Jesus Could Not Sin

By

Lee

The idea by some people is that Jesus was a potential sinner, that he had the ability to sin but just never did.  It would be helpful to read the article, "The Myth of Potential Sin", and combine the information to get a better understanding of why Jesus could not sin.

The unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God.

KJV 1 Corinthians 6:9

 9.  Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God?

Jesus said that he was righteous.

KJV John 7:17-18

 17.  If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.

 18.  He that speaketh of himself seeketh his own glory: but he that seeketh his glory that sent him, the same is true, and no unrighteousness is in him.

God, through the prophet Isaiah, said Jesus was righteous.

KJV Isaiah 53:11

11.  He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.

There are two types of people, those who are righteous and those who are not.  Jesus entered the kingdom of God and did so without going through any of the process that we must go through. Jesus is the process we must go through to enter the kingdom.  Jesus required nothing, needed nothing, to enter the kingdom of God.  All that Jesus was is what we need to become.

Jesus was, as a man, the king of the kingdom of God.

KJV John 18:37

 37.  Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.

KJV Matthew 2:1-2

1.  Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,

 2.  Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.

KJV John 1:49

 49.  Nathanael answered and saith unto him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel.

KJV John 12:13-15

13.  Took branches of palm trees, and went forth to meet him, and cried, Hosanna: Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord.

 14.  And Jesus, when he had found a young ass, sat thereon; as it is written,

 15.  Fear not, daughter of Sion: behold, thy King cometh, sitting on an ass's colt.

No one who is a potential sinner can be in the kingdom of God because sin does not exist in the kingdom nor the potential for sin.  The kingdom is populated by beings who cannot sin because the seed of God remains in them and they have been born of God. 

KJV 1 John 3:9

 9.  Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.

Jesus, as a man, was born of God but in the flesh so he could die, give his perfect life as a sacrifice for those of us who are able to sin.  In the flesh, Jesus was the king of a kingdom where all in that kingdom are unable to sin.  God will not allow a potential sinner to have everlasting life.  If one has the potential to sin they will sin just as the first Adam did.  No other being than God, is by nature, at their creation, unable to sin except for Jesus. Unlike angels and man Jesus was created with Gods righteous character that made Jesus unable to sin.  Again, even the potential to sin will not be permitted in the kingdom of God, yet Jesus was the king of the kingdom of God as a man.  Jesus is said to be the same yesterday, today and forever.  This Godly character in Jesus, who was born of God, remained in Jesus since his conception in Mary’s womb.  That Holy thing, is what Gabriel called Jesus. Jesus was directly created by the Holy Spirit of God with no human man involved and completely filled with that Holy Spirit.  This is how Jesus was unable to sin.  Jesus was not God but did have Gods holy righteous character and was unable to be tempted by evil or sin.  God will not give the kingdom to sinners or those who have the potential to sin but only to those who faithfully endure to the end and are “one” with God and sealed by the Holy Spirit. The saints partake of the divine nature of God in that they are coming out of sin, overcoming sin. 

KJV 2 Peter 1:3-4

3.  According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:

4.  Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

Jesus, in whom was no sin, did not need to come out of sin because “he knew no sin”.  The son of God said that he could do nothing that the Father would not do.

KJV John 5:19

19.  Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise.

The Father cannot sin, therefore Jesus could not sin.

The idea that Jesus had to struggle all his life so as not to sin is a lie because he had Gods nature in its fulness the brightness of Gods glory and was the express image of Gods person in that Jesus was unable to sin.  The idea that the temptation by Satan was to show us that Jesus was effected by temptation the same as we are is a lie, it was to show us the exact opposite, Jesus was unaffected by Satan’s temptations, after all he did not sin, did he.  If Jesus was just like us in the matter of temptation then how about you going up against the Devil and see how well you do.  It should be so obvious that Jesus was spiritually far above us especially if we are to be transformed to be in his image.

KJV 2 Corinthians 3:18

 18.  But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.

The “glory of the Lord” was the glory of God who cannot sin but all humanity falls short of this glory needing saved, Jesus was the express image and brightness of Gods glory in that he was also unable to sin.

KJV Hebrews 1:1-3

 1.  God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,

 2.  Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;

 3.  Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high.

Physically Jesus was exactly like us but spiritually he was exactly like God, he could not sin.  This is what you and I must become if we are to be in the kingdom of God.

KJV Matthew 5:48

 48.  Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

When it comes to the issue of sin, you and I must be like God and Christ, unable to sin, be perfect.

KJV Matthew 19:21

 21.  Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.

To have this perfection we must follow Jesus.

KJV Luke 6:40

40.  The disciple is not above his master: but every one that is perfect shall be as his master.

Jesus is our master and everyone who is perfect will be like Jesus, and Jesus said this while he was a man on Earth.

KJV John 17:23

 23.  I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.

Jesus was as man already one with the Father and was perfect, unable to sin. Jesus prayed to his Father that we also could be one with God and be perfect, unable to sin.

KJV Romans 12:2

2.  And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

KJV Ephesians 4:13

 13.  Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:

KJV Colossians 1:28

 28.  Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:

KJV 2 Timothy 3:17

17.  That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

KJV Hebrews 10:14

 14.  For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.

KJV Hebrews 12:23

23.  To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,

Our example of this perfection is Jesus the man.  Jesus was perfect, he was kingdom quality in the flesh and king of the kingdom while in the flesh.  Jesus never repented, Jesus never had to have faith in a messiah, Jesus did not need grace or imputed righteousness because of faith, Jesus did not need saved but was the savior. 

When God created Adam; the word image is below.

Strong's Ref. # 6754

Romanized  tselem

Pronounced tseh'-lem

from an unused root meaning to shade; a phantom, i.e. (figuratively) illusion, resemblance; hence, a representative figure, especially an idol:

KJV--image, vain shew.

When God created Jesus; the phrase “express image” used in Hebrews 1:3 is below.

Strong's Greek Dictionary

Strong's Number: 5481

Transliterated: charakter

Phonetic: khar-ak-tare'

Text:  from the same as 5482; a graver (the tool or the person), i.e. (by implication) engraving (["character"], the figure stamped, i.e. an exact copy or [figuratively] representation): --express image.

Adam was a vain show, a phantom or illusion but Jesus was an exact copy. Jesus was the real McCoy.

Adam did not have the character of God but Jesus was the exact copy of Gods character. Adam became a sinner but Jesus was unable to sin because he was an exact copy of Gods character. God cannot sin neither could His son Jesus Christ.  Being unable to sin does not make you God but makes you in Gods image.  The righteous angels are unable to sin and are not God just as the saints, when in the kingdom and unable to sin, will not be God either.  Rather than look at Jesus as being as weak as me, fighting constantly to not sin, I look at Jesus as one who was unable to sin and that is what I want and what God through Jesus can give me. I do not drag the son of God down to my level but see that I must come up to his level by the example he gave.  God wants us to be like Him in that we are unable to sin and live forever with Him in love and joy. Jesus came to show us the Father by the way he lived his life, a life of perfection, righteousness and love which cannot sin.  We, by the power of Gods Holy Spirit can be transformed to be just like Jesus.  This is the gospel message.