Question 1

Is temptation sin?

Accepted Answer

Matthew 4:1Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted there by the devil.Hebrews 4:15This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin.Jesus was severely tempted, yet he never gave in to it. Since Jesus was tempted and remained sinless, being tempted is not the same as sinning. We don’t have to feel guilty about the temptations we wrestle with. Rather, we should devote ourselves to resisting them.

Question 2

Does God ever tempt us?

Accepted Answer

Mark 7:15“It’s not what goes into your body that defiles you; you are defiled by what comes from your heart.”James 1:13Remember, when you are being tempted, do not say, “God is tempting me.” God is never tempted to do wrong, and he never tempts anyone else.God doesn’t tempt us. Rather, temptation comes from the devil, the world around us, and most often, from our own sinful nature. Victory over temptation originates from God and flows to our hearts (1 Corinthians 10:13).James 1:2-4When troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.Although God does not send temptation, he often brings good from it by helping us grow stronger through it.

Question 3

Where does temptation come from?

Accepted Answer

Genesis 3:1The serpent was the shrewdest of all the wild animals the Lord God had made. One day he asked the woman, “Did God really say you must not eat the fruit from any of the trees in the garden?”1 Chronicles 21:1Satan rose up against Israel and caused David to take a census of the people of Israel.Matthew 6:13“Don’t let us yield to temptation, but rescue us from the evil one.”Mark 1:12-13The Spirit then compelled Jesus to go into the wilderness, where he was tempted by Satan for forty days. He was out among the wild animals, and angels took care of him.1 Corinthians 7:5Do not deprive each other of sexual relations, unless you both agree to refrain from sexual intimacy for a limited time so you can give yourselves more completely to prayer. Afterward, you should come together again so that Satan won’t be able to tempt you because of your lack of self-control.2 Corinthians 11:3I [the apostle Paul] fear that somehow your pure and undivided devotion to Christ will be corrupted, just as Eve was deceived by the cunning ways of the serpent.1 Thessalonians 3:5That is why, when I [Paul] could bear it no longer, I sent Timothy to find out whether your faith was still strong. I was afraid that the tempter had gotten the best of you and that our work had been useless.Since the original sin in the garden of Eden, Satan has been tempting humanity to reject God. His activities are one of the sources of temptation.Psalm 51:5I was born a sinner—yes, from the moment my mother conceived me.Mark 7:20-23“It is what comes from inside that defiles you. For from within, out of a person’s heart, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, wickedness, deceit, lustful desires, envy, slander, pride, and foolishness. All these vile things come from within; they are what defile you.”Romans 7:18-23I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. I want to do what is right, but I can’t. I want to do what is good, but I don’t. I don’t want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway. But if I do what I don’t want to do, I am not really the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it. I have discovered this principle of life—that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong. I love God’s law with all my heart. But there is another power within me that is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me.Ephesians 2:1-3Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins. You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil—the commander of the powers in the unseen world. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God. All of us used to live that way, following the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature. By our very nature we were subject to God’s anger, just like everyone else.James 1:14Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away.2 Peter 1:4Because of his [Christ’s] glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires.Temptation often comes from our own sinful human nature—we desire the wrong things. No mere human being can completely resist all temptation, and at times, our decisions may even invite temptation into our lives.Luke 8:14“The seeds that fell among the thorns represent those who hear the message, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the cares and riches and pleasures of this life. And so they never grow into maturity.”1 Timothy 6:9-10People who long to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the true faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows.1 John 2:15-16Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you. For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world.The pleasures and distractions of this world are also a frequent source of temptation. Even good or harmless things can replace God at the center of our hearts.Genesis 3:6The woman was convinced. . . . So she took some of the fruit and ate it. Then she gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it, too.Deuteronomy 13:6-11“Suppose someone secretly entices you—even your brother, your son or daughter, your beloved wife, or your closest friend—and says, ‘Let us go worship other gods’—gods that neither you nor your ancestors have known. They might suggest that you worship the gods of peoples who live nearby or who come from the ends of the earth. But do not give in or listen. Have no pity, and do not spare or protect them. You must put them to death! Strike the first blow yourself, and then all the people must join in. Stone the guilty ones to death because they have tried to draw you away from the Lord your God, who rescued you from the land of Egypt, the place of slavery.”Proverbs 1:10-14If sinners entice you, turn your back on them! They may say, “Come and join us. Let’s hide and kill someone! Just for fun, let’s ambush the innocent! Let’s swallow them alive, like the grave; let’s swallow them whole, like those who go down to the pit of death. Think of the great things we’ll get! We’ll fill our houses with all the stuff we take. Come, throw in your lot with us; we’ll all share the loot.”Proverbs 5:3-6The lips of an immoral woman are as sweet as honey, and her mouth is smoother than oil. But in the end she is as bitter as poison, as dangerous as a double-edged sword. Her feet go down to death; her steps lead straight to the grave. For she cares nothing about the path to life. She staggers down a crooked trail and doesn’t realize it.Proverbs 16:29Violent people mislead their companions, leading them down a harmful path.1 Kings 11:1-3Now King Solomon loved many foreign women. Besides Pharaoh’s daughter, he married women from Moab, Ammon, Edom, Sidon, and from among the Hittites. The Lord had clearly instructed the people of Israel, “You must not marry them, because they will turn your hearts to their gods.” Yet Solomon insisted on loving them anyway. He had 700 wives of royal birth and 300 concubines. And in fact, they did turn his heart away from the Lord.Isaiah 9:16The leaders of the people have misled them. They have led them down the path of destruction.Matthew 18:7“What sorrow awaits the world, because it tempts people to sin. Temptations are inevitable, but what sorrow awaits the person who does the tempting.”2 Peter 2:18They brag about themselves with empty, foolish boasting. With an appeal to twisted sexual desires, they lure back into sin those who have barely escaped from a lifestyle of deception.People can become agents of the world or of Satan when they fall for his lies or allow him to use them to tempt others. We must be careful not to follow others into sin—and we must be equally careful not to be a source of temptation for others.

