Tuesday: Flesh and Blood Like Us
Hebrews says that Jesus adopted our human nature so that He could represent us and could die for us (Hebrews 2:9, Hebrews 2:14-16; Hebrews 10:5-10). Here is the foundation of the plan of salvation and our only hope for eternal life.
Read Matthew 16:17, Galatians 1:16, 1 Corinthians 15:50, and Ephesians 6:12. To what deficiencies of human nature do these passages relate the expression “flesh and blood”?
Image © Krieg Barrie at Goodsalt.com
The expression “flesh and blood” emphasizes the frailty of the human condition, its weakness (Ephesians 6:12), lack of understanding (Matthew 16:17, Galatians 1:16), and subjection to death (1 Corinthians 15:50). Hebrews says that Jesus was made like His brothers “in all things” (Hebrews 2:17). This expression means that Jesus became fully human (NIV). Jesus did not simply “look like” or “seem to be” human; He truly was human, truly one of us.
Hebrews also says, however, that Jesus was different from us regarding sin. First, Jesus did not commit any sin (Hebrews 4:15). Secondly, Jesus had a human nature that was “holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners” (Hebrews 7:26, ESV). We all have sinned, and we all have evil tendencies. Our bondage to sin begins deep inside our own very nature. We are “carnal, sold under sin” (Romans 7:14; see also Romans 7:15-20). Pride and other sinful motivations often taint even our good actions. Jesus’ nature, however, was not marred by sin. It had to be this way. If Jesus had been “carnal, sold under sin,” like us, He would have also needed a Savior. Instead, Jesus came as a Savior and offered Himself as a sacrifice “without blemish” to God for us (Hebrews 7:26-28, Hebrews 9:14, ESV).
Then Jesus destroyed the power of the devil by dying as the sinless offering for our sins, thus making possible our forgiveness and reconciliation with God (Hebrews 2:14-17). Jesus also broke the power of sin by giving us the power to live a righteous life through His fulfillment of the new covenant promise to write the law in our hearts (Hebrews 8:10). Thus, Jesus has defeated the enemy and effectively liberated us so that we can now “serve the living God” (Hebrews 9:14). Satan’s final destruction, meanwhile, will come at the final judgment (Revelation 20:1-3, Revelation 20:10).
| Since we have the promise of victory through Jesus, why do so many of us still struggle with sin? What are we doing wrong, and more importantly, how can we start living up to the high calling we have in Christ? |
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I am taking a break from commenting this week. I have travelled to Queensland to spend time with Carmel's parents. I am spending time fixing phones, iPads, computers, TVs, light switches, cupboard doors, and all the other devices that 95 year-olds need repairing and updating. I thought I could do the repairs and still have time to comment. Regrettably, my multi-tasking skills are minimal. Sometimes practical help is more important than theology. I should be back home and commenting again early next week. In the meantime. continue to enjoy one another's comments. Maurice.
Good morning everyone!
Good going Maurice. I couldn't agree with you more. Helping is putting your theology in working shoes.
All God's best to you, Carmel and her parents.
Maranatha!
Nice one Sir Maurice. Till we get to read your comment next week hopefully. One love to all. Thanks
Maurice - I tell my handyman that he is his weight worth in gold 🙂 Wishing you a happy time with your family!
Enjoy your vacation. Always look forward to your comments.
I'm surprised by the past tense used in this lesson. He "truly was human", it says -- is he not anymore? Jesus "was different from us regarding sin" -- is he not anymore? "Jesus nature, however, was not marred by sin" -- is it the case now?
I first figured that the lesson's author referred to Jesus' time on earth. But then nowhere is that time mentioned. And if it were the case, it would imply a difference between Jesus' nature now and his nature then. So I'm puzzled, and figure that others could also be, hence vouching for an explanation from the author.
very true. Jesus IS human
God is the same, "Yesterday, today, tomorrow and forever." And Jesus was not fully human until He became one "totally" in His human mother's womb 2,000 plus or minus years ago. It is from this setting that Jesus "was" fully human. But, since then, He still is and always will be fully human and also "sinless too."
