Was Jesus sinless?

1. WasJesus sinless – 30th
December 2016
“Godmadehim who hadno sinto be sin forus,so that in himwe mightbecome the righteousnessof
God” (2 Corinthians5:21).
At a Bible studyonsinone inquired“wasJesussinless?We hadbeenstudying Romans3: 23, which
stated“…forall have sinnedandfall short of the glory ofGod”.The questionthatstemmedfromthis
readingwasthat since Jesuswasbornas a mere humanbeingjustlike us,wasHe sinless? The teaching
of the NewTestamentisclearthatJesuswasand isperfectandwithoutsin. Hebrews 4:15 providesa
chief exampleof whatthe NewTestamentwriterscommunicatedaboutthe sinlessnature of Jesus: "For
we do not have a highpriest who is unableto sympathizewithour weaknesses, but one whoin every
respect hasbeen tempted aswe are, yet withoutsin."
The sinlessnature of Jesus Christiseternal.He iseternal anddweltinperfectionwiththe Fatherbefore
comingto earth whichcan be understoodfrom John1:1, “In the beginningwasthe Word,and the
Wordwas with God,andthe Wordwas God”. We geta deepunderstandingin Colossians2:9,“Forin
Christall the fullnessofthe Deity livesin bodilyform”.It statesthat JesuswasGod whocame inbodily
form. Thus itwas God withus.Jesus’ birthwassupernatural.He wasbornof the virginMary, meaning
He avoidedinheritingthe sinnature passedthroughanearthlyfather.Hislife wasmarkedasbeing
perfectandwithoutsin,despitebeingtemptedthreetimesbySatan evenata time whenhe wasfasting
and inprayeras we readin (Matthew4:1-10). AfterHisdeathand resurrection,He livedonearthfora
forty-dayperiodwithoutsinandthenascendedtothe Fatherinsinlessperfection.The Bible isclearthat
for eternityfuture,ChristwillreignasLord.
Due to our nature as humansand the impossibilityof livinga sinless life one maywanttoknow as to
whyis itimportantthat Jesuswaswithoutsin?Manyreasonscouldbe mentioned,butperhapsmost
significantisthe factthat Jesushadto be sinlesstoprove He was divine. The analogyisthatif Godis
perfectandneversins,thenif JesussinnedHe wouldnot be God.Since Jesusovercame temptationand
provedHimself tobe blameless,itprovidedampleevidence toHisclaimas the Messiah,the Sonof God.
In addition,Jesushadtobe perfectandsinlesstoserve asa perfectsubstitute forthe sinsof all
humanitywhichwe canlearnthrough Hebrews 7:27, “Unlikethe other high priests,he does not need
to offer sacrificesdayafter day,first for hisown sins,andthen for the sinsof the people.He sacrificed
for their sinsonce for all when he offeredhimself” We can learnfurtherwhenwe read fromHebrews
10:10, “Andby that will,we have been made holythrough the sacrificeof the body ofJesus Christonce
for all”.The onlyhope forpeople tobe made rightwithGod isthrougha mediatorwhocanconnect
imperfecthumanitywithaperfect,holyGod.Jesus provideduswhoare sinful innature a waythrough
comingto earthas a humanand payingthe price forsinon the cross. We can learnfrom 1 Peter 1:18-
19, “Foryou know that it was notwith perishablethingssuch assilver or goldthat you were redeemed
from the empty way of lifehandeddown to you fromyour ancestors, 19
but with the preciousbloodof
Christ,a lambwithout blemishor defect”.

2. The above passage makesclearto us: "youwere ransomedfromthe futile waysinheritedfromour
forefathers,notwithperishable thingssuchassilverorgold,butwiththe preciousbloodof Christ,like
that of a lambwithoutblemishorspot." Itis the sacrifice of Hislife inplace oursinthat it was made
possible forustoevenreachGod. We can learnthisin Colossians1:21-22 that declares, "Andyou,who
once were alienatedandhostile inmind,doingevil deeds,he hasnow reconciledin his bodyof flesh
by hisdeath, in order to present you holyand blamelessandabove reproach before him."
As fullydivine,Jesuscouldnotanddidnotsin.Yet Hishuman nature couldbe tempted.The sinlessness
of Jesuspaidthe price forthe sinof mankind thatoffersall people eternal life:“ForGodsolovedthe
world thathe gave hisone and onlySon,that whoever believesin himshall not perishbut have
eternal life” (John3:16). As Christianswe mustbearinmindthatwe are savedthroughour faithinGod
and notthrough ouractionsand ways:“For it is by grace youhave been saved,throughfaith – and this
is not fromyourselves,it is the gift of God – 9
not by works, so that noone can boast” Ephesians2:8-9).
Anotherimportantlearningforusas Christianscomestous through John14:6, "Iam the way,and the
truth, andthe life.No one comes to the Father except throughme"(John14:6). We mustremember
that He is“not a way” to eternal life,butclearlystates“Iam the way, andthe truth, and the life!”.
Therefore asChristiansandalsoothers,shouldknow that there isnootheroptionforsalvation but“only
throughJesusChrist”.Because Jesusisthe onlyname underheaventhroughwhichpeoplecanbe saved
as we can learnfrom Acts 4:12, “Salvationisfoundinno one else, for there is no other name under
heaven givento mankindby which we must be saved”. Onlya sinless,perfectJesuscouldbothpaythe
price for sinand offerusforgivenessand throughsame the possibilityof eternal life.