when we receive Christ as our Sav iour, the sinful dispositions and desires which we inherited from Adam were not changed at all. The Holy Spirit produces new desires within us while seeking to be al lowed to suppress the old appeals. Using the metaphor associated with childbirth, James concludes his evaluation of sin (vrs. 15). Lust, when it is conceived, cannot re main inside. It must issue in death. It is impossible for an evil desire to remain in the conception stage forever. Sin, which becomes an outward act, was first nurtured in the human heart before it was ever born. Notice the word "desire." This implies an uninvited urging to sin. When we do not submit our very first impulse to the Lord, we instead encourage the inclination to commit an outward act of sin. It first starts with an emotion until finally it becomes an overt act. The final result is darker yet for it issues in death. The reference is to physical death rather than spir itual since the epistle is addressed to believers. The warning is similar to other scriptures which mention the "sin unto death" (I John 5:16- 20; I Cor. 11:17). Sometimes God disciplines the believer by allow ing him to die physically prema turely. Since he is not glorifying the Saviour down here the Lord takes him home. Nothing evil has its point of or igin in God. Whatever comes from Him is always good (vrs. 17). We must not imagine that we deserve what God gives us. Anything we receive from the Lord is a pure gift of His grace. The clear observation is that whatever God does is per fect. God is equally impeccable and immutable. He cannot sin nor
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