P.S. Enjoy your vacation, Maurice Ashton, I also am a construction and maintenance skilled person. I started to become scripturally and theologically involved after I attended a "Prayer of Faith" Seminar about 50 years ago and started taking God at His word from Luke 11:13 and started to claim this Promise of God's Holy Spirit each and every day in living for God "One day at a time" also as per Matthew 6:24.
Oops! I meant to refer to Matthew 6:34 and not 6:24 regarding "Living one day at a time," etc..
I will miss your comments Maurice. Enjoy your time with your in-laws. As you said I will enjoy other comments.
We struggle with sin because we are naturally self-centered, as the lesson says, we mind too much for this 'lower nature' of ours which is our "flesh and blood". Our focus really have to be in Jesus, a brotherhood that can help us to get closer with our real Father! Would our dependency on Jesus be enough?
Speaking of the sinless character that Jesus had and has, it was a fulfillment of prophecy, where the lambs that had been sacrificed in the sanctuary were lambs without blemish (Exodus 12:5). John the Baptist had said "Behold, the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world." (John 1:29)
These are just one of the many messianic prophecies Jesus fulfilled by his first coming. It gives me great hope as I see signs fulfilling for His second coming.
Hebrews is one of the best books to help us understand the character and mission of Jesus Christ. One of the best benefits that we can receive from reading Hebrews is the message of victory for us poor sinners. "It was only right that God, who creates and preserves all things, should make Jesus perfect through suffering, in order to bring many children to share his glory. For Jesus is the one who leads them to salvation." Hebrews 2:10
I am thankful God is bringing many children to share His glory. We definitely don't deserve it, but God is a merciful Father.
amen
It seems from Tuesday's quarterly, Jesus only inherited our physical condition. Not our nature to sin. If He was insulated from temptation how is that like us? Help me to understand this please.
I believe that Luke 4:1-13 answers the ability of Jesus to be tempted, yet without sin. Jesus' response seems to teach us how to become insulated from temptation.
Albert,
Jesus Christ was tempted, just as much as we are tempted.
New International Version Heb 4:15
For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin.
The way I see it, Jesus came to earth, fully human, in the same condition that Adam and Eve were created in, sinless. They had never sinned, but they had to make a choice, which sadly they failed at. When Jesus came to earth, he was sinless as they were, and praise God, he succeeded in choosing to not give in to temptation. He was hounded by Satan his entire life, whereas, Adam and Eve had to choose to go where Satan was, to be tempted.
Hello Albert,
Yours is a challenging question with which many have wrestled. But underlying the question of “How is that like us?” is this: “How does this help me in my struggle with sin?” Here are my thoughts.
I do not think there is any question that a person who has a sinful nature has no power in himself and of himself to resist sin, even if he is trying really hard. The force of our will or the promises we make to God will not keep us from the power of sin. We have inherited the nature of our first parents (Adam and Eve) after they decided to believe the lies of the Devil—a nature that lives outside of the principle that is the foundation of life, that is, the Love of God. For this reason, the core of our being has been perverted and is in rebellion against that Love with the consequence that the wages of sin are eternal death. (Romans 7:18-21; 6:26.)
But our Creator totally understands our hopeless and helpless condition—he knows the character of our every weakness. That is why he said this to our Adversary in Garden of Eden:
Note that it is the Lord who puts enmity between the Devil and us. We are incapable of doing this. It is his work, not ours. He does this by remaking our hearts into his image as we align our will with his. (Jeremiah 31:33-34.)
