(6) Jesus: Perfectly Sinless Pt. 1

Jesus set the example of perfect humanity in facing temptation. I heard Charles Stanley once say that the most intense temptation comes at the moment just before you give in. What he was saying is that the more you resist, the more intense the temptation until you give in. He didn’t take into account God providing victory or the temptation being removed but he makes a valid point. When temptation is right in your face, it just get’s harder and harder to resist.

Satan got right up in the face of Jesus! This would be an intense attack, a fierce battle. From Jesus’ temptation, we can learn a lot about what it looks like to be perfectly human. We start with the critical step to victory that Jesus took before the battle even got started.

Luke tells us that “Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led around by the Spirit in the wilderness. (4:1 NAU)” This is important. First, Jesus was “full of the Holy Spirit.” This means that Jesus was under the control of the Holy Spirit. Jesus did whatever the Holy Spirit directed Him to do. Second, note that Jesus was continually “led around by the Spirit.” This is the literal Greek here. Step by step, Jesus was led by the Holy Spirit.

We must not miss the significance of this. When Luke tells us about Jesus victoriously facing temptation, he begins by making a big deal about the role of the Holy Spirit in Jesus’ life. How did Jesus, the perfect human walk in victory over temptation? By living under the control of the Holy Spirit. By being led by the Holy Spirit in everything He did, step by step. That is where we will find victory too. The more we are controlled by and led by the Holy Spirit in every decision no matter how insignificant it may seem, the more we will have victory over sin. Whenever we are walking in step with the Spirit, we will not sin.

Next:  (7) Jesus: Perfectly Sinless Pt. 2