If you are the Son of God…

If you are the Son of God… The principalities and powers heard the Voice, This is my Son, and they heard the testimonies of John. The Son of God famished? How could it be that God would be weak; isn’t this just a man.

Did God say…

The first temptation in Genesis. Did God say?

Then the promise, you will be like God… and the fruit was good for food; and the first trespass.

And sin came into the world, as Paul tells us by one man. The sin? An offence against God’s command not to eat.

Jesus knows and affirms and counters from the law , “It is written, ‘One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” Truly we are sustained by the Father in community and in the breaking of bread and, in affliction, it is the voice of God that keeps us nourished.

“If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” Not just one loaf but many! One loaf would be enough. Give us today our daily bread we are taught to pray..

“If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down.”

Jesus answers from Psalm 91, stopping short at the verse, … the serpent you will trample under foot; the prophecy in Genesis, believed by Christians to promise salvation from the sin of the world. The true sign of God’s sonship is the life, the Cross and resurrection of Jesus the Christ not a pointless dare. Did the snake hear Genesis in the answer?’ I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will strike your head, and you will strike his heel.’

“All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.” This is the slavery to the world offered from which we are redeemed in the Cross. …death spread to all because all have sinned, Paul tells us. We are held in captivity to sin, to the rule of death and violence; of subjecting and subjugation. This is what is on offer; slavery.

Jesus has the authority of the rule of God, “Away with you, Satan! for it is written, ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him.’” Then the devil left him, and suddenly angels came and waited on him.

And this is where we must rest too. Sin tempts us to fall short, to not be content with the word of the Father in our hearts that speaks so that we might know him sustaining us. The sin in the world seeks to make us miss the mark in tempting us to a longing for more than we need, vain glory and power.

Church listen: God’s rule is not of this world. In our sinning our guilt is in falling short, of beholding the tree of life and believing a lie. The rule of God is always there for us.

In Christ we are saved from the sin of the world, from slavery to the system that enslaves us with lies. God always sets before us the good. We know this and aim for the target and sometimes miss. But the free gift is not like the trespass.

Paul writes

For the judgment following one trespass brought condemnation, but the gift following many trespasses brings justification. If, because of the one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one, much more surely will those who receive the abundance of grace and the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ.

Paul continues, one man’s act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all.

Think hard about this.

The LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to till it and keep it.

God’s purposes will not fail; Eden is in our hearts; we are temples of the Holy Spirit; there is life for all.

The psalmist writes:

Happy are those whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.
Happy are those to whom the LORD imputes no iniquity and in whose spirit there is no deceit.

This is our inheritance in Christ and was ever so. And sin is in the world so we need to be aware and keep a short account of sin.

Then I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not hide my iniquity; I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD,” and you forgave the guilt of my sin.

In this we are reassured and stand on truth, the steadfastness of God.

Therefore let all who are faithful offer prayer to you; at a time of distress, the rush of mighty waters shall not reach them.
You are a hiding place for me; you preserve me from trouble; you surround me with glad cries of deliverance.

God’s promise in all circumstances is to be with us and for us.

I will instruct you and teach you the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you.
Do not be like a horse or a mule, without understanding, whose temper must be curbed with bit and bridle, else it will not stay near you.
Many are the torments of the wicked, but steadfast love surrounds those who trust in the LORD.
Be glad in the LORD and rejoice, O righteous, and shout for joy, all you upright in heart.

Grace and peace