Temptation of Jesus

To what extent can Christ / God relate to our experiences here on earth?

Our helplessness, our dependency, our depravity, our brokenness...

I know Christ was tempted while He was present on earth, but while that is true, isn't it also true that temptations fluctuate from individual to individual depending on several circumstances?

Such as: upbringing, culture, family, friends, work environment, mental constitution, IQ, etc.

And isn't it also true, that those who tend towards sin, have a greater temptation, and a greater willingness to sin.

The conscience becomes seared with a hot iron, and the sinner becomes more and more enslaved to the sin to which he is addicted.

Thus, my question arises, can Christ really know the feeling of addiction to sin?

I know He can know about it, but at the same time, He never sinned, so how can He experience the fallen nature of man to full capacity?

Can Christ really know the love / hate relationship towards sin that a believer struggles with, such as in Romans, where Paul states, that which I would, I do not, that which I would not, that I do, who can deliver me from this body of death?

How can Christ know the full extent of addiction to anything outside of God?

I would submit that the answer to this question lies in theology and proper understanding of the cross of Christ, and what really entailed there at the mount of Golgotha.

If Christ indeed suffered under the penalty of sin, on behalf of those chosen before time to spend eternity with God after life here on this earth...

Then only Christ can truly empathize with us, and know our depravity more than we can ever know.

Why?

Because Christ suffered the full wrath of a perfect, holy, and just God. The punishment which we deserved, Christ drank it down for us...

Thus, the reason for the doctrine of the Limited Atonement.

Apart from this, I highly doubt Christ could ever really empathize with our fallen nature, and our wicked hearts.

I think it also has to do with who He is. Like He's God. He knows all things. Nothing is hidden from Him. Of Him, to Him, and through Him are all things. There is nothing He cannot comprehend nor fathom nor understand.

Greetings Giggles

I think it also has to do with who He is. Like He's God. He knows all things. Nothing is hidden from Him. Of Him, to Him, and through Him are all things. There is nothing He cannot comprehend nor fathom nor understand.

I was thinking the same thing. God knows all things, there is nothing that is beyond His understanding. Man has limited understand but God understand and knows all.

God Bless
mj

The torcher which Jesus experienced during His trial along with the time He endured on the cross is not what we deserve for our sins.

Physical death is not even what we deserve for our sins (Physical death is only a consequence for not eating of the "Tree of Life").

The desert of sin is spiritual death, and after physical death (if still spiritually dead) we deserve eternal separation from God.
Since spiritual/eternal life after death is to be in the presence with God eternally, then to die without spiritual/eternal life is eternal death, which is eternal punishment.
This is because if one does not stay in the presence of Christ, there is no other place to be but in outer darkness where there is gnashing of teeth.

Therefore, Jesus could not have suffered the full wrath of God. He did not suffer the punishment which we deserve, and He never could (even if He had sinned).

We deserve spiritual death, and if we are not reconciled to Him, we deserve eternal separation from God.
Jesus never experienced that; He never could.

Furthermore, there is no possible way that anyone to have a substitute for punishment of a crime such as murder.
It isn't even possible in a moral government judicial system as we have in society.

For example, a father could never take a son's place in his execution for murder. Furthermore, a King could never let a law breaker go free as in the case of Daniel and the lion's den.

Hebrews 2:17 Therefore in ALL THINGs he had 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.
Hebrews 2:18 For in that he himself has suffered being tempted, he is able to help them that are tempted.

There is nothing about Jesus needing to experience our self-inflicted helplessness, our dependency, our depravity, or even our brokenness... or even our self-inflicted “addiction” to sin
All He needs to know by experience is the temptation of sin, of which He tasted fully.

Yes, Jesus really can know the love/hate relationship towards sin that a believer struggles with.
Jesus was starving after 40 days in the wilderness; He loved the thought of satisfying His appetite which He had at the time.
Along comes the thought of turning stones into bread (the stones in that area actually looked like real loaves of bread which compounded the temptation
Furthermore, He was the Son of God; He was able to such?)

