jesusjnr:
I thought I already said that he was to that extent.

So there is no disagreement, the tempter is essential.

LordReed:


So there is no disagreement, the tempter is essential.

For those tests that require the tempter.

jesusjnr:
You seem to confuse a tempter for temptation, because temptation is an integral part of the exercise of freewill, with or without a tempter.

And without temptation there wouldn't be a tempter, because a tempter needs temptation to exist and to be able to function, for a tempter only comes to make temptation more tempting.

Freewill is the right for man to freely choose from a number of options, especially two, namely good and evil, but either of them comes with its own consequences.

So temptation is an inclination to yet chose something bad and evil, despite the fact that the consequences which follows such a choice are not good.

Thanks.

You are spot on target.

If there is no law, there is no sin.
The Law was to protect us
Our will is sometimes at conflict of obeying or disobeying the law.

Temptation is when there is a discord between our wants and the law.

The Tempter just is there to give reasons and explanations for why there should be no consequence if we violate the law.

Cc: LordReed

LordReed:
The idea of freewill is that one is free to choose from a number of available choices. This can be done without anybody looking over your shoulder and egging you on to any particular choice, you just need to consider the options and make the choice you find suitable. However in religion it seems temptation is essential, I find that puzzling.

Two opposing forces -- good and evil - each contributing their share of values to lure you in, is what temptation kinda is. Temptation, consists of both good and evil desires/choices.

LordReed:

Why is it essential for anyone to attempt to influence my choices?

Fairness, really! Temptation is never really one-sided,even though depending on the heart and frame of mind, it may seem like that in that moment.

You are actually being tempted to do good while also being lured to do evil at the same time but depending on the state of your heart it may seem as though you are overwhelmed by the evil side when it is more likely that your heart and mind doing that to you.

LordReed:
Can the choices not be presented and humans allowed to make one?

That's exactly what happens. The choices are presented and humans allowed to choose one or the other.

LordReed:

Why was it essential to have Satan free access to influence Adam and Eve's choices?

The garden belonged to God, so the serpent was there to provide balanced for the evil side, temptation-wise.

LordReed:

Why is it essential to maintain the presence of an external influencing agent?

Well, these agents, external to our core, are there to ensure fairness for our own good or evil!

LordReed:

Is the outcome designed to be skewed towards failure?

Nope! How can it be skewed if it is fair?

Consider this, someone who is used to making good choices would feel less overwhelmed by the very same temptations to do evil that cause you a headache. This because the mind and heart are trained by the kind of choices one typically makes. You become more sensitive to temptation to do good if you train yourself to make good choices, while you are more sensitive to temptation to do evil if you are not well trained.

So temptation is an inclination to yet chose something bad and evil, despite the fact that the consequences which follows such a choice are not good.

Thanks.

But temptation refers to the choices (and associated consequences made available to one at any given moment is it not?

And these choices(consequences attached) typically comprise some good and some evil but never all of one or the other.

If so, then temptation is not all about bad/evil choices but the alternatives(good) too.

LordReed:
Would Adam and Eve have eaten the fruit if Satan had not tempted them?

Then the decision would not have been one made by Adam and Eve but by God -good -for them.

frank317:

So the tempter only confirmed the intention to eat from the fruit and this intention had always been in their mind before the temper?

The intention was Man's decision - the temptation to eat or not eat, the choices put before man.