Triumphant over temptation
Christ’s triumph over temptation has huge significance for us. Adam’s failure brought misery for us. He passed on the effects of his failure to all who derive their life from him. By nature we belong to Adam, who failed. We share in his failure. We are ‘under sin’ (Rom. 3:9).
But Christ’s triumph brings hope for us. As Adam passed on the effects of his failure to all who derive their life from him, so Christ passes on the effects of his triumph to all who draw new life from him. By grace and through faith we belong to Christ who triumphed. We share in his triumph. We are ‘under grace’ (Rom. 6:14).
The weakness of Adam, who failed, is in you, so be on your guard against temptation. But the strength of Christ, who triumphed, is also in you by the Holy Spirit, so when we are tempted, we can stand firm.
The Plan
(Wheaton, Ill.: Crossway Books, 2011), 17
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