We have spoken many times about the truth of Messiah as it is in Jesus. This is because, it seems, the Holy Spirit, who is given to lead us as believers into all truth, has also given many warnings to the Church of the dangers in the last days of apostasy from the faith and the love of the truth.
Jesus tells us that the Father is seeking those who will worship Him in spirit and truth. If we are not convinced of the uniqueness of Jesus as the Son of God – He is holy! – then we will be less effective in proclaiming His name in power. Today I want to consider together another proof that Jesus is Immanuel—God with us. We have already shown that Jesus is YHVH; in other words, He is GOD, who came to us in the flesh to redeem us from sin. Man was created in God’s image according to His likeness, and God came into the world as aMan. He desires our fellowship, our being together with Him.
Can God sin?. . . . Certainly not! It is the arrogance of man to judge God for what He, the Sovereign of the Universe, does or has done. We only know sin because of God’s own holiness and righteousness. God created us and he alone forgives us our sin and saves us from its punishment. Remember that under the Law, YHVH required an animal sacrifice of one that is perfect, without spot or blemish. How much more so, then, ought we realize that Jesus was the perfect Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world?!
If we say and believe that Jesus is God in flesh, could the Man Jesus Christ have sinned? Did He have free will –like us—to sin? Was Jesus an example for us to demonstrate that it is possible for us as believers in this life, in whom dwells the Holy Spirit, to never sin?
I want us to look at some verses to help us know the answer to those questions in the light of who we say and believe Jesus to be:
Jn 14:30 . . . for the ruler of this world (i.e. Satan) is coming, and he has nothing in me
2Cor 5:21 For [God] made [Jesus] who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
Heb 4:15 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.
1Pet 2:19-22 For this is commendable, if because of conscience toward God one endures grief, suffering wrongfully. . . . For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us and example, that you should follow in His steps, ‘who committed no sin, nor was deceit found in His mouth.’
1Jn 3:5,9 And you know that He was manifested to take away our sins, and in Him is no sin. . . .Whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God.
When I was saved through believing in Jesus, I understood by the Holy Spirit that God Himself was/is the Messiah! It was not just another special man, and neither did Jesus prove Himself to be the best man who ever lived simply by legally keeping the Torah perfectly. All men are unrighteous and sinners except for One who chose to humble Himself, to empty Himself of all His glory as God, and demonstrate His love for us in dying for our sin and sins on the cross. Our righteousness and salvation are not of legalism but of grace; only God is without sin and cannot sin.
Jesus came to live perfectly so that the Son of Man and sons of men could inherit the Kingdomof God as the Father promises. Man’s sin is NOT that we do sin – for this is a given as created beings in this life. No, our sin and the condemnation is not believing in Jesus, God’s Way to return to Him and to become like Him. The Bride of the Lamb will be like the Lamb: blameless, spotless, without blemish or defect or any such thing. (Eph 5:27)
1Jn 3:1-3 And everyone who has this hope purifies himself, just as [God] is pure.
