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Hebrews 4:15
For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
Philippians 2:
5 - Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,
6 - Who, though he was God, did not think equality with God as something to cling to,
7 - But instead gave up his divine privileges, he took the humble position of a slave, being born in the likeness of men.
8 - And being found in human form, he humbled himself to God by obedience to the point of death, even a criminal’s death on the cross.
9 - Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name,
10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Jesus was tempted in every area that mankind is tempted. Temptation is that thing which seeks to get our attention, those things which reach out to our emotions, thoughts, feelings. Temptation begins in the mind.
Jesus had emotions, Jesus had needs, Jesus had temptation. A thought can flutter through our mind, an emotion can surge through our veins, a desire can grab at our heart, a fear can make the blood run cold, an image can snatch the attention of our eyes. And we will be tempted to validate those feelings and thoughts by acting out. It is at that point we must decide to obey God or obey our own selfish motives.
Jesus emptied himself out, gave up all his rights, abandoned his desires for God’s will in his life. Any thought that was not God’s will, any emotion that ran counter to God’s will, any image that did not glorify God’s will, any right to himself he surrendered it all to God the Father and obeyed him. Jesus died to himself even before he was crucified on the cross. He already made up his mind to do God’s will no matter what he felt, no matter what thought ran contrary to it.
When we are tempted, we have not sinned. If a lustful thought comes to mind, we can say no to it because it isn’t God’s will. We have not sinned. If we get angry and are tempted to speak carelessly, we can say no to it and keep our mouth shut. We have not sinned. But if you entertain yourself with lustful thoughts or dwell on anger to the point of hating or wanting to do harm, you have sinned in your heart. Nevertheless, Jesus is our advocate and we can repent ASAP before the devil ensnares us into a dangerous situation.
Jesus, on the other hand, never had to repent because he never allowed temptation to cause him to sin. And the more we walk and talk with the Lord Jesus, we become like him and can grow as obedient children emptied more and more of ourselves and abandoned to the Father’s will.
For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
Philippians 2:
5 - Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,
6 - Who, though he was God, did not think equality with God as something to cling to,
7 - But instead gave up his divine privileges, he took the humble position of a slave, being born in the likeness of men.
8 - And being found in human form, he humbled himself to God by obedience to the point of death, even a criminal’s death on the cross.
9 - Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name,
10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Jesus was tempted in every area that mankind is tempted. Temptation is that thing which seeks to get our attention, those things which reach out to our emotions, thoughts, feelings. Temptation begins in the mind.
Jesus had emotions, Jesus had needs, Jesus had temptation. A thought can flutter through our mind, an emotion can surge through our veins, a desire can grab at our heart, a fear can make the blood run cold, an image can snatch the attention of our eyes. And we will be tempted to validate those feelings and thoughts by acting out. It is at that point we must decide to obey God or obey our own selfish motives.
Jesus emptied himself out, gave up all his rights, abandoned his desires for God’s will in his life. Any thought that was not God’s will, any emotion that ran counter to God’s will, any image that did not glorify God’s will, any right to himself he surrendered it all to God the Father and obeyed him. Jesus died to himself even before he was crucified on the cross. He already made up his mind to do God’s will no matter what he felt, no matter what thought ran contrary to it.
When we are tempted, we have not sinned. If a lustful thought comes to mind, we can say no to it because it isn’t God’s will. We have not sinned. If we get angry and are tempted to speak carelessly, we can say no to it and keep our mouth shut. We have not sinned. But if you entertain yourself with lustful thoughts or dwell on anger to the point of hating or wanting to do harm, you have sinned in your heart. Nevertheless, Jesus is our advocate and we can repent ASAP before the devil ensnares us into a dangerous situation.
Jesus, on the other hand, never had to repent because he never allowed temptation to cause him to sin. And the more we walk and talk with the Lord Jesus, we become like him and can grow as obedient children emptied more and more of ourselves and abandoned to the Father’s will.
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