As free moral agents, we all face temptation to sin.We have all been tempted and have been guilty of sin."For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God"
(Romans 3:23), and "the wages of sin is death" (Romans 6:23).We will be eternally lost in Hell if we continue in sin and do not
repent."Do you not know that
to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are the one’s slaves whom
you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or obedience leading to
righteousness?" (Romans 6:16).If
we are not careful we can "be hardened through the deceitfulness of
sin" (Hebrews 3:13).But
"Blessed is the man who endures temptation, for when he is tried, he
shall receive the crown of life" (James 1:12).We must not give into sin.
Satan is referred to as the tempter, the one who does the tempting
(Matthew 4:3, 1 Thessalonians 3:5).But
God does not tempt anyone."Let
no one say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God; for God cannot be tempted
by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone.But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and
enticed.Then when desire has
conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth
death" (James 1:13-15).Spiritual
death occurs when one is eternally lost in Hell, which is separation from God.
God will not allow us to be tempted with more than we can bear."No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man;
but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are
able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may
be able to bear it" (1 Corinthians 10:13).But "The Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptation and
to reserve the unjust under punishment for the Day of Judgment" (2 Peter
2:9).
But how do we protect ourselves from temptation?Jesus tells us to "Watch and pray, lest you enter temptation"
(Matthew 26:41).We are to
"Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like
a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.Resist him steadfast in the truth" (1 Peter 5:8-9).But how do we keep from sinning when we are tempted?We are to "Lay aside every weight and the sin which so easily
ensnares us" (Hebrews 12:1).We
must "Abhor that which is evil, cleave to that which is good"
(Romans 12:9).We are not to be
"conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your
mind" (Romans 12:2).How do
we renew our mind to protect ourselves from sin?"Your word have I hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against
you" (Psalms 119:11).And
then we must "Be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving
yourselves" (James 1:22), because "To him that knows to do good and
does not do it to him it is sin" (James 4:17).The terror of the Lord awaits those who, because of sin, are unprepared
to stand before the Lord in Judgment.Let’s
not be deceived by sin.
When others "in time of temptation fall away" (Luke 8:13), we
must try to gently help restore them."Brethern,
if any man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a
one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be
tempted" (Galatians 6:1).
What does sin do to us?“But
your iniquities have separated you from your God; and your sins have hidden
His face from you, so that He will not hear” (Isaiah 59:2).
Sin separates us from God. If we are separated from God we will be lost.
Sin is very deceitful, alluring, and ensnaring.If we are not careful, we can gradually give in to it and become
comfortable in sin.We must be
watchful and overcome temptation and live a godly life so we can go to Heaven
when this life is over.Hebrews 3:13 says that we are to "Exhort one another daily…lest
any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness
of sin."With many people sin
is first abhorred, then people tolerate it, then they become more comfortable
with it, and then it is embraced.But
why is sin so openly embraced by so many?It is because they have not been properly taught the word of God.People, who become so involved in sin, do not want to listen or receive
God’s word.People, because of
sin become "past feeling" (Ephesians
4:19), because they have
"their conscience seared with a hot iron" (1 Timothy 4:2).As the morality level of this nation declines, the church is also
affected and has become more comfortable with sin.As Paul says in 2 Timothy 3:13, "Evil men and seducers shall wax
worse and worse."Satan wants
us to become complacent with sin so he can help us to be lost with him in the
burning fires of a real Hell.
There seems to be no shame today by the many who participate in sin.Jeremiah 6:15 says, "Were they ashamed when they had committed
abomination?No, they were not at
all ashamed, nor did they know how to blush."The modern world is rapidly casting aside all moral restraints.They want to "call evil good and good evil" (Isaiah 5:20).As or Lord says in Matthew 13:15, "For the hearts of this people
have grown dull.Their ears are
hard of hearing, and their eyes they have closed."Sin first has its beginning with lust."Then when lust has conceived, it brings forth sin: and sin when
it is finished brings forth death" (James 1:15).This is spiritual death, which is eternal separation from God.
All of our actions first originate in our mind. Proverbs 23:7 says,
"For as he thinks in his heart, so is he."We are what we think.Those
who think on evil things become evil just as those in Noah’s day."Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the
earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil
continually" (Genesis 6:5).Those,
who think evil, will do evil."For
those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the
flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is
peace.Because the carnal mind is
enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can
be" (Romans 8:5-7).The
sinful things that people say and do first originate in their mind."For those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the
heart, and they defile a man" (Matthew 15:18).
But how can our thinking be used for us to live a godly life so we can
go to Heaven?By studying God’s word
and making it part of our life we will "sanctify the Lord God in your
hearts" (1 Peter 3:15).By
doing this we will "seek first the
kingdom
of
God
and His righteousness" (Matthew 6:33).For us to go to Heaven we must, "Set your mind on things above,
not on things on the earth" (Colossians 3:2).
We must purify our hearts for, "Blessed are the pure in heart, for
they shall see God" (Matthew 5:8).How
do we purify our hearts so we can go to Heaven?"Finally, brethern, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things
are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever
things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any
virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things" (Philippians
4:8).As we think on pure and holy
things our lives will be righteous.We
will "not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing
of your mind" (Romans 12:2) as we study God’s word.Jesus says, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart,
with all your soul, and with all your mind" (Matthew 22:37).If we do this we will obey all that God commands and one day be with
Him in Heaven.
Questions Lesson #
10
Temptation & Sin
(Click on the button of the answer
of your choice)
1) (Romans 3:23) How many accountable people have
sinned?
Few.
Many.
All.
2)
(Romans 6:23) The payment of sin is spiritual
death.
3) (Romans 6:16) Who are we slaves to?
No one.
To whom we obey.
Only to some people.
4)
(James 1:13-15) God does not tempt us.
5) (Matthew 26:41) How do we protect ourselves from
temptation?
Watch and pray.
There is no way to protect ourselves.
Give in to temptation.
6)
(1 Corinthians 10:13) There is no way to keep from
sinning when we are tempted.
7) (1 Peter 5:8-9) Why should we be vigilant?
We need to be vigilant some of the time.
We don't need to be vigilant.
Because our adversary the devil is seeking to devour us.
8)
We are to resist Satan with the truth of God's
word.
9) (James 1:22) One who hears God's word but doesn't
do it
Can always do it later.
Deceives himself.
Doesn't need to do God's word.
10)
(Psalms 119:11) We should
hide God's word in
our heart to keep from sinning.
11) (Galatians 6:1) What should we do if another
Christian is overtaken in sin?
Nothing.
Try to restore the one in a spirit of meekness.
Ignore him.
12)
(James 4:17) It is alright to know to do good and
not do it.
13) (Isaiah 59:2) What separates one from God?
Space.
God is in Heaven and we are on the earth.
One's unforgiven sins and iniquities.
14)
(Ephesians 5:19) Because of sin, people can become
past feeling.
15) (Matthew 6:33) What should we seek first in this
life?
The fullest enjoyment of this life here on the earth.
To make a lot of money.
To go to Heaven.
16)
(Matthew 15:18) The sinful things people do
originate in the mind.