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The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah Vol 1 - Predestination

The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah Vol 1 - Predestination

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can take active part in <strong>the</strong> scene around. But in<br />

both respects it was not so with <strong>the</strong> Christ. Jf this<br />

be so, <strong>the</strong> whole question seems almost irrelevant,<br />

<strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> distinction <strong>of</strong> outward <strong>and</strong> mwa/rd<br />

inapplicable to <strong>the</strong> present case. Gr ra<strong>the</strong>r, we<br />

must keep by <strong>the</strong>se two l<strong>and</strong>marks: First, it was not<br />

inward in <strong>the</strong> sense <strong>of</strong> being merely subjective; but<br />

it was all real —a real assault by a real Satan,<br />

really under <strong>the</strong>se three forms, <strong>and</strong> it constituted a<br />

real Temptation to Christ. Secondly, it was not<br />

merely outward in <strong>the</strong> sense <strong>of</strong> being only a<br />

present assault by Satan; but it must have reached<br />

beyond <strong>the</strong> outward into <strong>the</strong> inward, <strong>and</strong> have had<br />

for its fur<strong>the</strong>r object that <strong>of</strong> influencing <strong>the</strong> future<br />

Work <strong>of</strong> Christ, as it stood out before His Mind.<br />

A still more difficult <strong>and</strong> solemn question is this :<br />

In what respect could <strong>Jesus</strong> Christ, <strong>the</strong> Perfect<br />

Sinless Man, <strong>the</strong> Son <strong>of</strong> God, have been tempted <strong>of</strong><br />

<strong>the</strong> Devil ? That He was so tempted is <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> very<br />

essence <strong>of</strong> this narrative, confirmed throughout His<br />

after-life, <strong>and</strong> laid down as a fundamental<br />

principle in <strong>the</strong> teaching <strong>and</strong> faith <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Church.'

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