Willpower 2

I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, & do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, & be found in Him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith..." - Philippians 3:8-11

Jesus is the answer to the "Law of Sin & Death" because He was able to do-right (righteousness) which makes Him worthy to live (eternally).  How do we get God's righteousness? See Romans 3:22 to find that the answer is faith of (not just in) Jesus. What was Jesus' job? Hebrews 9:15; 2:9-18; 4:15 say He was tempted as we are, but why? Well, succour means to "assist", & Jesus assisted us by fully filling & accomplishing perfection & victory. 

Jesus had victory over all the 3 types of temptation:

1 - The Lust Of The Flesh is a craving for a sensation which feeds our addiction to things like gluttony over fasting, laziness over labor, fornication over abstinence. More than that, these choices are made only in the interest of self satisfaction, even if the choice overrules God’s commands.

2 - The Lust Of The Eyes is the desire for objects. We prefer things that look good over things that don’t. The lust of the eyes has led to many over-valued items like jewelry, fashion, tattoos, cars, & houses. This lust is coveting, & has led to the success of MTV Cribs, Real Housewives, Desperate Housewives, Pimp My Ride, & is also is why home loans take advantage of so many.

3 - The Pride of life is the desire for supremacy, power, clout, control, & command. Simply put, we don’t want to take orders from anybody, & we want to do things when we feel like it, & when we do it, we want to do it our own way. And if we do something wrong, we don’t want to be corrected, instead, we only want to hear what we did right…even if others have to stretch the truth to make up something good to say. Also, this is why we would rather watch TV than have Bible study, & why we are quicker to cuss people out than pray for them.

Basically, lustful pride leads us to exalt our selfish will over God’s Will. See 1 John 2:16 & Genesis 3:6, but what texts show how much Jesus was tempted?  Matthew 4:1-10 prove Jesus was tempted with everything:

1 - Jesus fasted 40 days...how hungry would you be? Can you even imagine how tempting it was to get Himself some bread?

2 - How tempting was it to take all the power of the world, knowing how many fine women do anything for a wealth, security, power...or just nice gifts? We use our shortcomings to manipulate enough as is, so how much more tempted would you be if you were the only begotten Son of God?

3 - How tempting would it be to escape from the plan of Salvation knowing that the plan was for Him to die, but not only die, but die brutally…while having the ability to save Himself? How tempting would it be to give in to a change of plans?

Jesus answered the "Law of Sin & Death" by submitting to the Holy Spirit from His baptism at Luke 3:22, & is a role model for us in how to die in the Lord, die to self, & beat sin.  In beating sin, death is also defeated, that's why Jesus was Resurrected, & we see how Jesus let the Holy Spirit empower Him in Romans 8:11.  For more see Hebrews 5:8-9, but you should be starting to see how big words like "God's righteousness" play a part in answering the Law of Sin & Death. 

Jesus is the answer to "The Law of Sin & Death, & it should make sense now when we read Romans 8:2-3.  Clearly, Jesus is the remedy to the Law, but how is the Law “weak through sinful flesh”? Romans 8:7, enmity is opposition, hostility, rivalry & resistance, & we are born preoccupied with being at war with what God wants us to do.  Clearly, Jesus had a role in answering the "Law", but did the Holy Spirit have a role as well?

As we transition into the role of the Holy Spirit, see Exodus 19:3-8, & notice the people did not promise “we will do” by God’s power, God’s Will, or anything about God.  Hebrews 8:6,10 where God promises what He will do, as He says, “I will make…I will put…I will write…& I will be…”, meaning God made a Way to assist us with keeping His commands. Read 1 Corinthians 15:56-58; Romans 8:9,11; John 14:10-17. (cont.'d)