Question 4

What makes temptation so enticing?

Accepted Answer

Genesis 3:4-6“You won’t die!” the serpent replied to the woman. “God knows that your eyes will be opened as soon as you eat it, and you will be like God . . . .” The woman was convinced. She saw that the tree was beautiful and its fruit looked delicious, and she wanted the wisdom it would give her. So she took some of the fruit and ate it. Then she gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it, too.Satan’s favorite strategy is to make sinful things and actions appear to be desirable and good. In contrast, he also tries to make good look evil. If he can twist our understanding of good and evil, then giving in to temptation appears right instead of wrong. We must constantly beware of the confusion he desires to create.1 Kings 11:1-3Now King Solomon loved many foreign women. Besides Pharaoh’s daughter, he married women from Moab, Ammon, Edom, Sidon, and from among the Hittites. The Lord had clearly instructed the people of Israel, “You must not marry them, because they will turn your hearts to their gods.” Yet Solomon insisted on loving them anyway. He had 700 wives of royal birth and 300 concubines. And in fact, they did turn his heart away from the Lord.Often temptation begins in seemingly harmless pleasure, but it soon gets out of control and progresses to full-blown idolatry. But the reality is that the kind of pleasure that leads to sin is never harmless. When God’s Word warns us about something we think is harmless, we should take it seriously. If Solomon had done this, he would have avoided great tragedy.Matthew 4:1-11Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted there by the devil. For forty days and forty nights he fasted and became very hungry. During that time the devil came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become loaves of bread.” But Jesus told him, “No! The Scriptures say, ‘People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” Then the devil took him to the holy city, Jerusalem, to the highest point of the Temple, and said, “If you are the Son of God, jump off! For the Scriptures say, ‘He will order his angels to protect you. And they will hold you up with their hands so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone.’” Jesus responded, “The Scriptures also say, ‘You must not test the Lord your God.’” Next the devil took him to the peak of a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. “I will give it all to you,” he said, “if you will kneel down and worship me.” “Get out of here, Satan,” Jesus told him. “For the Scriptures say, ‘You must worship the Lord your God and serve only him.’” Then the devil went away, and angels came and took care of Jesus.Temptation often comes with partial truths that conceal its bitter lies. Its attractive short-term benefits distract us from its destructive, even deadly, long-term consequences.

