The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1942-01-22

eve have not q high priest that
cannot be touched with the feeling
Of our infrmities; but one that hath
been in all points tempted like as
we are, yet without sim (Heb. Ais,
R.V). We recognize that Jesus was
tempted as the Messiah (soe Matt.
4;3. g. and as One who had no sin,
and yet He was tempted in all points
as we are; and we may learn from
His temptation how to meet tempta-
ton and be victorious over it.
/. Temptation.
1t is the common lot Of all man.
kind to be tempted q Cor 10:13).
The strongest and most noble Of
men are subject to it; angels were
tempted yes, even Jesus was
tempted. We need to know about
temptation, SO we note
l. What 1t Is ". y. Temptation
is of the devil. 1t is, as Principal
Fairbairn expressed it, seduction
to evil, solicitation to wrong. 1t
stands distinguished from trial thus:
trial tests, seeks to discover the
mans moral qualities or character;
but temptation persuades to evil, de-
ludes that it may ruin. God tries.
Satan tempts.'
Note that temptation is not sin,
but yielding to the temptation is sin.
We are told by James JAS. 1:13-
49, that man is tempted by his own
lusts. He also tells US that God may
perr1it temptations or trials to test
our faith GAS. 1:2, 81, but His pur"
pose is only to prove US able to
stand God does not suffer us to be
tempted beyond endurance, but pro-
Vides way Of escape q Cor. 1913.
2. How It Works wv. 2, 8, 5, 6, 9,
81. Satan has only three tempta-
tons, although he is a master at
giving them different appearances.
The temptation of Jesus followed
the same threefold line as that Of
Adam and Eve Gen. $50, which is
described in John 2:l6 as the gen
eral temptation of all men, namely,
''the lust of the flesh, the lust Of the
eyes, and the pride of life" Observe
how Satan worked on Jesus: (a) By
appealing to the flesh (vv 2, 81.
Jesus had tasted 40 days, and Satan
took advantage of that fast to sug-
gest that He use His divine power
of creation to satisfy His hunger
To do so would have been to deny
His very mission on earth,
Satan observes in man the normal
appetites of his body, excites them
to a high degree, and then tempts
him to satisfy them in an improper
way. (b) By appealing to pride Wv.
5, g. Cod had promised to keep
Jesus Gin all his ways" (Ps. 81:
III, but casting Himself from the
temple was not one Of Gods ways"
for Him.
The devil wants us to be presump-
tuous and call it faith, and this is
his pitfall for one who really wants
to believe-cause him to become o
fanatic and substitute foolish pre-
sumption for faith. (c) BY appeal
ing to the eyes wv. 8, 81. By show
ing Christ the kingdoms of the earth
in some kind of striking panorama,
or moving picture, he offered short
cut to their rule by brief act Of
worship of him, rather than by way
Of the cross. The devil showed his
real purpose here. He wants wor-
ship-he wants us to bow to him in
stead OF TO God.
III. Our Lord Was Victorious Over
Satan.
We, too, can triumph in His bless
ed name. To do so we need to study
the way of victory.
/. How to Gain 1t wv. 4, 7, 1OJ.
Three steps appear: (a) BY the
right use of Scripture. If our LORD
needed and used that weapon, how
can we possibly do without it? How
can we use it if we do not study it,
and hide it in our hearts Cps. 119:
1D? (b) By complete dependence
upon God. Every Scripture used
by Jesus against Satan honored God
the Father. We cannot fight Satan in
our own strength. Luther was right
did we in our own strength confde,
Our striving would be losing"
The real victory for the Christian
is to bring Satan to the foot of the
cross. Christ defeated him complete.
ly there, and we may plead that
victory. (c) BY denouncing Satan.
Jesus sent him on his way. We
may do the same, in Jesus name.
1t is always a serious error to argue
with Satan, or even to discuss mat
ters with him. He is not divine,
but he is a supernatural being with
knowledge and cunning which are
too much for us. Meet him with
Scripture, honor God by your faith
in Christ, then "resist the devil, and
he will flee from you" GAS. 40.
2. What 1t Brings ". 1D. When
the defeated devil left Christ, an
gels came and ministered to Him.
The overcoming of temptation brings
victory, peace, and blessed rest.
This is ever true in the life of the
believer. Temptations VIGOROUSLY
met make one stronger in meeting
the next temptation. There is al
ways a next one, for we read duke
4:13) that the devil left Christ only
''for a season.