Christ was tempted LIKE as we are, but He never desired or was tempted to do evil.

[Jason0047]

God cannot bruise Himself, but as a man He could be bruised. God cannot grow tired, but as a man He could grow tired. God cannot seize to be Lord who does not rule over all things and have glory. Yet as a man He could give up some of that rule and glory. Now, that said, the one thing about God that will never change is His core divine nature (i.e. His mind or personality). That is why He was never truly tempted to do any kind of wrong because He is God. For it is impossible for God to sin. This is why Jesus never sinned.

However, clearly limitations were being placed upon the Lord, though. Yet this does not change His divinity or the core of who is one iota, though. For the fulness of the Godhead dwelled within Him bodily (Colossians 2:9); And Jesus could have snapped his fingers or asked the Father in a heart beat to have all His divine powers back and they would have been His. For God cannot disagree with Himself.

For Samson wearing a blindfold and sacrificing himself is a parallel of what God the Son had done for us which perfectly describes the Kenosis and the Hypostatic Union in Philippians 2:6-9and his crucifixion in John 19:16-42 (Which is paralleled in the synoptic gospels). In other words, if I choose to put on a blindfold, I do not cease to be the person that I am. I am still "me" but with a chosen limitation. I can choose to remove the blindfold any time I like. This was the case with Jesus who was 100% fully divine and 100% fully human.

The core of Jesus was still God. His essence was still God 100%. He could access all of His powers at any moment. However, He chose to be a servant, made in the likeness of men to be tempted in the same way we are tempted (yet without any desire to sin or do evil), and then to die in our place for the punishment of our sins.

For that is how much God loved us!

Philippians 2:7-8 - "But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross."

So in conclusion...

Christ did not stop being divine. His essence of who was was still God. His choosing to be a servant by holding back His powers temporarily does not make Him any less God then in me choosing to put on a blind fold would make me any less human.

Oh, and if your interested, please check out the video here to understand the Hypostatic Union or the Kenosis.

[video=youtube;0XZPHTZvXXo]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0XZPHTZvXXo[/video]

 

[Jason0047]

For can you be tempted by something if you have no desire in the thing being tempted? In other words, for me to be tempted, I have to have a desire for that thing I am being tempted by. Wrong desire is lust. Jesus says if you lust after a woman, you have committed adultery already in your heart with her. So lust is bad.

In fact, we know that Jesus could never have lusted (or had wrong desire). For the Scriptures say,

1 John 2:16
"For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world."

Genesis 3:6
"And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be DESIRED [lust] to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat."

For every man when he is TEMPTED, is drawn away by his own LUST. James 1:14
"But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed."

Jesus was not tempted because Jesus did not have LUST. He was the Holy Son of God and sinless.

 

[Jason0047]

As for Christ or God not able to be tempted by sin and yet Scripture saying that He was tempted:

Well, let me illustrate an example for you.

Let's say I was walking along the park and a shady looking character opens up his trench coat and says he has some hot watches that he just recently acquired that he would like to sell me. Okay, now it wouldn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that these watches were probably stolen, so I would just tell him,

"No thank you."

Now, in retrospect, I could say that this shady character was tempting me. Yet in no way was I interested at all. So one can say a person was tempted by another without them having no interest in the part of the temptation given.

Hebrews 4:15 - "For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin."

Christ was tempted LIKE as we are. For the word "like" is used to compare something to another (or in making a parallel to something similar). The greek word "κατά" is linked to he Greek word "ταὐτά" in Luke 6:23, which is also transliterated as the word "like".

http://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/...gs=G2596&t=KJV
Click on full entry for the reference of Luke 6:23 (i.e. Luk. vi 23.)

So we have to ask the question, if he was tempted as we are, then why did He not sin? Was it because He was a good and perfect person? Was it because He was created as a demi god or an angel? Was it because He had a certain portion of the divinity of God? No, most certainly not. He did not sin because He was God Almighty 100%. He did not sin because He could not be tempted. Yes, he was tempted like we are in the sense that He was in our place. But that was it; For the parallel stops there. For the Scriptures do not say that Christ was tempted EXACTLY like we are. The Bible simply uses the word "like" which can be used to make a comparison of something.

In other words, lets say you ran into that same shady character trying to sell you one of his hot watches that he had try to sell to me and you refused him (with the same line of thinking that he was a crook). Now, later after you told me what happened, I could then say, "Oh yes. I believe I was tempted by the same guy."

Does that mean either of us were tempted? No. Of course not.

Christ was in our place. He was tempted as we were but was without sin because He was God. For we have a God who can be touched with the feelings of our infirmities unlike a high priest back in the Old Testament. He knows how we feel!

