“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” (Hebrews 4:15).

Tuesday, May 22, 2007

Could Jesus have sinned? Or was He impeccable? Many have raised the question, “Was it possible for Christ to have sinned?” They argue that if Jesus was not able to sin, then his temptations could not have been real, for in order for a temptation to be real, a person must be able to yield to the temptation. “He was in all points tempted like as we are. . . .”
Further they reason that Jesus experienced human weaknesses and limitations: He increased in wisdom and stature (Luke 2:40, 52); he became wearied (John 4:6); he thirsted (John 19:28); he hungered (Matthew 4:2); he was weakened (Luke 23:26), and his human body ceased to have life in it and ceased to function (luke 24:39). Jesus had a full range of human emotions (John 12:27; 13:21; Matthew 26:38; 8:10; John 11:35).

The author of Hebrews tells us that he learned obedience through the things that he suffered, and that he was made perfect (Hebrews 5:8-9). How could he learn obedience if he was unable to sin?

On the other hand, the Bible says that God cannot be tempted with evil (James 1:13). God cannot sin; he is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners (Hebrews 7: 26).

We must affirm that the Scriptures expressly say that Jesus never once sinned. From His youth the grace of God was upon Him (Luke 2:40). Satan was unable to cause Him to sin (Luke 4:13). The Jews who opposed Him could not offer evidence of any wrongdoing on His part, so that Jesus challenged them, “Which of you convinceth me of sin?” (John 8:46). He was the light of the world, the model of truth and moral purity (John 8:12), who did always those things pleasing to His heavenly Father (John 8:29). Christ was able to say that He had kept His Father’s commandments and abided in His Father’s love (John 15:10). Even Pilate could find no fault in Him (John 18:38). Jesus was the “Holy One” (Acts 2:27; 3:14; 4:30; 7:52; 13:35) Who “knew no sin” (2 Corinthians 5:21). Yes, He “was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin” (Hebrews 4:15). Jesus was the “lamb without blemish and without spot” (1 Peter 1:19) “Who did no sin, neither was guile found in His mouth” (1 Peter 2:22), that died “the just for the unjust” (1 Peter 3:18), “Jesus Christ the righteous” (1 John 2:1)! This is what the Scriptures expressly teach.

But could Christ have sinned? The key to this is in the doctrine of the incarnation (see Lloyd-Jones, Great Doctrines of the Bible, The Incarnation, pages 255-265). It was not just that God became a man; the second Person of the Trinity took upon Himself the form of a servant and was made in the likeness of men (Philippians 2:7-8), i.e., He was sent in the likeness of sinful flesh (Romans 8:3). “The Word was made flesh and dwelt among us.” In the incarnation we have the eternal Son of God, the second Person in the blessed Holy Trinity, taking upon Himself human nature; this does not mean that a new personality came into being, but that God the eternal Son became incarnate and appeared as man. This was no mere appearance or form, but was indeed a true incarnation; He did come in the flesh (1 John 4:2-3; 2 John 7). This was not merely divine nature that somehow became united with human nature and so formed a person. It was the second Person Himself, the Person, who became flesh. There was no change that took place in the personality of the Son of God. There was a change in the form, there was a change in the state in which He manifested Himself, but there was no change in His personality; He is the same Person always! (Hebrews 13:8) Who took on Himself the seed of Abraham (Hebrews 2:16).

I ask you again, Could Jesus Christ have sinned? I think not.

Further, the proposition that states that for a temptation to be real the person being tempted must have the capability of yielding to that temptation is fallacious. By way of illustration, it is reported that a man of renown once propositioned a lady asking if she would sleep with him for one million pounds. She hesitated, but then consented. The man then offered her fifty pounds whereupon she indignantly asked, “What kind of woman do you take me for.” He replied, “We’ve already determined what kind of woman you are, now we are haggling over the price!” A temptation is nothing more than a test; the point at which a person yields varies from person to person and is dependent on the strength. The temptation offered at fifty pounds is no less a real temptation than that offered at one million pounds; it differs only in degree. One person yields to a temptation; for another person the temptation slides by like water off a duck’s back. It is still a temptation. Jesus Christ is our great High Priest Who was “touched with the feelings of our infirmities” and Who “was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.” He is the second Person of the Holy Trinity; He changes not!

It is important here to stress over against all errors and heresies that Jesus Christ is one person who has two natures:
“Our Lord is truly God and truly man, of a reasonable soul and body, consubstantial with the Father according to the Godhead, and consubstantial with us according to the manhood; in all things like unto us without sin; begotten before all ages of the Father according to the Godhead, and in these latter days for us and for our salvation born of the Virgin Mary, the mother of God according to the manhood; on and the same Christ, Son, Lord, only begotten, to be acknowledge in to natures, inconfusedly, unchangeably, indivisibly, inseparably, the distinction of natures being by no means taken away by the union, but rather the property of each nature being preserved and concurring in one person and one subsistence; not parted or divided into two person but one and the same Son, and only begotten, God, the Word, the Lord Jesus Christ.” — Council of Chalcedon, 451 A.D.

Christ’s two natures may not be thought of as either fused or separated. We therefore hold that Christ, as He is God and man, consisting of two natures united but not mingled, is our Lord and the true Son of God even according to, but not by reason of, His humanity. It is no more permissible to commingle the two natures in Christ than to pull them apart (Institutes, p. 486-487). Jesus’ human nature never existed apart from union with His divine nature. From the moment of his conception, He existed as truly God and truly man as well.

Could Jesus have sinned? It would seem not. The union of His human and divine natures in one person prevented it.

“And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory” ( 1 Timothy 3:16).

Ironic, is it not?