Do you know that Jesus was just like you and yet didn’t sin?
The church is the keeper of truth. It guards the truth, defends it, and proclaims it.
How do we know that?
Well, that’s what Paul told Timothy in 1 Tm 3:15.
1 Tm 3:15 but in case I am delayed, I write so that you will know how one ought to conduct himself in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and support of the truth.
What is this truth that the church must keep, guard and defend? That’s explained in the very next verse.
1 Tm 3:16 By common confession, great is the mystery of godliness: He who was revealed in the flesh, was vindicated in the Spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed among the nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory.
Okay, this needs some translation…
What Paul is saying is that everybody should realize and agree (i.e. by common confession) that the most amazing thing ever, is to live a life without even sinning once (i.e. great is the mystery of godliness) while being a man just like you and me – and this was accomplished by Jesus (i.e. He who was revealed in the flesh). The Holy Spirit examined every aspect of Jesus’ life and testified that Jesus indeed didn’t sin even once (i.e. was vindicated in the Spirit). Even the angels saw it and agreed (i.e. seen by angels). This amazing fact is now being proclaimed everywhere (i.e. proclaimed among the nations), and people all over the world are believing this truth (i.e. believed on in the world). Because of this amazing feat, Jesus has been given the greatest glory (i.e. taken up in glory).
Can you believe that a man, through the power of the Holy Spirit (the same Holy Spirit who indwells all who are born again), can live his entire life without sinning even once? That’s what Jesus did. And because that fact is the foundation of spiritual truth, therefore if you are seeking spiritual truth (i.e. sound doctrine) your doctrine must incorporate this fact in it. Otherwise, your doctrine is false. That was what John said in 1 Jn 4:1-3.
1 Jn 4:1-3 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God; and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God; this is the spirit of the antichrist, of which you have heard that it is coming, and now it is already in the world.
Now there are some theological systems (and these are even taught in today’s seminaries) that say that Jesus was only able to not sin because He used His divine powers to keep from sinning or because He was not tempted like we are tempted and so on. Some people even say that Jesus had unconscious sin (i.e. He violated God’s law without knowing it).
What can we say about such doctrines?
Simply this – none of them can be truth.
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