Guest Posted October 13, 2009 Posted October 13, 2009 Let us pose a profound question that troubles millions: IS TEMPTATION SIN? Jesus said: "Whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart" (Matt. 5:28). The usual understanding is that if you're tempted to break the seventh commandment, you've already done it. You'll have to ask God for forgiveness. And if you ask forgiveness for ONE sin, you might just as well ask Him for forgiveness for TWO sins and go ahead and do it, since you're already guilty. Maybe you can get a bargain rate on quantity sins. And there's another inevitable step to take almost immediately: it doesn't take you long to realize that no amount of divine grace will make you un-temptable, or beyond the capability of being tempted. It's ingrained within your very nature to be tempted. Now, back again to our question: Is temptation sin? How many temptations does it take to equal one sin? If the answer to our first question is YES, then it follows that the entire plan of salvation must go down the drain because human beings will be tempted to sin as long as they live until either death or translation at the coming of Christ finally delivers them from the capability or possibility of being tempted. There is no such thing as "holy flesh" in this mortal life. If temptation is already sin, then there is no hope of overcoming sin (which is salvation from sin). But if the answer to our question is NO, if temptation is not of itself sin, if you can be tempted and yet say NO! as Jesus did, then there is hope. Of course, you're helpless to say NO! unless the Savior gives you the grace to say it; but the Good News is that He "took" or "assumed" our sinful nature in order to be "in all points tempted like as we are," and yet not sin (Heb. 2:14-18; 4:15, 16). Christ WAS tempted, but He never sinned. So you and I can be tempted, and yet not sin! True or false? Everything depends on the right answer. Quote
Woody Posted October 13, 2009 Posted October 13, 2009 It is sin only if you enjoy the tempting. Quote May we be one so that the world may be won. Christian from the cradle to the grave I believe in Hematology.
Guest Posted October 13, 2009 Posted October 13, 2009 I guess you mean if you intentionally indulge yourself on it. I can see that. I have always had the habit of looking at goodlooking women. Perhaps I should cut it back to just glancing. Quote
Woody Posted October 13, 2009 Posted October 13, 2009 You really don't need to cut back. Just do lots of short glancing and less staring. Quote May we be one so that the world may be won. Christian from the cradle to the grave I believe in Hematology.
Members phkrause Posted October 14, 2009 Members Posted October 14, 2009 I've always heard that temptation is not sin, unless you act on it. From the Bible text it seems the person has already lusted! I would that looking is not lusting. Only God knows, that's why we leave the judging of that to him Richard. And if we do fall, as you say, we just need to ask for forgiveness, because I think that we would know if we've gone past the temptation! Just my thoughts for what its worth. pk Quote phkrause When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; But when a wicked man rules, the people groan. Proverbs 29;2
Administrators Tom Wetmore Posted October 14, 2009 Administrators Posted October 14, 2009 I think as men when we have some serious introspection on the fine line between looking and lusting have to recognize how fragile any hope of perfection really is. The tipping point for us men can be in a blink of an eye. And it takes little imagination for us to realize that lusting even without looking is quite possible. What the eyes see is not the problem - it is what the mind does with it that Jesus was getting at when he said if we lust in our heart we have committed adultery. Avoiding looking at women is impossible even though some pharisees really tried by walking about with their eyes closed or heads hung down low to avoid seeing any women. They became known as the bruised or bleeding pharisees from running into things. I wonder if Jesus was talking to those pharisees specifically... Quote "Absurdity reigns and confusion makes it look good." "Sinless perfection is such a shallow goal." "I love God only as much as the person I love the least." *Forgiveness is always good news. And that is the gospel truth. (And finally, the ideas expressed above are solely my person views and not that of any organization with which I am associated.)
