Could Christ have sinned?

[hobie]

Matthew 4:1
Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.

I came across the view that Christians do not believe that Christ could have sinned and failed in his mission on earth. Well then how could he be 'tempted in the desert'? Was it all a charade or could Christ have sinned?

 

[psalms 91]

He was tempted in all ways that we are thus making Him our perfect intercessor and yes He could have otherwise the devil could cry foul.

 

[Lamb]

Matthew 4:1
Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.

I came across the view that Christians do not believe that Christ could have sinned and failed in his mission on earth. Well then how could he be 'tempted in the desert'? Was it all a charade or could Christ have sinned?

Jesus is God and God cannot sin. Being tempted means that someone is trying to get someone else to sin and that is why Jesus was tempted but did not sin.

 

[Michael]

He was tempted in all ways that we are thus making Him our perfect intercessor and yes He could have otherwise the devil could cry foul.

Jesus "was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin." - Heb 4:15

And "since He Himself was tempted in that which He has suffered, He is able to come to the aid of those who are tempted." - Heb 2:18

You are absolutely correct.

The Man had to be tested and proven faithful. The physical Jesus was born with a human nature. Bible says "He became the author of eternal salvation..." (Heb 5:9) There was no Man Jesus before the baby in Bethlehem. "The Word was with God" and the "Word became flesh"; but until Mary gave birth, the physical Jesus did not exist. Understanding that simple Truth - which seems to have eluded Christendom at large over the centuries - assists greatly in understanding God's great plan & purpose for defeating sin and restoring Creation.

 

[Michael]

Matthew 4:1
Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.

I came across the view that Christians do not believe that Christ could have sinned and failed in his mission on earth. Well then how could he be 'tempted in the desert'? Was it all a charade or could Christ have sinned?

The Man Jesus indeed was tempted & tested by God in the desert to prove Him. And yes, He (the human Man) could have sinned. If Jesus could not have sinned, yes, it would have been a charade, and He could in no way help us in our temptation because He truly would never have 'walked in our shoes.' But the Scripture declares - "Therefore, He had to be made like His brethren in all things, so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. 18 For since He Himself was tempted in that which He has suffered, He is able to come to the aid of those who are tempted." (Heb 2:17-18)

The Book of Hebrews is very helpful in understanding this Truth concerning the human nature that Jesus had.

"Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil." (Heb 2:14)
Jesus could not have defeated the devil if He was just role playing in the desert, through His earthly ministry and especially in the Garden when Jesus had His greatest test of all. "Not My will, but Thine be done."

 

[Josiah]

Jesus is God and God cannot sin. Being tempted means that someone is trying to get someone else to sin and that is why Jesus was tempted but did not sin.

I agree...

Jesus can be "tempted" (and the Devil tried) but He CANNOT sin.

The Bible does not specifically state this (only that He DID NOT sin), but in classic theology, it is held that He CANNOT sin. This is a function of the Two Natures of Christ and "the communication of attributes". The latter is that the characteristics of His divine nature "communicate" (convey to) His human nature. Thus, He can be present everywhere.... He can walk through doors and walls.... He an disappear.... He can know all.... He can do miracles.... He can endure all.... and yes, He is sinless. In Western Christianity, there arose the theory that Jesus was sinless because Mary was (a theory that eventually lead to the Dogma of the Immaculate Conception of Mary, perhaps the weakest unique dogma in all the RCC), but much earlier was the view that Jesus was sinless because Jesus is God. This makes temptation powerless ... but not impossible.

 

[hobie]

I agree...

Jesus can be "tempted" (and the Devil tried) but He CANNOT sin.

The Bible does not specifically state this (only that He DID NOT sin), but in classic theology, it is held that He CANNOT sin. This is a function of the Two Natures of Christ and "the communication of attributes". The latter is that the characteristics of His divine nature "communicate" (convey to) His human nature. Thus, He can be present everywhere.... He can walk through doors and walls.... He an disappear.... He can know all.... He can do miracles.... He can endure all.... and yes, He is sinless. In Western Christianity, there arose the theory that Jesus was sinless because Mary was (a theory that eventually lead to the Dogma of the Immaculate Conception of Mary, perhaps the weakest unique dogma in all the RCC), but much earlier was the view that Jesus was sinless because Jesus is God. This makes temptation powerless ... but not impossible.

How do you read this verse...“14 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; 15 And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. 16 For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham. 17 Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.” Hebrews 2:14-17.

 

[psalms 91]

How do you read this verse...“14 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; 15 And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. 16 For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham. 17 Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.” Hebrews 2:14-17.

Yup, He could have sinned as a man born of a woman and was tempted as we are and faced with the same struggle we face with sin. If not how can He be an advocate for us and understand our battles? How can the devil not say that this was an unfair contest since He could not sin and therefore He gained nothing. Jesus the man could have sinned, He didnt and therefore became our perfect sacrifice and gained back what Adam lost.

 

[Josiah]

How do you read this verse...“14 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; 15 And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. 16 For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham. 17 Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.” Hebrews 2:14-17.

I "read" it by accepting the words. These - together with the rest of the Bible - affirm that Jesus is BOTH totally God and totally man, The Savior.

As I posted, traditional and historic Christianity has affirmed what the Bible says: that Jesus had no sin (not only that He did not sin but He had no sin, "without" sin). The question of WHY is never specifically answered in Scripture and nor is it in historic theology. But the oldest pov is that this is a result of the "Communication of Attributes", that since Jesus is God, ergo He has no sin for God has no sin. SOME Catholics try to bring Mary into this and their "Immaculate Conception" dogma, but most agree that doesn't work and most Catholic teachers will point all to Jesus' divine nature.

I realize that the the heresy of denying Jesus' divinity survives... but that's not the issue of this thread, nor can it be challenged in this forum.



- Josiah

 

[hobie]

I "read" it by accepting the words. These - together with the rest of the Bible - affirm that Jesus is BOTH totally God and totally man, The Savior.

As I posted, traditional and historic Christianity has affirmed what the Bible says: that Jesus had no sin (not only that He did not sin but He had no sin, "without" sin). The question of WHY is never specifically answered in Scripture and nor is it in historic theology. But the oldest pov is that this is a result of the "Communication of Attributes", that since Jesus is God, ergo He has no sin for God has no sin. SOME Catholics try to bring Mary into this and their "Immaculate Conception" dogma, but most agree that doesn't work and most Catholic teachers will point all to Jesus' divine nature.

I realize that the the heresy of denying Jesus' divinity survives... but that's not the issue of this thread, nor can it be challenged in this forum.



- Josiah

So would you agree, that Christ took upon Himself human nature and as 'totally man', Christ was subject to temptation that was real, which tested Him and yet He did not sin.

Hebrews 2:17 King James Version (KJV)
17 Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.