How do we endure temptation, the lusts of the old nature? For as James continues, we cannot be tempted by God:
"Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. Do not err, my beloved brethren." (James 1:13-16)
Lust brings forth sin; and, though it seems to be life, sin brings forth death. But we are promised a way of escape from temptation:
"There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God [is] faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear [it]. Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry." (I Corinthians 10:13-14)
What is this way of escape? How do we obey the word in James, "Do not err, my beloved brethren", and the similar word written by Paul, "Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry" ?
The answer is described in detail in Romans 6:
"Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life." (Romans 6:3-4)
Through salvation, we are made partakers of Christ's death, that we also might be made partakers of His life. That is already accomplished and finished through Jesus, so that our old nature and all of its lusts are reckoned by God as crucified and dead:
"For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also [in the likeness] of [his] resurrection: Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with [him], that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin." (Romans 6:5:6)
Thus through death, we are freed from sin:
"For he that is dead is freed from sin." (Romans 6:7)
We ought therefore to believe that we are no longer the old dead sin nature, nor under its dominion. For in believing in Christ, we have been made partakers of His death, and thus of His life:
"Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord." (Romans 6:8-11)
In that faith to reckon ourselves dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord, we will thus find the way of escape promised unto us:
"Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof." (Romans 6:12)
That specific faith is how we can and must flee from sin; it is the only way to truly defeat sin. Therefore we must give the greatest diligence, day by day, to remember and believe that we are dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through the cross of Christ.
"If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, [who is] our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory. Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:" (Colossians 3:1-5)
The Lord Jesus is our example; and through death He overcame all sin, and overcame death itself. Thus we must follow Him daily through the death of the cross, unto the life beyond.
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