The Sinless Humanity of the Lord Jesus Christ

 •  8 min. read  •  grade level: 9
Listen from:
• BibleTruthPublishers.com
"In Him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily." Col. 2:99For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. (Colossians 2:9).
Before we begin to speak in detail about this very important subject of the Lord's sinless humanity, it is important to call attention to the glory of His blessed Person. He is the everlasting Word (John 1:11In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (John 1:1)). He is the only begotten Son who is in the bosom of the Father (John 1:1818No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him. (John 1:18)). He is the One by whom all things were created and who upholds all things by the Word of His power (Heb. 1:2,32Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; 3Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high; (Hebrews 1:2‑3)). He was the Father's delight from all eternity (Prov. 8:3030Then I was by him, as one brought up with him: and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him; (Proverbs 8:30)), and all the angels are called upon to worship Him as Man (Heb. 1:66And again, when he bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him. (Hebrews 1:6)). The wise men from the east also bowed and worshipped Him as a Babe (Matt. 2:1111And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh. (Matthew 2:11)).
With these thoughts in mind it is surely a most solemn thing to speak of His perfect humanity and we must do it as worshippers, "bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ." 2 Cor. 10:55Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; (2 Corinthians 10:5). The mystery of His glorious Person is beyond the human mind. as the Word says. "No man knoweth the Son but the Father." Matt. 11:2727All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him. (Matthew 11:27). Therefore since we only know what has been revealed to us through the Word, it is important that we do not go beyond the Scriptures of truth either in our thoughts or comments about Him.
Now we will first notice what the Scriptures tell us about the first man, Adam, in innocency in the garden of Eden. He did not have the knowledge of good and evil before he sinned, but was simply in the place of obedience (Gen. 2:16,1716And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: 17But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die. (Genesis 2:16‑17)). He did not, when created, have a fallen nature, nor did he have a holy nature, for holiness is abhorrence of evil with delight in good. He had an innocent nature and this he lost in the fall-never to regain it, for he was driven out of Eden, never to return (Gen. 3:22-2422And the Lord God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever: 23Therefore the Lord God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken. 24So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life. (Genesis 3:22‑24)). Babies now born into the world are not born with innocent natures but with fallen natures (Psa. 51:55Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me. (Psalm 51:5)).
When the time came that the Lord Jesus was to be born according to the promise, the message to Mary the virgin was, "The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God." Luke 1:3535And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. (Luke 1:35). He was not innocent, that is without the knowledge of good and evil-He was and is holy. He is the Son of God. He is the "Lamb without blemish and without spot." 1 Peter 1:1919But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: (1 Peter 1:19). The Scripture says, "In Him is no sin," 1 John 3:55And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin. (1 John 3:5)-that is, no sinful nature. He could say, "The prince of this world cometh and hath nothing in Me." John 14:3030Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me. (John 14:30). The Lord Jesus, blessed be His Name, had only a holy nature as man in this world, as He was holy from all eternity. (Heb. 13:88Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever. (Hebrews 13:8), Psa. 111:99He sent redemption unto his people: he hath commanded his covenant for ever: holy and reverend is his name. (Psalm 111:9)).
We who are part of Adam's race are all born in sin (Psa. 51:55Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me. (Psalm 51:5), James 1:1414But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. (James 1:14)) and have a fallen nature within us. "That which is born of the flesh is flesh: and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit." John 3:66That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. (John 3:6). It is therefore necessary for a man to be born again to be fit for the kingdom of God. The life which God gives us when we are born again is the life of Christ Himself; so we read "Christ who is our life." Col. 3:44When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory. (Colossians 3:4). Now we are told that this life (called the "new man") "is created in righteousness and true holiness." Eph. 4:2424And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. (Ephesians 4:24). We also read that "Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God." 1 John 3:99Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. (1 John 3:9). Now these Scriptures make it very clear that God imparts to the believer the life of Christ which is created in righteousness and true holiness, and that it cannot sin.
