Faithful Steward Ministries and FSM Women's Outreach

If y’all are nearly as old as I am, you may remember the comedian Flip Wilson from the 60’s, who used “the devil made me do it” as a punch line. It got a few laughs but it was not true then or today.

Satan is the great tempter, he whispers in our ears the things we want to hear but exudes no direct influence over any true “Christian.” Almost everyone claiming that title can recite John 3:16, but few know what follows:

¹⁷ For God did not send the Son into the world to judge and condemn the world [that is, to initiate the final judgment of the world], but that the world might be saved through Him. ¹⁸ Whoever believes and has decided to trust in Him [as personal Savior and Lord] is not judged [for this one, there is no judgment, no rejection, no condemnation]; but the one who does not believe [and has decided to reject Him as personal Savior and Lord] is judged already [that one has been convicted and sentenced], because ^[a]he has not believed and trusted in the name of the [One and] only begotten Son of God [the One who is truly unique, the only One of His kind, the One who alone can save him]. ¹⁹ This is the judgment [that is, the cause for indictment, the test by which people are judged, the basis for the sentence]: the Light has come into the world, and people loved the ^[b]darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil. ²⁰ For every wrongdoer hates the Light, and does not come to the Light [but shrinks from it] for fear that his [sinful, worthless] activities will be exposed and condemned. ²¹ But whoever practices truth [and does what is right—morally, ethically, spiritually] comes to the Light, so that his works may be plainly shown to be what they are—accomplished in God [divinely prompted, done with God’s help, in dependence on Him].”

Consider these biblical examples; Eve in Genesis 3 says the devil decided her, and Adam blames her. The sinfulness of the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, Lot’s wife, and there are many more.

We can play the Blame Game all we want, but the reality is, anytime man relies upon earthly wisdom (any wisdom not from God) the only “blame” rests upon our own shoulders

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TEXT

JAMES 3

JAMES 3:15

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STUDY

3:1–18 TAMING THE TONGUE AND OBTAINING HEAVENLY WISDOM

OVERVIEW: Perhaps the most significant interpretative issue to emerge in the reformers’ comments on this section of James has to do with the simple word “teachers” in verse 1. Some take it to mean those who hold the preaching office and thus understand James to mean that those who seek out this office for themselves should be cautious because so much is at stake—the salvation of souls—in what a preacher teaches the flock. Others take “teachers” (or “masters”) to refer to laypeople who take it on themselves to oversee and censure their fellow Christians without taking care as to how they employ their own tongues as they do so. In the commentary here, Lutheran and Catholic reformers adopt the former interpretation while Reformed pastor-theologians opt for the latter. Other reformers underscore the emphasis on peaceableness and spiritual wisdom in this section, juxtaposing it to the strife and carnal wisdom of the world.

Ronald K. Rittgers and Timothy George, eds., Hebrews, James: New Testament, vol. XIII, Reformation Commentary on Scripture (Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic: An Imprint of InterVarsity Press, 2017), 240.

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3:13–16 Characteristics of Demonic Wisdom

WISDOM IN THE SIGHT OF GOD. JOHN CALVIN: Then the meaning is that supercilious censors, who largely indulge themselves, and at the same time spare none, seem to themselves to be very wise, but are greatly mistaken; for the Lord teaches his people far otherwise, even to be meek and to be courteous to others. They, then, are alone wise in the sight of God who connect this meekness with an honest conduct of life; for they who are severe and inexorable, though they may excel others in many virtues, do not yet follow the right way of wisdom. COMMENTARIES ON THE EPISTLE OF JAMES 3:16.

SPIRITUAL AND CARNAL ZEAL. LUCAS OSIANDER: There are two kinds of zeal, spiritual and carnal. The spiritual kind is kindled by the Spirit of God, and it sets right many crooked things. The carnal kind is inflamed by Satan, and in the church and the state, as well as in household affairs, it destroys many things. Therefore take care most studiously lest under the species of spiritual zeal carnal zeal creeps in among you. THE EPISTLE … TO JAMES 3:16.

Ronald K. Rittgers and Timothy George, eds., Hebrews, James: New Testament, vol. XIII, Reformation Commentary on Scripture (Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic: An Imprint of InterVarsity Press, 2017), 243–244.

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Why is “the devil made me do it” not a valid excuse?

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DEVOTIONAL

Wisdom that is bitterly jealous and self-centered is not “from above.” Such traits constitute a wisdom that doesn’t come from God, the source of true wisdom (cf. 1:5, 17). Human wisdom, rather than being from above, is “earthly” (3:15). It is limited to the sphere of time and space and marked by the curse of man’s own fallenness, which is characterized by pride and self-centeredness. Everything the world initiates in the way of supposed truth is self-centered. Unregenerate man’s finite system demands an earthly wisdom and nothing more.

Man’s wisdom is also “natural” (v. 15), which means “fleshly” and refers to man’s humanness and frailty. First Corinthians 2:14 says, “A natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God.” The natural man is sensual. All his feelings, impulses, and appetites are locked up in a fallen and corrupted system. All of man’s wisdom comes from his unsanctified heart and unredeemed spirit.

Besides being earthly and natural, human wisdom is “demonic” (James 3:15). This is the only place in the New Testament where the Greek word translated “demon” appears in its adjectival form. Human wisdom is actually generated by demons, who have been made captive to the same evil system as man. Satan and his agents disguise themselves as ministers of light when in fact they are ministers of darkness (2 Cor. 11:14-15).

The wisdom of the world is spawned by demons, reflects man’s humanness, and proceeds no further than the fallenness of mankind. Since that is so, be sure to “be strong in the Lord, and in the strength of His might” (Eph. 6:10). Don’t let Satan and the world beguile you with their so-called wisdom.

Suggestions for Prayer

Pray to be “filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you may walk in a manner worthy of the Lord” (Col. 1:9-10).

For Further Study

According to 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 and Colossians 2:8, how is the believer to fight against Satan and his demonic wisdom?

From Strength for Today by John MacArthur Copyright © 1997. Used by permission of Crossway Books, a division of Good News Publishers, Wheaton, IL 60187, www.crossway.com.

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Followup Devotional: Putting our trust in following wisdom not from God has consequences.