Temptation, Sin & Conviction

Temptation, Sin &
Conviction
by Alvin Mitchell
Copyright 2005
by Alvin Mitchell

The following is a request for help sent by Vijay Kumar:
message is not flagged. [ Flag Message - Mark as Unread ]
Date:        Wed, 29 Dec 2004 08:47:58 -0800 (PST)
From:        webhosting-userform@biblestudyhour.net
To:        amitchell@biblestudyhour.net
Subject:        Survey Results

Name = vijay kumar

Comments = dear brother's please help me to understand the following:

1. Whenever I attend the Church or any spiritual meeting a sense of conviction comes pointing at all my sins. But,
after a few days this goes out of my mind and I start committing the same sins. How can I get rid of my sins
permanently?

Vijay’s comment here seems to be indicative or at least suggestive of several things: 1) he may be a Christian, having struggles
in his daily walk. 2) The pastor and congregation of this church are in the Will of God (in fellowship with Him), doing their job,
in which case, 3) the Holy Spirit of God—on behalf of and to the glory of our Lord and Savior Jesus the Christ—is able to do
His.

There is no special, simple, one-time fix for this problem—which we all face in some measure (trials and temptations will come,
@ Matt. 18:7), at intervals throughout our Christian journey—so that we are never tempted again (While it is true that God could
simply remake us all according to His liking, against our wills, it is equally true that He is not looking to enlist “robots” in His
service.). For some, these struggles are greater and tougher than for others. Our Lord Himself, however, does issue a simple
“duo-syllabic” remedy which one might say is the “bottom line” or beginning point for the containment of sin in our lives:
Repent!
This word repent in the Greek is the term “metanoeo” (met-an-o-eh’-o). It is a command meaning “to think differently, to have
or demonstrate a change of heart, turn away from the sinful way in which you were heading”. Unlike “metamellomai”, it is not a
mere reference to particulars in one’s life, nor does the term simply imply a harboring of remorse or sorrow for wrongs and bad
things done.

The new life and walk for every Christian begins here, with the recognition of, and in obedience to God’s call to redirect and
reorient his whole life, restructuring it around and in full conformity with His Word. The Word of God, in the gospel of
Matthew, is careful to note this command as the first utterance out of Jesus’ mouth as He began His earthly ministry. He could
have come with fanfare and fireworks, with much pomp and circumstance, adorned in ornate ceremony announcing that “Ol’
God”, the Ancient of Days, is here! Come to die and take away the sins of all the world. But, He did not do that. Instead, He,
following the lead of His servant and forerunner John the Baptist, went about teaching and preaching that all men should “repent”
(Acts 17:30, 31; not that “repenting” could ever save or in any way assist in our salvation, rather, this, and all acts of obedience,
would be an outward manifestation of our willingness to submit to His authority.). The significance of this is such that it sets
the tone for the rest of His life and mission and, for our relationship to Him.

Everything else expected and required of us must be interpreted in light of this command to “repent”. All must understand,
therefore, that there is no such thing as “coming to Christ”, “receiving Him”, or “believing in Him”, where there has been no
change of heart (“how can you call Me Lord, yet do nothing I tell you”, He asks in Luke 6:46; “If you say you love Me, keep my
commandments”, He enjoins in John 14:15). Consider and contrast the two thieves on their crosses, as they hung dying
alongside our Lord during His crucifixion. Even there (having been put to a shameful, humiliating death for some criminal
activity), at that late hour, one was able to manifest the requisite “change of heart”, in which case he was—per the Lord’s
promise—warmly received into everlasting habitations.
Furthermore, we must all bear in mind that there is no such thing as “coming to Christ” or “believing in Him”, only to sit on our
“duffs” waiting for the “rapture” or “thy Kingdom come”. We must therefore be ever about the business of saturating our minds
with the things of God [i.e., studying and meditating on His Word (Joshua 1:8; 24:15; Psalm 17:4; 19:7-14; 25:4-11; 26:1-12; 32:
5; 51:10; 119:9-16)], so as to prepare ourselves, so that we too can be (in His timing) chosen vessels or vehicles by whom He
can bring others to a saving knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus, the Christ of Calvary. Which begs the question, Vijay,
how do you occupy your mind when you are away from the company of fellow Christians? How enthusiastic and committed
are you to the discovery of His Word and Will? Herein may well lie part of the reason behind the problems you are having with
sin in your walk. Consider and ponder carefully the mindset and the determination of the Psalmists and of Joshua.

