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Tim Maas
Supporter
Can Satan come into our thoughts and tempt us?
Mark 1:12 - 13
KJV - 12 And immediately the spirit driveth him into the wilderness. 13 And he was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted of Satan; and was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered unto him.
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Tim Maas
Supporter
I would say that, if Satan could attempt to cause even the Son of God to sin (as described in the passage cited in the question), he can certainly do so with all humans (including Christians) by virtue of our universally fallen nature, which we will never be free of in this life (Romans 7:15-20). However, in my opinion, the mere occurrence of such thoughts does not in itself constitute sin. It is maintaining those thoughts and acting them out that is sinful. (Jesus heard Satan's words, but did not entertain them or act on them.) We must follow Jesus' example and become thoroughly versed in Scripture, so that our first, instinctive response becomes rebuking Satan whenever we are tempted to dwell on ungodly thoughts or to act on them, and also immediately repenting and seeking God's forgiveness for Jesus' sake for those times when we fall.
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