Temptation and Sin
Jesus' example shows us that we can overcome sin by following Him and relying on the power of the Holy Spirit.
Zac Poonen emphasizes the difference between being tempted and sinning, explaining that sin is only born when the desire of our flesh is allowed to conceive. He highlights that even Jesus was tempted like us but never sinned, showing us that it is possible to overcome temptation and remain pure. Poonen points out that Jesus, although God, emptied Himself of His divine privileges and relied on the power of the Holy Spirit while on earth, serving as an example for us to follow in our own struggles against sin. By keeping His spirit pure while in the flesh, Jesus inaugurated a new way of sanctification for us to walk in.
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There is a difference between being tempted and sinning. The Bible says, "Each one is tempted when he is enticed by his own lust. Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin" (Jas.1:14,15). Sin is not born in our heart, until the desire of our flesh has been allowed to conceive. When Satan or the flesh flash a suggestion into our mind, we are tempted. If our mind agrees with that temptation, then a conception takes place and sin is born.
To be tempted doesn't make us evil. Even Jesus Himself was tempted. But He never sinned even once in any way, and so He was totally pure.
The Scripture says that Jesus was "made like His brethren in all things" and "tempted in ALL THINGS as we are" (Heb. 2:17; 4:15). He was tempted exactly like us, yet He never sinned.
That may not sound very wonderful to some of us, because we may feel that Jesus, being God, could naturally overcome sin easily. But remember, He had "emptied Himself" of the prerogatives of equality with God, when He came to earth (Phil. 2:6,7). Although He was God, yet while He lived on earth as a man, He had access only to the same power of the Holy Spirit that He offers us today. That's why we are told to run the race, "fixing our eyes on Jesus." In our "striving against sin" today, we can look at His example and be encouraged (Heb. 12:2-4). That's because He overcame each temptation that we face, as a Man too. Thus He has become a Forerunner and an Example for us to follow (Heb. 6:20).
This is "the secret of godliness......- Christ came in the flesh ....... and was declared righteous in the spirit" (1 Tim. 3:16). Although He had our flesh, He kept His spirit pure throughout His life.
This is what gives us hope that we too can overcome as He overcame. For He has "inaugurated a new and living way through the flesh" for us, in which we can follow Him (Heb. 10:20). This is the way of sanctification.
Sermon Outline
- I. The Difference Between Temptation and Sin
- A. Temptation is a suggestion from Satan or our flesh
- B. Sin is the result of agreeing with that temptation
- II. Jesus Was Tempted Like Us
- A. He was tempted in all things as we are
- B. He never sinned, even once
- III. The Secret of Godliness
- A. Christ came in the flesh and was declared righteous in the spirit
- B. He inaugurated a new and living way for us to follow
Key Quotes
“Sin is not born in our heart, until the desire of our flesh has been allowed to conceive.” — Zac Poonen
“He had emptied Himself of the prerogatives of equality with God, when He came to earth.” — Zac Poonen
“This is the way of sanctification.” — Zac Poonen
Application Points
- We can overcome sin by following Jesus' example and relying on the power of the Holy Spirit.
- We should fix our eyes on Jesus and strive to live a life of godliness.
- Sanctification is possible through Christ's example and the power of the Holy Spirit.