The assertion that Jesus was perfect in humanity leads to a question: Could Jesus sin? This is really a misleading and abstract question, since we know Jesus did not sin (Hebrews 4:15). The answer is more academic than practical, more speculative than bearing any real substance. In His humanity, Jesus was tempted by satan, and He struggled with His will in Gethsemane. Although He did not have our depraved natures-He had the same innocent, sinless nature as Adam had originally-He had the same ability to go against God"™s will as Adam and Eve.
Certainly the divine Spirit of Jesus could not sin and could not even be tempted to sin (James 1:13). The humanity of Jesus, when viewed alone, theoretically had the capacity to sin. But this is only theroretical and not actual. Viewed alone, it seems that the humanity of Christ had the capacity to choose sin. However, as a human He always willingly submitted to God, who cannot sin. So as a practical matter, Jesus Christ-viewed as the combination of humanity and deity that He was-could not sin. The Spirit was always in control, and Spirit controlled humanity does not commit sin. (See 1John 3:9 for an analogy.)
What if the man Jesus had rebelled against the divine leadership? This is another totally theoretical question because it did not happen and as a practical matter it could not happen. This question does not take into account the foreknowledge and the power of God. Yet if one insists on an answer, we would say that if the man Jesus had tried to sin (a foolish assumption), the divine Spirit of Jesus would have immediately separated Himself from the human body, leaving it lifeless. This lifeless body would not be Jesus Christ, so technically Christ could not have sinned, although the plan of God would have been thwarted temporarily.
Since Jesus as God could not sin, does this mean the temptations were meaningless? No. Since Jesus was also fully human He really was able to feel the struggle and pull of temptation. He overcame temptation, not as God Himself, but as a human with all the power of God available to Him. He now knows exactly by experience how we feel when we are tempted. Of course, He knew He would be victorious through the Spirit, but we can have the same assurance, power, and victory by relying on the same Spirit that was in Christ.
So why did Satan tempt Jesus? Apparently did not know Jesus inevitably would be victorious and he did not understand at that time the full mystery of God in flesh. If he had, he never would have instigated the crucifixion. Perhaps he thought he had defeated God"™s plan by the crucifixion , but instead he just fulfilled it. It is also probable that the Spirit of God allowed satan to tempt Jesus so that Jesus could feel temptation as we do. We are told that the Spirit led Jesus into the wilderness to be tempted (Mathew 4:1; Luke 4:1)
For those who think this position somehow distracts from the reality of Christs temptations, consider this. He did not have the inclination and compulsion to sin that we have because of our fallen nature. Yet, this does not detract from the reality of His temptations. He still felt the same struggles and trials that we feel. On the other hand, if we simply say without qualification that Jesus could sin we detract from His deity, for we imply that somehow Jesus could exist apart from God.
This concludes that as a man Jesus could be and was tempted. Since the Spirit of God was in control, however, Jesus could not and did not sin. If Jesus had an incomplete human nature, the reality and meaning of the temptations and the struggle in Gethsemane would be lessened. We believe He did have a complete human nature. He experienced exactly how we feel when we are tempted and when we struggle. The fact that Jesus knew He would overcome through the Spirit does not detract from the reality of the temptations.
The whole question of whether Jesus could sin is abstract, as we have already observed. Suffice it to say that Jesus"™ human nature was like ours in all points except in the matter of original sin. He was tempted in all things, as we are, and yet the Spirit of God was always in control. The most relevant fact for us is that He was tempted, yet He did not sin.
__________________ And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.
The assertion that Jesus was perfect in humanity leads to a question: Could Jesus sin? This is really a misleading and abstract question, since we know Jesus did not sin (Hebrews 4:15). The answer is more academic than practical, more speculative than bearing any real substance. In His humanity, Jesus was tempted by satan, and He struggled with His will in Gethsemane. Although He did not have our depraved natures-He had the same innocent, sinless nature as Adam had originally-He had the same ability to go against God"™s will as Adam and Eve.
