Why do we sin?

What is the natural adversary of the Christian?

2 Cor 10:

[3] For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:
[4] (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)
[5] Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
[6] And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.

Every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God is the Christian’s natural enemy. We see in context that it speaks of certain weapons that assist in this pursuit: These weapons are described in Eph 6:

11] Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
[12] For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
[13] Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
[14] Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
[15] And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
[16] Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
[17] And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:

How do we use this armor? Consider the shield of Faith. In Lk 4:

[2] Being forty days tempted of the devil. And in those days he did eat nothing: and when they were ended, he afterward hungered.
[3] And the devil said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, command this stone that it be made bread.
[4] And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.
[5] And the devil, taking him up into an high mountain, shewed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time.
[6] And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it.
[7] If thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be thine.
[8] And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.
[9] And he brought him to Jerusalem, and set him on a pinnacle of the temple, and said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down from hence:
[10] For it is written, He shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee:
[11] And in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.
[12] And Jesus answering said unto him, It is said, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.
[13] And when the devil had ended all the temptation, he departed from him for a season.

… Jesus was tempted here. By the word “tempted,” we mean that he did not have a ready made example of how he might answer the question. When Satan asked him to PROVE that he was the son of God, Jesus wanted to. When Satan offered Jesus power over all the kingdoms of the earth, and the glory of them, he wanted it. Not only so, but Satan had it to give. At this time, not only does Satan no longer have that power to offer of his own, we also have a ready made example of exactly how we should react to a temptation of this kind. Having understood that temptations come even to the righteous how did Jesus deal with the trial? His shield of faith came from knowledge (Ro 10: [17] So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.) His knowledge was of God’s word, and it enabled him to quench Satan’s fiery darts (Eph 6:16 above.)

We have God’s promise that we will not be tempted more than we are able to bear: 2 Cor 10: [13] There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

So what are the mechanics of temptation? Jas 1:

[13] Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:
[14] But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.
[15] Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.
[16] Do not err, my beloved brethren.
[17] Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.

Here we see that when we are tempted it is because we are drawn away of our own lust. We are enticed by… 1 Jno 2:

[16] For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

… the lust of the eye, the lust of the flesh and the pride of life. This lust by itself may not be a sin, but WHEN IT CONCEIVES, THEN it brings forth sin. When sin is committed, it brings forth spiritual death – separation from God. (Isa 59: [2] But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.)

This does not contradict Christ when he said in Mt 5: [28] But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.

Here we see the lust of the flesh, working thru the lust of the eye. This lust is not finished at first glance. However, if you dwell on it, or meditate on it, it conceives in your heart, and after that it brings forth the sin in question. When he says “already,” he means to employ reduction ad absurdum. When the sin is finished, spiritual death occurs and has occurred. Definitively, 1 Jno 3: [4] Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.

We have specifically looked at the shield of faith. I don’t know how to show mechanics of the other weapons. I leave that for future study and consideration.

We observe that Satan tempted Christ by quoting scripture. Does this mean that the scriptures under consideration were contradictions in the Old Testament, or does it mean that Satan is capable of taking the Lord’s word out of context? I think the latter. This does not mean that Satan won’t do it again. In fact, in… 2 Cor 11: [14] And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light …it says that Satan can be transformed to appear like an angel of light to us. As such we should look to the Lord’s word for our instruction Pr 3:

[5] Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
[6] In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
[7] Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.
[8] It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.