Yet we find those today whom we expected to be clear as to the Person of Christ who teach the terrible doctrine that Christ could sin, although they acknowledge that He did not. Even the thought of it causes deep sorrow of heart to those who love and adore Him as God the Son. A verse that is wrongly used to sup- port this teaching is Heb. 4:1515For 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) where we read, "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." Now this verse in reality emphatically denies the thought that Christ could sin. Iris to point out to us that the Lord Jesus as a perfect man felt fully all that a righteous man could feel in this world of sin, yet He Himself was without sin, or "sin apart." (J.N.D trans.). He felt hunger, thirst, weariness, reproach yet was perfectly holy within. When the devil came to Him, as he did in the wilderness in the temptation, there was no response within Him to the temptation, for "in Him is no sin." When He refused to turn stones into bread without a word from His Father, He still felt the hunger for He was a perfect man and in this way "He suffered being tempted," Heb. 2:1818For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succor them that are tempted. (Hebrews 2:18). This does not for one moment suggest that there was any tendency in Him to disobey His Father. He had taken the place of a man, and thus learned what obedience cost (Heb. 5:88Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; (Hebrews 5:8)).
It is stated by some that the word "tempt" loses its meaning if it does not imply the possibility of sinning. But this is contrary to Scripture and a terrible dishonor to God, for the Scripture not only speaks of the Lord Jesus as man being tempted, but that men tempted God in Old Testament times (Psa. 95:8,98Harden not your heart, as in the provocation, and as in the day of temptation in the wilderness: 9When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my work. (Psalm 95:8‑9)). Does this suggest that God could sin? May we be preserved from such a dishonor to the Godhead. No true child of God could entertain such a thought unless he has not realized the dishonor to God and to His Son by such terrible doctrine. How could we rest upon His Word for our salvation if this were so? Thank God we are told that "It is impossible for God to lie." Heb. 6:1818That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us: (Hebrews 6:18).
Now the temptation of the Lord Jesus was only to prove who He was as man here. Satan had come with his temptations to the first man. Adam, and Adam had yielded-he fell. Satan then came with his temptations to the Second Man-the Lord from heaven (1 Cor. 15:4747The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven. (1 Corinthians 15:47))-but he found One here who had only a holy nature and who answered all his temptations as a dependent man should, by the Word of God. When we, as Christians possessing the life of Christ answer Satan's temptations by the Word of God we overcome too. Alas, however, we still have the old fallen nature as well as the new life, so we can yield. "Every man is tempted when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed." James 1:1414But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. (James 1:14). This verse did not apply to the Lord Jesus for He is God and so we read here, "God cannot be tempted with evil." James 1:1313Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: (James 1:13).
It may be remarked by some that the Lord Jesus said to His Father in the Garden of Gethsemane, "Not My will, but Thine, be done." Luke 22:4242Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done. (Luke 22:42). Now this is most precious when seen in its true light. The Lord Jesus as the Holy One drew back from that place of being made sin, as He was in those three hours of darkness. (2 Cor. 5:2121For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. (2 Corinthians 5:21)). But He was the perfect obedient One who had come to do His Father's will at all cost. And so here light and love shine out in all their splendor-the Lord Jesus abhorring sin, for sin was so contrary to His blessed holy will, yet in love and obedience doing His Father's will in going to the cross to bear it that God might be glorified and sin be put away forever.
Instead of trying to fathom the divine mystery of the Person of the Lord Jesus who was perfect God and perfect Man, let us bow in worship like the wise men of old. There are two things clearly taught in the Scriptures: first, the total ruin of the first man through the fall, so that his will is at enmity with God; and second, that God begins again with His blessed holy Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, and His will was only to do His Father's will. When God begins a work in the soul of a man he first gives a new life and all that is acceptable and pleasing to Him flows from that new life. "Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God." John 1:1313Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. (John 1:13). "So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God." Rom. 8:88So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. (Romans 8:8). If we are clear as to glorious Person of the Lord Jesus in whom all the fullness of Godhead was pleased to dwell, and as to two natures in the believer, we will no doubt be preserved from the awful error of denying the sinless humanity of Son of God.
"His glory-not only God's Son—
In manhood He had His full part—
And the union of both joined in one
Form the fountain of love in His heart.
May the Lord keep the hearts and minds of His people in these days of testing, from anything and everything that attacks the Person or the work of His beloved Son.
G. H. H
Courtesy of BibleTruthPublishers.com. Most likely this text has not been proofread. Any suggestions for spelling or punctuation corrections would be warmly received. Please email them to: BTPmail@bibletruthpublishers.com.