GTA: Could Jesus have sinned? COGwriter: Yes, but He did not

Could Jesus have sinned?

The late Garner Ted Armstrong had an article with that title. Here is some of what he wrote about that:

Was Christ unable to sin? Was there no struggle involved in His 33 1/2 years of tabernacling in human flesh? Today, some are plunging into error, teaching that it was utterly impossible for Christ to commit sin. If this is true, then you and I have no Savior! Here is what your Bible says.

Who was Jesus Christ? Was He God? Was He merely human? Was He some mixture of both?

If He was GOD, then was it impossible for Him to sin? If He was human, could He have sinned? …

He said, “Before Abraham was, I AM!”

Jesus, then, was GOD. He was a Member of the great, Divine FAMILY, we call, in our English language, “GOD.” He was One of the ELOHIM of Genesis, the first chapter. Was He also human? …

Notice: “But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death [the penalty for sins], crowned with glory and honor; that He by the grace of God should taste death for every man” (Hebrews 2: 9). Christ was made human. One of the greatest of all reasons for this miraculous fact was that He should “taste death” for every man.

Christ was subject to death. He was a living human being, with muscular, nervous, respiratory, digestive, circulatory systems. His life of about thirty three and one-half years on this earth was sustained by food, water, and air. Notice further:

“Forasmuch then as the children [of God] are partakers of flesh and blood, He also Himself likewise took part of the same; that through death He might destroy [annul, counterwork, or restrain] him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;

“And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.

“For verily He took not on Him the nature of angels; but He took on Him the seed of Abraham.

“Wherefore in all things it behoved 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” (Hebrews 2:9-18).

These verses clearly set forth the humanity of Christ. His genealogies from Adam and the “seed of Abraham,” are contained in the gospels of Matthew and Luke. He was to be like a Branch from the root of Jesse, David’s father (Isaiah 11: 1-5). …

Jesus Christ was made flesh (John 1: 14; Hebrews 2:17). John wrote, “Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:

“And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God…” (1 John 4:2,3).

How did Christ come in the flesh?

By one of the greatest of all miracles, the Creator of both the macrocosm and the microcosm; Who dwells in eternity; Who lives in a completely different, spiritual dimension, emptiedHimself, and became a tiny, human life—a microscopic, zygote,” to develop into a fetus, to grow into a human baby, in the womb of Mary!

God’s Word says,

“Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:

“Who, being in the form of God [prior to His human existence], thought it not robbery to be equal with God:

“But made Himself of no reputation [or, “emptied Himself”], and took upon Him the form of a servant [human form!], and was made in the likeness of men:

“And being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the stake [Greek: stauros—stake, or upright pale, not “cross”]. Wherefore God hath highly exalted Him, and given Him a name which is above every name:

“That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in the earth, and things under the earth;

“And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord [Master, Ruler], to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:5-11).

Jesus Christ was very God, Who had become human; Who had become human flesh, of the seed of Abraham, just like you and me, like any other human being.

Christ called Himself not only the Son of God, but the son of MAN repeatedly. …

This great CREATOR, this Logos, or “Executive Spokesman” of the Godhead, “emptied Himself” of His Divine power (Philippians 2:5-8) to become a tiny, microscopic human fetus in the womb of the Virgin Mary!

By a stupendous miracle, God had become human flesh. So says your Bible. Christ was human, yet was God in the flesh.

Then, since He was also God in the flesh, was Christ absolutely impervious to sin? Was it IMPOSSEBLE for Christ to commit sin? …

“And when the tempter [Satan] came to Him, he said, ‘If Thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread”‘ (Matthew 4:3).

This was a clever, two-pronged temptation. First, Satan probed to see if Christ would respond with anger, to see if there was any human vanity present—for Satan had suggested Jesus Christ was not really Who He said He was! “If you are the Son of God,” Satan subtly suggested.

Christ was now extremely close to God. He had divested Himself of earthly concerns, fasting and praying for 40 days. He very powerfully felt the nearness of God, His Father. He did not allow Satan’s oily suggestions to anger Him.

The second part of this temptation was Satan’s attempt to couple his suggestion of doubt about Christ’s identity and authority with His terrible hunger! By “proving” to Satan Who He was, He could also satisfy His gnawing, painful hunger!

Was Jesus tempted?

That is the whole point of this biblical account Yes, He was tempted. …

God’s Word says Christ was sorely tempted to sin. “Seeing then that we have a great High Priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.

