Was Jesus Sinless, and Why Does It Matter?
There is an old colloquialism attributed to Jean-Baptiste Alphonse Karr, which states, “the more things change, the more they stay the same.” While this is in many ways true, there is a real sense of a tidal change within the bounds of Christianity. Some of these changes will be beneficial for the Church as there will be necessary process of pruning in which those who are merely Christians by name or culture only will be exposed. Those who are truly regenerated believers will be tested through the fires of purification and be stronger, more resolute, and unfettered. Truly, this dichotomy will be replete with challenges, but it will also be beautiful.
It is no secret, Christianity, and particularly the claims of Jesus and the Bible, have been the subject of much scrutiny and speculation in what is essentially the fallout of a postmodern culture. Many of those who claim the name of Christ have no real understanding of what that means because they have no knowledge of the Bible other than what has been told to them or manipulated to fit a narrative. Their faith, if real, is profoundly shallow and they have no real grasp on what they truly believe and why they truly believe. This sort of understanding was laid bare this past Monday on national television.
CNN host, Don Lemon, in an effort to prove a point about Americans “deifying” the founding fathers, uttered the following statement, "Jesus Christ, if that's who you believe in, Jesus Christ, admittedly was not perfect when he was here on this earth." Many Christians are rightly appalled by such a statement, and yet others are unbothered by this claim and cannot seem to cognize why it is an issue at all. So, I would like to address the statement in two different ways: 1. The problem with the statement itself, and 2. Why it matters.
There are some major issues with Mr. Lemon’s statement for those who would profess Jesus. First, Lemon says Jesus was “admittedly” not perfect. This implies that Jesus at some point acknowledged or claimed he was sinful at worst, or at best morally imperfect. Unfortunately for Mr. Lemon’s claim and the claim of those who believe this statement, Jesus not only never claimed to be sinful, but the converse claim was made. In John 7 during the Feast of Booths, Jesus goes to the temple and begins to preach. Those present were astounded at his teaching and begin asking questions, and the response given by Jesus is fascinating.
14 About the middle of the feast Jesus went up into the temple and began teaching. 15 The Jews therefore marveled, saying, “How is it that this man has learning, when he has never studied?” 16 So Jesus answered them, “My teaching is not mine, but his who sent me. 17 If anyone's will is to do God's will, he will know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on my own authority. 18 The one who speaks on his own authority seeks his own glory; but the one who seeks the glory of him who sent him is true, and in him there is no falsehood. (John 7:14-18, ESV)
Look closely again at v. 18. Jesus says clearly there is no falsehood in him. Further, when Jesus was tempted by Satan, he never gave into sin (Matt. 4:10), neither Herod Antipas or Pilate found fault in Jesus (John 18:38; John 19:4; Luke 23:14-15), and Jesus even challenged his enemies to find fault in him and they could not (John 8:46). So, did Jesus ever “admittedly” claim to be imperfect? A resounding no is the rejoinder.
The predominant claim made by Lemon though is the proposition that Jesus was morally deficient. Jesus of course, as has already been addressed, never made such a claim, but is it possible the Bible or other testimony make such statements? In order to ascertain the answer to this question, one merely needs to consult the text. Nowhere in Scripture can any declaration be uncovered which speaks of even a paucity of Jesus ever sinning. In 700 years prior to Jesus’ birth, Isaiah states, “And they made his grave with the wicked and with a. rich man in his death, although he had done no violence, and there was no deceit in his mouth” (Isaiah 53:9, ESV). In this famous prophecy about the sacrifice of the coming Messiah, Isaiah points out he would be blameless. But certainly, it is not just the Old Testament which proclaims emphatically Jesus was sinless.
1 Peter 2:22 says, “He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth” (ESV). This is an insistent avowal. However, there are far more claims than just this one found in the pages of the New Testament. The writer of Hebrews writes, “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin” (Hebrews 4:15, ESV). 1 John 3:5 says, “You know that he appeared in order to take away sins, and in him there is no sin” (ESV). And perhaps most famously, “For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin,” (2 Corinthians 5:21a, ESV). More text could certainly be extrapolated, but the point is clearly made. The Bible, which is the authoritative word of God, makes it profusely clear that Jesus not only did not “admittedly” claim moral imperfection, but throughout all of the Bible the declaration of Jesus being completely sinless and morally perfect is brimming.
The second issue being addressed here is one of supreme importance, which is, why does it matter that Jesus was sinless? I love the way Nicholas Batzig answers this question, “Our redemption rests upon Christ’s sinless life and substitutionary death. When we see the corruption of our minds, hearts, and wills, we must look at the One who knew no sin and yet was made sin for us.”[1] In other words, the significance of Jesus being sinless and without fault has heavy implications. Salvation from death, hell, and sin literally depends on Jesus being sinless. If he was unable to do so, then there is quite plainly no hope for anyone. The sinfulness of man, which is undeniable in every aspect, puts humanity at odds with a holy, almighty, completely perfect God. In rebellion and sin, for salvation to transpire, humankind needs one who is completely God and completely man simultaneously. The $5 term for this called the hypostatic union, and it simply means Jesus was the only one to exist in this dual nature. David Mathis posits, “The personal union of God and man in him is personal for us. His fully human nature joined to his eternally divine nature is permanent proof that Jesus, in perfect harmony with his Father, is unstoppably for us.”[2]
If Jesus was ever in any way sinful, his work on the cross was done in vanity. It would have no power because to be sinful would eliminate any possibility of his deity. If Jesus was not fully God (robbed of his deity) he would simply be a man trying to do what no man can do; pay for sinfulness. No one is righteous, not one (Romans 3) and as a result, no person is able to escape judgement on one’s own merit. What is needed is a perfect substitute who alone can bear the weight of sin and then conquer it. Jesus alone could be the penal substitutionary atonement. He is able to do this only because he fully man, fully God, perfect in every way. In this duality Jesus alone is not just a way, he is the only way or means for salvation. As the Apostle John writes in Revelation 1, “17 When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, “Fear not, I am the first and the last, 18 and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades” (ESV). Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross bridges the gap between man’s cosmic treason against Almighty God, and brings redemption, grace, mercy, forgiveness, and salvation through his death, burial, and resurrection. 1 John 1 reminds all people sin is inescapable on their own accord, but Jesus changes everything. To receive this one must acknowledge their sinfulness, believe Jesus alone can bring salvation through his redemptive work through grace alone by faith alone, and trust in him alone.
So, Mr. Lemon’s claim is both asinine and errored. Take a stand believer. Soak in Scripture and know what is true and right, lest deception intercede.
[1] Batzig, Nicholas. 2020. “The Significance of the Sinlessness of Jesus.” Ligionier Ministries. https://www.ligonier.org/blog/significance-sinlessness-jesus/.
[2] “What Is the Hypostatic Union? | Desiring God”. Accessed July 10, 2020. https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/what-is-the-hypostatic-union.