Further, the Lord promises a Deliverer to do battle with the Serpent. The sense of the Hebrew word translated “bruise” is that of two antagonists in single combat feigning, striking, contending in bloody combat to the death. Again, this is not our battle—it is the Lord’s. The Lord will fight this battle not as God Almighty, but as a human being, albeit, as One who trusts completely in his Father God. Being born of the Spirit (Matthew 1:18-21; Luke 1:31-38), he is like Adam before the fall, his nature being unperverted by disbelief in the Love of his Father God.
Does that mean he was “insulated from temptation”? No more than Adam when he was tempted. But whereas Adam was strong in his prime of creation, our Saviour was “like a twig before God, like a root out of parched soil.” He “had no stately form or majesty that might catch our attention, no special appearance [or power] that we should want to follow him.” (Isaiah 53:2, NET.) The only “advantage” he might have had is that he was born of the Spirit, and that very “advantage” is a gift that God longs to freely give to us if we will have it.
So what is our role in the battle against sin? It is certainly not to focus on our sins and our temptations and our condition and our failures—centering the focus on self is the Devil’s plan, not God’s. Instead, it is to rivet our attention on our heavenly high priest who is fully capable of delivering us from the Evil One. (Hebrews 12:2.) Our high priest is the Way back to the presence of the Father. (Hebrews 2:10; Revelation 3:21; Revelation 14:4-5.) He bids us, "Follow me." (John 12:26; Matthew aa:28-30.)
Our work is to believe that he can do his work of salvation and then to act in trust that he will. (John 6:28.)
Hi Richard
A very good summary of the issues under discussion. For what it's worth, please see my reply to Christine Waller below (January 22, 2022 at 7:06 pm) for some additional unpacking by Ellen White re her view on our (collaborative) role in the battle against sin.
Regards...
Sin is self-seeking, self-pleasing. Satan tempted Jesus to please self - to take the easy way.
That is a very good question Albert. I've never thought about it like that. You have me thinking over here.
It might be helpful to read the accompanying Ellen White Notes on this lesson as well as It is Written Sabbath School in which the author of the lessons gives some insight. We must also have the understanding that the nature of Christ is a mystery and will not be understood on earth, which is also mentioned in the notes.
Ellen White Notes: https://youtu.be/NhrdwtzbK5A
Felix Cortex, the author: https://itiswritten.tv/programs/sabbath-school/2022-q1-lesson-4-jesus-our-faithful-brother
We all must remember
That God sent his son to redeem us from our sinful ways. He on this earth, became a living sacrifice, living a perfect example that we also can do through. Him dying, to set us free from sin. He was tempted. Did he sin . ( no) but we that are born in sin, living in a sinful world. Have the tendency to sin.
But God new the end to the beginning. So he sent us an advocate. To live in a sinful world among sinful people. And demonstrated. That we also can do the same. By taking off self. And as he gives us the ability to have free choice. Yes knowing that the choice we make have a consequences.
It is true that we will not fully understand how The divine became fully human while remaining fully divine. However, the suggestion that Christ, while living on earth as human, had something more in His human nature than us will inevitably lead to the conclusion that we will never have the same victory than He had and therefore make of none effect the statement that "He is our example". It is true that on our own strength, we will never have victory over sin. But, the bible is clear that, while we are feeble and weak, He is our example and He will make us victorious.
The final question in the lesson is a good one and very relevant. But the question that is asked next seems to actually explain the problem of the first question. The question asks "how can we start living up to the high calling we have in Christ?" To me, once we start focusing on "how can we", we are bound to fail. Jesus says "Without me you can do nothing." As long as we are trying to do the work that God is meant to do in us, we are bound to keep struggling with sin. And yes, I know we have to cooperate with God's work in our lives. I just get discouraged when there is so much focus on what we need to do, shaping up etc.
Hi Christina
I am interested in hearing a bit more of your perspective. You mentioned you know we 'have' to cooperate with God's work in our lives. Why do you think/believe we have to do that?
Also, what do you think would be a more encouraging and less discouraging focus that you would find helpful?