Certainly the divine Spirit of Jesus could not sin and could not even be tempted to sin (James 1:13). The humanity of Jesus, when viewed alone, theoretically had the capacity to sin. But this is only theroretical and not actual. Viewed alone, it seems that the humanity of Christ had the capacity to choose sin. However, as a human He always willingly submitted to God, who cannot sin. So as a practical matter, Jesus Christ-viewed as the combination of humanity and deity that He was-could not sin. The Spirit was always in control, and Spirit controlled humanity does not commit sin. (See 1John 3:9 for an analogy.)
What if the man Jesus had rebelled against the divine leadership? This is another totally theoretical question because it did not happen and as a practical matter it could not happen. This question does not take into account the foreknowledge and the power of God. Yet if one insists on an answer, we would say that if the man Jesus had tried to sin (a foolish assumption), the divine Spirit of Jesus would have immediately separated Himself from the human body, leaving it lifeless. This lifeless body would not be Jesus Christ, so technically Christ could not have sinned, although the plan of God would have been thwarted temporarily.
Since Jesus as God could not sin, does this mean the temptations were meaningless? No. Since Jesus was also fully human He really was able to feel the struggle and pull of temptation. He overcame temptation, not as God Himself, but as a human with all the power of God available to Him. He now knows exactly by experience how we feel when we are tempted. Of course, He knew He would be victorious through the Spirit, but we can have the same assurance, power, and victory by relying on the same Spirit that was in Christ.
So why did Satan tempt Jesus? Apparently did not know Jesus inevitably would be victorious and he did not understand at that time the full mystery of God in flesh. If he had, he never would have instigated the crucifixion. Perhaps he thought he had defeated God"™s plan by the crucifixion , but instead he just fulfilled it. It is also probable that the Spirit of God allowed satan to tempt Jesus so that Jesus could feel temptation as we do. We are told that the Spirit led Jesus into the wilderness to be tempted (Mathew 4:1; Luke 4:1)
For those who think this position somehow distracts from the reality of Christs temptations, consider this. He did not have the inclination and compulsion to sin that we have because of our fallen nature. Yet, this does not detract from the reality of His temptations. He still felt the same struggles and trials that we feel. On the other hand, if we simply say without qualification that Jesus could sin we detract from His deity, for we imply that somehow Jesus could exist apart from God.
This concludes that as a man Jesus could be and was tempted. Since the Spirit of God was in control, however, Jesus could not and did not sin. If Jesus had an incomplete human nature, the reality and meaning of the temptations and the struggle in Gethsemane would be lessened. We believe He did have a complete human nature. He experienced exactly how we feel when we are tempted and when we struggle. The fact that Jesus knew He would overcome through the Spirit does not detract from the reality of the temptations.
The whole question of whether Jesus could sin is abstract, as we have already observed. Suffice it to say that Jesus"™ human nature was like ours in all points except in the matter of original sin. He was tempted in all things, as we are, and yet the Spirit of God was always in control. The most relevant fact for us is that He was tempted, yet He did not sin.
the most relative FACT ,is that God was man for a short time...never did the flesh have dominion(nor would be allowed to as evidenced by 1st outlined statementin your post). He COULD not sin, not..He WOULD not sin...BIG DIFFERENCE. and exactly why Jesus impresses me. He knew at the Beginning what he'd face....and he STILL did it....but then again...He WAS God.
As Bro Mac said, Regardless of Jesus' capacity to sin, the fact remains that He did not. That is what is most important. Adam sinned because He allowed His human will to stray from the will of God, pondered the temptation, and gave in to its influence. Jesus succeeded where Adam failed. Jesus did not sin because His human will and mind was perfectly submitted to the will and mind of God. He always did those things that pleased the Father (John 8:29)
__________________
wayne
"There's room at the cross for you."
As Bro Mac said, Regardless of Jesus' capacity to sin, the fact remains that He did not. That is what is most important. Adam sinned because He allowed His human will to stray from the will of God, pondered the temptation, and gave in to its influence. Jesus succeeded where Adam failed. Jesus did not sin because His human will and mind was perfectly submitted to the will and mind of God. He always did those things that pleased the Father (John 8:29)
whoa..whats that sounds? i think its the sound of hitting a nail right on the head!! My tohughts exactly Motor. Mac, good post brother
-Travis-
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"Jesus answered and said unto him; Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God" John 3:3
Ban Canned Hunting. If you don't speak up against it you are part of the problem.
Could Jesus Sin?
