temptation: how to handle temptation
06/01/01
iwillgonow: Can we resist Satan's temptations of ourselves?
psycho314t: no
iwillgonow: Julie?
jello13091: nope
iwillgonow: "In our own strength it is impossible for us to deny the clamors of our fallen nature."
jello13091: Well we can, but only through God's help
psycho314t: "submit yourselves therefore to God, resist the devil and he will flee from you.."
iwillgonow: "The prince of this world cometh," said Jesus, "and hath nothing in Me." John 14:30. There was in Him nothing that responded to Satan's sophistry. He did not consent to sin. Not even by a thought did He yield to temptation. So it may be with us.
iwillgonow: Christ's humanity was united with divinity; He was fitted for the conflict by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.
iwillgonow: United, a man with the power of the Holy Spirit at His command, but no god.
iwillgonow: As it can be with us.
iwillgonow: Since we can have and do what He had and did, it is FAIR.
jello13091: God is not unfair.
iwillgonow: Jesus as a demi-god, and being our example, is not FAIR.
jello13091: Yet Satan tries to teach us that He is.
psycho314t: which is why satan has no grounds on which to win the war
iwillgonow: Jesus said to the apostles, of all times, "what I have done, ye will do, and greater."
iwillgonow: FAIR
iwillgonow: By what means did He overcome in the conflict with Satan? By the word of God. Only by the word could He resist temptation. "It is written," He said. And unto us are given "exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust." 2 Peter 1:4. Every promise in God's word is ours. "By every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God" are we to live.
iwillgonow: Can Satan make you sin?
psycho314t: no.. satan can only tempt
jello13091: May I ask a quick semi-relevent question?
iwillgonow: Answer this one.
jello13091: yeah, He can lead you but only you make the choice to do it or not.
iwillgonow: But while Satan can solicit, he cannot compel to sin. He said to Jesus, "Cast Thyself down," knowing that he could not cast Him down; for God would interpose to deliver Him. Nor could Satan force Jesus to cast Himself down. Unless Christ should consent to temptation, He could not be overcome.
jello13091: That is were free will can come in.
iwillgonow: The tempter can never compel us to do evil. He cannot control minds unless they are yielded to his control.
iwillgonow: Explain, Julie.
jello13091: Well, we can choose whether or not we want to follow Satan or God. If we choose Satan, then we are automatically put under his control, therefore he can overcome us and "win". Yet if we push Satan away, he cannot control our minds (like “1984”) and he cannot force us to do evil.
jello13091: It's like a bully telling you to drink, but when you say no, he can't make you drink.
jello13091: but if you say yes, then you belong to the bully.
iwillgonow: Interesting analogy.
jello13091: You want me to think of a better one?
jello13091: Here's one:
jello13091: Satan says to me, killing Billy Bob is really good. It would be fun, and there would be one less person to worry about. If I said "sure, why not?" then I am under the control on Satan. Right then, he has power and control over me. He can lead me to do who knows what else. But if I said no, then he can't literally make me go up to Billy Bob and shoot him or choke him or something. Satan would have no power over me. Instead, I would be under the control of God.