But, you persist, how can you, I or any man or woman of God get rid of sin so that, and to the degree that we will never—at
any time, under any circumstance—be bothered again? Forget it! We can never, ever hope to be completely free from sin or
occasions that tempt us or threaten our spiritual walks, in this life—even after being saved [such freedom we can only expect
after we have been outfitted (our old once sinful, then resurrected selves having been retrofitted) with our new heavenly bodies,
(I Cor. 15:51, 52). These will serve us well throughout the Millennial reign of Christ, as that will be the only time on earth that
righteous men and women of God can live among sinful, rebellious men without fear of stumbling (Rev. 21)]. Note the words
of Our Lord in Mathew 18:7 as He issues a summons for grief and trouble upon the world because of its traps, snares; stumbling
blocks (Grk., skandalon=skan’-da-lon; from which we get the English word “scandal”). Whether by virtue of external
circumstances, or whether from pressures kindled within us, Jesus would not have us to be ignorant as but that it is of
“necessity” (Grk., angka=an-ang-ka’) that we face (and face down) these offences, these spiritual challenges. They will come,
He says, but “woe” (grief, trouble) be to the one who is the instigator thereof. Dr. Luke, treating the same passage in 17:1,
chooses the Greek term anendektos (an-en-dek’-tos) to indicate that “it cannot be but that” these troublesome stumbling
occasions will come.

Enlarging further upon the Lord’s commentary, Paul the apostle wishes that we should observe that none of the times of trial
(Grk., pierasmos=pi-ras-mos’: temptation; occasion by which we might stumble and fall) we encounter are anything out of the
ordinary where humanity is concerned (I Cor. 10:13). God being faithful, we can trust and rely on Him to provide a way out,
giving us the power to persevere and bear it (without fail). Moreover, while Jesus exhorts that we should pray that God will
never lead us into times of testing and trials (Matt. 6:13; 26:41: Luke 11:4; 22:40, 46), and while we are cautioned against ever
accusing God Himself of leading us into times of testing and trials [as He cannot be tempted to do evil, nor will He ever tempt us
to do wrong (James 1:13, 14)], James urges (strangely and paradoxically, perhaps, all things considered!), that Christians should
attack the encroachment of any trial (varied as they often are) with joy. Although they are potentially harmful and destructive to
our spiritual well being, there is on the other hand [given their inevitability (Matt. 18:7; Luke 17:1), not that they should be sought
after or embraced, mind you!] a beneficent and instructive element to times of trials and testing (temptation) insofar as they
teach us to be patient, while patience rounds out our “spiritual persona” (as it were) by bringing us to completion and perfection,
so that we may journey on to the finish in triumph, having no lack (James 1:2-4). James goes on to say that it is a blessed thing
for the man or woman who “endures” (Grk., hupomenei=hoop-om’-en-ei), who can “undergo”, “abide under”, or “bear up
courageously” during his trials, which as we have seem, will come without fail. All such who can do so without caving in—
distinguishing themselves as among those having been approved—the Lord Jesus Christ has promised and reserved for them a
crown of life. Therefore, Vijay, it might be said that the Christian overcomes sin and temptation not so much by turning them
off completely or by getting away from them altogether, as by facing them all down, when they come (as they will come!), in
joyful resistance—knowing well that there is little you can ever do to preclude, categorically, the possibility of another encounter
(consider also Romans 8:28, Ephesian 5:20 and I Peter 2:9).   But, you ask wisely, how can I do that?

