Topical Study, Resisting Temptation: Avoiding Temptation Part III

Now that we have looked at the Common Causes of Temptation we are going to take a closer look at how we can attempt to AVOID temptation.


The initial overview of this topical study can be found HERE.

Part I of the Common Sources of Temptation  can be found HERE. 

Part II of the Common Sources of Temptation can be found HERE. 

Part III of the Common Sources of Temptation can be found HERE. 

Part IV of the Common Sources of Temptation can be found HERE.  

Part V of the Common Sources of Temptation can be found HERE. 

Part I of Avoiding Temptation can be found HERE. 


Part II of Avoiding Temptation can be found HERE.  

You can hover your pointer over (most) any verse reference to read the corresponding verse(s).  (Scriptural cross-references are THE most important resource!)

Find Strength and Help in Fellowship

Ge 2:18

• Initial Observations  --  Right from the beginning God did not want us to be alone and knew that we needed companionship for many different reasons!  So God, in His infinite compassion made a helper.  The man and woman were (and are) perfect compliments to each other!!
• Cross-references --  Pr 18:22  Ecc 4:9-12 
• The Wycliffe Bible Commentary:    Reminds us that we were created for fellowship and companionship.

Ecc 4:9-12

• Initial Observations  --  If we have fellowship and companionship they can help to pick us up when and if we fall (more when then if!) and visa versa.  And if ONE can overpower him who is alone TWO can resist!    We need help to resist.  This passage speaks to so many things but I do believe it is relevant to temptation and our efforts to resist and avoid it!  As we shall see in the verses below we are to help others in their efforts!  And we will need help as well.
• Cross-references  --  Gen 2:18  Nu 11:14  Pr 27:17  Mk 6:7  !!  1Co 12:18-21  Isa 35:3  Lk 22:31-32  1Ki 1:1-4 

Mt 18:15

• Initial Observations  --  Jesus plainly states that we are to help each other by pointing out sins!  (IN PRIVATE...!!  This is not to be a public dressing down!)  He also admonishes us to LISTEN when we are the ones being corrected!  ( Mt 8:16-17  )
• Cross-references  --  Lk 17:3  Gal 6:1  James 5:19-20  1Pe 3:1 

Mt 18:20 

• Initial Observations  --  Gathering in the name of Jesus Christ is a blessing.  Community and fellowship are needed.  Jesus will be in the midst of that fellowship thus making a strong group even stronger!
• Cross-references  --  Rev 21:3  (surprisingly few cross-references)
• Commentaries  -- The Wycliffe Bible Commentary:  Ties this verse to Mt 18:15-19   Which makes sense!  And that confirms that strength in numbers helps all of us in dealing with temptation and sin!  But I do think (?) that Jesus was thinking a bit broader in Mt 18:10 as he used the word anything!  He did not specify that the "two or three" were just deliberating the sins of others.

Mk 6:7

• Initial Observations  --  Jesus sent the 12 out IN PAIRS!  Two are stronger than one.  They were gong out to preach the kingdom of God and to even battle unclean spirits.  One of them alone would have been weaker and less ready.  There IS strength in numbers! 
• Cross-references  --   Ecc 4:9-10 

Gal 6:1

• Initial Observations  --  Interesting passage!  Paul gives a direct command that if we see someone sin we are to help restore that person in a spirit of GENTLENESS!  AND then he admonishes us to also keep an eye on ourselves so that we will also not be tempted!!  We are responsible for our own sins and we are responsible for helping others avoid sin when we are able and to help them rise from their sin when we are able.
• Cross-references  --  2Co 2:7  2Th 3:14-15  James 5:19-20  Ro 14:1  Ro 15:1  Isa 35:3-4  Mt 9:13  Mt 18:12-15  1Jn 5:16  Jude 1:22-23  Mt 11:29  Mt 7:1-5  !!!! 