“For we have not an High Priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points TEMPTED like as we are, yet without sin.

“Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:14-16).

The only difference between Christ’s temptations and our own is that He was “yet without sin”! Otherwise, our temptations are the same as Christ’s. Study that scripture carefully. It shows us our High Priest in heaven can be touched (moved, concerned—having empathy) with the feelings we experience as we struggle against Satan’s world, against our own human natures, against the myriad temptations that surround us. …

Christ was tempted. Therefore, He experienced desire in many directions, which, if He had followed those temptations to their ultimate conclusion in either thought or deed, He would have committed sin! But He overcame each temptation as it occurred! https://www.garnertedarmstrong.org/could-jesus-have-sinned/ accessed 03/18/24

Back in 2008, I posted:

Some serious students of the Bible understand that Jesus was not “fully human and fully God”, which is a major position held by most trinitarians.

There are four major claims to support that position:

1. The Bible shows that Jesus emptied Himself of His Divinity while in the flesh. 2 Corinthians 8:9 teaches that Jesus became poor, yet God is rich (Haggai 2:8). Philippians 2:7 specifically teaches, “…Christ Jesus, who subsisting in (the) form of God thought (it) not robbery to be equal to God, but emptied Himself, taking (the) form of a slave, becoming in (the) likeness of men” (Literal translation. Green J.P. ed. Interlinear Greek-English New Testament, 3rd ed. Baker Books, Grand Rapids (MI), 1996, p. 607). Note that “emptied Himself” is the literal translation in the Greek. Thus Jesus was not fully God (though God in the flesh) when He became a human.

2. Since Jesus repeatedly taught that He of Himself “could do nothing” prior to His resurrection (John 5:19,30;8:28), that He claimed He had “[a]ll authority” after the resurrection (Matthew 28:18), He was not fully God when He could do nothing.

3. The Bible states that Jesus was tempted in all points as humans are (Hebrews 4:15) and that “God cannot be tempted by evil” (James 1:13). “Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren” (Hebrews 2:17). Since “scripture cannot be broken” (John 10:35) He could not have been fully God while in the flesh.

4. Jesus was not called God in the flesh until after His resurrection (John 20:28).

Thus while Jesus was what God would be like in the flesh, He simply was not fully God then. Also, the idea of being both FULLY human and FULLY God at the same time is contradiction that a logically is not possible.

By being empty of His divinity, Jesus simply did not have the direct powers (John 14:10), the inability to somehow die (and the Father raised him, He did not raise Himself–Acts 13:30-34; Romans 10:9; Galatians 1:1; Ephesians 1:20; Colossians 2:12), the inability to be tempted (Matthew 4:1; Hebrews 4:15), and the glory that He had prior to His human birth and after His resurrection–thus Jesus was not “fully God and fully human” while in the flesh as the trinitarians tend to believe. The fact that Jesus actually died, and that one who is fully God cannot, also shows that Jesus was not “fully God” while on Earth.

Although I have heard some Protestant theologians improperly attempt to ignore what Paul taught in Philippians, perhaps the strangest one, was one who after admitting that kenosis (a word used in Philippians 2:7) means to empty, actually then stated that Jesus could not sin, and Jesus was God according to James 1:13. Let’s look at that passage from James to see what it actually states:

Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone (James 1:13).

Notice that verse says that God cannot be tempted. However, the Greek word for tempted (peirazo) is the same as the one used in Hebrews:

For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin (Hebrews 4:15).

Thus, there is a contradiction in the Protestant theologian’s logic here.

By comparing James 1:13 to Hebrews 4:15 it is clear that since the Bible shows Jesus was tempted on earth (and this is repeated in many places in the New Testament) and that God cannot be tempted, that while on earth, Jesus was not fully God (though God in the flesh). Jesus was not God with all the godly attributes – but God in the flesh. God in the flesh is limited to the flesh. God in the flesh is subject to temptation to sin. The Word, prior to emptying Himself, was God Unlimited. While on earth He was limited, yet still God – but God in the flesh.

The main difference between He and us is that He had the Holy Spirit without measure, from birth.

Since we humans can sin, either Jesus was capable of sinning (which He was) or He was not tempted as we are. This also demonstrates that while on earth, Jesus was not fully God. However, as scripture shows, Jesus now is God–and was prior to His incarnation. It is a clear biblical truth that Jesus emptied Himself of His divinity to become a man prior to the resurrection.

