======================================================================== THE MORE A CHRISTIAN IS TEMPTED by Thomas Brooks ======================================================================== Summary: Temptations are a means by which God conforms us to the image of Christ, making us more like Him in meekness, lowliness, holiness, and heavenliness. Topics: "Transformation in Christ", "Temptation" Scripture References: Psalm 119:71, Matthew 5:10, Romans 8:29, 2 Corinthians 3:18, Philippians 3:20, 2 Timothy 3:12, Hebrews 4:15, James 1:2-4, 1 Peter 1:6-7, 1 John 2:15-17 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ DESCRIPTION ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Thomas Brooks emphasizes that while God had only one Son without corruption, all His children face temptation. He explains that temptations serve to mold Christians into the likeness of Christ, as they draw closer to Him through their struggles. The more a Christian is tempted, the more they reflect Christ's qualities such as meekness and holiness. Tempted souls look to Jesus for support, and through this reliance, they experience transformation and growth in their faith. Ultimately, temptations help believers to see sin as more detestable and the world as less appealing. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ CONTENT ------------------------------------------------------------------------ God had but one Son without corruption--but He had none without temptation! By temptations the Lord will make His people more and more conformable to the image of His Son. Christ was much tempted--He was often in the school of temptation; and the more a Christian is tempted, the more into the likeness of Christ he will be transformed. The most tempted Christians do most resemble Christ in meekness, lowliness, holiness, heavenliness, etc. The image of Christ is most fairly stamped upon tempted souls. Tempted souls are much in looking up to Jesus-- and every gracious look upon Christ changes the soul more and more into the image of Christ. Tempted souls experience much of the succouring of Christ, and the more they experience the sweet of the succourings of Christ--the more they grow up into the likeness of Christ. Temptations are the tools by which the Father does more and more carve, form, and fashion His precious saints into the similitude and likeness of His dearest Son. By temptations, God makes . . . sin more hateful, and the world less delightful, and relations less hurtful. ======================================================================== Source: https://sermonindex.net/speakers/thomas-brooks/the-more-a-christian-is-tempted/ ========================================================================