A: Is the unregenerate tempted by the same things as the regenerate?

M: For example, are recently reborn believers tempted to smoke, drink, overeat, curse, steal, cheat, hate, etc the same as unbelievers are? Yes, of course. Even seasoned soldiers of the cross are similarly tempted. However, as time slips by, believers who are serious about abiding in Jesus and partaking of the divine nature are tempted by fewer of their former favorite sins. Does it mean Jesus was never tempted like a common believer? Well, was He "tempted in all points like as we are" or not? Remember, being tempted is not a sin. Struggling not to sin is not a sin, either. Did Jesus ever really struggle not to commit the types of sins listed above?

A: You said "recently reborn believers" are "tempted to smoke, drink, overeat, curse, steal, cheat, hate, etc the same as unbelievers are." Are these "recently reborn believers" regenerate? But you said the "serious" ones are "tempted by fewer of their former favorite sins." How do they relate to those former favorite sins which no longer tempt them? Do they still want to do them? Or do they no longer desire those things? Was Jesus tempted by more "favorite sins" than these "serious" ones, or fewer?

M: Jesus did not come in the likeness of sinners who have not yet experienced rebirth. Instead, He came in the likeness of believers who have 1) experienced rebirth, who have 2) received the "new nature" with all its "new" traits and attributes, who are 3) partaking of the divine nature, and who are, thereby, 4) being empowered to recognize and resist sin, self, and Satan, and, more importantly, are 5) being empowered to grow in grace and mature in the fruits of the Spirit.

A: Didn't you say, in the post I just replied to, that the reborn believer is tempted by the same things as the unbeliever? But here you are saying that his nature is new. Is the new nature tempted by the same things as the unbeliever?

M: Do you believe "overcoming" as Jesus "overcame" includes maturing in the fruits of the Spirit, cultivating sinless traits of character more and more perfectly? If so, then I disagree. I believe it refers specifically to recognizing and resisting temptations, namely, temptations from within and from without. By saying "from within" I mean the fact sinful flesh tempts people from within to satisfy their innocent and legitimate needs in sinful ways. What do you think?

A: I don't think I understand what you're saying here. You may be referring to threads which I have not read. In any case, my idea of overcoming as Jesus overcame is fairly simple. He faithfully followed God's word, in spite of any and every opposition. We should be as faithful. However, full acceleration in a Model T does not yield identical results to full acceleration in a Mustang.

Romans 6:16
(16) Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?
Philippians 2:13
(13) For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

1. His human nature was created; it did not even possess the angelic powers. It was human, identical with our own. (6 MR 111) He took upon His sinless nature our sinful nature, that He might know how to succor those that are tempted. (MM 181) He was not only made flesh, but He was made in the likeness of sinful flesh. (5BC 1124) It was in the order of God that Christ should take upon himself the form and nature of fallen man, that he might be made perfect through suffering, and endure himself the strength of Satan's temptations, that he might the better know how to succor those who should be tempted. (4aSG 115)

M: You seem to think Jesus' humanity was identical to ours in form but not in fallen nature.

A: That depends on what you include in the "nature" Jesus had. Fallen flesh, yes. Sinful mind, no. His finite nature was perfect.

M: He blended two natures - human and divine. The precise same thing happens when we experience rebirth. "Through being partakers of the divine nature we may stand pure and holy and undefiled. The Godhead was not made human, and the human was not deified by the blending together of the two natures. Christ did not possess the same sinful, corrupt, fallen disloyalty we possess, for then He could not be a perfect offering." {3SM 131.1}

A: Did Jesus possess human nature like He possessed divine nature?

2. Unless there is a possibility of yielding, temptation is no temptation. Temptation is resisted when man is powerfully influenced to do a wrong action; and, knowing that he can do it, resists, by faith, with a firm hold upon divine power. This was the ordeal through which Christ passed. (3SM 132)

M: You seem to think Jesus could not be powerfully tempted or influenced to do a wrong a action.

A: He was powerfully tempted to do a wrong action. But I cannot deny the His nature recoiled from evil.

M: How was He tempted? And, what were some of the wrong actions He was tempted to do?