That Mr. Kumar, is a very, very good bit of inquiry, one bringing us full circle, back to the question of the matter of the mind!
You did not say directly, but I have taken the liberty of assuming that you are a Christian; probably a relatively new one? If you
are new to the faith (in which case, welcome aboard), my friend, may I suggest to you that how the Christian gives occupation
to his mind is of paramount importance. Recall the question we posed earlier: how do you spend your time and utilize or feed
your mind when you are not among other believers? As you ponder this and the following, please bear firmly in mind (at the
forefront, even), that when God “calls” us to repentance, it is not simply so as to some day bring or “zap” us up to heaven, there
to set us each upon his own cloud where we will live forever after, strumming harps in eternal bliss. Rather, He has called us so
that we ourselves can now be used as catalysts—in any of a variety of capacities (Romans 12:5-13; I Cor. 12:1-31; I Peter 4:12)
—whereby others may also be brought into His everlasting Kingdom. This activity requires preparation. He cannot make use of
any Christian, efficaciously, who will not submit to a proper or adequate preparatory regimen. He who sits in the Heavenlies
[watching daily; weighing our every move and motive (Psalm 11:4, 5; 14:2; 33:13-19; 44:21; Prov. 5:21; 15:3, 11)] expects and
demands “fruit” form all His saints (Luke 13:1-10). Productive fruit bearing—which includes the pruning and culling or weeding
out of sin from our lives—begins with the right “mindset”. So, we ask again, “what is in your wallet”, or how are you treating
your mind? What is the shape and tenor of the mind in tune with God, able efficiently to resist the temptation to knuckle under
to the allurement and the control of sin (trials and tribulation)?

Another fine piece of introspection, Mr. Kumar! Why do we not begin, then, with Paul’s advice to the Philippians (2:5), where
he encourages them to exercise the same “mindset” as that of Jesus Himself. Our Lord is the only human being to have ever
lived having a prior existence. Although He, in that “prior existence”, was exactly identical to God the Father (John 1:1-4; 4:24),
He (the Creator) did not shirk from the prospect of being numbered among His very own creatures, as rather He willingly set
aside all of His former Majesty and Glory, becoming submissive to the Will and Mind of Him Who is God the Father. So
likewise, Vijay, our walk, our journey through life as followers of the Christ is to be one powered by minds set to humility and
submission to the things or Will of God. What will that do for us? Consider.

Realizing and understanding (as we do, do we not?!) that for us this humility and submission after the Will of God requires
knowledge and information—neither of which comes through osmosis—we open the Word of Our God once more to Romans
6, where the apostle Paul is once again our “professor”. Here we are instructed, relative to the control and containment of sin (a
continuous threat to any Christian’s spiritual well being), that our mentality is to be such that we are, in fact, to account of
ourselves as a people who are dead to sin (6:1-14). Just as the Lord died, was buried, rose again, and is alive forever more, so
likewise, we who are believers (our “old man”, the sinful “us”, having suffered with Him in His crucifixion) died with Him, were
buried—as symbolized by our baptism in water—and raised with Him in His resurrection, to a new life. Knowing this then, we
are now to no longer allow our bodies and minds to succumb to the tug of temptation and sin. Having been set free from the
power of sin, we can now live, and are commanded to live out our new lives yielded to the God who saved us and raised us in
Christ Jesus, from the gripping penalty of an eternal death (life in everlasting hell, with no possibility of ever being free!).
Moreover, Paul tells us in II Cor.s 5:17 that we are all now—being in Christ—new creations; what was, is no more; all is, for us
now, brand new! This is the way God sees us (in Christ Jesus; the way will be), hence, we are to reckon and think of ourselves
as He does, for it is His good pleasure to call things which are yet future (from our perspective) as though they have happened
already (Isaiah 41:4; 42:9; 46:10; 48:3-8). To the degree that this is truth, it is now considered, furthermore, that the reasonable
service of every child of God is—in lieu of yielding to the appetites of the flesh or body—to present this body as a living sacrifice
to God, set apart (for His use), well pleasing in His eyes (Romans 12:1-2). As such, the next logical step—for us as sacrifices,
alive and kicking—is to spurn conformity to the age in which we live (with all of its pressures and influences), in favor of
transformation through minds that are renewed [given that we are washed through regeneration, renewed by the Holy Spirit
(Titus 3:5)], thereby proving what is the good, well pleasing, perfect will of God.

