Two Sources of Temptation

by Perry Hall

Two frightening sources of temptation used by Satan, according to James 1 and Romans 7, are me (James 1:14) and God (Romans 7:7-12).

We see both in the first temptation in Genesis 3.

Satan uses Eve, but notice how the possessed serpent only tempts Eve with the Pride of Life. Then she tempts herself by seeing how beautiful the fruit was and how delicious it would be: lust of eyes and flesh. Satan got the wrong thinking going, but Eve ended up tempting herself too.

Satan uses God by using God's good creation - the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Likewise, Satan uses God's good commands in Scripture to tempt us away from good.

As humans, we can't stop being human, and as believers, we need God's word. So Satan twists what we cannot escape to tempt us to corrupt ourselves and God. Beware!