Don't you just hate it? Temptation, I mean. It is such a terrible thing and while I understand that temptation itself is not sin as Christ Himself was tempted (in all ways as we are) I cannot break the thought that I despise it. I don't want to just quit sinning, I don't want to have the desire in the first place.
Can God so sanctify us that not only do we not commit the sin but the desire for it too is gone? I've heard testimonies of such, people who have addictions and their addiction is eliminated. Don't you just wish that we didn't have these weaknesses, these proclivities?
I look at these verses, to contemplate the process of temptation to sin...
James 1:12-16 King James Version (KJV)
12 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.
13 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:
14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.
15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.
16 Do not err, my beloved brethren.
I read that and I think that the temptation presents itself, it is focused on and then one is enticed by which then they have been entangled (given in), quickly followed by the sin. So it goes temptation due to enticement, the it is conceived by lust (giving in and desiring it), then the deed.
So, ultimately sin is then sourced from the temptation that one entertains. How then, do we not be enticed? How do we overcome temptation? Well, the Word says that God gives us the escape and to approach the throne of grace for grace and mercy in time of need. Prayer then, is the solution as it presents itself.
That is awesome that we have such a gracious solution, yet I still wonder. Temptation itself is a result of enticement. I know Christ didn't sin yet it says He dealt with temptation. I mean, even the devil tried tempting Him, and why try if He couldn't be temped? So... what exactly is temptation and what is the root of it? If Christ was tempted, does that mean we can't even consider not being tempted? I suppose we all have our own weaknesses as far as what it tempting to each of us individually, but on an individual basis, can such temptation be broken?
Can God so sanctify us that not only do we not commit the sin but the desire for it too is gone? I've heard testimonies of such, people who have addictions and their addiction is eliminated. Don't you just wish that we didn't have these weaknesses, these proclivities?
I look at these verses, to contemplate the process of temptation to sin...
James 1:12-16 King James Version (KJV)
12 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.
13 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:
14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.
15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.
16 Do not err, my beloved brethren.
I read that and I think that the temptation presents itself, it is focused on and then one is enticed by which then they have been entangled (given in), quickly followed by the sin. So it goes temptation due to enticement, the it is conceived by lust (giving in and desiring it), then the deed.
So, ultimately sin is then sourced from the temptation that one entertains. How then, do we not be enticed? How do we overcome temptation? Well, the Word says that God gives us the escape and to approach the throne of grace for grace and mercy in time of need. Prayer then, is the solution as it presents itself.
That is awesome that we have such a gracious solution, yet I still wonder. Temptation itself is a result of enticement. I know Christ didn't sin yet it says He dealt with temptation. I mean, even the devil tried tempting Him, and why try if He couldn't be temped? So... what exactly is temptation and what is the root of it? If Christ was tempted, does that mean we can't even consider not being tempted? I suppose we all have our own weaknesses as far as what it tempting to each of us individually, but on an individual basis, can such temptation be broken?
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