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Author Topic: Temptations
oneinchrist
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Member # 6532

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Hi Carol,
Its nice to meet you. Can you tell us a little about yourself and your testimony?

With love in Christ, Daniel

Posts: 1389 | From: Wind Lake, WI | Registered: May 2007  |  IP: Logged | Report this post to a Moderator
Carol Swenson
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Member # 6929

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CONTENTS
1. Temptations Chart
2. Temptation
3. Pride
4. Self-Righteousness
5. Sin
__________________________________________________

Galatians 5:19 - 21 (NLT)

19When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, 20idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, 21envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.


TEMPTATIONS / 1 John 2:17


Lust of the flesh
The desire to fulfill pleasures, physical desires

Lust of the eyes
The constant craving for more

The pride of life
The desire for power or possessions


Temptation of Eve
(Genesis 3:4-6)

The fruit looked delicious and would be good to eat.

The fruit was a pleasure to look at.

The fruit was desirable for gaining wisdom; Eve wanted to “be like God.”


Temptation of Christ
(Matthew 4:1-11;
Luke 4:1-13)

Turn the stones into bread.

Gain all the kingdoms of the world, as far as the eye can see.

Throw yourself down and the angels will come and rescue you for God will not allow you to be hurt.


Temptation of the Church Today

Take what is easier or more pleasurable rather than God’s best.

Respond impulsively, without restraint or self-control.

Build a power base rather than seek to serve others.
__________________________________________________


TEMPTATION
(Attraction, Seduction, Trap)

EXPERIENCING TEMPTATION
Why is it so easy to give in to temptation?

BIBLE READING: Genesis 3:1-7
KEY BIBLE VERSE: Now the serpent was the shrewdest of all the creatures the LORD God had made. "Really?" he asked the woman. "Did God really say you must not eat any of the fruit in the garden?" (Genesis 3:1)

Temptation is part of a crafty plan that appeals to our natural desires in attempt to separate us from God. Disguised as a crafty serpent, Satan came to tempt Eve. Satan at one time was an angel who rebelled against God and was thrown out of heaven. As a created being, Satan has definite limitations. Although he is trying to tempt everyone away from God, he will not be the final victor. In 3:14-15, God promises that Satan will be crushed by one of the woman's offspring, the Messiah.

Temptation is an invitation to live a self-serving life that leads to rebellion against God. Temptation is Satan's invitation to give in to his kind of life and give up on God's kind of life. Satan tempted Eve and succeeded in getting her to sin. Ever since then, he's been busy getting people to sin. He even tempted Jesus (Matthew 4:1). But Jesus did not sin!

Temptation feeds off our own tendency toward self-reliance. The serpent, Satan, tempted Eve by getting her to doubt God's goodness. He implied that God was strict, stingy, and selfish for not wanting Eve to share his knowledge of good and evil. Satan made Eve forget all that God had given her and instead focus on the one thing she couldn't have. We fall into trouble, too, when we dwell on the few things we don't have rather than on the countless things God has given us. The next time you are feeling sorry for yourself and thinking about what you don't have, consider all you do have and thank God. Then your doubts won't lead you into sin.

BIBLE READING: Deut. 12:28-32
KEY BIBLE VERSE: Do not be trapped into following their example in worshiping their gods. Do not say, "How do these nations worship their gods? I want to follow their example." (Deut. 12:30)

Temptation is subtle; what it offers may seem harmless at first glance. God did not want the Israelites even to ask about the pagan religions surrounding them. Idolatry completely permeated the land of Canaan. It was too easy to get drawn into the subtle temptations of seemingly harmless practices. Sometimes curiosity can cause us to stumble. Knowledge of evil is harmful if the evil becomes too tempting to resist. To resist curiosity about harmful practices shows discretion and obedience.

