whosoever is begotten of God sinneth not; but he that was begotten
The Tempter and the Tempted 145
3. The confinement of temptation: "There hath no temptation taken you but such as man can bear ["but such as is common to man"—KJV]: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation make also the way of escape, that ye may be able to endure it" (1 Cor. 10.13). There are seven points in this verse that we should know:
(a) Temptation is common to all. Someone may think that his environment and position is so unique that no one else has it, and therefore the temptation he suffers is special. He should know that temptation is common to all: "but such as is common to man."
(b) Remember: "God is faithful." We can only fail if God fails. But He is faithful. So we must trust and not fail.
(c) All temptations are endurable: "such as man can bear." The temptation permitted by God will not be overwhelming, and hence, at the beginning of temptation we must not adopt a passive attitude and let the Devil do what he wishes.
(d) There is a "way of escape" to every temptation. Hence there is victory each time.
(e) God will "make also the way of escape" when there seems to be no way.
(f) Sometimes endurance is the way out: "can bear."
(g) To be tempted is no sin, but yielding to temptation is: "that ye may be able to endure it."
4. The all-powerful preservation of God: "we know that whosoever is begotten of God sinneth not; but he that was begotten of God keepeth himself, and the evil one toucheth him not" (1 John 5.18); "the Lord is faithful, who shall establish you, and guard you