Judy wrote: > It is scripture Bill. When I compare your words > with what is written I encounter huge problems.
I would like to compare some of Bill's words with Scripture. I think he is right concerning Christ's humanity. If you think there is some problem with his words when compared to Scripture, please start by posting what Scripture creates the problem in your mind. Bill had already mentioned one passage, and you had posted an objection. Romans 8:3 (3) For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: You object to this passage based upon the word "likeness," saying that likeness does not mean the same. However, the word "likeness" can mean more "like" than what you are perhaps giving credit. Romans 6:5 speaks of us being planted together in the likeness of his death, therefore, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection. Are you going to argue that we will not be resurrected like Christ, but that his resurrection will be something different from ours? I hope not. In like manner, Phil. 2:7 speaks of Jesus being made in the likeness of men. Does this mean that Jesus was not really a man, but that he only looked like a man? I hope you would not argue that! Now consider the very context of this passage. It is speaking to the issue of how Christ condemned sin in the flesh. We might ask, how? Well, part of Paul's point here is that he came in the likeness of sinful flesh. In other words, there is something about Christ becoming a man that enabled him to conquer sin in the flesh. The salient point here is that his flesh had to be like ours, warts and all, meaning, sin nature residing within it and all that. This does not mean that Jesus was a sinner. It means that his flesh tempted him in the same way that our flesh would tempt us. To this agrees yet another passage of Scripture: Hebrews 4:15 (15) For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Compare this with the teaching of James that the source of all temptation is the flesh: James 1:13-15 (13) Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: (14) But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. (15) Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. It seems rather clear that the flesh of Jesus was not sinless as the Roman Catholics and Augustine teach, but rather his flesh was just like the flesh of the rest of mankind. His victory in the weakness of this flesh is very important for us, for our hope of salvation from sin, and for our hope of the resurrection. Peace be with you. David Miller. ---------- "Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer every man." (Colossians 4:6) http://www.InnGlory.org If you do not want to receive posts from this list, send an email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] and you will be unsubscribed. If you have a friend who wants to join, tell him to send an e-mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] and he will be subscribed.
