CTG 0069

Continued from previous blogpost 

IT SHOULDN'T SURPRISE US 

It shouldn't surprise believers in Christ that the devil and his forces of evil are opposed to us. 

Not only do they seek to discourage us from sharing the good news of salvation with others. They are also totally committed to tempt us to sin. 

Being tempted is not sin. Giving way to it is. 

Jesus was tempted. He never surrendered to it. 

When the fact dawns on us, we might be shocked by the extent of the temptations he faced. He was “in every respect … tempted as we are, yet without sin.” He knows by experience the temptations and trials we are confronted by and is able "to sympathise with our weaknesses.” 

It shouldn’t surprise us that our Saviour is totally committed to everyone who puts their trust in him. 

He is enthroned on high and mediates on behalf of everyone who belongs to him. And he intercedes for us. We are encouraged to draw near to that "throne of grace" with confidence, "that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” 

At this moment in time, if we claim that we never make a fault, we delude ourselves. And if we are indifferent to and negligent of the transforming grace that is now available to us so that we increasingly become more like Jesus, then there is something seriously wrong. This transformation will be completed when Jesus returns. But it is already in progress, aided by the Holy Spirit as we behold Christ in his Word. 

If we think that we can attract others to Christ by compromised living or speech, then we undermine the objective and dishonour our Saviour. 

And yet there is mercy if we turn to him, repentant and with faith. 

FOR FURTHER READING 

Romans 8:34 

1 Timothy 2:5-6 

Hebrews 4:14-16 

Hebrews 5:7-10 

Hebrews 9:15 

Hebrews 9:24 

James 1:12 

James 4:7 

1Peter 5:6-11 

1 John 1:5-2:6 

Romans 8:1-39 

1 Corinthians 10:12-13 

2 Corinthians 3:12-18 

2 Corinthians 13:5 

Ephesians 2:1-10