Temptation
January 31st, 2011 § 6 Comments
What would have been the consequences if Jesus had yielded on any one of the temptations recorded in Matthew 4?
In order to answer that question we need to first make some clarifications. God is impassible and God is not tempted with evil (cf. James 1.3). We can downplay the impassibility of God (basically, the idea that God does not suffer) by claiming:
1. Deny the reality of Christ suffering (which leads to Gnosticism);
2. Give up Christ’ divine status (which leads to Arianism); or
3. Claim divine actions and human experiences have different persons (Nestorianism).
We know, however, that Jesus is one person with two natures. Coessential with the Father as to deity, and coessential with us – the very same one – as to his humanity, being like us in every respect apart from sin.
Everything that Jesus did as the Son of God was done as a man – whether it be eating food or raising someone from the dead by the power of the Holy Spirit, but it was, nonetheless, as a man that he did so. The Son of God did not suffer as God in a man, for to do so would mean that he was not a man. The Son of God suffers as a man.
When the Son of God was faced with temptations, he faced the temptations as a man. And when he conquered the temptations, he conquered the temptations as a man relying upon the power of the Holy Spirit.
If Jesus had failed the temptations, mankind would continue suffering the death and corruption which had been brought into the world through Adam. However, Jesus, the second Adam, was able to overcome temptations as a man relying upon the Holy Spirit. He was able to undo the corruption of man and then he was raised from the dead after he suffered death by crucifixion, which was his crowning victory over death. And now, the Spirit is sent to dwell in every person’s heart who follows after Christ. We have the same spirit dwelling in us which dwelled in him. This means that we too, though we suffer as men and women, and able to conquer temptation as men and women who rely upon the Holy Spirit.
The Word of God, who is above suffering in his own nature, suffered by appropriating human nature and obtained victory over suffering. It is God’s kenosis (self emptying) which gives us theosis (salvation).
Let me see if I understand your train on thought.
Basically you are saying that God laid aside His “untemptability” and “immunity to suffering,” in order to be tempted and to suffer, thereby indentifying with the temptations and suffering of man. This action invested in the human person of Christ the authenticity required to bring salvation to mankind.
Yes, I believe I would agree with that reiteration. My new post on Conquering Physics and Conquering Theology also addresses this.
“If Jesus had failed the temptations, mankind would continue suffering the death and corruption which had been brought into the world through Adam.”
Really? And we’re not suffering said death and corruption now?
Thanks for commenting on the post Billy. I admire the fact that you are willing to question my thoughts.
Personally, I believe that if we allow Christ to live in our lives then we have defeated death and corruption, because we have been raised from the dead with him and death no longer has a hold over us. True, life still has difficult circumstances, but honestly we should live in the hope — the hope that we have already been raised from the dead in Christ. It is a now and not-yet predicament. I can honestly say that I am not “suffering said death and corruption now,” rather, I count it joy to suffer with Christ.
Please allow me to rephrase: And mankind is not suffering said death and corruption now?
I accept that the individual can accept Christ into their life, but your statement that mankind would be full of death and corruption had Christ failed the temptations calls into question the fact that mankind seems to be full of death and corruption regardless of Christ’s actions. Thus, the statement…
“If Jesus had failed the temptations, mankind would continue suffering the death and corruption which had been brought into the world through Adam.”
…is a logical fallacy in my opinion. This is what I’m questioning.
It would be a logical fallacy if Christ did not end the downward spiral of death and corruption. But, by his remaining untainted by sin through the power of the Holy Spirit, which ultimately culminated in his death and resurrection, he was able to put an end to death and corruption. Yes, the world still rages, but has ended that. Yes, mankind does continue suffering unless they personally choose to follow Christ.
Perhaps, this is a question of you trying to tease out of me if I am a universalist – well, I can assure you I am not a universalist. A person can only have salvation through Christ.
You say, “mankind seems to be full of death and corruption regardless of Christ’s actions” which is true because you say the keyword “seems.” It is all about perception. The fact of reality is that Christ has truly ended the cycle of death when we follow him. If Christ had failed, then truly, there would be salvation for no one and hell would be the only option for all of mankind.