Facebook post 258 (Send Saturday September 17, 2022)
First John 5:14-17 assures us God hears us when we petition Him in prayers of faith working through love (Galatians 5:6), for some lost person, whose sins are not leading to death, as are those listed in James 1:12-18 and 1 John 5:16-17.
1 John 5:14-17—14 Now this is the confidence we have in Him, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. 15 And if we know He hears us, whatever we ask, we know we have the petitions we have asked of Him. 16 If anyone sees his brother sinning a sin which does not lead to death, he will ask, and He will give him life for those who commit sin not leading to death. There is sin leading to death. I do not say he should pray about that. 17 All unrighteousness is sin, and there is sin not leading to death.
All unrighteousness is sin, but it does NOT say all temptation is sin, for temptations are tests we go through, which are overcome by the Holy Spirit’s power, love, and sound mind (2 Timothy 1:7), but any sin not cleansed by the blood of Jesus Christ and stopped, leads to death.
Hebrews 4:14-16—14 Seeing then we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
James 1:12-18 must be referring to all temptations not endured, or temptations that greatly affect us, so our faith working through love is greatly affected, for Jude 1:3, 20-25 explains this.
James 1:12-18—12 Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved (tried, accepted), he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. 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 (pulled back into) by his own desires and enticed (deceived, entrapped). 15 Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death. 16 Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren. 17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning. 18 Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures.
Temptations should not affect the child of God, for temptations are a common part of the world system; therefore, since John 16:33 assures us Jesus overcame the world for us; 1 John 5:4-5 assures us our faith in Jesus overcoming the world for us, keeps the world overcome in us, and Galatians 6:14 assures us in Christ Jesus we are crucified to the world and the world crucified to us; thus, temptations should not affect us in any way, for Romans 8:37 assures us we are more than conquers, since we possess what Jesus Christ has already conquered (overcome).
Temptations that highly affects us, Jude 1:3, 20-25, says can be overcome by praying in the Holy Spirit, keeping ourselves in God’s love that 1 John 2:5 say is perfected in us, so we know we are in God (and God in us).
Jude 1:3, 20-25—3 Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints. … 20 But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, 21 keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. 22 And on some have compassion, making a distinction; 23 but others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire, hating even the garment defiled by the flesh. 24 Now to Him who can keep you from stumbling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, 25 To God our Savior, who alone is wise, be glory and majesty, dominion, and power, both now and forever. Amen.
Our Lord Jesus has already done for us everything God requires us to do (Philippians 2:5-11), and our Lord Christ has already become for us everything God requires us to become (Colossians 2:8-10); thus, all God now requires of us is to humbly give our complete selves to Him and trust everything to Him (1 Peter 5:5-11), and He will perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle us (verse 11), after we have suffered a while, knowing the temptation will soon pass.
Jim Nabors
