Wanting to sin and being tempted to sin are not the same.
The unsaved person has an internal propensity (inclination, bent) to sin, but he also has God-given faculties (such as conscience, emotion, reason, desire) that recoil at the thought of evil (such as murder, deception, perversion, and arrogance). God uses these qualities to enlighten and enable a person to believe the gospel (though the qualities are corrupted and incapable of saving anyone from the sins they have committed). However, the person who refuses to submit to God's authority will sin and will continue to sin, leading into further sin. We are given a choice to sin or not sin, but all have sinned and are in need of a Savior. It is only through faith in Christ that a person is enabled to resist temptation and live a life that is pleasing to God.
Temptation to sin does not come from God.
Temptation to sin comes from Satan.
Resistance to God's call weakens the heart and moves the person further from the call and will of God.
Yielding to temptation hardens the heart and increases the likelihood to yield to temptation.
Temptation to sin comes from Satan.
Resistance to God's call weakens the heart and moves the person further from the call and will of God.
Yielding to temptation hardens the heart and increases the likelihood to yield to temptation.
The justified, regenerated Christian has an inner longing (the New Man) to please God and an inner longing (the Old Man) to sin.
The believer is tempted by external influences, but finds his internal affinity for sin (with which he was born), the Old Man, the Carnal Mind, the Double Mind.
Though the New Man, by faith, can trust and obey Jesus, there is the internal battle.
God calls and enables the sinner to trust Him and to put on the New Man, and God calls and enables the believer to put off the Old Man.
This is why a Christian needs to come to a point of total surrender and faith early in his salvation experience to trust in the purifying work of the Holy Spirit.
Though the New Man, by faith, can trust and obey Jesus, there is the internal battle.
God calls and enables the sinner to trust Him and to put on the New Man, and God calls and enables the believer to put off the Old Man.
This is why a Christian needs to come to a point of total surrender and faith early in his salvation experience to trust in the purifying work of the Holy Spirit.
The Entirely Sanctified believer has been filled with the Holy Spirit and therefore is pure even as Christ is pure.
1 Thessalonians 5:23-24
23 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
24 Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.
1 Thessalonians 5:23-24
23 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
24 Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.
Still, he will be tempted by Satan, but he will not have an unbridled, sin prone disposition. Yet, he will be able to sin, just as Adam was able to sin, and just as Jesus was tempted to sin. The difference is that Adam did not resist temptation and therefore he was led away, but Jesus resisted and was able to remain faithful to the Father.
God enables believers to resist temptation in the same way that Jesus resisted temptation; through faithful reliance on God's word.
Psalms 119:9-11
9 Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word.
10 With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments.
11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.
1 Corinthians 10:13
13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
Hebrews 4:15
15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
James 1:12-15
12 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.
13 Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:
14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.
15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.
Jesus was tempted (He was the target of temptation), but He did not want to sin; He chose not to sin.
When Christ is Lord, we can resist all temptation.
