Overcoming Temptation

Recently, a question was posed regarding overcoming temptation as a Christian. I deal with temptation the same as everyone else, and I've come to realize certain truths about this subject that I thought would be good to share. I found myself convicted by my own words. The following is what I wrote:

Remember that sin is what required the sacrificial death of our Lord on the cross. As Christians we need to see the temptation as the nails that would be driven into Christ's body, and see ourselves as the Roman Soldier about to drive them in.

We give into temptation when we are not believing sin is as abominable as God believes it to be. When we choose sinful pleasure, we (at least temporarily) reveal our disbelief that Christ suffered the full wrath of God to purchase our freedom from the clutches of Satan and the eternal suffering of hell. We defeat temptation only when we are so repulsed by sin that the disgust of that sin outweighs the temporary pleasure that it brings. We will always choose to do the thing we desire most at any given moment, so giving into temptation is desiring temporary pleasure over felicity in your relationship with God. And worse yet, it is a betrayal of the one who rescued you from the just penalty of your sin-- death.

"For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Rom. 6:23

"Go, and from now on sin no more.", John 8:11"

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Chris R. Quinlan

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