BIBLE READING: 1 Kings 11:1-13
KEY BIBLE VERSE: Now King Solomon loved many foreign women. Besides Pharaoh's daughter, he married women from Moab, Ammon, Edom, Sidon, and from among the Hittites. The LORD had clearly instructed his people not to intermarry with those nations, because the women they married would lead them to worship their gods. Yet Solomon insisted on loving them anyway. (1 Kings 11:1-2)

Temptation often hits hardest in our areas of weakness. For all his wisdom, Solomon had some weak spots. He could not say no to compromise or to lustful desires. Whether he married to strengthen political alliances or to gain personal pleasure, these foreign wives led him into idolatry. You may have strong faith, but you also have weak spots—and that is where temptation usually strikes. Strengthen and protect your weaker areas, because a chain is only as strong as its weakest link. If Solomon, the wisest man, could fall, so can you.

BIBLE READING: Matthew 4:1-11
KEY BIBLE VERSE: Jesus was led out into the wilderness by the Holy Spirit to be tempted there by the Devil. (Matthew 4:1)

Temptation can strike any area of life. The devil focused on three crucial areas when he tempted Jesus: (1) physical needs and desires, (2) possessions and power, and (3) pride (see 1 John 2:15-16 for a similar list). But Jesus did not give in. Hebrews 4:15 says that Jesus "faced all of the same temptations we do, yet he did not sin." He knows firsthand what we are experiencing, and he is willing and able to help us in our struggles. When you are tempted, turn to him for strength.

RESISTING TEMPTATION
How can we resist temptation?

BIBLE READING: Genesis 3:1-7
KEY BIBLE VERSE: The woman was convinced. The fruit looked so fresh and delicious, and it would make her so wise! So she ate some of the fruit. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her. Then he ate it, too. (Genesis 3:6)

Resistance begins with being aware of temptation when it strikes. How could Eve have resisted temptation? By following the same guidelines we can follow. First, we must realize that temptation in itself is not a sin. We do not sin until we give in to the temptation. To resist temptation, we must (1) pray for strength to resist, (2) run, sometimes literally, and (3) say no when confronted with what we know is wrong. James 1:12 tells of the blessings and rewards for those who don't give in when tempted.

BIBLE READING: 2 Samuel 11:1-27
KEY BIBLE VERSE: Late one afternoon David got out of bed after taking a nap and went for a stroll on the roof of the palace. As he looked out over the city, he noticed a woman of unusual beauty taking a bath. (2 Samuel 11:2)

Resist immediately; any delay makes it more difficult. As David looked from the roof of the palace, he saw a beautiful woman bathing, and he was filled with lust. David should have left the roof and fled the temptation. Instead, he entertained the temptation by inquiring about Bathsheba. The results were devastating.

Have a plan for resisting temptation. To flee temptation, (1) ask God in earnest prayer to help you stay away from people, places, and situations that may tempt you. (2) Memorize and meditate on portions of Scripture that combat your specific weaknesses. At the root of most temptation is a real need or desire that God can fill, but we must trust in his timing. (3) Find another believer with whom you can openly share your struggles, and call this person for help when temptation strikes.

BIBLE READING: Matthew 4:1-11
KEY BIBLE VERSE: For forty days and forty nights he ate nothing and became very hungry. Then the Devil came and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, change these stones into loaves of bread." (Matthew 4:2-3)

Remember that temptation to seemingly harmless sins can lead to harmful consequences. The devil, also called the tempter, tempted Eve in the Garden of Eden, and here he tempted Jesus in the desert. Satan is a fallen angel. He is real, not symbolic, and is constantly fighting against those who follow and obey God. Satan's temptations are real, and he is always trying to get us to live his way or our way rather than God's way. Jesus will one day reign over all creation, but Satan tried to force his hand and get him to declare his kingship prematurely. If Jesus had given in, his mission on earth—to die for our sins so that we might have eternal life—would have failed. When temptations seem especially strong, or when you think you can rationalize giving in, consider whether Satan may be trying to block God's purposes for your life or for someone else's life.

Realize that temptation, in itself, is not a sin. Jesus was tempted by the devil, but he never sinned! Although we may feel dirty after being tempted, we should remember that temptation itself is not sin. We sin when we give in and disobey God. Remembering this will help us turn away from the temptation.