For what did Jesus say about adultery? He said, that even if you look upon a woman in lust you have already committed adultery in your heart. Sooooo..... that means that any bad thoughts by Jesus in wanting to think about sinning would have been the same thing as actually sinning.

So is human flesh enough to overcome the Son of God? Ha! I don't think so! God is so much more stronger, powerful, and good than you think He is. For Jesus did not sin because He was God Almighty in the flesh.

In fact, Jesus still has a physical body today that intercedes on our behalf; And He still will never sin ever because He is God. Men are incapable of being perfect. Only God can be perfect. For Jesus said,

"Why do you call me good? There is none good but God."

 

[Flamingspirit]

Maybe your title was a mistake, but you cannot be both tempted and not tempted at the same time.

 

[Jason0047]

The clear teaching of Scripture is that Jesus was impeccable—Jesus could not have sinned. If He could have sinned, He would still be able to sin today because He retains the same essence He did while living on earth. He is the God-Man and will forever remain so, having full deity and full humanity so united in one person as to be indivisible. To believe that Jesus could sin is to believe that God could sin. “For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him” (Colossians 1:19). Colossians 2:9 adds, “For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form.”

Although Jesus is fully human, He was not born with the same sinful nature that we are born with. He certainly was tempted in the same way we are, in that temptations were put before Him by Satan, yet He remained sinless because God is incapable of sinning. It is against His very nature (Matthew 4:1;Hebrews 2:18, 4:15; James 1:13). Sin is by definition a trespass of the Law. God created the Law, and the Law is by nature what God would or would not do; therefore, sin is anything that God would not do by His very nature.

Those who hold to peccability believe that, if Jesus could not have sinned, He could not have truly experienced temptation, and therefore could not truly empathize with our struggles and temptations against sin. We have to remember that one does not have to experience something in order to understand it. God knows everything about everything. While God has never had the desire to sin, and has most definitely never sinned, God knows and understands what sin is. God knows and understands what it is like to be tempted. Jesus can empathize with our temptations because He knows, not because He has “experienced” all the same things we have.

Jesus knows what it is like to be tempted, but He does not know what it is like to sin. This does not prevent Him from assisting us. We are tempted with sins that are common to man (1 Corinthians 10:13).

God is love.
And God loved us so much that He came down into the flesh of a man to die for our sins.

For what is the absence of light?

Darkness.

What is the absence of heat?

Cold.

What is the absence of God or love?

Sin.

For anything that is not of God is sin.

So to propose that God in human flesh (that he created) could make Him be something that He is not only illogical but it is impossible.

Source Used:
http://www.gotquestions.org/could-Je...ve-sinned.html

 

[Jason0047]

Maybe your title was a mistake, but you cannot be both tempted and not tempted at the same time.

It's not a mistake. God as Spirit alone cannot be tempted. And why can't God be tempted? Because He knows everything. He owns everything and sees everything. So there is nothing you can offer God because He knows it is all His.

However, when the second person of the Godhead (i.e. The Holy Son of God), came down into the flesh of a man, He held back (suppressed) His divine attribute of Omniscience (i.e. To have all knowledge) so as to be like a man. Jesus did not change who He was in His divine nature. He was still God 100%. So it is impossible for Him to desire or lust in doing evil because He is God 100%. Jesus was only tempted LIKE (meaning a simile or a parallel) as we are because He was in our place within the flesh. Nowhere does Scripture say Jesus desired to do evil or that He lusted or came close to doing anything bad. Jesus is sinless and He is good.

God cannot be tempted. Jesus is God 100%.

Side Note:

As for the Scriptures saying that Jesus was tempted, see Post #3.

 

[Jason0047]

In other words, the title of the thread is not a contradiction because:

(1) One is a LIKE (Simiiar but not exact) comparison of how Jesus was in our place (tempted similar to us) and

(2) The other is saying how Jesus cannot actually lust or do evil in any way shape or form because he is God 100%.

 

[Jason0047]

Desire and lust are the same thing. For they both end in gaining something.

James 4:2
"Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not."

In order to be tempted, a person needs to have a desire (or lust) for that thing they are be tempted by. The Holy Son of God cannot desire evil. It's not possible because He is God Almighty who is divine and perfect 100%.

Now, I can say that the Word made flesh was tempted in a similar way LIKE us by the fact that the Holy Son of God was in our place within the flesh of a man (with limited knowledge) and was confronted with the same scenarios we are confronted with. But that does not mean Jesus desired to do any kind of evil. Such a thing is just not possible.

