TRIALS AND TEMPTATIONS

[thedrumchannell]

TRIALS AND TEMPTATIONS

Now that you are a Christian that does not mean that life will be without any difficulties. Now you have an enemy called the devil. He is going to oppose you and try anything within his power to stunt your Christian growth. Many of the attacks of the devil come through trials and temptations. To be tempted is not a sin, even Jesus was tempted (Hebrews 4:15). It is only sin when we fall and submit to the temptation. God promises us that He will never allow the devil to tempt us beyond what we are able to resist.

“No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.” 1 Corinthians 10:13

Everyone is born with a nature that likes to sin (Psalm 51:5). When we accept Jesus, we are born again (John 3:3) and this sinful nature dies and a new nature is born (Romans 6:5-6). This new nature likes to follow and obey God. Why then do we still struggle with sin? The sinful nature is dead (Romans 6:8, 11, 12) but our flesh is still alive and still attracted to sin. It is against the flesh that we must fight. How can we win? The victory can only be found in Christ. We need to put on the mind of Christ and learn to live by the power of His Spirit. Read Galatians 5:16-26 to learn how to live the victorious Christian life.

[Pearl]

I like what St. Paul had to say about it--it is not I who sin, but the sin which lives in me.  Actually as you grow older and go through various battles, learn things, forget things, remember things, get insights, ponder mysteries, lay no-fail plans which fail soon enough, and just generally fall down and get up often enough, the one thing you are pretty sure of is that you are insufficient.  Everything else is up for grabs.