Question 5

Do I have the power to resist temptation?

Accepted Answer

1 Corinthians 10:13The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.Temptations may become strong, but they will never be impossible to resist. God is with us, and if we turn to him, he will always offer us a way out.Matthew 4:5-7Then the devil took him to the holy city, Jerusalem, to the highest point of the Temple, and said, “If you are the Son of God, jump off! For the Scriptures say, ‘He will order his angels to protect you. And they will hold you up with their hands so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone.’” Jesus responded, “The Scriptures also say, ‘You must not test the Lord your God.’”James 4:7So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.The devil has less power than we think. The devil can tempt us, but he cannot coerce us. He can dangle the bait in front of us, but he cannot force us to take it. We can resist the devil as Jesus did: by responding to the lies of temptation with the truth of God’s Word.1 John 4:4You belong to God, my dear children. You have already won a victory over those people, because the Spirit who lives in you is greater than the spirit who lives in the world.1 John 5:4-5Every child of God defeats this evil world, and we achieve this victory through our faith. And who can win this battle against the world? Only those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God.We have far more power available to us than we think. As children of God, the Holy Spirit within us is great enough to overcome any temptation.Philippians 1:6I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.Philippians 4:13I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.Jude 1:24-25Now all glory to God, who is able to keep you from falling away and will bring you with great joy into his glorious presence without a single fault. All glory to him who alone is God, our Savior through Jesus Christ our Lord. All glory, majesty, power, and authority are his before all time, and in the present, and beyond all time! Amen.Our ultimate confidence is in the Lord Jesus Christ. As we depend more and more fully on him, we will find his divine power in us to resist temptation.

Question 6

How can I resist temptation?

