Is temptation a sin by itself?

  • Christian Chat is a moderated online Christian community allowing Christians around the world to fellowship with each other in real time chat via webcam, voice, and text, with the Christian Chat app. You can also start or participate in a Bible-based discussion here in the Christian Chat Forums, where members can also share with each other their own videos, pictures, or favorite Christian music.

    If you are a Christian and need encouragement and fellowship, we're here for you! If you are not a Christian but interested in knowing more about Jesus our Lord, you're also welcome! Want to know what the Bible says, and how you can apply it to your life? Join us!

    To make new Christian friends now around the world, click here to join Christian Chat.

Hakawaka

Well-known member
Jul 1, 2021
560
320
63
#1
Jesus said if you look upon a woman to lust after her you have already commited adultery with her in your heart.

Does this mean temptation is a sin by itself?
 
Jul 3, 2015
65,527
33,357
113
#2

Hebrews 4 verses 14a-16 Let us hold firmly to what we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who was tempted in every way that we are, yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
 
Jun 30, 2015
26,428
14,233
113
#3
Jesus said if you look upon a woman to lust after her you have already commited adultery with her in your heart.

Does this mean temptation is a sin by itself?
No, absolutely not.

Temptation is “sin crouching at the door” (Gen. 4:7), not taking root in your heart.

Lust is not looking at a person, noticing that you find them attractive, or appreciating their appearance; it is considering having sex with them or connecting with them when doing so would be inappropriate.
 

Blade

Well-known member
Nov 19, 2019
1,964
685
113
#4
"in your heart". I like this song... "Remind me who I am Jason Gray.

So temptation comes what do you do with it? Do you resist it and watch the enemy flee or do you take it play with that though. Once we take it its ours. How did Satan become the god of this world? Sign some contract did Adam and Eve? Praise GOD glory to JESUS He has over come the world. "These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”

So no its no sin. He didn't come to condemn the world but to save it. When temptation come He makes a way out every time.

"No temptation [regardless of its source] has overtaken or enticed you that is not common to human experience [nor is any temptation unusual or beyond human resistance]; but God is faithful [to His word—He is compassionate and trustworthy], and He will not let you be tempted beyond your ability [to resist], but along with the temptation He [has in the past and is now and] will [always] provide the way out as well, so that you will be able to endure it [without yielding, and will overcome temptation with joy]."

"Blessed be your name....blessed be the name of the lord, blessed be your glorious name"
 
Jun 7, 2025
62
23
8
#5
Jesus said if you look upon a woman to lust after her you have already commited adultery with her in your heart.

Does this mean temptation is a sin by itself?
Jas 1:12 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.

If a person is blessed for enduring temptation then temptation is not a sin.

Jas 1:13 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:
Jas 1:14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.
Jas 1:15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.
Jas 1:16 Do not err, my beloved brethren.

Temptation is not a sin unless someone acts upon it.

1Co 10:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

Temptation is not a sin which all people will be tempted and God will give them an escape from the temptation so they can bear it.

It is like the saying you can lead a horse to water but you cannot make it drink.

A temptation is only a thought and is not a sin unless acted upon.

Heb 4:15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

Jesus was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

So temptation is not a sin and Jesus is sinless but He was tempted.

Mat 5:28 But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.

Lust is not a temptation but an act of willingly wanting to entertain the woman.

Temptation is not the act of sin.

Lust is the act of sin in your mind which is the same as if you did the act.

If you see a muscle car in show room condition you will think that is a nice looking car.

If you see a nice looking woman your mind will think that it is a nice looking woman.

What else is your mind going to think.

So it is not a sin unless acted upon.
 

JohnDB

Well-known member
Jan 16, 2021
6,580
2,732
113
#6
Lust, like Jesus was talking about, is similar to covetousness.

She isn't yours. Not in body, mind or spirit.

Lusting after your own wife is not a sin.
She IS yours. You can have her and all the physical intimacy with her you and she can stand. Newlywed itch is a real malady.

But you are not allowed to have someone else's wife....even if he has not married her yet.

AND
As a most serious warning I will tell you this:
Be VERY careful for what you desire. God may grant it to you and you WILL be sorry. Because all that glitters is not gold.
 

Cameron143

Well-known member
Mar 1, 2022
23,377
7,909
113
63
#7
Jesus is said to be tempted in all points, like we are...Hebrews 4:15. If temptation was sinful, Jesus must have sinned. Since this is clearly not so, temptation itself is not a sin. Acting on a temptation is sin.
 

Gideon300

Well-known member
Mar 18, 2021
6,395
4,033
113
Frankston, Victoria
christianlife.au
#8
Jesus said if you look upon a woman to lust after her you have already commited adultery with her in your heart.

Does this mean temptation is a sin by itself?
No. Think of it like this: If someone had the opportunity to sleep with someone not his wife, would he do so? If he would, it is sin. There is a proverb in China, "You can't stop the birds flying over your head, but you can stop them nesting in your hair".

Adam could have rejected Satan's temptation to eat the fruit of good and evil. Adam's sin was to disobey God and eat.
 

Hakawaka

Well-known member
Jul 1, 2021
560
320
63
#9
Jesus is said to be tempted in all points, like we are...Hebrews 4:15. If temptation was sinful, Jesus must have sinned. Since this is clearly not so, temptation itself is not a sin. Acting on a temptation is sin.
And thats the thread. Thanks for all responses tho!
 

Pilgrimshope

Well-known member
Sep 2, 2020
16,269
6,567
113
#10
And thats the thread. Thanks for all responses tho!
Is temptation sin ? Naw it’s just an aspect of the equation that leads us to sin

“but every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.

Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.”
‭‭James‬ ‭1:14-15‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Temptation is the enticement through the lust of mans flesh that leads a sinner to his sins ultimately the lusts we her or in our hearts later become the sins we commit and temptation is the link between lust and commiting sin

it’s fair to say because Jesus died for our sins , his temptations were also tbrough the lusts of man’s flesh which he partook of for our benefit overcoming that on our behalf.

conmission of sin , the action of sin is the result and what brings death , but the issue is the lust of all flesh. And the vehicle of the enemy to magnify tbat lust into sin is temptation
 
Oct 19, 2024
6,313
1,255
113
USA-TX
#11
No, absolutely not.

Temptation is “sin crouching at the door” (Gen. 4:7), not taking root in your heart.

Lust is not looking at a person, noticing that you find them attractive, or appreciating their appearance; it is considering having sex with them or connecting with them when doing so would be inappropriate.
Yes, lust is NOT those things, but rather it IS the desire to fornicate, and you would if you could get away with it,
so yes, lust is sin as is fornication and pornography.