 

[4enlightment]

God was showing us how to resist the devil when he put thoughts in our minds. When some people that has been starving for a long period, the devil will convince them to go and steal or kill so that you can live. So when he does that, you suppose to tell him that we can live also by the word of God. Jesus has came to show us how to walk in the flesh.

 

[Flamingspirit]

It's not a mistake. God as Spirit alone cannot be tempted. And why can't God be tempted? Because He knows everything. He owns everything and sees everything. So there is nothing you can offer God because He knows it is all His.

However, when the second person of the Godhead (i.e. The Holy Son of God), came down into the flesh of a man, He held back (suppressed) His divine attribute of Omniscience (i.e. To have all knowledge) so as to be like a man. Jesus did not change who He was in His divine nature. He was still God 100%. So it is impossible for Him to desire or lust in doing evil because He is God 100%. Jesus was only tempted LIKE (meaning a simile or a parallel) as we are because He was in our place within the flesh. Nowhere does Scripture say Jesus desired to do evil or that He lusted or came close to doing anything bad. Jesus is sinless and He is good.

God cannot be tempted. Jesus is God 100%.

Side Note:

As for the Scriptures saying that Jesus was tempted, see Post #3.

Was not Jesus tempted in every way we were? But I do agree that the Father cannot and does not tempt nor is tempted. God is love. Love as Spirit has no form.

 

[Jason0047]

God was showing us how to resist the devil when he put thoughts in our minds. When some people that has been starving for a long period, the devil will convince them to go and steal or kill so that you can live. So when he does that, you suppose to tell him that we can live also by the word of God. Jesus has came to show us how to walk in the flesh.

Jesus Christ was manifested to destroy the works of the devil.

 

[Jason0047]

Was not Jesus tempted in every way we were? But I do agree that the Father cannot and does not tempt nor is tempted. God is love. Love as Spirit has no form.

Do you believe Jesus Christ is God Almighty in the flesh?

 

[dcontroversal]

Jesus was tempted in ALL POINTS as we are tempted, yet did no sin...so quit adding to the word and rejecting the truth Jason and for once humble yourself to the truth as opposed to your opinion bro.

Hebrews 2:18, 4:15<---reject this if you choose....I will choose to believe the word and not READ in something that is not there!

 

[JesusIsAll]

Maybe your title was a mistake, but you cannot be both tempted and not tempted at the same time.

The devil can present a temptation, tempt a person, but a person may or may not actually be tempted. Now I, a corruptible man, may be enticed to consider something not right I'm tempted with, I don't know, some lard cake bad for health, and I'm really tempted, knowing it's no good, sweet poison. Or, that temptation may be a just absurd, like, instead of lard cake, a waiter with his tray, "Yum! How about pick of the crop, giant fried, double chocolate grasshoppers for dessert?" No way!

Our Lord Jesus, the God man, with the fullness of the Holy Spirit, being presented a sinful temptation, I believe was, "No way." Sin, and from Satan, no less, was to Him probably like grasshoppers to me. Also,

James 1:13 Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man.

Bottom line, our Lord Jesus was, though in the flesh, God. Sure, He felt our temptation, but, unlike me, I believe Jesus would have even been, as if, "When pigs fly," if the devil offered lard cake, which corruptible, sinful flesh me may buckle and eat, though would have sworn I'd not. Does that make sense? Tempted by Satan, but our Lord not for a second considering taking him up on anything, that is, Jesus not one to contemplate, be actually tempted to sin, to do evil, for His holiness?

 

[VioletReigns]

In Luke chapter 5, before the Lord called Simon Peter as a disciple, Simon Peter calls Jesus, “Master” (Teacher) because Jesus was teaching from the boat he borrowed from him. But when Jesus performed a miracle that caused Peter to catch so many fish his boat almost sank, Peter was shocked, realizing Jesus was greater than who he imagined him to be. Peter fell down in trembling amazement at Jesus’ feet and called him, “Lord!” And Peter confessed his sinfulness.

I love this story because it emphasizes that Jesus is more than what our carnal minds can imagine him to be. He is exactly who he says he is. But our tiny minds sometimes can’t perceive Jesus Christ in reality. Nevertheless, what the Bible says is absolutely true.

The word says Jesus was tempted in every way that we are tempted. Hebrews 4 stresses the point by reminding us that our High Priest understands because he was tempted just like us.

Remember how Jesus wept when Mary & Martha cried, “Lord, if you were here our brother would not have died.” Do you know why Jesus wept? He was disturbed with anger at their unbelief that he could raise Lazarus from the dead. Do you want proof?