A: He was tempted when Satan suggested courses of action that were not congruent with God's will. For example, Satan suggested that He eat when it was not God's will for Him to eat. But notice that Satan suggested that He eat bread - good, wholesome bread made by God Himself. Satan did not bother to tempt Him with a tasty slice of ham.

3. He assumed human nature, with its infirmities, its liabilities, its temptations. (3SM 132) He endured all the temptations wherewith man is beset. (4 BC 1147) He realized the strength of indulged appetite and of unholy passion that controlled the world. (7A 450)

M: You seem to think Jesus was not tempted from within by fallen flesh nature, by its temptations, its unholy appetites and passions.

A: You seem to say that Jesus, in His heart, was attracted to sin. I reject that. He had fallen flesh, but not a sinful mind or a corrupt heart.

M: Please understand that I do not believe Jesus desired to sin. He hated sin. But His fallen flesh tempted Him from within to sin. Ellen clearly wrote - "He assumed human nature, with its . . . temptations." It is not a sin to be tempted.

A: So, if Jesus had no desire to sin, even hated sin, who was it that was tempting Him to sin? You remember James' description of the process of sin, and what it is that draws us into sin. Was Jesus drawn away by His "own lusts" and enticed?

4. Adam was tempted by the enemy, and he fell. It was not indwelling sin which caused him to yield, for God made him pure and upright in His own image. He was as faultless as the angels before the throne. There were in him no corrupt principles, no tendencies to evil. But when Christ came to meet with temptations of Satan, He bore the “likeness of sinful flesh. (ST 10-17-1900)

M: You seem to compare Jesus to Adam before the Fall, whereas, Ellen contrasts the two by saying Jesus bore the likeness of our sinful flesh with its indwelling sin, corrupt principles, and evil tendencies.

A: Are you saying that in Jesus were corrupt principles and evil tendencies?

The lower passions have their seat in the body and work through it. The words "flesh" or "fleshly" or "carnal lusts" embrace the lower, corrupt nature; the flesh of itself cannot act contrary to the will of God. We are commanded to crucify the flesh, with the affections and lusts. How shall we do it? Shall we inflict pain on the body? No; but put to death the temptation to sin. The corrupt thought is to be expelled. Every thought is to be brought into captivity to Jesus Christ. All animal propensities are to be subjected to the higher powers of the soul. {AH 127.2}

A: Are you saying that in Jesus were corrupt principles and evil tendencies?
M: Yes, Ellen said so in the passages posted above.

A: Are you saying that in Jesus were corrupt principles and evil tendencies?
M: Yes, Ellen said so in the passages posted above.

R: "He could have sinned; He could have fallen, but not for one moment was there in Him an evil propensity. ...
Never, in any way, leave the slightest impression upon human minds that a taint of, or inclination to, corruption rested upon Christ, or that He in any way yielded to corruption." {5BC 1128}

In his prayer to the Father, Christ said, "This is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent." We must learn of Christ. We must know what he is to those he has ransomed. We must realize that through belief in him it is our privilege to be partakers of the divine nature, and so escape the corruption that is in the world through lust. Then we are cleansed from all sin, all defects of character. We need not retain one sinful propensity. Christ is the sin-bearer; John pointed the people to him, saying, "Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world." And Paul declared. "You hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, . . . and hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus." {RH, April 24, 1900 par. 6}

Christ says to us, "Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." We are ever to learn of Christ. Yoked up with him in perfect restraint, we are to be learners during our whole lifetime. Then we are indeed "laborers together with God." We can be acceptable teachers only as we learn Christ's meekness and lowliness. Constantly we must learn more and more regarding these attributes. As we partake of the divine nature, hereditary and cultivated tendencies to wrong are cut away from the character, and we are made a living power for good. Ever learning of the divine Teacher, daily partaking of his nature, we co-operate with God in overcoming Satan's temptations. God works, and man works, that man may be one with Christ as Christ is one with God. Then we sit together with Christ in heavenly places. The mind rests with peace and assurance in Jesus. The Saviour declares, "He that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst." In him there is inexhaustible fullness. As we follow on to know the Lord, we shall lead souls to the living word. With us they will know that his going forth is prepared as the morning. {RH, April 24, 1900 par. 7}