The Temptation of Jesus
 

Was Jesus, being God in the flesh, tempted with sin? We know that satan came to Jesus for the purpose of tempting him. He was tempted in the 3 areas that man is tempted. However, was he actually tempted internally to sin? I personally don’t believe Jesus had Adam’s sin nature, as he was the second Adam. So was his sinlessness a choice or was it due to his divine nature? Was it even possible for Jesus to chose sin?

Re: The Temptation of Jesus
 

Impossible for him to sin.

Re: The Temptation of Jesus
 

What does "tempted internally to sin" mean?

There is no such thing as "inherited sin nature". Sinlessness is a moral virtue, and therefore is dependent on a choice of the will. Sin is a voluntary act or choice of the will, and so is obedience. If obedience is truly involuntary, then there would be no moral virtue to holiness or righteousness.

Dogs and cats do not sin, but they have no moral virtue, as holiness or righteousness. There is no praise or blame attached to their behavior, in a moral sense. Why? Because they are not subjects of moral law. And why is that? Because they have no ability or capacity to know right from wrong, and to choose good and refuse evil.

Jesus has free will. He is not a robot, cat, or dog. His temptations were not a sham. And His holiness is likewise real.

Re: The Temptation of Jesus
 

I simply meant that I don’t believe sin appealed to him. I do believe in an inherited sin nature. The Adamic nature of sin.

Thank you Esaias.

Re: The Temptation of Jesus
 

Would you care to elaborate?

Re: The Temptation of Jesus
 

The most important thing is that Jesus did NOT sin.

Re: The Temptation of Jesus
 

I believe Esaias is correct. I believe that Jesus could sin, but chose not to. Or otherwise He could be at all points tempted, but yet without sin. Ive been reflecting over this the last couple days, and I believe that it wasn't just a walk in the park for Him! I don't believe God made it that way. I believe He wanted to experience fully what we go through.

Jesus had a non fallen human nature, and diety combined in One. Adam lived in a non fallen world and had not a sinful nature, the serpent was there but, there was no principalities or powers of evil and he still fell to sin. Now, Jesus is a different case, but I can assure you that He faced a much greater on slot from hell then we could ever dream. He just didn't fall for it, or fall to it. He was a perfect example all the way through out. He didn't use His diety besides for in doing good for others. Besides walking on the water and even then He was coming to assure the disciples in the storm He just sent them into!

He walked as a man, and I don't believe that's a easy task for anyone in this fallen world. We always see Him as being victorious, but I don't think we truthfully appreciate great enough what He experienced as a man. I'm not talking about just the cross, and the beatings. I'm talking about in His trials He had to face, for He was God and He walked this world as a man. While the devil was trying to sell to mankind that they could become a God, God Himself robed Himself in flesh "made of a woman, born under the law" came to this earth to become a man. And He walked as a perfect example of that, with no wavering. But the flesh is the flesh regardless in this fallen world. No He never sinned, and. no I'm not saying it ever crossed His mind, but you can guarantee "He was tempted at all points, yet without sin. That's how He can be touched with our infirmities, therefore we can come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need."

Hallelujah and thank you Jesus! Because He made a way, and I know He fully understands what I'm up against!

Re: The Temptation of Jesus
 

Yes.

No. The temptation was external. Jesus wasn't drawn away after His own lusts; rather the Adversary was putting Him to the test at the direction of the Holy Spirit.

A choice, empowered by the Holy Spirit of the Father within Him.

Yes. The Spirit led Jesus into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. The devil offered Jesus a choice in each of the three temptations. Jesus refused everything being offered Him, buttressed by the Holy Scriptures to do so.

Re: The Temptation of Jesus
 

The temptation was lagitament but would have never been successful. Think of it this way, if an ant picks up a piece of grass and atemps to destroy a brick house he could never succeed. The ant gave his best shot but he would not be able.
The same with Jesus, he was the lamb slain from the foundation of the world. His sinless life was foreknown, it would bave been absolutely impossible for the Messiah to have committed sin.
Not to mention he was God and in him is no darkness.

Re: The Temptation of Jesus
 

what does this mean?

Re: The Temptation of Jesus
 

Awesome!!!! :highfive

Don't know what lagitament temptation is but the rest of what you said was a home run. :thumbsup

Re: The Temptation of Jesus
 

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:..
James 1:14.. But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed...
James 1:15.. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death...


Bottom line for Jesus to have sinned, He would have had to have LUST. No lust, no sin. Humans that sin, sin because the temptation originates within them (own lust). The temptation of Jesus was external, not internal. Jesus was just as much God in the flesh as he was in the Creation..."God cannot be tempted with evil". To teach that Jesus who was the eternal God in flesh could/would sin attempts to do damage to the Godhead.

