The True Christian’s Faith and Experience #018 Chapter 12, Temptation Artwork

Ohio Yearly Meeting's Podcast

This is a podcast of Ohio Yearly Meeting. We are a collection of Conservative Quaker Meetings based primarily in Ohio. By conservative, we do not mean politically conservative. Conservative Friends are known for their commitment to conserve the Original message of the first generation of Quakers. These Quakers, in turn, saw their movement as a revival of primitive Christianity. We hope the installments of our podcasts will present the understandings of Conservative Quakerism.

So, if thee is interested in learning the differences between Conservative Quakers and other Quakers, or would like to understand differences between Quakers and other Christians, thee may well be at the right place. On the other hand, the Conservative Quaker perspective is so strikingly unique in contemporary society, that it will be a balm to many seeking spiritual fulfillment. To assist these seekers is the true intent of publishing our podcast.

A good many of the podcast installments will be presented by Henry Jason. Henry is knowledgeable in the Greek of the New Testament and has a fascinating way of tying the meaning of the original words with the writings of early Friends. Listening to him provides a refreshing view of scripture and is an excellent way to learn about original Quaker theology. Henry's podcasts are usually bible classes and so they are often interspersed with discussions, questions and insightful comments by his students.

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Ohio Yearly Meeting's Podcast

The True Christian’s Faith and Experience #018 Chapter 12, Temptation

March 20, 2023 • Henry Jason

Session #018 is devoted to Chapter 12: The True Christian’s Faith and Experience Concerning Temptation.

God does not tempt any man. The light, grace and manifestation of the Holy Spirit is from God. This gift of God does not tempt any man, but enables the righteous to endure temptation. All who do not know this gift are not able to endure temptation, but rather are led away by their cravings and thus fall into temptation because of lack of faith in the gift and power of God (which is as near them as the temptation), if they would only pay attention to that gift and power of God and obey it.

The ground of all temptations is within, the cravings that lead one away are within. However, the light that reveals them, and the grace, and the spirit which puts them to death must also be known to be within, where the temptations are. The temptations cannot prevail until the light and grace and spirit are ignored.

It is not a sin to be tempted. Rather, entering into the temptation is sin. Christ Jesus was boldly tempted, but did not give in to sin. This is the glory of Jesus, the second Adam, that though he was tempted to fall, he did not give in to the lies of the evil one. The serpent engendered in the first Adam the hope of enjoying a better state than that in which God had placed him. In a similar way, temptation prevails over all men who are not born again by the promised Seed. That Seed breaks the head of the serpent and liberates the true Christian from under the serpent’s power, to instead allow him to grow up in the second Adam who could not be prevailed upon with the serpent’s lies.

The second Adam, Christ Jesus, is the founding pioneer of the true Christian’s salvation, Christ having left himself as an example to follow. The true Christian must still abide in the light of Christ against further temptations and allurements. The evil one does not need to deceive further those who are already dwelling in his darkness, but it is against the children of light that he uses all his cunning and schemes to attempt to deceive and corrupt those who have come to a dwelling place in Paradise. The serpent deceived Adam and Eve in Paradise and will likewise deceive men again, if he is not resisted in the power of the second Adam, Christ Jesus.

References:

The True Christian’s Faith and Experience Briefly Declared.
The quote in our introduction is from I Corinthians 10:13

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