Almighty God manifested in The Flesh!
"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." -HEBREWS
4:15 [KJV]
Our
gracious Lord experienced temptation in every shape and form, for the
word of truth declares that "in all points he was tempted
like as we are, yet without sin." I wish to speak very
cautiously upon this subject, for upon a point so difficult and so
mysterious there is great risk of speaking amiss. So long as we keep
strictly within the language of the Scripture we are safe, but the
moment that we draw inferences from the word without special guidance
by the Spirit of truth, we may greatly err.
You may think then, sometimes, that your temptations are such as our gracious Lord never could have been tempted by; but that word of the Apostle decides the question, "in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin." It is a solemn mystery which I cannot explain, how temptation in every point, shape, and form could assail the holy soul of the immaculate Redeemer. I fully believe it. I see the grace and wisdom of it, and my faith acquiesces in it as most blessed truth. But I cannot understand it. I know also and believe from the testimony of the word and that of my own conscience, that whatever temptations He was assailed with, not one of them could or did sully, stain, or spot His holy humanity. That was absolutely and perfectly a pure, unfallen, immortal nature, able to die by a voluntary act, but having in itself no seeds of sickness, mortality, or death.
And yet I read that, though thus possessed of a holy, pure, and spotless humanity, in everlasting union with His own eternal Deity, in all points He was tempted like as we are. I cannot explain the mystery—I do not wish to do so. I receive it as a mystery, in the same way as I receive that great mystery of godliness, "God manifested in the flesh." But still I bless God that He was tempted in all points like as we are; for it makes Him such a sympathising High Priest with His poor, exercised, tried, tempted family here below.
I have sometimes compared the temptations which beat upon the soul of the Lord to the waves of the sea that dash themselves against a pure, white marble rock. The rock may feel the shock of the wave; but it is neither moved by it nor sullied. It still stands unmoved, immovable in all its original firmness; it still shines in all the brightness of the pure, glittering marble when the waves recede and the sun breaks forth on its face. So none of the temptations with which the Lord was assailed moved the Rock of ages, or sullied the purity, holiness, and perfection of the spotless Lamb of God.
You may think then, sometimes, that your temptations are such as our gracious Lord never could have been tempted by; but that word of the Apostle decides the question, "in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin." It is a solemn mystery which I cannot explain, how temptation in every point, shape, and form could assail the holy soul of the immaculate Redeemer. I fully believe it. I see the grace and wisdom of it, and my faith acquiesces in it as most blessed truth. But I cannot understand it. I know also and believe from the testimony of the word and that of my own conscience, that whatever temptations He was assailed with, not one of them could or did sully, stain, or spot His holy humanity. That was absolutely and perfectly a pure, unfallen, immortal nature, able to die by a voluntary act, but having in itself no seeds of sickness, mortality, or death.
And yet I read that, though thus possessed of a holy, pure, and spotless humanity, in everlasting union with His own eternal Deity, in all points He was tempted like as we are. I cannot explain the mystery—I do not wish to do so. I receive it as a mystery, in the same way as I receive that great mystery of godliness, "God manifested in the flesh." But still I bless God that He was tempted in all points like as we are; for it makes Him such a sympathising High Priest with His poor, exercised, tried, tempted family here below.
I have sometimes compared the temptations which beat upon the soul of the Lord to the waves of the sea that dash themselves against a pure, white marble rock. The rock may feel the shock of the wave; but it is neither moved by it nor sullied. It still stands unmoved, immovable in all its original firmness; it still shines in all the brightness of the pure, glittering marble when the waves recede and the sun breaks forth on its face. So none of the temptations with which the Lord was assailed moved the Rock of ages, or sullied the purity, holiness, and perfection of the spotless Lamb of God.
-Gospel
report by preacher J.C. Philpot (1802–1869 A.D.)
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