“Keep watch and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak!”
When we talk about the biblical definition of temptation, we're not talking about a casual temptation to do something relatively innocuous. You might be "tempted" by a cookie or "tempted" to sign up for the school musical—and doing those things is not inherently sinful.
What counts as temptation?
When the Bible talks about "temptation," it's referring to a temptation for something that draws us away from God. Those kinds of temptations, as unpleasant as they can be, are a part of life, but even those temptations are not sinful.
Human beings understand the moral scale at a deeper level—regardless of their belief in God. Deep down, most people recognize evil when they see it (Romans 1:20). For the believer who is starkly aware of their sin nature, temptation can be that much more distressing. Even the apostle Paul lamented in a way that probably sounds familiar...
“I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. I want to do what is right, but I can’t. I want to do what is good, but I don’t. I don’t want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway. But if I do what I don’t want to do, I am not really the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it.”
Where does temptation come from?
“Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away.”
Temptations are lures that would draw us away from God, His plan, or His will—IF we gave in to them. God will not tempt us (James 1:13), so who's responsible?
Temptations can come in the form of an invitation from another person, an emotional or physical desire, or even as a seemingly innocuous thought. Sometimes those tempting thoughts can be a spiritual attack, which is why it's important to be prepared. (More on that later.)
Fortunately, experiencing temptation is not a sin. Even Jesus was tempted at times (Mark 1:13; Luke 4:1-13), but He never chose to sin (Hebrews 4:15). Sin happens when we give in to those enticing lies that offer fulfillment by acting or dwelling upon those thoughts (James 1:15).
What counts as sin?
“Their lives became full of every kind of wickedness, sin, greed, hate, envy, murder, quarreling, deception, malicious behavior, and gossip.”
Sin is anything that violates the law of God (1 John 3:4). Lust, covetousness, pride, greed, and envy are all sins of the heart that began as insidious thought sparks that have been entertained and grown into sinful inclinations.
Earthly sins are a combination of physical and mental sins that corrupt our bodies and thinking (Colossians 3:5). Yes, even if you're keeping lustful or prideful fantasies in your mind, where they may not be obvious to onlookers, they're still sin (Matthew 5:28; Romans 1:29; Mark 7:21-22).
Giving in to temptations damages our hearts and minds (Matthew 15:18-19). Allowing temptations to rule our thoughts and actions and turn into sin will rot the Fruit of the Spirit, turning it into the "fruit of the flesh" (Ephesians 5:9; Galatians 5:19-23).
Why is overcoming temptation so hard?
“I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”
Overcoming temptation is not always an easy choice. Every day, we may find ourselves facing temptations, sinning again, and having to start over once more. But that's a part of the journey of growing, maturing our faith, and becoming more Christlike (James 1:12).
Even better than resisting sin in the moment, we should strive to avoid tempting situations in the first place (Romans 13:13-14). When Jesus' friends kept giving into temptations, He advised them to "keep watch and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak" (Matthew 26:41).
As long as we're still fighting, still struggling against that desire to sin, then we're still winning. It may not be a great experience in the moment, but the reward for walking through conflicts is priceless (James 1:2-8).
When Temptation is a Spiritual Attack
“Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.”
The Bible tells us there are two sources of temptation: Satan, who would love to eat us alive (1 Peter 5:8), and our own sinful nature (James 1:14). Satan is the "god of this world" and spends a LOT of time tempting people to rebel against God (2 Corinthians 4:4).
The influence of Satan is attributed Judas Iscariot's decision to betray Jesus (Luke 22:3; John 13:2). C.S. Lewis's The Screwtape Letters gives a fictionalized account of how Satan might tempt Christians in the sneakiest of ways.
Demonic Temptations in the Bible
In Acts 5, we can read about Ananias and Sapphira, a married couple who wanted to appear very dedicated to God when the apostles came around. They had originally said they were going to bring a full offering of income to the apostles to help care for the members of the church, but then only brought a small portion instead (Acts 5:1-2).
Ananias was in his right to bring whatever he chose, but he had already promised and then went back on his word. Peter spotted the lie and knew the couple had given in to the (false) promises of pride set forth by the Father of Lies (Acts 5:3; John 8:44). They were tempted to gain prestige by means of deceit and then they sinned by going through with their plan (Acts 5:7-10).
When Temptations Feel Unbearable
“I love God’s law with all my heart. But there is another power within me that is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me.”
Our sinful nature, though it originated with Satan, is often like an uncontrollable force that drives us to do what we know is wrong (James 1:13-14). As much as the Christ-following part of us wants to do good, some days it feels like a constant battle.
This is why it's important for us to put on the full armor of God (Ephesians 6:13-17). The Armor of God consists of six pieces: the belt of truth (God's truth + your honesty), breastplate of righteousness (your righteousness through Christ), sandals of peace (readiness to dodge traps), shield of faith (doubtless security in your relationship with God), helmet of salvation (your eternal security), and the sword of the Spirit (God's Word, which you can use to fight the enemy). And prayer is your power source, a direct connection to God's strength (v. 18).
Our Heavenly Father does not want to see us be miserable. He's there for us and willing to help.
Will God help me fight temptations?
“The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.”
God is on your side. He'll always give an escape route from temptations (1 Corinthians 10:13). Your part is to look for those escapes and run for them. RUN AWAY from temptations rather than try to face them in your own power (1 Corinthians 6:18; 2 Timothy 2:22). Genesis 39:6-12 tells us how Joseph had sexual temptation flaunted in his face daily, but he literally turned and ran out of the house.
While God promises to provide a way out for us, we also need to take responsibility for avoiding any situation we already know may lead to temptation. You know what your triggers are—and if you don't, it would be good to examine yourself and take note. If you know what might cause you to sin, then you can choose to avoid it.
We all have the ability to choose our thoughts, words, and actions. Challenging as it may be, we can create social and spiritual boundaries, personal convictions, and other protections to avoid and resist known temptations. We have the freedom to take the escape routes God provides, and keep our minds on "the things above, not on the things that are on earth" (Colossians 3:2).
“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind.”