And you are correct about Jesus being tempted but not sinning.
And on the subject of instincts: my understanding is that instinct functions in an animal as a command, but in humans as a suggestion. Sometimes a penetrating, persistent and persuasive suggestion, but still a suggestion. Being willing --- with God's help --- to resist a disordered instinct, is what makes us different from animals.
I appreciate your insights. I hope to see you again on other threads.
Thank yo for the compliment!
I’m struggling with this right now.
I have PCOS and pre-T2 diabetes. Carbohydrates are terrible for my body and I’m transitioning to a low-carb diet.
And my body is *screaming* for carbs right now. I think of it as a 2 year old having a tantrum. Eventually, my internal 2 year old will give up, but it’s not today!
My husband just left of Korea. I miss him. I miss sex. But I will choose to abstain for the next year. I’m not a bad person because my body has natural urges for carbs and sex. I don’t feel guilty for those urges. That’s just the natural, physical, instincts speaking. Gd gave us those urges so that we don’t die and so that we don’t fail to procreate. They’re not necessarily evil.
Where I *would* be guilty is if I allowed my urges to override what I knew was right. Gd tells me to be faithful to my husband. Gd tells me to care for the body that He gifted me with. I will listen to Gd even when the 2 year old physical body is saying, ‘I want!!’
You’re so right. In humans, instincts are a strong suggestion, not a command. The command comes from The Word.