Temptations II
Before, During, and After
This series is responding to the popular phrase, “It isn’t a sin to be tempted.” In my last post I discussed several different types of temptations, and how they relate to this question. But, let’s face it, the real type of ‘temptation’ that people are discussing when they use this phrase isn’t the ‘God put a hard thing in my path’, but the ‘I want to do an evil thing.” It is discussing the sexual temptation of adultery, or the sexual perversion of Sodomy.
And being tempted in those ways is a sin. One way that we discover this is by examining all of the things that happened before the temptation.
Before the Temptation
Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. The spirit truly is ready, but the flesh is weak.
Mark 14:38
And said unto them, Why sleep ye? rise and pray, lest ye enter into temptation.
Luke 22:46
Did you flee the temptation, before it became one? Or did you stay in the environment of temptation, or even put yourself into it?
What Environment you put Yourself In
But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully;
Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers,
For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine;
According to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust.
I Timothy 1:8-11
Temptations do not happen in isolation. They happen in an environment. There may be things that you cannot help about your environment, but there are so many other things that you can.
Lack of Foresight
With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments.
Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.
Blessed art thou, O LORD: teach me thy statutes.
Psalm 119:10-12
We are not merely required to wander through life, refusing to sin when it is presented in sharp relief. We are required to prepare, to plan ahead, to study. To hide God’s Word in our heart, and to ask him to keep us from sin.
Other’s Sins
For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;
Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.
For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,
And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.
Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:
Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.
For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:
And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.
And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;
Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,
Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,
Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:
Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.
Romans 1:18-32
What company are you keeping? God brings down judgements on whole nations, which can include… temptation. As a matter of fact, and of relevance to our current situation, Sodomy… the temptation for male on male sexual activity and other perversions, is one of those temptations.
Other Sins
And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;
And patience, experience; and experience, hope:
And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
Romans 5:3-5
Sins are contagious. Righteousness is contagious. One sin leads to another. So when we are faced with a temptation we have to ask ourselves… did other sins lead to this temptation?
During the Temptation
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.
James 1:12
Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.
Revelation 3:10
During a temptation the Christian has an obligation
Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.
I Corinthians 6:18
Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry.
I Corinthians 10:14
But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.
I Timothy 6:11
Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
II Timothy 2:22
They are to flee temptation. They are to resist temptation. They are to nail that evil desire to the cross.
All of us undergo temptation every day in dozens of areas. We are tempted with fornication, adultery, unGodly anger, laziness… the list is really long. Our goal should be to flee and resist each other everyone one of these temptations… not to excuse them.
After the Temptation
To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet came unto him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba.
Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.
Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.
For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.
Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.
Psalm 51:1-4
And then we come to after the temptation. Which is… before the next temptation. We are to learn from each temptation how to avoid the next one. Whether we fell, or we succeeded, we are to learn.
Conclusion
Before, during, and after temptations we are to prepare for the next temptation. We are to memorise Scripture, pray, seek Godly company, avoid tempting areas, understand God’s will… there are hundreds of things we should be doing.
So to the underlying question. When we are tempted to sin. When our own lust rises up and tries to get us to contradict the will of God… that is our fault.
We may be put through trials, we may have evil men around us sent by God to try our faith. God might even test our obedience by sending lying prophets.
But the kind of temptation that arises from our own lusts… that is our fault. If you desire to have sex with a man… that is your fault. That cannot be excused, it must be repented of. It is not a state of life, it is an active sin.
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Von also writes as ‘Arthur Yeomans’. Under that name he writes children’s, YA, and adult fiction from a Christian perspective. His books include:
The Bobtails meet the Preacher’s Kid
and
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Thanks again, God Bless, Soli Deo gloria,
Von