Do not be surprised by temptation at unlikely times and in unlikely places. Jesus wasn't tempted inside the temple, or at his baptism, but in the desert where he was tired, alone, and hungry, and thus most vulnerable. The devil often tempts us when we are most vulnerable—when we are under physical or emotional stress (for example, when we are lonely, tired, weighing big decisions, or faced with uncertainty). But he also likes to tempt us through our strengths, where we are most susceptible to pride. We must guard at all times against his attacks.

—Handbook of Bible Application


PRIDE
(Arrogance, Conceit, Vanity)

How can pride destroy our life?

BIBLE READING: Psalm 10:1-18
KEY BIBLE VERSE: The wicked say to themselves, "God isn't watching! He will never notice!" (Psalm 10:11)

Pride lures us into living independently of God. There is an incompatibility between blind arrogance and the presence of God in our heart. The proud person depends on himself or herself rather than on God. This causes God's guiding influences to leave his or her life. When God's presence is welcome, there is no room for pride, because he makes us aware of our true self.

BIBLE READING: Mark 6:1-12
KEY BIBLE VERSE: Because of their unbelief, he couldn't do any mighty miracles among them except to place his hands on a few sick people and heal them. (Mark 6:5)

Pride undermines our faith. Jesus could have done greater miracles in Nazareth, but he chose not to because of the people's pride and unbelief. The miracles he did had little effect on the people because they did not accept his message or believe that he was from God. Therefore, Jesus looked elsewhere, seeking those who would respond to his miracles and message.

BIBLE READING: Luke 18:9-14
KEY BIBLE VERSE: I tell you, this sinner, not the Pharisee, returned home justified before God. For the proud will be humbled, but the humble will be honored. (Luke 18:14)

Pride can cut us off from God and others. The Pharisee in Jesus' parable did not go to the temple to pray to God but to announce to all within earshot how good he was. The tax collector went recognizing his sin and begging for mercy. Self-righteousness is dangerous. It leads to pride, causes a person to despise others, and prevents him or her from learning anything from God. The tax collector's prayer should be our prayer because we all need God's mercy every day. Don't let pride in your achievements cut you off from God.

BIBLE READING: Ephes. 2:11-22
KEY BIBLE VERSE: Christ himself has made peace between us Jews and you Gentiles by making us all one people. He has broken down the wall of hostility that used to separate us. (Ephes. 2:14)

Pride distorts our view of ourself and others. Jews and Gentiles alike could be guilty of spiritual pride—Jews for thinking their faith and traditions elevated them above everyone else, Gentiles for trusting in their achievements, power, or position. Spiritual pride blinds us to our own faults and magnifies the faults of others. Be careful not to become proud of your salvation. Instead, humbly thank God for what he has done, and encourage others who might be struggling in their faith.

—Handbook of Bible Application


SELF-RIGHTEOUSNESS
(Blame, Excuses, Rationalizing)

Why does God judge self-righteousness?

BIBLE READING: Matthew 9:9-13
KEY BIBLE VERSE: When he heard this, Jesus replied, "Healthy people don't need a doctor—sick people do." Then he added, "Now go and learn the meaning of this Scripture: 'I want you to be merciful; I don't want your sacrifices.' For I have come to call sinners, not those who think they are already good enough." (Matthew 9:12-13)

Self-righteousness rejects the necessary admission of our sinfulness. Those who are sure that they are righteous can't be saved, because the first step in following Jesus is acknowledging our need and admitting that we don't have all the answers. As long as people insist on their own qualifications as good enough to stand before God, they are cut off from hope.

BIBLE READING: Luke 15:1-32
KEY BIBLE VERSE: The older brother was angry and wouldn't go in. His father came out and begged him, but he replied, "All these years I've worked hard for you and never once refused to do a single thing you told me to. And in all that time you never gave me even one young goat for a feast with my friends. Yet when this son of yours comes back after squandering your money on prostitutes, you celebrate by killing the finest calf we have." (Luke 15:28-30)

Self-righteousness presumes to judge the lives of others. In Jesus' story, the older brother represented the Pharisees, who were angry and resentful that sinners were being welcomed into God's kingdom. After all, the Pharisees must have thought, we have sacrificed and done so much for God. How easy it is to resent God's gracious forgiveness of others whom we consider to be far worse sinners than ourselves. But when our self-righteousness gets in the way of rejoicing when others come to Jesus, we are no better than the Pharisees.

