The temptation of Christ ...

[Guest]

I agree, I had been thinking essentially the same thing. Jesus couldn't sin before the point He became accountable for His actions. The idea that He could never possibly sin has long puzzled me. If true, how could He be an example for us?

Sad to say i read of a denomination that split up over this very question.

[Guest]

I agree, I had been thinking essentially the same thing. Jesus couldn't sin before the point He became accountable for His actions. The idea that He could never possibly sin has long puzzled me. If true, how could He be an example for us?

My confusion stems from the fact that Jesus was 100% God and 100% man, but He was God first. If the God part could not sin, then could the human part?

Another question. Did Jesus come to be our example or our substitute?

I read something the other day about the word tempted in Hebrews 2 and 4 could more accurately be translated "tested". i.e. We can test God but we can't tempt Him.

.02 from a lurker

In Christ,
Brian

[Guest]

Did Jesus come to be our example

Yes; Phillipians 2:1-16 readily comes to mind.

or our substitute?

Yes again.

Jesus was 100% God and 100% man,

But scripture nowhere puts a percent on it. What does it mean that He took on the form of a servant and came in the likeness of man ("emptied Himself") found in the above passage?

[Guest]

Did Jesus come to be our example

Yes; Phillipians 2:1-16 readily comes to mind.

or our substitute?

Yes again.

I guess my confusion might stem from the type of example. An example of how to live a sinless life or how to love and humble ourselves to others?

Jesus was 100% God and 100% man,

But scripture nowhere puts a percent on it. What does it mean that He took on the form of a servant and came in the likeness of man ("emptied Himself") found in the above passage?

I don't know! But He was certainly still fully God while in the flesh wasn't He?

[Guest]

TK,

I think the turning point comes with wisdom. A child may know that he is telling a lie, but does he/she have the full understanding of what it truly means to lie?

Here is a verse from Luke 2:40 -

40 And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon him.

Right after this verse Jesus enters the temple courts and starts to amaze everyone with his understanding of scripture. I think when one reaches that age of understanding or wisdom than that is when one is held accountable for their sins. A child doesn't have the full comprehension of what their lie may do, whereas an adult would because they have the wisdom to comprehend such things.

[Guest]

I guess we could conclude, because Jesus was born of a virgin, that He did not have a sin nature. but if that is true, did this not give him an advantage over the rest of us, who in fact do have a sin nature? did Jesus have a sin nature?

Why would there be an advantage? If there was, didn't Adam and Eve have this same advantage? I think Jesus was born without the sin nature, but he was tempted in every way like Adam and Eve were tempted. The difference being Jesus resisted.

[Guest]

Why would there be an advantage? If there was, didn't Adam and Eve have this same advantage? I think Jesus was born without the sin nature, but he was tempted in every way like Adam and Eve were tempted. The difference being Jesus resisted.

Where in the bible does it say we're born with a sin nature as opposed to a decieved by the devil nature?

[Guest]

Premises:

Jesus is God: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” John 1:1 (ESV)

Jesus was tempted: “Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.” Matthew 4:1 (ESV)

Jesus was tempted in the same way we are, yet without sin: “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.” Hebrews 4:15 (ESV)

But God cannot be tempted: “Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am being tempted by God," for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one.” James 1:13 (ESV)

Questions:

How real was Jesus’ temptation?
Was it possible for Jesus to sin?
Is the tension in these statements real or imagined?

When Jesus was in the flesh he was subject to the same temptations as anyone else. God, however, is not in the flesh and therefore not subject to fleshly temptations.

Todd

[Guest]

steve, homer and micah--

it seems we are now changing the definition of "sin" to explain how Jesus didn't "sin" when he was a child. either a 5 year old can sin, or he can't. i undertstand that wisdom, etc comes into consideration. i understand that an adult understands the consequences of their actions when a child may not. this does not mean that the child is not sinning. i remember sinning as a 5 year old-- one particular occasion sitting at the dinner table when my dad told me to do something and I told him that "he couldnt talk to me that way." as Bill Cosby says in his famous routine, "i dont remember much after that." the point is-- did jesus throw tantrums as a child? did he sass joseph and mary? did he ever refuse to share? if he did, then he was sinning. therefore, i dont think that he did. the question remains-- how did he not?

TK

[Guest]

Why would there be an advantage? If there was, didn't Adam and Eve have this same advantage? I think Jesus was born without the sin nature, but he was tempted in every way like Adam and Eve were tempted. The difference being Jesus resisted.

Where in the bible does it say we're born with a sin nature as opposed to a decieved by the devil nature?

Here is one verse that states we are evil from our youth:

Genesis 8:21 -

21 The LORD smelled the soothing aroma; and the LORD said to Himself, "I will never again curse the ground on account of man, for the intent of man's heart is evil from his youth; and I will never again destroy every living thing, as I have done.

Here is another verse:

Romans 5:18,19 -

18 So then as through one transgression there resulted condemnation to all men, even so through one act of righteousness there resulted justification of life to all men.

19 For as through the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, even so through the obedience of the One the many will be made righteous.

It appears to be an inherited function. Even in my own children I don't have to teach them to be selfish. They learn that all on their own. However, I do have to teach them to be good through discipline.

Do you have a verse where children are shown to be deceived by the Devil's nature and that is how they become sinners?