James 1:13-15 (NHEB)
13 Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am tempted by God," for God cannot be tempted by evil, and he himself tempts no one. 14 But each one is tempted, when he is drawn away by his own lust (desire), and enticed. 15 Then the lust, when it has conceived, bears sin; and the sin, when it is full grown, brings forth death.
James 1:13-15 (HCSB)
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.
Here Jesus preaches to a crowd that even as they are "evil" in God's sight and need to follow Jesus and be saved, they know how to give good gifts to their children:
Matthew 7:11-12 (NHEB)
11 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him. 12 Therefore whatever you desire for people to do to you, do also to them; for this is the Law and the Prophets.
Jesus' observation shows that they are perfectly capable of doing good to their children and not harming them. So, they are perfectly capable of loving their neighbors as themselves, too, which is God's will (not a sin). They are not prevented from doing that by their (sinful) nature.
Jesus gave the parable of the "good Samaritan" that all the world knows, again to show the love of one's neighbor is nothing impossible because of a supposed sinful nature that would make people not regard and love someone as their neighbor. Being like the good Samaritan in Jesus' parable is not something for so-called "superheroes," but for anyone, in any circumstance. It's the attitude or disposition of the heart that determines how a person acts in a particular situation. Let's consider the message again:
Luke 10:25-37
25 And look, a certain Law scholar stood up and tested him, saying, “Teacher, what must I do to inherit everlasting life?” 26 He said to him, “What is written in the Law? How do you read it?” 27 He answered, “You are to love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.” 28 He said to him, “You have answered correctly. Do this, and you will live.” 29 But he, desiring to justify himself, asked Jesus, “Who is my neighbor?” 30 Jesus answered, “A certain man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who both stripped him and beat him, and departed, leaving him half dead. 31 By chance a certain priest was going down that way. When he saw him, he passed by on the other side. 32 In the same way a Levite also, when he came to the place, and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a certain Samaritan, as he traveled, came where he was. When he saw him, he was moved with compassion, 34 came to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. He set him on his own animal, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. 35 On the next day, he took out two denarii, and gave them to the host, and said to him, ‘Take care of him. Whatever you spend beyond that, I will repay you when I return.’ 36 Now which of these three do you think seemed to be a neighbor to him who fell among the robbers?” 37 He said, “He who showed mercy on him.” Then Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”
Selfishness and indifference to the suffering of another person (lack of compassion), is not a birth defect. It is rather a corruption or "damage" in a person's character, even to regard evil as good and good as evil and that is sin. God would not warn sinners for no reason, if they could not help choosing to do evil all their lives because of their (sinful) nature:
Isaiah 5:20-23
20 Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter. 21 Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight. 22 Woe to those who are mighty to drink wine, and champions at mixing strong drink; 23 who acquit the guilty for a bribe, but deny justice for the innocent.
So, that corruption is what Jesus addresses in offering salvation to the world. It's a path for a person's soul to be restored (Psalm 23:3) and have that healing of the soul that the Gospel promises through Jesus' call to sinners to repent (Luke 5:31-32; Isaiah 53:5). Salvation is about escaping the corruption and power of sin that enslaves:
2 Peter 1:2-4 (NHEB)
2 Grace to you and peace be multiplied in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, 3 seeing that his divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and virtue; 4 by which he has granted to us his precious and exceedingly great promises; that through these you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world by lust [evil desires].
This letter of Peter is addressed to the saints, the righteous, not to sinners. They are ex-sinners who repented and were converted into new creatures in Christ led by his Holy Spirit (2 Corinthians 5:17; Ephesians 4:22-24; Colossians 3:10). They have been saved by grace through faith and are "partakers of the divine nature." They are not sinners (still) who have a sinful nature.
Those who are saved are instructed on how to walk in the grace of God, led by the Spirit and not by their flesh and its evil passions that lead to sin:
Romans 8:1-2 (WEB)
1 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who don’t walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus made me free from the law of sin and of death.
Galatians 5:24 (NHEB)
Those who belong to Christ have crucified the flesh with its passions and lusts.
Titus 2:11-14 (NHEB)
11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all people, 12 instructing us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly desires, and to live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present age; 13 looking for the blessed hope and appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ; 14 who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify for himself a people for his own possession, zealous for good works.
Romans 6:1-2, 12-18 (NHEB)
1 What should we say then? Should we continue in sin, that grace may abound? 2 May it never be. We who died to sin, how could we live in it any longer?
12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts. 13 Neither present your members to sin as instruments of unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God, as alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. 14 For sin will not have dominion over you. For you are not under law, but under grace. 15 What then? Should we sin because we are not under law, but under grace? May it never be. 16 Do you not know that when you present yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, whether of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness? 17 But thanks be to God, that, whereas you were slaves of sin, you became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching to which you were entrusted. 18 Being made free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness.
1 John 2:15-17 (NHEB)
15 Do not love the world, neither the things that are in the world. If anyone loves the world, the Father's love is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not the Father's, but is the world's. 17 The world is passing away with its lusts, but he who does God's will remains forever.
Hebrews 9:13-14 (NHEB)
13 For if the blood of goats and bulls, and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling them that have been defiled, sanctify unto the cleanness of the flesh: 14 how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish unto God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God.
1 Peter 1:14-16 (NIV)
14 As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. 15 But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; 16 for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”
2 Corinthians 13 (NHEB)
1 This is the third time I am coming to you. "At the mouth of two or three witnesses will every word be established." 2 I have said beforehand, and I do say beforehand, as when I was present the second time, so now, being absent, to those who have sinned before now, and to all the rest, that, if I come again, I will not spare; 3 seeing that you seek a proof of Christ who speaks in me; who toward you is not weak, but is powerful in you. 4 For indeed he was crucified through weakness, yet he lives through the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but we will live with him through the power of God toward you. 5 Test your own selves, whether you are in the faith. Test your own selves. Or do you not know as to your own selves, that Jesus Christ is in you?--unless indeed you are disqualified. 6 But I hope that you will know that we are not disqualified. 7 Now we pray to God that you do no evil; not that we may appear approved, but that you may do that which is honorable, though we are as reprobate. 8 For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth. 9 For we rejoice when we are weak and you are strong. And this we also pray for, even your perfecting. 10 For this cause I write these things while absent, that I may not deal sharply when present, according to the authority which the Lord gave me for building up, and not for tearing down. 11 Finally, brothers, rejoice. Be perfected, be comforted, be of the same mind, live in peace, and the God of love and peace will be with you. 12 Greet one another with a holy kiss. 13 All the saints greet you. 14 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all.
So, people can do God's will if the disposition of their heart is to do well. Otherwise sin proceeds out of the corruption of their hearts (Mark 7:21-23) and it's rebellion to God's ways all day. And God who calls all people to repentance tells them to purify their hearts (James 4:8).
Matthew 5:8
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
Finally, beware of what false prophets/teachers/ministers of God are preaching. Don't follow any.
2 Peter 2:19 (NKJV)
While they promise them (genuine believers) liberty, they themselves are slaves of corruption; for by whom a person is overcome, by him also he is brought into bondage.
See also:
The Bible speaks about the wicked (sinners) and the righteous (saints)
Struggle with sin and double-mindedness
Original Sin / Sinful Nature (playlist)
By the word of their testimony... (Revelation 12:11)
Call to Repentance
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