Accepted Answer

Job 31:1“I made a covenant with my eyes not to look with lust at a young woman.”Daniel 1:8Daniel was determined not to defile himself by eating the food and wine given to them by the king. He asked the chief of staff for permission not to eat these unacceptable foods.1 Corinthians 16:13-14Be on guard. Stand firm in the faith. Be courageous. Be strong. And do everything with love.1 Timothy 4:7-8Do not waste time arguing over godless ideas and old wives’ tales. Instead, train yourself to be godly. “Physical training is good, but training for godliness is much better, promising benefits in this life and in the life to come.”A solid commitment made before temptation strikes is the best prevention of sin. The time to prepare for temptation is before it presses in on us. If we train ourselves in the quieter times to redirect our thoughts to what is good and right (Philippians 4:8), we will have the spiritual wisdom, strength, and commitment to honor God in the face of intense desires and temptation.Luke 12:15“Beware! Guard against every kind of greed. Life is not measured by how much you own.”2 Corinthians 4:18So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.Philippians 3:14I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.Hebrews 11:25-26He [Moses] chose to share the oppression of God’s people instead of enjoying the fleeting pleasures of sin. He thought it was better to suffer for the sake of Christ than to own the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking ahead to his great reward.Hebrews 12:1-3Since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne. Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people; then you won’t become weary and give up.We can break free from temptation when we change our focus and train our minds. Instead of thinking about our weakness, we can fill our minds with the promise of God’s strength. Instead of thinking about what we are missing, we can think about what we are gaining by moving in a different direction. And be encouraged by the examples of faith that have gone before us!Matthew 6:9, 13“Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy. . . . And don’t let us yield to temptation, but rescue us from the evil one.”Matthew 26:39He [Jesus] went on a little farther and bowed with his face to the ground, praying, “My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.”Matthew 26:41“Keep watch and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak!”Ephesians 6:18Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.Colossians 4:2Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart.Resisting temptation should be a constant focus in our prayers. Jesus used the tool of prayer, communicating honestly with God in his temptation. He encourages us to do this for ourselves and on behalf of each another.Psalm 119:9, 11How can a young person stay pure? By obeying your word. . . . I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.Psalm 119:105Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path.Proverbs 7:1-5Follow my advice, my son; always treasure my commands. Obey my commands and live! Guard my instructions as you guard your own eyes. Tie them on your fingers as a reminder. Write them deep within your heart. Love wisdom like a sister; make insight a beloved member of your family. Let them protect you from an affair with an immoral woman, from listening to the flattery of a promiscuous woman.Matthew 4:1-11Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted there by the devil. For forty days and forty nights he fasted and became very hungry. During that time the devil came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become loaves of bread.” But Jesus told him, “No! The Scriptures say, ‘People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” Then the devil took him to the holy city, Jerusalem, to the highest point of the Temple, and said, “If you are the Son of God, jump off! For the Scriptures say, ‘He will order his angels to protect you. And they will hold you up with their hands so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone.’” Jesus responded, “The Scriptures also say, ‘You must not test the Lord your God.’” Next the devil took him to the peak of a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. “I will give it all to you,” he said, “if you will kneel down and worship me.” “Get out of here, Satan,” Jesus told him. “For the Scriptures say, ‘You must worship the Lord your God and serve only him.’” Then the devil went away, and angels came and took care of Jesus.Luke 8:13“The seeds on the rocky soil represent those who hear the message and receive it with joy. But since they don’t have deep roots, they believe for a while, then they fall away when they face temptation.”Ephesians 6:11-17Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. . . . hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.1 John 2:14I have written to you who are God’s children because you know the Father. I have written to you who are mature in the faith because you know Christ, who existed from the beginning. I have written to you who are young in the faith because you are strong. God’s word lives in your hearts, and you have won your battle with the evil one.Learn the Scriptures and meditate on them. There is no substitute! God’s Word is a light for our path, food for our souls, and a mighty sword in our battle with temptation.Proverbs 2:10-12, 16-17For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will fill you with joy. Wise choices will watch over you. Understanding will keep you safe. Wisdom will save you from evil people, from those whose words are