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Taking Responsibility for Our Sins

When tempted, no one should say, "God is tempting me."  For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed.  Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death. (James 1:13-15)

This verse challenges each of us to take responsibility for our sins.  It is all too easy to commit a sin and then rationalize it by saying "The devil made me do it!" or "God is just testing me."  It is far more difficult to say, "I knew full well what I was doing was a sin, and yet I went ahead and did it anyway." 

No one likes to condemn themselves by admitting that they are a sinner, but this is precisely what God requires of us.  He asks that we each acknowledge our sinfulness and our individual need for a savior.  At first this might seem too difficult or humbling, but if we fully consider the price Christ paid for our salvation, we'll come to realize that we could never humble ourselves as low as He did.  

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