Temptation JESUS TAKES AWAY OUR SINS
And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin. 1 John 3:5.
Someone wrote a book about how to live the victorious Christian life. The author is listed on the cover as "the Unknown Christian." When I saw that, I wondered what he was trying to tell me. How to live the victorious Christian life, by the unknown Christian. Who's done it? Can anyone do it?
When we talk about living the victorious life, we are not talking about overcoming unknown sin. That would have to be totally God's department. How could we possibly do anything with sin that we don't even know about? And we are not talking about what is going to happen to the sinful nature. Whatever happens to our sinful nature would also have to be handled totally by Christ. The one thing that we are talking to and can be aware of is how known sin is overcome. We are not talking about absolute perfection, but simply the question of overcoming known sin. This is possible, this is necessary, and this is God's plan for us in our lives today.
Can sin be overcome? The answer is Yes. One person did it. His name was Jesus. According to Hebrews 4:15, He was tempted in all like as we are, yet without sin. 1 Peter 2:22: He did no sin, neither was guile found in His mouth. John 16:33: He said of Himself, "I have overcome." 1 John 3:5 tells us that in Him is no sin. But the same verse also tells us that He came to take away our sins. Did Jesus live His sinless life by being God? Or was it through the power of God, united to His human nature in the same was that is available to each of us?
Jesus lived His life as a man, not as God. He was born God. But He did not use that power to live His life. When He said, "I can of mine own self do nothing," He was telling us that He is our example. He came to show us how to live in dependence upon another power. The power that He had for living His perfect life came from above Him, rather than from within.
I don't have to be told that I don't have any power within me apart from Jesus. I have been beaten down too many times. But if His power is available to me as well, then it is possible for me to live today as He did, and be more than conqueror through Him that loves us.
And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin. 1 John 3:5.
Someone wrote a book about how to live the victorious Christian life. The author is listed on the cover as "the Unknown Christian." When I saw that, I wondered what he was trying to tell me. How to live the victorious Christian life, by the unknown Christian. Who's done it? Can anyone do it?
When we talk about living the victorious life, we are not talking about overcoming unknown sin. That would have to be totally God's department. How could we possibly do anything with sin that we don't even know about? And we are not talking about what is going to happen to the sinful nature. Whatever happens to our sinful nature would also have to be handled totally by Christ. The one thing that we are talking to and can be aware of is how known sin is overcome. We are not talking about absolute perfection, but simply the question of overcoming known sin. This is possible, this is necessary, and this is God's plan for us in our lives today.
Can sin be overcome? The answer is Yes. One person did it. His name was Jesus. According to Hebrews 4:15, He was tempted in all like as we are, yet without sin. 1 Peter 2:22: He did no sin, neither was guile found in His mouth. John 16:33: He said of Himself, "I have overcome." 1 John 3:5 tells us that in Him is no sin. But the same verse also tells us that He came to take away our sins. Did Jesus live His sinless life by being God? Or was it through the power of God, united to His human nature in the same was that is available to each of us?
Jesus lived His life as a man, not as God. He was born God. But He did not use that power to live His life. When He said, "I can of mine own self do nothing," He was telling us that He is our example. He came to show us how to live in dependence upon another power. The power that He had for living His perfect life came from above Him, rather than from within.
I don't have to be told that I don't have any power within me apart from Jesus. I have been beaten down too many times. But if His power is available to me as well, then it is possible for me to live today as He did, and be more than conqueror through Him that loves us.
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