Originally posted by Scott J:
[QB]
Man actually does have the "ability". A man is no more able to reason or act after regeneration than before. He doesn't receive greater mental or physical ability at regeneration. What he receives is a new will. I constantly have a problem with the declaration that man is unable. He is only "unable" to the extent that he is uniformly "unwilling"... not because God has prevented him.
I agree.
The "Flesh" see no problem with the things "IT" loves, this is where God's calling "CONVINCES" (convicts) the person's "mind/Heart" that they are in fact a "sinner".
Further, I still have not seen a proof against my contention that Christ did not lack the mental or physical faculties to sin. His divine nature meant that He would not. His human nature meant that He could had He so "willed".
And neither does man "lack" the ability to know good/evil and chose between the two, especially when God calls.
For instance, there was nothing other than His perfect divine will that kept Him from sexual sins. As far as we know, He had a normal human body with normal human urges and desires. There was nothing physical nor mental that inhibited Him. His temptation in the wilderness seems to point to the notion that his physical needs and desires were just as strong as ours.
Let's take a look at those temptations.
The "Three temptations" Satan used are the three temptation that are the most problematic to man.
1Jo 2:16 For all that is in the world,
1. the lust of the flesh,
2. and the lust of the eyes,
3. and the pride of life,
is not of the Father, but is of the world.
1. the lust of the flesh,
Mt 4:2 And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights,
he was afterward an hungred.
3 And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these
stones be made bread.
2. and the lust of the eyes,
Mt 4:8 Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and
sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them;
9 And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.
3. and the pride of life,
Mt 4:6 And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou
dash thy foot against a stone.
(Joh 19:36 For these things were done, that the scripture should be fulfilled,
A bone of him shall not be broken.
In the garden, Jesus dreaded the suffering his flesh would endure, "Let this cup pass from me", but his "WILL" was stronger than the lust of the flesh to escape,
Jesus ask, "can you drink of the cup I drink of"???
"IF" we're to "Conform to his image", we too have to be "WILLING" to "crucify the flesh" to obtain his salvation. (drink of his cup)
When we surrender/sacrifice the flesh to God, (drink of his cup) the spirit can then control our life and we can "serve God".
Joh 15:13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
Ga 6:7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for
whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.
Ga 6:8
For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption;
but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.
Jesus's "Whole life" is a picture of the plan of salvation for us, conforming to the image he sit in many ways.