Originally posted by Slave2SinNoMore
No, Satan doesn't MAKE man sin, but the temptation comes from Satan.
As I said, satan does tempt. But, for a Christian, the desire to give in to that sin
is due to a Christian acting according to their old nature.
A Christian cannot blame his sin on the old nature, because the old nature is dead in a Christian; it has been crucified.
The old nature (nature enslaved to sinfulness) has been overcome and we have been released from it's bondage. It is
NOT, however, gone. God, who knows better than any, left it there. It is why we will still occasionally choose to act in an unrighteous manner. For a Christian even these failings are learning experiences. We learn to trust God and not our own devices. We learn to have compassion for others who act according to their sinful desires. We learn to recognize our sinfulness. And, we learn to acknowledge that wrongdoing and repent of it.
That is why it is still a part of us. If you believe that your sinful nature is completely obiliterated then why is it that you think you still sin? Let me guess, free will, right? Deny it if you wish, but the truth is, this broken vessel we live in will desire to sin until we are glorified. It is this very battle that wages war in our members that Paul talked about in Romans. If you think it's gone why are we instructed to "put off the old man?" As we grow in faith and maturity we will desire more and more to please our Father and that will be the compulsion for our actions. But, we will continue to sin occasionally. Hopefully less and less, but nonetheless, we will continue to sin.
Why do some Christians still blame their sin on "oh, it's just my old nature, my sin nature", when the Bible makes it clear that the sin nature has been crucified and is now destroyed? Rather, Christians should say "The Devil tempted me, and told me I wanted to commit this sin; he told me that my sin nature is still alive, and that I am still a slave to sin. It is a lie, but I believed the lie and sinned anyway".
Riiiiight. Let's not blame our own sinful nature for our sins, let's blame the tempting of satan.
The fault for committing the sin then, doesn't lie with Satan. The fault lies with the Christian, because he believed the lie and committed the sin.
Call it what you want but your doing what Adam did, what Moses and Aaron did, and what is commonplace for even most Christians nowadays. You're shifting at least some of the blame to someone else, in this case, satan for tempting you.
But make no mistake, the temptation originated with Satan and his cohorts; it did not originate from within the Christian's spirit.
Hmmmm...did you read my post. If you think all temptation originates from satan please explain this:
James 1:13-15
Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am tempted by God"; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone.<SUP> </SUP>But each one is tempted when he is drawn away <B>BY HIS OWN DESIRES and enticed</B>.<SUP> </SUP>Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.
Where is it that it explains that satan should be blamed for tempting us?
When you say us whom do you mean? Not that it really makes that big of a difference but I'm fast figuring out that you think that our ability to make choices constitutes "free will." Please show me,
WHERE IN THE BIBLE DOES IT SAY THAT WE WERE, AT ANY TIME IN OUR LIVES, GIVEN FREE WILL? For that matter, where in the Bible does it say that anyone or anything has free will?
For some reason known only to God, He chooses not to step in when certain things happen.
Two things:
First, aren't
you the one who said you always get the answer "It's a mystery of God" when you ask Calvinists certain things? Sounds a bit like "the pot calling the kettle black."
Second, I'll enlighten you. The reason He doesn't "step in" when certain things happen, is, pay attention now, because if it happens, guess what, it's His Will.
Certain things that he does not want to happen do indeed happen.
Like? Scripture reference please.
To be frank with you, I can't believe that you actually believe that everything that happens is God's will. I just can't believe that you believe that a child being raped is God's will. That just absolutely floors me.
I understand that this is your effort to make it look like I'm espousing a God who gets His kicks when some child gets raped. The difference is that God has a plan for every event that comes into the life of His chosen. That plan is for their sanctification (1 Thess 4:3). It is for your good (Rom 8:28). I just can't believe that you think that God could guarantee things happen exactly as He had foreordained if He could be thwarted by the will of His own creation. What kind of God really, really, really desires that a person be saved and that person just says, "Naaah. That religion thing isn't for me" and God is powerless to ensure that His desire comes to fruition? Either that or you don't think God cares about any of us specifically. If He loved someone so much but then doesn't make sure that they experience that love what kind of love is that? What kind of God is that?
The salvation work was indeed ordained before the foundations of the world, but it was not completed until Christ rose from the dead.
According to you it wasn't completed until you made your decision. So I guess the death of God incarnate didn't actually accomplish anything for you. It just gave you the opportunity to change something for yourself.
God bless.