(Please read Matt.4:1-11)
From early days, theologians have argued the point whether Christ could have sinned or not. Since I’ve never been in their league, I’ll let them burn the night oil debating the issue. Personally, I am 100% sold on the fact, He was there as a man. His own words attest to this, “Man shall not live by bread alone.” He was our representative.
My answer to this may sound overly simplistic but I use the illustration of the railroad engineer. After building an expanded trestle over a two-thousand foot precipice and laying the tracks, he, and his young son, rode across. When the reporters on the other side exclaimed, “You sure proved it couldn’t fall,” his reply was, “No, I proved it wouldn’t fall.”
It was Christ’s manhood that was solicited to sin. God cannot be tempted to do evil. Notice His arch-enemy waylaid the Man Christ Jesus, as he does us, when He was at His weakest. He was tempted in body, “Command that these stones be made bread,” food. In soul, “Cast thyself down,” foolishness. And in spirit, “Worship me,” foulness. In “all points” as we are.
And what tool did our Lord use against the tantalizer? The same that is available to us, The Written Word of God, Three times He unsheathes His glittering sword with victorious results, each time with, “It is written,” It was His triumphant battle cry! Jesus submitted Himself to God and resisted the devil. And what the results?, “And the devil leaveth Him.”
It worked for Him! And Peter and James tells us it will work for us also. Give it a try the next time Satan slithers your way.
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