Guest Posted October 14, 2009 Posted October 14, 2009 Yes I believe you're right about it depending on what the mind does with it. Quote
Gustave Posted October 14, 2009 Posted October 14, 2009 Temptation outside of sin is not counted as sin, however, temptation inside of sin is most certainly sin. Sacred Scripture explicitly states that a man is ONLY tempted when he is drawn away "from" his own lust. Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Christ was tempted "of the devil", "of Satan", etc. therefore Christ was never tempted within Himself to sin. We all have our temptations to sin and if we are "tempted" that means we are urged OR as Sacred Scripture states drawn away by our own "lust". Christ never desired to steal, lie, cheat or thump the little Jewish girl who lived next to Him therefore Christ was never tempted within sin. It would be like if you were straight and disgusted by homosexuality and a gay person came up to you and asked for a sexual encounter - it could be said that you had been tempted by the gay person HOWEVER you were NOT TEMPTED. There was no sin in Christ so He was never tempted within Sin. My first post. Gustave Quote
Gustave Posted October 14, 2009 Posted October 14, 2009 Thank you Richard, that was a fast welcome! Quote
Guest Posted October 14, 2009 Posted October 14, 2009 Are you finding your way around ok? If you click on active topics, you can see the latest postings. Quote
Gustave Posted October 15, 2009 Posted October 15, 2009 I think I'm getting the hang of it. Do you need manual html code to underline, bold, etc for posted text? Quote
Guest Posted October 15, 2009 Posted October 15, 2009 You can do it that way or you can go into full reply mode. the full reply button is at the bottom of the reply window. Quote
Members phkrause Posted October 15, 2009 Members Posted October 15, 2009 Yes very good point Tom and Richard. pk Quote phkrause When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; But when a wicked man rules, the people groan. Proverbs 29;2
Gustave Posted October 15, 2009 Posted October 15, 2009 That, was exactly what I was looking for. Thanks again. Quote
Guest Posted October 15, 2009 Posted October 15, 2009 That, was exactly what I was looking for. Thanks again. You're welcome Quote
pnattmbtc Posted October 15, 2009 Posted October 15, 2009 Gustave, when James said, "But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed." your understanding is that what James really meant to say was, "But every man, except Christ, is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed." Is this correct? (By the way, the word "lust" in archaic English, simply means "desire". It didn't have the connotation that the word "lust" has now). Quote Christ exalted the character of God, attributing to him the praise, and giving to him the credit, of the whole purpose of his own mission on earth,--to set men right through the revelation of God.
Gustave Posted October 15, 2009 Posted October 15, 2009 Gustave, when James said, "But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed." your understanding is that what James really meant to say was, "But every man, except Christ, is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed." Is this correct? Quote
Lutz13 Posted October 15, 2009 Posted October 15, 2009 What I think is that James didn't mean to say it, he came right out and said it in black and white. "Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man" What do you think of the following? "For we do not have a Hight Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin."(Hebrews 4:16) Quote
Gustave Posted October 15, 2009 Posted October 15, 2009 What do you think of the following? "For we do not have a Hight Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin."(Hebrews 4:16) Confirms what I've been instructed on the Impeccability of Christ. Christ was in all ways tempted as we are yet was w/out sin. Perhaps I'm not understanding your question. By the way I see that your post count is 666. Quote
wayfinder Posted October 15, 2009 Posted October 15, 2009 Genesis 4:6,7 Then the LORD said to Cain, "Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen? "If you do well, will not {your countenance} be lifted up? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door; and its desire is for you, but you must master it." "Sin is crouching...you must master it" Sin crouching at the door is temtation. When we are tempted we must not fail, but we must master it and do what is right. When,as a practice, we do not yeld to temptation the evil one will flee from us. Quote
Woody Posted October 15, 2009 Posted October 15, 2009 Quote May we be one so that the world may be won. Christian from the cradle to the grave I believe in Hematology.
Woody Posted October 15, 2009 Posted October 15, 2009 Quote: By the way I see that your post count is 666. Another thumbs up earned No wonder his post was so far off base. I'm glad that our new comer has a sense of humor. Quote May we be one so that the world may be won. Christian from the cradle to the grave I believe in Hematology.
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