BIBLE READING: Luke 18:9-14
KEY BIBLE VERSE: I tell you, this sinner, not the Pharisee, returned home justified before God. For the proud will be humbled, but the humble will be honored. (Luke 18:14)

Self-righteousness is evidence of pride. The Pharisee in this parable did not go to the temple to pray to God but to announce to all within earshot how good he was. The tax collector went recognizing his sin and begging for mercy. Self-righteousness is dangerous. It leads to pride, causes a person to despise others, and prevents him or her from learning anything from God. The tax collector's prayer should be our prayer because we all need God's mercy every day. Don't let pride in your achievements cut you off from God.

—Handbook of Bible Application


SIN
(Disobedience, Evil, Rebellion)

DEFINITION OF SIN
What is sin?

BIBLE READING: Genesis 3:14-19
KEY BIBLE VERSE: To Adam he said, "Because you listened to your wife and ate the fruit I told you not to eat, I have placed a curse on the ground. All your life you will struggle to scratch a living from it." (Genesis 3:17)

Sin is disobeying God. Adam and Eve learned by painful experience that because God is holy and hates sin, he must punish sinners. The rest of the book of Genesis recounts painful stories of lives ruined as a result of the fall. Disobedience is sin, and it breaks our fellowship with God. But, fortunately, when we disobey, God is willing to forgive us and to restore our relationship with him.

BIBLE READING: Leviticus 4:1-12
KEY BIBLE VERSE: The LORD said to Moses, "Give the Israelites the following instructions for dealing with those who sin unintentionally by doing anything forbidden by the LORD's commands." (Leviticus 4:1-2)

Sin includes unintended wrongdoing. Have you ever done something wrong without realizing it until later? Although your sin was unintentional, it was still sin. One of the purposes of God's commands was to make the Israelites aware of their unintentional sins so they would not repeat them and so they could be forgiven for them. Leviticus 4 and 5 mention some of these unintentional sins and the way the Israelites could be forgiven for them. As you read more of God's laws, keep in mind that they were meant to teach and guide the people. Let them help you become more aware of sin in your life.

BIBLE READING: Matthew 8:1-4
KEY BIBLE VERSE: Jesus touched him. "I want to," he said. "Be healed!" And instantly the leprosy disappeared. (Matthew 8:3)

Sin is a disease beyond human cure. Leprosy, like AIDS today, was a terrifying disease because there was no known cure. In Jesus' day, the Greek word for leprosy was used for a variety of similar diseases, and some forms were contagious. If a person contracted the contagious type, a priest declared him a leper and banished him from his home and city. The leper was sent to live in a community with other lepers until he either got better or died. Yet when the leper begged Jesus to heal him, Jesus reached out and touched him, even though his skin was covered with the dread disease.

Sin is also an incurable disease—and we all have it. Only Christ's healing touch can miraculously take away our sins and restore us to real living. But first, just like the leper, we must realize our inability to cure ourself and ask for Christ's saving help.

BIBLE READING: Mark 7:1-23
KEY BIBLE VERSE: Then he added, "It is the thought-life that defiles you. For from within, out of a person's heart, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, wickedness, deceit, eagerness for lustful pleasure, envy, slander, pride, and foolishness. All these vile things come from within; they are what defile you and make you unacceptable to God." (Mark 7:20-23)

Sin has an inward as well as an outward aspect. Do we worry more about what is in our diet than what is in our heart and mind? As they interpreted the dietary laws (Leviticus 11), the Jews believed they could be clean before God because of what they refused to eat. But Jesus pointed out that sin actually begins in the attitudes and intentions of the inner person. Jesus did not degrade the law, but he paved the way for the change made clear in Acts 10:9-29 when God removed the cultural restrictions regarding food. We are not pure because of outward acts—we become pure on the inside as Christ renews our mind and transforms us into his image.