Perhaps it should be noted that even what is believed to be the most ancient Christian complete sermon ever found, teaches that Jesus was Spirit and became flesh:

If Christ, the Lord who saved us, became flesh (even though he was originally spirit) and in that state called us…(Holmes M.W. The Apostolic Fathers: Greek Texts and English Translations, 2nd ed, 9:5. Baker Books, Grand Rapids, 2004, p. 115).

This ancient sermon is saying that Jesus was originally spirit and became flesh like us! Thus, confirming the general binitarian position that Jesus, in fact, did fully empty Himself of His divinity while on Earth.

Many people, sadly, have been deceived about the nature of the Godhead. (Thiel B. CEM’s Ron Dart: “Jesus was tempted in all points like we are”. COGwriter, January 30, 2008)

Of course, it is clear from the New Testament that Jesus never did sin:

21 For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps:

22 “Who committed no sin,
Nor was deceit found in His mouth”; (1 Peter 2:22)

Notice that we are follow Jesus example and not sin. And what is sin? How do you avoid it?

4 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law. (1 John 3:4)

10 If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. (John 15:10)

Jesus kept God’s commandments, and did not sin–we should strive to follow and imitate Him (see also 1 Corinthians 11:1).

Remember:

15 For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. (Hebrews 4:15)

Since we can sin if tempted, the only way that Jesus could be tempted like us is if He could have sinned. But, of course, He did not.

Now one reason to post about this is that I recently noticed that a couple of websites run by anti-COG people, who fell away from the truth and argue against it, have claimed that it is blasphemous to say that Jesus could have sinned.

The argument, which is consistent with other errors of trinitarianism, is that since Jesus supposedly was fully human and fully God, since God cannot sin, Jesus, who is God, could not.

The Apostle John warned about those who did not realize that Jesus really came in the flesh:

1 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2 By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, 3 and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world. (I John 4:1-3).

This scripture states that the ‘spirit of Antichrist’ is not confessing that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh and that apparently some of antichrist’s teachings began when John was still alive. These verses also tie in the idea that false prophets have the spirit of Antichrist. Thus it would seem that the final Antichrist would be a false prophet (like the one mentioned in scriptures such as Revelation 16:13). Again these are religious leaders that John identifies with Antichrist.

The Gnostic heretic named Valentinus was probably the first to introduce some version of the Greco-Roman trinity amongst those who professed Christ.

Notice something else he also taught according to Clement of Alexandria:

They blaspheme against the will of God and the mystery of creation in speaking evil of birth. This is the ground upon which Docetism is held by Cassian and by Marcion also, and on which even Valentine indeed teaches that Christ’s body was “psychic.” (Clement’s Stromata, Book III, in English, Chapter XVII, Verse 102. The Library of Christian Classics: Volume II, Alexandrian Christianity: Selected Translations of Clement and Origine with Introduction and Notes by John Ernest Leonard Oulton, D.D., Regius Professor of Divinity in the University of Dublin; Chancellor of St. Patrick’s and Henry Chadwick, B.D., Fellow and Dean of Queens’ College Cambridge, Westminster Press, Philadelphia, 1954. http://www.earlychristianwritings.com/text/clement-stromata-book3-english.html viewed 04/03/12)

Notice that Valentinus, Marcion (see also Marcion: The First Protestant?), and others denied that Jesus came in the flesh. According to scripture, that is a doctrine of antichrist (2 John 7). According to Irenaeus, both Valentinus and Marcion were denounced by Polycarp (see Polycarp of Smyrna: The Heretic Fighter).

Even Tertullian partially recognized that when he wrote:

Marcion…alleges Christ to be a phantom. Except, indeed, that this opinion of his will be sure to have others to maintain it in his precocious and somewhat abortive Marcionites, whom the Apostle John designated as antichrists, when they denied that Christ was come in the flesh; not that they did this with the view of establishing the right of the other god (for on this point also they had been branded by the same apostle), but because they had started with assuming the incredibility of an incarnate God. (Tertullian. Against Marcion, Book III, Chapter 8. Excerpted from Ante-Nicene Fathers, Volume 3. Edited by Philip Schaff, D.D., LL.D. American Edition, 1885. Online Edition Copyright © 2005 by K. Knight)

The current Greco-Roman Catholic and Protestant accepted trinity also denies that Jesus really came in the flesh. And while the final Antichrist will turn away of aspects of Greco-Roman teachings (cf. Revelation 13) and help betray Rome (Revelation 17), he will for a while promote doctrines such as the Greco-Roman trinity.

