This is part 3 of the series “The Two Natures of Jesus Christ” where we explore the reality of these two natures – God and Man – being united in the person of Jesus Christ. In this article, we will primarily focus on the sinlessness of Jesus Christ by asking a few questions; [1] what does it mean to be tempted? [2] how could Jesus be tempted if God cannot be tempted? [3] how Jesus being found with no sin was fundamental to His role as The High Priest? And finally [4] what does all this mean for us? As I have previously mentioned in my older posts, understanding the Hypostatic Union can be at time, let’s just say complex and understandably so because we are trying to understand the Son of God, The Word, our Lord and God who transcends all creation with our limited mind. Nevertheless, let’s try our best to understand this challenging yet soul enriching doctrine.
The first point we shall meditate on is the idea of temptation; what does it really mean for one to be “tempted”? I believe that most of us commonly associate temptation to the idea of succumbing to evil deeds such as murder, sexual immorality, lying, to steal or covetousness; though that’s valid and a true statement however I believe that we might miss the bigger picture and the core issue on what “temptation” really mean. Let’s start by looking at James 1:13-15.
[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: [14] But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. [15] Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. – James 1:13–15 (KJV 1900)
In this passage, temptation is defined as one being drawn away by their own lust which finally results in sin if that temptation is acted upon. But what does that really mean? In what way can one be tempted? What are these “lust” that results in being tempted? Though the word “lust” is generally used to describe sexual desire, it’s use in this passage can also mean any desire that conflicts with the will of God and that seems to be the overarching narrative of scripture on temptation. Even in the garden of Eden we find that the whole account of the fall was an act of man capitulating to their own desire rather than the will of God; and that’s precisely my point here; the whole idea of being tempted is not just acting on evil desires rather – as the Holy Spirit inspired James to write – to be drawn away and act upon their own desires and not fulfil the will of God.
Understanding this, we move on to my second questions on how do we now make sense of James 1:13 where it says that God cannot be tempted when we have other passages – which we will soon look at – that seems to indicate Jesus experienced temptation through his human incarnation? As written in Hebrews 4:15, “… but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin”, which suggests that Jesus experienced temptation just as we do, some may even question if Jesus had evil thoughts like we sometimes do, but this is not what the passage is saying; and that’s why I started this article by laying the ever-needed foundation of understanding the idea of temptation first.
All of us have weaknesses that differ from one another; some may be more prone to be tempted to lie, some more on the love of money, some in sexual desires, some in unrighteous anger; and Satan uses all these as means to derail us from our journey in following Christ. But what about Jesus? What could satan do to derail His mission? What could satan use to tempt Jesus? In the Gospels we find the account of Jesus being tempted in the wilderness and none of it was necessarily the type of temptations that we face on a daily basis but it makes total sense when it comes to Jesus. The temptation of turning rock into bread was somewhat to try to tempt Jesus to use His divine powers in succumbing to His need rather than depending on the Father; the temptation of Satan asking Jesus to throw himself down seems to be one to reveal his true identity as the Son of God with a miraculous feat; while the third temptation was Satan asking Jesus to worship him which essentially teaches us that in all three temptations; the primary motive of satan was to draw Jesus away from his mission which was to save us all from sin. If Jesus succumbed to any one of the temptations, He wouldn’t be The Way, Truth and Life, He wouldn’t be the perfect sacrifice. Therefore, we can now understand the reaction of Jesus to all three temptations where He went back to scripture to reveal a greater truth. Without going into the details of Matthew 4 which – I believe warrants a blog posts by itself – the idea is, Jesus as the Only Begotten Son of God is fully committed in fulfilling the will of His Father (Luke 22:42).
So, the question still stands; How can Jesus be God if He was tempted? The whole idea of Jesus taking on human nature not only means that He has to experience human limitations but more importantly – as aforementioned – His incarnation was an act of obedience to His eternal Father. Therefore, the moment Jesus takes on human nature in his mission to save humanity and as act of obedience to The Father, He too had to experience temptation in his human nature, but now shows us a way to overcome satan and his wretched ways. The Gospels teach us that though satan was finding ways to derail Jesus from His ultimate mission of salvation for man, Jesus ultimately triumphs and destroys death through his complete obedience to the Father; and paves a way for us to follow Him. Therefore, Jesus though in His essence is God, did also experience temptation through his human life yet prevailed and found with no sin which shows why the church believe that these two natures – God and Man – are united in the person of Jesus Christ; inseparable yet do not mix.