BIBLE READING: Romans 3:9-20
KEY BIBLE VERSE: Are we Jews better than others? No, not at all, for we have already shown that all people, whether Jews or Gentiles, are under the power of sin. (Romans 3:9-10)

Sin is the universal separation of people from God. Paul uses these Old Testament references to show that humanity in general, in its present sinful condition, is unacceptable before God. Have you ever thought to yourself, Well, I'm not too bad. I'm a pretty good person? Look at these verses and see if any of them apply to you. Have you ever lied? Have you ever hurt someone's feelings by your words or tone of voice? Are you bitter toward anyone? Do you become angry with those who strongly disagree with you? In thought, word, and deed, you, like everyone else in the world, stand guilty before God. We must remember who we are in his sight—alienated sinners. Don't deny that you are a sinner. Instead, allow your desperate need to point you toward Christ.

Sin is in our nature and must be faced by every person. The last time someone accused you of wrongdoing, what was your reaction? Denial, argument, and defensiveness? The Bible tells us the world stands silent and accountable before almighty God. No excuses or arguments are left. Have you reached the point with God where you are ready to hang up your defenses and await his decision? If you haven't, stop now and admit your sin to him.

THE CHARACTERISTICS OF SIN
How can we recognize sinful behavior?

BIBLE READING: Genesis 3:1-24
KEY BIBLE VERSE: At that moment, their eyes were opened, and they suddenly felt shame at their nakedness. So they strung fig leaves together around their hips to cover themselves. (Genesis 3:7)

Sinful behavior often begins as a delightful and fun action. Satan tried to make Eve think that sin is good, pleasant, and desirable. A knowledge of both good and evil seemed harmless to her. People usually choose wrong things because they have become convinced that those things are good, at least for themselves. Our sins do not always appear ugly to us, and the pleasant sins are the hardest to avoid. So prepare yourself for the attractive temptations that may come your way. We cannot always prevent temptation, but there is always a way of escape (1 Cor. 10:13). God's Word and God's people can help you stand against it.

Temptation to sinful behavior is rarely obvious at first. Notice what Eve did: She looked, she took, she ate, and she gave. The battle is often lost at the first look. Temptation often begins by simply seeing something you want. Are you struggling with temptation because you have not learned that looking is the first step toward sin? You would win over temptation more often if you followed Paul's advice to run from those things that produce evil thoughts (2 Tim. 2:22).

Sin's effects spread. After Eve sinned, she involved Adam in her wrongdoing. When we do something wrong, we often try to relieve our guilt by involving someone else. Like toxic waste spilled in a river, sin swiftly spreads. Recognize and confess your sin to God before you are tempted to pollute those around you.

Sin usually causes guilt. After sinning, Adam and Eve felt guilt and embarrassment over their nakedness. Their guilty feelings made them try to hide from God. A guilty conscience is a warning signal God placed inside you that goes off when you've done wrong. The worst step you could take is to eliminate the guilty feelings without eliminating the cause. That would be like using a painkiller but not treating the disease. Be glad those guilty feelings are there. They make you aware of your sin so you can ask God's forgiveness and then correct your wrongdoing.

Sin creates a barrier between us and God. God desires to have fellowship with us, but we are afraid to have fellowship with him. Adam and Eve hid from God when they heard him approaching. God wanted to be with them, but because of their sin, they were afraid to show themselves. Sin had broken their close relationship with God, just as it has broken ours. But Jesus Christ, God's Son, opens the way for us to renew our fellowship with him. God longs to be with us. He actively offers us his unconditional love. Our natural response is fear, because we feel we can't live up to his standards. But understanding that he loves us, regardless of our faults, can help remove that dread.

Sinful behavior is almost always covered by excuses. When God asked Adam about his sin, Adam blamed Eve. Then Eve blamed the serpent. How easy it is to excuse our sins by blaming someone else or circumstances. But God knows the truth, and he holds each of us responsible for what we do (Genesis 3:14-19). Admit your wrong attitudes and actions and ask God for forgiveness. Don't try to get away with sin by blaming someone else.

