Hebrews Part 1: Shallow Christianityਨਮੂਨਾ

Tempted Like Us

These great images of the priest, the slaughter, and the scapegoat are all given by God to help us more fully comprehend Jesus’ work for us on the cross.

Theologically, this is called atonement (or at–one–ment); Jesus, our God, became a man to restore a relationship between God and humanity. This is also what is meant throughout the English Standard Version of the Bible when the word atone and its related variations (such as atoned and atonement) appear nearly 100 times.

Jesus Christ is a God who understands us, has suffered like us, and has been tempted like us. He fully, completely, and totally knows how every day in this fallen, cursed, demonic world is a battle for a believer to walk with God.

When you are tempted to sin in any way, you can speak with Jesus Christ, who hears and answers you and fully understands what you are experiencing, because He has been through what you are going through, gotten to the other side, and will walk with you through it into victory!

Admittedly, this truth that Jesus was tempted (Luke 4:1-13, ESV) causes some people confusion because it clearly says Jesus was tempted, yet James 1:13 (ESV) says that “…God cannot be tempted with evil…”

When Jesus humbled Himself and became a man, He did not lose any of His divine attributes. However, He temporarily chose not to use them. In the same way, a shooter can also wear a blindfold for a shot, and they do not lose their sight but rather simply choose not to use it. God is all-present, but for a season, Jesus chose to live in a body and travel from one place to another. God does not change, but for a season, Jesus chose to go through the same physical process that we all do from baby in the womb to adult. And, God is not tempted, but for the season in which He was living on earth like us, Jesus chose to endure temptation like we do.

How does the fact that Jesus was tempted, like us, yet still without sin encourage you that He can help you through your trials?