How could Adam be tempted? How could Christ be tempted if He didn't love sin? What do you think?

I was talking about after Peter learned this lesson, when he dissembled against the Gentiles and Paul rebuked him. Do you think Peter was abiding in Jesus when dissembled?

I was talking about after Peter learned this lesson, when he dissembled against the Gentiles and Paul rebuked him. Do you think Peter was abiding in Jesus when he dissembled?

I think there is a world of difference between pre-fall and post-fall Adam so far as how he was tempted. Before he sinned, Adam could not be tempted from within. Temptation did not originate from within. Afterward, this side of the fall, temptations originate both from within and from without.

Temptations from within originate with sinful flesh. Such temptations do not constitute sinning. Even if Satan were dead and gone, people would still be tempted from within. In fact, even if there was only one person left alive, even if that person was blind and death, he would be tempted from within.

Even people, like Jesus (when He was here), who hate sin with a holy hatred, are tempted from within and from without. Being tempted from within is not a sign that the tempted one loves sin. The "sin that dwells in" us will continue to tempt us until the day we die or the day Jesus replaces our sinful body and flesh with a sinless body and flesh.

Yes, certain temptations cease to tempt certain people. Smoking, for example, ceases to be a temptation for certain people. Whereas for some people it is a temptation until the day they die. This is especially true of alcoholics, addicts, homosexuals, pedophiles, obesity, pornography, etc.

But other types of internally generated temptations will continue to plague us until we receive a sinless body and flesh. However, such temptations do not indicate we are sinning. Again, it is not a sin to be tempted.

But I was talking about the vision, which was given some 20 years after the crucifixion, that is, some 20 years after Peter was converted. He had been all those years ignorantly cherishing prejudice against the gentiles.
The incident in Antioch was a lapse.

Ellen White speaks of "inward corruption(s) and outward temptations," "inward sin and outward temptation" and "outward temptations ... and inward foes." Indeed neither Adam nor Christ had inward corruptions or inward sins.


I disagree. See below, where obeying the "evil promptings" is equated to doing the "works of Satan."


This quote implies the opposite:

"Be not discouraged because your heart seems hard. Every obstacle, every internal foe, only increases your need of Christ. He came to take away the heart of stone, and give you a heart of flesh. Look to Him for special grace to overcome your peculiar faults. When assailed by temptation, steadfastly resist the evil promptings; say to your soul, "How can I dishonor my Redeemer? I have given myself to Christ; I cannot do the works of Satan." Cry to the dear Saviour for help to sacrifice every idol and to put away every darling sin. Let the eye of faith see Jesus standing before the Father's throne, presenting His wounded hands as He pleads for you. Believe that strength comes to you through your precious Saviour." {SL 90.3}

Two sources of temptation:

Here's another one worth some thought:

"The incident in Antioch was a lapse." I agree. But was he abiding in Jesus when he lapsed? Or, is it possible to lapse while abiding in Jesus?

Rosangela, I don't see where the quote you posted teaches "evil promptings" and "the works of Satan" are synonymous. Please explain. Thank you.

"When assailed by temptation, steadfastly resist the evil promptings. . . {AG 84.5}

"Parents, remember that you deal with children who are struggling with temptation, and that to them these evil promptings are as hard to resist as are those that assail persons of mature years. {CG 263.3}

Sinful desires are sin. They do not constitute temptation.