The More a Christian Is Tempted
Temptations are a means by which God conforms us to the image of Christ, making us more like Him in meekness, lowliness, holiness, and heavenliness.
Thomas Brooks emphasizes that while God had only one Son without corruption, all His children face temptation. He explains that temptations serve to mold Christians into the likeness of Christ, as they draw closer to Him through their struggles. The more a Christian is tempted, the more they reflect Christ's qualities such as meekness and holiness. Tempted souls look to Jesus for support, and through this reliance, they experience transformation and growth in their faith. Ultimately, temptations help believers to see sin as more detestable and the world as less appealing.
Text
God had but one Son without corruption--but
He had none without temptation!
By temptations the Lord will make His people more
and more conformable to the image of His Son.
Christ was much tempted--He was often in the school
of temptation; and the more a Christian is tempted,
the more into the likeness of Christ he will be transformed.
The most tempted Christians do most resemble Christ in
meekness, lowliness, holiness, heavenliness, etc. The
image of Christ is most fairly stamped upon tempted
souls. Tempted souls are much in looking up to Jesus--
and every gracious look upon Christ changes the soul
more and more into the image of Christ. Tempted souls
experience much of the succouring of Christ, and the
more they experience the sweet of the succourings of
Christ--the more they grow up into the likeness of Christ.
Temptations are the tools by which the Father does
more and more carve, form, and fashion His precious
saints into the similitude and likeness of His dearest Son.
By temptations, God makes . . .
sin more hateful, and
the world less delightful, and
relations less hurtful.
Sermon Outline
- Temptations Conform Us to Christ
- Temptations Reveal Christ's Image
- Temptations Foster Christ's Likeness
- Temptations make sin more hateful
- Temptations make the world less delightful
- Temptations make relations less hurtful
Key Quotes
“God had but one Son without corruption--but He had none without temptation!” — Thomas Brooks
“Temptations are the tools by which the Father does more and more carve, form, and fashion His precious saints into the similitude and likeness of His dearest Son.” — Thomas Brooks
“The most tempted Christians do most resemble Christ in meekness, lowliness, holiness, heavenliness, etc.” — Thomas Brooks
Application Points
- As we face temptations, we should look up to Jesus and seek His succourings to grow in His likeness.
- Temptations can make sin more hateful and the world less delightful, helping us to see things as they truly are.
- Through temptations, God carves, forms, and fashions us into the similitude and likeness of His dearest Son.