Considerations ~ Questions of Sin, Temptation, and Failure

Here are some questions to help us assess whether we relate to sin, temptation, and failure, out of a grace-through-faith mindset, or a good-works mindset.

Question: when facing temptation, is your first thought, “Lord, save me!” or, “I must resist, resist, resist!”

Question: when facing failure to resist temptation, is your first thought, “Lord, forgive me!” or, “I must stop doing this!”

Question: when facing a recurring problem with a specific sin, is your first thought, “Lord, let me know you as my greatest treasure so my heart will seek to be with you above all other things!” or, “I need a program, or a group, or a resource, so I can stop doing this!”

Summary: when facing sin, temptation, and failure, do your thoughts revolve around your need to know Jesus Christ better than you have ever known him before, or do they center on what you must do to be a good Christian.

It is not that difficult to assess whether we live out of the grace-through-faith mindset that constantly approaches the throne of grace in time of need, knowing it is God who will give us the grace and mercy to help us through whatever we are facing (Hebrews 4:14-16); or we live out of the good-works mindset that keeps trying to be the good Christian everyone expects us to be.

Consider our temptations, and especially our failures to resist temptations, as a test that shows us where our hearts are, and who we are relying on to become like Jesus.

God’s book assures us that God will complete the work he has started in us, the work of transforming us into the image of his Son just as intended in creation. He does not ask us to do his work for him, but to walk with him in the work he is doing in us. That includes getting to know him as the Savior who does the saving from sin.

© 2015 Monte Vigh ~ Box 517, Merritt, BC, V1K 1B8 ~ in2freedom@gmail.com

Unless otherwise noted, Scriptures are from the English Standard Version (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.)