What is a test, a trial and a temptation? We must let the revealed Word of God define such terms and put them in proper context of how we should understand the presence of those terms and experiences in our lives.

We see in James 1, 1 Peter and 1 Corinthians 10 that trials/tests are the result of falling into temptations. James says to count it all joy when we fall into temptation and that we should access patience to endure the temptation.

This language makes it sound like God is somehow involved with with the temptation/trial because we are to have patience in it but James later instructs us to not even say that temptations are from God. When you thoroughly study the words; trials, tests and temptations, you find that they are always evil, they are never from God and God will make a way out for you.

Keep in mind that we will have tribulation in the world and suffering/persecution may come for his name sake but the Word of God never associates those things with what we define as tests or trials of our faith. Sure your faith may be tested if you’re persecuted but that is not a trial from God to see if you’ll pass a test to receive what he gives only by his spirit.

In short, a temptation is a test of your faith. All temptation is evil, as we see from the prayer of Jesus in Matthew 6:13.

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

James 1:13 says that temptation/trial is not from God and definitively instructs us to not even say they are from God. He goes on to say only good things come from God.

To quickly address the testing of our hearts as mentioned by Peter, God isn’t testing our hearts with trials, he does it inwardly with his Word and his spirit. The very word for test in 1 Peter is a different word meaning prove. God makes our hearts stronger with his spirit and Word, not external trials and difficulty.

This matters because we need to be able to trust God, not be confused by his “mysterious actions” in our lives.

Have you ever been confused by this scripture, “God won’t put more on you than you can bear?”

If you have been confused by that passage, that’s because it’s not in the Bible. Sorry to trick you but it’s shocking how many people misquote that passage, which is actually a promise of deliverance from God.

1 Corinthians 10:13 No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.

There are several points to notice in this passage:

1. The word temptation is clearly used here but this is the main passage people use to describe the nature of a test/trial from God.
2. We must remember that James definitively instructs us to never say temptation is from God. Thereby we are to never say the test/trial is from God.
3. It doesn’t say the trial is from God, it says when it comes God will make a way out. Paul said it another way in another place, “out of them all the Lord delivered me.”
4. This sounds like God is bringing the temptation and the way out at the same time but by James definitive statement, we know this can’t possibly be true.

This passage also erases the idea that God is allowing tests/trials in our lives for his hidden purposes. How? Again, in light of James 1, God is in no way related to temptation. So even though this passage seems to indicate God is allowing them, James says it’s not from God.

You see, God has to allow everything on this planet because he gave authority over it to mankind. He has to allow all of our choices no matter how much sin and death is produced. The fact the God is allowing trials is not because he has a purpose for it, it’s because he’s sticking to his word. That’s why the promise of a way out is so vital to notice and focus on about this passage, it’s clear God’s involvement in your tests, he wants to rescue you from them!

God is not experimenting on you to develop his spiritual purposes, he does that by his spirit, not external trials. You can trust him. He has good plans for you.

This is a technical issue to dissect in a short article, please take the tie to watch this short video and listen to this full length teaching. My prayer is that it brings you clarity but also equips you to have this conversation with your friends and family. You may be convinced in your heart that God is not making your life difficult but I’m sure you have family and friends that think God’s ways are confusing and he’s doing things to test them…you need to be able to inspire them to trust God by walking them through the passages I address in this teaching.

Notes from “Is God Creating and Allowing Tests and Trials?” #3 from my current series on the sovereignty of God (UNEDITED)

God’s ultimate will for humans is Heaven on earth, he crated it that way and he’ll put it back that way and he gives all in between the opportunity to receive eternal life through faith in the sacrifice of Christ.

Last week we addressed suffering and persecution and whether they are necessary for salvation. Based on the many passages we read, suffering and persecution come for the words sake or for his name sake, not something you endure in your body to gain or attain an aspect of the salvation that is only available by grace through faith in the sacrifice of Christ.

This week let’s talk about tests and trials. What did Jesus say about them? Seems like a good place to start, wouldn’t you agree?

Matthew 6:13 And lead us not into temptation, G3986 but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

Matthew 26:41 Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: G3986 the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.

