Today, points are shared on the meaning of “temptation” and the origin of sin. The single word, temptation, is used to describe (1) testing that establishes endurance and permanence as well as (2) pressure to commit sin that comes against ones character, discipline, personality and righteousness. Thus, the workings of admonition, challenge, and exhortation are in line with divinity, revelation, and salvation (temptation 1), while covetousness, envy, and lust are associated with the devil, sin and spiritual confusion (temptation 2). The writer at “Yahoo! Answers” using the ID “Ryan” (Level 1 with 23 points, a member since May 20, 2013) posted the following:
Where does the temptation to sin come from?
Satan was the first one who tempted Adam and Eve to sin. Also, Satan tempted Jesus for 40 days. Furthermore, Satan is called the tempter in the Bible. Does this mean all temptation to sin comes from Satan? Or, does it come from ourselves because we've fallen ever since the original sin?
THE GOLDEN ARROW: 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. Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. Do not err, my beloved brethren. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. (James 1: 12-17, KJV)
THE DOUBLE DAGGER: Power Against Sin? (04/12/2015); The Testing of Job? (10/06/2014); Knowing the Spirit is Inside? (10/07/2014); Continuously Tested (12/31/2013); Chosen To Serve As Prophets (01/01/2014); On Testing GOD (06/20/2013); GOD Grants License? (06/21/2013)
“Ryan”, some of the clearest, most useful points shared among Christian believers include the following:
(1.) Sin is not a living organism, and has not been created by divinity. Sin does not contain spirit matter that resides in the person of Deity as do created beings and living creatures upon the earth, and within the celestial presence (we say, heaven). While sin is no material or tangible thing having measurable dimensions such as height, shape, length or weight, sin has direction, effect, and presence.
(2.) Sin appears to be an artifact or by-product of created organisms being separated from divinity to exist as independent life forms. Sin may dominate awareness and self-will within the living; however, the will of GOD does not become subject to sin. Both for carnal beings (we say, mortals, those in flesh) and spirit beings (those neither mortal nor immortal such as angels and the sacred beasts of heaven) sin is a foreign influence experienced as a natural and normal expression of life essence (we say, spirit).
(3.) Sin opposes the continued existence of divine law, the Law Giver, and all order generated or maintained through sacred law. Sin does not operate as having benefit, consciousness, preference, or purpose. Thus, sin appears as abstract, impersonal, mechanical, and self-destructive. Because our language centers in describing human vulnerability and accountability, we speak of sin using terms that suggest sin has, or is power to draw, engage, entice, fascinate, and seduce.
(4.) Mechanisms within the living that respond to sin include appetite (e.g., hunger, thirst, sexual craving), sensation (e.g., hearing, seeing, tasting, touching) and emotional/mental functions (e.g., anger, desire, fear, imagination, recall).
There is far more to be said, correctly applied, and spiritually understood. (For example, (5.) Perhaps sin is most clearly visible as attacks upon truth (we say, lies), arrogance, defiance of authority, false claims of power, rebellion, pride, usurpation, and violence. Through baptism (death and burial of ones inborn spirit, and rebirth having divine DNA, so to speak), born-again believers can operate with a fresh endowment of spirit content from the makeup of GOD. However, they must gradually grow and mature meeting the same life challenges upon the earth as all others. Sin can not be correctly detected, eliminated, or resisted using only finite tools such as intellect, logic, mathematics, philosophy and science.) Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful. May your prayers ever be answered according to your faith.
THE BLACK PHOENIX
Washington, DC
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