BIBLE READING: 2 Samuel 11:1-27
KEY BIBLE VERSE: When Bathsheba heard that her husband was dead, she mourned for him. When the period of mourning was over, David sent for her and brought her to the palace, and she became one of his wives. Then she gave birth to a son. But the LORD was very displeased with what David had done. (2 Samuel 11:26-27)

Sin often leads to more sin. In the episode with Bathsheba, David allowed himself to fall deeper and deeper into sin. (1) David abandoned his purpose by staying home from war (2 Samuel 11:1). (2) He focused on his own desires (2 Samuel 11:3). (3) When temptation came, he looked into it instead of turning away from it (2 Samuel 11:4). (4) He sinned deliberately (2 Samuel 11:4). (5) He tried to cover up his sin by deceiving others (2 Samuel 11:6-15). (6) He committed murder to continue the cover-up (2 Samuel 11:15-17). Eventually David's sin was exposed (2 Samuel 12:9) and punished (2 Samuel 12:10-14). (7) The consequences of David's sin were far-reaching, affecting many others (2 Samuel 11:17; 2 Samuel 12:11, 14-15).

Sinful behavior can and should be stopped before it starts. David could have chosen to stop and turn from evil at any stage along the way. But once sin gets started, it is difficult to stop (James 1:14-15). The deeper the mess, the less we want to admit having caused it. It's much easier to stop sliding down a hill when you are near the top than when you are halfway down.

THE RESULTS OF SIN
What are the results of sin?

BIBLE READING: Numbers 15:30-36
KEY BIBLE VERSE: Those who brazenly violate the LORD's will, whether native Israelites or foreigners, blaspheme the LORD, and they must be cut off from the community. (Numbers 15:30)

Sin deserves punishment. God was willing to forgive those who made unintentional errors if they realized their mistakes quickly and corrected them. However, those who defiantly and deliberately sinned received a harsher judgment. Intentional sin grows out of an improper attitude toward God. A child who knowingly disobeys his parents challenges their authority and dares them to respond. Both the act and the attitude have to be dealt with.

Sin is punished with death. Stoning a man for gathering wood on the Sabbath seems like a severe punishment, and it was. This act was a deliberate sin, defying God's law against working on the Sabbath. Perhaps the man was trying to get ahead of everyone else, in addition to breaking the Sabbath.

BIBLE READING: Genesis 20:1-18
KEY BIBLE VERSE: Abraham moved south to the Negev and settled for a while between Kadesh and Shur at a place called Gerar. Abraham told people there that his wife, Sarah, was his sister. So King Abimelech sent for her and had her brought to him at his palace. (Genesis 20:1-2)

Sinful actions can become sinful habits. Abraham had used this same trick before to protect himself (Genesis 12:11-13). Although Abraham is one of our heroes of faith, he did not learn his lesson well enough the first time. In fact, by giving in to the temptation again, he risked turning a sinful act into a sinful pattern of lying whenever he suspected his life was in danger.

No matter how much we love God, certain temptations are especially difficult to resist. These are the vulnerable spots in our spiritual armor. As we struggle with these weaknesses, we can be encouraged to know that God is watching out for us just as he did for Abraham.

BIBLE READING: Exodus 2:11-17
KEY BIBLE VERSE: After looking around to make sure no one was watching, Moses killed the Egyptian and buried him in the sand. (Exodus 2:12)

Hidden sins have a way of becoming public. Moses tried to make sure no one was watching before he killed the Egyptian. But as it turned out, someone did see, and Moses had to flee the country. Sometimes we mistakenly think we can get away with doing wrong if no one sees or catches us. Sooner or later, however, doing wrong will catch up with us as it did with Moses. Even if we are not caught in this life, one day we will have to face God and his evaluation of our actions.

