Conservative – con·ser·va·tive
adj.

1. Favoring traditional views and values; tending to oppose change.
2. Traditional or restrained in style: a conservative dark suit.
3. Moderate; cautious: a conservative estimate.

n.

1. One favoring traditional views and values.
2. A supporter of political conservatism.

Radical – rad·i·cal
adj.

1. Arising from or going to a root or source;
2. Departing markedly from the usual or customary;
3. Favoring or effecting fundamental or revolutionary changes in current practices, conditions, or institutions

n.

1. One who advocates fundamental or revolutionary changes in current practices, conditions, or institutions: radicals seeking to overthrow the social order.

Harry Reid: “The nomination of Judge Alito requires an especially long, hard look by the Senate because of what happened last week to Harriet Miers. Conservative activists forced Miers to withdraw from consideration for this same Supreme Court seat because she was not radical enough for them. Now the Senate needs to find out if the man replacing Miers is too radical for the American people.”

Technically speaking, isn’t a “radical conservative” an oxymoron? Didn’t Reid probably mean “militant” or something?

Could Jesus have sinned? This is a most difficult question. If Jesus could not sin, was he really “tempted as we are” (Heb 4:15)? His human nature was indeed tempted to sin but he never did. Had he sinned, he could not atone for our sins. Grudem, in chapter 26 of his Systematic Theology reminds us that the scriptures go only so far on this issue and we must take care in formulating our answer. We must affirm that Jesus was tempted and that God cannot be tempted (James 1:13). Any answer to this question must be honest to both of these truths.

It seems to me that Jesus’ human nature, being truly human, could be tempted to sin. Yet, since he lacked inherited guilt, he remained free to choose not to sin. Since his human and divine natures are perfectly united in him, his divine nature would have constrained his humanity to not sin. This is not a conflict within the persons or the wills of Jesus, this is Jesus human nature doing what humanity should do: depend upon God for strength in the face of temptation. Could he have sinned? No, he was doing what a perfect human would do: trusting in God. Was he truly tempted to sin? Yes, his human nature, being what it is was was weak in relation to temptation but was strong in the power of the Lord.