Does The Devil Make Us Do It?
Categories: Church of Christ Bulletin Articles Tags: Bible Lessons on SatanWhen Eve succumbed to Satan’s ploy (Genesis 3:1-6), he played a role in her choices, but she had some faulty thinking about temptation and sin. The devil tempts us, but he doesn’t make us sin.
James tells us that God isn’t to blame either: “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” (James 1:13).
So who is to blame when we sin?
The inspired writer James answers:
“Each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed” (James 1:14).
Just as a fisherman uses bait to lure his prey, our unchecked desires lead us to giving in to temptation and sin.
When we disobey God by sinning (1 John 3:4; cf. Romans 3:23), let us not shift the blame or try to justify our actions with any faulty “the devil made me do it” theology (cf. Exodus 32:19-24).
Instead, let us take full responsibility for our actions (2 Samuel 24:10), confess our sins to a gracious and forgiving Father (1 John 1:9; cf. Psalm 32:5), and then pursue godly living again (1 Timothy 4:8; cf. 1 Timothy 6:1-6).