Now that we have understood – to some degree – how Jesus in human nature experienced temptation yet with no sin; we now will look at the significance of His sinlessness especially in His role as The High Priest as written in Hebrews 2:16-18
[16] For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham. [17] Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. [18] For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted. – Hebrews 2:16–18 (KJV 1900)
The reality of Jesus taking on human nature was purposeful in his plan of salvation as the seed of Abraham; hence the act of taking on flesh was so that He took on the role of being the merciful and faithful High Priest for it is the High Priest who makes the sacrifice for the people; and in doing this He had to suffer in being tempted yet with no sin, but now He comes to the aid of us who are tempted. Simply put we now have no reason to say to God that He will never understand what we feel in relation to temptation for now we have a saviour who walked on earth just as we are and was victorious.
[14] Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. [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. [16] Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. – Hebrews 4:14–16 (KJV 1900)
In Hebrews 4:14-16 we also find that because Jesus is a High Priest that experienced human nature, we too can now walk our life on earth following our saviour Jesus and that He will continually show mercy and grace for us in time of need. I believe the challenge is whether now we will follow Him completely or still cling on to stubbornness in finding own ways. There is also further significance of the sinlessness of Christ pertaining to his priestly role as written in Hebrews 7:26-27
[26] For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens; [27] Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people’s: for this he did once, when he offered up himself. – Hebrews 7:26–27 (KJV 1900)
As written in verse 26, Jesus is holy, harmless, undefiled which all reflects Jesus as one being with no sin which was significant as He is the High Priest. In the Levitical priesthood, the high priest will first need to make sacrifices for their own sins and only then would be able to make sacrifices for the people which in essence shows how unholy we are; but Jesus because He is the God-Man, who is perfect and holy, did not need to make sacrifices for Himself but rather be the unblemished lamb and sacrifice Himself for all of us. More passages that affirm Christ as one found with no sin: –
[21] For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: [22] Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: – 1 Peter 2:21–22 (KJV 1900)
[20] Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God. [21] For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. – 2 Corinthians 5:20–21 (KJV 1900)
[13] The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Son Jesus; whom ye delivered up, and denied him in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let him go. [14] But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you; – Acts 3:13–14 (KJV 1900)
[12] Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. – John 8:12 (KJV 1900)
All of these leads to my last point on the significance of Jesus as being sinless and the High Priest where it is written in Hebrews 9:11-14
[11] But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; [12] Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. [13] For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: [14] How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? [15] And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance. – Hebrews 9:11–15 (KJV 1900)
The reality of Jesus as the perfect High Priest is that now He is not entering a tabernacle made by hands but one which is a perfect tabernacle. We also should understand the tabernacle on earth is a picture of the perfect heavenly tabernacle. Now that Jesus who is without spot becomes the perfect sacrifice for our transgression, He not only redeems us but also gives us eternal life; meaning the eternal Word who took on flesh, becomes the perfect sacrifice and grants us eternal redemption and eternal life.
Knowing this, how can we now respond to this truth? What does all of this mean for us today?
Well, as I quoted above 1 Peter 2:21-22; the life of Jesus is an example for us to follow, a template for us to walk in; 2 Corinthians 5:20-21 teaches us that the completed work of Christ on the cross made us righteous before God; so now that we know this we can no longer live in sin because we have been redeemed, purified, sanctified for all good works; as written in 1 John 3:4-6, since now we abide in Christ we are to not to live in sin anymore and further states that if we still live in sin, we do not really know Him.
Therefore, I guess it is appropriate to end this blog posts with a word of exhortation that since now we have been redeemed by Jesus Christ, we are not only a new creation and have been saved from death; but also driven to live our lives perfectly, for our God is perfect and to live our life in complete obedience to the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
In the words of our Lord and Saviour, “not my will, but thine, be done”
We will continue to explore the two natures of Jesus Christ in my coming posts,
Till then God Bless you and
Keep Exploring Theology!