The Sinlessness of Christ
The Sinlessness of Christ
INTRODUCTION
We have learned that Jesus was born without original sin, without a sin nature, by virtue of the fact that He was virgin-born, without a human father. In this lesson we go one step farther and show that Jesus lived His whole life without sin, without committing one sin. He lived and died without a taint of sin.
It is true that Jesus Christ was not a hybrid, half God and half man. He was true man and true God, without being a mixture of the two natures. the two natures of the Saviour were separate and distinct in every respect. The manhood of Jesus is essentially one with ours. It is a distinctive human phenomenon. He was an ideal man. He was a perfect and normal man.
Jesus is unique because of His life of sinlessness, a completely unspotted life.
THEMEANING OF THE SINLESSNESS OF CHRIST
Sinfulness is a want of conformity to the will of God. Sinlessness is complete conformity to the will of God. Hebrews 10:7, "Lo, I come. . . to do Thy will, 0 God" Psalms 17:4, "I have finished the work which Thou gavest Me to do. " Sinfulness is antagonism toward the will of God and deviating toward the path of sin.
Sin is external (lying, stealing, murder) but it is also internal. Matthew 15:19, the thoughts of the heart being the root of later evil actions.
Jesus was sinless both externally and internally.
He completely conformed to that which is wholly good and holy at all times.
Hebrews 7:26 describes the sinlessness of Christ as being". . . holy, harmless (guileless), undefiled, separate from sinners." Holy means free from defilement.
Peter describes this sinlessness as being". . . as of a lamb without blemish and without spot," 1 Peter 1:19. This thought occurs in Hebrews 9:14, too.
THE FACT OF THE SINLESSNESS OF CHRIST
In Acts 4:27-30, the expression, "Thy holy child Jesus" occurs twice, signifying that from birth He was holy, pure, sinless, and free from defilement. The devils recognize Jesus as the Holy One of God: Mark 1:24. The demons in Luke 4:34 cried out, "I know Thee who Thou art; the Holy One of God." The strongest proof of the sinlessness of Christ is not the testimony of the devils but the plain, inspired Word of God.
We believe God’s Word is true.
1 Peter 2:21-22, "Christ. . . did no sin, neither was guile found in His mouth." 1 John 3:5, "And ye know that He was manifested to take away our sins; in Him is no sin." Absolutely not a trace of sin in our Blessed Saviour.
1Cor. 5:21, "For He bath made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin," that is, He never became acquainted with sin. Jesus and sin were total strangers.
Hebrews 4:15, "For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin."
1 John 3:3, everyone who has the hope of the Second Coming of Christ will ". . . purify himself, even as He is pure." Jesus Christ was perfect purity.
TESTIMONY REGARDING THE SINLESSNESS OF CHRIST
Jesus’ own testimony. He saw sin in others but did not see sin in Himself.
John 8:46, "Which of you convinceth Me of sin?" He was without sin.
Christ was the only man that could ever make that claim honestly after Adam’s fall.
Jesus never admitted a fault or ever asked for forgiveness of sins. No evil thought ever lodged in his perfect, holy mind .
Pontius Pilate who was Jesus’ judge examined Him and said, "I find in Him no fault at all," John 18:38. What a clear testimony from a responsible judge under authority !
Mrs. Pontius Pilate - she was a woman, wife of the judge, and had no personal interest in Christ either favorably or otherwise. She had a dream and sent her husband the following message, "Have thou nothing to do with that just man (pure, holy, righteous man)" (Matthew 27:19).
The thief on the cross, Luke 23:41, referring to Jesus, said, "This man hath done nothing amiss." This is the testimony of a guilty murderer dying by crucifixion for his sin.
Judas Iscariot, a disciple of our Lord for His earthly ministry.
If anyone could detect a flaw, a weakness, a sin in Jesus Christ it would have been one of the disciples who lived, ate, walked and talked with Him.
Judas saw the miracles, heard His teaching, and observed Him closely, finally betrayed Him for thirty pieces of silver.
Judas testified, Matthew 27:4, after the condemnation, "I have sinned in that I have betrayed innocent blood" Jesus was innocent of sin.
The Roman Centurion. Luke 23:47, "Certainly this was a righteous man." A wonderful testimony from a hardened Roman soldier.
ARGUMENTS AGAINST THE SAVIOUR’S SINLESSNESS
Some deny that sinlessness is possible. The fact that sinlessness is contrary t reason avails little in view of the stated facts of Scripture. He is sinless.
Some think that because of the fact that He was tempted He must have been susceptible to sin.
Temptation in itself is not sin. It is yielding to temptation that is sin.
Jesus was tempted by Satan, the world and circumstances, to sin, but He did not yield
Some argue regarding the temptation in Matthew 4:1-11 that if Jesus were perfect the temptations would be unreal. How can a perfect person be tempted?
Adam and Eve were created perfect without original sin and were perfect. They were tempted and yielded, proving that temptation is real even to a perfect person.
Some say how could evil enter where there is neither bias toward evil or weakness toward sin? Adam and Eve sinned for they desired to become as gods, with the idea of maturity and development. The temptation was real and they sinned. We believe that Jesus was so constituted that He could have sinned if He desired for He was a perfect man, not a God-man (or mixture).
Jesus’ victory was absolute and complete for He did not once yield to sin.
CONSEQUENCES OF DENYING CHRIST’S SINLESSNESS
If Jesus were sinful He had to die on Calvary for His own sin and we are yet in our sins.
If Jesus were sinful, then He was neither the Son of God nor the Son of man, the Saviour.
If Jesus were sinful it would be impossible for Him to be a sacrifice on Calvary.
If Christ were a sinner the Church is established on sinld.ng sand, soon to be destroyed deny the sinlessness of Jesus Christ is to rob men of a Saviour and salvation. .
Praise God that the Bible says He was sinless and today we have salvation.
A TWOFOLD MANIFESTATION OF CHRIST’S SINLESSNESS .
Negatively - in never committing an act of sin or thinking or speaking a falsehood
Positively - in always doing what was pleasing to God in thought, word and deed. Holiness is twofold:
(1) a love of righteousness and (2) a hatred of iniquity.
Jesus was perfectly balanced for He fulfilled every aspect of perfect sinlessness.
RESULTS OF CHRIST’S SINLESSNESS 1 .Being sinless He was the perfect revelation of God to mankind .
Beinghuman and sinless it guarantees a perfect mediator. It shows that He came right down to the level of man, of being temptable yet resisting and overcoming.
Beinghuman and sinless He became an acceptable sacrifice on Calvary for our sins.
Heset before us a perfect example for us to follow, 1 Peter 2:21-22.
It points the way to a home in heaven opened to us by a sinless Saviour.
CONCLUSION
Let us rise up and praise God that Jesus came without original sin and went back to heaven sinless for He lived a life of absolute moral perfection. .
Let us bow down before Him in worship, praise, adoration for this wonderful victory.
What a wonderful message to take to people bound by the chains of sin, lust, habit, evil desires! There is liberty and victory through a perfectly victorious Saviour.
REVIEW QUESTIONS .
Since Jesus had a human mother and a Divine Father, is He a mixture? Explain.
What is meant by the sinlessness of Christ?
What is the chief Scripture to prove the sinlessness of Christ?
Name five witnesses to Christ’s sinlessness and their brief testimony.
Could Christ have sinned in the temptation in Matthew 4:1-11? Why?
Was Jesus the only perfect Being that was ever tempted? Who else?
Give four results if sin were found in Christ.
What is the twofold manifestation of Christ’s sinlessness?
Name 3 results of Christ’s sinlessness.
Is this a minor or major doctrine of Scripture? Why?