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In this message, Pastor Vance continues our study of the New Testament book of James and teaches the important distinction between trials and temptation that we discover in James chapter 1.
“One of the reasons why English is known for being difficult is because it’s full of contradictions. There is no ham in hamburger. Neither is there any apple nor pine in pineapple. If teachers taught, why didn’t preachers praught? If a vegetarian eats vegetables, what does a humanitarian eat?...as native speakers, we rarely stop to think how illogical many of things we say really are—we’re just used to them.”
—Oxford Royale Academy
“We may ask, ‘Why did James connect the two? What is the relationship between trials without and temptations within?’ Simply this: if we are not careful, the trials on the outside may become temptations on the inside. When our circumstances are difficult, we may find ourselves complaining against God, questioning His love, and resisting His will. At this point, Satan provides us with an opportunity to escape the difficulty. This opportunity is a temptation.”—Warren Wiersbe (Be Mature: James, p.45)
“God is perfectly sinless. Everything in Him resists sin; evil is inherently foreign to Him. He is aware of it, but He is untainted by it. In no way can God be blamed for temptation and sin.”—David Platt (Christ-Centered Exposition: James, p.10)
“Growth in the Christian life is a process whereby we learn to recognize the lies of Satan, expose them to the truth of God, and decide whom we will believe: Satan or God…only as lies are exposed to the truths of God can we begin to walk in the truth and really grow as Christians.”
—Clyde Cranford (Because we love Him, p.208)
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