“For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.” (1 John 2:16)

We grow up “in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation,” suffering temptations from three angles (Philippians 2:15). One angle tempts us to fulfill “the lust of the flesh.” “The lust of the eyes” tempts us to desire that which is off limits, and “the pride of life” tempts us “to think of [ourselves] more highly than [we] ought to think” (Romans 12:3). Even worse, no one has the power to deliver himself from these three angles. “O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?” (Romans 7:24). Jesus can deliver! He offers freedom from each angle of temptation.

Satan approached Eve and Adam, who succumbed to all three temptations (Genesis 3:6). We inherit their sin nature since we descended from them. But Matthew 4:1-11 records how Jesus followed His Father when the devil tempted Him in the same three ways. He “was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin” (Hebrews 4:15). His victories qualify Him to free us!

“But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ” (Ephesians 2:13). Those who trust Christ for new life can live it with three new freedoms: to serve the Father instead of the flesh, to desire Him over the world’s lousy substitutes for knowing Him, and to enjoy His acceptance instead of having to pridefully labor to be somebody. “But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life” (Romans 6:22). BDT