In John 11:12, Jesus told the disciples, “Let’s go now for I have to raise my friend Lazarus up from sleep (death). “ There was no reason for Jesus to cry over his friend’s death. He knew Lazarus was coming back to life soon. Jesus waited on purpose for Lazarus to die so people would see the power of God when Jesus resurrected him.

When Jesus arrived at Lazarus’ tomb, Mary & Martha doubted his power and cried in anguish because he arrived too late. In John 11:33 It reads: When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping which came with her, he groaned in the spirit, and was troubled.
The Greek translation reads: Jesus was so agitated in his spirit, he was moved to anger.
In fact, Jesus was so angry, he wept! The mourners were saying, “Oh look, he’s crying! He must have loved Lazarus. But why couldn’t he have kept him from dying? He healed the blind but he couldn’t heal Lazarus.” Jesus reprimanded them, “Didn’t I tell you I am the Resurrection and the Life? Don’t you believe me?”
The Bible says Jesus was disturbed with anger again as he walked to the tomb of Lazarus. And then he prayed, “Father, thank you that you have heard my prayer.” Jesus was thanking God for an answer to prayer even before he received the answer! But he was saying the prayer aloud so people would believe the power of God. Then it said Jesus yelled loudly, “Lazarus, come forth!”
My point is, Jesus was ticked off to the point of tears. He was so disturbed by their unbelief that he broke down and cried.
If the Word of God says that Jesus was tempted in every way that we are, it means exactly that. There is no room for doubt. He was 100% God in Spirit. And he was 100% mankind in his body. And he was committed to God’s will so faithfully that he did not sin.
Why do you think it was important for the Bible to tell us that the devil tempted Jesus to the point where angels had to minister to him afterwards? Why do you think the Bible tells us Jesus sweat drops of blood in the Garden of Gethsemane? Why do you think Jesus yelled in agony, “Why did you forsake me, Father?” Why was it important for the Word to inform us that Jesus cried, “I thirst!” while he hung on the cross?

Because Jesus is our example, our High Priest who demonstrated how it is possible to learn obedience to God and overcome temptation to sin. How? By believing the Word of God.

 

[Jason0047]

In Luke chapter 5, before the Lord called Simon Peter as a disciple, Simon Peter calls Jesus, “Master” (Teacher) because Jesus was teaching from the boat he borrowed from him. But when Jesus performed a miracle that caused Peter to catch so many fish his boat almost sank, Peter was shocked, realizing Jesus was greater than who he imagined him to be. Peter fell down in trembling amazement at Jesus’ feet and called him, “Lord!” And Peter confessed his sinfulness.

I love this story because it emphasizes that Jesus is more than what our carnal minds can imagine him to be. He is exactly who he says he is. But our tiny minds sometimes can’t perceive Jesus Christ in reality. Nevertheless, what the Bible says is absolutely true.

The word says Jesus was tempted in every way that we are tempted. Hebrews 4 stresses the point by reminding us that our High Priest understands because he was tempted just like us.

Remember how Jesus wept when Mary & Martha cried, “Lord, if you were here our brother would not have died.” Do you know why Jesus wept? He was disturbed with anger at their unbelief that he could raise Lazarus from the dead. Do you want proof?

In John 11:12, Jesus told the disciples, “Let’s go now for I have to raise my friend Lazarus up from sleep (death). “ There was no reason for Jesus to cry over his friend’s death. He knew Lazarus was coming back to life soon. Jesus waited on purpose for Lazarus to die so people would see the power of God when Jesus resurrected him.

When Jesus arrived at Lazarus’ tomb, Mary & Martha doubted his power and cried in anguish because he arrived too late. In John 11:33 It reads: When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping which came with her, he groaned in the spirit, and was troubled.
The Greek translation reads: Jesus was so agitated in his spirit, he was moved to anger.
In fact, Jesus was so angry, he wept! The mourners were saying, “Oh look, he’s crying! He must have loved Lazarus. But why couldn’t he have kept him from dying? He healed the blind but he couldn’t heal Lazarus.” Jesus reprimanded them, “Didn’t I tell you I am the Resurrection and the Life? Don’t you believe me?”
The Bible says Jesus was disturbed with anger again as he walked to the tomb of Lazarus. And then he prayed, “Father, thank you that you have heard my prayer.” Jesus was thanking God for an answer to prayer even before he received the answer! But he was saying the prayer aloud so people would believe the power of God. Then it said Jesus yelled loudly, “Lazarus, come forth!”
My point is, Jesus was ticked off to the point of tears. He was so disturbed by their unbelief that he broke down and cried.
If the Word of God says that Jesus was tempted in every way that we are, it means exactly that. There is no room for doubt. He was 100% God in Spirit. And he was 100% mankind in his body. And he was committed to God’s will so faithfully that he did not sin.
Why do you think it was important for the Bible to tell us that the devil tempted Jesus to the point where angels had to minister to him afterwards? Why do you think the Bible tells us Jesus sweat drops of blood in the Garden of Gethsemane? Why do you think Jesus yelled in agony, “Why did you forsake me, Father?” Why was it important for the Word to inform us that Jesus cried, “I thirst!” while he hung on the cross?

