A Primer on Temptation, Part 1 Today's Three-minute Bible Study Print, Study and Apply Title: A Primer on Temptation, Part 1------------------------------------- Date: 6/1/2002 Keyword: "temptation" Welcome to eXXit, the web site designed to help you stand strong in the face of sexual temptation. Passage: Genesis 3:1-7* 1. Now the serpent was more crafty than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said to the woman, "Indeed, has God said, 'You shall not eat from any tree of the garden'?" 2. And the woman said to the serpent, "From the fruit of the trees of the garden we may eat; 3. but from the fruit of the tree which is in the middle of the garden, God has said, 'You shall not eat from it or touch it, lest you die.'" 4. And the serpent said to the woman, "You surely shall not die! 5. "For God knows that in the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil." 6. When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was desirable to make one wise, she took from its fruit and ate; and she gave also to her husband with her, and he ate. 7. Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loin coverings. Questions 1. The serpent asked the woman a question while she was standing in the Garden of Eden. What was that question (verse 1)?   2. How would you characterize the "tone" of the serpent’s question? Patronizing? Respectful? Condescending? Sarcastic?   3. Why is it important for us to know that the serpent was crafty?   4. What was the serpent attempting to accomplish by the question he posed to the woman?   Practical help In the second chapter of Genesis, God commissioned His newly created masterpiece, Adam. God placed Adam in the middle of a lush garden called Eden and told him that he could freely eat of the fruit of any tree in the garden except one — the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. He was further told that if he disobeyed and ate of the fruit of that tree, he would die on that day. Adam presumably forwarded that word on to his wife (although, granted, we don’t know if he was a great communicator), Eve, who was approached by the serpent with a cynical, "Has God said….?" It was a misquote of what God had told Adam, more restrictive, less liberating. And that question was the hook the enemy used to start Eve sliding down the slippery slope of temptation. Word of warning to eXXit readers who have difficulty saying "no!" to porn: Don’t let anyone — yourself, others, the media, the purveyors of smut — call into question the Word of God or try to sell you an even slightly distorted version of the Word of God! Consider these verses: 2 Corinthians 11:3*: But I am afraid, lest as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds should be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ. 1 Thessalonians 4:7*: For this is the will of God — your sanctification. That is, that you abstain from sexual immorality. 1 Timothy 4:12*: Let no one look down on your youthfulness, but rather in speech, conduct, love, faith and purity, show yourself an example of those who believe. There is power in the Word of God as it comes to you and me in Scripture. It produces conviction and brings with it the authority to produce life-changing transformation. Step One in resisting the temptations of your enemy is to recognize his wily ways. He will first seek to discredit and pervert the word of God. If you want to stand strong in the face of sexual temptation, stand strong in Scripture! eXXit homepage Index of three-minute studies Copyright 2002 by eXXit *"Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, © Copyright The Lockman Foundation 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995. Used by permission." ---