Re: The Temptation of Jesus
 

This is an excellent point and has been on my mind quite a bit.

Re: The Temptation of Jesus
 

The devil came to Jesus in the wilderness and tempted him in 3 areas. Lust of the eye, lust of the flesh and the pride of life. I believe that the devil endeavored to tempt Jesus, but as Old Paths pointed out, temptation is conceived by an inward drawing or lust. Jesus was the second Adam, fully God and fully man yet without the Adamic sin nature. Even though the devil tempted him, it doesn’t seem in harmony with scripture or his nature as God to believe that he was actually drawn toward sin.

Re: The Temptation of Jesus
 

I see what you are saying. So, how was the temptation of Jesus real?

When I was a youth I was told by one of the ministers that if Jesus sinned God would have had to come up with another plan. That made absolutely no sense to me. But, I guess, in his mind Jesus had the capacity to sin.

Re: The Temptation of Jesus
 

Dumb question, I know. It’s the metformin. :heeheehee

Re: The Temptation of Jesus
 

I think the temptation of Jesus was as real as Adam’s temptation. Not sure that Adam was actually tempted within himself to rebel against God. Eve was tempted and deceived and Adam follows suite. Adam did not have a sin nature at the time so sin did not appeal to him.

Re: The Temptation of Jesus
 

I’ve never looked at it like that. So, Eve also did not have a sin nature -until Adam sinned. Different thread there. But, begs to be asked, how could someone sin without a sin nature? Follow up question, could Jesus have sinned?

Re: The Temptation of Jesus
 

Eve was beguiled. Adam made a choice to follow her. Sin did not enter the human race through Eve but through Adam.

I honestly don’t know if Jesus could have sinned. Many teach that he could not have. They might be right. I tend to think that he could have made a choice to sin, but it was not his nature to do so. If he would have sinned, he would have died. Just as he gave up the ghost on the cross. May be way off, but that’s my thought process at this point.

Re: The Temptation of Jesus
 

I certainly don’t believe Jesus walked around in a constant state of struggle with temptation. If an immodest woman walked in front of him, I don’t believe he had to quickly turn his head to avoid impure thoughts. It just wasn’t in him to sin. He wasn’t drawn toward it as mankind under the curse of sin is.

The temptation that he endured was for a purpose, and that was to be an example to us. In his earthly life, he NEVER used any power that is not available to the church today.

Re: The Temptation of Jesus
 

All this discussion has been assuming there is such a thing as a "sin nature".

1. How do you and I acquire this "sin nature"?

2. How did Jesus not acquire this "sin nature"?

3. Does having a "sin nature" make sinning inevitable?

4. Does not having a "sin nature" make not-sinning inevitable?

5. How did Adam acquire a "sin nature"?

6. Is Jesus a bona fide human being? Or is He just "God-in-a-body"?

7. Is temptation sin?

Re: The Temptation of Jesus
 

King James Bible
Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.

Christian Standard Bible
Indeed, I was guilty when I was born; I was sinful when my mother conceived me.

Contemporary English Version
I have sinned and done wrong since the day I was born.

Good News Translation
I have been evil from the day I was born; from the time I was conceived, I have been sinful.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Indeed, I was guilty when I was born; I was sinful when my mother conceived me.

International Standard Version
Indeed, in iniquity I was brought forth; in sin my mother conceived me.

NET Bible
Look, I was guilty of sin from birth, a sinner the moment my mother conceived me.

New Heart English Bible
Look, I was brought forth in iniquity. In sin my mother conceived me.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
Because in evil I was formed in the womb and in sin my mother conceived me.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Indeed, I was born guilty. I was a sinner when my mother conceived me.

Re: The Temptation of Jesus
 

"In sin did my mother conceive me" literally means his mother fornicated or committed adultery, resulting in David being conceived.

"I was shapen in iniquity" expresses the same concept.

Neither phrase actually expresses the idea "I was born with a sin nature". At most, it expresses that David was a bastard, because his mother committed sin resulting in his conception.

But let's go further... who shaped him in the womb? Who is actually responsible for causing embryogenesis and fetal development?

Jeremiah 1:4-5
(4) Then the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
(5) Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.

Note: This is not God making a declaration that His forming of Jeremiah in the womb was a special creative act, unique among humans. Rather, the statement "I formed thee in the womb" is incidental, and provides the backdrop to the important part of God's declaration, which is that God (fore)knew Jeremiah and pre-ordained him to be a prophet to the nations. It simply provides the time-frame for Jeremiah's calling. Therefore, it is indicative of the fact that it is God who forms the fetus in the womb. If therefore David's words are to be taken literally, and not as poetic hyperbole (as indicated by the genre in which his statement is found), then God is the one who shapes or forms humans with a sin nature. While the Calvinist may be inclined to agree, I most earnestly do not. God is not the author of sin, whether in the world, or in man.

