Identity and Assurance: Christ's Victory Over Temptation

Today, we gathered as a family of faith to celebrate the goodness of God, to welcome new members into our community, and to root ourselves again in the truth of the gospel and our identity as beloved children of the King. We rejoiced in the vibrancy of our ministries and the ways God is using this church to reach and serve our neighbors. As we welcomed new families, we were reminded of our covenant commitment to one another: to pray, encourage, and call each other to faithfulness, and to walk together as disciples who make disciples.

Turning to Matthew 4, we reflected on Jesus’ temptation in the wilderness. This moment in Jesus’ life is not just about resisting temptation, but about revealing who Jesus truly is—the faithful Son of God, the true Israel, and the second Adam. Where Israel failed in the wilderness and Adam failed in the garden, Jesus stood firm, trusting in the provision and promises of the Father. The temptations Jesus faced—proving himself, manipulating God, and promoting himself—mirror the temptations we encounter, but Jesus’ victory is our hope. His faithfulness in the face of temptation is credited to us when we are united to him by faith.

The enemy’s first attack was on Jesus’ identity: “If you are the Son of God…” In the same way, we are often tempted to doubt or misuse our identity as God’s beloved. The devil delights in sowing seeds of doubt, making us question whether our failures or sins have put us outside of God’s grace. Yet, our assurance is not in our performance, but in Christ’s finished work. We are called to rest in the truth that we belong, body and soul, to our faithful Savior.

We also saw the danger of misusing our identity—living in “cheap grace” or twisting Scripture to justify sin. The devil himself quoted Scripture to Jesus, but out of context and for his own agenda. We are called not just to know the words of Scripture, but to know the God of Scripture, to let his Word shape our hearts and lives. Jesus’ victory in the wilderness was rooted in his deep communion with the Father, his trust in God’s Word, and his refusal to use his identity for selfish ends.

As we go forward, we are invited to follow Jesus’ example: to immerse ourselves in Scripture, meditate on its truth, and pray for the Spirit’s assurance and guidance. In our moments of temptation and doubt, we run to Christ, who is faithful and who holds us fast.

Key Takeaways

• 1. Jesus as the True Israel and Second Adam Jesus’ journey into the wilderness mirrors Israel’s journey and Adam’s testing, but where they failed, Jesus remained faithful. His victory over temptation is not just an example, but a substitution—his faithfulness is credited to us. This invites us to see our own wilderness experiences as places where Christ’s victory is made real in us, not by our strength, but by our union with him. [34:21]
• 2. The Enemy Attacks Our Identity First The devil’s opening move was to question Jesus’ identity as the beloved Son, just as he often tempts us to doubt our status as God’s children. Our assurance is not found in our feelings or performance, but in the unchanging declaration of God over us. When we are tempted to believe our failures have disqualified us, we must remember that Christ’s faithfulness secures our place in the family of God. [40:32]
• 3. The Subtle Danger of Misusing Grace and Scripture Temptation often comes not just as outright rebellion, but as a twisting of God’s Word or a presumption upon his grace. Living in “cheap grace” means using our identity as an excuse to sin, rather than as a call to holiness. We must be vigilant not only to know Scripture, but to interpret it rightly, letting it lead us toward repentance and deeper trust in God’s character. [47:00]
• 4. Knowing the God of the Word, Not Just the Words of God It is not enough to have Scripture memorized or to know theological facts; true transformation comes when we know and trust the God who speaks through his Word. Jesus’ resistance to temptation was rooted in his relationship with the Father, not just his knowledge of Scripture. Our spiritual practices—reading, meditation, and prayer—must move us from head knowledge to heart transformation. [51:37]
• 5. Assurance and Security in Christ Alone When doubts arise about our salvation or our place in God’s family, we are called to run to Christ, whose sacrifice is sufficient forever. The Spirit assures us that we belong to God, and nothing—not even our deepest failures—can separate us from his love. In temptation and trial, our hope is not in our own resolve, but in the faithfulness of Jesus, who holds us fast and will never let us go. [55:07]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [01:10] - Announcements and Community Picnic
• [04:32] - Ministry Opportunities and Volunteer Needs
• [07:45] - Welcoming New Members
• [13:20] - Congregational Promises and Apostles’ Creed
• [22:22] - Introduction to Matthew 4
• [28:26] - Jesus’ Temptation in the Wilderness
• [31:23] - The Purpose of Matthew’s Gospel
• [33:45] - Jesus as True Israel and Second Adam
• [36:38] - Jesus’ Faithfulness in Temptation
• [39:32] - The Devil’s Attack on Identity
• [42:07] - Our Identity as God’s Beloved
• [46:25] - The Danger of Cheap Grace and Twisted Scripture
• [49:37] - The Importance of Rightly Handling God’s Word
• [51:37] - Knowing the God of the Word
• [55:07] - Assurance, Spiritual Practices, and Closing Prayer
• [59:32] - Benediction and Sending

