JESUS IS HOLY…Bill Thoughts For Today…

Understanding important truths from the Bible….

Luke 1:35

³⁵  

The Westminster Confession of Faith, chapter seven, paragraph 2 states “The Son of God, the second person in the Trinity, being very and eternal God…did when the fullness of time was come, take upon Him man’s nature, with all the essential properties, and common infirmities thereof, yet without sin.”  These are for our discussion today the important words, “yet without sin”, a quote of Hebrews 4:15C.

Therefore I believe the Scriptures teach that Jesus is impeccable (not able to sin).  And I believe my confession teaches that Jesus is impeccable.  Please note I write this in the present tense.  I will explain this later.

I began to read the English Puritan writers in 1963.  Some of these, Thomas Goodwin is one, were involved in writing the Westminster Confession of Faith with the Larger and Shorter Catechisms.  None of these who were involved in the Westminster responsibility nor any of their contemporaries who took that confession as their confession ever confessed anything other than the fact that Jesus is impeccable.

The statement for them from Hebrews 4:15C “without sin” could not be twisted to indicate “without sinning.”  That He committed no sin is so plain that none but heretics would dare say that Jesus sinned.  Do not be deceived.  This has never been the issue.  It is agreed among Christians that unless Christ was sinless He could not have been our Savior.  If He had sinned He could have paid only for His sins.

When in the Confession we read “without sin,” it, without contradiction among the writers and subscribers of that day, meant Jesus is impeccable.

But I also believe Jesus is impeccable because the Scriptures teach this truth.  Let me give you three illustrations:

1.        Isaiah 6:3  And one called out to another and said,

“Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord of hosts,
The whole earth is full of His glory.”

It is not too bold or extreme to say this statement of the trice holy God speaks of One Who has not, cannot, and will not sin.  If anything less is said or thought it is blasphemy.  Hear the first stanza of Reginald Heber’s great hymn Holy, Holy, Holy.

Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!
Early in the morning our song shall rise to Thee;
Holy, holy, holy, merciful and mighty!
God in three Persons, blessed Trinity!

            The church universal has, and those who have the sense to do it still do, sing this hymn without fear of transgressing Scripture or propriety.  But what do the Scriptures say?  John 12:41  

It is without fear of contradiction I can say this statement was made about Jesus.  The context leaves no doubt of whom John spoke.  The question is, is there something that happens between Him being high and lifted in Isaiah 6 and Him being high lifted up on Calvary.  I think not.

2.   John 14:30  I will not speak much more with you, for the ruler of the world is coming, and he has nothing in Me;

George Hutchison, an English Puritan in his commentary on John, page 312, writes, “Christ being without sin, Satan hath no power over him in any of these respects.”  He then lists guilt and corruption as that which Satan could not find in Christ.  By doing this he vindicates the human nature of Christ.  Sin of any kind has no attraction for Him.  This was proven at His temptation.  Satan there at His temptation found himself with a failed errand.

3.  Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.;

1:12  And like a mantle You will roll them up;
Like a garment they will also be changed.
But You are the same,
And Your years will not come to an end.”

Again we are faced with a statement of uncompromising theological fact.  There is in Jesus an eternal unchanging nature.  Whatever is said about Him must be true yesterday, today, and forever.  It is a Christian confessional truth that Jesus is without change.

Those who say Jesus could have sinned when He was on the earth must be able to say He can sin today or anytime into the eternal forevers.  If Jesus was peccable in 20 AD or anytime in His life then by any rule of Scripture understanding He is the same today and forever.

What do you say?  “He could have sinned” you say?  Then I replay, “We have no Savior”.  He may fall at any time today or in the future.  Our desperation knows no bounds.  All assurance is destroyed.  Woe! Is me.

But it is not so.  We have a Savior, “Holy, harmless, undefiled, and separated from sinners, Jesus Christ the same yesterday, today, and forever.

Holy, holy, holy! All the saints adore Thee,
Casting down their golden crowns around the glassy sea;
Cherubim and seraphim falling down before Thee,
Who was, and is, and evermore shall be.

Please read I Peter 2:6.