This verse contains what may be the deepest riches that the Bible offers us. I don't like to compare the importance of verses against one another because I doubt if God had intended for us to partake in such a parlor game. It's just that I listened to a teaching last week by Alistair Begg which touched on this verse and it has been hounding me since.
The implications of this verse are beyond human comprehension; are disturbing; are awe inspiring and puts us smack dab in our place. Especially regarding how we not only look at ourselves but how we look at one another.
I take it for granted that most Christians understand and agree with the doctrine of the sinless Christ. I know that there are many who haven't accepted this truth but for me it's not at all difficult to grasp. It hasn't taken much faith on my behalf to trust that Jesus was fully man and fully God and committed no sin not only in His time on this earth but also for all of eternity. As Jesus being God; for me it goes without saying that in understanding the character and nature of God that God cannot possibly be a God where sin is anywhere in His existence. For me this is cut and dried, black and white and is as certain as anything can be. If you have any problem accepting that within the being of God that there cannot possibly be any hint or even shadow of sin then you have some serious fundamental issues that really do need to be dealt with in order for you to accept any of the other myriad truths of God's word. If this is an issue it is imperative that you go to God and get this reconciled immediately. You cannot have your cake and eat it too as a Christian. You either have to accept the revealed truth of Scripture for what it claims to be or you don't. I have heard the words from many "Christians" who say for instance that they believe in Jesus Christ (and what they exactly mean by that I'm not so sure) but can't accept the creation account, or the virgin birth, or the Flood, or Jesus walking on water, etc. I'm not saying that in order to be saved that you have to accept every dogmatic doctrine but it leads me to wonder how can someone rationally and logically accept any of it unless they can rationally and logically accept all of it? The very popular "pick and choose" method of which parts of the Bible are true and which aren't is a very dangerous way to approach the throne of God. It makes no sense at all to me that God accepts this and if I am to walk by faith then it means to take God at His word.
Which includes trusting that Jesus was without sin. Doesn't matter what the world says; what the Jesus Seminar states; what Dan Brown wrote in the "Da Vinci Code"; what the Discovery Channel airs every Christmas and Easter or what any other religions state about the being of Jesus; He never sinned. Ever.
And our being entirely convinced and established in this truth is vital to our life as Christians. The attacks of the devil have always hinged on the questioning of God's character and integrity. The defamation of Gods character will always be at the core of Satan's ministry. There are so many warnings throughout the Bible to be on guard for these attacks and for us to established in His truth that we can never take where we are in regards to our being in line with believing the truth of who God is for granted or can we take it lightly. We need to be vigilant and willing to allow the Holy Spirit access to our innermost being to root out and destroy any notions about God that do not line up with His truth. This is one of the many reasons why the battlefield of truth is so important these days.
Next time we will begin to dig deeper into the disturbing and awe inspiring notion that God made Him who knew no sin to be sin...
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