Absolute key to this whole process of regeneration, transformation, the renewing of the mind, is the aforementioned knowledge
and information—as we saw above—which simply cannot be absorbed through skin and skulls. Like a newly born baby, you
must now crave the sincere “milk” of the Word of God (I Peter 2:2). Just as no new born can develop properly without a
healthy diet of milk, even so, it is impossible for new Christians to thrive spiritually (to the point of the extrication of their sinful
pasts) minus a regular, systematic input of the Word. Moreover, the writer to the Hebrews tells us (4:13), God’s Word is living
and working, more sharp than any sword having two edges; capable of separating something as intricately intertwined as the
soul and the spirit;….able to judge the thoughts and intentions of our hearts (of your mind). Nothing is ever hidden from Him
with whom we all have to do. It is therefore, Vijay, a full powered, full-featured weapon/tool specifically tailored for (among
other things) enabling anyone who will heed, to separate himself from the sins of his past (Psalms 17:4; 119:9-16; Ecclesiastes
12:1, 13-14; II Tim. 3:16). With this tool, God is able to mold and reshape our malleable minds and hearts so that in due time
they are brought more and more into conformity with His Plan, Will and Purpose for our lives. In our desire and our struggles to
overcome the temptation and sins associate with daily living, to find His “perfect Will” for our lives, one need only to account of
himself as a body on a level no greater than that of a fool who would ever attempt service to God without or before submission
of both mind and heart to its gentle pounding. The significance of God’s written, Bible based Word as a guide to daily Christian
living cannot be overstated, nor should it ever be downplayed. Must you now still be prodded, inspired or somehow motivated
to do the right “thing” here, my friend? Consider the following.

All whose minds are in remission toward the things of God, so that they gravitate toward the things of this world (that is, their
thoughts, their actions, their very lives are shaped more by “fleshly” appetites, evidences of all that it means to be of a carnal
mind) are for this reason enemies of God, and shall in no wise inherit in or enter into the Kingdom of God (Rom. 8:7; I Cor. 6:8-
10; Ephesians 5:5; Colossians 1:21-23). Paul’s statement to the Christians at Rome such that for those in Christ Jesus, walking
according to the leading of the Spirit of God there is no more condemnation, is one that automatically implies that all who fail in
this regard are yet under condemnation. Not only so, but the mind governed by bodily, human (base or uncontrolled) appetites
are spiritually insensitive to the things of God, in which case they cannot please the Father and so, as such are His adversaries.
To the problem prone Corinthian Christians, Paul’s warning was no less somber. Like you, and like so many of us, they were
having their share of difficulty keeping temptation and its attendant evil (sin) in perspective. Do not be deceived, he enjoins, no
one controlled by any of a laundry list of offences (he gives) need ever expect that he will ever be saved. Any problems among
the Colossians were not nearly as pronounced, however, Paul would not have them ignorant of the fact there was always the
potential for complacency (even among the faithful), in which case their minds could be evil affected, causing them to fall from
the grace so freely bestowed upon them.

As for the question of the sense of conviction you profess to feel when you are in the assembly of the Living God, there are at
the very least several possibilities (two that I know of, to be exact!). As stated earlier, we have given ourselves license to
assume (from the tenor of your inquisition) that you are a child of the King. Let’s assume, for a moment on the other hand,
however, that in reality you are not yet “born again” or “from above” (John 3:3-5, 14-21). Now let us consider that God is
desirous that all men everywhere should “repent” and come to a saving knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus the Christ (Acts
14:16; 17:30-31; 13:38-39), not willing that any should perish (II Peter 3:9). As a “supplement” to the teaching and preaching
you no doubt heard while in this church, and as evidential of God’s concern that all should be saved (of their own free will),
there was at work there in that congregation (invisible, imperceptible, intangible; in tandem with the spoken Word) a Heavenly
phenomenon we know affectionately as the Holy Spirit of God. The conviction you felt or feel, Vijay my friend, is the work of
this—shall we say—“Element” or Figure of the Godhead known as “Yahweh (Jehovah) Elohim”, “Hayah” (Exodus 3:14)—the
Self-existent, Eternal God who really does Exist. That is why He is here. That is His job (or, at least, one of them). When the
Lord Jesus returned to Heaven (Acts 1:9), to take up His position there by the side of the Father (Ephesians 1:20), God’s Spirit
was then dispatched to take up full time residence here where as one of His duties, He indwells the heart of every believer
(forever). To us who are saved, He is the Comforter—granting us peace and assurance concerning the things of God; helping
us in our areas of weakness and praying on our behalf; stamping or marking us as Gods own until the day of redemption (Rom.
8:21-23; Eph. 4:30)—to the world of the unsaved, He is the Source of conviction—seeking ever to bring men to a realization of
their need for a Savior (John 14:16, 17, 26; 15:26; 16:7-14).

