Name: ______

Abiding Savior Free Lutheran Church Confirmation

The Lord’s Prayer: Lesson 6—The Sixth Petition

This lesson is due in class February 9th. After completing the lesson, the student will be able to:

·  Know what the 6th Petition is and what it means.

·  Know the difference between ‘temptation’ and ‘testing’ as used in the Bible.

·  Describe the purpose of ‘testing’ in a believer’s life.

·  Know who the chief tempter is.

·  Describe how a believer can defend themselves from attacks designed to cause us to stumble in our Christian walk.

The Sixth Petition: “…and lead us not into temptation.”

What does this mean? God indeed tempts no one to sin; but we pray in this petition that God would so guard and preserve us that the devil, the world, and our own flesh may not deceive us nor lead us into error and unbelief, despair, and other great and shameful sins; but that when so tempted, we may finally prevail and gain the victory.

1. Turn to your Catechism on page 115. Read the blue section at the top of the page through a couple of times. Summarize in your own words what this petition means.

The next two petitions are probably the most difficult to understand. This is the result of the mistaken notion that God would truly tempt us and desire us to fall into sin. It is important that we gain a right understanding of the concept of “temptation” as it is set forth in the Bible.

We must observe that in the Bible, ‘temptation’ is used in two ways. First, it can refer to an act of testing or trying. This principle is often illustrated in our lives—for example, a car engine is tested repeatedly in the factory to make sure it is trustworthy and not subject to failure before it is put in a vehicle. The Ipod in your pocket, the IPhone in your purse, and the IMac on your desk have all undergone various testings at the factory to guarantee they will work properly when you purchase them. The purpose here is not only to test, but also to improve. If there is a weakness in the product, it will be exposed and thus can be improved. The same is true of our lives. If we are training for the Dance team or the Football team, we look forward to the ‘testing’ or ‘tempting’ to occur in a competition. This competition will reveal strengths and weaknesses, and in the end, will make us all the better as participants. In this way, testing or tempting can be seen as something positive or beneficial.

Secondly, the Bible refers to ‘temptation’ as something that leads to sin. The intent here though is quite different. Where the purpose in ‘temptation’ in the example above was to improve or test, here, ‘temptation’ means to lead to failure. The intent is not for our improvement but for our harm, and the temptation comes to us with the purpose of causing us to fail or bring to us despair, shame, and guilt. In its simplest form, this temptation is seen as those opportunities that invite us to sin.

Most often in Scripture, these two ideas are kept separate by the use of the words to translate the idea of ‘temptation’. When evil is intended, the word temptation is most often used. However, when good is intended, most often the word is translated as ‘testing.’

2. Summarize briefly the two ways in which the word “temptation” is used in the Bible? (what two things can it mean?)

3. Does the Bible tell us that God would tempt men? Read James 1:13-14 as you answer.

4. If the Bible tells us that God cannot be tempted with evil, nor will use evil to tempt us, how do we explain the following passages that talk of God testing people?

Read the following as you answer.

Genesis 22:1

Deuteronomy 13:1-3

John 6:5-6

**An important distinction can be made in the fact that God TESTS His people unto their success; but Satan TEMPTS unto failure. God does not tempt with an evil intent.

5. What is the purpose of God’s testing of His people? Read the following verses as you answer.

James 1:2-3 1 Peter 1:6-7

It is vital that we understand that God does not tempt anyone unto sin. He is a holy and loving God, and desires the success of His children and not their failure. However, He often uses times of trial and testing in order to purify or strengthen His children.

Yet, it can rightly be said that God permits temptations to come upon us. He is all-powerful and all-knowing and all things happen under His care and control. It is in this manner that God permits temptations to come unto us, but His purpose is always that we would resist these temptations and as a result we would grow in the strength of our faith and in the holiness of our lives.

6. Who is the author of temptation that would seek our failing or our fall, or seek to cause us harm or sin? Read the following passages as you answer.

Genesis 3:1-6

1 Peter 5:8-9

1 John 2:15-17

7. What are popular methods by which Satan works to cause us to sin or to fall?

Genesis 3:1-6

Matthew 4:1-11

2 Thessalonians 2:9-10

8. Read the following Bible passages. How is one tempted in each? What is the word of warning that we need to hear from these verses?

Proverbs 1:10

1 Corinthians 15:33

9. Describe some of the ways in which Satan tempts us today. Is there a particular area of temptation that is especially harmful to young people?

In this petition we are asking that God would guard and keep us so that evil and temptation would not overcome us. Our ability to withstand and gain victory over temptation, evil, and the devil is through the victorious Christ. In Him, we gain our strength to endure. Let us now turn our attention to the ways in which God works this protection in our own lives.

10. What promises do the following verses provide for us as we face temptations and trials?

1 Corinthians 10:13

2 Thessalonians 3:3

11. How did Jesus defend Himself in the face of temptation? Look to the following passages.

Matthew 4:1-11

Matthew 26:36-44

12. What are a believer’s greatest weapons in his/her fight against temptation and sin? See the following passage in Ephesians for a good summary.

Ephesians 6:10-18

13. This side of heaven, will we ever be free from temptation and the snares of the devil? Read the following as you answer.

Matthew 18:7

14. In your own life what ways do you defend yourself against temptation? Are they proving successful?

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