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[cjwood]

 Temptation
« on: October 17, 2006, 09:10:45 AM » 

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 Mr. Smith, I just emailed you minutes ago reguarding Jesus being tempted but did not sin. I believe God just revealed to me that Jesus was tempted from his heart to (lust after a women) I'm just using this as an example, but said no to Satan, the lust  and therefor did not sin. Is this correct. I now believe God is now helping me understand and remove this lust thing which I am dealing with, as you may know from a recent email I sent you yesterday, after a prayer to God with a confession to my wife last night. He is helping me get to the root of this problem. Is this lust a sin that can be cured by a continuation to deny self by saying no to lust or must the desire to lust be removed by the holy spirit like smoking was for me or both? One day there was the desire and the next day it was gone. 
 
RB
 

Dear RB:
Temptation us usually translated from "peirazo" and it means to test, scrutinize, prove, examine, etc.  None of these things are "sin."  When a man sees a pretty girl, the first thing he does is look. This is not a sin, in and by itself.  However a temptation has been presented and the man's mind is now presented with a couple of options:  [1] continue looking and examining the lady's body in a sexual, lustful, self-gratifying way, or [2] realize that this is a temptation that could lead to lust and sin, and therefore LOOK AWAY.
 
The temptation is not the sin.  It is not rocket science to understand. Someone offers you a large amount of money to tell a lie.  You think to yourself "with that money I could pay off all my debts, but to get it I would have to lie and lying is a sin, and I refuse to sin." You then say, "NO, I will not lie for money."  You did not sin. The temptation presented itself, you understood it, you evaluated it and took the high road by not giving into the temptation to the point that you  [1] began to actually lust for the money, [2] agreed to offer, and [3] carried it out by telling the lie.  When James says "lust," the word really means "desire."  And so, notice what he says,
 
"Then when desire has CONCEIVED, it brings forth sin...." (James 1:14).
 
If there were zero desire attached to a temptation, then there would not BE a temptation at all, but Jesus REALLY WAS TEMPTED.  He just wouldn't allow Himself to begin fulfilling whatever the desire may have been.  I can always be tempted by a good chocolate cake or good ice cream, but I often do not give in to the tempation, because I know that I don't want to gain more weight or whatever the reason may be for denying it. Having a desire to look at a beautiful woman is not a sin unless one gives in to where that desire will naturally lead, and allows sin to conceive.
 
God be with you,
Ray     


i was reading this email to ray and believe it is such a powerful "mini" teaching on sin and temptation that i wanted to bring it here for everyone to enjoy.

claudia
 

[Marky Mark]

Thanks Claudia,good find.


Peace...Mark

[gmik]

Thanks Claudia.   That is a great mini lesson!

[Marlene]

Thanks Claudia, Good lesson.

Marlene

[EKnight]

Yes, Claudia, this is very useful.  Short and to the point(s).  Thanks for digging.

Eileen

[cjwood]

the thread was to exhort us all to dig in
and read through old emails to ray.
there is much to learn and relearn. i am
now on page 105 of that section. so much
to meditate on.  Glory to God for His giving us
His Mercy and Grace...

claudia

[Samson]

Great Find Claudia,

                          This explanation of Ray's was essentially the definition of Sin that I was taught previously to my arrival to Bible-Truths. He presents a balanced view as to where someone might look at a pretty girl, recognizing "She's" just nice looking and not take it any further in his thinking processes. I use the illustration of someone visiting someone's home and a Hundred Dollars is lying in some location or situation where the owner of the money would not notice it missing and you notice it, then consider the options of taking it or not taking it, you briefly consider those options, but quickly you are repelled from the option of stealing it. James. 1:14 does not come to fruition in this case. See excerpt of the point from Ray's Email posted by Claudia that I thought especially helpfull. (Below in Blue).

Temptation us usually translated from "peirazo" and it means to test, scrutinize, prove, examine, etc.  None of these things are "sin."  When a man sees a pretty girl, the first thing he does is look. This is not a sin, in and by itself.  However a temptation has been presented and the man's mind is now presented with a couple of options:  [1] continue looking and examining the lady's body in a sexual, lustful, self-gratifying way, or [2] realize that this is a temptation that could lead to lust and sin, and therefore LOOK AWAY.
 
The temptation is not the sin.  It is not rocket science to understand. Someone offers you a large amount of money to tell a lie.  You think to yourself "with that money I could pay off all my debts, but to get it I would have to lie and lying is a sin, and I refuse to sin." You then say, "NO, I will not lie for money."  You did not sin. The temptation presented itself, you understood it, you evaluated it and took the high road by not giving into the temptation to the point that you  [1] began to actually lust for the money, [2] agreed to offer, and [3] carried it out by telling the lie.  When James says "lust," the word really means "desire."  And so, notice what he says,


  Thanks for the Thread, Samson.

[G. Driggs]

Wow this is an awesome thread! This has really helped me the last few days. This brings to mind some Scriptures I hope will help someone.

Gen 2:9  The LORD God made all kinds of trees grow out of the ground. Their fruit was pleasing to look at and good to eat. The tree that gives life forever was in the middle of the garden. The tree that gives the ability to tell the difference between good and evil was also there.

Heb 5:13  Anyone who lives on milk is still a baby. That person does not want to learn about living a godly life.
Heb 5:14  Solid food is for those who are grown up. They have trained themselves with a lot of practice. They can tell the difference between good and evil.

It seems it is very important to know and identify the difference between good and evil. I was thinking who could possibly NOT know the difference? I sure didnt when I was in babylon, I didnt know the preaching and teaching of hell was evil, or many other things that the Babylonian church teaches. I was truly "miserable, naked and blind" and evil for teaching and believing in "the depth of Satan". Just like im very sure there are some who do not know that looking after a women with lust is evil and sinful.

Thanks Claudia, and thank all of you for this excellent thread, all the glory is His for showing us this.

Peace, G.Driggs

[Marlene]

That, worked Claudia. I have been reading many of his emails. I have also been reading the lake of fire series again.

In His Love,
Marlene