Inevitable isn't it?

[Xeno.of.athens]

The holy scriptures warn the faithful about the inevitable outcome of evil thoughts. It teaches us this

... one is tempted by one's own desire, being lured and enticed by it; then, when that desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin, and that sin, when it is fully grown, gives birth to death.​

Jas 1:14-15

What is true of personal temptation and its inevitable outcome is also true of temptation and its inevitable outcome for communities and nations. Step by step a community and a nation moves from a desire to enticement to implementation which without the intervention of the Holy Spirit graciously stopping the process leads to wickedness and then death.

The small step of desiring peace with whoever is the current messenger of the prince of the power of the air becomes enticement to overlook evil for the sake of peace which, when it matures, gives birth to wicked actions, cruel cooperation with prince of the power of the air's servant and when the cruelty has matured, our community and our nation turn into horrifying parodies of goodness, and then the inevitable reign of death comes to end the sin.

Brothers and sisters, beware the little steps that lead to destruction, both in this world and in the next.

 

[NewLifeInChristJesus]

The holy scriptures warn the faithful about the inevitable outcome of evil thoughts. It teaches us this

... one is tempted by one's own desire, being lured and enticed by it; then, when that desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin, and that sin, when it is fully grown, gives birth to death.​

Jas 1:14-15

What is true of personal temptation and its inevitable outcome is also true of temptation and its inevitable outcome for communities and nations. Step by step a community and a nation moves from a desire to enticement to implementation which without the intervention of the Holy Spirit graciously stopping the process leads to wickedness and then death.

The small step of desiring peace with whoever is the current messenger of the prince of the power of the air becomes enticement to overlook evil for the sake of peace which, when it matures, gives birth to wicked actions, cruel cooperation with prince of the power of the air's servant and when the cruelty has matured, our community and our nation turn into horrifying parodies of goodness, and then the inevitable reign of death comes to end the sin.

Brothers and sisters, beware the little steps that lead to destruction, both in this world and in the next.

Your POV on the lifecycle of sin (conception, birth, death) needs some clarification.

Per vs 14, a person is tempted and enticed to sin by "one's own desire". Where does "one's own desire" come from? Would you say it is from the flesh and that temptation itself is also inevitable?

Per vs 15, is it your understanding that "desire has conceived" is a refernce to an act of the will to succumb to tempation and that "gives birth to sin" is a reference to the fact that giving into temptation is a sin but temptation itself is not a sin? If not, please explain. Along these lines, is it also your belief that giving into temptation is not inevitable since with every temptation God provides a way of escape (1 Cor 10:13)?

Also per vs 15, can you clarify the inevitability of sin producing death? In particular, is it your view that every sin a person commits leads to eternal death except and uless God forgives those sins? I think this point needs clarification more than the others because the wording of your final sentence suggests that sin avoidance (not forgiveness of sins) is the key to escaping the eternal death that sin brings.

 

[Xeno.of.athens]

Your POV on the lifecycle of sin (conception, birth, death) needs some clarification.

Per vs 14, a person is tempted and enticed to sin by "one's own desire". Where does "one's own desire" come from? Would you say it is from the flesh and that temptation itself is also inevitable?

Per vs 15, is it your understanding that "desire has conceived" is a refernce to an act of the will to succumb to tempation and that "gives birth to sin" is a reference to the fact that giving into temptation is a sin but temptation itself is not a sin? If not, please explain. Along these lines, is it also your belief that giving into temptation is not inevitable since with every temptation God provides a way of escape (1 Cor 10:13)?

Also per vs 15, can you clarify the inevitability of sin producing death? In particular, is it your view that every sin a person commits leads to eternal death except and uless God forgives those sins? I think this point needs clarification more than the others because the wording of your final sentence suggests that sin avoidance (not forgiveness of sins) is the key to escaping the eternal death that sin brings.

I do not teach or believe predestination as per Calvinism.

The point of the post is communitarian and national rather than individual.

I made no attempt to provide a detailed exegesis of James 1:14-15.

The scripture quoted points to the common experience of human beings. Desire when it is entertained entices and enticement leads to action and so forth. Without the Holy Spirit's intervention sin and death (which is the wages of sin) is inevitable.

 

[NewLifeInChristJesus]

I do not teach or believe predestination as per Calvinism.

The point of the post is communitarian and national rather than individual.

I made no attempt to provide a detailed exegesis of James 1:14-15.

The scripture quoted points to the common experience of human beings. Desire when it is entertained entices and enticement leads to action and so forth. Without the Holy Spirit's intervention sin and death (which is the wages of sin) is inevitable.

Ok, I thought the post was about the individual too, and I was only talking about the individual. I don't have any insights into the lifecycle of sin among nations. I'll leave that discussion for others.

 

[fhansen]

I do not teach or believe predestination as per Calvinism.

The point of the post is communitarian and national rather than individual.

I made no attempt to provide a detailed exegesis of James 1:14-15.

The scripture quoted points to the common experience of human beings. Desire when it is entertained entices and enticement leads to action and so forth. Without the Holy Spirit's intervention sin and death (which is the wages of sin) is inevitable.

Anyone can resist the movement of the Spirit. Grace is resistible, IOW.

 

[Xeno.of.athens]

Anyone can resist the movement of the Spirit. Grace is resistible, IOW.

amen, it certainly is.

 

[Always in His Presence]

Anyone can resist the movement of the Spirit. Grace is resistible, IOW.

so is sin

 

[fhansen]

so is sin

Yep, by the Spirit, under grace.

 

[Xeno.of.athens]

Yep, by the Spirit, under grace.

Sin is resistible, the Holy Spirit helps us in our weaknesses with the help we need to resist a fall into deeper and deeper sin. He brings us to Christ for forgiveness, and the Father accept Christ's absolution given to us.

All of the above applies both for individuals and for communities. A nation that turns away from sin will be forgiven. Remember the story of Jonah and the repentance of Nineveh.

 

[fhansen]

Sin is resistible, the Holy Spirit helps us in our weaknesses with the help we need to resist a fall into deeper and deeper sin. He brings us to Christ for forgiveness, and the Father accept Christ's absolution given to us.

All of the above applies both for individuals and for communities. A nation that turns away from sin will be forgiven. Remember the story of Jonah and the repentance of Nineveh.

Yes, and a person or nation that returns to sin will need to repent and be forgiven all over again. In fact, a person who refuses to forgive his neighbor will not be forgiven- Matt 6:14-15.

 

[Xeno.of.athens]

Yes, and a person or nation that returns to sin will need to repent and be forgiven all over again. In fact, a person who refuses to forgive his neighbor will not be forgiven- Matt 6:14-15.

amen, and this need to forgive is never to be received by the sinner as a licence to go on in sin, if they do then their judgement will be most severe indeed.

 

[RileyG]

Anyone can resist the movement of the Spirit. Grace is resistible, IOW.

Yes. People can choose to reject salvation and the grace of God. God does not force himself onto others.

 

[The Liturgist]

Sin is resistible, the Holy Spirit helps us in our weaknesses with the help we need to resist a fall into deeper and deeper sin. He brings us to Christ for forgiveness, and the Father accept Christ's absolution given to us.

All of the above applies both for individuals and for communities. A nation that turns away from sin will be forgiven. Remember the story of Jonah and the repentance of Nineveh.

I also like, on that subject, the story of the repose of Abba Sisoes, who is venerated by the Roman Catholics, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox and the Assyrians, and I think the Anglicans and some Lutherans as well. He was one of the Desert Fathers.