Switching now back to the opposite hand, let us thus “re”assume that indeed you are a Christian, born-again yet, encumbered by
these convictions. Understand that as a child of God you are a “unique” individual among men. As such, not only have you
been bought with a price (the shed blood of God’s only Son spilt on Calvary’s Cross—John 3:16), so that you are no longer
your own but, you are now a member of the Body of Christ and the temple (the permanent dwelling place) of the Holy Spirit of
God (I Corinthians 3:16; 6:15-20). This being the case then, we (Christians) are, quite literally, never alone—whether in thought
or deed (“good, bad or indifferent”!)—as the Spirit of God is with us at every turn. When we do well He is there, rejoicing (as it
were) and encouraging us. Aaah, but when we yield to temptation, turning aside into sin—while He is still with us—His mood is
much less festive, as the Holy Spirit is even said to be grieved (Ephesians 4:30) by our bad decisions. Providing we do not
“quench” or extinguish His Presence altogether (I Thessalonians 5:19; Revelation 2-3—our Lord cites all except two churches
here, as having extinguished the power and work of the Spirit of God), by our stubbornness, His grief works with our own
conscience (up to a point) to nudge us back onto the straight and narrow. Contrary to popular misperception in some circles, He
will not force or drag you back into conformity against your will, nor will He, as a rule, chase after (or “dog”) you indefinitely.

In finale, Vijay, two closing thoughts on the biblical approach to the containment of sin in the life of any believer: if, following
your most ardent, heart felt effort you are left feeling that nothing is working, remember that one may always find a viable option
in the alternative to 1) Flee (Grk., pheugo=fyoo’-go: to run away)! Paul, in his effort to help the wayward Corinthians (I Cor. 6:
18) deal with their problems in this area, issued this admonishment in hope of curbing the sin of fornication amongst them. A
similar injunction was issued to his young protégé and son in the faith in II Timothy 2:22, regarding how to handle those
passions and desires common to us all in our younger years. If necessary, literally “run away” from every situation which poses
any threat at all to your spiritual well being and development. Under normal circumstances, think “decisively” before hand, take
deliberate measures to insure that you steer yourself clear of all occasions which you know can and will bring instances of an
Achilles heels with your name on them (see also, Ephesians 4:22-32; 5:1-20). 2) and lastly, if all else fails, take drastic
measures! God is very much concerned that all who come to Him in faith, believing on the Name of the Lord Jesus, should be
in attendance at heaven’s roll call [there are those (“Christians”) who won’t, for various reasons]. Toward that end, our Lord, in
Matt. 18:7-9, issues a statement such that if sin is giving you such fits that you—being a believer, otherwise—just cannot shake
yourself free, and if that problem(s) you face is (are) traceable to a specific limb or part of you body then, “amputate”! Pluck,
chop, cut it off, whatever it takes, get rid of that part—for it is much better that one should enter into Heaven missing a body
part or two, than to enter in to an eternal hell, forever separated from God having all members intact. Did our Lord really mean it
that way, you ask? He most assuredly did!

All being said, having been said, then, the “long and the short” (the sum) of the matter, at this particular juncture, should be quite
clear. God takes the issue of sin in the believers’ lives quite seriously; therefore, none of us can afford other than to do
likewise. Do you really want to get control of your life, Mr. Kumar, knocking sin out of the driver’s seat? Begin by getting into
the Word of God, yielding yourself totally, simultaneously to the leading of the Father’s Holy Spirit, as you do. For the most
part, He can not do His work in or with you, until you delight yourself—feeding your mind on a regular diet of (“poly-
unsaturated”) Holy Scripture. Always remember that, whether or not we control sin or, sin controls us depends in large part on
how we pre-occupy or allow our minds to be fed when we are away from the assembly of believers.

2. Does God keep up his covenant with people especially with what he has made with David?

3. All those who accept Him as their personal savior become His sons and daughters. Then why should a son & daughter
struggle so hard to get things from the Father.

thank you, and also please prayer for my studies and my future

subject = Survey Results
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