temptations

[made_alive]

its the craziest thing to be tempted as a believer. because while being tempted i have the knowledge of the truth that at His right hand there are pleasures forever. i should be over this but there is this one temptation that i cant get over. so im going to analyze it to death

Comments

On Sin

[robfrench]

Sin is, of course, a wicked thing, and we should feel guilty when we sin--that guilt is proof that we have been convicted by the Spirit Who dwells within us, that we are capable of repentance, and that keeps us from the Gnostic heresy that the Christian faith is just about spiritual things and not about physical realities too.

So, there's a downside and an upside. As you've pointed out, it's common to man--which is simply a description of how things are of course, not an excuse. Nonetheless, as Paul said we do things we don't want to, and don't do things we want to.

Upshot? Guilt over sin leads to repentance; repentance leads to seeking forgiveness; seeking such leads to God's granting of mercy, which in turn brings Him glory in His granting of mercy; of course, we shall not sin more that grace may abound, but through all this we are made subsequently more and more into the image of Christ, that God is then glorified not only through the mercy that He grants us but also through the image of His Son residing in us.

I've rambled, as

Temptation

[gospelsteel]

I appreciated your openness and forthrightness in discussing your struggles with temptation. Please be assured that you encounter nothing worse than any other Christian. The enemy of God hates God's people and uses every avenue he can to either trip us up or slow us doen. I am almost 70 years old and he hasn't left me alone, either. The objects shift but the enemy is just as intense. I am delighted that, althoug I should not yield, that there is still a resuce if I do. We might wonder why God cares anything about us at all sometimes but the fact we wonder is His Spirit reminding us that He does.

John in Nashville