Bible Study Course: Lesson 8 - What Is Christian Conversion?
How We Are Tempted
What, outside of the pulls of our flesh, is most responsible for tempting
us to sin?
"But Peter said, 'Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie
to the Holy Spirit ...?'" (Acts 5:3).
"And these are the ones by the wayside where the word is sown. When
they hear, Satan comes immediately and takes away the word that was sown in
their hearts" (Mark 4:15).
"For some have already turned aside after Satan" (1 Timothy
5:15).
The Scriptures sometimes refer to Satan as the "tempter" (Matthew
4:3). He is a master at tempting us to yield to our weaknesses and selfish desires
(Ephesians 2:1-3).
Paul cautioned Christians, having turned from Satan's influence, not to surrender
again to it. He knew this was a real danger (2 Corinthians 11:3). He wrote,
"For this reason, when I could no longer endure it, I sent to know your
faith, lest by some means the tempter had tempted you, and our labor might be
in vain" (1 Thessalonians 3:5).
What is one of Satan's primary ways of seducing people to sin?
"For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves
into apostles of Christ. And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself
into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also
transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according
to their works" (2 Corinthians 11:13-15).
Few people understand the extent of Satan's influence over the world's religious
institutions and practices. Satan has succeeded in providing people with every
religious preference they could possibly imagine. Religious confusion is the
result. Only by carefully reading and following the Scriptures (2 Timothy 3:13-17)
can we extricate ourselves from the worldwide morass of religious confusion
and deception. (Be sure to read "The Devil's Role
in Religion," page 6.)
Because of this widespread religious deception, it is essential that we pray
for God's help to correctly understand His Word and repent of our transgressions.
When we desire to change our lives, and from the heart to surrender our will
to God, He has promised to hear us and respond. "Ask, and it will be given
to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone
who asks [from the heart and according to His will] receives, and he who seeks
finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened" (Matthew 7:7-8). "And
whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do
those things that are pleasing in His sight" (1 John 3:22).
God used the prophet Nathan to rebuke King David for committing adultery with
Bathsheba after arranging for her husband to be killed in battle (2 Samuel 12:7-9).
David humbly acknowledged his sins and repented before God in prayer. Be sure
to read and meditate on David's heartfelt prayer of repentance as recorded in
Psalm 51:1-3, 6-10. God has preserved David's prayer of repentance as an example
of the attitude we should have when asking Him for forgiveness.
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