Several topics in this class have reminded me of what it means to be a Christian and how to be a Christian. The two topics I will discuss in the Reflection paper are Temptation and Sins of Commission. Temptation often leads to sin which can include sins of commission.
Part One -Temptation
a. Theological Definition
Temptation is something experienced by a person with thoughts or desires which are contrary to how God desires man to act. When a person acts on these thoughts sin is committed. A person can be tempted by thoughts of money, lust and greed. If a person falls into temptation against God’s word they will be separated from God unless they have accepted Jesus Christ as their personal lord and savior. Temptation is not from God. God will help us fight temptation as he did Jesus.
b. Biblical Foundation
Temptation is found many times throughout the Bible. Eve was tempted to eat the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge by the serpent. (Genesis 3: 1-7). Jesus Christ was tempted several times. Matthew 4:1-11 details the temptations of Jesus Christ by the Devil after 40 days of fasting. J...
... those who’s faith is being tested by temptation particularly, or those who don’t necessarily understand what temptation is, so they can ovoid it in the future.
God has given man free will which resulted in the “fall” of Adam and Eve when they committed “original sin.” As human beings, we have inherited this “fallen” state and are thereby capable of committing sin. In Ephesians 2:1-10, Paul explains that even when we were spiritually dead in our transgressions and sins, “God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ — we have been saved by grace through faith.” We are not spiritually separated from God even if we deserve to be.
The human being is more vulnerable to accept sensuality because they feel weak. These temptations of any kind can make any person to make a mistake due to their time of desperation. However, God created every pleasure that human beings can experience making it difficult for devils to create a form of pleasure that is separate from the ones that God has created. As a result, people are influenced by the devils to participate in the pleasures that God has created in ways that the Lord will discourage. Then, Screwtape introduces another way of attacking an individual’s faith; giving them a false view of Christianity while they are in their trough periods. If a person. who is discouraged turns to the Bible for direction, but they do not recover all of their happiness. In conclusion, the individual will transform their view of Christianity by coming to terms that Christianity is good, but only to certain point. Overall, Screwtape states that this view of Christianity that an individual takes on is equivalent of Christianity not existing at
Ephesians 2:1-10 is basically saying not to over use God’s grace. The verses say that God’s grace is a gift and even though every time you sin God gives you grace, you should not over use it. God wants you to good for Him, after all that is what he created you for.
“He said not:Thou shalt not be tempested, thou shalt not be travailed, thou shalt not be afflicted Thou shalt not be overcome” (144). Although as St. Julian reported, “As long as we be meddling with any part of sin we shall never see clearly the Blissful Countenance of our Lord” (149). It is important to stay clear of any sin and to flee from it when we find it creeping into our lives. “Though we be highly lifted up into contemplation by the special gift of our Lord, yet it is needful to us to have knowledge and sight of our sin and our feebleness”
The Last Temptation of Christ by Martin Scorsese shows the life of Jesus Christ and his struggle such as fear, reluctance, depression, doubt, and fear. However, the movie departs from the accepted Biblical depiction of the life of Jesus Christ. In other words, the movie is remotely derived from the Gospel of John, Luke, Mark, and Mathew. The movie starts with the renunciation that it is not based on the above gospels. Instead the movie is derived from the book, The Last Temptation of Christ by Nikos Kazantzakis. The book focuses on the dual nature of Christ or his humanity (Greydanus).
...ation. The first temptation, when Satan told Jesus to turn the stones to bread (Matt. 4:3), focused on Jesus’ hunger. From being led into the wilderness by the Spirit, to this first temptation it was forty days and Jesus had not eaten anything. His physical need at the moment was sustenance, he was hungry and his body needed nourishment. Once again another reference to Israel is made in parallel to Jesus. The Israelites cried out to God because they did not have any food to eat in the wilderness, so God send them manna for them for their food. As the Israelites were complaining to God and not trusting Him, Jesus did the opposite and He did not succumb to His human frailty but trusted in God and place His dependence upon food.
One might ask, What exactly are sins and where did they come from? According to Oxford Dictionary, a sin is an immoral act considered to be a transgression against divine law. Sin is what started the fall of humanity that is still manifested in today’s time. Adam was the first of God’s human creation. “So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them” (Genesis 1:27). And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, “You may surely eat of every tree of the garden, but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.” (Gen. 2:16–17). Sin entered the world when Adam disobeyed God and ate the forbidden fruit. “God gave to man the power of contrary choice. Man of his own will, by no external compulsion or determination, used that power in the commission of sin… ” (Reddit 10). The effects of Adam’s sin are profound and and they affect everyone. A few things that stand out in Reddit’s explanation of it is that “sin is lawless, universal and results in satanic bond”. Sin is lawless because its is breaking God’s divine law. “Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness” (1John 3:4). Sin is universal because, “The whole world lies in the power of the evil one” and the evil one who is Satan. An objection could be that
The Immorality of Adultery Sex is believed, by some, to be a universal language, one that is free
Grace In order to completely understand the theology of grace. you have to take a look at Augustine, Aquinas, Luther. Rahner, Segundo, and Boff, and how they understood what. grace was.
Romans 1:24-27; Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural us for what is against nature. Likewise also, the men, leaving the natural use of the woman burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due.
In the article by Eric Wargo gives insight about temptation, but not the general interpretation of temptation, but more about an individual 's willpower to hold out for certain things. Temptation is a part of everyday life and I 'm sure there is not a day that goes by where someone is not tempted to say,do or think something. Also he questions whether it can be strengthened or whether it is something greater than we think.Throughout the article he presents the notion that willpower is something that everyone possesses, but not everyone is capable of actually following through and as a result they lack willpower. Eric Wargo gives his own opinions while also using others opinions to support his ideas. His main idea is that willpower is exerting
A. Temptation is everywhere Picture this: Like a scuba diver in the ocean, we feel engulfed with water and alluring sights.
One type of person who falls for their temptations is someone who gives into something just to fulfill an immediate desire. The first example in Franklin's story, is himself. He explains how he falls for the idea of this great whistle, and he gives all he has for it, despite the actual cost of it. “I went directly to a shop where there they sold toys for children; and being charmed with the sound of a whistle , that I met by the way in the hands of another boy, I voluntarily offered and gave all my money for one” (Franklin 46).