Re: The Temptation of Jesus
 

Re: The Temptation of Jesus
 

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Can't see the image...

Re: The Temptation of Jesus
 

Romans 5:12 (KJV) 12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:

Romans 5:19 (KJV) 19 For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.

Re: The Temptation of Jesus
 

Excellent!

Re: The Temptation of Jesus
 

1. Through birth under the law of sin that has reigned since Adam.

2. He was divinely conceived.

3. Prior to New Birth, yes it does. There is not power to resist it prior to regeneration.

4. Didn't make sinlessness inevitable for Adam...so I'm not sure?

5. Through disobedience.

6. Fully man and fully God.

7. Not sure. It does seem that it is necessary to have a sin nature in order to be drawn toward sin as per James 1:14.

Re: The Temptation of Jesus
 

Agree with 1-6 but 7. I do not believe temptation in itself is sin, Jesus was tempted but we cant say Jesus sinned. Satan is the tempter and im sure he would love for the church to believe every time they are tempted they are sinning.

Re: The Temptation of Jesus
 

Thank you.

Re: The Temptation of Jesus
 

:highfive

Re: The Temptation of Jesus
 

The wages of sin were not imputed to Enoch, a post-Fall man with this alleged "sin nature", something I don't believe exists either, like Esaias.

There is a law of sin within us, that activates at a certain point in time, usually in childhood or adolescence, that causes us to lust and experience concupiscence. But you can't look at a newborn baby and think to yourself "Ah, what a cute little sinner!".

But there was a king in the OT who, as early as eight years old, which did evil in the sight of the LORD. I forget his name just now. And Josiah, at the same age of eight, did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, so certainly, as young as eight years is a possibility to see either the law of sin or the law of God take effect in a person.

Re: The Temptation of Jesus
 

As far as some ungovernable compelled desire to sin, without the Holy Spirit, it can still be avoided and resisted.

Jesus told people without the Holy Spirit to "Go, and sin no more". Redemption in the New Covenant wasn't even possible, and yet Jesus gave people commands to do it when we would normally think it was an impossible thing to do.

We have to remember that sin is an imputed thing, and to be a sinner likewise. Blessed is the man to whom the LORD does not impute sin. So, think of that for a moment. The LORD may, for whatever reason, not impute sin to someone's account.

Re: The Temptation of Jesus
 

And then, even with the Holy Spirit, people are still sinning on a regularly basis, even though they have been empowered to not be slaves to sin any longer. So, really, while the Holy Spirit is a salvational necessity, and is the power to live a holy, righteous life, it just goes to show that the gift of It is routinely squandered by people who have received It, because they don't make use of it to Its fullest potential to help them live an overcoming life devoid of sin.

So, without the Holy Spirit or even with the Holy Spirit, for some, it seems to make little difference. They still sin.

The point is, some with the Holy Spirit mortify the deeds of their flesh, and some, without the Holy Spirit, do likewise, albeit through moral effort.

I never drank, smoked, did drugs, dishonored or disrespected my parents, and other such things, before I was born again. Those were choices made without God in my life. Now, I committed other sins, for sure. But I was able to fully resist the temptation to commit the sins just listed above, and I didn't have a regenerated soul at the time.

Re: The Temptation of Jesus
 

Does not matter what you resisted. You still sinned.

Re: The Temptation of Jesus
 

Sure, but if one can be avoided, why not another? And then another? And then another, and so on?

If you were born with a sin nature, what sins were you committing when you were 1, 3, 5 years old? You should have been corrupt and evil right out of the matrix, and yet, you were not. No one was. And sin was not being imputed to you yet, either.

Where there is no law, sin is not imputed. That's out of Romans 5, too. Until the Law of God came alive in your conscience, sin was not imputed. Meaning, you were not a sinner, from God's point of view, meaning, there was no innate sin nature within you, only a law of sin that revived and took hold of you sometime much later from the day you were born.

Re: The Temptation of Jesus
 

Sure you are. Children sin as soon as they can walk and grab onto things. You tell them “no.” They understand and still do it.

Re: The Temptation of Jesus
 

Also, the point is not that I still did sin, but rather, that sins can be rejected and avoided through an act of will that plays out through our decisions.

So, this idea that no one anywhere cannot on any level not sin in any capacity before being born again just isn't true. Or that some sin nature forces us to always sin no matter the context or situation or as if there's simply no choice in the matter.

There is always a choice.

Re: The Temptation of Jesus
 

That's not sin. Do you have children?

Re: The Temptation of Jesus
 

Why/how did this law of sin revive in a person if there is no sin nature?