Christ and Temptation

I really struggled with how to label this post, then I simply looked at the sermon notes and stole from the pastor (sorry David!).

Pastor David's sermon on this topic was fantastic, so I thought that I would blog on the topic. Very often we can be tempted into thinking that we somehow have it harder than those that came before us--whether it's our circumstances, our work, or in this case, the things we are tempted with. I mean, in the modern culture, we're traveling a mile and minute and have everything (good or bad) available at our fingertips (or computer screen)--so we have to have it worse, right?

The sermon broke down into two parts: the Three Objections people usually give when it is stated that Christ as our high priest is not only our mediator but sympathetic in our sufferings and temptations, and second, the importance of Christ sympathizing with us.

The first objection that one might pose is that Jesus was not really or truly human--Pastor David had a GREAT illustration--the character Data on Star Trek: Next Generation. (For those not familiar with the show or the character, he was an android/robot who looked totally human, but you would touch an arm or a part of his head and a panel would open to show he was truly a robot) Some would argue that Jesus may have seemed human, but wasn't really. But this is diametrically opposed to the theology of Jesus being fully human and fully God--he suffered, bled and died on the Cross. The illustration used was in Hebrews 2:17, where the writer-preacher stresses that "he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people."

The importance of Christ being fully human is this: being sacrificed on the Cross as fully human, he was the second Adam and enters the Holy of Holies as THE High Priest who can make propitiation for our sins.

The second objection (which we as Christians may allow in our own minds) is that Jesus doesn't really understand temptation. We may look at Christ and say, he's too good of a person, he's perfect, he's not really been tempted.

The third and final objection we may often find ourselves saying is, "well, but Christ didn't live in the 21st century--he didn't face drugs, pornography, internet, or TV!" But as Pastor David pointed us to in Matthew 4:1-11, Christ was tempted in the desert with three types of temptations: first, to put earthly desires above spiritual needs; second, to purposefully test the principles of God's Word; third, to compromise God's Word for apparent personal gain.

The first temptation is simply giving into the flesh or indulging your desires, whether it be food, sex, or buying _______ (fill in the blank). (Please note that any of the previous list may not be bad in and of itself but our motivations and attitudes in desiring it may make it so) When we do this to the detriment of our spiritual needs or even instead of them, we sin against God. Christ was tempted in the desert to turn bread into stone, so he was tempted to tend to His hunger but resisted by replying that we are called to live on the Word and not on bread alone. Just imagine it: he had not eaten for 40 days! And yet he resists the temptation--we cannot say that he has not been tempted to give into the flesh!

The second temptation is testing God's Word--it is VERY easy to be a "let's pull a verse out of the Bible" Christian. The Bible is the inerrant Word of God, but it is bound together in a book made up of 66 different books. God, in His providence, wove it together in inspiring the men who wrote those words and it works together! We cannot pull out a verse which says that God loves us and promises us good things and then cry "unfair!" when we have not received a gift of this or that. We must go in the same Word and see that we are called to trials and suffering--and yet God does love us. This segment of Christ's temptation is very important, as with the first temptation, Satan is quoting truth from Scripture, but notice that Christ is quick to point out that while God does protect us with His angels, we are not to test Him by flinging ourself off a mountain or even taking our car and driving off one! (note that Satan does not come at the Lord Jesus with lies or deceit but truth misapplied--this is how he can tempt us in the next and final type of temptation)

The third temptation is compromising God's Word for apparent personal gain. We cannot again pull a verse out of the Bible to suit our desires. We cannot take one verse and twist it, thereby going against a principle in one part of His Word with some action on our part and yet say, "well, God loves me so I'll be fine," or "this is what this really means so this makes it okay." This is why understanding hermanuetics (how to read/interpret the Bible) is so important, and more than that, the importance of being in a church community with good teaching. Bible verses, like words/sentences in any other book, have to be read in context and there is an intent that the writer of those words uses, but that is another post. All this to say, Christ was offered the kingdoms of the world and all its power, but he quickly rejected Satan and stated that we are called to worship the Lord and Him alone. So, Christ was offered the world--I think that he can identify with our temptations.

Now, to the second part of the sermon--it is important for us to understand that Jesus sympathizes with us to let us know that we are not alone, that we can share it with him if we can't share it with anyone else. Our Savior had the weight of the elect's sins on His shoulders and before that was tempted with great things--He understands your suffering and your temptations!

So in understanding this, what should it cause us to do? Sympathize with our brother or sister and be REAL with one another--as Pastor David put quite well, to take off the Sunday face-mask. If we can't be real with our brothers and sisters in Christ, who can we be real with?

Being transparent is the last barrier to true Christian community and with it makes a bond that cannot be broken.

Praise our God and Savior who sympathizes with us in our temptations!