twisted. . . . Wisdom will save you from the immoral woman, from the seductive words of the promiscuous woman. She has abandoned her husband and ignores the covenant she made before God.John 8:31-32Jesus said to the people who believed in him, “You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings. And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”Titus 2:12We are instructed to turn from godless living and sinful pleasures. We should live in this evil world with wisdom, righteousness, and devotion to God.Christian growth brings an increased knowledge and conviction of the truth, and one result is that we have the wisdom to more quickly recognize Satan’s lies. The more we are committed to God and his ways, the less we will be fooled by Satan and attracted to his ungodly ways.Ecclesiastes 4:12A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.2 Timothy 2:22Run from anything that stimulates youthful lusts. Instead, pursue righteous living, faithfulness, love, and peace. Enjoy the companionship of those who call on the Lord with pure hearts.A Christian friend is a powerful ally in the fight against temptation. Whether we rely on a small group, accountability partners, a Christian spouse, or all of the above, we grow best when we grow together.Romans 6:13-14Give yourselves completely to God, for you were dead, but now you have new life. So use your whole body as an instrument to do what is right for the glory of God. Sin is no longer your master, for you no longer live under the requirements of the law. Instead, you live under the freedom of God’s grace.Galatians 5:16So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves.Hebrews 2:18Since he [Jesus] himself has gone through suffering and testing, he is able to help us when we are being tested.Hebrews 4:14-16So then, since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe. This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.1 John 4:4You belong to God, my dear children. You have already won a victory over those people, because the Spirit who lives in you is greater than the spirit who lives in the world.Go directly to God, following the example of his Son and the leading of his Spirit.Proverbs 16:18Pride goes before destruction, and haughtiness before a fall.Proverbs 21:4Haughty eyes, a proud heart, and evil actions are all sin.James 4:6-7He [God] gives grace generously. As the Scriptures say, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.Cultivate humility and beware of pride. Pride is the root of many sins, including the first sin. It constantly tempts us with our selfish desires and hardens our hearts to God’s Word. Humility is the first step to inviting God to change our hearts.Genesis 39:6-10So Potiphar gave Joseph complete administrative responsibility over everything he owned. With Joseph there, he didn’t worry about a thing—except what kind of food to eat! Joseph was a very handsome and well-built young man, and Potiphar’s wife soon began to look at him lustfully. “Come and sleep with me,” she demanded. But Joseph refused. “Look,” he told her, “my master trusts me with everything in his entire household. No one here has more authority than I do. He has held back nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. How could I do such a wicked thing? It would be a great sin against God.” She kept putting pressure on Joseph day after day, but he refused to sleep with her, and he kept out of her way as much as possible.Genesis 39:11-12One day, however, no one else was around when he went in to do his work. She came and grabbed him by his cloak, demanding, “Come on, sleep with me!” Joseph tore himself away, but he left his cloak in her hand as he ran from the house.Proverbs 1:10-17My child, if sinners entice you, turn your back on them! They may say, “Come and join us. Let’s hide and kill someone! Just for fun, let’s ambush the innocent! Let’s swallow them alive, like the grave; let’s swallow them whole, like those who go down to the pit of death. Think of the great things we’ll get! We’ll fill our houses with all the stuff we take. Come, throw in your lot with us; we’ll all share the loot.” My child, don’t go along with them! Stay far away from their paths. They rush to commit evil deeds. They hurry to commit murder. If a bird sees a trap being set, it knows to stay away.Proverbs 4:14, 15, 24Don’t do as the wicked do, and don’t follow the path of evildoers. . . . Don’t even think about it; don’t go that way. Turn away and keep moving. . . . Avoid all perverse talk; stay away from corrupt speech.1 Corinthians 15:33-34Don’t be fooled by those who say such things, for “bad company corrupts good character.” Think carefully about what is right, and stop sinning. For to your shame I say that some of you don’t know God at all.1 Timothy 6:11-12You, Timothy, are a man of God; so run from all these evil things. Pursue righteousness and a godly life, along with faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness. Fight the good fight for the true faith. Hold tightly to the eternal life to which God has called you, which you have declared so well before many witnesses.1 Thessalonians 5:22Stay away from every kind of evil.1 John 5:21Dear children, keep away from anything that might take God’s place in your hearts.It’s best to just stay away from temptation entirely. When it is impossible to avoid temptation entirely, we should turn our backs to it. When it is not possible to turn our backs, we might need to promptly leave—run!—as Joseph did. Be wise! If we know we are liable to give in to the pressure of certain people, it is best to avoid their company and reconsider those friendships.

