Wednesday, April 11, 2018

Jesus' Sinless Humanity

"For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin" (Hebrews 4:15).

Jesus was fully God; He was also fully man. He became man in order to save us from our sins. To represent humanity before the Father, He had to be a man. Let us consider an important aspect of this matter, which is that Christ was absolutely sinless.

Some liberal theologians have objected to the doctrine of the sinlessness of Christ. They maintain that in order for Jesus to be like us, and to be truly human, He must have sinned. Against this is the clear statement of the New Testament that Jesus was without sin.

Also against it are a couple of logical considerations. First, if sinfulness is part of the definition of humanity, then Adam and Eve were created sinful by God. God becomes responsible for making Adam and Eve sinful. Second, if sinfulness is part of the definition of humanity, then when we are glorified in the new heavens and new earth, and are sinless, we shall no longer be human!

The atheist philosopher Bertrand Russell argued that it was wicked of Jesus to threaten men with hell. He was simply bullying people, said Russell, and it is cruel to browbeat men with a threat of eternal fire. Well, this would be true if there were no such thing as hell. But suppose that there is? Suppose hell is real? In that case, the most loving thing Jesus could do would be to warn men day and night to flee the wrath to come. Since the Bible clearly teaches that there is a hell of eternal torment, certainly Jesus was not being mean in telling people about it!

Why did Jesus have to be sinless? Our salvation has two aspects to it. First, our sins were put upon Jesus Christ and He took the punishment that we deserve. Second, however, Jesus’ perfect obedience and righteousness were given to us, so that we are made righteous in the eyes of God the Father. Apart from this, we could not be saved.

Attempt to understand today some of the staggering implications of Christ’s sinlessness. He had no sin of commission or omission; no sin in thought, word, deed, or intention. Compare your life and actions to Christ’s and renew your dependence on Him alone.