____________________________________________________ THE GOSPEL OBSERVER "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations...teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always even to the end of the age" (Matthew 28:19,20). ____________________________________________________ October 6, 1996 ____________________________________________________ Did Jesus Ever Experience Sexual Temptation? by Tom Edwards I've heard it expressed in reference to the above question that ``Jesus had nothing in Him for such desires...not even the passing thought. Who can believe otherwise?'' Let us consider a few points on this today--not only to better understand the humanity side of Christ, but also our own nature as well. For I have many adolescent people in mind as I write this who might have concerns and questions along this line--such as: ``Are sexual desires sinful?'' ``Have I sinned when in just noticing someone it has aroused a sexual appeal or interest?'' First of all, the Bible shows that Jesus ''...had to be made like his brethren in all things...'' (Heb. 2:14). He became a partaker of humanity, taking on flesh and blood; and also, as a consequence, had ''...been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin'' (Heb. 4:15). Neither in action nor thought, did Jesus ever yield to temptation and transgress His Father's will. He lived an immaculate life, above reproach, having never committed even one sin. In becoming human, Jesus experienced hunger, thirst, weariness, and sexual desires. But don't get me wrong. I don't mean that Jesus ever sinfully fantasized over a woman--He never did! But the desire for sexual intimacy can be a natural occurrence in man--and certainly not sinful in itself, since God gave this desire to us. But it needs to be controlled. Sexual desires are as natural as hunger and thirst and are not necessarily indicative of a ``sinful mind.'' These desires are all wholesome in themselves, but they can be abused and wrongly fulfilled, such as in stealing from one's neighbor to satisfy hunger and thirst. This would certainly be a sinful way to gratify these innate desires and needs. Heavy petting, for example, to arouse sexual desires--or in trying to gratify sexual desires--with someone you are not married to would be sinful. The Bible calls this ``lasciviousness'' or ``sensuality'' (2 Cor. 12:21; Gal. 5:19). The body of the one you are dating does not belong to you as it would if you were married to that person (1 Cor. 7:4). Intimate, erotic caresses are, therefore, off-limits to you. One must remember that it does not require ``going all the way'' to make physical contact going too far--or to the point of transgression. As indicated above, the foreplay itself would also be wrong. Jesus points out that we truly love Him by keeping His commandments, and would not the more difficult commands that we keep be showing even more love for Him? God can, therefore, test us through our sexual nature. But since God doesn't tempt anyone (Jms. 1:13)--and He did give us this sexual nature--then, again, we conclude that it is not sinful or indicative of evil in itself. Wanting to have sex is not wrong per se. Sexually fantasizing over someone you are not married to--or actually committing the act with someone you are not Scripturally married to--is wrong. There is a major difference between experiencing a sexual urge and sinfully toying with the desire to the point of committing adultery in one's heart--or with committing the actual act (Matt. 5:28; Rom. 13:9). God was pleased with His Son because He was always obedient to Him (Jn. 8:29). When I realize that Jesus, though God, was also a man, experiencing the same temptations and weaknesses of man, I come to appreciate Him even more. For I know how difficult it can be to live a righteous life...but Jesus did! Through all the struggles, through all the temptations, through all the adversities Christ faced, He maintained a life of perfect obedience to His Father in heaven! We might have trouble reconciling these two important truths about Jesus, but He--while on earth--was 100% God (Col. 2:9; Heb. 1:3) and 100% man (Heb. 2:14-18). And, therefore, though God never gets hungry, Jesus did (Matt. 4:2); and though God never gets thirsty, Jesus did (Jn. 19:28); and though God never gets tired and sleeps, Jesus did (Jn. 4:6; Mark 4:38); and though God is Spirit (and not flesh and blood), Jesus had the body of a man (Heb. 2:14); and though God cannot be tempted, Jesus was (Heb. 4:15). This same Jesus who was also God, having the ``fullness of Deity'' dwelling in Him in ``bodily form'' (Col. 2:9) while on earth, still experienced these ``weaknesses'' of humanity. So, in view of this, isn't it logical to assume that He also experienced sexual desires--though He never sinned by yielding to such desires in any ungodly way. Consider: ``For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin'' (Heb. 4:15). Think about this: the implication is that it was because Jesus was tempted that He was made able to sympathize with our weaknesses. If Christ, however, never experienced temptation as we do--and as the gospel declares--what difference would it make for Him to have to first come into our world in order to truly sympathize with us? He wasn't tempted in heaven; and if He could not be tempted on earth, then how would that differ? The inference, however, from this verse is that it can truly be said of Christ that He can sympathize (share in a feeling) with us because He--though while still God--became a man and was subject to the temptations of mankind. Jesus knows (personally experienced) the challenge that temptation can produce; and He fought the good fight, finished His course, and triumphed over all temptation and every evil way. Why would we think that Jesus experienced all the other innate desires of man, but not the sexual one? From the above passages and thoughts, isn't it obvious that He experienced this, too? But I also point out again that He never let this type of desire lead Him from the path of righteousness. May the same also be true of us. ___________________________________________ What About the Prayer of a non-Christian? by Tom Edwards The other day, while reading through John 15, a thought occurred to me in answer to a recent question: ``Does God hear the prayer of a non-Christian?'' Verse 5 says... ``I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me, and I in him, he bears much fruit; FOR APART FROM ME YOU CAN DO NOTHING.'' This emphasized part is the real clincher, for it shows that when it comes to living a spiritual life unto God (which would include prayer), it is impossible to do such apart from being in Jesus Christ. Prayer is a privilege and duty for Christians; and though God does ``hear'' and know of everything that goes on, an alien sinner--who has never obeyed the gospel--does not have the right to pray to God as his Father until the alien sinner becomes a child of God. Consider 1 Jn. 3:22: ``and whatever we ask we receive from Him, BECAUSE WE KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS....'' (emphasis mine). Also, because our prayers are to be ``in Jesus' name,'' how then can they be offered by those who have not been baptized into the name of the Lord yet? (cf. Acts 2:38; Gal. 3:26,27) Does anyone have the right to simply pray in his own name--instead of the Lord's? Paul writes, ``And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father'' (Col. 3:17). Truly, it is because of Jesus that we can pray to the Father; and prayer is certainly one of those ``spiritual blessings'' that are in Christ Jesus (Eph. 1:3). How, therefore, could we even begin to think that the non-Christian would be entitled with this gracious and special privilege of prayer while outside of Christ? Just as God wants all people to come to the knowledge of the truth, repent, and be saved (1 Tim. 2:4; 2 Pet. 3:9), He also wants all His children to cast their every care or anxiety upon Him because He is genuinely concerned--with the greatest-of-all love--for them (1 Pet. 5:7). Prayer is just as conditional as salvation. And though, as we just saw in the preceding paragraph that God wants all saved, most people are still lost in their sins. Why? Because they have not met the requirements set forth in God's word to be saved--the same requirements that would also give them the right to call upon the Lord in prayer as truly their Master and Father. For apart from Jesus, one can do nothing when it comes to living a spiritual life (Jn. 15:5); but in the Lord, as Paul also states, one can do ``all things through Christ'' who strengthens His follower (Phil. 4:13). If you want to be able to call upon God as your Father and Lord--and you are not a Christian--then obey the gospel this very day; and you will be blessed with this wonderful privilege, responsibility, and duty of prayer. One last Scripture-thought: ''...The effective prayer of a RIGHTEOUS man can accomplish much'' (James 5:16; emphasis mine). ___________________________________________ If You Think... by Larry Ray Hafley -- living for the Lord is difficult, try dying without him. -- a church without elders is bad, try worshiping with unqualified ones. -- your children's needs, noise, and scattered toys are driving you crazy, wait until they are grown and gone and your house is silent--maddeningly silent. -- your preacher preaches too long, perhaps your sins provide him with too much material. -- you are the only one whose work is unnoticed and unappreciated, talk to a diligent deacon in the local church. -- you will cease serving God because life is unfair, what will you say to Joseph, Jesus, Job, and Paul at the Judgment? -- you have time to sin, your watch has stopped. -- a clenched fist is bad, a closed fist, clenched heart is worse. -- kindness is its own reward, reward yourself. -- you have your pride to uphold, you probably need to let it down. -- you can have respect by demanding it, you will never command any. -- living like a fool is cool, you are not so hot. -- sin is like magic, you are right--it turns sheep into goats. -- a spoiled, crying baby is hard to please, wait until you have to deal with immature, adult versions. -- you can stand tall by cutting others down, you will not have a leg to stand on. -- you are not receiving everything you deserve, be thankful. -- living alone is the worst fate in the world, you need to talk to someone who is trapped in a bad marriage. -- via Guardian of Truth, 9/19/96 ___________________________________________ NEWS & NOTES We ended up with 23 different visitors for September--and were thankful for each one of them. Some had never been here before; and though many were already members of the church of Christ, several were not. Here is the last update I received on Grover Stevens (9/14/96) by Larry Snell: ``Bro. Steven's son is an elder here at Bartlett. He says Grover is recovering from a stroke. He spent a week or so in a rehab hospital after a short stay in ICU and regular room at a hospital in Lexington, KY. He is at home now with doctor's orders to just try to get better for the next 60 days. Most affected areas including speech are slower returning to normal function.'' Let us keep praying for him. Here's an early reminder: Daylight Saving Time Ends October 27 at 2:00 A.M. Be sure to set your clocks and watches back an hour. ___________________________________________ With Fork In Hand It seems that an elderly sister of a congregation was in rapidly declining health, so she sent for the preacher one day. ``Preacher, when I'm gone, I'd like for you to preach my funeral. But, I have one special favor to ask.'' ``Well, Sister,'' he replied. ``If I'm able, I'll do it. What's the favor?'' ``When I'm gone and my body is laid in the casket, I'd like to have a fork placed in my hands.'' ``A fork! Sister, that is a most unusual request! May I ask why?'' ``Well,'' she replied, ``when I was growing up, when we'd finish with dinner, I was told to hand over my dirty dish but keep the fork because dessert was on the way--The Best Was Yet to Come. That's the way I like to think of death as a Christian. THE BEST IS YET TO COME.'' I'm reminded of Paul's words in 2 Tim. 4:7-8 when I contemplate this illustration. -- shared by John Evans ________________________________________ Tri-State CHURCH OF CHRIST 713 13th Street, Ashland, Kentucky 41101 Sunday: 10:00 A.M. Bible class 10:50 A.M. Worship 6:30 P.M. Worship Wednesday: 7:30 P.M. Bible study evangelist/editor: Tom Edwards (606) 325-9742 e-mail: tedwards@wwd.net ________________________________________