Temptation and Repentance
What temptations do you experience? What tempts you? When does repentance begin? Does repentance begin before, during, or after temptation? Can you repent before you actively commit sin? Can you repent in your sin? Can you repent after you sin? When are you tempted and when do you repent?
What we do in preparation, before we are tempted, determines if we are able to resist temptation.
We can repent from our sin before we are tempted to sin. Temptation itself is not sin. It is not a sin to be tempted.
James, the half-brother of Jesus, said it this way, “Let no one say when he is tempted, ‘I am being tempted by God,’ for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death” (James 1:13-15, ESV).
In the fourth chapter of the gospel of Matthew, we see that Jesus was tempted by the devil to sin against God. We know Jesus is the Son of God and is without sin, but in his humanity he could be tempted to sin, just as we are tempted. It was not a sin for Jesus to be tempted to sin, because temptation to sin is not sin.
Jesus was first baptized and then he heard from heaven from God the Father that he was God’s beloved. Jesus resolved before temptation not to fall into temptation and he prepared himself accordingly as he led by the Spirit into the wilderness prepared, and in prayer and in fasting.
Like Jesus, we can resolve before temptation comes not to fall into temptation. We can repent of our sin before the temptation to sin arises within us. We can prepare in fasting and in prayer. We can determine not be “lured and enticed by our own desire” recognizing that “desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death” (James 1:14-15, ESV).
May we repent of our sinful desires and resist the temptations of the devil as we prepare, fast, and pray. May we seek to obey God and resist the enemy, recognizing the truth of what the Apostle Paul said, “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” (1 Corinthians 10:13, ESV).
A Collect for the First Sunday in Lent: “Almighty God, whose blessed Son was led by the Spirit to be tempted by Satan: Come quickly to help us who are assaulted by many temptations, and, as you know the weaknesses of each of us, let each one find you mighty to save; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.” (Book of Common Prayer, 2019).
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