Well, I guess I would say God can't do anything without our permission as He had given us free-will. I don't feel like once we accept Jesus every change will take place automatically as if we are robots. But I'll be honest, I don't totally know what cooperation looks like.
As far as focus, I just want to see God's power emphasized rather than our need to struggle to overcome sin. Whenever I've focused on myself, I've been miserably unsuccessful. Or I've become proud that I've dealt with something that others are still struggling with.
A number of years ago, I was really struggling with a particular sin. It will go unnamed because it doesn't really matter what it is, but it was not a bad habit. It was a sin. Most of the time I hated this sin and I would sometimes go several weeks without committing it and then fall back into it again. I would ask forgiveness and vow to change. I would try behavioral modification strategies to overcome it. None of them worked. And then God worked a miracle in my life and took the desire away. It has not been a problem since. I saw clearly that only God's power could give me victory. And that's what I want to see promoted. I know the authors are likely afraid that they'll promote cheap grace by saying that. I say no, I don't think that will happen. When you grow close to God and connect with Him truly, you don't want to sin. You want victory. But you need to realize it comes from God.
Thank you so much for sharing, Christina! Your words resonate with me because they echo my own thoughts and experience.
Looking to "Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith," we grow. Focusing on our struggles or our victories, we we fail. Satan doesn't care whether we focus on our good behavior or our bad behavior, as long as we don't focus on Jesus.
Some well-intentioned contributors to this blog have in the past often reminded us that we must be perfect to be saved and that it's possible to be perfect. The problem with such a focus is that it's a focus on self - and the devil is delighted because it's this very focus on self that transformed him from the Light Bearer to the enemy of God and His people. On the other hand, a focus on Christ and His power to transform us into His image can inspire hope and courage and transform us.
When I am tempted by my sinful desires and remember to turn to Jesus with the simple prayer, "Jesus, help!" He gives the victory. Always. The key is to remember to turn to Him, rather than struggling with the temptation itself.
For me, the daily battle is t to put Jesus first - from the time I wake up to the time I go to sleep. The battle is primarily in the mind. When I keep my mind focused on Jesus, everything else falls into line. But to do that takes constant effort - contrary to the fears of those who believe we should focus on becoming perfect.
Again, thank you for sharing.
Thanks Christina for your response - and for the honesty in your response.
For what its worth, yes it is hard to unpack and get our minds around what co-operation looks like. Adding even further complication, while the principles of co-operation are the same across people, how those principles play out in various situations (even within the same person at different times, let alone between differing individuals) can vary.
I have quoted below the best summary description I have found on the topic so far - but it too takes a bit of reflecting upon to unpack what it is saying - and what it is not saying. For example, the concept of "perfection" is fraught with misunderstanding within Christian circles - including within Adventism as per both your and Inge's reported experience. From a biblical perspective, perfection is an ongoing refining process that needs to be understood in terms of the also biblical perspective of an 'ideal'. Both are 'directions' to head towards (like following a compass's pointing), though along the way we will unfortunately but realistically likely trip/slip up.
From a human perspective we are too used to measuring how near or far we are from that point - but from a biblical perspective this aspect is absent. Rather, from a biblical perspective it is more along the lines of, regardless of how many times you may fall off the horse/wagon, what matters is that you get back on again. This is where keeping in mind that, unlike humans that focus on and measure/assess/grade behaviour, God looks on - and works on drawing - the heart (1 Samuel 16:7) because God knows that if the heart's desire is right, behaviour will (sooner or later) follow. I hope this starts to make sense. So, with that in mind, have a read and reflect on these paragraphs and let me know what you find - good, bad or otherwise... given that it was written to an audience located over 100 years ago in slightly different cultural times...
