Thanks for your compliment and point of correction on my post. I believe that is the purpose of the forum. To learn, exhort, edify, and strengthen one another in the faith.

 

You stated: I read in the book of James: "But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed." James 1:16

To know that the lust originates with us gives us a way out of temptation--which is to resist.

 

My response: I have to agree with you on that. The fact that we are born with a sinful nature makes us subject to lustful

passions which originates from within ourselves. That is why we are told to be on guard(vigilant), so we don't allow any 

gasoline leakages(lusts). Once that happens, we give room for the devil to just come by and strike the match, and sooner or later we're devoured(consumed) of our own lusts.

 

"Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

 Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world." 1 peter 5:8-9

 

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Michael Colunga (25 Feb 2011)
"RE:  Virra--Warning To All Carnal Christians"

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Hello, John and Doves,

 

Virra, by and large, I think you have exhibited outstanding biblical exegesis.

However, I have a problem with one of your comments.

 

You said, "Every sin and temptation originates with the devil." at the start of paragraph 7.

I agree that the devil is our adversary.  He is even now called "the tempter."

However, I think it would be a tactical error to give the enemy too much credit.

 

I read in the book of James,

    "But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed."  James 1:16

To know that the lust originates with us gives us a way out of temptation--which is to resist.

 

Indeed, it is written,

    "No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful;

he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted,

he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it."  1 Corinthians 10:13

 

Again, it is written,

    "Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you."

                                                                                                        James 4:7

 

The purpose of submitting ourselves to God is, as you said, to be holy.  That is to say,

    "Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body,

but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body."  1 Corinthians 6:18

 

Indeed, Our Lord, Himself, said,

    "But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery

with her in his heart."  Matthew 5:28

 

The bottom line?

 

    "As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had

when you lived in ignorance.  But just as he who called you is holy,

so be holy in all you do; for it is written: 'Be holy, because I am holy.' "

1 Peter 1:14-16, quoting Lev. 11:44,45; 19:2; 20:7

 

I believe we have reached the same conclusion.  Am I right?

 

In HaShem,

Mike C.

_________________________________________________________________________________

Virra (23 Feb 2011)
"Warning To All Carnal Christians"

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What Is a Carnal Christian?

 

Webster’s 1828 Dictionary defines carnal as:
1. Pertaining to flesh; fleshly; sensual; opposed to spiritual; as carnal pleasure.
2. Being in the natural state; unregenerate.
3. Pertaining to the ceremonial law; as carnal ordinances. Heb. 9:10.
4. Lecherous; lustful; libidinous; given to sensual indulgence.

Strong’s Concordance defines “carnal” as used in 1 Cor 3 this way:
>From G4561; pertaining to flesh, that is, (by extension) bodily, temporal, or
(by implication) animal, unregenerate: — carnal, fleshly.

It is obvious that the word carnal describes someone who is not regenerated. It describes someone who is still under the control of fleshly desires as opposed to someone who is under the control of the Spirit of God.

 

 

For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 7 because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. Rom. 8:6-7

 

---- Carnal Christians according to the above text are essentially enemies of God. There is no such thing as a carnal Christian. You can either choose to live holy and abstain from sinful habits and actions or live in carnality(spiritual death) and end up lost. There is no middle ground.

 

There are no perfect Christians anywhere except Christ who walked perfectly. However, we are to strive or contend earnestly to fight sin and temptation in our lives. Daily asking

and seeking the Lord to search us and help us to be pure in

our daily walk and to be conformed to Christ image. This is

how the bride will become spotless and without blemish or any wrinkle.

 

Every sin and temptation originates with the devil. The fastest way to defeat sin in your life is to recognize that sin is uncleanness and filthiness. Therefore, whenever you sin, you

are in essence giving consent to evil and demonic spirits that are trying to entice and seduce you away from complete obedience to Christ. The faster Christians realize this trick of the devil the quicker they will be to renounce sins in their lives and not compromise with devils.

 

...."And, let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity." 2 Tim. 2:19

 

"Abstain from ALL appearance of evil." 1 Thess. 5:22

 

"....depart from me, ye that work iniquity." Matt. 7:23

 

"But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it NOT be once named among you, as becometh saints."

Ephesians 5:3