Expert: Thurman C. Petty, Jr. - 11/28/2010

Question
Is it a sin to tempt someone else into sinning? Is it a sin to only try to
tempt someone into sinning even if they dont't end up sinning? For
example, is it a sin to tempt someone into stealing?

Answer
Dear Robert,

Why would you want to do that? Do you hate the person?

Sin is no laughing matter—even if it’s the center of a joke. Notice what the Bible says about sin:

Rom 3:23  for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

1 John 3:4 (NIV) Everyone who sins breaks the law; in fact, sin is lawlessness.

Rom 6:23 (NIV) For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.

Do you want the other person to die the wages of sin--eternal death? You must hate him/her very much. But if you lead them into sin, you shall follow them into death. But look at another side of the picture:

Jesus said: . . . Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. (Mat 19:19)

James 2:10  . . . whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.

In order to get another person to sin you’d certainly have to lie to them at some point. What does God think about lying? Look at the 10 commandments, numbers 6-9:

Exo 20:13  Thou shalt not kill.
Exo 20:14  Thou shalt not commit adultery.
Exo 20:15  Thou shalt not steal.
Exo 20:16  Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.

By leading someone into sin, you’d lead them to eternal death, you’d steal away the possibility of their being close to God (Isa. 59.2), and you’d lie about any number of things. What does Jesus think about lying?

John 8:44  Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

Satan is the one who invented sin, and when we sin we join his ranks and eventually will be exterminated along with him. When we lead another person into sin, we become even more like the devil, and receive even greater guilt.

But there is hope for you who are bent on destroying your “friend.” The Bible says:

1 John 1:9  If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

God does not condemn you; you condemn yourself. But God reaches out to you in love and seeks to save you:

John 3:16  For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Robert, get down on your knees, just now, and ask God to forgive you for even thinking to lead someone else into sin. Ask Him to change your mind and your character so that you’ll no longer seek to destroy people, but to build them up and draw them closer to Jesus.

God will forgive you. That’s one request He has promised to always answer. And He will give you a joy and peace you’d never find any other way. If you’ve already led someone into sin, it’s also your duty to confess to them what you’ve done to them, and invite them to join with you in seeking God’s forgiveness and love.

There are many other wonderful things you can know about God by reading your Bible. Reading the Bible is so important to the Christian. It would be very difficult to build a saving relationship with God without it. And learning about God and His requirements for us would be nearly impossible without some connection with God’s Holy Word.

Actually, if we watch for Him, we’ll find Jesus Christ in almost every passage of the Old and New Testaments. Sometimes He’s known as the Creator (cf. John 1:1-4, 10, 14); sometimes He’s known as “the Angel of the LORD” (Ex. 3:1-14; cf. John 8:56-58); sometimes He’s known as the “servant” (Isa. 52:13-53:12); and sometimes as the Messiah. Often He’s behind the scenes, working through those who live according to His will.

If you have difficulty understanding the Bible, there are many aids available to help you do this, (see list below). But above all, read your Bible for yourself, and pray that God will help you understand it.

Feel free to discuss this or any other question you have by writing me via e-mail.

Stay close to Jesus.

Thurman C. Petty, Jr.
PettyPress@gmail.com
www.PettyPress.com (20 Books; 42 Bible Study Guides; more)

Sources of Bible study aids and answers for your questions:
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On-line: Bibleinfo.com; Itiswritten.com (Bible studies/Discover Bible Guides)
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