Study # 8
October 15, 1997
Harlingen, Texas
(Download Audio)

• I. What Does it Mean to Be Tempted or Tried?
  • A. The use of the term in the New Testament...always has the idea of someone making an attempt to accomplish something.
  • B. Issues involved in making the attempt...
    • 1. There is always a certain objective in view. [This is the agape issue.]
    • 2. There is often a method-issue involved. [This is the faith issue.]
    • 3. There is always a certain pressure involved.
      • a. The pressure is either at the values level where one objective is pitted against another...values in conflict,
      • b. Or the pressure is at the methodological level...pitting methods against each other
    • 4. There is always a decision-unto-action involved.
    • 5. There is always a perspective on the result involved. [This is James' initial command, and it is intimately connnected to the whole process, whether is it men, Satan, or God who are looking ahead.]

• I. Continuation of the Issues Involved in Temptation or Trial.
  • A. Continuation of the issues of pressure.
    • 1. The pressure can be at the methodological level...pitting methods against each other.
      • a. Typically, God establishes both objective and methodology (as with His promise to Abraham about the birth of a seed, and with Saul and the battle in 1 Samuel 15) and He often waits until the last minute to fulfill His Word (as in Abraham's sacrifice of Isaac, Saul's impatient sacrifice in 1 Samuel 13, and Deuteronomy 8:1-3).
  • B. There is always a decision-unto-action involved.
    • 1. Temptation/testing is NEVER only in view of modes of thinking; there is always a concrete result-objective in view and results require actions.
    • 2. Decisions are already in view in James 1:2 in the use of the word 'count'.
  • C. There is always a perspective on the result involved. [This is James' initial command, and it is intimately connected to the whole process, whether it is men, Satan, or God who are looking ahead.]
• II. What Are the Implications of Variety?
  • A. The difficulties can be a varied as the issue of colors--a basic set of three mixed and mingled into an innumerable host.
    • 1. This makes our understanding of what is involved more complicated.
    • 2. This makes a better grasp of the whole of God's words more necessary.
  • B. A 'piling on' effect can make the situation more difficult.
• III. How Does Knowledge Help?
  • A. There is NO life apart from knowledge.
    • 1. Life is knowing God.
    • 2. Life only comes by the words of God.
  • B. Success is directly tied to a certain kind of knowledge and a specific content of knowledge.
    • 1. The meaning of ginosko.
    • 2. The particular content of the knowledge that gives the power of resistance.