Monday: When Lust Conceives
Read James 1:13-15 again. When does temptation become sin?
Image © Jeff Preston from GoodSalt.com
Several Greek words are used in this passage to describe how sin begins, and all of them are connected with giving birth. When a wrong desire is nurtured, sin is conceived,
like a baby in the womb. Sin, when it is completely grown, gives birth to death
(James 1:15, author’s literal translation).
The picture is paradoxical. The process that is supposed to give life results only in death (compare Rom. 7:10-13). Sin, like cancer, takes over and consumes its host. We all know this, for we have all been ruined by sin. Our hearts are evil, and we cannot change them.
Read Genesis 3:1-6. Eve’s experience vividly illustrates the conflict with sin. What steps led her into sin?
At its root, sin begins with distrusting God. Satan, using the same successful method by which he deceived a third of the angels (Rev. 12:4, 7-9), raised doubts in Eve’s mind about God’s character (Gen. 3:1-5). Approaching the forbidden tree was not sin, but taking and eating the fruit was. Even so, wrong thoughts seem to have preceded her sinful act (Gen. 3:6). She adopted Satan’s suggestions as her own.
Sin always begins in the mind. Like Eve, we may think about the supposed benefits
of wrongdoing. Then our imagination and feelings begin to take over. Soon we seize the bait and fall into sin.
Often we wonder how it could happen. The answer is easy: we let it happen. Nobody forced us into sin.
“By earnest prayer and living faith we can resist the assaults of Satan, and keep our hearts unspotted from pollution.
The strongest temptation is no excuse for sin. However great the pressure brought to bear upon the soul, transgression is our own act. It is not in the power of earth or hell to compel any one to sin. The will must consent, the heart must yield, or passion cannot overbear reason, nor iniquity triumph over righteousness.
-Ellen G. White, Christian Privileges and Duties,
Signs of the Times, October 4, 1883.
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In the battle with sin, sometimes we try to forget that it’s our inclination and choice to sin. To relieve the feeling of guilt and spiritual worthlessness, sin is categorized. Often embarrassed at continued failures to overcome, we use comparisons with others that lead to frail human conclusions that at least our situation is better than someone else’s. It is powerfully discouraging to know and accept the fact that I choose to sin.
The truth of the matter is that none of us are ‘better off’.
God hasn’t left me hopeless though. As Paul says, I do what I don’t want to do, and fail at doing the good that I really want to do. We are wretched but God can and will save us(Romans 7:15,24,25)!!!
I want to make God proud by doing everything right, but the only way is through Jesus Christ and the power of His Spirit. I’m not left alone in this struggle. God will see me to the end. His work will be finished in me and then, knowing my own weaknesses, I’ll praise and glorify Him as my salvation, knowing there’s nothing in me that could be recommended as ‘righteous’. It’s grace, mercy and the unfathomable love of God.
The love that emptied heaven of its greatest treasure so I could escape what I deserve for sinning against my perfect Creator, is the same love that demands that under it's control, I have mercy and compassion on those who sin against me.
Nanci greetings in Jesus name . I read and agreed with you in everything you wrote, and as a christian I sometimes find myself comparing what I did with the next person , and I know that sin is sin and truly none is good or better off than the other. 2 Chron 7:14, If my people which are called by my name, shall humble themselves ,and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sins and will heal their land. God is a loving and merciful father , he is waiting with arms wide open, no matter how sinful we are.
thank you Nancy for your message, for a long time I know it is me who is at fault, when tempted to sin. I used find excuses to blame it on others, but when I realized that I am the one to be blamed, I feel good coz I am not putting the blame on some one else ! well sis Nancy thank you for your message that really inspired me to admit that I was/am wrong and I now feel free!
Ephesians 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith and that not of yourselves it is the gift of God. if we begin to reckon that salvation is only through Christ's merits then we would cease to compare one another but have faith Christ being the Second Adam has power to give us victory over sin.We need the faith of the mastered seed as the battle increases we need Christ to stand for us. powerful lesson this week
We cannot fight sin on our own. Sin is powerful, sin is stronger than we are. Apart from that sin is sweet, sin is attractive, sin is beautiful, sin is good. Although sin has all the above features and attributes there is still one man who knows better the weaknesses of sin. Not only does he know its weaknesses but that He also knows how to defeat this sin, and this man is jesus. All we need to do is allow Jesus to battle with this sin on our behalf. Sometimes we give in so easily and sin even before we fight, the reason is simple, we imagine ourselves fighting with sin insteady of imagining Jesus doing it for us.
I really do agree with Nanci. We can compare sinning and right doing to two children. The child who is nurtured and given a lot of attention will be better developed in all or most aspects.Sanctification is often said to be like a ladder so is sinning. Whichever ladder we climb we will reach the top either perfecting the image of Christ or the devil.Climbing each ladder requires consistency.
We should be in constant communion with God in order to perfect holy habits and receive the seal of the Holy Spirit when we have reached the top of the ladder of sanctification. As Paul says 'We should press towards the mark of prize of the high calling which is in Christ.
sin begins right away from the thought of committing the very act.so let us avoid having idle minds as well as being occupied with useless ideas and activities.let our minds be singular to God and heaven upward
sin is entirely what separates us from our loving further, the more we stay away from it:the closer we get to God
One thing to note about sin though is that it doesn't satisfy but is like all addiction. When engaged in it thrills and yet with time it requires a grosser exertion of the sinful act to bring the same satisfaction until we are enholden by the cords of our own sin:
Proverbs 5v22 His own iniquities shall take the wicked himself, and he shall be holden with the cords of his sins.