James 5:19-20

• Initial Observations  --  Continues in our theme of how important fellowship is to our continuing walk with God.  The Bible tells us to help our fellow believers see their sins!  We are to gently correct each other.  But to receive this correction and to be able to help others we must seek fellowship!  (note to self)
• Cross-references  --  Mt 18:15  Gal 6:1  Da 12:3  Heb 12:12-13  Jude 1:22-23  1Pe 4:8  Ro 11:14  Pr 11:30  1Ti 4:16 
• Commentaries  --  The AMG Concise Bible Commentary:    Reminds us that we should also be on the look out to bring non-believers to God!  We should look out for both our brothers and sisters in faith and those who are not yet saved.

Ro 15:1-3 

• Initial Observations  --  A GREAT couple of verses from Paul!  We are not here to to just please ourselves.  We are here to serve!  Jesus, the Son of God, served and He is our ultimate example.  In fellowship, we are to be strong for those who are weak.  (and this will be different people in different situations.  IE:  We all have different strengths and weaknesses!)
• Cross-references  --  Ro 14:1  Gal 6:1-2  1Th 5:14  1Co 9:22  1Co 10:24  1Co 10:33 2Co 13:9  Ro 14:9  Eph 4:29   Php 2:4-7  !!  Mt 26:39  !!!  

1Jn 5:16

• Initial Observations  --  1)  We are once again shown that we SHOULD help our fellow brothers and sisters in the faith.  We all sin!  And we all need help recovering from sin, and even better, avoiding sin!  We are to help each other.  2)  I have always wondered what John mean by "a sin leading to death."??  What is the distinction here?  And why did he not tell us?  Is it because it is not for us to worry about the distinction?  As that is not up to us anyway??
• Cross-references  --  James 5:15  Heb 10:26  Ge 20:7  Ge 20:17  Ex 32:10-14  Nu 12:13  2Ch 30:18-20  Ps 106:23  Eze 22:30  1Sa 2:25  Mt 12:31-32  Mk 3:28-30  Lk 12:10  Jn 17:9  Lk 22:31-32  !!
• Commentaries  --  The Bible Background Commentary:  THINKS that John might be saying that the 'sin unto death" is a course of action that leads away from eternal life. 
• The AMG Concise Bible Commentary:  States that Christians should be able to see the "difference between those cases where they should pray and those cases where they should not." AS as person, "through his sin, sets in motion a course of events that no amount of prayer can reverse."  I do NOT agree with the AMG commentary at all!  If this was true, John would have been more specific!  John does not state to NOT pray for the person who commits a sin leading to death.  He simply states that he is not commanding that we must pray for that person.  We are not judges of what is pardonable and unpardonable!  God does that!  If we see a brother or sister sin I think we are to pray for them and the rest is up to God!  This deserves more thought.
• The Wyclifee Bible Commentary:    Backs me up in this by stating that:  "...John is very guarded in what he recommends.  He does not forbid intercession nor does he encourage it."    The end result (forgiveness or not) is up to God!  Period.  By deciding NOT to pray we are acting as a judge in the matter.
• The NLT Study Bible:    States that John is referring to Apostasy as the "sin leading to death."  Apostasy is the utter desertion of one's faith.  Or completely turning away from God!    Mat 12:31-31  and  Heb 6:4-6     But again, how doe WE know for sure when a person has COMPLETELY turned from God?  WE don't!  Only God (and that person I guess) know for sure.  So if we see a brother or sister sin:  We pray for them!!  Again, the judgement and decision is up to God, not us!!

 2Ti 2:24-6

• Initial Observations  --  Once again we are encouraged to correct people WITH gentleness!  It is our duty to help others with their sins!
• Cross-references  -- Col 3:13  Eph 4:2  Titus 3:2  2Co 7:9-10  Gal 6:1  1Pe 3:15  1Ti 2:4 

Thoughts and Application

• Quite simply we need fellowship!  (note to self!)  We can be helped and will be stronger with people around us who can watch out for us and help us in our blind spots.  WE in turn can also help others (we are in fact commanded to help others) to see their blind spots!  But we are to do this gently and not with judgement!  For we must remember that we have blind spots and we are all sinners!  We must also be accepting of any correction we receive!
• Fellowship is a key element to avoiding and battling temptation and sin.

Bibliography

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