayer is suitable in the life of 
         the Christian and the church

   D. THE LAYING ON OF HANDS...
      1. Used often in the appointment or dedication of service - Ac 6:6;
         13:3
      2. Indicating acceptance and approval of those who have been
         selected by the congregation - cf. Ac 6:1-6; 1Ti 5:22; He 6:2
      3. Beseeching God's blessing and protection on those who serve 
         - e.g., Ac 13:1-3
      4. "...the imposition of hands, accompanied by fasting and prayer,
         was, in this case, as in that of the seven deacons [Ac 6:6], 
         merely their formal separation to the special work to which they
         had been called. This, indeed, is sufficiently evident from the
         context.  What they did was doubtless what they had been told to
         do by the Holy Spirit.  But the Holy Spirit simply said to them,
         'Separate me Barnabas and Saul to the work to which I have 
         called them.' The fasting, prayer, and imposition of hands was,
         then, merely their separation to this work." - J. W. McGarvey, 
         Commentary on Acts, commenting on Ac 13:1-3
      5. "It was a ceremony deemed by infinite wisdom suitable to such a
         purpose; and, therefore, whenever a congregation has a similar 
         purpose to accomplish, they have, in this case, the judgments 
         and will of God, which should be their guide." - J.W. McGarvey,
         ibid.

CONCLUSION

1. Thus Barnabas and Saul are sent out on their missionary journey...
   a. Separated and sent out by the Holy Spirit Himself to the task 
      before them
   b. With fasting, prayer, and the laying on of hands by those left
      behind

2. Barnabas and Saul will return to the church of Antioch of Syria...
   a. It will serve as the point of departure for Paul's three missionary
      journeys
   b. As Saul, soon to be called Paul (Ac 13:9), does his part in 
      fulfilling the Great Commission

Thousands of years later and thousands of miles away, we benefit from
the work of those willing to go (and willing to send).  May their
example encourage us to do our part today in spreading the Gospel...

by Kyle Butt, M.A. ... Stephen Hawking Is Wrong, God Created the Universe

http://apologeticspress.org/APContent.aspx?category=12&article=3768

Stephen Hawking Is Wrong, God Created the Universe

by	Kyle Butt, M.A.

Stephen Hawking is a brilliant scientist. He has battled a crippling disease since he was 20, made a name for himself on a global scale through his scientific prowess, and been an inspiration to many. But in his latest book, The Grand Design, he is just plain wrong. Michael Holden wrote an article he titled: “‘God Did Not Create the Universe,’ Says Hawking,” in which he stated that Hawking’s new book, co-authored with Leonard Mlodinow, proposes the idea that the laws which hold the Universe together do not need an intelligent Designer.

In fact, Holden quoted Hawking as saying: “Because there is a law such as gravity, the universe can and will create itself from nothing. Spontaneous creation is the reason there is something rather than nothing, why the universe exists, why we exist” (as quoted in Holden, 2010, emp. added). While the book is not yet on the shelves, there are already glaring flaws with Hawking’s reasoning.

First, Hawking cannot explain why the law of gravity exists in the first place. He says “because there is a law of gravity,” but he can give no reason why such a law is present, and is constant. Without an adequate explanation for the origin of laws, such as gravity, any explanation of the origin of a Universe dependent on those laws is incomplete. Furthermore, regardless of what theoretical, mathematical calculations Hawking has concocted, the simple fact of the matter is, if there ever was a time when nothing existed, there would be nothing now. The mere fact that Hawking suggests that anything can “spontaneously create itself out of nothing,” is, with all due respect, ridiculously absurd and completely unscientific! It is impossible to get something from nothing—any way you slice it. Using Hawking’s way of thinking, we could suggest that this article you are reading “spontaneously created itself out of nothing.” Yet such a conclusion defies all known scientific laws.

In Acts 26:24, the Roman governor Festus said to the apostle Paul: “You are beside yourself! Much learning is driving you mad!” While that accusation did not accurately apply to Paul, it does, unfortunately, apply to Hawking’s concept of “spontaneous creation out of nothing.” The Psalmist wrote: “The fool has said in his heart, ‘There is no God.’” Sadly, Hawking’s brilliant mind has been turned to false, unscientific foolishness. Would to God that Hawking and all his fellow scientists would turn to the God of the Bible who speaks “the words of truth and reason” (Acts 26:25).

REFERENCE

Holden, Michael (2010), “‘God Did Not Create the Universe’, Says Hawking,” http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20100902/lf_nm_life/us_britain_hawking.

From Jim McGuiggan... Did Jesus ever want to sin?

Did Jesus ever want to sin?

The basic idea in the various forms of the Hebrew and Greek words behind our word tempt is to attempt something. You can still see that notion in some NT texts that have no religious significance; texts such as Acts 17:7 where Paul and his companions tried to enter Bithynia and in 9:26 where Paul tried to join himself with fellow-disciples and in 26:21 where some Jews made the attempt to kill Paul. In Deuteronomy 3:24 we have the word used in two senses. God wants to know if any other god had made the attempt (tried) to rescue another nation for himself by trials. And on the illustrations go.

