Holiness, Godliness, Usefulness
02/09/2015, by John Kincaid
Lesson 507: Tempted vs. Tested
James warned us not to confuse what God is doing with what Satan is doing (temptation).
But doesn’t the Bible say that the Spirit led Jesus to be tempted in the wilderness? Matt.4:1 Didn’t Jesus tell us to pray “Lead us not into temptation”? Matt.6:13
Temptation means lured toward evil. God never does this. In Him is no darkness. 1 John 1:5 God doesn’t tempt, but He does test us. The goal of temptation is evil; God tests us for our good.
James 1:3-4 the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
The book of Job shows the difference between temptation and God’s testing. God has Satan “on a leash”. Satan desired to tempt Job; God allowed it, up to a point, for God’s glory.
God set the boundaries of the test. Satan’s goal was evil: for Job to curse God. But God was demonstrating that His servant Job was righteous. God’s test displayed and proved strong faith. Job 1:6-2:10
About This Series
The goal of this series is to become more useful in serving the Lord Jesus Christ, as an instrument in the Redeemer's hand. The theme verses for the series are Ephesians 4:22-24, Philemon 11, 2 Timothy 2:21
- to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds,
- and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.
- Formerly he was useless to you, but now he is indeed useful to you and to me.
- Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work.