For proof of the idea that Jesus was fully human and fully God, a list of scriptures was cited at the anti-COG website. But none in the list were actually quoted (this reminded me of something that the Protestants Jerry Jenkins and the late Tim Lahaye did when they falsely claimed that their ‘rapture’ and Jesus’ second coming were supposedly two separate events–for details on that, check out the article: Is There A Secret Rapture for the Church? When and Where is the Church Protected?).

Anyway, since we in the Continuing Church of God accept that Jesus was human after being born of Mary until His resurrection, I will not go over the list of “human” scriptures for Jesus that one website had. But let’s look at each of the scriptures that were cited at https://exitsupportnetwork.com/is-the-holy-spirit-only-the-power-of-god/#Two to supposedly prove Jesus was fully God at the same time.

The first two scriptures cited were:

2 “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him.” (Matthew 2:2)
11 And after they came into the house, they saw the Child with His mother Mary; and they fell down and worshiped Him.

Yes, they worshipped Jesus as King of the Jews.

The next scripture was:

33 Then those who were in the boat came and worshiped Him, saying, “Truly You are the Son of God.” (Matthew 14:33)

Yes, Jesus was the Son of God.

The next scripture was:

1 The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God; (Mark 1:1)

Yes, Jesus was the Son of God.

The next scripture was:

28 And Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!” (John 20:28)

Yes, Jesus was fully divine again after His resurrection, which is what the above relates to.

The next scripture was:

8 But to the Son He says:

“Your throne, O God, is forever and ever;
A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your kingdom.

Yes, Jesus will rule on the throne forever. But He was not doing so on the earth.

The next scripture was:

59 And they stoned Stephen as he was calling on God and saying, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” (Acts 7:59)

Yes, after He was resurrected people prayed to Jesus.

The next scripture was:

17 He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?” Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you love Me?” And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.” Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep. (John 21:17)

Yes, the resurrected Jesus knows all things.

The next scripture was:

28 And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. (John 10:28)

Jesus will give His faithful followers eternal life after they are resurrected per 1 Corinthians 15:50-54, this has not yet happened.

The next scripture was:

9 For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; 10 and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power. (Colossians 2:10)

Now, that list left off verse 10 which shows that it related to the post-resurrected Jesus, not Jesus when on earth. How else can you know that for sure?

Well, because Jesus said, “I can of Myself do nothing” (John 5:30). If He had “all principality and power” on the earth, He would not have said He could do nothing.

Anyway, we see that none of the scriptures cited that were supposed to prove Jesus was fully God between His birth and prior to His resurrection are proof.

The other reality is that Jesus died.

If He were fully God, He could not have been tempted as we are.

But Jesus was allowed to die as well as be tempted. But, while He could have sinned, He did not sin.

More about Jesus can also be found in our free book, online at ccog.org, Proof Jesus is the Messiah.

Some items of related interest may include:

