"BORN OF GOD" DEVOTIONAL BOOK

According to I John 2:16, all sins of the flesh can be broken down to three categories:

(1.)  Lust of the flesh

(2.)  Lust of the eyes

(3.)  The pride of life

Let us consider Eve in the Garden of Eden.  Eve became guilty of all three categories when she decided to eat of the forbidden fruit  (Genesis 3:6):

(1.)  The fruit was good for food  (lust of the flesh).

(2.)  It was pleasant to the eyes  (lust of the eyes).

(3.)  It was desired to make one wise  (the pride of life).

Eve was guilty of these fleshly sins, but before she succumbed to fleshly temptations, Eve was guilty of a greater, inward, spiritual sin.  The first sin of Eve was in her very innermost being:  EVE DID NOT BELIEVE AND PUT HER TRUST IN GOD AND HIS WORD!

The three categories, in the above paragraph, cover the sins of all flesh, including David  (II Samuel 11:2-6)  and Samson  (Judges 14:1, 2, 12).  We see in Matthew 4:1-10 where Satan also tried to tempt our Lord in the same three areas listed above.

Satan appealed to Jesus to:

(1.)  Satisfy the flesh by commanding stones be made bread, v-3,

(2.)  Satisfy the eyes by seeing the kingdoms of the world, v-8,

(3.)  Satisfy pride of life by proving he was the Son of God, v-6.

Conclusion:  Our Savior was victorious over the flesh.  He was perfect and sinless as both an and God.  Galatians 5:24, "And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts."  Christians must crucify and control the flesh if they are to be victorious in this world.

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