1 Corinthians 10:13 (ESV)
No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.
The word used for “temptation” in the above passage is “peirasmos” in the Greek. It is a neutral term. Whether it is good or evil depends NOT on the temptation, but on the response to the temptation. Jesus was fully tempted but without sin because He didn’t yield to the temptation (Hebrews 2:18; 4:15). The temptation was real by Jesus didn’t succumb to it. God does not temp anyone (Jame 1:14-15). When God test us, it is our response that culminates the test into an evil temptation.
The word “common” to man simply means that the there is no temptation that is a supernatural temptation. Temptations are common just as man is common. Paul has been referring to the nation of Israel’s failures and how God tested them in the wilderness. He wants the Corinthians to endure testing and not yield to the temptation. We tend to think that temptation comes from the outside. Paul is telling the church that temptation comes from the inside. We are drawn to sin by our own desires (James 1:15). Satan can’t make us sin. Others can’t make us sin. We are tempted by our own desires.
The key in this passage is this statement:
“... but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.”
God, with each testing that comes, will provide a way of escape. It is not many ways, it is THE way. The way is through the power of Christ, via the Spirit of God. Just prior to this statement it says, “... God is faithful, He will not let you be tempted beyond your ability.” So, although it is not God who turns the “peirasmos” into sin, it is God who can make sure it DOES NOT turn into sin. Our own desires make a testing turn to sin, but it is God’s power that provides the way of escape. When we yield to His power during the testing we find a way of escape. When we fail to turn to God we succumb to the testing and it turns to sin. Paul is telling the Corinthians (and us) that God provides us with the power over temptation but it only impacts us and prevents sin if we yield to Him. He is our way of escape.
No comments:
Post a Comment