Christian Theology - Media Sabda Org

CHRISTIAN THEOLOGY.
Adam Clarke
XXVII.—TEMPTATIONS.
THE process of temptation is often as follows:—1. A simple: evil
thought. 2. A strong imagination, or impression made on the imagination
by the thing to which we are tempted. 3. Delight in viewing it. 4. Consent
of the will to perform it. Thus lust is conceived, sin is finished, and death
brought forth.
Temptation is a part of our Christian warfare; and Jesus, our Lord and
pattern, was tempted, and sorely tempted too; and has, by his temptation,
showed us how we may foil our adversary, and glorify our God in the day
of such a visitation.
And man may be tempted, and be in a state of temptation, without
entering into it: "entering into it" implies giving way, closing in with, and
embracing it. That man has entered into a temptation who feels his heart
inclined to it, and would act accordingly, did time, place, and opportunity
serve. Christ was tempted even to worship the devil; but he entered not
into any of the temptations of his adversary: the prince of this world came
and found nothing in him, no evil nature within to join with the evil
temptation without. Now a man may be on the verge of falling by some
powerful and well circumstanced sin,—he may be in it; but the timely
help of God may succour him, and prevent him from entering into it; and
thus a brand is plucked from the burning. He was heated, yea, scorched
by it, but was saved from the desolating and ruinous act.
The temptation that leads us astray may be as sudden as it is
successful. We may lose in one moment the fruit of a whole life! How
frequently is this the case, and how few lay it to heart! A man may fall by
the means of his understanding, as well as by the means of his passions.