Years ago, my father-in-law told a story that set me to thinking about sin and temptation. Here is the story. One night the parents were in bed and heard a thump and a loud cry. They rushed to their child’s room and saw he had fallen out of the bed. The father asked, “What happened?” The child responded, “I got too close to the ‘gettin’ in place!’” In a similar way, believers who have died to sin (Romans 6:1-2) sometimes try to see just how close they can get to the “gettin’ in place” of sin without becoming again entangled therein.
Yes, even Christians are tempted to sin (James 1:12-15). Though those who are begotten of God do not keep on doing sin as a habit (1 John 3:9), all sin (Romans 3:10, 23). This is the reason for warnings in Scripture (e.g., 1 Corinthians 10:12). This is why the Spirit by inspiration had Paul write such drastic instructions as those found in Colossians 3:5ff.
Children of God are tempted. Children of God can sin, and it can happen to the new convert, too. Consider Simon the Sorcerer. He had just believed and had been immersed when he sinned by desiring to purchase the power of the apostles. As a new Christian, he was neither immune to temptation nor was he told to be baptized again, but rather he was instructed to repent and pray for forgiveness (Acts 8:9-24). Even those who have been Christians for a long time can still yield to sin. The Hebrews writer directed the Christians to whom he wrote to lay aside the sin that closely clings to you (Hebrews 12:1). These besetting sins hinder us in running the Christian race. Christians need to always be on guard. We need to have our shield of faith protecting us at all times (Ephesians 6:16).
We are advised to “abhor that which is evil” (Romans 12:9). We must “abstain from every appearance of evil” (1 Thessalonians 5:22). We know what sin is. We know sin is evil. We know we are not to sin. The true believer doesn’t want to sin. So, then why do we so often see just how close we can get to sin without falling into sin? What do we expect to happen if we “get too close to the ‘getting in place’”? Maybe we think we will not succumb to temptation. If that’s the case, then we are fooling nobody but ourselves! The “secret” to avoiding sin is to try to get as far away as possible from the “getting in place” of sin. What do you fear most? Is it snakes? Is it the dark? Whatever it may be, we typically try to get as far away as we can. That’s the way we need to treat evil, temptation and sin.
A good illustration of getting too close to the “getting in place” of sin is found in Genesis 13. Abraham’s nephew had been given every advantage by his uncle. Lot had chosen the well watered plain of the Jordan River and “pitched his tent toward Sodom” (Genesis 13:12). Preachers and teachers have for years used this story to encourage the righteous to stay as far from the “getting in place” of sin as possible, and rightly so!
Peter offered some excellent instruction in his second epistle regarding sinking into sin again. Remember, he was the one who began to sink when fear replaced faith as he was walking on the water toward Jesus. As Leroy Brownlow pointed out, “Peter began to sink in familiar waters.” Christians who sink into sin again typically go down in familiar waters. Few take up some new or different sin. So Peter knew about falling. Near the end of 2 Peter, he warned, “beware lest ye… fall from your own stedfastness” (3:17). In Chapter Two he warned if you get too close and are again entangled in sin, the last state is worse than the first. Peter had started in Chapter One with what God had done in providing precious promises to those who had “escaped from the corruption that is in the world.” Then he advised that for this very reason [that they had escaped from sin] they should make every effort to build on faith (give diligent effort to add to your faith) virtue, knowledge, self-control, etc. Then, he assured them if they did this (v. 10) that they would never stumble or fall!
Look again to the promise of 1 Corinthians 10:13 where Paul reminded that temptation is a common experience of man and that being a Christian does not exempt us from temptation. However, we do have the Christian Advantage which is: in temptation, God gives us bearing power, escaping power and enduring power.
So, how are we to deal with temptation and sin? Paul said, “but thou, O man of God, flee these things [sin], and follow after righteousness…” (1 Timothy 6:11). The end result is found in James 1:12. “Blessed is the man that endures [who perseveres in] temptation; for when he hath been approved, he shall receive the crown of life which the Lord promised to them that love him.”