In taking upon Himself man's nature in its FALLEN CONDITION, Christ did not in the least participate in its sin. He was subject to the infirmities and weaknesses by which man is encompassed, “that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses” (Matthew 8:17). He was touched with the feeling of our infirmities, and was in all points tempted like as we are. And yet He knew no sin. He was the Lamb “without blemish and without spot”. 1SM 256.1
Here is another Truth from Ellen G. White, The Youth's Instructor December 20, 1900.
Think of Christ's humiliation. He took upon himself FALLEN, SUFFERING HUMAN NATURE, degraded and defiled by sin. He took our sorrows, bearing our grief and shame. He endured all the temptations wherewith man is beset. He united humanity with divinity: a divine spirit dwelt in a temple of flesh. He united himself with the temple. “The Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us,” because by so doing he could associate with the sinful, sorrowing sons and daughters of Adam.
Here is the Truth from Selected Message book 1 page 256.1
In taking upon Himself man's nature in its FALLEN CONDITION, Christ did not in the least participate in its sin. He was subject to the infirmities and weaknesses by which man is encompassed, “that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses” (Matthew 8:17). He was touched with the feeling of our infirmities, and was in all points tempted like as we are. And yet He knew no sin. He was the Lamb “without blemish and without spot”. 1SM 256.1
Here is another Truth from Ellen G. White, The Youth's Instructor December 20, 1900.
Think of Christ's humiliation. He took upon himself FALLEN, SUFFERING HUMAN NATURE, degraded and defiled by sin. He took our sorrows, bearing our grief and shame. He endured all the temptations wherewith man is beset. He united humanity with divinity: a divine spirit dwelt in a temple of flesh. He united himself with the temple. “The Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us,” because by so doing he could associate with the sinful, sorrowing sons and daughters of Adam.
Jesus had a fallen human nature, though He did not sin.
I find the lesson writer highlighting the ‘what’, but he does not provide the answers to the 'why' and ‘how’; though the lesson’s questions points to the real issues we are dealing with.
“Why do so many of us still struggle with sin”? – Because of not recognizing that our response is entirely based on faith and love; only faith and love can motivate the believer to do the Father’s will instead of his own!
“How can we start living up to the high calling we have in Christ”? – By staying whole-heartedly committed to faithfully loving the Father with all our heart and being and so doing His Will, not leaning on our own understanding!
I have a few questions –
In Heb.10:5-6NKJV we read: ”Sacrifice and offering You did not desire, but a body You have prepared for Me. In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin You had no pleasure.”
But the lesson writer states:
“Jesus adopted our human nature so that He could represent us and could die for us”; also – “Jesus died as the sinless offering for our sins”.
- Is this not contradicting the statement from Scripture?
Also: How are we to understand that Jesus in the body, fully flesh and blood with all the neural networks established between heart, mind, and body, had a “nature that was ‘holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners’?”
- What makes the difference between our body, our nature, and His?
Also: The lesson writer states: “Our own bondage to sin begins deep inside our own very nature. We are carnal, sold under sin”.
- How is His ‘nature’ different from our nature? He started out as a baby, born from a women, growing up and learning about life from his parents like we do - He was fully human?
The lesson writer concludes: “Jesus also broke the power of sin by giving us the power to live a righteous life through His fulfillment of the new covenant promise to write the law in our hearts.”
- How is this power applied, how do we prevent ourselves, like Jesus did, from responding to sin?
EGW says that "We shall (often) fail in our efforts to copy the Divine Pattern" and also that "We shall (often) have to bow down and weep at the feet of Jesus for our (shortcomings and mistakes.") Personally, I feel that this is the reason that most, if not all of us, still have issues with sin because of this very fact and I also feel that we all shall have to deal with this fact till Jesus appears in the clouds of heaven.
I also believe that there is a huge difference between sin as a "lifestyle" and sin as "character defects." Sins of lifestyle have got to be overcome here on this earth before Jesus returns but the ones of character defects like the ones where we come short of the fruit of God's Holy Spirit, are sins that will take our lifetime to overcome. And here, EGW says that "Sanctification is the work of a lifetime."