Question 7

How do I recover when I have given in to temptation?

Accepted Answer

Psalm 51:1-4, 7, 10, 12, 17Have mercy on me, O God, because of your unfailing love. Because of your great compassion, blot out the stain of my sins. Wash me clean from my guilt. Purify me from my sin. For I recognize my rebellion; it haunts me day and night. Against you, and you alone, have I sinned; I have done what is evil in your sight. You will be proved right in what you say, and your judgment against me is just. . . . Purify me from my sins, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. . . . Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me. . . . Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and make me willing to obey you. . . . The sacrifice you desire is a broken spirit. You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God.Proverbs 28:13People who conceal their sins will not prosper, but if they confess and turn from them, they will receive mercy.Matthew 18:12“If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them wanders away, what will he do? Won’t he leave the ninety-nine others on the hills and go out to search for the one that is lost?”Luke 15:20-24“So he [the prodigal son] returned home to his father. And while he was still a long way off, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him. His son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, and I am no longer worthy of being called your son.’ But his father said to the servants, ‘Quick! Bring the finest robe in the house and put it on him. Get a ring for his finger and sandals for his feet. And kill the calf we have been fattening. We must celebrate with a feast, for this son of mine was dead and has now returned to life. He was lost, but now he is found.’ So the party began.”John 8:10-11Then Jesus stood up again and said to the woman, “Where are your accusers? Didn’t even one of them condemn you?” “No, Lord,” she said. And Jesus said, “Neither do I. Go and sin no more.”Romans 6:1-7Should we keep on sinning so that God can show us more and more of his wonderful grace? Of course not! Since we have died to sin, how can we continue to live in it? Or have you forgotten that when we were joined with Christ Jesus in baptism, we joined him in his death? For we died and were buried with Christ by baptism. And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives. Since we have been united with him in his death, we will also be raised to life as he was. We know that our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin. For when we died with Christ we were set free from the power of sin.1 John 1:9If we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.We should hurry to humbly confess our failures and be made right with God. God is always merciful to us in our failures and awaits our repentance. No matter how often or how badly believers fail, God will welcome us back through the sacrifice of Jesus and reaffirm his commission for us to live a sinless, godly life.Matthew 5:23-24“So if you are presenting a sacrifice at the altar in the Temple and you suddenly remember that someone has something against you, leave your sacrifice there at the altar. Go and be reconciled to that person. Then come and offer your sacrifice to God.”If our sins involve others, we should hurry to confess to them and be reconciled with them.Matthew 3:8“Prove by the way you live that you have repented of your sins and turned to God.”1 John 2:1-6My dear children, I am writing this to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate who pleads our case before the Father. He is Jesus Christ, the one who is truly righteous. He himself is the sacrifice that atones for our sins—and not only our sins but the sins of all the world. And we can be sure that we know him if we obey his commandments. If someone claims, “I know God,” but doesn’t obey God’s commandments, that person is a liar and is not living in the truth. But those who obey God’s word truly show how completely they love him. That is how we know we are living in him. Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Jesus did.Repentance is more than an admission of guilt or an apology—it’s a change of heart that leads to changes in our actions. After admitting our sin and asking for God’s forgiveness, we must recommit ourselves to obedience.Proverbs 12:15Fools think their own way is right, but the wise listen to others.Galatians 6:1-5Dear brothers and sisters, if another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself. Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ. If you think you are too important to help someone, you are only fooling yourself. You are not that important. Pay careful attention to your own work, for then you will get the satisfaction of a job well done, and you won’t need to compare yourself to anyone else. For we are each responsible for our own conduct.James 5:16Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.Repenting and fully recovering from failure in the face of temptation might require seeking accountability from other believers or seeking a professional counselor. It takes strength to move past the shame of failure and actively seek help, but it is the wise path to take.

Question 8

What kinds of temptations do leaders face?

