Satan tempted Jesus in the desert, and Jesus responded by quoting scripture (Matthew 4). However, as you have probably noticed, just quoting scripture does not make temptation go away, and it does not guarantee that we will resist it. After all, even Satan can quote scripture. I would like to recommend some additional strategies in our struggle against sin.
Temptation is a universal experience, and it increases rather than decreases once we have become Christians: naturally — because we have changed sides. Temptation comes at us through:
1. "The world" — i.e., society, which leaves God out (1 John 2:15-16).
2. "The flesh" — i.e., our own fallen nature (Rom. 7:21-23).
3. "The devil" — i.e., the anti-God force of evil (1 Thess. 3:5).
Genesis 3 gives a wonderfully clear insight into the way temptation operates. Don't miss the important truths it has to teach.
