IS JESUS OUR EXAMPLE?
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Did you know that the Bible Teaches that Jesus is our example?
1 John 2:6 (NKJV) 6 He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.
1 Peter 2:20 For what credit is it if, when you are beaten for your faults, you take it patiently? But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God. 21 For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: 22 “Who committed no sin, Nor was deceit found in His mouth”;
Ephesians 5:1,2 Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. 2 And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.
Jesus said…
John 13:13 You call Me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am. 14 If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. 15 For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you.
Paul wrote…
1 Corinthians (NKJV) 11:1 Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ.
Matthew 16: 24 Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.
If Jesus had all the advantages as the Son of God and we have none of those advantages, how can He be our example?
Philippians 2: 5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, 7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.
Jesus being in the form of God is equal to God, but when He came to our world He took the form of a bondservant, coming in the likeness of men. Since Jesus took the form of a bondservant in the likeness of men this means that He laid aside all the advantages He had when He was in the form of God.
Some may ask, but wasn’t Jesus born in a perfect body that could not sin? Was not Jesus born in an unfallen nature like Adam’s before the fall?
Heb 2:14 Since, then, the children have partaken of flesh and blood, in like manner He Himself also shared the same things, that through death He might cause to cease the one having the power of death, that is, the devil; Heb 2:15 and might set these free, as many as by fear of death were subject to slavery through all the lifetime to live. Heb 2:16 For indeed He does not take hold of angels, “but He takes hold of” “the seed of Abraham.” Isa. 41:8, 9 Heb 2:17 For this reason He ought by all means to become like His brothers, that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the things respecting God, in order to make propitiation for the sins of His people.
Jesus partook of flesh and blood just as we partake of flesh and blood. Jesus took hold of the seed of Abraham to become like His brothers. Notice He did not take hold of the seed of Adam but of Abraham.
When Paul wrote to the Romans He reminds them about God’s promises…
Romans (NKJV) 1:1 Paul, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated to the gospel of God 2 which He promised before through His prophets in the Holy Scriptures, 3 concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh, 4 and declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead.
Jesus was born of the seed of David according to the flesh, NOT of the seed of Adam. The seed of David was nothing like Adam before the fall. The seed of David was not holy seed or holy flesh and Christ came in the likeness of sinful flesh. God does not charge sin to flesh and blood and that is why it was possible for Jesus to be born of the seed of David and be without sin.
The Scripture tells us that David understood this…
Acts 2:30 Therefore, being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that of the fruit of his body, according to the flesh, He would raise up the Christ to sit on his throne,
The Bible clearly teaches God sent Jesus in the likeness of sinful flesh…
Rom 8:3 For the Law being powerless, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and concerning sin, condemned sin in the flesh, Rom 8:4 so that the righteous demand of the Law might be fulfilled in us, those not walking according to flesh, but according to Spirit.
Jesus came of the seed of David according to the flesh, in the likeness of sinful flesh but unlike mankind He was never under the dominion of sin. In His pre-existence Christ chose to be born of a woman, born under the law, and He also chose to be born of the Spirit. For this reason Christ could be tempted in all points as we are yet without sin. We also can be born of the Spirit be set free from sin by being slaves of righteousness and slaves unto God
We know that God cannot be tempted with sin.
We know that David was tempted and sinned.
We know that Jesus took the seed of David.
Could Christ be tempted to sin?
Hebrews 2:18 For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted.
David was tempted, sinned and suffered the consequences of sin but Christ suffered in temptation, never the consequences of any personal sin.
Was Jesus tempted differently than we are tempted?
Hebrews 4:15 For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
Jesus was tempted in the exact way that we are tempted.
Is Temptation Sin?
James 1: 13 Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. 14 But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. 15 Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.
The seed of David is not sin, being born in the flesh is not sin, and the flesh is not sin. Temptation is NOT sin.
“He who was in the form of God took the form of man.
He who was equal with God became equal with man.
He who was Creator and Lord became creature and servant.
He who was in the likeness of God was made in the likeness of men.
He who was God and Spirit was made man and flesh. John 1:1, 14.
Nor is this true only as to form; it is true as to substance. For Christ was like God in the sense of being of the nature, in very substance, of God. He was made in the likeness of men in the sense of being like men in the nature and very substance of men.
Christ was God. He became man. And when He became man, He was man as really as He was God.
He became man in order that He might redeem man.
He came to man where man is to bring man to Him where He was and is. And in order to redeem man from what man is, He was made what man is:–
- Man is flesh. Gen. 6:3; John 3:6. “And the Word was made flesh.” John 1:14; Heb. 2:14.