Bible Reading

Matthew 4:1-11 (ESV) — Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. And the tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” But he answered, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”
Then the devil took him to the holy city and set him on the pinnacle of the temple and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written, ‘He will command his angels concerning you,’ and ‘On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.’” Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’”
Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to him, “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.” Then Jesus said to him, “Be gone, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.’”
Then the devil left him, and behold, angels came and were ministering to him.

Observation Questions

1. What are the three specific temptations the devil brings to Jesus in the wilderness? How does Jesus respond to each one? ([29:36])
2. According to the sermon, what is the significance of Jesus quoting from Deuteronomy during his temptations? ([35:31])
3. How does the devil attack Jesus’ identity, and how does this connect to what happened at Jesus’ baptism? ([40:32])
4. What does the sermon say about the devil’s use of Scripture in the second temptation? ([46:25])

Interpretation Questions

1. The sermon says Jesus is the “true Israel” and the “second Adam.” What does it mean that Jesus succeeded where Israel and Adam failed? How does this shape our understanding of Jesus’ mission? ([34:21])
2. Why is it important that our assurance as God’s children is based on Christ’s faithfulness and not our own performance? ([44:25])
3. The sermon warns about “cheap grace” and twisting Scripture. What are some ways Christians today might misuse their identity or God’s Word? ([47:00])
4. According to the sermon, why is it not enough to just know Bible verses or theological facts? What is the difference between knowing the words of God and knowing the God of the Word? ([51:37])

Application Questions

1. The devil’s first attack was on Jesus’ identity as the beloved Son. When have you felt tempted to doubt your identity as God’s beloved child? What triggered those doubts, and how did you respond? ([40:32])
2. The sermon talks about “cheap grace”—using our identity as an excuse to sin. Are there areas in your life where you find yourself presuming on God’s grace instead of seeking to grow in holiness? What would repentance look like in those areas? ([47:00])
3. The devil quoted Scripture out of context to tempt Jesus. Have you ever seen or experienced Scripture being used to justify something you knew was wrong? How can you guard against misusing God’s Word in your own life? ([46:25])
4. Jesus’ victory in the wilderness was rooted in his deep relationship with the Father. What are some practical ways you can deepen your relationship with God this week—through Scripture, prayer, or other spiritual practices? ([51:37])
5. The sermon says our hope and security are found in Christ’s faithfulness, not our own. When you struggle with guilt or shame over past failures, what helps you remember and rest in Christ’s finished work? ([55:07])
6. The church welcomed new members and reminded everyone of their covenant to pray for, encourage, and call each other to faithfulness. Who in your life can you encourage or pray for this week as part of living out this covenant commitment? ([20:10])
7. The sermon suggests that our “wilderness” experiences can be places where Christ’s victory becomes real in us. Is there a current struggle or “wilderness” in your life where you need to trust in Jesus’ faithfulness instead of your own strength? ([34:21])