A very wise writer who understood the gospel of Jesus clearly once made a statement that has raised eyebrows: "The record books of heaven contain a record of the sins that we would have committed if we had had the opportunity."
Someone questions: How can we be held guilty for sins we have not actually committed?
Is that fair?
Jesus taught the same principle when He said in Matthew 5:28: "Whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart."
Our sin is a matter of the heart, not merely of the flesh.
Please note: the Lord Jesus is not saying that the temptation to commit adultery is the same as the sin of adultery. No!
It cannot be that temptation is the same as sin--if that were true that would make Jesus become a terrible sinner, which cannot be truth. No; temptation, no matter how terrible, is sin, if it is resisted and denied. Jesus was tempted "in all points like as we are, yet without sin" (Heb. 4:15).
We cannot say that temptation is the same as sin, for that would make Jesus our Savior into a terrible sinner if He was "tempted in ALL points LIKE as we are."
No one among us has ever been tempted to sin as greatly as Jesus was tempted! That temptation extended to His last moments on His cross: the temptation to come down from the cross and abandon us to our fate was a terrible one: But He said "No!" to it.
Let us remember: the death that Jesus died on His cross was not a peaceful sleep for a weekend; He took upon Himself our "second death" (see Rev. 2:11). The kind of death that Jesus died is a tremendous truth that grips the heart! (We will continue this tomorrow, the Lord willing.)
Be sure to check your e-mail for "Dial Daily Bread" again tomorrow.
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