For verily He took not on Him
the nature of angels; but He
took on Him the seed of Abraham.
Wherefore in all things it behoved
Him to be made like unto His brethren,
that He might be a merciful and faithful
high priest in things pertaining to God,
to make reconciliation for the sins of
the people. For in that He Himself hath
suffered being tempted, He is able
to succour them that are tempted.
Hebrews 2:16-18
Jesus Christ did not take on the nature of angels and the Greek word: επιμβάνεται, is in the middle passive voice so it is to be translated to take hold of, or take on, so it must be understood that Jesus was not an angel so if He was then this word would not apply to Him. Jesus was something else than an angel. What was that something else? He was and is God, God as the Second Person of the Godhead, the Trinity. Jehovah Witnesses who follow Arius and the theology of Arius are wrong, Jesus was not created to be another god. God would not allow another being to be the one who succored justice for Him, this would be as though God was sort of wringing His hand wondering if this other created being would be sinless. No! God determined to do what no other creature could do and not have the chance to sin and lose what He had willed to be done: satisfaction for the debt of sin that man could not satisfy. God sent His Wisdom, the Word, His Word, to secure payment and this required that God, His Wisdom, would take on the nature of man. God planted into Mary Holy Seed and that Seed conjoined with the seed of Mary making that which was born to be flesh and blood and at the same time be God in the flesh. Now, the debt could be paid. Payment was made by God Himself to Himself but it required that the Son of God, the Only Begotten Son of God come to earth, live as man, as a man, suffer, and die, die sinless. Jesus felt all that every man feels. Jesus lived the life of men, He became tired, He ate, He slept, He prayed to the Father as a man, and with all the temptations that surrounded Him He did not falter and succumb to sin, therefore He died as a man sinless.
This shows to us the mercy and love of God for His creation, men. God sent to us a High Priest, and this means that as a High Priest He can represent us to God. Jesus by His death, His sinless life, now can make reconciliation for the sins of men. Jesus is the propitiation for sin. God did this not just for Himself, but for you and me. The door is open for men to come to Him for He calls men to Himself and enables men to have faith in Him and in His Son Jesus Christ. By coming and answering this call of God and putting your faith in Jesus Christ, His work upon the cross and having lived life as a man facing all kinds of temptations and not sinning then we took when tempted can do exactly what Jesus did: Stay connected to God. To stay connected to God requires a change, a change in your thinking, a change in your life, you must change from the inside/out for if this change does not occur then you will never manifest this love and mercy of God. You can say you have changed, but if it is hidden from view then it is doubtful if it is really true. But, if your change, your conversion to Jesus Christ is manifested then all can see that this change is a fact. Not by works alone, but by your life that has conformed to the commands of God. You go about your life living in a right relationship with Jesus and when tempted you do not have to decide if it is right or wrong, you will know what it is and avoid without much thought any temptation. You live for and with Jesus Christ. He lived for you! So live for Him!
He that turneth away form hearing
the law, even his prayer shall be
abomination. Whoso causeth the
righteous to go astray in an evil way,
he shall fall himself into his own pit:
but the upright shall have good things
in possession.
Proverbs 28:9-10
You have help in temptation
Richard L. Crumb
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