But we are talking about a "sin nature".
This is a category foreign to Scripture.
Sin occurs not when we desire something, not when that desire becomes temptation, but when we give into that desire.
Man sets his eyes on the flesh (on the carnal) and sins (and is sold under sin).
This does not mean that Jesus did not have a human nature like us.
He set His eyes on the Spirit.
He overcame.
Think of it this way - If Jesus was tempted in all points like us then He had to have been tempted by the flesh (the carnal).
Would it be sin for Jesus to go into the wilderness to fast and pray and yet eat because He was hungry?
Yes.
It is not an issue of ability but of the will - of Jesus desiring to do the will of the Father.
And Jesus Christ is also always God.
Luke 18:19, And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? none is good, save one, that is, God.
So Jesus could never have sinned.
Just as God allows Satan to tempt us to sin, He allowed Satan the same with His Son.
I believe Satan knew exactly what the Cross meant for mankind, and Satan was willing for Christ to do it, but Satan believed he could prevent the resurrection of Christ and stop God's plan of redemption.
Just as Satan believed he could destroy Israel all those times in the OT, thereby making God a liar in prophecy to bring Israel back to the state of a nation.
His last big attempt to destroy Israel, and came very near to success, was in WW2 when he possessed Hitler and placed it in his mind that the world must be ridded of the Jews.
Satan is still at it right now, trying everything he can do to wipe the Jews off the face of the earth, making God a liar in the words of Paul, "And all Israel shall be saved."
If Satan can make just one prophesy of God to fall to the ground, Satan has won the victory over God.
He is deceived in believing he can do this, but that will not stop him from trying believing he can sooner or later do it.
Yes, I believe the temptation of Christ was arranged, just leading Satan on through his deceived state straight into the pits of Hell.
Van, the OP, other than the MOD NOTE, IS Dougcho's post.
He wrote this opening post about the Incarnation and a post about Calvinism in the same opening thread.
I separated the two.
I need for you to provide the passage that you are referencing about the "sin nature".
I can't find it, at least not quickly, by looking up "sin nature" or the difference between Jesus human nature and ours.
I don't think he had any idea what the cross was going to accomplish, otherwise, he wouldn't have chased after The Woman down through the millennia to 'bruise His heel'.
If you like, I can create a thread with all the details on the sin nature from Scripture.
The short answer is found in Rom. 5:21 where Paul introduces the sin nature.
The word "sin" in this verse is accompanied with the Greek definite article.
It turns the the word "sin" from a verb to a noun.
It actually reads "THE sin" and refers to the original sin committed in the Garden of Eden, where Adam fell from the state of innocence to the state of the sinful nature.
Paul goes on in Rom. 6-8 to tell us all about this nature, what it does, how we can control it, what happens if we don't control it, etc.
That is a misunderstanding of "bruising the heel."
God told Satan in Gen. 3:15, that you (Satan) used the woman to bring sin into the world, and I (God) will use the woman to bring the Redeemer into the world, who will redeem mankind. This is the "enmity" between Satan and the woman.
The enmity between your seed (those who follow Satan) and the woman's seed ( the Lord Jesus Christ) shall bruise your head (Satan) the victory Christ will win over Satan at the Cross, and you shall bruise HIs heel, (Christ), the sufferings He would endure on the Cross.
Yes, please.
I know the opinion and some passages used (like Romans 5:21), but I do not know of the passages you are using that talk about a "sin nature".
I can only find "flesh" and "spirit" when looking for the topic in the Bibile.
If I don't catch the thread, and if you don't mind, shoot me a pm.
I have always heard of this "sin nature", but the only passages that I have been able to find so far have been to the contrary.
I was starting to think it was just an opinion unsupported by Scripture.
I appreciate your effort and patience and I very much look forward to exploring the passages you find.
Ok, I haven't put this together in a thread in a long time, I can't remember when that was. it was so far back. But I have done it before.
It's time consuming and tiresome, considering I'm lazy now and just won't do it unless someone is really interested. It appears you are the interested one and I will be happy to put it together you, Jon.
Sounds good to me, Jon! I enjoy good constructive conversation on the Scripture, actually it's all I care to do anymore in this life. We will never to cease from learning from the Word of God in this life!
However, you won't be discussing this with me as the originator of this concept on the sin nature. I'm not that smart!
All the info in the coming thread came from Kenneth Wuest, a noted Greek scholar and professor of "New Testament Greek" at the Moody Bible Institute, until his death in, I think around the early 60's.
I am persuaded, 1 John 5:6-8, This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth. For there are three that bear record, The Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one.
John 19:34-35, But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water.
And he that saw it bare record, and his record is true: and he knoweth that he saith true, that ye might believe.
The "water" refers to "The Living Word" becoming flesh. It refers to His humanity symbolized by water.
The "blood" refers to the necessity of His shedding of the blood to redeem man.
The ideas is that "The Word" had to become a human in order shed His human blood as payment for our sins. An absolute necessity for man to brought back into fellowship with God.
The wages of sin is death (spiritual death),God demands the blood of man for his sins.
Lev. 17:11
"For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul."
He gave us "The Living Word" in the flesh, laid on the alter of the Cross, to take our place and pay our sin debt. But there is a condition, we must believe in His sacrifice.