Our last point in this lesson on TEMPTATION TO SIN had to do with DESIRE. There is plenty of medium whereby we may allow our eye gate to bring corruption into our minds. The embryo of lust that is produced in the mind and heart, is that of lasciviousness, sensuality, greed, covetousness, hatred, malice, strife, heresies, drunkenness, revellings and such the like (Galatians 5:20). Remember, sin does not start in with the body, but the mind; the body only does what the mind directs.
Now, we shall discuss briefly the issue of DISOBEDIENCE. James 1:15, “Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin:…” These sins grow from the mind and are finally acted out by the body. No one has to make you sin for all of us have the propensity to sin. And no one makes you sin, not even the devil. When you sin, it is because that is what you want or will to do at that moment. I am of the opinion that people don’t simply lose control of their resistance to sin, they let it go.
Please do not commit another sin by telling others or even yourself that you are so holy that you do not sin. That is completely contrary to Bible principle and doctrine. 1 John 1:7, “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.” Plain enough? Sin, whether great or small is disobedience against the Almighty, Righteous, Holy God.
The end result of this process is DEATH: “…and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death” [as coming forth from the womb.] Death has its existence in all the miseries arising from sin, as well as physical death. There is always a consequence for sin. For every kick there is a kick-back; for every action there is a reaction. Any one who indulges in a sinful thought or corrupt desire, should consider that it may end in death—either temporal and eternal. This reflection should induce us to check an evil thought or desire at the beginning or in that embryo stage.”Not for one moment should we indulge in it, for soon it may secure the mastery, and be beyond our control; and the end may be seen in the grave, and the awful world of woe.” [Author unknown]
Let us conclude by saying: there is nothing more damaging to the cause of Christ than a back-slidden child of God. Jeremiah 17:9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? No one is above sin. 1 John 1:8 ¶ If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 1 John 1:10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. The Apostle is warning us that temptation is a tool of Satan to lure us away from God’s fellowship. Only when we are in fellowship with Him are we safe from the temptations which lead us ultimately to destruction. The good news is this: we have a defense, but our only defense and protection is to fly to “the rock that is higher than I.” Psalms 18:31, For who is God save the LORD? or who is a rock save our God? Psalms 18:2, The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.
Now, consider what the Apostle says in 1 Corinthians 10:13 “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God [is] faithful, who will not suffer [allow] 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].lain “ Take this promise and this lesson and live by it. E-mail, johnpruitt@frontiernet.net
