“Each one is tempted when, by his own desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.”
James 1:14-15
It seems we’re hardwired to shift the blame for our sin onto someone else. We don’t often directly blame God for our sin. (That would be a bold move!) Instead, we try to pass the buck in other ways: “If only this (God’s providence) had happened differently, then ….” But James calls such insolence to account. Just as we’re born sinners, we also give birth to sin. To put it another way, sin is our baby.
And we cannot toss our baby out with the bathwater of our circumstances! How well did it go for Adam and Eve when they tried blaming others? It’s painful to admit our responsibility for sin because it exposes our soul wound. We are guilty and deserving of God’s judgment. That hurts.
But don’t miss the rest of this passage. Of God’s own will (and nothing we have done), “He chose to give us birth through the word of truth” (v. 18). Sin might be our baby, but the same God who called light out of the darkness is in the business of making babies, too—baby Christians, that is. In Jesus, the worst of sinners are born again (see John 3:5-8) to life in Him.
And we cannot toss our baby out with the bathwater of our circumstances! How well did it go for Adam and Eve when they tried blaming others? It’s painful to admit our responsibility for sin because it exposes our soul wound. We are guilty and deserving of God’s judgment. That hurts.
But don’t miss the rest of this passage. Of God’s own will (and nothing we have done), “He chose to give us birth through the word of truth” (v. 18). Sin might be our baby, but the same God who called light out of the darkness is in the business of making babies, too—baby Christians, that is. In Jesus, the worst of sinners are born again (see John 3:5-8) to life in Him.
Scripture Focus
James 1:12-18
Insight
The Lord took responsibility for your salvation. Don’t shake your responsibility for your sin.
Bible In A Year
- 1 Chronicles 26-27
- Psalm 6
- Matthew 8-9