Proof Jesus is the Messiah This free book has over 200 Hebrew prophecies were fulfilled by Jesus. Plus, His arrival was consistent with specific prophecies and even Jewish interpretations of prophecy. Here are links to seven related sermons: Proof Jesus is the Messiah, Prophecies of Jesus’ birth, timing, and death, Jesus’ prophesied divinity, 200+ OT prophecies Jesus filled; Plus prophecies He made, Why Don’t Jews Accept Jesus?, Daniel 9, Jews, and Jesus, and Facts and Atheists’ Delusions About Jesus. Plus the links to two sermonettes: Luke’s census: Any historical evidence? and Muslims believe Jesus is the Messiah, but … These videos cover nearly all of the book, plus have some information not in the book. We also have the book translated in the Spanish PRUEBA de que JESÚS es el MESÍAS and French PREUVES QUE JÉSUS EST LE MESSIE languages.
Some Doctrines of Antichrist Are there any doctrines taught outside the Churches of God which can be considered as doctrines of antichrist? This article suggests at least three. It also provides information on 666 and the identity of “the false prophet.” Plus it shows that several Roman Catholic writers seem to warn about an ecumenical antipope that will support heresy. You can also watch a video titled What Does the Bible teach about the Antichrist?
Binitarian View: One God, Two Beings Before the Beginning Is binitarianism the correct position? What about unitarianism or trinitarianism?
Is The Father God? What is the view of the Bible? What was the view of the early church?
Jesus: The Son of God and Saviour Who was Jesus? Why did He come to earth? What message did He bring? Is there evidence outside the Bible that He existed? Here is a YouTube sermon titled Jesus: Son of God and Saviour.
Jesus is God, But Became Flesh Was Jesus fully human and fully God or what? Here is information in the Spanish language¿Es Jesucristo Dios?.
Virgin Birth: Does the Bible Teach It? What does the Bible teach? What is claimed in The Da Vinci Code?
Why Does Jesus Have Two Different Genealogies listed in Matthew 1 and Luke 3? Matthew 1:1-16 and Luke 3:23-38 seemingly list two different genealogies for Jesus. Why? Here is a version in the Spanish language: ¿Por qué Jesús tiene dos genealogías diferentes las cuales aparecen en Mateo 1 y Lucas 3?
Did Early Christians Think the Holy Spirit Was A Separate Person in a Trinity? Or did they have a different view? A related sermon is available: Truth about the Holy Spirit: What THEY do not want you to know!
Did the True Church Ever Teach a Trinity? Most act like this is so, but is it? Here is an old, by somewhat related, article in the Spanish language LA DOCTRINA DE LA TRINIDAD. Two related sermons are available: Trinity: Fundamental to Christianity or Something Else? and The Godhead and the Trinity. A brief video is also available: Three trinitarian scriptures?
Was Unitarianism the Teaching of the Bible or Early Church? Many, including Jehovah’s Witnesses, claim it was, but was it? Here is a link to a related sermon: Unitarianism? How is God One?
Did the Archangel Michael become Jesus? The Jehovah’s Witnesses teach this, and SDA Ellen White did, but does the Bible allow for this? Here is a link to a related video message: Is Jesus the Archangel Michael? Here is a related article in the Spanish language: ¿Se convirtió el Arcángel Miguel en Jesús?
How Many Creators? Did the ancient Mayans know the truth about the Godhead at creation?
Binitarianism: One God, Two Beings Before the Beginning This is a longer article than the Binitarian View article, and has a little more information on binitarianism, and less about unitarianism. A related sermon is also available: Binitarian view of the Godhead.
Hope of Salvation: How the Continuing Church of God Differs from Protestantism The CCOG is NOT Protestant. This free online book explains how the real Church of God differs from mainstream/traditional Protestants. Several sermons related to the free book are also available: Protestant, Baptist, and CCOG History; The First Protestant, God’s Command, Grace, & Character; The New Testament, Martin Luther, and the Canon; Eucharist, Passover, and Easter; Views of Jews, Lost Tribes, Warfare, & Baptism; Scripture vs. Tradition, Sabbath vs. Sunday; Church Services, Sunday, Heaven, and God’s Plan ; Seventh Day Baptists/Adventists/Messianics: Protestant or COG?; Millennial Kingdom of God and God’s Plan of Salvation; Crosses, Trees, Tithes, and Unclean Meats; The Godhead and the Trinity; Fleeing or Rapture?; and Ecumenism, Rome, and CCOG Differences. These sermons also cover materials not in the book. As far as some changes affecting Protestantism, watch the video Charismatic Kenneth Copeland and Anglican Tony Palmer: Protestants Beware! [Português: Esperança do salvação: Como a igreja do deus difere da maioria de protestantes].
Beliefs of the Original Catholic Church: Could a remnant group have continuing apostolic succession? Did the original “catholic church” have doctrines held by the Continuing Church of God? Did Church of God leaders uses the term “catholic church” to ever describe the church they were part of? Here are links to related sermons: Original Catholic Church of God?, Original Catholic Doctrine: Creed, Liturgy, Baptism, Passover, What Type of Catholic was Polycarp of Smyrna?, Tradition, Holy Days, Salvation, Dress, & Celibacy, Early Heresies and Heretics, Doctrines: 3 Days, Abortion, Ecumenism, Meats, Tithes, Crosses, Destiny, and more, Saturday or Sunday?, The Godhead, Apostolic Laying on of Hands Succession, Church in the Wilderness Apostolic Succession List, Holy Mother Church and Heresies, and Lying Wonders and Original Beliefs. Here is a link to that book in the Spanish language: Creencias de la iglesia Católica original.