- Man is under the law. Rom. 3:19. Christ was “made under the law.” Gal. 4:4.
- Man is under the curse. Gal. 3:10; Zech. 5:1-4, “Christ was made a curse.” Gal. 3:13.
- Man is sold under sin (Rom. 7:14) and laden with iniquity. Isa. 1:4. And “the Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all.” Isa. 53:6.
- Man is “a body of sin.” Rom. 6:6. And God “hath made Him to be sin.” 2 Cor. 5:21.
Thus, literally, “in all things it behooved Him to be made like unto His brethren.”
Yet it must never be forgotten, it must be borne in mind and heart constantly and forever, that in none of this as to man, the flesh, sin, and the curse was Christ ever of Himself or of His own original nature or fault. All this He “was made.” “He took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men.”
And in all this Christ was “made” what, before, He was not in order that the man might be made now and forever what he is not.
Christ was the Son of God. He became the Son of man that the sons of men might become the sons of God. Gal. 4:4; 1 John 3:1.” (Consecrated Way To Christian Perfection by A.T. Jones, p. 26-27)
Christ became flesh in order that man, who is flesh, might [walk after the Spirit]. John 3:6; Rom. 8:8-10.
What advantages did Jesus have?
His pre-existence. Listen closely. What did Jesus say when he came into the world?
5 Therefore, when He came into the world, He said: “Sacrifice and offering You did not desire, But a body You have prepared for Me. 6 In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin You had no pleasure. 7 Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come— In the volume of the book it is written of Me— To do Your will, O God.’” Hebrews 10: 5-7
“This was a voluntary sacrifice. Jesus might have remained at the Father’s side. He might have retained the glory of heaven, and the homage of the angels. But He chose to give back the scepter into the Father’s hands, and to step down from the throne of the universe, that He might bring light to the benighted, and life to the perishing. {DA 22.4}
Nearly two thousand years ago, a voice of mysterious import was heard in heaven, from the throne of God, “Lo, I come.” “Sacrifice and offering Thou wouldest not, but a body hast Thou prepared Me…. Lo, I come (in the volume of the Book it is written of Me,) to do Thy will, O God.” Hebrews 10:5-7. In these words is announced the fulfillment of the purpose that had been hidden from eternal ages. Christ was about to visit our world, and to become incarnate. He says, “A body hast Thou prepared Me.” Had He appeared with the glory that was His with the Father before the world was, we could not have endured the light of His presence. That we might behold it and not be destroyed, the manifestation of His glory was shrouded. His divinity was veiled with humanity,—the invisible glory in the visible human form.” {DA 23.1}
The Son of God pre-existed and was able to choose to enter the humble, poverty stricken but God fearing home of Mary her soon to be husband Joseph. He also was able to declare His choice “To do Your will, O God”
What other advantage did Jesus have?
Listen to what the angel told Joseph. “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. For that in her is generated by the Holy Spirit.” Mat 1:20
Jesus was generated gennaō (γεννάω), born of the Spirit, this was His advantage…
Listen to what the angel told Mary. “And answering, the angel said to her, The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you, and for this reason that Holy One being born of you will be called Son of God.” Luke 1:35
The word for born gennaō (γεννάω) is the same as in Matthew 1:20. What advantage did Jesus have? He was generated gennaō (γεννάω) born of the Spirit. Yes He was born of a woman, in the likeness of sinful flesh, of the seed of David according to the flesh, but He was NEVER under the dominion of sin and thus He never had sin dwelling in Him. He took our weak, corrupt and dishonorable flesh but He was always under the power of the Spirit. The Spirit was His advantage.
This advantage He offers to all who believe in Him. This is exactly what He was trying to teach a Pharisee named Nicedmus…
Jesus answered and said to him, Truly, truly, I say to you, If one is not generated from above, he is not able to see the kingdom of God. John 3:3
Joh 3:4 Nicodemus said to Him, How is a man able to be generated, being old? He is not able to enter into his mother’s womb a second time and be born?
Joh 3:5 Jesus answered, Truly, truly, I say to you, If one is not generated out of water and Spirit, he is not able to enter into the kingdom of God.
Joh 3:6 That having been generated out of the flesh is flesh, and that having been generated out of the Spirit is spirit.
We must have this this advantaged that Christ offers. We must have Spirit of Christ if we want to enter the heavenly kingdom of glory…
Rom 8:9 But you are not in flesh, but in Spirit, since the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone has not the Spirit of Christ, this one is not His.