James 1

v2 My ^G3450 brethren, ^G80 count it ^G2233 all ^G3956 joy ^G5479when ^G3752 ye fall ^G4045 into divers ^G4164 temptations; ^G3986 (an experiment, attempt, trial, proving)

v3 Knowing ^G1097 this, that ^G3754 the trying ^G1383 ( twice – 1 Pet 1:7) of your ^G5216faith ^G4102 worketh ^G2716 patience. ^G5281

v4 But ^G1161 let ^G2192 G0 patience ^G5281 have ^G2192 her perfect ^G5046 work, ^G2041 that ^G2443 ye may be ^G5600perfect ^G5046 and ^G2532 entire, ^G3648 wanting ^G3007nothing. ^G1722 G3367

 

What is patience?

A fruit of the spirit

Galatians 5:²² But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

What God has for us begins in spirit and manifests to us by grace through faith, not endurance through suffering. The larger point or hermeunitic is that we are to stay spiritually minded, affirmed of who we are in Christ, when we face physical trials and difficulties, thereby sharing in the same kinds of sufferings Christ suffered so the focus stays on him and he be glorified…which is different than the process of salvation.

Can enduring under temptation teach patience…yes

But let’s keep reading…

 

12 Blessed ^G3107 is the man ^G435 that ^G3739 endureth ^G5278temptation: ^G3986 for ^G3754 when he is tried, ^G1384 G1096 he shall receive ^G2983 the crown ^G4735 of life, ^G2222 which ^G3739the Lord ^G2962 hath promised ^G1861 to them that love ^G25him. ^G846

¹³ Let ^G3004 G0 no man ^G3367 say ^G3004 when he is tempted, ^G3985 G3754 I am tempted ^G3985 of ^G575 God: ^G2316for ^G1063 God ^G2316 cannot be tempted ^G551 G2076 with evil, ^G2556 neither ^G1161 tempteth ^G3985 G0 he ^G846 G3985 any man: ^G3762

¹⁴ But ^G1161 every man ^G1538 is tempted, ^G3985 when he is drawn away ^G1828 of ^G5259 his own ^G2398 lust, ^G1939 and ^G2532enticed. ^G1185

¹⁵ Then ^G1534 when lust ^G1939 hath conceived, ^G4815 it bringeth forth ^G5088 sin: ^G266 and ^G1161 sin, ^G266 when it is finished, ^G658bringeth forth ^G616 death. ^G2288

¹⁶ Do ^G4105 G0 not ^G3361 err, ^G4105 my ^G3450 beloved ^G27brethren. ^G80

¹⁷ Every ^G3956 good ^G18 gift ^G1394 and ^G2532 every ^G3956perfect ^G5046 gift ^G1434 is ^G2076 from above, ^G509 and cometh down ^G2597 from ^G575 the Father ^G3962 of lights, ^G5457with ^G3844 whom ^G3739 is ^G1762 no ^G3756 variableness, ^G3883neither ^G2228 shadow ^G644 of turning. ^G5157

Don’t accept your problems, God will show you a way out

1 Pet 1

6 Wherein ^G1722 G3739 ye greatly rejoice, ^G21 though now ^G737for a season, ^G3641 if ^G1487 need ^G1163 be, ^G2076 ye are in heaviness ^G3076 through ^G1722 manifold ^G4164temptations: ^G3986

7 That ^G2443 the trial ^G1383 of your ^G5216 faith, ^G4102 being much ^G4183 more precious ^G5093 than of gold ^G5553 that perisheth, ^G622 though ^G1223 G1161 it be tried ^G1381 with fire, ^G4442 might be found ^G2147 unto ^G1519 praise ^G1868and ^G2532 honour ^G5092 and ^G2532 glory ^G1391 at ^G1722 the appearing ^G602 of Jesus ^G2424 Christ: ^G5547

After applying proper exegesis (fancy word for study) we see trials are always associated with temptation and we have a definitive statement that they’re not from God. (Abraham if we have time)

It’s an opportunity for his strength to be matured in your weakness

Joy in your weaknesses and temptations because it’s an opportunity for you to learn to be strengthened by his grace

Some would say:

“God allows us to experience them, but they are allowed for our benefit, to strengthen our inner man as we overcome them through the power of Christ in us”

But Ephesians 3 tells that we are strengthened in our inner man ultimately by his love shed abroad in our hearts for the purpose of making us whole

It’s is a skewed view of God and his dealings with man that he is allowing hardship for the purpose of making us stronger. That’s a view point rooted in the idea that anything you do in the flesh adds to what God does by his spirit through our hearts. I find that perspective carnal, arrogant and self-righteous.