No, it is not true that temptations fluctuate from individual to individual depending on any circumstances.
Sin is sin, and it does not matter what sin anyone is tempted of; or even how grievous of sin. All that matters is that we are tempted to sin and that Jesus was also.

And no, it isn't true, that those who tend towards sin have a greater temptation, and a greater willingness to sin.
It doesn’t matter about the intensity of temptation. If it did, who’s to say that Jesus never experience the greatest in intensity?
All mankind only “tends” toward that which they choose to favor/desire.
The only reason that anyone would have a “greater temptation” or a greater willingness to sin is because they choose to have a greater desirer for it.

Your question might be:
What is it that causes us to choose our affections?

The answer:
There is a time when a child does not know to choose good or evil (Isa 7:16); this must be taught. We must be taught correct values for our assessment of right & wrong; we must be taught, that we may be able to discern. Our conscience will confirm what is right or wrong even if it is weak.

Therefore, that which "causes" us to choose our affections are the values that we have assembled of our own volition.

That which makes our values are the things which become important to us. The things which become important to us are our own evaluation of the eternal compared to the temporal.

Knowing that God has set eternity in all mankind’s hearts (Ecc 3:11)
If we live for this life only, well then...

However, if we are living for the next life, which is eternal, well then...

The knowledge of God is the beginning of wisdom (Psalm 111:10, Prov 1:7; 9:10)

You're going to tell me a practicing homosexual will not have a greater tendency to want to commit sodomy than yourself?

I think it also has to do with who He is. Like He's God. He knows all things. Nothing is hidden from Him. Of Him, to Him, and through Him are all things. There is nothing He cannot comprehend nor fathom nor understand.

That's precisely my point.

God knows all things.

So, can God NOT know all things, as we?

Not so much objectively speaking, "Does God know what I'm thinking."

But more of the subjective, "Can God understand the frustration of not being in control of all things?"

The emotional / subjective attachment to being the opposite of omnipotent.

IWantAnguish aksed:
You're going to tell me a practicing homosexual will not have a greater tendency to want to commit sodomy than yourself?

Jesus was tempted IN ALL POINTS like we are and He can be touched with the feeling of our weaknesses (Hebrews 4:15)

Looking analytically at specific sins gives us a better handle on the different stages of sin / temptation in general.

I chose a sin related to lust because it serves as a good example for my argument.

We could look at any area of sin, doesn't have to be sexually related, but since we are on the topic... it doesn't really matter again, whether it be necrophilia, pedophilia, homosexuality, or adultery or etc.

Does anybody become one of these overnight?

Is there a sudden onset of temptation to commit sodomy to a child brought up in a puritan household?

No.

There is a gradual regress, or progress into a thought, or action. The child thinks an inappropriate thing, begins to ponder on it, and begins to fantasize about it.

Thoughts lead to actions. Romans 1.

Look at serial killers, do you think they were born as serial killers? The moment they were born, did they have a surge within them to rape and destroy? No.

These thoughts and feelings grew within them overtime, and thus their bondage to sin increased more and more. Their resistance to sin became less and less, until they lost all point of reference because their conscience had become so seared. Look at serial killers on trial in court, there isn't one ounce of emotion or remorse.

Look at the trial of Adolph Eichman, being tried for the extermination of millions of Jews. Read his final statement before he was executed.

You would like to tell me that a serial killer or a practicing homosexual or a deceptive politician has the same moral aptitude of the average Joe; I would respond with a categorically resounding, no.

Heb 4:15
(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.

Either this scripture is telling the truth, or the Word of God is not true. Since I know the Word is true, then I know that He does understand totally, and in my estimation, better than even we understand.

Here is one verse that might help. 1Jn 2:16
(16) For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

I personally believe that all temptation and ultimately sin can be placed in one of these three categories. Interestingly enough, the three specific temptations that Christ endured after His baptism with the Holy Spirit also fall into these categories.

One thing to note. The temptations had to be real temptations, or Hebrews 4:15 is some kind of a rhetorical statement that is rendered meaningless and powerless. Jesus was legitimately tempted and understands what it is like to wrestle with temptation. Yet, He was without sin and has the power to give us victory in every temptation as well.

Travis