Beyond the Walls with Jeremy Thomas
Jeremy approaches Bible teaching with a passion for getting the basic doctrines explained so that the individual can understand them and then apply them to circumstances in their life. These basic and important lessons are nestled in a framework of history and progression of revelation from the Bible so the whole of Scripture can be applied to your physical and spiritual life.
Beyond the Walls with Jeremy Thomas
NT Framework - Impeccable
Big word, bigger idea. And confusing to us because the word and the doctrine it represents doesn't get much attention.
More information about Beyond the Walls, including additional resources can be found at www.beyondthewalls-ministry.com
This series included graphics to illustrate what is being taught, if you would like to watch the teachings you can do so on Rumble (https://rumble.com/user/SpokaneBibleChurch) or on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLtV_KhFVZ_waBcnuywiRKIyEcDkiujRqP).
Jeremy Thomas is the pastor at Spokane Bible Church in Spokane, Washington and a professor at Chafer Theological Seminary. He has been teaching the Bible for over 20 years, always seeking to present its truths in a clear and understandable manner.
Welcome to Beyond the Walls with Jeremy Thomas and our series on the New Testament Framework. Today a smaller, bite-sized piece from the larger lesson. We hope you enjoy it.
Speaker 2:This doctrine is based on the definition of the hypostatic union that we've already discussed. It's also based on the definition of the kenosis that we've already discussed. So this doctrine, what's it all about? Well, it's about the question of whether jesus could truly be tempted as we are, since he was god and god can't be tempted to sin. James 1 14. James 1 14, make sure you understand. Let's look at that. James 1 14, because that's that's a presupposition for following the argument. James 1, 13 and 14, especially 13. James 1, 13. Let no one say, when he is tempted, I am being tempted by God, for God cannot be tempted by evil and he himself does not tempt anyone. So can God be tempted by evil and he himself does not tempt anyone. So can God be tempted by evil? Can God be tempted to sin? No, okay, so was Jesus God. Well then, was Jesus tempted to sin? Do you see the? Because we just read it. In Hebrewsrews 4, 15, it says jesus was tempted in all things as we, yet without sin. So the text is saying he's tempted, but the text also says god can't be tempted, and the text also says jesus is god. So the trouble with this doctrine is trying to organize those three statements. Okay, do you see why it's so?
Speaker 2:Let's talk a little bit about this English word impeccable. Remember I told you in third grade I was a really good speller. I was still pretty good at it. I'm still pretty decent today, but I got a 100 on my spelling paper and my teacher wrote impeccable on there. I think she thought he'll look this up. He's a good speller, he's going to look this up, which I did, and this is what you'll find. It comes from the Latin in pecare, which is not to sin, not to sin, so flawless, not capable of sinning, not liable to sin. That's what the word in English means. And sin, of course. Course means missing the mark. So if you're impeccable, you're not, it's, you're not capable of sinning, you're not capable of missing the mark. It was.
Speaker 2:Sin is also, of course, was an archery term. Many, many Christians have heard this. It was a talk about missing the mark, you know. So in archery, if you miss the mark, that meant you missed the bullseye and they called that sin. That's what they would say he sinned. Today we'd say what he missed the bullseye, yeah. Yeah, that's what it means you sinned, you missed the mark. So an archer who was not capable of sinning, was a perfect archer. It means he always hit the bullseye, right? The question becomes was Jesus Christ perfect? Did he always hit the bullseye? Did he never sin? Okay, well, the Bible says Jesus never sinned, right? I mean, we've already gone through a lot of these verses.
Speaker 2:Luke 1.35 says the child that was in Mary would be a holy child. Holy meaning set apart or separate, so of course sinless. Right. John 8.46,. When Jesus himself confronted the crowd and said which one of you convicts me of sin? Go ahead anybody. Now if I said that there might be a room full of people that could come up here and give testimony that I have sinned, but nobody was able to convict him of any sin. That's one of the most astonishing things that the Lord Jesus Christ did. Anybody convict me of any sin here? Anyone, anyone. It's a remarkable thing Nobody came forward.
Speaker 2:Romans 8.3,. He came in the likeness of sinful flesh. In other words, he looked like a true human being, just like you and I, but he didn't have sinful flesh. Right. 2 Corinthians 5.21,. He who knew no sin became sin on our behalf, that we might become the righteousness of God through faith in him. He knew no sin. He never sinned.
Speaker 2:Hebrews 4.14 and 15,. Tempted in all things as we, yet without sin, which we already saw. Hebrews 7.26,. He was holy, innocent, undefiled and separated from sinners. I mean unique, right, totally unique member of the human race. 1 Peter 1, 19,. He was precious, unblemished, spotless, all signifying his sinlessness. And in 1, 3, 5 in him is no sin.
Speaker 2:So the bible says jesus never sinned, right? I mean there's no question, the bible never. The bible teaches that. Yet.
Speaker 2:Yet, very interestingly, jesus appears to have been rude to people. Matthew 12, 34 you brood of vip vipers who warned you of the wrath to come. I mean, how would you like that if somebody called you and your group, your posse, a brood of vipers? Is that nice talk? No, it's not nice talk. In Matthew 15, 7, 7, he says you hypocrites. I think if some people heard that one today they'd be uh, I don't think so. I mean we're gonna have a fight.
Speaker 2:What about the Syrophoenician woman in Matthew 15, 26, where he called you and me and every Gentile in the world dog? Because we don't throw our? The Jews said we don't throw our things, our good stuff, to dogs. How does that make you feel? Dogs are considered an unclean animal. They didn't have pets in their homes, in Jewish homes in that time. What was it that ate Ahab and cleaned up Jezebel off the sidewalk? They were eaten by dogs, wild dogs. It's a very despicable way to die and to be cleaned up. So you know he called people that. She said what Even the dogs eat the crumbs from the master's table. What'd she do? She humbled herself because she recognized that salvation is of the Jews and we have to come to the Jewish people, and especially the Jewish Messiah, to get salvation. And if that meant deprecating herself and saying, hey, I get it, I'm just a dog. But hey, we get crumbs from you, spiritual crumbs. And the Lord said, okay, okay, so he listened to her.
Speaker 1:Thank you for joining us on Beyond the Walls with Jeremy Thomas. If you would like to see the visuals that went along with today's sermon, you can find those on Rumble and on YouTube under Spokane Bible Church. That is where Jeremy is the pastor and teacher. We hope you found today's lesson productive and useful in growing closer to God and walking more obediently with Him. If you found this podcast to be useful and helpful, then please consider rating us in your favorite podcast app and until next time, we hope you have a blessed and wonderful day.