TEMPTATIONS TO SIN COME TO EVERY PERSON BUT WOE TO THE ONE WHO BRINGS THE TEMPTATION. The Bible Does Not Teach That Temptation Is The Sin But That Everybody Has The Means Within Them To Be Tempted To Sin. The trouble for many people is determining whether they like the feelings of being tempted or the consequences of actually committing sin.

The Bible clearly says that lust (just looking) in the eye is wrong but also that temptation is not a sin. What is the difference between the two?

Lust is given just as an example. My true question is that since temptation often begins in the heart, how do you separate temptation, which isn't wrong, from sin in the heart?

Happy Riches, studied theology

Answered Jan 11 Answer requested by Diane Shatto

There is a belief screamed out by people who have been indoctrinated by Calvinist thinking that they are saved by grace alone before the foundation of the world, and their hearts are full of deceit and cannot be understood or changed. This belief is based on a text taken out of context from the book of Jeremiah.

• “Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord. He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit.” The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately corrupt; who can understand it? “I the Lord search the mind and try the heart, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doings.” (Jeremiah 17:7–10)

When we look at the context of the text from which the Calvinists base their false teaching upon, we learn that those who trust the Lord are blessed, because He tries the heart and gives to every one according to what each one does.

In the book of Hebrews, we learn that Lord Jesus Christ searches the heart to discern between thoughts and intent—whether we truly want to enter God’s rest.

• Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, that no one fall by the same sort of disobedience. For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and spirit, of joints and marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And before him no creature is hidden, but all are open and laid bare to the eyes of him with whom we have to do. (Hebrews 4:11–13)

Those who have been designated as acceptable to Lord Jesus Christ, because their intentions are true and they really desire to enter His rest, are given a new heart—one which is incapable of sinning.

• No one born of God commits sin; for God’s nature abides in him, and he cannot sin because he is born of God. (1 John 3:9)

People who call themselves Christians seem to have a problem with this Scripture because they desire to sin and prefer to fall back on Jeremiah 17:9 (man’s heart is deceitful, who can understand it) to justify their sins—saying that it was not me, it was the Devil and the evil heart that God gave me.

If we are truly born of God, we have no desire to sin. Anyone who has a desire to sin, has not truly entered God’s rest and secured his or her salvation. People hate hearing this, but we really need to strive to enter God’s rest. This does not mean we are working for our salvation; instead, we are seeking to establish our relationship with our Lord Jesus Christ in such a way that He is no longer looked upon as our hope of salvation, but becomes the love of our lives because He is now the Lord of our lives.

Once Jesus Christ has become Lord of our lives, we may find ourselves being tempted to do things. We may even get caught off guard and trip up. But our hearts are not in violation of our relationship with God, if we unwittingly find ourselves sinning. This distinct difference is why whoever is born of God does not commit sin, because the person’s inner nature has changed. Instead of possessing a nature that seeks out sin and revels in inordinate desire, we find ourselves preferring the peace of holiness; the joy of being in control of our lives; the love of being free from frustration and unfulfilled unruly desire.

When we continue in Jesus’ word, we are set free from ignorance, but when Jesus Himself sets us free, we are free from sin.

• Jesus then said to the Jews who had believed in him, “If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” … Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, every one who commits sin is a slave to sin. The slave does not continue in the house for ever; the son continues for ever. So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed. (John 8:31–32, 34–36)

The difficulty for too many people is accepting that they need to know Lord Jesus Christ personally, if they are to be set free from sin and its desires; rather than ensnared by learning doctrines that lead them away from knowing Him (John 5:39–40)—doctrines that puff people up with false knowledge.

Temptation is not sin. Nevertheless, temptation is not something that originates with God. James says that we are tempted only when we are lured by our own desires (James 1:13–15). However, this does not occur if our sin nature has been cut away and God’s nature has been placed in situ. Once our nature has been changed within, we may recognize the lust in other people, we may even feel it, but we will not be consumed by it, for we will have no desire.

Understanding Truth Is Not A Matter Of Man’s Doctrines Rather What God Wrote