How A Man Sins

(#1058, Imperial, 1964)

Read James 1:13-21.

The origin of the word sin is in doubt, but Greek writers used the term in 3 ways:

    1.  Physical realm: a man casts his spear and misses his mark.

    2.  Mental realm: a man sits down to write a poem but fails, missing the mark.

    3.  Spiritual realm: coming short of the high ideal.

1 John 3:4 says sin is lawlessness, not meaning that someone is without law but that they have broken the law.  So sin is missing the mark due to breaking the law.

Sin is the result of choice and action, something born out in Jas. 1:15.  This passage tells us 3 things about how a man sins.

The basis of sin, v14.

Sin is based in "lust".  But what is lust?  The way the word is used today is not the way it was always used in the New Testament.  It can mean "desire" (Lk. 22:15; 1 Pt. 1:12; Phil. 1:23). Desire is not sin,  it is not wrong in itself.  Lust is not sin but sin comes out of lust.

The method of sin, v14.

To be "drawn away" is to be enticed. This is a term that might be applied to fishing when the fisherman holds out the bait.  So the method of sin is to entice me to satisfy my desire by turning away from that which is lawful.  The "bait" is the offer of immediate realization of the desire or thing I am after.  But it is sin because it takes me outside God's Holy law.

The issue of sin, v15.

The desire itself is not sin. But when the will decides to turn aside and take the suggestion, desire has conceived and brought about sin.  Sin is the deliberate choice of the will.

If you answer the desire of your inner life outside God's will, then lust becomes a fire which cannot be quenched.  Then we find ourselves dead, dead in trespasses and sins.

In all of this let us remember: the gospel begins where sin ends.  

 

Turn from your sins to Christ; He will quench the fire.