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CD ROM Paradise Collection 4 1995 Nov.iso
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MODEL.DOC
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THE MODEL
Immediately after his baptism, Jesus was led by the Holy
Spirit into the desert to be tempted by Satan. Here Jesus faced
the same categorical temptations that Adam and his race faced.
Adam and all his posterity failed. However, the last Adam
[Jesus] overcame.
Categories of Temptation
John gives us three categories of temptation:
For all that is in the world, [1] the lust of the
flesh, and [2] the lust of the eyes, and [3] the pride
of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. (1
John 2:16).
Adam Fails
These categories are plainly seen in Eve's temptation:
And when the woman [Eve] saw that the tree was good for
food [the lust of the flesh], and that it was pleasant
to the eyes [the lust of the eyes], and a tree to be
desired to make one wise [the pride of life], she took
of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto
her husband with her; and he did eat. (Genesis 3:6).
Adam and his wife Eve were tempted in the three basic areas of
temptation and failed.
Jesus Succeeds
Again, these categories are seen in Jesus' temptation:
And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he
was afterward an hungred. And when the tempter came to
him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that
these stones be made bread [the lust of the flesh].
But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not
live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth
out of the mouth of God. Then the devil taketh him up
into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of
the temple, And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of
God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall
give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their
hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou
dash thy foot against a stone [the pride of life].
Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt
not tempt the Lord thy God. Again, the devil taketh
him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him
all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them;
And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee,
if thou wilt fall down and worship me [the lust of the
eyes]. Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence,
Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord
thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. Then the devil
leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered
unto him. (Matthew 4:2-11).
The lust (desire) of the flesh would be the PASSIONS, the
compelling urge TO DO. The lust (desire) of the eyes would be
the desire for POSSESSIONS, the consuming desire TO HAVE. The
pride of life would be the desire of POSITION, the constant drive
TO BE. In themselves, these are good, but perverted, they become
sinful.
Jesus directed his passions into doing the Father's will.
Jesus set aside his rightful possessions and position and
received them back after his work on earth was finished. He left
his position as the Son of God to become a man (although he never
lost his divine identity), and now he has all authority:
Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given
him a name which is above every name: That at the name
of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven,
and things in earth, and things under the earth; And
that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is
Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians
2:9-11).
Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the
dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly
places, Far above all principality, and power, and
might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not
only in this world, but also in that which is to come:
And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to
be the head over all things to the church, (Ephesians
1:20-22).
We Can Succeed
In other words, Jesus emptied himself of the exercise of his
attributes as the Son of God, and functioned as a man anointed by
the Holy Spirit. Since he was victorious as a human, we can be
also!
Jesus was truth personified. What sounds presumptuous to
sinful human beings, is not, when the perfect role model says it:
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the
life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. (John
14:6).
Jesus is the true hero of all time. He made a marvelous impact
on his disciples while he was enfleshed on earth, and he
continues to influence people positively down through history.
Jesus is the authentic model for mankind.