BIBLE READING: Luke 12:1-12
KEY BIBLE VERSE: Those who speak against the Son of Man may be forgiven, but anyone who speaks blasphemies against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven. (Luke 12:10)

Lifelong rebelliousness blasphemes the Holy Spirit. Jesus said that blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is unforgivable. This has worried many sincere Christians, but it does not need to. The unforgivable sin means attributing to Satan the work that the Holy Spirit accomplishes (see Matthew 12:24-32; Mark 3:22-29). Thus it is deliberate and ongoing rejection of the Holy Spirit's work and even of God himself. A person who has committed this sin has shut himself or herself off from God so thoroughly that he or she is unaware of any sin at all. A person who fears having committed it shows, by his or her very concern, that he or she has not sinned in this way.

BIBLE READING: Romans 6:15-23
KEY BIBLE VERSE: The wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 6:23)

Without Christ, the results of sin are death. You are free to choose between two masters, but you are not free to manipulate the consequences of your choice. Each of the two masters pays with his own kind of currency. The currency of sin is death. That is all you can expect or hope for in life without God. Christ's currency is eternal life—new life with God that begins on earth and continues forever with God. What choice have you made?

With Christ, sins are forgiven and eternal life is given. Eternal life is a free gift from God. If it is a gift, then it is not something that we earn, nor something that must be paid back. Consider the foolishness of someone who receives a gift given out of love and then offers to pay for it. A gift cannot be purchased by the recipient. A more appropriate response to a loved one who offers a gift is graceful acceptance with gratitude. Our salvation is a gift from God, not something of our own doing (Ephes. 2:8-9). He saved us because of his kindness and pity, not because we were good enough to be saved (Titus 3:5). How much more we should accept with thanksgiving the gift that God has freely given to us.

COUNTERACTING SIN
What should we do when we realize we are sinners?

BIBLE READING: Psalm 139:1-24
KEY BIBLE VERSE: Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life. (Psalm 139:23-24)

Be open with God regarding our sins. David asked God to search for sin and point it out, even to the level of testing his thoughts. This is exploratory surgery for sin. How are we to recognize sin unless God points it out? Then, when God shows us, we can repent and be forgiven. Make this verse your prayer. If you ask the Lord to search your heart and your thoughts and to reveal your sin, you will be continuing on God's "path of everlasting life."

BIBLE READING: Matthew 5:43-48
KEY BIBLE VERSE: You are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect. (Matthew 5:48)

Look to Jesus, who requires us to be perfect. How can we be perfect? (1) In character. In this life we cannot be flawless, but we can aspire to be as much like Christ as possible. (2) In holiness. Like the Pharisees, we are to separate ourself from the world's sinful values. But unlike the Pharisees, we are to be devoted to God's desires rather than our own and show his love and mercy to the world. (3) In maturity. We can't achieve Christlike character and holy living all at once, but we must grow toward maturity and wholeness. Just as we expect different behavior from a baby, a child, a teenager, and an adult, so God expects different behavior from us, depending on our stage of spiritual development. (4) In love. We can seek to love others as completely as God loves us.

We can be perfect if our behavior is appropriate for our maturity level—perfect, yet with much room to grow. Our tendency to sin must never deter us from striving to be more like Christ. Christ calls all of his disciples to excel, to rise above mediocrity, and to mature in every area, becoming like him. Those who strive to be like Jesus will one day be like him as a result of seeing him as he is (1 John 3:2-3).

BIBLE READING: Matthew 27:45-56
KEY BIBLE VERSE: At about three o'clock, Jesus called out with a loud voice, "Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?" which means, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" (Matthew 27:46)

Trust the truth that Jesus died for our sins. Jesus was not questioning God; he was quoting the first line of Psalm 22—a deep expression of the anguish he felt when he took on the sins of the world, which caused him to be separated from his Father. This was what Jesus dreaded as he prayed to God in the garden to take the cup from him (Matthew 26:39). The physical agony was horrible, but even worse was the period of spiritual separation from God. Jesus suffered this double death so that we would never have to experience eternal separation from God.

Trust the truth that Jesus broke through the barrier separating people from God. The temple had three main parts—the courts, the Holy Place (where only the priests could enter), and the Most Holy Place (where only the high priest could enter, and only once a year, to atone for the sins of the nation—Leviticus 16:1-35). The curtain separating the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place was torn in two at Christ's death, symbolizing that the barrier between God and humanity was removed. Now all people are free to approach God because of Christ's sacrifice for our sins (see Hebrews 9:1-14; Hebrews 10:19-22).

