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IV.
Life, Parables, and Miracles of Christ
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Chapter 39
:
A Sinless Life
1. WHAT testimony is borne concerning Christ's life
on earth?
"Who did no sin,
neither was
guile found in His mouth." 1 Peter 2:22.
2. What is true of all other members of the human
family?
"For all have sinned, and come short of the glory
of God." Rom. 3:23.
3. With what question did Christ
challenge His enemies?
"Which of you convinceth Me of sin?" John
8:46.
4. To what extent was Christ tempted?
"[He] was in all points tempted like as we are,
yet without sin." Heb. 4:15.
5. In His humanity, of what nature did Christ
partake?
"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." Heb. 2:14.
6. How fully did Christ share our
common humanity?
"Wherefore in all things it behooved 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." Verse 17.
NOTE.-
In His humanity Christ partook of our sinful, fallen
nature. If not, then He was not "made like unto His
brethren," was not "in all points tempted like as we
are," did not overcome as we have to overcome, and
is not, therefore, the complete and perfect Saviour
man needs and must have to be saved. The idea that
Christ was born of an immaculate or sinless mother,
inherited no tendencies to sin, and for this reason
did not sin, removes Him from the realm of a fallen
world, and from the very place where help is needed.
On His human side, Christ inherited just what every
child of Adam inherits,- a sinful nature. On the
divine side, from His very conception He was
begotten and born of the Spirit. And all this was
done to place mankind on vantage-ground, and to
demonstrate that in the same way every one
who is "born of the Spirit" may gain like victories
over sin in his own sinful flesh. Thus each one is
to overcome as Christ overcame. Rev. 3:21.
Without this birth there can be no victory over
temptation, and no salvation from sin. John 3:3-7.
7. Where did God, in Christ, condemn sin, and gain
the victory for us over temptation and sin?
"For what the law could not do, in that it was weak
through the flesh, God sending His own Son in the
likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin
in the flesh." Rom. 8:3.
NOTE.-God, in Christ, condemned sin, not by
pronouncing against it merely as a judge sitting on
the judgment-seat, but by coming and living in
the flesh, in sinful flesh, and yet without
sinning. In Christ, He demonstrated that it is
possible, by His grace and power, to resist
temptation, overcome sin, and live a sinless
life in sinful flesh.
8. By whose power did Christ live
the perfect life?
"I can of Mine own self do nothing." John
5:30. "The words that I speak unto you I speak not of
Myself: but the Father that dwelleth in Me, He doeth
the works." John 14:10.
NOTE.-In His humanity Christ was as dependent upon
divine power to do the works of God as is any man to
do the same thing. He employed no means to live a
holy life that are not available to every human
being. Through Him, everyone may have God dwelling
in him and working in him "to will and to
do of His good pleasure." 1 John 4:15; Phil.
2:13.
9. What unselfish purpose did
Jesus ever have before Him?
"For I came down from heaven, not to do Mine own
will, but
the will of
Him that sent Me."
John 6:38.
HAVE I need
of aught, O Saviour!
Aught on earth but Thee?
Have I any in the heavens,
Anyone but Thee?
Though I
have of friends so many,
Love, and gold, and health,
If I have not Thee, my Saviour,
Hold I any wealth?
CORIE F. DAVIS.
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