Blessings Promised
For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted. Hebrews 2:18.
The tempter can never compel us to do evil. He cannot control minds unless they are yielded to his control. The will must consent, faith must let go its hold upon Christ before Satan can exercise his power upon us. But every sinful desire we cherish affords him a foothold. Every point in which we fail of meeting the divine standard, is an open door by which he can enter to tempt and destroy us. And every failure or defeat on our part gives occasion for him to reproach Christ ... Often when Satan has failed of exciting distrust, he succeeds in leading us to presumption. If he can cause us to place ourselves unnecessarily in the way of temptation, he knows that the victory is his. God will preserve all who walk in the path of obedience; but to depart from it is to venture on Satan’s ground. There we are sure to fall. The Saviour has bidden us, “Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation.” Meditation and prayer would keep us from rushing unbidden into the way of danger, and thus we should be saved from many a defeat.—The Desire of Ages, 125, 126.
Christ’s victory was as complete as had been the failure of Adam. So we may resist temptation, and force Satan to depart from us. Jesus gained the victory through submission and faith in God, and by the apostle He says to us, “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and He will draw nigh to you.”—The Desire of Ages, 130.
The strongest temptation cannot excuse sin. However great the pressure brought to bear upon the soul, transgression is our own act.—Patriarchs and Prophets, 421.
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