Accepted Answer

2 Samuel 11:1-2, 4In the spring of the year, when kings normally go out to war, David sent Joab and the Israelite army to fight the Ammonites. They destroyed the Ammonite army and laid siege to the city of Rabbah. However, David stayed behind in Jerusalem. Late one afternoon, after his midday rest, David got out of bed and was walking on the roof of the palace. As he looked out over the city, he noticed a woman of unusual beauty taking a bath. He sent someone to find out who she was, and he was told, “She is Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam and the wife of Uriah the Hittite.” Then David sent messengers to get her; and when she came to the palace, he slept with her.Leaders are often tempted to abuse their power for personal reasons, especially when everything is going well and people hold them in high regard. David had reached the place where he could enjoy an amount of freedom because he had won many battles and had a trusted leadership team in place. But the battlefront of temptation is one where no one else can fight for us.Deuteronomy 17:16-17“The king must not build up a large stable of horses for himself or send his people to Egypt to buy horses, for the Lord has told you, ‘You must never return to Egypt.’ The king must not take many wives for himself, because they will turn his heart away from the Lord. And he must not accumulate large amounts of wealth in silver and gold for himself.”1 Kings 11:1-4Now King Solomon loved many foreign women. . . . The Lord had clearly instructed the people of Israel, “You must not marry them, because they will turn your hearts to their gods.” Yet Solomon insisted on loving them anyway. . . . And in fact, they did turn his heart away from the Lord. In Solomon’s old age, they turned his heart to worship other gods instead of being completely faithful to the Lord his God, as his father, David, had been.Luke 12:15“Beware! Guard against every kind of greed. Life is not measured by how much you own.”Many leaders are tempted to think that they are special and exempt from the standards that apply to everyone else. In fact, God established even higher standards in some areas for the kings of ancient Israel. We see in Scripture that leaders are tempted to accumulate money and possessions, and to move toward opportunities for new alliances and power. An excessive desire for any of these can draw leaders away from God’s path. Because leaders are human, they are subject to the same weaknesses as everyone else. Solomon was given wisdom beyond any man who ever lived (1 Kings 3:12), but he made the foolish decision to ignore God’s warnings and paid the price.John 12:4-6Judas Iscariot, the disciple who would soon betray him, said, “That perfume was worth a year’s wages. It should have been sold and the money given to the poor.” Not that he cared for the poor—he was a thief, and since he was in charge of the disciples’ money, he often stole some for himself.Jesus had many followers, and as one of the Twelve, Judas was a part of the leadership team under Jesus. Like many leaders, Judas was tempted to take advantage of the trust given to him as a means of personal gain.2 Chronicles 26:14-16Uzziah provided the entire army with shields, spears, helmets, coats of mail, bows, and sling stones. And he built structures on the walls of Jerusalem, designed by experts to protect those who shot arrows and hurled large stones from the towers and the corners of the wall. His fame spread far and wide, for the Lord gave him marvelous help, and he became very powerful. But when he had become powerful, he also became proud, which led to his downfall. He sinned against the Lord his God by entering the sanctuary of the Lord’s Temple and personally burning incense on the incense altar.2 Chronicles 32:24-26About that time Hezekiah became deathly ill. He prayed to the Lord, who healed him and gave him a miraculous sign. But Hezekiah did not respond appropriately to the kindness shown him, and he became proud. So the Lord’s anger came against him and against Judah and Jerusalem. Then Hezekiah humbled himself and repented of his pride, as did the people of Jerusalem. So the Lord’s anger did not fall on them during Hezekiah’s lifetime.The very achievements that God allows and enables can make us vulnerable to pride and the temptation to act purely on our own will. Uzziah’s success led to the presumption that he could act as a priest, something forbidden by God’s law. Similarly, Hezekiah’s pride led to prideful and unwise actions that displeased God. Fortunately for Hezekiah and for Israel, Hezekiah repented before the consequences took root.1 Samuel 18:7-9This was their song: “Saul has killed his thousands, and David his ten thousands!” This made Saul very angry. “What’s this?” he said. “They credit David with ten thousands and me with only thousands. Next they’ll be making him their king!” So from that time on Saul kept a jealous eye on David.A leader who falls into pride often falls into jealousy as well. Saul’s jealousy toward David led him to try to kill a faithful and talented subordinate. Though David responded with restraint and respect, Saul’s reckless jealousy still splintered Israel’s loyalties and distracted Saul from his responsibilities as king.Numbers 20:7-12The Lord said to Moses, “You and Aaron must take the staff and assemble the entire community. As the people watch, speak to the rock over there, and it will pour out its water. You will provide enough water from the rock to satisfy the whole community and their livestock.” So Moses did as he was told. He took the staff from the place where it was kept before the Lord. Then he and Aaron summoned the people to come and gather at the rock. “Listen, you rebels!” he shouted. “Must we bring you water from this rock?” Then Moses raised his hand and struck the rock twice with the staff, and water gushed out. So the entire community and their livestock drank their fill. But the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not trust me enough to demonstrate my holiness to the people of Israel, you will not lead them into the land I am giving them!”Leaders are often tempted to become frustrated and angry with those they lead. Moses gave in to his anger with the people and forfeited the opportunity to lead them into the Promised Land.