02 Dec JESUS SAID HE WAS SINLESS: The Christ of Christmas Part 2 of 8
Nobody is perfect. We all know that, and readily admit that. However, Jesus Christ repeatedly, emphatically, and publicly declared that he alone was perfect and without any sin. For a moment, just consider how monumental such a claim is.
Jesus’ claim to deity includes declaring himself to be without any sin in thought, word, deed, or motive, and therefore morally perfect. In John 8:46 Jesus openly invites his enemies to recall any sin he ever committed saying, “Which one of you convicts me of sin?” Can you even fathom saying such a thing of yourself?
Those who testify to the sinlessness of Jesus are those who knew him most intimately, such as his friends Peter (Acts 3:14; 1 Pet. 1:19; 2:22;3:18) and John (1 John 1:8 cf. 1 John 3:5), his half-brother James (James 5:6), and even his former enemy Paul (2 Cor. 5:21). Additionally, even Judas, who betrayed Jesus, admitted that Jesus was without sin (Matt. 27:3–4)—along with the ruler Pilate, who oversaw the murder of Jesus (Luke 23:22), the soldier who participated in the murder of Jesus (Luke 23:47), and the guilty sinner who was crucified at Jesus’ side (Luke 23:41). Can you imagine your family members and your enemies defending your life as flawless and perfect in every way?
Furthermore, not only was Jesus God and without sin, but he also forgave sin (e.g., Luke 7:48). The Bible is clear that our sin is ultimately committed against God (Ps. 51:4) and that God alone can forgive sin (Ps. 130:4; Isa. 43:25; Jer. 31:34). Thus, Luke 5:20–21reveals Jesus doing the work of God:
And when he [Jesus] saw their faith, he said, “Man, your sins are forgiven you.” And the scribes and the Pharisees began to question, saying, “Who is this who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone?”
Amazingly, not only is Jesus without sin, but he also forgives our sin! This is the jaw dropping awe inspiring heartwarming truth of what we are celebrating each Christmas with the birth of Jesus Christ! Do you believe that Jesus alone is without sin and that you are a sinner who needs his forgiveness?
Portions of this blog post were adapted from Vintage Jesus (2007, Crossway) and Doctrine (2010, Crossway), by Mark Driscoll and Gerry Breshears.
