THE SINLESS SON OF GOD (3)

Victor M. Eskew

 

INTRODUCTION

 

A.   We have had two lessons in this three-part series entitled:  “The Sinless Son of God.”

1.    In Lesson #1, we noted Jesus’ sinlessness and how He overcame temptation with the Word of God (Ex., Heb. 7:26).

 

For such a high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens.

 

2.    In Lesson #2, we considered some of the arguments individuals make in an attempt to prove Jesus did commit sin (Ex., cleansing the temple, John 2:13-17).

 

B.   In this final lesson, we want to look at some of the purposes of Jesus’ sinlessness.

 

I.             TO PROVE JESUS IS THE SON OF GOD

 

A.   The Bible teaches us that deity is holy.

1.    Psalm 99:5

 

Exalt ye the Lord our God, and worship at his footstool; for he is holy.

 

2.    The starting point of holiness is purity.  In other words, in order for God to be holy, He must be pure.

 

B.   Jesus claimed to be the Son of God (Matt. 16:15-17).

 

He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?  And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.  And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou Simon Bar-jona:  for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.

 

C.   Had Jesus ever committed one sin, He would have destroyed the fact that He is the Son of God.

 

II.           TO FULFILL THE TYPES OF THE OLD TESTAMENT

 

A.   The sacrifices of the Old Testament were types or shadows of our Lord Jesus Christ (Heb. 10:1).

 

For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices, which they offer year by year continually, make the comers thereunto perfect.

 

1.    A shadow resembles the image even though it is not the very image.

2.    When the Lord commanded the sacrifices of the Law of Moses, He set forth certain requirements regarding the sacrifices.

a.    In Leviticus 4, the Lord gives the instructions regarding the sin offerings.  In verse 3, the description is given of the animal that was to be brought “unto the Lord for a sin offering.”

 

…a young bullock without blemish unto the Lord for a sin offering.

 

b.    Leviticus 22:19-20

 

Ye shall offer at your own will a male without blemish, of the beefs, of the sheep, or of the goats.  But whatsoever hath a blemish, that shall ye not offer:  for it shall not be acceptable.

 

3.    Without blemish

a.    It could not be sick.

b.    It could not have a disease.

c.    It could not have a broken bone.

d.    It could not have a skin disorder.

e.    It could not be crippled.

f.     It could not be blind or deaf.

4.    NOTE:  The animal was to be considered “perfect” when offered for a sacrifice.

 

B.   Listen now to something Jesus had to say about Himself (Matt. 5:17-18).

 

Think not that I am come to destroy the law or the prophets:  I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill.  For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.

 

1.    To fulfill the law, Jesus had to fulfill the types found in the law.

2.    If Jesus had one sin, He would not have conformed to the types found in the Old Law.

 

III.         TO BE A SACRIFICE ON OUR BEHALF

 

A.   The sacrifices of the Old Testament were representations of what was to come, but they were animals.  The Hebrew penman tells us:  “For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins” (Heb. 10:4).

 

B.   Man needed a perfect human being to be offered for His sins.

1.    He had to be a human in order to properly represent man.

2.    He had to be a perfect human in order to be a sacrifice approved of God.

 

C.   Jesus was both a human being and a perfect sacrifice.

1.    John revealed that Jesus is “the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world” (John 1:29).

2.    Paul wrote:  “For even Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us” (1 Cor. 5:7).

3.    Paul described Jesus in these words to the Ephesians:  “…an offering and a sacrifice for a sweetsmelling savour” (Eph. 5:2).

4.    Here is the Key Verse:  “How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God…” (Heb. 9:14).

 

D.   Had Jesus been flawed in any manner, God would not have accepted Him as a sacrifice for the sins of the world (Deut. 17:1).

 

Thou shalt not sacrifice unto the Lord thy God any bullock, or sheep, wherein is blemish, or any evilfavouredness:  for that is an abomination unto the Lord thy God.

 

IV.         TO FUNCTION AS THE HIGH PRIEST IN THE CHRISTIAN SYSTEM

 

A.   The high priest was a go between.  He stood between man and God.

 

B.   The high priest of the Old Covenant was a type of the high priest to come in the New Testament.

1.    However, there was one problem.  The high priest was a sinner.

2.    Before he could function as the high priest, he had to offer up sacrifices for himself (Heb. 7:27; 9:7).

3.    As a flawed man, he could not perfectly represent the side of deity in his intermediary position.

 

C.   This is not true of the Christ.

1.    He is our high priest (Heb. 3:1).

2.    Hebrews 7:27 

 

Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and

then for the people’s…

 

3.    Jesus can represent both sides perfectly.

a.    He was made flesh and dwelt among men.

b.    He is the perfect, holy divine Son of God.

 

V.           HE GIVE US A PERFECT EXAMPLE TO FOLLOW

 

A.   Sometimes, man is not very good at following instructions.

 

B.   Instead of following instructions, it is easier to follow a pattern, an example.

 

C.   There are no perfect examples in the world of man (Rom. 3:23).

 

D.   Jesus, because He never sinned, is our perfect example.

1.    John 13:15

 

For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.

 

2.    John 13:34

 

…as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.

 

3.    1 John 2:6

 

He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.

 

4.    1 Peter 2:21-22

 

For even hereunto were ye called:  because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow in his steps.  Who did not sin…

 

E.   If you and I follow the Christ in all that we do, we will never go wrong.  We will always be walking in the way of righteousness (See John 14:6).

 

CONCLUSION

 

A.   God never ceases to impress us with His wisdom and His works.

 

B.   We stand amazed how He has tied the Old Testament, the Christ, and Christians together through the sinlessness of His Son.

 

C.   Remember, not just any sacrifice would do.  We needed a sinless human being to shed His blood for our sins.  Jesus, the precious Lamb of God, did exactly that!