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The Golden Chain - Robert J. Wieland

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ut Christ assures us that He did have such a holy<br />

conflict "even unto blood."<br />

Again let it be emphasized that "tension" is not<br />

sin; temptation is not sin; wrestling with temptation<br />

to indulge self is not sin. A consciousness of self is<br />

not sin. <strong>The</strong> possession of a self that is opposed to<br />

the Father's will is not sin. Yielding to self is sin.<br />

And that, Christ never did.<br />

This is the crux of the problem—seeing Christ<br />

as He truly is apart from the clouds of confusion<br />

thrown up by the Antichrist of 1 John 4. This is no<br />

mere tempest in a theological teapot. It has a direct<br />

bearing on the spiritual and moral health of the<br />

church. Our teens desperately need a Saviour who<br />

is "nigh at hand and not afar off." And so do we<br />

all!<br />

20. Is this not a new idea—that Christ knew<br />

such an inner struggle? Is it not the usual idea<br />

that Christ's personal righteousness was innate<br />

and not by faith, that His temptations were<br />

external? Are you sure that He experienced a<br />

57

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