Are My Urges and Desires a Sin?? – TEMPTATION [2]

TEMPTATION … WHAT IT IS, AND WHAT IT IS NOT …

The dictionary’s definition of temptation is an urge or desire to do something, especially something you should not, or a wrong or forbidden pleasure that is enticing.

The Biblical definition of temptation is to entice to sin, to be put to the test. Our sinful nature, as a result of Adam and Eve’s disobedience, is a person’s tendency or inclination to follow their own self-will vs. following God’s will. – brunstad.org

Temptation is not a sin, in and of itself. It becomes a sin once my sinful thoughts become actions. Committing a sin is something that I choose to do. Sin can not be carried out unless I agree to allow it to. – brunstad.org

SAY…

Along with the word temptation, the word sin comes up quite often. Let’s take a moment to define sin.

Sin is…

Whatever weakens your reasoning
Whatever impairs the tenderness of your conscience
Whatever obscures your sense of God
Whatever takes away your delight for “God’s Ways”

In short, anything that increases the authority of “the flesh” over “the Spirit”, then becomes sin to you, no matter how good it is in itself. – Susanna Wesley, mother of John Wesley

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TEMPTATION JUST “FEELS” WRONG —

Why? Because God has put His moral law in every person’s conscience.

Conscience, from the Greek, is translated “moral awareness”, it is the part of the human psyche that induces mental anguish and feelings of guilt when we violate it. And feelings of pleasure and well-being when our actions, thoughts and words are in conformity to our value systems. – gotquestions.org

The conscience…

Reacts when one’s actions, thoughts, and words conform to, or are contrary to, a standard, God’s standard, of right and wrong.
Is individual, and values can be different for every person.
Reliability is based on its formation by God’s Word vs the culture. A weak value system produces a weak conscience, while a strong value system produces a strong conscience, a strong sense of right and wrong.

Sadly, our consciences can become hardened and calloused, no longer feeling anything. A person with a hardened conscience no longer listens to its promptings, and can sin with abandon, delude himself into thinking all is well with his soul, and treat others insensitively and without compassion. – Created in God’s Image by Anthony Hoekema

The conscience acts as a…

Barometer of sorts, used by individuals for self-evaluation

Alarm, warning us that if we choose to continue along a particular line of thought (lust, coveting (desiring what is not ours), sexual sin, etc. we may find ourselves in a dangerous predicament.

HOW CAN BE KEEP OUR CONSCIENCES SENSITIVE TO GOD’S STANDARD?

By applying God’s Word, what we read in the Bible, into our daily lives – Don’t just listen, (or just read – (my add.)), God’s word. You must do what it says. – James 1:22

** KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR MY NEXT POST – WHERE DOES TEMPTATION COME FROM? **

** FOR MORE POSTS ON TEMPTATION SEE LINKS BELOW **

What Gives You the Willies?? – TEMPTATION [1] – http://wp.me/p5nZpi-vx

Where Does My Desire to “Push the Envelope” Come From?? – TEMPTATION [3] – http://wp.me/p5nZpi-ws

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