What’s waiting on the other side of Temptation?

     My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing (James 1:1-4)

  Every Christian believer goes through this in their lives. And at different times the level of the temptation is greater or lesser. But why? Why aren’t all temptation trials weighted the same? Why is that man so strong against sleeping with the hooker on the corner but on this day he still ends up sweeting trying to stop from fulfilling his lust for porn? Or why does that woman so easily stay faithful to her husband against every man that has approached her in clubs but yet on this day can’t find the strength to stay away from her co-worker or x boyfriend? We can put into place tons of different things not just lust because temptation is more than just lust but its still the same question. Why does the level of intensity change? 

The simplest reason and most common to see is the clear temptation. The one where the door has the picture on it , words spelled out, warning signs glowing in neon. You know exactly what it is. You know exactly why you showed up and why you are opening the door. You have no remorse about it and it’s most commonly seen in teens that are ruled by their hormones. While these types of temptations are real they don’t hold much rewards if one doesn’t open the door in that situation. In fact most of the time it can “seem” they only hold rewards by giving in to them. That’s because this temptation was created by that person almost solely. They sought after it, worked out the plan, and basically already planned for how they are going to do it again long before they have completed the first. These temptations hold very little rewards because they don’t require much, if not any temptation. So there is no trying of your faith to gain any rewards from. Basically they are the architect of their own trials. 

The second example is based largely on one’s situation. What if today is the day when that 6 month sober alcoholic lost his mother, the same day where that husband and wife fought about the same issue they have for 5th time, or simply the 15th time you have said no to something you don’t need and each time you do it takes a piece of you and now you have very little strength left?  This is how it works. This is the environment clause that sets up trials. These types of temptations are normally the hardest to spot. Because instead of the temptation waiting in front of the door, it’s behind the door unseen until you open it. To you this is like any other day. For you, you have no idea that this is going to be the day where everything you think of is based on that temptation you have fought so hard to keep in check. Every song, Tv show, dream, phone call and or text message leads you to this great door. You don’t have to plan it out, it just happens. And for some reason it stronger, stronger than its ever been. The same temptation a year ago you defeated but it’s back stronger than ever. Why? Because it has been strengthened by the environment it has placed itself in. Why do you think temptation is less during church hours than in any other. Not saying it goes away but you are stronger during those hours or on that day. But the moment the environment or situation changes the door becomes more visible. This is where you know that the rewards will be greater if you overcome. The intensity of the temptation hints to the rewards that are waiting. But if you fall, it also has an equal amount of consequences as well. Basically the size of the door represent both the size of the rewards and consequences alike. They both reside in a equally sized rooms waiting behind two separate doors. 

The last thing you have to remember during trails or temptation is your role. As humans we place ourselves as a separate thing from the door of temptation. In most cases we would be right. But sometimes the scariest thing is to understand that you may be that very door. You instead of being tempted are the door tempting others. Not just in lust but in anger, in jealousy and many other things. We are quick to place the blame on the trial or temptation but we must be careful to examine ourselves to make sure we aren’t manifestation of the door tempting others. Deep inside we look at Satan and blame him but sometimes we do his work for him and we actually put on his mask to become the tempter for another. That’s a scary thought and one that most don’t like to accept but it’s true. In fact if you look back on your life I’m willing to bet you have served as the door for another, we all have at one time or another if we are honest with ourselves. 

So what do we do? The first thing is to assess the situation you are in. Identity the type of temptation you are going through. Remind yourself of what is waiting for you if you defeat this. Don’t let the joys of given in be the only thing ruling your mind. And most importantly identify what role you play in it. Your role can prevent you from successful defeating the temptation. If you go in thinking you are merely the contestant you can easily loose. Sometimes you have to understand when you are the door and take responsibility for being that to other. This way your approach would be different and you have a better chance at not just helping yourself but helping another. Most importantly, don’t let one moment define your self worth. Know that rewards can come at different times, so can punishements. But it all still works together to help make you a better, stronger person. None of us are perfect but that doesn’t mean we can’t fight to be.  

If Christ has a God and answers to a God then that God is the only true God. Why do we seek to avoid this Fact?

John 1.1. “1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God”

One the biggest debates in denominations is the fight over John 1.1. It has been a hot button for years. The reason why this has been an ongoing issue is that theology has made it a point to place ones Salvation requirement into the theories of man. No more is Salvation based on the scripture but also now based on theology statements and beliefs. I have said this before but Salvation from Christ and theology are not the same. Christianity isn’t Christendom nor the Counsel of Nicea. Men making up theories about how to define God don’t control your Salvation through Christ. Christ is the Messiah and son of the Living God Yahweh. This is what your Salvation begins and ends with. It is not based on the trinity or any other theology man has come up with. There is no place found in scripture that concludes your Salvation being based on you believing that Christ was God or a god. There is no Salvation requirement that makes one required to explain how God and his Son became what they are. There are no Salvation requirements that requires you to be baptised only in a specific church building or any other bondage requirement that theology and denomations have place on you. So when scripture like John 1.1 is spoken about so heavily it always comes back to the simple fact that there are no Captial letters in scripture so in reality god or God is never the point. However, “The God” indefinite article is.  This creates a separation between the word vs The God. And this separation is only needed when you are comparing two separate beings while speaking and making a distinction between the two. When the Word is to referred to as God it is never with the indefinite article “The” as it was in the same sentence when referring to the Father. 

