Purpose of Temptation:
- To undermine God’s plan and will (Gen 3:4-5)
- To stray man from God’s way (John 10:10)
- Temptation at its core, is to deny the authority of God and to seek our independence from God.
What are the ways of Temptation?
- Temptation starts in heart and mind, in our deepest motives and desires. (Jas 1:14-15)
- 1 John 2:16 talks about three most fundamental means of temptation. – “For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world.”
- Lust of the flesh
- Lust of the eyes
- Pride of Life
- These three fundamental principles summarize any temptations we may face in our daily lives.
- Satan used this devices to tempt Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden.
- Lust of the Eyes – “When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye..” (Gen 3:6)
- Lust of the Flesh – “…tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye..”
- Pride of Life – “…and also desirable for gaining wisdom (like God)…” (Gen 3:5-6)
- Satan use the same devices to tempt Jesus in the wilderness. (Mat 4:1-11) (Temptation of Jesus in the Wilderness)
- Lust of the Flesh – “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” (Mat 4:3)
- Lust of the Eyes – “the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor.” (Mat 4:8)
- Pride of Life – “All this I will give you, if you will bow down and worship me.” (Mat 4:9)
Is temptation Sin? Can temptation be considered as Sin?
- No, Jesus was also tempted. (Mat 4:1-11)
- Hebrews 4:15 – “but we have one (Jesus) who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin.”
- Every Christian is faced with some kind of temptation.
Why is it so ‘easy’ to fall or give in to temptation? Why do we see a constant struggle with sin?- Because there is a temporary pleasure in it.
- Hebrews 11:25 – “He (Moses) chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a short time.”
- We are susceptible to sin because of our frailty due to sinful nature. (Gen 6:5)
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