Because Jesus is our example, our High Priest who demonstrated how it is possible to learn obedience to God and overcome temptation to sin. How? By believing the Word of God.

Jesus did not weep because He was angry. The Word of God says Jesus seen Mary and the Jews weeping and he groaned in the spirit, and was troubled whereby he cried.

"When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping which came with her, he groaned in the spirit, and was troubled, And said, Where have ye laid him? They said unto him, Lord, come and see. Jesus wept." (John 11:33-35).

Just check out what it says in other Modern Translations. They say that he was touched or moved by their sorrow.

Other Translations for John 11:33.

Yes, I know. It's hard to imagine the Son of God crying when we cry, but He does because He loves us and can feel what we feel.

 

[Jason0047]

Jesus was tempted in ALL POINTS as we are tempted, yet did no sin...so quit adding to the word and rejecting the truth Jason and for once humble yourself to the truth as opposed to your opinion bro.

Hebrews 2:18, 4:15<---reject this if you choose....I will choose to believe the word and not READ in something that is not there!

As I said in the other temptation thread, Hebrews 4:15 uses the word "LIKE", meaning it is a "like" comparison to how he was tempted like we are. The passage does not say he had evil desire or lust; And Hebrews 2:18 is talking about EXTERNAL temptation and not internal temptation. There is a difference.

 

[Jason0047]

In fact, how was Jesus tempted in all points like us? Well, Scripture has an answer for that.

1 John 2:16
"For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world."

In other words, Jesus was tempted externally in the following points or ways:

Point #1 - Jesus was tempted externally (not internally) by those who had a lust of the flesh.

Jesus was tempted by those who had a lust for the flesh. Jesus said to the Pharisees in John 8 that they see and do what their father (the devil) does.

Point #2 - Jesus was tempted externally (not internally) by those who had a lust of the eyes.

Jesus was tempted by those whereby he declared to them that looking upon a woman in lust (with one's eyes) is considered adultery in one's heart.

Point #3 - Jesus was tempted externally (not internally) by those who had the pride of life.

Jesus was tempted by those who desired to look good in front of others. Jesus warned of us of those who desire to be seen by men (i.e. the pride of life) instead of doing their good works in secret before the Father.

For all these three things is not of the Father (Of which of whom Jesus is one with), but these things are of the world.

 

[Jason0047]

In fact, how was Jesus tempted in all points like us? Well, Scripture has an answer for that.

1 John 2:16
"For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world."

In other words, Jesus was tempted externally in the following points or ways:

Point #1 - Jesus was tempted externally (not internally) by those who had a lust of the flesh.

Jesus was tempted by those who had a lust for the flesh. Jesus said to the Pharisees in John 8 that they see and do what their father (the devil) does.

Point #2 - Jesus was tempted externally (not internally) by those who had a lust of the eyes.

Jesus was tempted by those whereby he declared to them that looking upon a woman in lust (with one's eyes) is considered adultery in one's heart.

Point #3 - Jesus was tempted externally (not internally) by those who had the pride of life.

Jesus was tempted by those who desired to look good in front of others. Jesus warned of us of those who desire to be seen by men (i.e. the pride of life) instead of doing their good works in secret before the Father.

For all these three things is not of the Father (Of which of whom Jesus is one with), but these things are of the world.

In fact, Jesus even said that His Kingdom was not of this world. Meaning...... the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh, and the pride of life is not of His Father's Kingdom; And Jesus always did what He seen the Father doing.

 

[Ariel82]

Jason I think you just confuse things by using the word "tempted" in two different ways instead of just defining it clearly and choosing a different word.

For example, Jesus was tempted by Satan to do a lot of things that went against God. However, He never DESIRED in His heart to do any of those things.

There is a difference between the heart that DESIRES to do sin and temptation where the flesh or Satan seeks to lead the heart astray.

Too many people don't make that distinction or blur the lines so it makes it confusing.

You may DESIRE to do God's will, but your flesh may be tempted to seek its own pleasure. The question is do you follow your heart (the leading of the Holy Spirit) or your flesh?