Quote:
Originally Posted by Gary L
Did he expect the thinking of sex should come into it later?
have you said that right? when you say "isn't his wife" should that be she's already married to somebody?
|
Not really ... I'm trying to describe Jesus' line on the subject without resorting to overly religious words like 'lust', which is how he actually put it. It's not sinful to look at a woman, think you'd like to marry her, and mentally acknowledge everything that goes with that. Desire between a man and a woman can be pure. The problem arises when the desire is for a purely physical relationship, or a relationship conceived without the intent for it to be permanent and committed.
Quote:
|
So because you resisted the temptation [known as the devil) you're still as bad. you may as well have killed him! which just says the devil is equal and not worser than God.
|
Again, not really. Temptation, and acting on it, is a process. Being tempted isn't a sin, but there comes a point where a person inwardly accepts that that is what they want to do .. they kind of 'agree' with the temptation, if you like. They may then either go on and do it, or not; either way, once the temptation is 'conceived', that's the point where you're in trouble. The teaching on that comes from James, who was one of Jesus' brothers.
Incidentally, orthodox Christian belief is that the Devil is a real being - he is the tempter, not the temptation itself.