13 No one undergoing a trial should say, “I am being tempted by God.” For God is not tempted by evil, and He Himself doesn’t tempt anyone. 14 But each person is tempted when he is drawn away and enticed by his own evil desires. 15 Then after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin, and when sin is fully grown, it gives birth to death.
Verse 15 compares our path to sin with the birth process. We know that it starts with conception, the baby growing and then the birth. As bringing a child into the world is a process so is the process of sin and it is painful! It happens over time and requires action. There are 2 other places in scripture that sin is compared to childbirth, Job 15:35 and Ps 7:14:
35 They conceive trouble and give birth to evil; their womb prepares deception.
14 See, the wicked one is pregnant with evil, conceives trouble, and gives birth to deceit.
Compare death in this verse to the crown of life that is discussed just a few verses ago. The hope we have is that we have a choice. We can choose death by letting our fleshy desires get out of control and give in to the temptation of sin, or we can choose eternal life! Romans 6:23 reminds us of the choice that we have. Let’s choose Life.
23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
The Holy Bible: Holman Christian standard version. (2009). (Jas 1:13–15). (Job 15:35). (Ps 7:14). (Ro 6:23) Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers.
