The New Testament Witness to Christ and His Kingdom, Student Workbook, SW13

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T H E N E W T E S T A M E N T W I T N E S S T O C H R I S T A N D H I S K I N G D O M

Could Jesus Have Sinned?

In a lively Sunday School class on the book of Mark, a student raises their hand and asks a question regarding the nature of Jesus’ humanity. In discussing the temptation of Jesus in the wilderness, the student asks, “If Jesus was a human being, just like us in every way except that he did not commit any sin– does that mean that he could not have sinned in the wilderness? And if he could not have sinned, was he really tempted at all?” How would you attempt to answer the student’s question concerning Jesus’s ability to say “Yes!” or “No!” to temptation?

The Messiah Announced

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Segment 1: Jesus’ Birth and Childhood

Rev. Dr. Don L. Davis

In studying the life and person of Jesus Christ, we must understand the importance of prophecy as a witness to the true identity of the Messiah. The concept of Messiah is central to the understanding of the Old Testament, the key to the promise to Abraham, and the renewal of that covenant through Isaac and Jacob, through Judah and David, and finally to the history of Mary, Joseph, and Jesus of Nazareth. A diligent study of the Scriptures should lead the seeker to an awareness of the historical climate and conditions that occurred prior to Jesus’ birth and childhood, and how those conditions and events affected his early years in Israel. Our objective for this segment, Jesus’ Birth and Childhood , is to enable you to see that: • The study of Messiah is rooted in the Old Testament’s motif of promise and fulfillment through God’s covenant promise with Abraham, and through him to Isaac, Jacob, Judah, and David. • The historical climate and conditions around the time of Messiah’s coming were critical to his arrival in the world. • The birth and infancy narratives of Jesus provide key insight into the person and work of Jesus, both in terms of his identity and his purpose in coming to earth as God’s anointed Messiah. • The New Testament reveals in the Gospel accounts of the Apostles that the person of Jesus of Nazareth is the Messiah, the one chosen and anointed by God to fulfill his promise for salvation, redemption, and revelation.

Summary of Segment 1