During His sojourn on earth, was it possible for Jesus to have yielded to any temptation and thereby been guilty of committing sin? I have no doubt that many believers would instantly answer that question with a resounding, “NO!” They would be wrong. I am going to show you by scripture after scripture that Jesus could have sinned. I am going to show you that He did not sin, but that the possibility of His doing so was ever present.
“Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus, who being in the form of God thought it not robbery to be equal with God” (Philippians 2:5-6, KJV). At least sixteen other translations of the Greek scriptures differ with the King James Version of verse 6, saying that Jesus did not think being in the form of God was something to “grasp” or “cling to!” (See the New Living Translation, English Standard Version, Berean Study Bible, King James 2000 Bible, Berean Literal Bible, World English Bible, Amplified Bible, etc.) All other pertinent scriptures fully support the numerous translations that say Jesus did not think being in the form of God was something to be grasped onto or to cling to. When the Father discussed the fantastic idea of bringing many sons to glory and both of these divine beings fully realized this would necessitate Jesus assuming the form and nature of man in order to accomplish their goal, Jesus said, as it were, “Your will is my will, Father. Let’s do it!”
Continuing with the 7th verse of Philippians 2, “But (Jesus) made himself of no reputation, but took upon him the form of a servant, AND WAS MADE IN THE LIKENESS OF MEN. And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also has 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 (the living and the dead). And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (verse 7 through 11, Philippians 2).
The writer of Hebrews provides more light, writing, “For it became him (was fitting or appropriate) for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons (including daughters) unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings” (Hebrews 2:10). Jesus experienced the same trials and temptations as His brethren in the flesh experienced. The only difference is Jesus endured every trial and every temptation. At no point, at no time did He fail or surrender to the temptation. He never sinned! Not once!
“For as much then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood (its cravings, desires, inclinations and lusts), he also himself likewise took part of he same, that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver them, who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage (to that fear)”. (Hebrews 2:14-15). Satan held the power of death in that he had the power to tempt humans to sin for he knew “the wages of sin is death” (See Romans 6:23).
“For verily he took not on him the nature of angels (he did not merely lower himself from the divine to that of a spirit being), but he took on him the seed (the descendancy, the DNA) of Abraham. Wherefore IN ALL THINGS it behooved (obligated) him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God to make reconciliation for the sins of the people (HIS people). For in that HE HIMSELF HAS SUFFERED BEING TEMPTED, he is able to succor (aid, assist) them that are tempted” (Hebrews 2:16-18). To be continued in Part 2…..
Christ’s Faithful Servant (Galatians 1:10-12),
Donald Wiley