"The word was made flesh"

[Robert]

First, let me clarify something: Note that Jesus was MADE what He was not by Divine right. To be "made" infers that before He was something else, namely God (the Son of God). So keep this in mind.

Now, having clarified that, do we see in life of Christ proof that He assumed our fallen life indwelt with iniquity? If so quote, from the Bible, where Christ was tempted to love Himself instead of living a life of "self-renouncing love."

May the force be with you,

Rob

[Robert]

I'll give you three:

Matthew 19:17 "And He said unto him (the rich young ruler), Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God"

Wasn't Jesus God? Yes, but here Jesus isn't referring to His Divinity, but rather the humanity that He assumed at the incarnation. This infers that the humanity He assumed was fallen and therefore sinful.

That's why the Bible says that "He was made sin". He was made what He was not by divine right. Jesus always remained Himself (God), but yet in order to save us from "the curse of the law" He had to assume us into Himself.

Romans 1:1 "Paul, a slave of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, 2 which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy scriptures, 3 the gospel concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh [i.e., the Son of Man] 4 and was declared to be the Son of God with power according to the spirit of holiness...."

Again, Jesus is God. He will always be God, but at the incarnation Jesus assumed our humanity - the same humanity as David's.

Did Jesus struggle with this fallen humanity indwelt with sin? Can we find this? Yes:

Luke 22:42 "Father, if it is Your will, take this cup [i.e., the 2nd death] away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done."

How could Christ's will be opposed to His Father's will? God sent Jesus to this fallen world to save mankind and Jesus knew that. Yet we see opposition to God's will. Why? Because Christ's mind was tempted to save Himself. He was tempted with self-love. He was tempted by indwelling iniquity from the humanity that He assumed at the fall.

[Robert]

By the way, here's proof of His Divinity:

Luke 1:35 And the angel answered and said unto her [Mary], The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.

Note that Luke equates "that Holy thing" not with "the Son of Man", but rather with "the Son of God".

Rob