BIBLE READING: Luke 3:1-20
KEY BIBLE VERSE: John went from place to place on both sides of the Jordan River, preaching that people should be baptized to show that they had turned from their sins and turned to God to be forgiven. (Luke 3:3)

Repent in order to counteract sin. Repentance has two sides—turning away from sins and turning toward God. To be truly repentant, we must do both. We can't just say we believe and then live any way we choose (see 3:7-8); neither can we simply live a morally correct life without a personal relationship with God, because that cannot bring forgiveness from sin. Determine to rid your life of any sins God points out, and put your trust in him alone to guide you.

BIBLE READING: John 1:29-34
KEY BIBLE VERSE: The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, "Look! There is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!" (John 1:29)

Remember that forgiveness is an ongoing process. Every morning and evening, a lamb was sacrificed in the temple for the sins of the people (Exodus 29:38-42). Isaiah 53:7 prophesied that the Messiah, God's servant, would be led to the slaughter like a lamb. To pay the penalty for sin, a life had to be given—and God chose to provide the sacrifice himself. The sins of the world were removed when Jesus died as the perfect sacrifice. This is the way our sins are forgiven (1 Cor. 5:7). "The sin of the world" means everyone's sin, the sin of each individual. Jesus paid the price of your sin by his death. You can receive forgiveness by confessing your sin to him and asking for his forgiveness.

BIBLE READING: John 19:28-37
KEY BIBLE VERSE: When Jesus had tasted it, he said, "It is finished!" Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. (John 19:30)

Realize that Jesus' death and resurrection were God's final remedy for sin. Until this time, a complicated system of sacrifices had atoned for sins. Sin separates people from God, and only through the sacrifice of an animal, a substitute, could people be forgiven and become clean before God. But people sin continually, so frequent sacrifices were required. Jesus, however, became the final and ultimate sacrifice for sin. The word finished is the same as "paid in full." Jesus came to finish God's work of salvation (John 4:34; John 17:4), to pay the full penalty for our sins. With his death, the complex sacrificial system ended because Jesus took all sin upon himself. Now we can freely approach God because of what Jesus did for us. Those who believe in Jesus' death and resurrection can live eternally with God and escape the penalty that comes from sin.

BIBLE READING: 1 John 1:5-10
KEY BIBLE VERSE: If we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us and to cleanse us from every wrong. (1 John 1:9)

Confess our sins to God. Confession is supposed to free us to enjoy fellowship with Christ. It should ease our consciences and lighten our cares. But some Christians do not understand how it works. They feel so guilty that they confess the same sins over and over; then they wonder if they might have forgotten something. Other Christians believe that God forgives them when they confess, but that if they died with unconfessed sins, they would be forever lost. These Christians do not understand that God wants to forgive us. He allowed his beloved Son to die just so he could offer us pardon. When we come to Christ, he forgives all the sins we have committed or will ever commit. We don't need to confess the sins of the past all over again, and we don't need to fear that God will reject us if we don't keep our slate perfectly clean. Of course we should continue to confess our sins, but not because failure to do so will make us lose our salvation. Our relationship with Christ is secure. Instead, we should confess so that we can enjoy maximum fellowship and joy with him.

Commit ourself not to continue in sin. We wouldn't be genuinely confessing our sins to God if we planned to commit them again and just wanted temporary forgiveness. We should also pray for strength to defeat temptation the next time we face it.

Be assured that God's forgiveness is guaranteed by Christ's death. If God has forgiven us for our sins because of Christ's death, why must we confess our sins? In admitting our sins and receiving Christ's cleansing, we are: (1) agreeing with God that our sin truly was sin and that we are willing to turn from it, (2) ensuring that we don't conceal our sins from him and consequently from ourself, and (3) recognizing our tendency to sin and relying on his power to overcome it.

—Handbook of Bible Application

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