Ernest Cadman:  There are two issues affecting the translating of the verse, theology and proper application of grammatical rules. The commonly held theology that Jesus is God naturally leads one to believe that the proper way to render the verse is the one which is most popular.[19] The opposing theology that Jesus is subordinate to God as his Chief agent leads to the conclusion that “… a god” or “… divine” is the proper rendering.[20] Some scholars staunchly oppose the translation …a god,[21][22][23][24] while other scholars believe it is possible or even preferable.[25][26][27]

So the reason why the translation is more supported as “divine” is that the Son is subordinate to the Father. In fact the ultimate conclusion to the Son’s purpose is spelled out in great detail in 1Cor. 15:24-28. This verse boldly and undoubtedly tells you of the ulimate and last act of the Son. 

24Then comes the end, when he(the son)delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power. 25For he(the son)must reign until (until shows a expiration, meaning not forever)he(the Father) has put all his(Christ)enemies under his(Christ)feet. 26The last enemy to be destroyed is death. 27For “God (the Father)has put all things in subjection under his(Christ)feet.” But when it says, “all things are put in subjection,” it is plain that he(the Father)is excepted who put all things in subjection under him(Christ). 28When all things are subjected to him(Christ), then the Son himself will also be subjected to him(The Father)who put all things in subjection under him(Christ), that God(The Farher alone) may be all in all.

*Without biases debates this verse alone kills off a great many arguements over Christs true role and defined place. He is clearly not equal to the Father and the Father is head over all things and gave Christ every single thing he has ever been given, even his Life(John 6:57). Nobody gives the Father anything, it’s his by his own right and soverity. This verse also shows you why Christ calls the Father both his God and the One true God. Because in the end, by definition alone, the Father is and will be the Only true God. It also shows you that this is not tied into Christ humanity. This happens well after he is no longer a man and had already rose to heaven and put away death.

Even during very simple events Yeshua was always looked upon as being Only the Son of the Living God not God. He never once required others to look at him as the One true God. Even his disciples and loved ones believed him to be different from his Father. 
But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you.” 23 Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” John 11:22

And Yeshua said to them, “But what is it you are saying about me as to who I am?” Shimeon answered and he said to him, “You are The Messiah, The Son of THE LIVING GOD.” Mark 8:29 Aramaic bible. 

In both of these accounts you see very clear that Mary spoke of Christ and God as separate beings not one of the same. She clearly understood and saw Christ as the Son of God, not God. And then on the second account Christ himself gave Credit to his disciple when the disciple simply referred to Christ as the Son of the Living God and Messiah. Christ himself said that this knowledge only came from the Father and that this was the foundation of his Church. He never once determined the foundation of the church to based on theology, the trinity, or if he was God or a god. Christ being the Jew’s Messiah and him being the Son of the Living God was the only key. 

So the focus should be on what Christ focused on. Him being the Messiah and the Son of the Living God. But for years we have been told otherwise for so long we lash out others that bring up facts like I have above. Once we settle down and move away from anger we then move to try and justify our beliefs or make excuses for them. We do this because it’s much easier to go on accepting tradition than to fight it. It’s much easier to go alone with the majority of the beliefs than to stand alone against others. I mean I can’t blame others for not wanting to accept things. You do have verses that declare solidly that Christ is called God. The one who sits at the throne should be called God but issue is that this same God we identify as Christ still has a God over him that he has to answer to. That same God he answers to, answers to nobody. 

Yeshua said to her. “Don’t cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to join my Father, and go join my brothers and say to them that I ascend to join my Father and your Father, my God, and your God.” John 20:17

So if Christ says that this God is his and our God we should listen because Christ knew that the identity of God he was given when he was seated on the throne would not be forever as shown above. This is why I submit that the term “Divine” over God or a god is a better translation for John 1:1. While still understanding that even if “God” is used, the key point is that Christ isn’t his Father nor is equal to him because you can never be equal to someone that gave you your position and power because it’s not yours by yourself. The Father is the whole reason Christ has life, the throne, power and glory. Not one time did anyone have to instruct the angels to worship The Father. The Father doesn’t exist because of the Son or Holy Spirit( for the trinity believers). The Father is eternal through and through. He has never died and can never die and has all power because it is his to begin with. It was never bestowed upon him like it was with the Son. These are flat out facts that can not be argued biblically or even with common sense. You may not like these facts but they are facts none the less. Until the next time.