Sermon Tone Analysis

Matthew 4:1-11* *

*            God created human beings to be His companions throughout eternity.

Having been created in the image of God, we have the unique ability to accept or reject the plan of God for our life.

Adam and Eve proved unable to resist temptation and forfeited their place at God’s side.

As their descendants, each of us has likewise elected to sin and have therefore lost the right to the promise of God concerning companionship and eternal life.

God’s plan didn’t change when humans sinned it just became more complicated!

Thankfully our Heavenly Father foresaw our predicament and planned accordingly.

*

*God established the law of the Kinsman-Redeemer.

/If a human being sells or gives away his right to spend eternity in the company of God that right is forever lost unless either the individual or his lawful surrogate can meet the redemption price./

The price is beyond our ability to pay – once a sinner always a sinner!

The qualifications for the Kinsman-Redeemer are only three (Leviticus 25):  the redeemer had to be of the /same blood/, the redeemer had to have the /price of redemption/, and the redeemer had to be /willing to pay the price/.

Jesus entered this world to live among us and experience what it means to be human.

To reclaim God’s creation and make salvation available, it was necessary that He satisfy the last two requirements of the Kinsman Redeemer.

Jesus lived a perfect and sinless life and then willingly went to the cross in our stead!

*

*Matthew chapter four established Jesus’ bona fides.

The Lord submitted His life for Satan’s testing.

*

**

*I.

Jesus Was Really Tempted*

* *

*A.

Only a limited being could be tempted*

*1.

Jesus emptied Himself of divine attributes*

*2.

He was subject to the frailties of the flesh; hunger, thirst, doubt, fear, etc.*

*B.

He is our example*

*1.

Satan would have us doubt God*

*2.

He “ifs” us into submission*

*C.

He passed every test-proving He could pay*

*1.

Tempted to use power selfishly*

*2.

Tempted to use power foolishly*

*3.

Tempted to compromise*

* *

*II.

He Was Willing To Meet the Cost*

* *

*A.

There in the garden He was tempted again*

*1.

To forsake the will of God*

*2.

To allow humans to suffer and die*

*3.

His disciples could not remain awake for even an hour*

*B.

On the cross He could still have refused to pay the price*

*1.      “Not my will but Thine be done”*

*2.      “Father forgive them for they know not what they do”*

* *

*Jesus was worthy, Jesus was willing, and Jesus was able to satisfy God’s every requirement.

His effort alone has made it possible for us to stand at God’s side throughout eternity!

Let us never forget that the Devil is a conquered enemy.

He may assail us, torture and try us but he can never have us!*