Notes of Faith August 20, 2025
Response Ability
No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.
1 Corinthians 10:13
Responsibility is “response ability.” That is, we can avoid sin if we choose the right response. The apostle Paul recounted Israel’s history in the wilderness as a warning to the church at Corinth (1 Corinthians 10:1-11). The Israelites failed to respond to God appropriately, and God judged them. And Paul says that their judgment should be an example for us (verses 6, 11). The tests they encountered in the wilderness became temptations to sin—and they did.
But tests and temptations are “common to man”—we will always encounter them. So what is the remedy? With every temptation, God provides a “way of escape” so that we can avoid sin. It is our responsibility to find and take the way of escape that will allow us to bear the test successfully. It is important that we cultivate our “response ability” through prayer and meditating upon God’s Word.
Our first step is obedience: “Depart from evil” (Proverbs 3:7) and “flee” from temptation by pursuing “righteousness” (2 Timothy 2:22).
He who avoids the temptation avoids the sin.
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2 Tim 2:22-26
22 Now flee from youthful lusts and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. 23 But refuse foolish and ignorant speculations, knowing that they produce quarrels. 24 The Lord's bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged, 25 with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth, 26 and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will.
We may believe that we cannot stop sinning, but if you are a true believer and follower of Jesus, God lives within you. You have the power of God fighting on your side! We must yield to the Holy Spirit, and we will do the will of God, not the devil. Be persistent and fervent in faith, striving to obey the truth, not the lies of Satan. Use trusted brothers and sisters in Christ to hold you accountable with tender love and acceptance yet boldly challenging you to obey God’s Word. Remember that in Christ, you will win this war!
John 16:33
33 "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."
Pastor Dale