But the basic idea doesn't show in most texts and the prominent idea is testing or subjecting to a trial. Often it is Israel that puts God to the test (tempts him) as in passages like Exodus 17:2, 7 and sometimes it is God who puts his elect to the test (tempts them) as we can see from Genesis 22:1 and Deuteronomy 8:2 and in Exodus 16:4 where God tests (tempts) them to see if they will obey his instructions.

In comparing how the same words are used we learn the difference in meaning depends on motivation and purpose. Israel puts God to the test when their hearts are evil and that spirit gives the testing its moral quality. Their rescue from Egypt, Gods keeping his word to Abraham and his children all that is forgotten and distrust and ingratitude lead them to test God. You come across a lot of this in the Gospels when people come to test (tempt) Jesus.

The words are never used of God testing the non-elect and this suggests a specifically covenantal quality and though this does not mean that God doesn't put the non-elect to the test, it does mean that OT texts relate peculiarly to the elect. Gods testing of Abraham or his elect nation doesn't rise out of spite or some wicked motive. Its what loving parents often do with their children, its what good coaches do with athletes or what good teachers do with students. The aim of testing (tempting) is not to produce failure but the reverse. This pure purpose to bring about blessing (to someone somewhere) gives the temptation its moral quality.

Some might have been tempted and fallen into evil and wanted to justify their fall, to excuse themselves and claim it was Gods doing, but James 1:13-17 will not allow that. James makes several assertions.

1) He says God cannot be tempted with evil.

2) He says God doesnt tempt anyone (to do evil).

3) He says a man is tempted (to evil) by his inner workings.

In saying that God cannot be tempted James isn't denying that Israel tempted God; he is saying there is nothing in God himself that can respond to an opportunity to sin. This not only says something about the inexpressible holiness of God, it underscores the next point.

God is so far removed from sin because of his own nature, he can never approve of it; his spirit is forever set against sin. This means that no one should think that God wanted him to sin, that God thought or thinks that it is a good thing for the man to sin. God knows we will sin when put to the test and he will use even our sin to further his blessed purposes but the sinful choice is our choice and not his and it is not to our credit that he is able to use our evil to bring good.

We who are sinful have been shaped by sinning and when the occasion presents itself outside us and we are seduced by it into sinning its because we have it in us to sin when the opportunity becomes available.

This should lead us to understand that our being tempted and Jesus being tempted are the same but different.

Satan is presented as tempting Jesus to do evil and as tempting us to do evil. The aim is the same and the satanic motive is the same but the inner workings of temptation are not the same because in us there is the moral capacity to want to do evil and this was absent in Jesus. To be willing to do evil or to want to do it is already a moral defect (compare Matthew 5:28 and texts like it). There was nothing of that in Jesus so when the invitation (temptation) to sin came to him it didn't come to him out of his sinful willingness (see again James 1:14).

The perfect holiness of the Christ was gained by ceaseless adoration of his Holy Father and the practice of righteousness. This one was so healthy that the sinful virus could find no place in him as it initially found and now finds in us.

Temptation, for us, is a complex combination of our inner make-up and the thing outside us so that in our experience temptation includes our capacity to be attracted by the evil and then carrying it out. When we resist temptation we have by Gods grace said no both to the offer outside us and no to the inner attraction we feel for what is offered. In such a case we not only say no to the act we say no to the sinful bias that is now a part of us.

But even that needs further development. Its untrue to say that a temptation is not really a temptation unless we find the offer appealing, that we would like to do it. Praise God there are hosts of people among us who have so outgrown specific evils that when the offer is made to them they hardly take notice of it. They have become so inwardly shaped and strengthened that the offer which continues to be real is rightly dismissed as no temptation at all.

We should take great comfort in that! It means that by God's grace there are some things to which we can say a resounding no and what's more, were expected to do just that; see Titus 2:11-12! [That strengthening grace from God is extended to us in so many ways, family, friends, experiences, honourable acquaintances, good response and many more. But never by magic.]

[In saying that Jesus was tempted as we have been tempted were not to conclude that there were times when he wanted to do evil. To want to do evil is evil! This would mean that the temptations that came Jesus' way were not beaten by a sheer act of conscious willing; they were beaten by the set of his heart, the vision of his soul and the practice of righteousness. This would mean that there were opportunities to sin that he hardly noticed and that when the screws were turned and the pressure of circumstances became a very great burden he called on his training and the discipline of his soul and his unswerving loyalty to his Holy Father and his purposes.

Its important to say that the set of Jesus heart was made up of innumerable small decisions to do what is right when it was easy to do what was right. He didn't come into our human life with an already existing inner armour. He grew in wisdom and stature and in favour with God. See Luke 2:40, 52.]