Just wanted to add the following:
Praise God that when we trust in the Lord, He leads us into true pleasures which last forever. Consider Psalm 16v8,9,11
8 I have set the Lord always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.
9 Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope.
11 Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.
yes I fully agree with everything that was said. sin is something that is overwhelming and we ourselves are to blame cause we decided to play with it. James 1:17 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation , for when he is tried , the crown of life shall he receive , which the Lord hath promised to them that love Him.
We should compare ourselves with God. The closer we are to Him, the more sinful we appear in contrast to His glorious character.
"Approaching the forbidden tree was not sin, but taking and eating the fruit was" When you have been told that there is danger at the tree and yet ignore the warning then it becomes sin and you will have taken the first step in self deception.
Help,!, According to the lesson, sin begins in the mind, which I agree. Sunday's lesson states, "sin appeals to our desires and lusts". That said, what evil desires did Adam and Eve have in a perfect environment who had no concept of sin? Help.
@Elsworth,
Your question is very interesting. It takes me back to the pre-fall of mankind.It is not also wrong to ask this question, "Where did Lucifer get evil desires, motives, intentions in a perfect environment?"
But Adam and Eve did not have evil desires before the fall. What they had no knowledge about, was cunningly introduced to them. Hence their judgement and curiosity which were indeed perfect were aroused.They were perfect but were made to believe that there was a superior perfection that they could still attain. They were wise but were also made to believe that there was a superior realm of wisdom which they could still attain. They were already gods on Earth ( for dominion over all creation on Earth was bestowed on them), but the tempter presented to them a superior form of god that they would still attain and be like God. Thus they were led to question the Divine Wisdom.
Up to this point, they were still sinless. But the more they indulged the invitations of the intruder, the more their lust and desires began to take root, contrary to the divine plan. The Holy Spirit was still present and active in them. They were to "Submit to God, resist the devil, and he will flee". Victory was still guaranteed to them. 1 John 2:12,27; 1 Peter 3:12; 5:6-9. Evil / Lucifer ( now Satan) was present with them in a perfect environment void of sin. Satan's main objective, was to introduce sin to human race. Satan's ultimate rebellion corrupted his holy motives. He was bent to cause the same injury to human race at all cost.
If Satan was a resident of Eden, how could it have been a perfect place? God does not tempt us (James 1:13) so why then was the Tree in Eden? And, why was Satan allowed to be in Eden?
Satan's cunning lies were sufficient to deceive 1/3 of the angels in heaven. Did Adam and Eve (who were lower than angels) even stand a chance? Even though God walked with Adam/Eve and His Holy Spirit was with them, this was true in heaven for the fallen angels as well.
In our human finite minds we try to understand and make sense of heavenly things. I believe that all our questions may or may not be answered here, but in the hereafter, and that is where faith in God's word comes in.
Ellen White once said that the earth is the "theater of the Universe" where un-fallen worlds are watching sin and how God deals with it and how he will once and for all end its existence and Satan so that no questions will remain for all eternity.
When sin crucified our Lord, He became our sacrifice, and when He cried; "It is finished" that was the beginning of our journey with God who would then write his laws on our hearts and minds. A new people would be created with God's DNA instead of Satan's. This evolution of change takes time. God could of snuffed Satan out with his act of rebellion, but what kind of picture does that paint of God?
Satan apparently was given freedom to roam, because he came before God on occasion after he was cast out of heaven (the story of Job comes to mind)(Job 1:6)and so what better place then to camp out with the two humans God had created and get them to rebel too? However, God had warned Adam and Eve of Satan's presence, and they were to trust God with their care. Perhaps if they had resisted Satan he would've been forced to flee or maybe at that point God could have done away with Satan. I believe these questions will be answered to our complete satisfaction one day and we will be convinced that we would have chose no other way if we could've seen the end from the beginning as God does.
I think the environment was no longer perfect as long as Satan had already introduced himself in the garden and confused Adam and Eve regarding the instruction they had received from God
so from there, they had an evil desire of disobeying God and eating the fruits of the tree
thanks
Per EGW Satan only had access to Adam & Eve at the Tree of the Knowledge of Good & Evil, so if they had stayed away from the tree they would have been fine.
Also per EGW the angels had explained to them about Satan.
Eve's problem was that she was curious, so she went to the tree, then the next problem was she listened to Satan, then she doubted what God said was true, then she believed Satan, then she desired to be better than she was, better than God, then she disobeyed God.
Her real sin was separating herself from God and His will, this is always possible even in a perfect world because God gave us the ability to choose.
Remember that when God created the Garden of Eden, it and everything in it was only good. When Eve & Adam ate of the tree they were in effect saying we want to experience evil as well as good.
Shirley,
I liked the simple way you phrased the ideas about what happened with Adam and Eve and how the same thing happens with us.
"...she was curious, she went to the tree, she listened to Satan, she doubted what God said was true, she believed Satan, she desired to be better than she was, better than God, and she disobeyed God.
"...she separated herself from God, was willing to experience evil as well as good."
This is the pattern that we all seem to go through. I think it is time to decide whether we really want to spend the rest of our lives in this cycle of sinning, or if we want to give it up once and for all!
Thank you for the inspiration,words to ponder for a new week
Amen!(0)