"For such a High Priest was fitting for us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners" (Heb. 7:26).
Another common question regarding the person and work of Christ is “Why did He have to be sinless?”
Some people have argued that Jesus must have been a sinner because He was birthed by Mary—a sinner herself. She was born with original sin. The Catholic Church has sought to deal with this by maintaining the sinlessness of Mary, which enjoys no biblical support. It even asserts that she was conceived without sin. This false doctrine is called the immaculate conception.
The Bible doesn’t explain how Christ’s humanity was kept free from original sin. Nor does it reveal how original sin is translated from parent to child. But mystery is not contradiction. And mysterious though the doctrine may be, the Word of God is crystal clear about the sinlessness of Christ. The Scriptures stand on their own testimony, and—contrary to some beliefs—Jesus did not have to be a sinner to be fully human.
If Jesus had been a sinner, He would have needed a savior Himself. He would not have been qualified to save others. Two things had to occur for the Messiah to mediate between fallen man and God: He had to fulfill the requirements of the law perfectly (which would mean that He had to be sinless inwardly and outwardly), and He had to receive the penalty of death. Innocence was prefigured in the Jewish sacrificial system in which only a spotless animal could be placed on the altar. Only a spotless sacrifice would do: “… the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot” (1 Peter 1:19).
There are many biblical proofs for the sinlessness of Christ. Here are a few:
“For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin” (Heb. 4:15).
“For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us” (2 Cor. 5:21).
“For such a High Priest was fitting for us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners” (Heb. 7:26).
Hallelujah! What a Savior!
Read Hebrews 4:15, 5:2, 7–9. What do these passages say about the difficulty of Christ’s earthly ministry? Do you ever find it difficult to ask for Christ’s help? Christ has suffered in many ways, and He continually intercedes in your behalf. Go to Him today, confess your sins, and be encouraged by His love and grace.