A common question often comes up in both the classroom and counseling room, Can the devil make me sin? You could add with that, Can the devil or Satan give me certain thoughts? Although we have probably all heard someone, when caught doing something bad, “The devil made me do it,” I have also had suffering and distraught people ask this question. But is this true? Can the devil make you do anything?
To answer this question, I will answer four separate questions:
- Where do temptations to sin come from?
- Can Satan indwell a follower of Christ/child of God? (Part 2)
- What is the difference between Satan’s control and influence? (Part 2)
- What does Satan do? (Part 3)
As a bonus, in Part 4, How do you resist Satan and His Kingdom’s influence in your life?
For each of these questions, we turn to the biblical text as the authority for our answer. Personal experience must be evaluated by the biblical text. As followers of Christ, we start with the Bible and then consider our experiences; we do not start with our experiences than try to determine what the Bible means.
For the sake of space, I will begin with just the first question today and will answer the other questions in a subsequent article.
Where do temptations to sin come from?
This is the clearest of all four questions and provides a basis for our understanding of the power or influence of Satan over the follower of Christ. Jesus’ half-brother James helps us answer this question.
13 Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. 14 But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. 15 Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death. (James 1:13-15)
Here James provides three very clear answers related to why we sin and, by extension, if the devil can make us sin.
This Instruction Includes Every Person – All Humanity
First, notice that James writes, “Let no one say when he is tempted.” His answer, under inspiration of the Holy Spirit, includes every person. No one is exempt from James’ instruction. This is helpful because it provides for us a baseline. Whatever other answer we may consider or have thought related to our own personal sin or another individual’s sin must fit within this parameter.
We do not have to wonder if we are included in this very specific answer as from where sins come. This answer is for you, me, us.
We Are Never Tempted to Sin by God
Second, we are never tempted to sin by God. There are no exceptions to this.
James explains that God cannot be tempted by evil nor does He ever tempt any person. Again, very clear answers. God cannot be nor does He ever tempt anyone else.
God is not responsible for your sin.
Does God allow you to go through pressure-filled circumstances which help grow your faith? Absolutely (cf., James 1:2-12). In the process of going through these circumstances, if you sin, God is not the one who tempted you.
You Are Responsible for Your Sin
However, on the contrary, you are responsible for your sin. If you are like me, you hate to hear that. When you sin, you are responsible.
Notice what the text says again. “Each one” – this would include any person again – “is tempted” – here, a solicitation to sin – when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed.”
What draws us away? What provides the trap that opens the door for sin? Our own desires.
Whatever you want provides the doorway to sin. James explains this as he continues, “When desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin.”
Whenever you are tempted to sin, it is because a desire for something has ruling control over your heart or inner man.
Where Do Temptations Come From?
Where do temptations to sin come from? They come from an individual’s own personal desire in his or her heart. Your personal desire lures you or traps you. You want something so your heart responds to the pressure-filled circumstance in your life by sinning. This typically takes place when one of these four things are true:
- You want something so much that you are willing to sin to get it.
- You want something so much that you are willing to sin if you do not get it.
- You want something so much that you are willing to sin if you are afraid you are going to lose it.
- You want something so much that you turn to it as a refuge.
In each of these four scenarios, what you want leads to sin. In the text, this is what James described as conception. Once your desire conceives, the next step is sin.
So, Can the Devil Make Me Sin?
As I mentioned above, four separate questions help us answer this question.
- Where do temptations to sin come from? – A temptation to sin comes from your own heart. You are responsible for your sin.
- Can Satan indwell a follower of Christ/child of God?
- What is the difference between Satan’s control and influence?
- What does Satan do?
Question Two is addressed in the next article.
Image Credit KEEM IBARRA
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