Brother Richard Ferguson, was so pleased to read your comments on the effects of being born with a sinful nature and your further comments that Christ, "being born of the Spirit...He is like Adam *before* the Fall, His nature being unperverted by disbelief in the love of His Father God."
EGW in Commentary V 1128 says the following: "Be careful, exceedingly careful as to how you dwell upon the human nature of Christ. Do not set Him before the people as a man with the propensities of sin. He is the second Adam. The first Adam was created a pure sinless being, without a taint of sin upon him; he was in the image of God. He could fall, and he did. Because of sin his posterity was born with inherent propensities of disobedience. But Jesus Christ was the only begotten Son of God!" Elsewhere she adds, He was "that Holy Thing". [KJV] He took upon Himself human nature, and was tempted in all points as human nature is tempted. He could have sinned...but not for one moment was there in Him an evil propensity."
Great contribution to the conversation Lorayne.
As humanity's authentic second Adam, Jesus had the same possibility of sinning should He choose to do so that the first Adam had prior to his fall - and therefore was not immune from being tempted by Satan - but not the same propensity to sin that the first Adam acquired at his fall. Because of the commitment of Jesus as our second Adam to resisting temptation to resort to self-seeking, the possibility of sin was never indulged and therefore never became a propensity.
For what it's worth, as the successful second Adam, Jesus, via the agency of the Holy Spirit, then sets about to offer to each individual human the opportunity to be reborn (John 3:3-6) with a new heart and right spirit (Psalm 51:10). And upon this foundation, we then are further assisted and resourced to participate in the restoration of our character to Christlikeness via participation in 'resistance-training' practice opportunities (as per Hebrews 5:8-9; Romans 8:13). This is how we actually share in the inheritance of Christ's righteousness - an active collaboration process. This is what I find 2 Corinthians 5:21 is referring to.
The nature of Christ is one of the biggest pillars of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. It's sad though that the lesson quarterly has touched it without the detailed elaboration it requires, because a misunderstanding of this matter can create serious theological confusion. I thank God for Abel Chiragi's posts up there which show from the inspired writings of EGW (which should have been clear to us from Hebrews 2) that Christ indeed took our nature after four thousand years of degeneration of the human race (See DA 48.6 and GCB February 25, 1895, Art. A par. 4, and 2SP 88.2 as well - all quoted below).
Yet this was but the beginning of His wonderful condescension. It would have been an almost infinite humiliation for the Son of God to take man's nature, even when Adam stood in his innocence in Eden. But Jesus accepted humanity when the race had been weakened by four thousand years of sin. Like every child of Adam He accepted the results of the working of the great law of heredity. - DA 48.6
For four thousand years the race had been decreasing in size and physical strength, and deteriorating in moral worth; and in order to elevate fallen man, Christ must reach him where he stood. He assumed human nature, bearing the infirmities and degeneracy of the race. - GCB February 25, 1895, Art. A par. 4
What a contrast to this perfect being did the second Adam present, as he entered the desolate wilderness to cope with Satan, single-handed. For four thousand years the race had been decreasing in size and physical strength, and deteriorating in moral worth; and, in order to elevate fallen man, Christ must reach him where he stood. He assumed human nature, bearing the infirmities and degeneracy of the race. - 2SP 88.2
In the desolate wilderness, Christ was not in so favorable a position to endure the temptations of Satan as was Adam when he was tempted in Eden. The Son of God humbled himself, and took man's nature, after the race had wandered four thousand years from Eden, and from their original state of purity and uprightness. Sin had been making its terrible marks upon the race for ages; and physical, mental, and moral degeneracy prevailed throughout the human family. - 2Red 30.1
I would kindly suggest that lesson teachers revisit this part of the lesson on the nature of Christ next week with clarity and emphasis, because without it, we would have gone fully evangelical and pentecostal (becoming sisters to fallen Babylon doctrinally).