God would much more prefer that you not be weak and not fall into temptation, rather that walk in peace and confidence of faith in Christ and the power of his spirit within you.

Fools learn by stripes but the wise learn by instruction

repeated over and over in Proverbs

Let’s look at one of the most misquoted passages in the Bible in light of what we have just studied.

God won’t put more on you than you can bear

1 Corinthians 10

The context is instruction from Paul over matters like fornication and idolatry but this applies in a broader perspective of our personal lives, in other words this passage can be universally applied to all believers.

There hath ^G2983 G0 no ^G3756 temptation ^G3986 taken ^G2983you ^G5209 but ^G1508 such as is common to man: ^G442 but ^G1161God ^G2316 is faithful, ^G4103 who ^G3739 will ^G1439 G0 not ^G3756suffer (allow) ^G1439 you ^G5209 to be tempted ^G3985 above ^G5228that ^G3739 ye are able; ^G1410 but ^G235 will ^G4160 G0 with ^G4862the temptation ^G3986

We know it’s not from God, “but when the temptation comes”

also ^G2532 make ^G4160 a way to escape, ^G1545 that ye ^G5209 may be able ^G1410 to bear (endure) ^G5297 it.

endure: abide, remain, last, continue, persevere

This is a clear and perfect example of why it’s improper to translate God allows into God causes. God won’t put more on you than you can bear. God has to allow everything that man chooses.

God tries our hearts

1 Thes 2:4 But ^G235 as ^G2531 we were allowed ^G1381 of ^G5259 God ^G2316 to be put in trust ^G4100 with the gospel, ^G2098 even so ^G3779 we speak; ^G2980 not ^G3756 as ^G5613 pleasing ^G700 men, ^G444but ^G235 God, ^G2316 which trieth ^G1381 our ^G2257 hearts. ^G2588

This says nothing about how God tries or approves our hearts

So we must study out other places where God and our hearts are mentioned

The bottom line conclusion we can draw about how God tries, tests, or proves our hearts is by his spirit, in our inner man, specifically by shedding his light and love in our hearts so we will be strengthened and walk in the power of his grace.

If we take the Bible at its word, we learn that trials are always connected to temptations and temptations are not from God.

Modern Christianity has associated trials with persecution or discipline from God but the Bible doesn’t connect those concepts in such a way. You may need to reconsider what you believe about difficult situations in your life such as sickness, job loss, premature death, injustice, etc…

++++++++++++

A temptation is a test of your faith

All temptation is evil (matthwe verse)

Definition of temptation and trieth

God doesn’t test you with evil or even externals

God proves (tests) the heart (greek word here, different word)

So how and why does God prove our hearts (this may be called discipline or chastisement, those who he is cleaning…a thorough cleaning to become a new creation. All these doctrines have to compliment, not contradict each other. Cleansing under discipline must compliment faith-righteousness apart from the law. The dividing rod of truth is fully revealed and understood in the finished work of Jesus. The works of Jesus, in his body and beyond must be the foundation for every doctrine we parse. We start with Jesus, not end at him.)

How

A thorough study of how God works with our hearts is through questions, teaching from his word, revelation from his spirit with the effectual saving grace which lies within the blood of Jesus

Why

Because he loves us

For his glory

Transformation

How about Abraham?

Did Abraham kill Isaac?

What did Abraham think would happen if he did? Good would raise him

To compare yourself and your temptation to Abraham is contextually improper and self important

God specifically tested the hearts of 2 people, Abraham and Jesus, both of which he established covenants through

You are not Abraham and you are not Jesus

There was more going on that God was doing with them than to read yourself into

The post Does God allow trials for hidden purposes? appeared first on Forward Ministries.