For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh. Romans 8:3
A friend was showing me a watch that he bought for what he believed was a bargain. On the face is the crown logo and name of Rolex. And it has the familiar oyster case that one expects of a Rolex. Shortly after he bought the watch from someone who ‘needed the money in a hurry’, the watch stopped working. That’s highly unusual for a Rolex. So he took it to a repair shop to find out what was wrong. The repair technician smiled and shook his head. He pointed to the works inside the watch, and said those works had come from one of the most inexpensive watches on the market. My friend had not bought a Rolex at all; he had bought a likeless of a Rolex. And my friend discovered how huge a difference that makes. Just as our verse reminds us of the huge difference between sinful flesh and the likeness of sinful flesh.
Some people will insist that our text is proof that the Lord Jesus was in sinful flesh. It proves no such thing! His flesh was no more sinful than my friend had bought a Rolex watch. It is true that He (the Word) was made flesh and dwelt among us (John 1:14). But that flesh was not, and could not, be sinful. God had promised in Eden that the seed of the woman would bruise the serpent’s hesd. And the Lord Jesus was the Seed of the woman, born uniquely of a virgin after Mary was conceived of the Holy Ghost. Throughout His life, He proved by His words and deeds that He did not and could not sin. Although Pontius Pilate sentenced Him to be crucified, he did so only after declaring Him innocent of the charges against Him. The malefactor beside Him on the cross spoke divine truth when he said ‘This man hath done nothing amiss’ (Luke 23:41). The centurian who commanded the crucifixion detail also proclaimed Him righteous (Luke 23:47). Only by being the spotless Lamb of God could He be our sacrifice. Only by being a sinless man could He take our place under the wrath of God.
That the Lord Jesus was in the likeness of sinful flesh means He could face all the temptations, the emotions, and the agonies that are integral to our mortal bodies. We read of the Lord Jesus being wearied, being thirsty, being hungry, being filled with grief, and many of the other things that you and I experience. He went further; it was in His human body that He endured the intense sorrow of Gethsemane, the incredible shame of Gabbatha, and the indescribable suffering of Golgotha.
Thanks be to God for sending His Son in the likeness of sinful flesh. Thanks be to the Son for what He endured in that flesh for us. -Jim MacIntosh