International Bible Teaching Ministries
General Questions About Sin, Temptation, and Evil
Question 1: Why do we fall into temptation?
ANSWER: John tells us that "all that is in this world, is the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye, and the pride of life." So, as long as we are in this world, we will be tempted by these things. This does not mean, however, that we must fall into sin as a result of these temptations. James says (1:12-15), "Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love Him. Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth He any man: But every man is tempted when he is drawn away of his own lusts, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death." Jesus Himself "was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin" (Hebrews 4:15), but when tempted by the devil in Matthew, chapter four, Jesus overcame it by use of the Word of God. You and I can do the same today as we live according to the Bible, looking for the fulfillment of its precious promises!
Question 2: Where will those who mock Jesus be in eternity?
ANSWER: Those who mock Jesus obviously reject Him through their mockery. All who reject Christ in disobedience to His gospel will be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power (II Thessalonians 1:7-9).
Question 3: What does the Bible teach about destructive devices that we are truly ashamed of, but can't seem to give up? (Smoking, drinking, cussing, etc.)
ANSWER: Friend, you need to realize that you have already taken a giant step in overcoming these vices! You have come to know that these things are against the will of God; that they are destructive to both body and soul. In fact you state that you are ashamed of being involved with them. Many people never recover from these things simply because they refuse to accept what you have already come to realize!
These things are often very hard to give up, because of the pleasure that can be experienced by doing them. The Bible tells us that there is pleasure in sin. In Hebrews 11:24-26, the writer says this about Moses: "By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter; choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; for he had respect unto the recompense of reward." What Moses did sets a great example for us today! He considered and compared the pleasures of sin in this life with the reward that would be is, if he would only be faithful to his God. The same must have been true of Abraham, because it is said of him in Verse ten, that "he looked for a city, which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God." What really helps us then to overcome these things is to compare the long-term value of spiritual matters with the short-term value of physical matters! Are cigarettes, booze, and cursing to be chosen above an eternity in that city whose builder and maker is God? The choice becomes even more significant when we consider eternity if we make the wrong choice! Now the choice becomes an eternity in a beautiful place called heaven versus cigarettes, booze, cursing, poor health, and an eternity of punishment!
As you continue to study God's Word; as you accept His will, your faith will deepen (Romans 10:17) and your resolve to overcome these things will be strengthened. Let me encourage you to fight with all of your being! James said in chapter four, verse eight, "resist the devil and he will flee from you." Listen to what the apostle Paul to the children of God in Corinth: "There hath no temptation taken you but such is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not permit you to be tempted above that ye are able to bear, but will with the temptation make a way of escape, that ye may be able to bear it" (I Corinthians 10:13). Many faithful people have fought and won the battle that you face! You can do it, too! You have our prayers!
Question 4: I was witnessing to a friend and she asked me this question and I didn’t know how to answer it. If God is against incest, why did He begin the population with incest?
ANSWER: It is admirable that you were trying to teach your friend about the Bible. However, I would respectfully suggest that the term “witnessing” not be used, since it implies that you actually saw that of which you are speaking!
In answer to your friend’s question, we must realize that in the beginning there was no need for laws relative to incest. At that time, shortly after the perfection of Eden, man was in a relatively pure physical state and that no harmful genetic characteristics had yet developed that would bring harm to children born to those who were closely related. In such a pure state, it would only be logical that population of the earth proceed from the couple whom God had originally created, i.e., Adam and Eve. Laws regarding incest were found to be necessary much later, after genetic disorders began to arise through the improper intake of harmful chemicals and extended exposure of some to excessive solar and cosmic radiation. This having occurred, God, in the law given to the children of Israel, strictly forbade incestuous relationships to protect them against the harm that would otherwise result! As the world has grown older, more and more genetic disorders have arisen and it is even more important now than in Moses’ time that we refrain from marrying close relatives. Not only is such sinful, but the physical problems that are sure to rise will be found to be extreme in the offspring of such unions!
Question 5: Do evil forces only exist from the Christian perspective?
ANSWER: No! All of the world’s religions recognize various sorts of evil! That evil does exist in the world is not only stated in the God’s Word (I John 2:15-17), but it is quite evident that even the non-religious are aware of the evil in the world from the perspective of the innate morality within man. For example, even the non-religious know and recognize that it is wrong (evil) to kill another without cause.
Question 6: Please explain the difference between being drunk and just drinking.
ANSWER: There is no difference scripturally. You are asking simply about degrees of drunkenness. If a man takes one drink, he is one drink drunk. If he takes two drinks, he is two drinks drunk! If he takes five drinks, he is five drinks drunk. The degree of drunkenness also depends upon size and weight, i.e., a small person generally will be more drunk than a large person who consumes the same amount of alcohol. Nonetheless, both may safely be said to be drunk. It has been proven medically and conclusively that one drink makes a person drunk to the degree that it slows reflexes and inhibits rationality even to the point of lowering one’s moral character! It is also evident, based on this truth, that when a man takes the first drink, his rationality is inhibited to the degree that he believes he can handle the effects of second drink. And when he takes the second drink, he is that much more inhibited to believe that he can handle the effects of a third drink, etc. etc., until he becomes totally incoherent! A man does not have to be falling into his own vomit (as is often the case) to be pronounced drunk and it is certain that if one does not take the first drink, he will never come to that state! Those who look to the Bible for justifying the use of alcohol in any amount, except for medicinal purposes, will not find it, but they will find it soundly condemned as sin, e.g., Proverbs 23:29-35; Isaiah 5:11; Habakkuk 2:15; I Corinthians 6:9-11; and Galatians 5:19-21.
Question 7: Is it an unpardonable sin to deny that Jesus is God?
ANSWER: It is only unpardonable if one refuses to repent of the sin of denying the deity of Christ. Those who had crucified Christ had denied that He was God and, in part, crucified Him because of His claim that He was God (John 10:31-33). Yet, we see that those who crucified Him (Acts 2:23-24) came to believe on Him, repented, and were baptized for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38-41). Though they had once denied that He was God, they repented of that denial and, in their obedience, were pardoned! The same is true today!